Bronchitis, rainy days, and the joys of being a mommy.

So it has been awhile since I've posted anything.  My daughter has been pretty sick.  We took her to the ER Tuesday night due to a fever.  After three hours of working to get it down, and a negative RSV/flu test it was finally discovered she had bronchitis.  Now when I found this out I was a bit pissed.  Not because my child was sick it was because of what happened that afternoon and previous Saturday.  Saturday we had gone to a Sgt's house to drop off unwanted baby items for his pregnant wife.  When we got there I noticed her four year old and two year old hacking all over my daughter.  She did not inform me that her children where sick when I sent her a text earlier in the day.  Now back to Tuesday.  My darling husband comes home and I tell him it feels like Monkey has a fever.  He laughs his "that's just f-ing great laugh" and says his Sgt's kids have upper respiratory infections.  The same Sgt we saw on Saturday.  Now for those who may not know this bronchitis is an upper respiratory infection.  So instead of informing me that her children were coming down with something she decides to ignore it.  Back to my now poor sick Monkey.  We get home from the ER around 1:50.  Get Monkey to bed, get ourselves to bed and everything is going good.  Husband goes in to work at 6 they send him home and we're thinking awesome.  Two of us can totally handle this sick kid.  Well the moment he walks into the room the phone rings.  He has to come back to work and go out into the field with his company because they need him.  So I'm left to deal with a sick baby.  Not too worried other then having to haul her out into the rain and cold to get her meds.  Around 10 she wakes up.  I take her temp (and let me just tell you this now, this kid is on strong trooper because I take her temp the old fashioned way if you get my drift) and its 101 already.  I gave her some tylenol and then attempted to get her to eat.  After about an hour I check it again and its now 102.  I gave her some ibuprofen (you may not know this but you can give both at the same time), a quick call to my mom, then head to the Clinic to get her meds filled.  We left at around 11:30 and did not return until almost 1.  Yea, I know, it was a long wait.

By the time we get home her temp has dropped to 101 and decides to stay there for the rest of the day and into the night.  At some point and time during that day I get a phone call from Sgt's wife bitching about how she and her kids are sick and that she needs her husband home when she wants him home.  She tells me that she is going to start calling higher ups and bitching because he should be home with her and the kids.  I inform her that my daughter is sick with bronchitis.  Her exact words to me are "Wow you have it worse then me."  Ya think?  Wednesday comes to an end with no sign of the rain stopping. 

Thursday, still one sick Monkey.  Her fever is nice to her today though.  It stays down at about 100 all day meaning no need for a fever reducer.  We were both pleased.  I didn't have to fight her and she didn't have to have some strange plastic thing squirt liquid in her mouth (other then the three times a day meds).  She played for a about an hour then pleasantly fell asleep on my chest on the couch while watching Jungle Junction.  Not gonna lie after she fell asleep I kept watching it :).  She slept for a good few hours, forcing my bladder, as well as the dogs, to be put to the test.  Thankfully the remote was within reach so I could channel surf, and both of the girls where snoozing on the couch with us.  After she wakes up I realize my phone was beeping.  Turns out Sgt's wife sent me a text hours ago.  I didn't reply simply because I was lazy, though I did have the answer to her question.

Now obviously my kid is sick.  And when she gets sick she turns into the most whinny baby alive.  Every time she falls she looks at me like its my fault and begins to cry.  Her feelings are easily hurt and she is just all around in a bad mood.  I understand this.  I've been sick before.  I have no problem with her blaming me for a fall I was no where around to have caused.  I like it when she comes whining over to me saying momma and dragging a stuffed dog three times her size.  I like to pick her up and cuddle her.  Even when she hits me in the face and throws a fit I still love it.  She's my kid.  (OK I don't love being hit in the face by my child and even if she is sick I still tell her no, my point was I still love her and want to cuddle the sickness away).  I even love (not kidding here) her following me around the house, paci in one hand and a blanket in the other whimpering momma over and over again.  She can only say a few words, non of which get her point across of why she is so upset. I however know and understand that she is sick.  So its not big deal to me if she follows me around screaming my name or simply whimpering.

 Now after dealing with a kid who has done nothing but whine and say my name over and over again (even while playing with her toys) for about an hour to two hours, my phone beeps.  It's Sgt's wife telling me that she hates the name mom and wants to change it to something long and hard to say simply so her children wont call her name.  I said good luck with that.  I personally love being called momma no matter what the reason.  And her next reply I didn't even respond to.  Yes being a mother is hard especially when you have a sick child or two in her case.  But her four year old is old enough to help mommy around the house.  She can clean up after herself and get herself something to drink and snack on.  She is able to put in a movie on her own and entertain herself IF her mother would let her.  But of course her mother has raised both her and her brother to be fully reliant on momma which means when momma is sick and needs rest or has to take care of another sick child the house falls apart.  It is not my fault you raised your children that way and now hate being called mom because your son is screaming that name in your face simply because he is two and cant explain to you or understand why he feels so horrible. 

Being a mother is difficult.  There are choices we have to make such as using the Ferber method vs the cry it out method, co sleeping vs crib, cloth diapers vs disposable, formula vs breast milk and eventually, time outs vs spanking, home schooling vs private vs public.  Its a ton of responsibility that is suddenly thrashed upon us.  A good number of us, if not all of us, have this perfect little picture painted in our heads.  We have the perfect baby who never cries, never gets sick, and has diapers that smell spring fresh when its time to change them.  We have a husband who is always in a wonderful mood, who brings home the bacon and showers us with something new and unexpected every day.  We have the perfect body, know every recipe ever written, and can multitask like no other.  The house is spotless and its always Sunny.  Sadly though this is only a dream that most days won't be come true.  As a mother and a human being I can accept this.  My child is very much the perfectly painted picture (aside from the monster she turns into while sick, but again I can handle that), my husband, while flawed is still perfect to me.  As for myself I am who I am and that wont ever change.  I am the best mother I can be and the best wife that I can be.  I married a man who chose a hard job which means I understand and can handle the fact that he cant always be there.  So what do I have to say to a woman who whines and complains that her husband can't be home on a whim and that her children aren't perfect?  Get the hell over it.

It rained Wednesday-today. My child has had a fever from Tuesday afternoon-today, though thankfully it has not been higher then 101 since Wednesday.  My poor kid is still very sick with a cough that concerns me everything time she does it.  She also has a tooth on the right side that picked now of all times to try and break through.  She cries a lot these days.  I have even considered pulling out my hair when I look over while holding a screaming baby and see my husband on the computer.  BUT I love my child and I take the good as well as the bad with a smile in my eyes and a kiss on my lips.  They may not be able to cure illnesses, but they sure can cure a sad baby.

Hello Sun you have been missed

Yesterday was a nice, warm, and sunny day.  We decided to make a trip to the play center in hopes of the outdoor play area having a swing and the indoor having some toddlers/babies for Gracie to play with.  Sadly no luck on either hopes.  So after five minutes of letting Gracie run around and play on a rocking horse we decided we'd head home, get Sammy, and go for a walk.  Monkey seemed to enjoy.  We found a field for Sammy to run around and play fetch with a very convenient preschool play ground.  Monkey swung and watched Daddy, play with Sammy.  I got her to hand over the paci without complaints so I could get some good pictures of her smiling though the above it still my favorite.  After our wonderful walk (and almost losing a ducky as well as food afghan Grandma and myself made) we headed home where Uncle was waiting for us.  By waiting I mean playing a video game.  I made us some yummy tuna burgers and the rest of the night was a kick back kind of night.  We had windows open (inside it was holding steady at about 75), feet put up, and a very happy baby.  The night before husband and Uncle has attempted to grill some burgers...we'll just say there was some technical difficulties and the first batch was ruined.  But I saved the day with the cast iron skillet.  I personally think my burgers ended up being better then theirs!  Also finally used the deep fryer that was given to us.  I know its not the healthily way to make frys, but they sure are yummy that way!  All in all pretty good weekend.  Today it was been cloudy and threatening rain, but still warm enough for the windows to be open.  Anyways I have a feeling Monkey is starting to wake up from her nap so I guess for now I'm done!

Paci's, and the downfall of the goverment. Hand me some wine.

Its by now well known that the government shut down is not going to be averted.  The picture above is of my little Monkey.  It was taken today during nap time.  This precious little girl gave up that pink thing in her mouth at four months.  Over the last few weeks, she has been waking up in the middle of the night screaming bloody murder.  When I pick her up she clings to me for dear life and will only go back to sleep if I lay her in bed with me.  I thought that maybe it was because we were staying at my parents visiting, but she's even done after returning home.  I also noticed that she was walking around with a sippie hanging from her mouth.  She wasn't drinking from it or chewing on, just holding it in her mouth.  I happen to come across some pacis the other day (we kept them because they were good to freeze and use as teethers since we had the soothie ones).  I figured I would see what she thought of it since she use to like to play with them anyways.  So I got the AVENT ones we have and handed it to her.  Sure enough she shoved that sucker in her mouth and would not give it up something she didn't even do when she had one back when she was a tiny baby.  I thought well maybe she just wants it for some reason, I'm sure she'll drop it later and forget all about it.  I was wrong.  She has since then wanted that thing no matter what.  I personally don't see any harm in it right now mainly because of what my mother said, but also because its for a 0-3 month old and I doubt its doing much damage to her teeth.  My mother told me last night when I called her explaining what was up, that she could be picking up on all of the stress that has been going around lately.  With the scare of only getting half a paycheck come the 15th (fact now) and the scare of not getting a pay check come May 1st+ I have been a little over stressed.  Sadly it would seem as if this stress has hit my kid as well.  So while my Monkey continues to soothe herself with a pink devil (that by the way she dropped into the toilet causing me to have to get down another one and have a mini freak out about germs) congress continues to try and come up with a budget plan for a man who is being a bit too picky.  Now I wont put all the blame on him, both sides refusing to budge on certain things as well.  BUT he should have had himself involved in this long before it got to the this point.  He waited until the last possible minute to get involved and that is why most likely the government will shut down tonight at midnight.  I would like to state that when you take over a country its like becoming a parent.  Its your job to do everything within your power to insure that it continues to grow and flourish.  It is not your job to sit around and let in start a downward spiral into hell.  As any good parent knows you don't punish without warrant.  So what did the military and their families do to deserve a HUGE smack in the face? (I would just like to state that I do not support smacking your children in the face.)  Bad parenting man.  And you know kids can only take so much abuse before they start hitting back and to be honest with you, your kids are pretty big in numbers.  You stop paying the boys with guns and their guns tend to turn in a new direction.  I hope for your sake you have a plan for when you kids start hitting back. 

There are very few times that I wish my husband had a different job, but today, and the days following this shut down, I wish he did.  I wish we had enough money to help our friends out who are going to be hurting (just like we are) and that we could all just sit back, poor a nice glass of wine and watch the freak show.

"It's your way or the highway"

So obviously being a military wife comes with its ups and downs.  I have a husband who is gone for a year in a war zone at times, while others he's gone to the field for weeks, or another state for a month.  He misses out on moments in our daughters life.  He misses first words and first steps, first crushes and first heartbreaks.  He puts his life on the line and for what?  To be told come April 15th he may not get a full pay check?  To be told that he has to report to duty without pay?  To now suddenly have to worry about not being able to provide for his family?  Last night while channel surfing I came across Obama talking about the budget plan.  My first thought was finally I'll get some facts.  My next thought was wow this man has screwed himself.  Not only did he keep his mouth shut tight about the military, but he also put full blame on congress saying "its not your way or the highway".  He is, correct.  Its HIS way or the highway.  Congress has come to agreements on the budget plan, he has rejected them.  This morning my poor sick husband comes in from sick call and tells me that he rejected the plan congress worked through the night to come up with.  If he wants to be picky, fine, but instead of making my husband, who fights to protect everyone in this country, give up his pay, why don't you give up yours?  I cant even begin to count the number of times I have said this.  If the government shuts down, they wont go without pay, we will.  I have a friend who is pregnant (due any time now) and she was told that if a government shut down occurs, the military hospital is frozen which means no one is there.  What is she suppose to do if she goes into labor?  How about those who live off post?  Obviously the ones who live on post will be safe from certain bill collectors (they wont turn off our power and water thank God), but what about those who pay rent, electric, gas?  Not everyone is understanding and not everyone cares for the military.  It was put out that everyone should contact their Billy collectors and inform them of whats going on.  Yea that phone call went over real well.  We have two bills outside of USAA (for those who don't know that is a military bank, fairly certain they will be understanding of the car payment not getting paid or the insurance) and my husband has talked to one of them while paying a bill a few weeks ago.  The woman had to contact her superior who then had to go up to the highest person.  No one knew what to do.  All they said is to just cancel it if it happens and find some way to pay it.  OK...so lets see...pay 90 dollars for a bill or put that towards groceries for family...hmmm...but if we don't pay that bill we'll get slammed with late fees because guess what?  They wont be that understanding.  Most places don't have something set up for a situation like this.  And you know a lot of people say well then that's why you should have savings.  Most of us are a one income family.  Our spouse is on the lower end of the food chain causing most to live pay check to pay check.  Diapers don't grow on trees (unless you get cloth which from now one every baby I have is wearing g diapers just because of this situation), formula doesn't magically appear out of thin air, and if you cant afford groceries for fresh fruits and veggies, then you cant afford the jar stuff either.  If your on WIC will they have the money to keep those checks working?  We don't know and as far as saving go, I put money in there that should pay a few bills and get us groceries but it cant last a month.  Its enough for missing one weeks of pay, after that we're screwed.  We cant afford to put more then 10 dollars a month back, and that's not a lot.  Some people will say then the non working spouse needs to get a job.  OK great, so my pay check goes to child care.  Awesome, so basically I get to get out of the house and work my ass off just so that all of the money I make goes to socializing my kid even though I can do that for free by taking her to the play center.  I love how people who aren't in this situation think.  I also love how so many people aren't preparing for it and keep saying it wont happen, they'd never let the military go without pay.  Well you live your fairytale life and I'll keep trying to live in the real one.  I hate to admit it, but the shit is about to hit the fan and when it does it will be a day to remember. 

The Monkey is a baby no more plus some yummy food talk.

I love being the mom of a mini toddler.  I love how she walks around, drinks from a sippie, and is starting to feed herself with a spoon.  I love the fact that she will more then likely be potty trained before she's two and how she just learned at this exact moment how to put the stars around the ring.  I love that she talks to me and can answer yes or no.  I love how cute she sounds when she says things like "Diaper Change" or "What's that".  I love how she likes to drink from a straw or cup and how she can bring me things she knows she's not suppose to touch.  I really love her understanding of the word no.  I think it's awesome that I have been able to make her food and give her a huge variety of things to try.  She isn't a picky eater and is willing to try different things.  I love being the mom of a mini Monkey toddler and even though she is tiny, often being mistaken for a preemie, she is still 100% perfect to me.

On to yummy food.  It occurred to me as I was standing in line at Wal Mart Sunday night that we need some new things to eat.  And of course there was a Rachael Ray magazine sitting on the stand just screaming here's your sign.  So I bought it.  Yummy yummy yummy, that is all I have to say.  Yesterday I cooked the boys a wonderful salad considering I did not have much to work with and they loved it.  It was then too that I decided we need more salads and what do I find in the Rachael Ray save the day?  A very yummy and manly salad that I intend to cook for my men.  I bought as much fresh organics as I could find today, made Gracie some very good yogurt, picked up a few other things to make her later in the week.  I am however worried that we will get into a wonderful routine of eating healthy organic foods again only to then move to a place without too many options in the way of organics.  I don't mind driving an hour away once a month, but with a 10 month old (then 13 month old) it will be a little bit on the annoying side of things, not that that will stop me.  Anyways I cant wait for my husband to come home so that way I can make him some very yummy food!  It figures that we would be apart for 2 weeks and 3 days only for me to come home, see him for 2 days, and then he gets shipped out to the field.   

Jet lag's a bitch and Men cant clean.

Oh the joys of jet lag.  Though I do have a wonderful Monkey who seems to love flying and does so great, its still exhausting.  I got up at 2:30 am, left the house at 3, stayed awake the whole car drive, got to the airport around 4:30 then finally boarded my first plane around 6.  Slept for a little while, landed and then waited over 45 minutes for our captain and flight crew to get there.  In fact we were all on the plane before the captain.  Anyways finally got back to New York and had my wonderful husband waiting for me at the gate.  The benefits of the Military.  Still didn't sleep until we got home.  Took about a 30 minute nap then didn't go to bed until a little after 9.  Today monkey and I slept the morning away.  It was actually really nice.  It was of course a rainy day, but not really stormy.  I think the sound of the rain helped to tire out Monkey more even helped her to sleep better.  I opened up the window in our bedroom and hers once we were up to let everything air out and even had the back door open.  It almost hit 60 which was pretty awesome.  Then once the fog in my mind cleared...I realized how awful my house was.  It took me an hour just to clean the kitchen which our friend claimed he cleaned (though I'm sure he did...). After that I moved on to the bathroom and all I have to say is men can't aim worth shit. From there the living room (hadn't been dusted or vacuumed the entire time I was gone) and then finally Monkey's room.  I decided to leave our room for another day.  Two and a half hours of cleaning and Monkey was awake for all of it, though she did take about a 10 minute break for some smoothie/milk before chasing the vacuum cleaner and terrified dogs all over the house.  It was amusing, she was even nice enough to follow me around with the cord so I didn't have to carry it.  All in all it wasn't too bad of a day.  Now all I need is to make out a grocery list for tomorrow (stupid commissary is closed on Mondays) and then go to bed early again for some more good sleep.  I'm fairly certain I have to get up at 3am tomorrow to take husband to work.  Oh the joys of being an army wife.

Flip flops, shorts, and tanks goodbye, hello you ugle boots.

Well today was a wonderful day (which has yet to end).  The sun is out, the temp is hanging around at 70ish and my sweet Monkey is in shorts, short sleeves and no socks or shoes.  I am enjoying the tank tops and flip flops, but as we all know, all good things must come to an end...a bitter, cold, snowy end.  WHY????  Tell me, why does Fort Drum have to have snow?  This morning while I was still snoozing away with nothing but a sheet covering me, snow was falling in Nothern New York.  I do not know if it has stuck, but with my luck I'm sure its about an inch on the groud.  One day soon we will be back in the sunny weather...but I fear it will not be soon enough for Monkey and I.  So I must sadly say goodbye to my black old navy flip flops, and hello to my black ugle winter boots.

Now it has occured to me earlier today that I have yet to delete someone from my facebook.  I should have done it months ago (around the time Monkey was hitting 4 months) but I didnt.  I should have deleted the number from my phone, and blocked it from calling me.  I should have done the same with my husbands.  I suppose I was just hoping it wouldn't have to come to this again.  I've already had to do it once before and was glad to.  As much as I hate to lose a friend I dont want to be friends with someone who insists upon drunken text messages with too much honestly.  And to be honest this persons thoughts on certian things in life have driven me beyond insane.  You hate to be controled by the man yet you expect the man to hand everything to you.  Ugh.  Anyways so as I was sitting here scrolling through the updates I again see his face and think "Man, I sure hope my husband punches him in the face."  Funny thing though I still didnt delete him. 

Now something I considered posting yesterday when it happened, but I was in a mood and really wanted to say something but could never get the words right (what a great writer I am, though I suppose one day it'll just explode onto paper).  So as my mother and I were leaving Wal Mart a voice yells from behind us "Hey do you pretty ladies need a stalker?"  Of course I turn around and who is it?  STALKER!  He was a guy I went to high school with and I always called him my stalker because he would show up everywhere I was.  I was insanly thrilled to see him.  He told me he no longer worked at Hastings (a place that use to be skater central) and that he was now woking here.  I laughed and told him I was wondering about that.  I then said "hey look I'm no longer pregnant and pointed at my daughter"  He told me he never even noticed when I was.  Then as we are loading up the car he walks by with a guy he is training and says "Hey dumbass here wanted me to tell you that you're looking good for someone who has just had a baby" It made my day. 

Goodbye flip flops and hello boots.