Just shy of 1 year...I am still alive...I promise!

So last I wrote, Zane was about 9 weeks old. Things were crazy hectic this last year. I had things to write but no time...or I was too stressed and I really didn't want that to come across on here.

So many things have changed. Yes, we had many changes last blog post...the birth of Zane, Caralyn starting school, Josh getting out of the Navy after just shy of 9 years, Josh moving to Oregon while the kids and I stayed in Washington, the stress of traveling back and forth every weekend so we could have some kind of family time together, doing a short sale on our house (that in and of itself is a HUGE stress and headache), dealing with the movers all by myself while dealing with the end of the year craziness, finding a place to stay for a few days between the house being closed on and my last orthodontic appointment to have my braces removed, and continuing finding places to stay when we needed or wanted to go back up for visits (thankfully the family that allowed us to stay after school kept us every time we went back). Then I had to register Caralyn and Alaric for this upcoming school year with their new (public...EEK!) school, find new doctors (still haven't looked into dentists...I need to...or a doctor or dentist for myself!), get old records and start to unpack the tiny 3 bedroom apartment we moved into from a 4 bedroom house. Josh took over bills for me so I didn't stress over that too.

We moved into the apartment on June 1, we still have boxes in a lot of places, but it is feeling a lot more like home. It's nice. I'm hoping we can continue to afford rent here for at least another year or two so we can stay. I really like it here. Of course, we will need to eventually find a bigger place so Cara has her own room. Right now all three kids are in one room and the third room is the office/toy room. The hallway closet is filled with toys appropriate for Zane to play with too so when we get out gates up, he can be in there. Right now, he's confined to the living room with some of his toys and we bring others to him when we think he needs a change.

So...I was thinking I might update starting with October, but then I was thinking...I didn't write since July of last year really so maybe August of last year would be a good time to start. Either way, the older two are in school all day and Zane takes at least one nap a day so I should be able to get some writing done over the next few days/weeks to get myself remembering all the good times of the last year+ and update anyone that wants an update :) So...here's to that!

AUGUST 2014

Alaric's 4th Birthday. He chose to go to the mall play place :) Love that boy!

Fresh from the oven

13 hours old, baptized, with his God Parents

Baptized by our pastor at CtK, so happy his wife could join us again :) She was there for Alaric's too!

You FINALLY came out to meet us! Welcome to our family!

At 5 days old, we went to our favorite place, MoonDogs, Too for Open Mic to meet Harmonica Dave. He had never held a baby this small and it was just amazing to see. This is what he wore to his first introduction of great food and music :)

Jaja and Pipi came out for almost a full month. The kids talked them into an actual tea party. Mommy and Daddy were NOT invited! We still had our own while watching them enjoy their time with my parents. It warmed my heart.

These were the goods they got. My mom had even found actual tea cups in the rental house they were in. How awesome! Most of these were bought, but my mom did make no bake cookies (my favorites!) for them. They're mini!

And that was August. It was a lot of time with my parents. My Godparents were out visiting my Aunt Sue's parents, brother, sister and families so they came to the rental house, had lunch and spent a wonderful afternoon with us all. I was so happy they got to meet Zane before they left for Illinois again. I would love to see them again sometime soon. This last time they were out didn't work out for either of us. Hopefully next year it will work out :)

So the September post will be about the same...mostly pictures with captions. I love pictures. I love using my camera (no matter which camera it is...even my phone...). I love capturing those memories and moments.

Oh...and one more lovely tidbit of information. The day Zane was born, he also "watched" (read slept through) his first movie. The nurses laughed when they found out that just hours after giving birth I was watching The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug with my husband while holding my newborn son all snuggled into the hospital bed...oh and eating Subway (thank you hon!)

Gotta love those little memories that can make me smile at the mere thought of them :)

I'm outta here! Time to go spend some time catching up on TV shows and cuddling with the hubby before bed. Have a great night y'all!

~Stevie~

What do you remember doing after giving birth to your kids?

9 Weeks

Nine weeks have gone by since welcoming my little Boogieloo (now more commonly known as Booga) into this world. I have not written...I have not shared my precious little man with this part of my world.

Why?

Well, after spending 10 days bonding as a family, 2-ish more weeks with my mom and dad here, getting into a routine after they left to have it change just a few days later when my oldest started Kindergarten, and it changing yet again a week after that when my husband moved to Portland, Oregon to start his new job....I'm just getting into a routine again.

So last I wrote, I had 5 more weeks left. Doctors and nurses didn't think I'd make it to 37 weeks, so when I didn't deliver until 38 weeks and 5 days, they were all shocked!

We had a couple more false labors. My prayers were answered with nothing labor related on my middle child's birthday. I was so happy they wouldn't be sharing a birthdate! However the next day I went to the bathroom because I felt odd, I was in there for awhile and when I finished up, I thought I felt Zane's head. Freaked me out to no end! Low and behold, it was not the head. I was only 4cm dilated still.

I was checked 2 times with a normal exam, then they wanted to do an exam with those stupid speculum things to make sure my water hadn't ruptured at all. Well, the first time the speculum was too big, he tried repositioning it, then he had the nurse go get one from a different floor so it was the right size. So then I had one put in me a third time, on top of 3 regular checks, one of which hurt me so bad I started to cry. Then after the last time with the speculum, that doctor swept my membranes and said "Well, with how much has happened to you today, hopefully it will move things along."

Move things along it did. The next morning at 6AM I woke up and went to the bathroom then laid back down. I started feeling a little sick to my stomach and decided to go to the bathroom again and possibly get into the shower. As I rolled over I felt a little trickle. I uttered (a little loudly) "aw sh*t!" and my husband (from our bedroom...I slept on the couch the last 2-3 months of the pregnancy) asked "What?" And as I rolled the rest of the way off the couch I replied "I either just peed a little or my water just broke." (Mind you, he was getting ready for work) When I landed on my knees on the floor, the flood gates opened and I said (again, a little louder than I should've) "Oh sh*t, oh sh*t, oh sh*t....yeah...my water broke...ummmmmm....." and then I hear my daughter "Mommy! Your water balloon broke?!?!?" "Yes hunny, mommy's water balloon broke." "Alaric! Mommy's water balloon broke! Zane is coming to meet us!" Both kids flew out of their bedrooms and I'm still "Ummmmm"-ing and trying to figure out how to get up off the floor without making more of a mess. I have them go get dressed then call my husband to help me get up and get towels so we can start cleaning up the mess.

When everyone was ready and Labor and Delivery was called, we started heading out (I had called and texted two friends to see if we could drop the kids off with them to no avail...Josh called our pastor and his wife and she finally got back to us first). I called our pastor and his wife to let them know our kids would be over soon. I then called my mom and dad who were on their way to Washington (from Michigan) in the car to let them know it was the real deal this time (we had called the day before too and I guess my dad said after I hung up "She's not having him today...it will be tomorrow. Jon and Stevie are 4 years 2 day apart, Alaric and Zane will be too.") Then I texted my friend Diane and let her know that I may need her to meet us at the hospital because we were stuck in traffic and I didn't know if I would even make it to the hospital. I then called her a few minutes later and told her "Yeah, you need to meet us there." 

We arrived at the hospital around 7:15AM, just over an hour after my water broke. I was definitely having contractions (that was a first!) and I felt ready to push. They got me checked out, took the samples they needed to make sure my water broke, they checked me again just 15 minutes later and admitted me. Diane came in to see me while they were doing all this and I was smiling, laughing and talking until a contraction hit but I went right back to normal after it passed. She couldn't believe how I was. Kids were taken to our pastor's house, I was walked over to my delivery room (that was brutal!) around 7:45AM and I was left to labor until the IV had to be put in.

I did have a friend with me at the beginning while being admitted. A lady from our church was working at that point and it was nice to have her there with me. Josh was in the room after Diane took the kids too, but he was helpless because I basically told him to leave me alone. He did as I wished though...he is a good husband. I also had my midwife there...that is something rare in a military hospital. I was just lucky enough that she was on call. She was also my midwife with Caralyn which is why I was so happy to have her there...I've bonded with her through these two pregnancies.

So around 8AM they checked me again. I was at an 8. The pain was unreal, the urge to push just kept getting harder to ignore. I got off the bed and stood for two or three contractions. The first one I had just gotten up and Commander Larson (my midwife) had to practically hold me up. She got my arms around her neck and we rocked together while I cried and whined about needing to push. Then we got me into the shower/tub so I could have the water just splash down toward my legs/feet. That didn't last long because when I had another contraction, I almost dropped because of the pain. I just wanted to be in my bed and pushing.

They got me back to my bed, I had them check me again and I was at a 9, almost a 10. I was whining,  I was crying, all I wanted to do was push. One more contraction and they let me push. I pushed for probably 20 minutes, maybe less...in my mind, it felt like I had pushed for an hour and that was most definitely not the case as from me being checked at 8 to the birth of Zane, it was about 30 minutes.

I forgot how bad the burning is while pushing a baby out of that little hole was. Of course, my baby had a pretty big head (and still does!). The rest of the pain didn't matter (of course the contractions were bad as I couldn't even have a pain killer by the time I got there after my water broke...and that was my birth plan...an IV pain med that would've equaled an extra strength tylenol or two).

At 8:31AM, everything was right with the world again. Zane arrived safely and healthy....blue, but safe and healthy. He was put on my chest, all the goop was suctioned out of his mouth and he started crying. Everything was done on top of me. They didn't want to take him off me at all for at least an hour.

Then the fun started. I started trying to deliver the placenta but it wouldn't budge. After about 45 minutes of this they decided it needed to be manually removed. Zane was taken from me, weighed and measured (8lbs 1.3oz, 20 1/8") and left with Josh to do the first feeding and to watch over everything else that needed to be done. I was carted off to the OR for a spinal and D&C. They decided to stitch me up since I was on the table too (had the placenta delivered naturally there wouldn't have been stitches).

I was told by the anesthesiologist I was a trooper because even after having the woozy medicine given to me in my room, I still sat up and was "the stillest patient I've ever had" while getting my spinal. And...he got it in on the first try. Had I known he was THAT good, I probably could've and would've gotten an epidural. No regrets though. I had asked then changed my mind almost immediately because I knew I was strong enough to do it without meds (I was forced to with Alaric).

So...there you have it...the birth story of Zane, which is totally not what this post was going to be, but that's what it turned into.

And now, I'm almost done!

This past Wednesday, my pregnancy officially became 35 weeks along.

I'm starting to be tired all the time again, but I think it's more from not sleeping the greatest and nothing else.

This pregnancy is still the most different and difficult. I'm going to say it's age more than anything. I have thought throughout almost this whole pregnancy that I was going to have twins, even though the ultrasounds (I've had 2) and fetal heart monitor only shows one. There were too many weird things happening...for instance, before I would be able to feel the baby at both top and bottom (and on opposite sides at that) I could feel movements at the same time...At my anatomy ultrasound (the 20 week one) he wouldn't stop moving and blocking the tech from getting any good pictures. I swore he was hiding his little sister...and the movement...OMGoodness! It's been almost 24 hours a day since about 10-11 weeks! I am glad he doesn't have as much room (though it doesn't stop him part of the day) so he doesn't move as much! It hurts REALLY bad now when he moves!

At the anatomy ultrasound we found out (well, my friend found out and kept it from me for a couple weeks until Josh was home from underway) we were having another boy! I am sooooo excited about this! I would've probably cried if it had been another girl...my girl is a handful enough on her own! That means we will have ourselves a little Zane Donovan running around.

Both kids have now accepted Zaney as their own and can't wait to meet him. Because I'm in so much pain (My abdominals are starting to separate some, I have to watch for hernias now and have been put on a few restrictions because of this) they keep telling him to come out and meet his family. He's slowly listening to them, but it's not fast enough for my liking!

My new restrictions mean I have to rest as much as possible (without being on bedrest), no lifting over 20 lbs (but she'd rather me not lift over 15), no pushing or pulling anything other than a grocery cart with no more weight than 2 gallons of milk (so about 15 lbs total), and nothing that makes me use/contract my belly muscles unless it's necessity. That means...no more Zumba *tear*

I was in Labor and Delivery last Monday and was dehydrated but was having regular, fairly strong, contractions too. They checked me and I was dilated to a 1, 25% effaced and at a -3. I was back in L&D yesterday (for the constant pain that put me in tears the last 3 days) and they ended up checking me again just to be sure. I'm now dilated to a 2, 50% effaced and at a -2. The doctor is hoping I'll make it to 37 weeks but said she wouldn't be surprised if I went into labor any day now. She also said they wouldn't stop it if it did start happening. She said there is pretty much no way I'll make it to 40 weeks and it would be a miracle if I did.

I'm also bigger this time around than with either of my other pregnancies...which was another reason for the twin feeling. It's just weird to me. I knew I would be bigger from the first to the second, but I thoguht if I would be bigger, it would only be slightly bigger than my second since it was just the same memory thing. WRONG! I look like I'm about to deliver any day and I have 5 weeks left technically! People can not believe I have 5 weeks left. It's unimaginable that I would be able to grow anymore belly...and I see their point...and feel it...

Now, I do have to end on a positive note. Zumba. I started around 14 weeks pregnant again (when I could stand to do anything else other than lay on the couch and sleep). With the new restriction, my last week was 2 days before I turned 35 weeks pregnant. I only missed a few weeks in there due to sickness or not having a car to get there. I do have to say, I'm proud of myself. I was hoping to last a couple more weeks, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. I'm still allowed to stretch and walk (if I can...I've had hip problems this whole pregnancy and it's hard to walk) so I'll still get some exercise. That at least makes me happy. Just hate that I didn't get to say good bye to all my wonderful Zumba friends before having to take my leave for baby. 

That's about it for now. After putting away dishes and starting some laundry, I'm exhausted. I'm going to lay down on the couch and hopefully get a little nap in before the washer is done. Have a wonderful day, week, month, year....who knows when I'll be back!

Well, That took me by surprise!

A lot has happened since November. I had planned on writing about Thanksgiving, how I was doing after my hard days, Christmas, and so many other things since my last post. I had a million posts (okay, so I'm overexagerating a bit...) planned out in my head to write. NONE of them were written, started, or anything else. They aren't even in my head anymore. They've been pushed out by other, more important, things.

You see, in early December I got sick after eating at McDonalds. It kind of threw me that I ate the same thing as my children (chicken nuggets...and they didn't taste the greatest to me), yet they didn't get sick at all...My husband on the other hand, did, but he had something completely different than us...and he had been back on the boat too.

So the next day I still wasn't feeling all that great but my husband wasn't doing too bad. I took a pregnancy test. Low and behold, I was pregnant with bundle of joy number 3!

I did okay over the next few weeks while waiting for Christmas to pass, my husband to leave and my first appointment to finally be here. Before that appointment I went into the ER for extreme nausea. They put me on Zofran and found I had a bladder infection so they also gave me antibiotics. Went to that first boring appointment and got it over with, along with my first blood tests. About two weeks later, I landed myself in the ER again, this time due to spotting at 12 weeks and a pain in my side. Everything was fine with baby and was told to keep an eye on the pain.

This pregnancy has been so COMPLETELY different from my first two pregnancies. I call this my "real" pregnancy. I was on the couch for almost 2 months with severe nausea. I seriously couldn't get up without wanting to run to the bathroom. How I got through without Josh there for the majority of it, I have no clue. We had meals made for us, but we ended up not eating most unfortunately (most people made chicken meals...I can not eat chicken this pregnancy. I try a little about once a week...it just tastes disgusting and if I actually eat a meal made with chicken, I am sick for at least two days...I miss chicken! It looks and sounds soooooo good to me!) I also have zero energy most days. I just want to lay in bed and sleep all day. Now that I'm 14 weeks along, it's getting a little better thankfully. I just have to remember not to push myself too much when I do have energy (something I'm extermely bad at!)

I have started doing Zumba 1-2 times a week. It feels good to be dancing again. I just need to remember to bring snacks for after class so I don't have to rush to get something to eat because I'm nauseous.

I'm also basically eating a vegetarian diet. I'm not sure how I'd do with beef, but I'm wanting some...BAD! I'm too scared to try it though. I do not want to feel sick from eating food. I do, however know I can eat sausage 1-2 times a day depending on what kind and in what. I eat a Sausage burrito from Burger King almost every single morning. If I don't eat that, it's usually a sausage and gravy bowl by Jimmy Dean...it pretty much has to be sausage though. I just found out I can have Zuppa Toscano from Olive Garden in the afternoon also. Soooo nice that I can eat meat more than once a day!

I go through my phases still...that is something that has been the norm for all three pregnancies. I'll go a week or two only wanting a specific menu item from a certain place. I have to eat there almost every day no matter what. Then it's on to something else.

Craving-wise, those Sausage Burritos are a must have all the time. My breakfast cravings usually subside around week 10-12...I don't see this one going away any time soon. I also craved Orange Juice for a couple weeks. It was the only thing I could drink. The last craving is Peanut Butter M&Ms. I keep a BIG party bag in my car and just bought another one for the house. I love peanut butter!

Aversions really are only anything that is sweet. Chocolate, ice cream, candy, frozen yogurt...anything sweet just turns me green. I took the kids to BluBerry Frozen Yogurt yesterday for a special treat and just being in the shop made me a little nauseous.

Chicken and milk make me sick. I was able to drink milk while pregnant with the other two (I was lactose intollerant starting at 17, I've been fine with dairy since having Ric). I'm kind of nervous as to what this means for my dairy habits after this baby is born

Drinks...it has to have some kind of fruit flavoring in it if it's water. I can also drink a cup of tea or two a day, which is a nice change of pace after only being able to drink fruity water for so long. It has to be pretty plain or just barely sweetened with a flavored creamer. I've just been going and buying Earl Grey Latte's from Starbucks right now. It would be a waste for me to buy liquid creamer to make it at home when I don't know if this tea craving will last more than a week or two.

Let's go back to energy. Yes, I'm finally getting some back. Looking at my house, drains it. My house is a disaster. I wasn't able to get off the couch so the kids had the run of the house. They dragged out all their toys from the toy room and all their books from the bins we keep them in. There is garbage from the constant fast food runs we have had to make for lunch and dinner (because I don't have the energy to make anything whatsoever). They have been good about choosing between McDonalds and Burger King. I've been eating Taco Bell...every....day... They have some pretty nice options for vegetarian meals...and you can make almost anything vegegtarian from there. I'm going to try a nacho cheese chalupa pretty soon...see if they can just fill it with beans and veggies for me. It sounds wonderful.

I did make some progress on cleaning my house. My kitchen floor was FULL of garbage (food, recycling stuff, cat food cans, and regular garbage). I sorted and broke down all the recycling and put the garbage into bags to throw out...then actually made the three trips to take the majority of it out. I felt accomplished...and run down and sick from those three trips. Now I just have to get the big garbage bag out from under the sink and brave the hallway bathroom for diaper garbage (daughter didn't tell me it was full and started using the regular garbage in there...it smells horrid...) I should also take out the garbage from my room so it doesn't start stinking.

I'm hoping my mom will be here soon and I will get more cleaning done. I want to get Cara and Ric's rooms ready for toys. I also need to get Ric's room ready for a new bed...we're thinking a bunk bed...and Cara's bed needs to be sold so we can get her a loft or bunk bed also. Her full is just too big for her room. Once Josh is home we will start converting the toy room into the nursery. He just has to buy moldings and paint them/put them up and it's ready for move in (of course, after all the toys are moved out). I need to buy a new crib too. I'm reusing Cara's Under the Sea nursery theme since we still have everything for it and the room is painted for it...and it's gender neutral.

And the kids are now up and begging to be out of my room to play, so I guess this post is done! More later (I hope it doesn't take as long though!)

Hard time of the year

This week has gotten to me again this year. Last year? Nothing. It started quite awhile ago this year actually.

The younger women of my church had a "girls night" at a local restaurant chain. I went because I needed some time away from my kids (Josh was underway and I was going insane!) I was having a great time then suddenly some of the women with tweens and teens started talking about how they "Couldn't believe ________ was _____ years old already!" It hit me then that my first baby, the baby I lost when I was 15, would've been 13 years old that upcoming summer. My heart sank and I became really reserved, trying to hold back tears. I've not been hit that hard by that realization in a REALLY long time! I couldn't say anything since about 99.8% of the people I know (including my parents) had no idea I lost a child. About 95% of the people I know have no idea I had even been raped.

I got over the sadness I felt within a couple weeks, but it was still in my mind...way at the back, but not quite buried like it normally is. Then this week happens and since it was in my mind to begin with, it hit me. Not as hard as my realization earlier in the year...since that came out of nowhere...but it still was on my mind most of the day on November 6. It's still on my mind today, obviously, but it's not as prominent as it was on Wednesday. I'm doing better already with not letting it run me down any and am trying to focus on the positives of my life. I have two amazing children, my husband is in the home stretch of his Navy Career, I'm alive, I have a VERY supportive family (in both my immediate family, my in-laws and my church family)...the list could go on for an extraordinary amount of time.

So why did it hit me this year when it hasn't hit me the last few years? I have no clue. Josh thinks possibly stress since I have been fairly stressed this year about a lot of different things. The kids had me stressed out to the max the whole last underway, I've been stressed out about financials these last few months, I haven't been exercising like I should...that really helped me out...the running, Zumba and Pole Dancing. We can't afford to renew our gym membership and I can't even afford the $20 a week for Zumba and Pole Class that is outside of the gym. I could still run, but I can't afford the clothes that are appropriate for running in the cold/wet weather we are having right now...and I HATE running on treadmills! I found that out when we did have a gym membership. So in the end, I'm just going to chalk all this up to stress with no stress relief from exercise.

On top of the rape playing repeatedly in my head this last week, I was reminded that my friend Adam passed away 2 years ago on Wednesday. That hit me hard too. I knew he had passed, but I didn't remember which day or when. I've been thinking of Adam a lot lately. I've missed him dearly since I graduated high school, but I still ran into him in town on occasion while I was still living there. Once I moved, I think I saw him maybe once before he passed. I've been remembering his hugs, his pep talks, his smile, his blue hair when he changed it once at the end of my senior year, his personality and his loving nature. No one could stay mad at him when he was a jerk because there was always some reason he was being a jerk...ALWAYS...and it never really had anything to do with us. He was a strong man, even when he was really only a boy. He rarely asked for help but was always asking what he could do when one of his friends even looked like they were starting to get down. In my senior year of high school, he got me through the day when I ran into Steve every time I turned around, when someone started harassing me for whatever reason, he was my rock my senior year and he was only a freshman. I feel like I failed him after I left school and I never got to say good bye. He was a much better friend than I and he deserved so much better from me.

This post has gone a much different way than I had planned and that's okay. I think this is where I should end it though. I don't know what else to say or even how to truly end this, so I'm just going to end it here. I hope you all have a wonderful day!

Candyman - Top 10

Back to being late. I have no clue why I can never get this done on time! Guess I'll have to start planning a little better.

Yesterday I took the hubby to work, took care of the kids, did some online stuff, talked to my sister in law for a few minutes (if you can, please keep her in your thoughts and prayers, she's going in for a biopsy surgery consult on Monday...it's pretty nerve wracking and worrisome for all), then headed out for an appointment. I left the house at 11AM and didn't return home until about 4PM. No wonder I didn't really want to be on the computer anymore after that. I did a few chores I needed to get done then sat on the couch for the rest of the night. Thankfully the kids asked for PB&J for dinner and I was more than happy to let my husband make that for them. I had chips...then ice cream after the kids went to bed. Yeah....I'm healthy like that.

Anyway....Yesterday's Tuesday Top 10 (which I'm linking up through Poe at Many Waters) was about Candy since Halloween is coming up...TOMORROW! Where has October gone? The end of the year is going by WAY too fast, especially with my husband leaving again for awhile at the beginning of the year. I have less than a month with him left on offcrew. So not looking forward to the upcoming oncrew season...however, this *should* be his last time out before he's out of the Navy.

Now without further ado....

My top 10 favorite candy (in no particular order) is:

1. Hershey bars - sometimes you just want chocolate
2. Peanut Butter M&M's - Soooooo yummy!
3. Andes Mints - I love minty goodness....and chocolate
4. Junior Mints - Just a different kind of mint...I love these at the movies!
5. Snickers - Chocolate, Caramel and peanuts....yum!
6. Kit Kat - They are chocolate covered wafer bars....can I have some in the different flavors too? May have to try some homemade versions!
7. Frozen Reese's Peanut Butter Cups - Yes...they HAVE to be frozen or I don't enjoy them as much...
8. Peanut M&M's - Because sometimes you don't want peanut butter
9. Almond Joy - Love the flavors and the almond cuts a bit of the sweet which is nice
10. Butterfinger - Again with the peanut butter, only it's little sticky crunchy wafer ribbons of it...nom nom!

Speaking of Halloween and Candy...my kids went Trunk or Treating at our church this past week. They were awesome! My husband and I did a trunk two years in a row, but then when Ric got a little bigger I decided I would rather take the kids around as a family instead of taking turns taking them around so we both got to experience Halloween with them. So...this is the second year (maybe third...) we haven't done a trunk. I think we've got about 2 more years before Cara and Ric can go around by themselves in the parking lot and just check in with us often. I can't wait to start doing trunks again though! I really am hoping we will still be in Washington to enjoy these memories with our friends here.

Anyway, here's a couple pictures from the event. Cara was Rapunzel (Tangled) and Ric was a Knight in Shining Armor (thanks to Josh who made the costume! It only cost us about $8 for the extra glue!)

Look at that turn out! And I couldn't even get everyone in it! Unfortunately my camera died right after this shot (forgot to charge up the batteries...ugh!) so I only have iPhone pictures from Josh's phone after that...they didn't turn out well enough for me to post on here.

Hope you all have a great rest of the week and a very fun, safe and Happy Halloween! We haven't figured out if we're going out trick or treating again tomorrow (probably not...) or just staying home to watch a movie (Harry Potter anyone?) but either way, it will be family time for sure!

What are you doing to celebrate Halloween?

EEEK! Almost a week late!

So I've had a fun and busy week which has included a sick child. I thought it was a growth spurt and allergies, it was bronchitis. She's still coughing, but her fever has been completely gone for a little over 24 hours. She seems to feel much better too, but still sleepy and lazy. Hoping that leaves soon! I miss the energy of that firecracker!

So last week's Tuesday Top 10 with Poe was Ten Facts About You. I can tell you a million things about myself and I still feel like it's the same thing every time. I don't really remember what I've said and what I haven't...so let's hope this isn't all just old news stuff to most of you :)

1. I am the youngest child of three and only girl. My brother K is 6 years older than me and my brother J is 4 years 2 days older than me. He used to tell my mom I was his favorite birthday gift...then we started growing up.

2. I love animals! I've had 3 dogs, 2 cats, 3 birds, numerous fish, a leopard frog, a crayfish and a garter snake as pets. I can not wait for my yard to be fenced in and be financially and emotionally ready for another dog! Right now it's our cat, Sparrow and our fish, Barnafin Red.

3. I love photography! I'm not into it for money or anything (which is partially why I don't really care to go to school for it, nor do I bother with photoshop) but I love to take pictures. It's really awesome when something comes out either exactly as I imagined it or even better! I just love having fun with my cameras!

4. Food is a huge weakness of mine. I love eating just about anything. I enjoy what I eat and I eat what I enjoy. Lately it's been hard to figure out what I even want to eat because so much repulses me (no, not pregnant as far as I know). The only thing that always sounds good and actually calms my stomach is chocolate. So weird!

5. I have two amazing children. Cara will be 5 next month, Ric turned 3 in August. I can not believe that much time has gone by since they arrived on this Earth. My husband and I do want one more but we're on a time restraint. If I don't get pregnant by December, we will probably stop trying (we did have an easy time getting pregnant with our other two which is why we've only given it so little time).

6. I danced for 16 years before having to quit due to an ankle injury. I did tap, jazz, ballet, gymnastics, lyrical, acro-jazz, hawaiian, hip hop, modern, Irish step, a ballroom class and as many other kinds as I could. I still love to dance and do Zumba when I can to itch that scratch. I can not wait to be able to afford to go back. The type I never thought I'd do, but enjoy thoroughly (because it's also the most challenging I've ever done) is Pole Dance! A good friend of mine owns a studio out here called Dolphin Dance and the classes are amazing. When I can afford it, I'll be back to Mommy and Me to get my fit on!

7. My husband works in a tin can. He has one more underway and he should be done. He's been in the Navy for a little over 8 years and will be done less than a month before his 9 year mark. We are excited about this yet terrified because we have NO clue what's next!

8. I am a singer. I may not be as good as I used to be, and I was never the greatest at it, but I enjoy it and love it so dearly! Before I had my son I was an alto through and through. Now....I can hit some alto notes, but I am much more comfortable in the tenor range. Right now I sing on a whim for fun and am in my church's choir.

9. Speaking of church...I was raised a Catholic and when I was 18 I started going to church with my (now) husband. He went to a WELS (Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod) Church. I started taking the Bible Information Class and just after my 19th birthday I became a member. I have been mostly happy ever since. I do not see completely eye to eye on everything but it's mostly when they put their religious views into the government which I think is completely wrong when not everyone believes the same thing.

10. I am not big into debating politics or religion. I try not to talk about them. I don't talk about religion much because I know what I believe and that's good enough for me. I'm still not comfortable enough with the bible to reference or argue anything about it. My true friends and I can talk about it comfortably (since most of my friends are of other religions and we accept that about each other) but with strangers, not so much. I usually feel attacked by strangers when it comes to politics and religion. Not cool.

Tuesday Top 10 - again, a day late!

I'm hoping SOMEDAY I will make this link up ON Tuesday! I have no excuses this week. I was on the computer yesterday going through email and really, I forgot about it. Maybe because my hubby was home on Monday or maybe because Poe's posts come to me a day late...I don't know. I really have no excuse. I'm doing it anyway!

I'm linking up with Poe at Many Waters for this great and rambly post. I'm tired. I've been up for almost an hour already and it's not yet 5AM. "Why in the world have you been up since before 4AM," you ask? Well...there is this going on...and it's LOUD:

They had a different attachment on the end a little earlier and it makes my whole house shake. I'm going back to bed (hopefully) when my husband gets up for work. There goes my plans to take him to work and meet for part of a playdate today. I think playdate time will be naptime as my kids aren't sleeping well through this either...and they're both in my bed now. I have NO clue when my son arrived in bed with us, but my daughter woke up about 20 minutes after me, terrified. I've never seen her run so fast from her room. She sat on the couch with me and watched for about 5 minutes before I convinced her to go lay in my bed. Poor thing. I can hear her now struggling to sleep. I feel bad for her. It's going to be a very long day in my household.

On to the link up though!

This week's Top 10 is products! I'm not one to really care much about "things" but there are some things I can't live without. Here they are in no particular order:

1. Washer/Dryer - Yes, I know how to hand wash, however, I think I'd be buying new clothes instead with how much we go through...

2. Stove/Oven - If I had to cook over a fire for this stuff, no problem, I love the convenience though...and it warms the house a little more on those cool days!

3. Crock Pot - How much easier does it get to cook? I love mine on those busy/lazy days!

4. My car - I have a 2010 Honda Pilot. I was thinking of getting a van but then I looked into my friend's van and thought "I have one more seat in here than they have and it's not a big deal for my oldest to climb over the seat if we need to move her to the back row." I can put 6 carseats in my car if I need to. If there are no children in my car, I can fit 7 full grown adult passengers in there and have it be mostly comfortable. This is the car I will have to carpool teenagers around to dances, soccer, dance classes, dates, etc. It's a great car. When we don't have the carseats in, we can put the two back rows down and my family of 4 can sleep in the back fairly comfortably (with just me and the kids, we can do it with just the very back row down!)

5. My iPad/iPod - Technically the iPod is for the kids, but I have my music on it for the gym/running...which I need to get back to. I miss it. I don't think I'd be as happy without my iPad now. I use it as my laptop most of the time. I have a keyboard I can use with it and do on occasion (like when I write a blog post from it). I love the games that I can play, the E-Readers, cooking apps, kids apps, tv apps, etc. I have my bible on it. My church's synod has an app that I have on it. My contacts are there, notes, etc. It's basically my lifeline.

UGH! House shakey attachment is back on and going...so glad I didn't go back to sleep when I was going to!

6. My cameras - I have four cameras. Two I never use (one of those is technically my husband's), out of the two left...one is broken at the moment...that leaves my Nikon D40. I am in no way, shape or form a professional photographer, but I wouldn't trade having a more professional like camera for the world! I grew up using one like this only it wasn't automatic and it was a 35mm (I do not always use the auto on my camera! I like using it in manual). The first real time I was allowed to use this camera was in France. A lot of my pictures turned out like crap, but there were some that were amazing. When I go back, I will have MY camera and be able to take some great photos of some of the things that didn't turn out so great the first time around. I'm excited for this trip. Whenever my youngest hits 10/12 we will be making the trek and we are bringing my parents along too. The first time I went, I was with my mom and my high school's french club. What an experience! I can't wait to do it again!

7. Our Keurig - I don't really drink much coffee, but it makes my tea making go much faster. No longer do I HAVE to boil the water before being able to steep my tea to perfection...I just put my cup under the keurig without a k-cup in it and I have a piping hot cup of water ready and waiting for a tea bag. I can also make a cup of swiss miss fast with it. My husband does make coffee in it, so it's not a complete waste on us. I also enjoy making my iced tea in it on occasion. I love Tazo Zen and Tazo Awake iced. I don't think I've ever had either hot. My hot tea of choice is a good chamomile or Sweet Dreams (I believe it's called that...it's a mint/chamomile combo...I usually only drink that if my stomach is upset).

8. Our TVs - Some days I can't live without it. Today it will be watching my kids if they don't want to take a nap with me. It will be on ALL day today. We just got rid of cable so it's all Netflix all the time until we get Amazon Prime or Hulu Plus (I think we're going to go with Amazon so we can watch some Team Umizoomi!) but it's worth it to have that extra peace of mind that my kids are okay and entertained while I'm sleeping on the couch.

9. Planners/Calenders - I am an addict. Free printable menu planners scatter my house, I usually have 2-3 calenders hanging on my walls in any given year (amazingly I only have one this year!), I have a small calender in my purse and I also have a student planner on my husband's desk for bills/plans too. If there is an offer for a free calender, I usually take it. Any kind of printable, I'll download it and use it. I'm actually searching for a good weekly/monthly calender with plenty of room and lines to do a prayer calender with. One that is pretty and functional along with free (because I really and truly can't afford to pay anything right now). If anyone has any leads for that, please let me know!

10. External Hard Drives - I have a big one...storage wise, not size wise. My husband has the same one, only his is almost full, mine hardly has anything on it. Pictures don't take up much room when you have something this big (It says 1.36TB when I pull it up on the computer). I love it. I also love the cute flash drives...I have a few....A turtle, a monkey and a penguin. I would love to find an elephant and giraffe for the kids...technically the turtle and monkey are the kids' but they aren't allowed to touch them yet. They aren't even allowed near the computer yet unless we're right there and we invited them to be there.

So that wraps up my favorite products. It was hard for me to think of the last few...I actually took the Keurig and camera from Poe because I just couldn't get my mind to think of things. Now let's hope this construction stuff quiets down by 6:00AM like it's supposed to (I'm doubting it! Every time it's been "done" at 6, they haven't stopped working until at least 8!)

Tuesday Top 10 - A Day Late!

So my friend Poe at Many Waters is doing a link up! Tuesday Top 10! I meant to do last week's Autumn Top 10, but forgot and didn't feel I had time while trying to catch up on my email and life in general. I'm pretty stressed right now with the whole government shutdown and all, but more stressed that we still haven't seen our last bonus installment when it feels like everyone else has gotten theirs. Kinda really stressed about that.

Anyway...this week I vowed to do it, and one day late, I am!

This week's Top 10 is TV Shows!

Now...I LOVE TV! I have WAY more than 10 favorite shows, and many of them tie for places in my top 10. Seriously, the shows I watch, I wouldn't watch them if they weren't in my top 10 favorites. I just wouldn't do it...and I really do watch about 20-30 shows on average (I love DVR and we only watch about 2 episodes a night together, and I watch my own personal shows that hubby doesn't watch during quiet time.)

So I guess I could make a few lists. Top 10 to watch with hubby, Top 10 to watch alone and Top 10 shows no longer aired. These lists wouldn't even cover the ones I WANT to watch and just haven't yet...or have watched a few, but I haven't watched enough episodes to warrant it as a favorite...YET.

So let's see...

My Top 10 shows in no particular order are:

(found all pictures on facebook and put them together in Word and Paint)

1. General Hospital - I have watched this show since I was in 7th grade with my mom. If I miss some, it's not a big deal, but I'm happy for DVR so I don't HAVE to miss any if I don't want to!

2. Once Upon A Time/Grimm - These I watch with the hubby...He hates missing them while he's underway because I'll still watch without him!

3. Elementary - This is a favorite, however I don't worry if I miss an episode due to falling asleep or hubby not being home. This is really one I only watch with the hubby.

4. Drop Dead Diva - This is one of my own and I have gotten my mom hooked on it too! Just something lighter to help me keep my sanity.

5. Teen Wolf - Yes, I wrote a whole blog post on this show. It is one of my guilty pleasures and I love it. I have found another lover of this show back in Monroe and even though I'm 3 hours behind her, we got to watch the Season 3 mid season finale together thanks to DirecTV. It was nice to have someone to talk to during commercials and afterward finally.


6. Glee - My husband used to watch this with me and now he doesn't really care. I love the music and dancing. The story line is getting a little middle schoolish for me so I really hope they end this series soon for that reason. It's just getting old and boring, but I just can't stop watching because the music is usually very well done.


7. Doctor Who/Torchwood - Oh yes...I am a Whovian. My husband got me interested in these shows and I think I'm more into it than him some days...actually I know I am...but I'm glad we can be nerds together sometimes. He also hates missing this one because I have no problem telling him about the ones he's missed in emails because I get so excited over it!


8. Covert Affairs/White Collar/Royal Pains - All USA Network and all amazing shows. I watch these with or without the hubby.


9. Rookie Blue - A cop series I only started watching because of Missy Peregrym and have grown to never want to miss an episode.


10. Orphan Black - I almost put this with Doctor Who and Torchwood, but it needed its own place on this list. This is an amazing show and has amazing acting on it. One actress plays multiple clones that are together quite often and are quite different personality/style/accent wise. She deserves multiple awards for her work!


And for the list of honorable mentions:

1. CSI/CSI: Miami
2. Law & Order/ Law & Order: SVU
3. Supernatural
4. The Vampire Diaries
5. Body of Proof
6. Switched at Birth
7. Bunheads
8. Arrow
9. Burn Notice - If they hadn't JUST finished this series up, it would be in my Top 10 list above!
10. Stargate SG-1/Stargate: Atlantis
11. Eureka - LOVE this one!
12. Gilmore Girls
13. 7th Heaven

Thursday Thoughts: Beginnings

Beginnings.

So many things jump into my head when I see, hear, write, type this word. Memories of first things...Birth days, first lessons, first dates, first kiss, first deployments, first time away from all family on a long trip (not just a few days, or a couple weeks at camp with my brothers just moments away), the first time I got a new trick, first steps, first tooth, first curl (yes, I was ecstatic for my daughter's first curl!)

Then there are the not so good ones that I remember vividly too. First heartbreak, first time I found out I trusted the wrong person, first miscarriage, first rumor spread about me, first threat to my life...I could go on, but I think everyone gets the idea.

I love new beginnings...even if they're scary, but I don't like closing the door to the past. I remember way too many things and can't seem to do the "forget" part of forgive and forget.

Today I'm going to talk about the first time I saw my husband and the beginning of our relationship.

I had been engaged to a marine, my best male friend at the time. Things weren't going well, we both knew it, but we didn't want to end it since we supported each other so much and we did love each other, just not in the way we should've in order to get married. I was at college in Monroe, MI and he was on a base in Yuma, AZ. We talked every day, he went out on dates with girls and encouraged me to do the same thing (but with guys, of course!) We were always honest with anyone we would go out with that we were engaged to be married, but we had an open relationship for multiple reasons. I had him call me a few times with a date that didn't believe him and I explained that it was true, he wasn't some dog.

One day I went down to The Cellar (our hangout at the college) to play some pool with a guy I was starting to get to know and kinda liked a lot already, but didn't want to rush things since there was one thing I didn't know if I could accept about him. While we were playing pool, two more guys started playing at the table next to us. They were both kinda dorky (okay...so...I'm attracted to a lot of different types of guys...shoot me! I'm not horribly picky!) but the shorter skinnyish one caught my eye. He would give me "pointers" on how to play or how I could've made my shot better, and I would do the same (except I semi kinda knew what I was talking about...my uncle is an awesome pool player and tried teaching me the right way to play! And I feel weird saying that since the guy I was playing with...yeah he married a pro player!)

I didn't think much about this guy after that until a couple days later when my best friend (at the time) invited me to meet her crush during a friendly outing after choir. I said "Sure!" and invited my friend Evan, who I was hardcore crushing on again at this point...long story...) and his friend to come with me. I get to the restaurant (Pete's Garage) and who do I see? The pool guys. I was introduced to Big Mike first (the tall, bigger guy) and then Sarah's crush, Josh (the one I was attracted to). I immediately make sure to stick with Evan and flirt like crazy with him to keep my mind off Josh and the fact that this is the guy that my best friend likes...so I just can't possibly like him too since she has dibs pretty much. Evan and I had a great night. We hadn't laughed and flirted like that in a LONG time and it felt nice to be so in sync with someone. Josh ended up fishing for answers to some of his questions about me, including if I were single or not. He kind of suspected I was since he had just seen me a few days before with someone else and now I was with this guy. I explained the situation to him about Nick and he kind of just accepted it.

   

The next day Sarah and I were going to go dancing at a club down in Ohio after I just finished dancing for 5 hours at the dance studio I took lessons and was a student teacher at. I found out right before picking her up she invited Josh. I tried getting out of going...but it didn't happen. I was the only one with a car and license. So I picked up Sarah, then we went to get Josh. I called my friend Jason and we went to his house. I told him what we were doing and his friends were like "Hey can we tag along too?" Of course I said yes! We all went down and I danced as much as possible with Jason. I told him what was going on and he basically tried laying claim to me with Josh, talking about how wonderful I was and how he was going to ask me to be his girlfriend and how he's liked me for quite awhile but the timing had never been quite right, but it finally was. We started dancing again then everyone left (including Josh) to get water. I stayed on the floor and saw Jason coming back...but then he stopped and right in front of me appeared Josh. He took my hand and led me to a different room where it was a little quieter, but not much. We sat down and listened to some music then he pulled me into him and started talking into my ear so I could hear. He was funny. I laughed and smiled a lot. He held my hand the whole time, then suddenly, he kissed me.

That exact moment I realized I was going to hurt my best friend but I was going to gain another best friend and life partner. I knew I wanted to marry him and spend the rest of my life with him...and I had only officially met him 2 days before. And almost 11 years later (almost 8 of those married!), he still makes me feel that way with every kiss, every hand hold, every look he thinks I don't notice. I am truly thankful for that beginning.

                               

And my best friend, Sarah? We may not be BEST friends anymore, but she got over being mad at me in about 3 months when she realized how much of a jackass he really is to almost everyone. We still talk sometimes and I'm still happy and proud to call her my friend.

Just keep swimming...just keep swimming...just keep swimming

I don't know why I had to write that three times. It just seemed appropriate so I did.

This weekend started off awesome. Friday was running, food, errands then home to discover I forgot to get the hot dogs out to thaw...so I scrambled to get at least one package of 30 thawed before heading over to the CODA (Christians On Deployment or Assignment) BBQ that a couple from our church was throwing. Of course the whole congregation was invited too! About 40 or so people showed up and it was a blast! The kids couldn't stop playing on the slip and slides down the hill.

                                 (Photo from the facebook of Pastor Andy Schwartz)

Saturday we mostly stayed home. I had taken the kids off their allergy medicine a week or two ago since I was doing good without it and we had been out running every other day or so. The BBQ flared up Ric's allergies and he had drainage galore in his belly from overnight. Luckily after 2 times of throwing it up, he was back to normal. He slept for a couple hours on the couch in the early afternoon and still had no problems so I took the kids to the Fathoms O' Fun parade in downtown Port Orchard. The Navy Band played in it and I cried.I knew I shouldn't have talked about daddy to the kids, but luckily I had my sunglasses on and no one noticed, including my kids. Later I cried again when there were members of the military from around our area carrying banners of those who didn't get to come home to their families. The last time I cried was when the Submarine Vets went by...walking and on the first and second "floats". I was so proud of them in a way I am not proud of other military members (I am proud of them all, of course, there's just an additional proudness for Submariners). I wish I had some pictures from the parade on my iPad so I could upload them here...maybe another day I'll do a picture entry or something from it.

Today was a great day too. We went to church, like usual, sat with one set of adopted grandparents and fellowshipped after service. Once second service started I ran over to McDonalds to pick the kids up some lunch. Came back, sat with them while they ate then helped a bit in the nursery.

At 12:30PM the SWAT (Servants With A Testimony....our Teen Group) Mystery Dinner started. This is a really fun event they hold every year. This year it was a beach theme. The menu consisted of quite a few things...to name a few....Jellyfish (jello), Bait (gummy worms), Thing a ma jig (spoon), Catch of the Day (fishstick), Booty of a Pirate (Pirate's Booty), Trident (fork) and a few others. I don't have the menu in front of me anymore or I'd write them all down. There were 12 items and 4 courses. You had to figure out how to eat it all with what you ordered. If you didn't want to eat it, smuggled another item or opted to receive something to aid (or add to) your meal, you had to sing a song. If you were caught cheating, tattle tailed on someone not eating something, or knew of someone cheating but didn't say anything, you had to go to the mic and sing a nursery rhyme in pirate-ese. It was quite enjoyable.

In the middle of the dinner we were told to look for a golden coin under our chairs...if we had one, we won the chance to either keep the fish or give it to someone else. I won a fish...I was going to give it to someone else but my kids (of course) begged me to keep it regardless of me reminding them our cat would probably try to eat him. They continued to bed and I caved...so we now have a new member of the family.

Meet.....wait for it.....Barnafin Red

 Alaric didn't like the name Barnafin and wanted to name him Red so I said they both got their names and gave him a first and middle name. They seem happy with it and there was no more screaming from either of them when they both got their names chosen. Again, there is a better picture on my camera, but I haven't put those pictures on my iPad or the computer yet. I'm lazy...and it did just happen today.

So after the dinner we took Barnafin Red home so he wouldn't bake in the car while we were at WalMart. We then headed over there to buy him a new tank, some food, rocks and a shark to put in the tank (which I forgot to do). I also bought some special water to start him out in. I'll buy another bottle in a week or so when I clean his home. I do need to do some research to see if the gallon sized baby water is about the same as this stuff...if so...I'm totally buying baby water again.

Does anyone know if there is anything else I have to do for this thing? I haven't owned a fish since I was about 13...and my parents took care of everything except the feeding which whomever wanted to do it did.

After WalMart we went back to town to visit Best Buy for some new movies. We ended up getting 6...one for each kid and four for me and Josh (well one was Space Jam so it's technically for the kids). Now if only I could ever find a chance to actually WATCH these movies! I can't even keep up on my tv shows (especially when it's so hot outside and the kids are sleeping with me).

Tomorrow I am running again. I am going to die for two reasons. 1) the temperature (73-ish by 8:30AM!) and 2) we haven't run since Friday! EEK! My shin splints are going to make me cry again. I'm hoping Wednesday will be a little better. If it gets too warm that early in the morning (or even tomorrow if it's too hot for me) I think I'll pay to get us into the Y to use the track (I have a membership already so it won't break the bank at least!)

I'll let you know how it goes sometime! Have a great week y'all!

Stevie

C25K

So my friend Poe and I decided a couple weeks ago we would start doing the Couch 2 5K app. The main reason was to get ready for the Tough Mudder in Seattle in October. After looking more into the Tough Mudder, I knew I wouldn't be able to do that this year. I would be sicker than a dog and there is no way Josh would be able to help with the kids much while I was recovering...that's the Navy Life way of course! I have continued on in the journey of C25K with Poe regardless. I am enjoying myself, though it's really hard to push through with my shin splints.

I was doing good with it until just the past two runs. I don't know if it's the fact I'm pushing an extra 80 pounds, especially on uphills (albeit slight uphills), if I'm running wrong or what...but the muscles around my shins tend to seize up and cramp after about 20 seconds of running. I can push through to 90 seconds, but when I start walking after that, I have to stop to stretch more...no matter if I stretch extra well beforehand or not.

Today was extra hard for me. We are on W3D1 which is run 90, walk 90, run 3, walk 3 two times through. I got through about 90 seconds of the first run 3 and slowed down to a walk (I'm at a canter/jog anyway) I was in so much pain that I wanted to cry, but I pushed through and eventually started running for the last 30 seconds or so. After walking for 30 seconds or so after, I paused the workout and stretched a bit. I cried. Not only the muscles around the shin are cramping, my calf muscles are cramping. This happened last time too, but it didn't make me cry. I did a short stretch and started walking again because another of our friends stopped walking to wait for me. I ran part of the next 90 seconds, walked, ran a few seconds of the 3 minutes, walked, turned around and ran the rest of the 3 minutes (it was now downhill). When I started walking the last 3 minutes, tears were flowing. I got them stopped and wiped before anyone else caught up to me. Caralyn was so worried about me that she put my iPad down, turned around onto her knees and kept asking me "mommy...are you okay? Mommy...do you need help? Mommy...it'll be okay...we'll get through it! You can do it mommy!" She kissed my hand and sat back down to finish her movie.

About halfway through the cool down my shins and calves were feeling okay again. I'm sure it didn't help that I didn't wear my compression wraps, but it didn't help wearing them last time either. I need to go buy the compression sleeves but alas they're $40 and I don't have that kind of extra money right now.

We will be waiting until Monday (not something we like doing anymore) to do W3D2 because we are pretty busy on Sunday...and it will work out to not have to work out on the 4th of July which helps me since I am taking my munchkins to the zoo. It's our 2nd annual 4th of July tradition. I hope it goes as smoothly as it did last year. With them a year older I'm contemplating bringing the wagon instead of the stroller this year. I think I'll leave it up to them on the day of. We have the canopy for ours so it'll be good either way.

Well, I need to go get ready for the rest of my day. I just wanted to get this out before the kids woke up from their car nap. Hopefully I'll have something else to write about tonight! We shall see!

Stevie

Guilty Pleasures

Everybody has them...many of us have more than one (I know I do!)

I was able to indulge in one of mine today during my kids' quiet time. I truly didn't think they were ever going to get around to season three of this show...I feel like I've been waiting forever...and I already spoiled myself by saving 3 before I watched them. I couldn't save this one for another pile up. I HAD to watch it today. It's so bad that many times I have dreams of one Derek Hale in different scenarios. This happened when the actor (Tyler Hoechlin) was playing Martin in 7th Heaven too. He has only gotten more handsome with age.

                 

                          

Can anyone guess what this guilty pleasure is? Anyone? If you guessed Teen Wolf, you are correct! Congratulations! You win a huge ole AIR HUG!

                                 

I know...I am a 29 year old woman. I should not be watching this teenybopper show, but I can not get over how much I love it! I sometimes feel like a dirty old woman for liking it so much (I mean, most of the characters are portraying high school students!) and sometimes I think I'm in denial about how old I actually am. I certainly do not FEEL 29 most of the time. I barely feel like I'm out of high school even though it's been 11 years.

TV shows are what hold the majority of my guilty pleasures. Many of those shows are teenybopper shows. Some I really don't know why I watch them since I don't actually like them (well, I can think of one show this is true for anyway). Then there are those shows I started to watch because my husband is a total sci-fi nerd...and I've been converted and love them just as much or more than he does. I feel like a poser sometimes with these shows, but I can't help what I love.

Okay, I'm trailing off subject. I'm good at doing that. My train of thought isn't what it used to be. I'm thinking of doing a once a week (if I can even get myself to blog that much!) "Guilty Pleasure" blog post. If I can figure it out, maybe I'll start trying to do a link up for it. I know not many people read my blog at the moment, but hopefully if I start doing this regularly, that will change.

What is your guilty pleasure tv show? What category holds most of your guilty pleasures?

Stevie

*Note: These pictures are not mine. They are random pictures I found online and saved. If you are the owner of these, please let me know so I can link to you and give you credit for your work.

MilSpouse First Friday Fill-In

1. What’s one thing in the past month you would have changed?
I would've forced myself to go to Seattle when it was nice out, even just to walk around downtown.

2. What was your favorite thing that happened in March?
The extra days off Josh got to have :) love spending time with him!

3. What are you looking forward to in April?
Nothing really.

4. What is your favorite thing about Spring?
Tulips! Baby animals! New life! It feels like a new beginning every time!

5. What is your ultimate guilty pleasure?
Music from when I grew up. I still love it! I love blasting it no matter where I am!


Thank you Wife of a Sailor for hosting!

The Liebster Awards!

Hey y'all! Amanda over at My Very Own Modern Family nominated me for a Liebster Award!

I'm honored! Thank you Amanda!

Here are the rules!

~Each person must post 11 things about themselves.
~Answer the questions the nominator set for you plus create 11 questions for the people you've nominated to answer.
~Choose 11 blogs and link them in your post.
~Go to their page and tell them.
~No tags back!

11 Things About Me:

1. I am an animal lover! Don't care what kind of animal it is, I love it!

2. I am a list maker. I make tons of lists for everything! It's really not safe for the planet, but I can't do without my lists!

3. I love to cook! I haven't made my own recipes yet, but I love to try others' recipes! I can change them to my own liking fairly easily and do it often.

4. I still love to dance! I miss tap classes to death! I'm loving Zumba because of how closely related to dance it is. The only type of dance I don't really miss is pointe. I can do without the broken toes, blisters, ankle pain, etc. it brings, but I love to watch it still!

5. I have had 6 surgeries in my life. Only one I consider major surgery and that is only because it could've ended with me never being able to walk again. (which I walked less than a month later, into the office, in flip flops, with a thin layer of snow on the ground, and surprised my doctor in a huge way!)

6. I can connect better with adults (Not just 18+, but those that would be considered a true elder of mine) and males better than anyone else. I never really had too many female friends after about 4th/5th grade. Once the girls started liking the boys, they stopped liking me and the drama ensued! Even before that, I would rather be with the boys playing football, tag, etc. than being with the girls. Dance was horrible for me in the "friendship" aspect since I only ever had 1 true friend while dancing. She's still a friend, though not as close of a friend as we used to be. However, the people who got me through the toughest times of my life....teachers. I still talk to my Kindergarten teacher on a regular basis. I was able to babysit her kids a few times. My daughter is named after her daughter (She graduates college in a little over a month!). I also still rely on my 10-12 grade English teacher at times. She really helped me through the toughest time of my life. The only way I get along with females for the most part (though it's starting to slightly change as everyone is getting older) is if they are at least 10 years older than me, but usually 15-20 years older is more comfortable. I guess it's just whenever they're done with the drama, I'm good with them. I've been over drama for years.

7. I was raised Catholic, stopped practicing just two weeks after I was confirmed, was extremely mad at God for a few years, then started going back to the Catholic church when I was in my first year of college when my Mimi couldn't go anymore (I went to keep my Pipi company mostly). I only lasted about 3 weeks in the Catholic church again before I went to church with Josh and fell in love and felt at home in my faith. I went through their Bible Information Class and became a member of the WELS Lutheran church. Best decision of my life. I still have my own beliefs when it comes to some things, and I question my beliefs constantly...it's just a part of how I grew up and was taught religion (we based our beliefs on Catholicism, but we formed our own opinions and beliefs also).

8. I talk WAY too much! I blame my brothers! They didn't let me talk until I was about 4 years old. I also ramble quite a bit, either when I'm nervous or tired...though sometimes I don't need a reason at all!

9. I have this blessing/curse thing where I can see both sides very clearly and have to decide where I stand. I feel it's a blessing in most cases, but sometimes I see it as a curse (mostly when it comes to a religious standpoint) because what I feel is right, and what my religion feels is right doesn't always coincide. If anyone wants to hear about anything more on this, just ask, though I doubt anyone will...it's quite boring.

10. I hate people who bash other people, especially on our President. I was not a happy camper when GW Bush was in office. He was not my pick for President. I did NOT go around and bash on him every chance I got! I respected that he was our President and lived my life, not worried about every little thing he did that I didn't like. I DID vote for Obama and am happy with him as my President. I do not regret my choice of voting for him. I do not expect everyone to feel the same as me, especially those whom voted for someone else, however I do expect a certain human decency and maturity to take place when talking about him. I think I expect too much from my fellow humans because I was raised with respect and common decency...a lesson I wish many others would learn. I still *mostly* live by "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it at all." The only time I break that is when I'm talking to Josh about boat wives...I'm not even going to start on the experiences I've had with them....

11. I am absolutely, positively TERRIFIED of Josh getting out of the Navy. There is so much uncertainty in our country, especially with the economy, that I have no clue how we're going to manage to live in the civilian world. Yes, Josh is a Nuke and can get a job pretty much anywhere, in any part of the country, possibly the world, BUT we want to stay where we are. We were looking forward to trying to get a job at the shipyard, and now there are talks of them closing the shipyard. So not cool! Don't know what we're going to do. I'm trying to accept the very good possibility of us having to move again. I'm trying to be positive about it, but I love where we are. I love the people here, I love my house, I love our church....THIS IS HOME. I don't want to leave home.

The 11 Questions I was asked:

1.What is one thing you do when no one else is looking?
Pick my nose. I hate when there are crusty boogers in my nose...it irritates me to no end. No, I do not eat them.

2. Are you a books or movies type of person?
I love books, but I'm a slow reader. Lately I haven't been reading at all. I need to pick up a book again. I miss reading. It seems when I do, my kids suddenly need me for something, anything. It never fails. They could be sleeping and 5 minutes into my book, one of them is screaming for me. So, I've been enjoying movies much more as of late.


3. What is one characteristic about yourself that you love?
I am honest. Sometimes I keep things to myself, especially at church or around certain people, but all in all, I am an open book and I am honest about everything. If I'm specifically asked a question about something I know the person may not like the answer to, I'll still answer it honestly, what they do with that answer is completely up to them.

4. What is one characteristic about yourself that you hate?
My own body image. Since being married, I've gained almost a whole me. I know the reason and am working on it, but it's hard with my problems on top of it. I don't talk about my weight or my physical appearance much (as far as I'm remembering) but it sucks. I used to be a dancer. I weighed a perfect 120 all through high school. I never thought I was fat back then, I thought I had a rockin' body! When I was forced to quit dancing (thank you ankle injury!) I was good for a little while, but then I started gaining weight...and it never stopped. I never quit eating the junk I could eat while I was dancing 10 - 16 hours a week. It's still my weakness.

5. Most surprising thing about being a mom?
How much my own kids irritate the crap out of me. I love them, but man oh man! They are at the point where it's constant arguing, attitude, and fighting! I feel like I have two teenagers on my hands instead of preschoolers!

6. Do you have siblings? What is your birth order?
I have two amazing older brothers. Kacee is the oldest and Jon the middle child with me being the only girl and baby of the family :)

7. Do you like to read horoscopes or do you consider it all a bunch of bunk?
I enjoy reading them, but I don't put any stock into them...they are a bunch of bunk to me.

8. If you could live anywhere in the country (US) where would you choose?
I am exactly where I want to live! I love that the Navy put us here...now I just hope we don't have to move when he gets out next year!

9. Favorite restaurant?
BD's Mongolian BBQ I have to eat there at least once every time I go back to Michigan! Usually we get to twice or more since it is my favorite and we don't have anything that truly compares out here! Luckily we don't have to drive an hour and a half, or even 45 minutes, to get it anymore! They opened one up just 20 minutes from my mom's house! YAY!

10. Are you tech savvy?
Not savvy, but I'm not ignorant on tech stuff. My husband was a computer tech before he joined the Navy. If you put the pieces of a computer in front of me, I have a pretty good idea on how to put it together to make it work. Josh still builds his own computers. I can also set up and figure out my own iPad, iPod, camera, TV, DVD, PS3, etc. I'm just glad I don't HAVE to since Josh is usually around when we buy the new stuff and he does it for me.

11. What is your favorite outfit?
Comfortable clothes! I still wear my maternity lounge pants my Aunt Patty gave me when I was pregnant with Caralyn, just because they are SO comfortable! Baggy sweatshirts are a must in my wardrobe too! I love having lazy days where I don't really get dressed. I also love my athletic clothes. The tight stretchy pants, t-shrits, tank tops....so comfy! I just don't like them after they've been sweatified...though sometimes I'll change into new athletic clothes just so I can continue being comfortable after a workout.

Now for actual going out and doing anything kinds of clothes, I like my bigger (flowy, long) shirts and a comfortable pair of jeans. Or a long flowy dress. I'm not much into tight clothes at the moment since I don't look as good as I did back in the day.


My 11 Questions for my nominees:

1. Separation of Church and State...do you think there is such a thing anymore?
2. What is your stance on the gun "issue"?
3. What is your favorite color and why?
4. What TV shows do you watch? Any you would suggest?
5. What song can get you moving no matter what?
6. Are you religious? If so, what religion do you follow?
7. What is your favorite recipe? (Pictures welcome too!)
8. What is your favorite holiday?
9. What is your favorite form of exercise?
10. What do you like most about being a parent? Least?
11. What kinds of books do you like? What is your favorite book?

The 11 Bloggers I'm nominating:

1. Nicole at Thoughts Of A Mother
2. Angie at I Organize You
3. Jami at Little Moments Like This
4. Poe at Many Waters
5. Molly Danger at Married My Airman
6. JG at Me and My Soldierman
7. Allie at My Marine and Me
8. Momma at She Can't Shut Up
9. Julie at Soldier's Wife, Crazy Life
10. Pamela at Troop Petrie
11. Heather at Two Monkeys and a Ladybug