tiiiiiiiiiiiiired, but well

Okay, here they are. Like 200 mostly unedited pictures from the last two months- which have feasibly been the most crazy of my adult life. Well... well, yeah! Some are from our last days in Santa Rosa at Howarth Park after Randal's surgery, then from our roadtrip, then to the RAD tours of Salem, water fights at Kirsten's, mini-golfing in Md, some house pics from before we moved in, pictures of the park near where Randal's boat (ship!) docks... whew! I tried to at least label them so they're not TOO confusing. Perhaps I'll get them cropped and edited someday and write more than a little blurb, but tonight, I've actually spoken to most of you who will read this within the last 48 hours, so I'm doing pretty well. We love it here, love the house, love the weather (including the crazy thunderstorms, but in a respectful-stay-the-hell-inside sort of way) and Randal's unit is within walking distance. Woo! I've joined a mom's group to try and meet some new folks, though there are a lot in our neighborhood, too. Annika is signing up a storm -so awesome!- and the boys have made fast friends with the neighborkids. Holy crap. I'm going to fall over. But first Randal is going to feed me. When I'm awake someday I'm going to try an entry in phonetic Bostonian- THAT should be fun! =] I hope you all are well, I apologize for the lack of picture quality, but the sheer mass should make up for something!

Love and hugs to everyone...

Julie

Oh yeah! Quotes and such: "The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family." Thomas Jefferson

Easter @ Gram's

Annika's 1st Birthday

Day @ Salmon Creek

Day @ Howarth Park

2008, hard to rate

     Hello and Happy New Year!! Okay- so first, I have to admit I'm writing solely to excuse myself from doing laundry or dishes or vacuuming, picking up the boys rooms or my own or wiping down the counters or bathrooms, sweeping or mopping- you get it. I suppose I'm feeling the housework all the more since Randal is still in the beginning of his MOTHERFLIPPING RIDICULOUS masting (which I will refrain from getting into in effort to keep this on a positive note) and I find myself slightly overwhelmed with the sudden responsibility of the house and his general absence in it. He had two weeks off during Tobin's winter break from school (and directly prior to this GOLLYGOSHDARNTOOTIN STUPID masting) which was SO well deserved and needed as individuals, as a couple and a family. Unfortunately, spending so much time just focusing on building ourselves and our relationship was SO wonderful and healing and renewing, it makes it infinitely harder to pop back into our other lives where we must work -and live- independently from each other. It's quite a balance to strike, let me tell you! Well, I suppose I am telling you.
     It was so all-around invigorating to have those long, intricate, honest and fueled conversations- it was so relaxing to be able to lay on each other next to the fire after the kids are asleep, reading separate books, speaking only intermittently. It was so convenient to have him able to get something from the store on his way home, so I don't have to wait until Annika's not sleeping and lug three kids out for one thing- especially in this rainy season! (thought we've hit a sunny patch again- hooray!) I miss crossing paths mid-house and exchanging a quick (or not) kiss, hug or look...
     I can't imagine what it's going to be like in another year when Annika is almost 2 and he's going overseas again. It took me almost a full minute to even type the end of that sentence. I'd love to be dignified and tell you it's his duty and he's a hero for supporting our country and it's what's best... but when pondering dignity vs. honesty, I'll almost always choose the latter. The truth is that I absolutely hate it. The truth is I'm scared of him being there and of me being here and I'm so frustrated and angry that in order for us to afford to live here (and/or to move anywhere else we CAN afford) he has to go there. *Sigh* ...and so I'm here, letting my brain diffuse so I can function.
     Aside from the $#@*ing (insert witty and particularly sour explicative here) masting, things are going wonderfully. I hope you all enjoyed our first family newsletter, and if you didn't get one, give me your address and I'll print one up for you! =] The kids are growing so much every day and they're so fun to be around. The boys are boys, which I am constantly learning the meaning of, coming from a family of all girls. (Seriously, even my parents each only have one sister, who in turn, has a daughter. Okay- my dad's sister also has a son. Both aunts are like 5' tall, too! But I digress...) They do everything from coloring to swordplay (the line blends, even there- another thing I've learned from having boys is that EVERYTHING resembling anything that can point is a sword/gun/lazer beam projector/weapon of mass destruction) full force! Thankfully, there are some rad TV shows (Aiden loves SuperWhy on PBS and Tobin loves Beakman's World) and we have recordable TV so I can put it on whenever and fast forward all the commercials. ("Eeew! Mommy, it's the advertisers again!") I never thought I'd say it or do it, but sometimes, TV can save a working (aren't we all?) Mother's sanity. Just twenty minutes... just twenty minutes... (which is all they are without commercials, dagnabit!) becomes a calming mantra.
     In other news, Annika is 10 months old today! She is also closer and closer to crawling- I'd even go as far as to say that she really made her very first full crawl this morning! She did a set of two complete hand-and-knee cycles, completely kitty-fueled. I'd also go as far as to say that 'kitty" is her first word. She says "Ee-dee!" VERY excitedly whenever she sees either one of ours. Jack, who is two weeks younger than Annika, is very tolerant of her and she is surprisingly gentle with him. Of course, my experience is with the aforementioned boyness. Go figure!
     I just finished making my hot chocolate... (I can't make it like Randal, but it's still so good!) I've been trying to factor some unwind time into my day, as it becomes more apparent after a few days of Randal gone that I do, indeed, need a break. Even if I have to keep myself awake for it. I suppose that's where the good ol' cocoa comes in- just enough caffeine to keep me awake enough to know what relaxation feels like again before I drop like a.... well, an effectively single mother of three! I'm not sure what else drops like that except a single mother of four or more. (bless you, Linda!) Sheesh. At least I have an end. Even if the means is because of something COMPLETELY PREPOSTEROUS. *Ahem.* I'd apologize, but this is my soapbox and I wish I could Robin Hood my love back to me, but this is all I've got. Perhaps Tobin can invent something in the future along with a time machine to bring it back here, yeesssss, YYYEESSSSS... okay, okay... The chocolate is kicking in, and the line between sleep and awake is blurring. It's also where Tinkerbell lives, so I'll be sure to check for her on my way up the stairs. Ohhhh, jeez. I need adult contact!

goodnight to you all... and, of course, your quote for the day:

"Management means, in the last analysis, the substitution of thought for brawn and muscle, of knowledge for folkways and superstition, and of cooperation for force. It means the substitution of responsibility for obedience to rank, and of authority of performance for the authority of rank." Peter Drucker.

oh, fine:
"We could never learn to be brave and patient if there were only joy in the world." Helen Keller

Happy Holidays from our home to yours! =]

October pics... while it's still October?!

Yes, these are indeed pictures of me and my boys (and Ethan, who was my borrowed boy until I had my own :) holding Tobin's new snake, Alex/ He is a garter snake, who only eats minnows, whioch I plop into his waterdish and walk away. I remember my dad fishing with minnows when I was a kid, so it doesn't freak me out much. Also, his tongue-flicking is minimal, which really helps- that still creeps me out a bit. Aiden just goes for it, so I ask him to help me get him out (can you believe I have to ask my THREE year old for help?!) but after the initial wigglywindiness, he just wants to be still and is REMOTELY cute. Alright, to bed with me- I have to volunteer in Tobin's school library in the morning... well, later this morning. Oi. Bed. 

September Pics, now that it's October...

Ohh, insomnia, how I love thee. At least I got the pictures edited and up, eh? :) I'm too bleary-eyed too explain most of them, but there are some playing at home ones, some baptism ones and some from when Grammy spoke in Tobin's class for Teddy Bear week. She did that in MY class when I was (around) his age! :) That was really special, and so was the beautiful dress Grammy's sister, Aunt Dotty made for Annika- all in the same weekend- what a talented pair! Whew. Okay, I'm going to try and get some more up from THIS month, if I can see straight that long... I wish I could find the time to sit and just write and write about all the adolrable, wonderful (and stressful and hectic) things that happen here everyday, but I'm too busy doing them and I'm on my third child- I know that Annika is going to be the last one for me and that sh'es going to be grown before I know it- I'm not wasting even one second that I could be pressing my lips to those chubby pink cheeks clickety clacking on this goofy thing! I hope you are all well, I will write when I can-  I know you are probably sick of hearing it, but if you had my brilliant boys and beautiful baby, you'd never stick your face in a computer, either. :) Until next time...

The pictures get better and better as they progress, so don't worry. This is my first attempt to come up for air in quite awhile and I'm exhausted! Three kids is... eh, wow. Busy! Fun and a lot of other things, too. Annika a so sweet and mellow and HUGE! She chunked out in like a week! Her eyes are turning lighter blue and her hair is still dark but thinning. Tobin started kindergarten at a new school this year and is sporting his new glasses (as am I) in some of the pictures. The girl with red hair is our friend Megan (who some of you might remember lived with our family in '01) who now has her own huge adorable 9 month old, David. The OTHER couple is Genery, my best friend from high school and her husband, Geoff, visiting from Pennsylvania. Hooray! Aiden is doing well, swordfighting all the bad guys in the backyard, reminding me that he is, "SO riginal", which, of course, he is.

Oh my gosh, I'd love to write about so many things, but the truth of the matter is that there's Harry Potter is upstairs and I haven't had a chance to get past the part where they leave the house! ...which is in the very, very beginning of each book, for you non-HP readers, if you exist. J.K. Rowling is like the wealthiest person in the UK right now COUNTING the queen. Crazy. Okay. And now I'm going to go read that book, which is why. :)

love, peace & veggies to you all- ooh! Look what I learned how to do! <br> <a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f257/imovethisfast/drseussquote.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>

Annika slept through the night!!

Oh, and she's the sweetest baby ever, Exhibit A:

 

She is SO gosh darn cute. I love having a little girl!! Everyone is doing well, Randal is off his IV meds and is at his first day back working at the winery as I type. I *LOVE* the big pic of Annika, getting kisseed by her ever-lovin' Daddy- those two are so incredibly sweet together, it's palpable how special they are to each other. They boys are enjoying the warmer weather, although I've got my first patchwork sunburn from playing at the pool with Amber & Gabby yesterday (sorry, no pics of mommy's first bathing suit excursion- I don't care HOW skinny you think I am.... just go riiiight on thinking.) The Health & Harmony Fair is this weekend, you can bet on pictures from that, though! Baby's First HippieFest- you KNOW that one has a spot in the baby book... as soon as I get one. And, you know, a camera. At least my phone is there to capture the moment, even if it's not fully encompassed in all of its asthetic glory.

In other news, we have found a new house and will be moving at the end of the month! Although I paticularly detest moving in general, (I JUST got everything settled at THIS house!) the new house has twice the living space with the 2nd floor and twice the yard space as well with (white picket) fenced front & back yards. It also has four bedrooms- the first time either Randal or I will have lived in a house with adequate bedrooms for each person, something that we both feel really good about. I think it will smooth things out especially in Tobin's world, who will benefit from having his very own space to be responsible for and close the door to when he feels the need.

This also means I get to decorate my very first little GIRL'S room! I'm a bit perplexed, having never done such a thing, but I'm pretty sure it involves lots of fairies, MeMa's (my maternal great grandmother) rocking chair and little tiny things that make people go, "Awwww..." Not too much pink, though. I'm thinking light greens and Mother Goose things- I really like vintage toys and plaques and things, especially for nurseries. We don't have a crib yet but we do have the cradle that their Grandpa Ray made, which was used by their cousin Dominic and Aiden and now Annika, too. Hooray for a place for my ceramic fairies I've accumulated over the years! (actually, Miss GabbyDoodle aquired quite a few of them, but still...)

The master bedroom has dual shower heads, his & hers closets and sinks as well as a 6' soaking tub. HECK YES. The carpet is old and blue, which is much more suited to little children than the white (oh, the horror) that we have now. Our current landlady is thinking of selling the house anyhow, so it seems to work out for the best on everyone's ends. It's closer to the freeway and to KJ for Randal and also closer to Kira's & Amber's houses, which is nice for me. :) To top it off, it's on a court for the boys to ride their bikes in and the rent is $100 less! *ahh*

Things are going well, despite all of the crazy little things that pop up here and there... but that's what life is, you know? The boat is constantly rocking... sometimes it's soothing and rhythmic enough to rock us to sleep, sometimes a storm comes out of nowhere and all we can do is find something to grab onto to keep our feet somewhere near the ground. I hate to take a meatphor and run, but Randal is such a wonderful anchor- I love how all of us in our little family fulfill our individual roles, even the kids and the cats. Our day to day life is so joyful and full of love, I am thankful everyday for them and our extended family, who keep us floating when it gets really crazy. You guys are all such blessings in your own ways- thank you for being a part of this crazy voyage! ...okay, enough sea-baring likenesses. Ahoy!

Quick Update

Randal will be released on IV meds this evening, with homecare (a RN coming to our house to check his blood & give him an IV) for 7-10 dys. Hooray!!

Post- Surgery Update

Putting the pics physically into the entry is the only way I've found to outsmart the counfounded new photo system on this contraption, so here they are over the last two days...

Randal, passed out after surgery- at which point a gave him a manicure and a pedicure (might as well take advantage of his multiple days of bootlessness and unlimited supply of rubber gloves! :) and laminated a sticker of a sunshine on his beautifully filed and buffed good big toe- the other one is so nasty, I figured make the other one pretty! Uh- I mean manly. Fun. Festive... heh heh. ;) I wasn't able to snap a shot of it, since he woke up and said, "What the hell is that star doing on my toe?" to which I lovingly replied, "It's a sun, not a star... what did you expect me to do with you passed out for two hours?" I mean hey- at least I didn't put shaving cream on his hand and tickle his nose or anything!

     

Aiden, having figured out the secret to harnessing the power of the heater vent in the morning...

 

the boys, picking flowers for Gram

Suiting up to visit Biohazard Man

I didn't know it was possible to be without normal human contact, edible food & direct sunlight on a melee of drugs and still look so handsome! 

 

hanging in scrubs...

 

playing Sterile Uno

 

His surgery went well- they just removed all of the skin from the affected area- essentially, there's a 2x3inch area about a 1/2 inch deep around the joint of his left big toe that is an open wound right now- they just had to cut away all the skin, since the inside was simply serving as a breeding ground for the bacteria. Yum. Hopefully, he'll be released Thursday and continue to receive IV antibiotics for about two weeks or so. If that's how to get a paid vacation out of the Coast Guard, so be it! :) I'm sorry he had to hurt, but at least now they have him on pretty strong pain meds, so it's mostly manageable now. He has to stay off of it for at LEAST a week- we'll see how he deals with that! Luckily he's got a thick head of hair, so when he starts ripping it out it won't be *too* noticeable...

We are managing to stay aflout at home, thanks to the help of my wonderful parents who have both helped in so many ways over the past few days so that I could be with Randal in his germ infested incarceration.THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!! I will try and add more updates when I can- thank you all for your coninual thoughts and blessings.

Randal's Foot Info

I'm nursing and typing one handed, so forgive the shortness. Randal is having surgery to open and clean out the infection in his toe, which seems to be some crazy resistant strain of staph. It has gotten into his tendon and possibly his bone, which would mean complete loss of the use of it. He'll go in at 10:30 and it should take only about 20 minutes or so if all goes well. I have to suit up in a beauteous yellow gown and gloves to visit- everyone around him looks like they're in biohazard suits and he feels a bit like a leper, but hopefully after this morning he'll be on the road to healing, where they won't have to repack his wound two or three times a day. Ouch! Okay, my arm is incredibly sore and I've got to get going, anyhow. Call me or check here for more info- Randal will likely be trying to rest- I never thought I'd have to write THAT in my journal! Please send your thoughts/prayers/well wishes/good vibes/good luck charms/shaamanic visions, etc our way & I'll try and keepb you guys posted. Thank you!

 

Just in case you missed it...

 *shudder*

 

 

AOHell has decided to revamp their pictures and there's nothing I can do about it, except let you know that if you click on the pictures, it should bring you to some sort of non-moving album. These are just a couple of pics from recent days, posted mainly so y'all can see the horror that is Randal's left foot- he has a boil on his toe that got infected and turned into cellulitis and HURTS. He's out of work for almost a week, though, which is good... although keeping him resting is QUITE the chore. Eew, okay, back to the epsom salts. Ugh.

Pictures of my sleeping babies (of various sizes-I had to document it!) and playing boys (also of various sizes :) Someday, I swear, I will write. We had SO much fun last night after discovering a playground with trikes- I haven't laughed so hard in I can't tell you how long! I hope you all are well and enjoy looking at these pictures as much as I did taking them! :)

your new favorite pictures

kittiiiieeeeees!!

I had to get some pictures up of my other babies as well...

Welcome to Procreation Central

Our house is full of wiggly newborns, finally getting used to having their eyes open. I promise I will make a valiant effort to write more during their  (blessed, blessed) 'quiet time' today- the pics are from yesterday (Annika's first official month!) in the morning, and in the afternoon when we went to the beach. Someday I'll get a real camera, but once again, these are all from my phone so they're not the best quality, but here they are, regardless! I hope you all are well- the tiredness is creeping up on me (and I daresay Randal as well, even though he'll never admit it) but the kids (including the newly awakened three kittens) are all happy and FULL of BOUNDLESS energy!! SEE? SEE MY PEPPINESS?!? At least I'm making good use of the espresso machine we got us for xmas.  Oy. .. I mean joy. Really. :)

Spring has sprung

I figured I'd better get some more pictures up, seeing as in two days, she'll be three weeks old (really? man...) and I haven't updated much... our cat, Minnie, ("but it's Minerva when she's in trouble" Tobin says) had a litter of three on my shoes yesterday. That's love for you. I have since cleaned in my closet and put in a towel for them- although 4 newborns in the bedroom isn't so great for Randal's sleep! I'm so tired, I just pass out unless Annika's gruntling and hungry, in which case I wake up enough to reattach her on the other side and pass back out again, just like she does. She's starting to be a little more awake now, which is fun. I took one of the pictures from the back so you can see her awesome little hairdo, which stops at the top of her head and fades to tiny blonde hairs and some shorter, finer brown ones. We'll see how she ends up! I feel like I'm missing so much by not writing it down, but I feel like if I stop to write it, I'll miss even more and I KNOW better this time. I try to get Randal to just sit and hold her for a while because I'm not sure if he really gets how quickly they grow... maybe it's more of a mama thing.

Either way, I'm getting back to the munchkins... we had our first outing together to Target today and I'm still recovering. Love to you all and updates on our babies soon! :)