Not the same

So yesterday (I think it was yesterday) I wrote about our weekend adventure! However, I left one thing out...

I will NEVER be able to look at a Marine Corps Commissary or Exchange the same again, EVER!!! We stayed at the NAS Oceana and it was amazing! Great hotel, close to the beach, and really cool jets flying over all the time! Strange how I find comfort in that sort of stuff now???  Loud jets, artillery, machine gun fire, etc.  Anyway, we had to go pick up a few things at the NEX, and as Little would say "holy moly", it was gigantic with so much to choose from! I didn't even go on the clothing side of the store because I knew I would be crushed... I can never find anything at our exchange! It was kinda like shopping at Macy's after you have shopped at Target!!! Don't get me wrong I LOVE Target but there is a difference!!! And don't even get me started on the commissary! It was TWICE the size of our commissary! I just wanted to keep walking around and around, but Big wouldn't let me! He only has so much patience for shopping :)! I should have never gone in there, then I would have never known a difference even existed!

Oh well!

Thank You

I would just like to say Thank You to all of my followers!!! I appreciate all of you taking the time out of your day to read my not very interesting ramblings!!!

I tend to write things more like I am writing in a journal and I am know I dont spend as much time on it as I should but I am working on that!

I really appreciate your time!

Love
A

Spinning

It's been awhile and I can explain... well not really because a lot of it is personal but I will try!!!

You know that feeling you would get as a kid when you would just let yourself go and spin, spin, spin? Well, that is how it has been for me for the past few months and I cant seem to STOP it! And by the way when I was a kid spinning like that made me sick! (the kind of sick that turns you GREEN)

I feel off balance and dizzy!

How to explain...

Well I will start with how much post-deployment SUCKS for us and I cant seem to figure out why?!?!  It is by far the most difficult time for my family, don't get me wrong deployment is hard but trying to get adjusted back to a whole family after always throws us a few curve balls! (Like bean me in the back kind of curve balls)!

BUT and this is a big but, we as a family and team will make it and be better from it! We do not walk alone in this and I know God has his arms wrapped around us!

And going through all of these hard times makes me thank God I am married to this wonderful man, who will forever be my HERO and BEST friend!!!

I also wonder how many other mil families have a hard time adjusting and what they do to get back into the swing of things. Have any of you guys experienced a hard time and what helped you?

The spinning will stop eventually and we will be back to our "normal"!

Sleep

Dear Sleep,

I miss you.

Love always,

Me

Dear Motorcycle Guys

Dear Motorcycle Guys,

Seriously!!! You think it is a good idea to come zooming down 95, weaving in and out of the cars like they are traffic cones! Because I don't! First, 95 is insane at all times and you two made it worse today... I don't appreciate the fact that you raced past me so close that my three year old could reach out the window and knock you upside your head! Yes that was me who was honking and I know you probably don't care (because if you did you wouldn't drive that way) but you not only put yourselves in danger but you also put MY CHILDREN in danger! I saw you coming a mile away and was prepared for your stupid a... but what if you had driven up on a person not so ready and they jumped and the car jumped with them??? That would be it, roadkill!!! And since it was on 95, that would cause a MAJOR wreck!

You give a bad name to motorcyclist everywhere! You are the reason other motorist HATE them and don't respect them on the road! And that makes me mad b/c now you are putting my parents in danger!!! Just so you know, I love motorcycles!!! I get excited when I see them and so does my N! I think they are fun and not scary and hope to someday have one myself. But you jerks need to wake up!!! You want to race go find a track to do it on and start thinking of others for once!

Next time I will call the police! SLOW DOWN and RESPECT others on the road!!!

Sincerely,

A

Weird post I know but today while I was driving home one of these guys almost slammed into the back of me! SCARY!!! I wish there had been a policeman nearby...

7 months ago today

WOW!!!

I cant believe that it has been

7 months!

My little M is getting so big so fast

and it is so bittersweet!

She sat up the other day all by herself

and I

cried!!!

Yes, I know it should be and is a very happy moment but then comes the bitter part...

she's changing so

FAST!

When people say that is goes so quickly, I don't always believe them.

But for some reason with my little bug it is just flying by!

J's deployment didn't go fast and I think I wanted N to hit all the milestones that I rushed him a bit!

So with her I have been VERY laid back and not pushy on anything! But that doesn't stop it,

AT ALL!

So, I have read a few other birthday stories and I thought I would share mine

(most have been at the six month mark, but we were moving).

7 months ago today I was

GRUMPY and UNCOMFORTABLE!

See with N I delivered at 38 weeks and my little bug decided she wanted to go all the way to her due date, well almost...

she came at 39 wks and 6 days!

My mom was staying with me b/c J was deployed, so we got up and decided to go get donuts at DD!

We watched N put two marines in there place!!!

And made plans for the rest of the afternoon!

Bowling, lunch, nap...

Called my girlfriend (also one of my birth partners) and we decided to go bowling on our side, she has two boys and N and her oldest are best buddies!

Bowled, ate some nachos, and my J called!!!

Talked to him, he had some very exciting news and then had to get back to work!

Time check: 1245

Not 5 minutes after I got off the phone did I have my first contraction...

go figure!

Had been having braxton hicks for about two wks but this was

DIFFERENT!

Left the bowling alley.

Got home at about 1300/1 pm

The contractions were about 15 minutes apart for about 3 contractions, then they went to 8 minutes apart

and boy they were

STRONG!!

Decided to take a shower and see if they would settle down,

the moment I stepped into the shower they jumped to

3 minutes!!!

I showered QUICKLY and got out and found my mom...

time to go

Time check: b/t 1430 and 1445 / 230 and 245

Got to the hospital at about 1500/300

Triaged and admitted at a 5

I knew something was weird in triage b/c my contractions were not being picked up on the monitor.

Walked across the hall to my labor room (this took about five minutes)

got in bed and all hell broke loose!!!

M did not like labor

In the 5 minutes it took me to walk across the floor I dilated to an 8

Corpsman couldn't start my IV

Baby not participating well = NO DRUGS

Broke my water and placed a scalp electrode

Was put on O2

Placed in the most uncomfortable position (hands and knees)

Docs trying to talk to me in full blown labor

Seriously, could have signed away my first born!!!

Got the all clear to turn back over

Midwife did not believe me that I needed to push

5 minutes later

WELCOMED BABY GIRL M!!!

I was in labor for all about three hours, pushed twice and delivered my baby girl super fast!!!

What a glorious day and I thank God everyday that he has blessed me with my N and M!

So time flies and I have learned that I have to slow down and cherish every little blessing...

the tears, smiles, meltdowns, and giggles!!!

I am sorry this was such a long post, but I wanted to share!!!

ps J called that night b/c my rockstars in the room with me took some great pics and emailed them to him right away, he couldn't believe it happen so fast and was over the moon!

Silly Bandzzzzz

So, I do not even know how N knows all about these things

but he does and he gets very

EXCITED

whenever we walk passed them at any store!!!

I

really didn't even think about getting him some

until recently...

like yesterday!!!

We are having some discipline ISSUES!!!

He wont listen, he wakes up his sister, he has major meltdowns over the

tiniest

things, and I am ready to pull all my hair out!!!

The list of things that we have tried is:

1. Time out

(doesn't work)

2. Taking away "privileges"

(which really only punishes ME)

For example, if I say he cant go outside b/c he woke up M, I am stuck inside with a whiny three year old!

3. Yelling

(horrible, I know but I am working on it)

and finally

4. Spanking

(which I HATE and doesn't WORK)

There is something about hitting my child that I just cant quite come to terms with, don't get me wrong there are certain situations that need quick and immediate punishment,

but I struggle with it either way!!!

I am not trying to start a debate just listing what we've tried

:)

So, back to the reason I am writing!

SILLY BANDZ

Who knew they could be such a GREAT reward for my N!!!

He loves them and has had great behavior!!!

I was able to go to the commissary today

without

ONE

meltdown!!!

Not even an argument over sitting in the cart!!!

My heart is smiling!

I just pray that it last and we are on the path to peace

and a little bit of sleep and rest

for

M!!!