Happiness

Is snuggling on my couch with my babies after a long, busy, fabulous weekend.

My event at work went great.  Amazing.  There were no major bumps in the morning and everyone of the deployed spouses seemed to leave with a smile.  I even had enough volunteers.  And lot's of pie (one of the workshops was a home-made pie crust demonstration).  It was nice to see everything come together and work out (well).  Super fun, but nothing I want to do again for a few months.  I was in bed by 8 at night and slept some pretty amazing sleep.

I was able to have some awesome one on one time with the big boys this weekend, too.  Last night Nic and I went to dinner.  I told him he could choose where ever he wanted and he picked IHOP.  My little gentleman opened my car door for me, held my hand, and even sat next to me in the booth.  He also ate half my dinner, but that was completely ok with me.  This morning Matt and I grabbed some breakfast at Wright Brothers Cafe on the Airforce base.  It is one of our family's favorite spots.  It is right on the channel that goes into Pearl Harbor so there is always ships and boats passing by.  And the food is pretty yummy.  Matt and I sat and enjoyed breakfast (a bowl of cereal, milk, apple juice, 2 scrambled eggs, 2 slices of bacon, 2 pancakes, and some fruit for him and a fresh papaya and coffee for me) while watching the water.  Then we took a walk, saw some fish, and talked our deep conversations.  It was good.  I hope to do the "date" thing more often.  It is always interesting to see the world from the perspective of a child and see how different those perspectives can be from one child to the next.

We all went to the beach.  We also had a massive sunscreen fail.  We are all toasted.  Even Emers.  And I feel terrible.  I slathered the stuff on thick, and reapplied.  But the sun still got us.  Thank goodness for aloe.  But the beach was fun and I am sad we won't be going again for a while.

So, here we are...enjoying eachother's company on the couch.  Lovely.
And here are some pics from the weekend:

It's a Bunch of Pictures, Yo!

I Feel Like...

Today's post could potentially be all over the place.
Life is crazy right now, which is a good thing.  Busy, exhausted, non-stop is good.  I am in trouble after tomorrow when a huge chunk of distraction is gone.


Tomorrow the chapel is hosting a deployed spouse appreciation day.  I am event coordinator.  I am excited.  I got to come up with a fancy name--Anchored at the Heart: Deployed Spouses Appreciation Day.  I got to find a cool logo to use--

I got to set up the whole day, find volunteers, plan childcare activities, make SWAG bags, put together gift basket door prizes.  It will be fun...I hope.
I do find it a teeeeeeeeny bit funny that I am planning a day to appreciate spouses of deployed service members when I am a spouse of a deployed service member.
It has been a crazy lot of work (and a bit of stress) but has been a great point to focus on.  It has allowed me to put all my energy and worry and nerves into something positive.  So when it is over tomorrow, my big project is completed.  Which leaves me with Easter Service to work on (but that's going to be SO cake) and that's it.  All the crazy stuff at work is done.

So, I am taking on some other random projects: Chairing the boat's Homecoming Committee (which it is still so far away it seems silly now to work on it), mega house cleaning with a goal to have my first ever garage sale at the end of April, and maybe, hopefully, eventually, planning a move.  Maybe.

Through all of this, though, my kiddos are great.  I can't ask for better kids...pretty sure they don't exist.  They show such grace and friendliness and optimism.   Yeah, they are stinkers and get grouchy.  Everyone does.  But their little faces are the best part of my day.

Where in the world...

...is my husband?
This week: Japan!

Emerson

Hanging out on a Tuesday night.

Em is 6 months old...and tiny (well, tiny to me!)

Emerson is six months old.
I have no idea where that time has gone.  In some ways, it moved so slowly I felt like we were just treading water.  But mostly, the months have just rushed by until I woke up to a sweet, smiling, two-toothed wonder. He really is such a great baby.
Except.
Except for the puking.  His doctors assured me he was a happy puker at the last appointment.  That it was fine.  His body would figure it out and more solids in his diet would help.
Not so much.
I have tried a lot of things.  From altering my diet to nursing in different positions to pumping then feeding to pumping then bottle feeding to just formula.  Nothing changed.  It just got worse.  Most days, if we have no where to be, Em hangs out in a diaper.  Even with that the laundry is still overwhelming.
When I saw his growth chart at today's doctor visit, I knew that the "happy puker" business was done.  Em lost weight from his "unoffical" 5-month visit.  And only was up five "official" ounces from his 4-month weight.  He went from 88th percentile to 50th.  50th!! None of my babies have ever been so low.
So now there are meds to hopefully help with the acid.  There is a feeding plan (keep breastfeeding but add in solids 2 working up to 3 times a day).  There is an option for higher level intervention if his puking doesn't get better or if it gets worse.
I kind of feel like a failure.
I wouldn't judge another momma who struggled with her bebe's weight.  Wouldn't judge a momma who had to figure out how to feed her baby so that maybe he'd gain a little.  Wouldn't see her as any less awesome and amazing as a momma can be.
But man, am I coming down on myself so hard.  Rethinking craziness like what did I eat while I was pregnant or what if breastfeeding is really what is making him sick.
I am sure things will work out.  And Em will gain some weight.
For now, I will follow doc's orders (with a little bit of momma instinct in there for good measure).  And I will enjoy this sweet little bebe.
Emerson J likes...
...to play with his feet.
...to sing with his brothers.
...to sleep in my bed.
...his Uncle Jeff.
...to ride on planes.
...to smile at strangers.
...to roll.  Every where.
...to growl when he eats sweet potatoes.
...to chew on his squid toy.
...bath time.
...soccer on tv.
...to give big BIG hugs.

Ok Universe, I am listening...

Tonight, just as I was getting dinner plated (a rare cooking effort: applewood bacon wrapped pork medallions with balsamic reduction and a side of butter smashed squash), I believe the universe attempted to send me a message...

First, Nic dropped his full cup of milk and it splashed everywhere--soaking the wall, three bar stools, and floor. 

Then Matt dropped the new bottle of coffee creamer from the top shelf of the fridge.  The bottle shattered and creamer coated the kitchen floor and part of the refrigerator door.  

As I finished cleaning up the two dairy-based messes, I glanced at Em and noticed he had puked all over his excersaucer.  ALL over.  

So, I get that the universe is trying to get my attention. But  I am a little lost on the message.  Maybe it is to keep more paper towels in the house?