Housing

We met with the housing people and we are debating on whether to live out in town or on the base. We had really low hopes for a decent base house and they will only give us a 2 bedroom (until and if I become pregnant we could move to a 3). We found a house on the airbase near Ron's work and looked at some private rentals out on town. We're pretty sure we'll go with base housing but here are the pros and cons....please comment with ideas or advice if you can!!!

BASE HOUSING PROS:

Free utilities
Laminate floors
Gated (actually on a base)
Our area, not bad looking
Island = 30 min to everywhere
fenced back yard
Close to work
Totally safe
Shaded sidewalks (lots of trees)
Cooler weather (in the mountains)
More overcast days (good for my skin)
Save $$$ to travel
Have extra pocket $$$


BASE HOUSING CONS:

Two bedroom :(
Older duplex
Area kind of dumpy in parts
Small and will downsize furniture
No garage
Far away from beach (well maybe 30 min)
Cooler weather (winter nights = 55-60)
More rain
Maybe no guest bed


RENTAL HOUSE PROS:

3 bedrooms + den
brand new
2 car garage
fenced back yard
close to water
nicer weather
nicer than our ATL home
Guest bedroom

RENTAL HOUSE CONS:

Rent is more than our housing allowance
Utilities extra $200 or so
Not gated
Not as overcast (bad for my skin)
No $$$ for travel
No extra pocket $$$


Do we sacrifice luxury and some of my material things and live in a smaller, less nice home but travel to Australia, Vietnam or Korea, and home? Or do we live somewhere we can afford (just) and keep our ATL living standards?

I think I may have answered my own question as anyone who knows us knows we love love love to travel! I still need imput though!!

In The Dark

My computer crashed with a major virus yesterday. We've been using the hotel's internet line but obviously there isn't much protection. I'm at the hotel's internet cafe and Ron has promised he'll try to fix my laptop. (We might have to buy a copy of Windows) Until then, I won't be able to post any pics. I hope we're back up and online soon. ...this 10 cents/minute internet thing sucks!

It's so beautiful here! We are off to meet with the housing office tomorrow to see about places they have available.

Hanging by the Pool

Hanging in the Hotel Room

Ford Island

We are staying at the Navy Lodge on Ford Island in the middle of Pearl Harbor. It's a historic navy site and as we cross this bridge to the island, we pass the USS Arizona on our left. (a ship sunk by the Japanese and a memorial is over it, you can go out to it and see it just under the surface...very creepy I think.) Ford Island is beautiful! This is the area around the hotel, and if it looks familiar, I believe it's where they filmed the hospital scenes from the movie "Pearl Harbor".

Good Morning

This is what we woke up to this morning. Ella rolled off the bed on Wednesday onto the laminate flooring in the basement. She screamed but I was able to calm her down easily. She didn't seem "damaged" from the fall just scared. Last night, after we got in and gave her a bath, I noticed her left side of her head is black and blue with a huge bruise. I just couldn't see it with all her hair. I called her pediatrician and was told to go get it checked out but because she doesn't seem different in personality and that it's been a couple of days she's probably fine. I felt so sick to see her all banged up. We're going to get her checked out just to make sure. Do moms ever not feel horribly guilty when their children are hurt?

We're Here!!!!

We flew into Honolulu at 2pm local time after a 9+ hour plane ride. Ella was so good. I nursed her as we took off and landed to prevent any ear discomfort. She slept a good chunk of the way and was flirting and chatting with everyone. People love babies! (well non-crying babies on planes...there were a few that weren't so good and they made Ella looked especially perfect).

It really was unbelievable that we were actually moving here. It wasn't until we landed and saw the turquoise water and swaying palm trees that it hit us. It really is beautiful here, the airport was gorgeous with all sorts of flowering trees and plants. So far what we've seen has looked like a post card! We picked up the rental car and checked into the Navy Lodge. We are on Ford Island in the middle of Pearl Harbor. Our hotel (extended stay) looks over a palm tree speckled grassy area, over the water and into Pearl Harbor. GORGEOUS!!!

We are exhausted and getting ready to bathe and hit the bed.

Aloha Georgia!

Tonight is our last night in Georgia. Grandpa came down today from Toronto to see us off. We had lunch at Moe's for the last time :( and tonight we all had dinner together, all the grandpas, grandma and great grandma. We are so excited about Hawaii in the morning and are in the process of shoving the last of our things into a suitcase. I hate packing for an airplane, things inevitably leak or tear or scrunch. Hopefully we've used enough ziplock bags to avoid that!

Georgia has been wonderful to us. I have had an opportunity to get to know and love Ron's family and really feel at home here. It's been so great sharing Ella with everyone, we will miss that.

To all our friends, we will be in touch and are awaiting news of your vacation plans :). Goodnight y'all. ALOHA!!!!

Letter to Nolan

Dear Nolan,

Thank you for being such a fun friend to shop, have lunch and play with. I am sad to be leaving Georgia and all my friends but very excited to see the beach...and the ocean too. Mommy and Daddy said you can come visit and stay with us any time you want. Maybe when you get too cold in the snow in Boston you can come for a vacation. You'll have to tell me all about the snow. I will have no idea about it for many years, I'm sure. Maybe you can teach me how to build a snowman. And, I can teach you all about the beach and sandcastles and sand in your diaper.

Well, Nolan, good luck with crawling, walking and talking and all the other stuff we have to learn. I'm sure going to miss you but I'll let Mommy tell me all your stories when she reads your blog. Have fun in Boston!!!!! I really am sorry about hogging all your toys.

Love,
Ella xo xo


ps. Oh yeah, here's Mommy's list:


√Pedicure and manicure
√Haircut and highlights
√Pack Ella's Clothes
Pack suitcases
Mail Forwarded

Plays Well With Others - Needs Improvement

Ella had a date this afternoon. Nolan's parents went to close on their house so we went over to play with Nolan for the afternoon. I, of course, took lots of pictures and watched as Ella totally bullied her way to all Nolan's loot. Check out the pictures where Nolan is playing with one of his toys, next picture, it's Ella's. Every time Nolan had a toy, Ella found interest in it and would take it from him.

Now, just to be kind of fair to Ella, Nolan was such a gentleman and wouldn't care that Ella had it. Slowly, Ella built up a pile of Nolan's toys until there was nothing left to take, so she reached over and tried to take Nolan! She had him by the shirt and tried to pull him over to her. Nolan finally had enough of Ella's antics and began to holler! I don't blame him. Just like a woman, isn't she Nolan, you give her everything and she's still not satisfied!

Nolan was such a sweet boy. (I think I want a boy for the next time around, but what to do with all this cute girl stuff?) Ella, on the other hand was good just not about to share. I hope this isn't a sign of things to come when she is graded on how well she plays and shares with others. It might be time for a few hours a week of daycare once we're in Hawaii.

Time's Running Out...

We went to the urologist today for Ella's appointment. Her prognosis is really good. Typically, because her reflux isn't at all severe, she has an 85% chance of outgrowing it within the year. The specialist put her on some antibiotics that only enter the urine to prevent UTI's, so we don't have to medicate her whole body. As we're leaving for Hawaii, the doctor gave us the name of another pediatric urologist who finished her residency at this office but is now in Hawaii at the military hospital. Small, small world!

Four more sleeps!

√Ella's urology appointment
√Ella's prescription refills
Pedicure and manicure
Haircut and highlights
Pack Ella's Clothes
Pack suitcases
Mail Forwarded
√Contact Utility Company

Letter From Ella

Dear Grandma,

You have walked 60 miles in three days. You have shown your strength and your determination in your walk to find a cure. For each step walked and each dollar raised, you gave hope that one day breast cancer will no longer plague our gender. You are an inspiration to your family, your friends, your co-workers. I know how hard you have worked to accomplish this goal and I am so proud of you! To cheer you on and to see you at the finish line meant the world to me. I am glad that I was able to be there to show you how much you are loved and how proud I am that my Grandma walked for the cure. (I know Mommy and Daddy are so proud, and Granddad told me he was too!)

Grandma, you are my shero. You are kind, loving, compassionate, supportive and encouraging. I am very blessed and I am thankful everyday I get to spend time with my Grandma. Thank you for being an inspiration, for spoiling me with love and especially for being the best Grandma a girl could ask for. I love you!!

Love, Ella

Go Grandma!!!!

This morning we were up early to pick up Grandma Beasley so we could meet Dawn on her 3-Day walk. The four of us got up to North Atlanta just in time to cheer on her and her walking mates. Burrrr! It was a chilly morning.

Dawn started her walk for breast cancer yesterday morning and slept out at the campsite last night. I'm sure the cold weather and a tent would have been enough for me...Ron is on his way to pick Dawn up after her second day of walking. We'll take her back in the morning so she can finish Day 3 and the 60+ mile walk. I take it back, give me a tent any time, the 60+ miles would have been the clencher. We'll meet her at the closing ceremonies tomorrow and celebrate such a great accomplishment.

After seeing Grandma, Ella, Ron, Grandma Beasley and I headed over to Uncle David's for a quick visit and then had lunch at Chili's. It was a long and busy day. We are so proud of Dawn and all her hard work! GO GRANDMA!!!!!!







√ Grandma's 3-day walk
Ella's urology appointment
Ella's prescription refills
Pedicure and manicure
Haircut and highlights
Pack Ella's Clothes
Pack suitcases
Mail Forwarded
Contact Utility Company

Ear Piercing

We took Ella to her doctor's office to get her ears pierced. I decided if I didn't do it now, we'd have to wait til she was 10. It's much easier to do it now when she won't remember it, then try to do it when she's a toddler. It really wasn't bad at all. Nothing worse than taking her for her shots. Ella was a trooper! She freaked out for a few seconds right after her ear was pierced but then was fine. She's been napping and went to bed with no real problem. She's fine and isn't bothered in the least. I can even clean them with rubbing alcohol and she could care less. I love them, she's so pretty!

Do you see what I mean about her teeth! Every time we see her smile we swear they're getting bigger!!!!

Check out this list...it's shrinking!!!!!!

√ Get Ella's ear's pierced
Grandma's 3-day walk
Ella's urology appointment
Ella's prescription refills
Pedicure and manicure
Haircut and highlights
Pack Ella's Clothes
Pack suitcases
Mail Forwarded
Contact Utility Company

Yeah Daddy!

This morning at the crack of dawn I went down to the social security office to correct my birthdate (whoever initially typed it had a 2 instead of 5). I was second in line outside the door and made the mistake of saying good morning to the older gentleman ahead of me. For 45 minutes I had got to listen to one of southern Georgia's "good ole boys" discuss the woes of the good ol' USA. Taxes, immigration, government, cell phones, Mexicans. Oh, good lord it was a long 45 minutes.

"Yer taxed on yer money and they take more tax on yer retirement."

"Them Mexicans just comin' o'er the border, no legal nothin' 'bout 'em." (dirty look to the Mexican family joining the line).

"They take our farmland to build houses for these people and then how'r we gonna git our food?"

Quite frankly I think people who complain about this, need to re-evaluate all the things they do have. I will pay taxes all day, everyday to live in a country where I am free to love, live, marry and have children with whomever I want. The freedom to say what I want without risking the lives of myself or my family; my safety from daily horrors like torture, genocide, gang rape by soldiers; my ability to work and study as I choose, are worth more than any amount of money the government can take from my check (well, Ron's check :) hee hee). I told this man as politely as I could, he should be grateful for his freedom to complain about these things and thankful that he doesn't live in say North Korea or Darfur, Congo or Rwanda perhaps. Anyway....

This afternoon, Ella and I went with Ron to his old office to see him presented with an award and a medal. Yeah Daddy!! It's always nice to see Ron's old co-workers and we are soooooo proud of him. How handsome is he!
"We love you, Daddy!"


√ Fix window sensor
Get Ella's ear's pierced
Grandma's 3-day walk
√ Hire property manager
Ella's urology appointment
Ella's prescription refills
Pedicure and manicure
Haircut and highlights
Pack Ella's Clothes
Pack suitcases
√ Social Security Office

Baby Kisses

Today we worked on this list and are able to check a couple more things off. Ella is chatty and happy watching me type. She's so good, I can't remember what life was before her. She's been eating teething biscuits and she loves them. If you ask her for some and open you mouth she'll try to share with you, but it usually ends up mushed into your nose. That's okay, it's the thought that counts! :)

Ella has learned so much in the past week. We have repeated a lot of things with her since she was born and she's finally able to respond with total understanding. She can "Paddy Cake" with you when you sing, feed you when you open your mouth, and my favorite, she loves to gives kisses when you ask for one. Awwwww!


Fix window sensor
√ Clean stove
Get Ella's ear's pierced
Grandma's 3-day walk
√ Refinance house
Hire property manager
Ella's urology appointment
Ella's prescription refills
Pedicure and manicure
Haircut and highlights
Pack Ella's Clothes
Pack suitcases

Teeth and Head Bumps

Ella is teething, it's official. Saturday night she was up all night beginning at midnight; Sunday night I caved in and gave her some Tylenol at 12:30 am and she slept the rest of the night; and last night at midnight, she woke up crying but this time I was able to rock her to sleep in about 10 minutes, no nursing, no Tylenol. Phew! The two bumps in her gums have officially become teeth. They've both popped through and are continuing to grow each time we check them! We'll see how tonight goes. The Baby Orajel I gave her on Saturday night didn't seem to do anything to help her but Tylenol was helpful. I just hope I don't have to use it again and the worst of it is over.

Yesterday at lunch with Amy, I remarked how amazing it was that I had yet to drop Ella like so many parents with their children before me. And then....today as she was sitting up on the couch behind me (I was on the floor in front of my laptop) she tipped and rolled right off it onto her head. She did land on the stuffed toy she threw down there, which I assume was her attempt to get it. She cried for a few minutes but no harm done.

Grandma has been teaching her "Paddy Cake". Ella loves it! She will clasp her hands together and giggle and laugh. Today, as I was playing with her she clapped along on her own. She gets too excited though and usually tips over or loses momentum before the song is over. Ella has been such a source of joy to us. We are so proud of her!!!

Is it me or is this list not getting smaller?????

Fix window sensor
Clean stove
√ Extra Keys cut
√ Call alarm company
Get Ella's ear's pierced
Grandma's 3-day walk
Refinance house
Hire property manager
Ella's urology appointment
Ella's prescription refills
Pedicure and manicure
Haircut and highlights
Pack Ella's Clothes
Pack suitcases

Baby Lovin'

I love love love watching babies react to each other. I can't even imagine what having twins would be like! :) Ella and I went out for lunch with Amy and Nolan today and the babies were so much fun. We all drove down to Fayetteville in Amy's new Honda Pilot (which I love how roomy it is, I'm so jealous!) and Nolan and Ella talked to each other the whole way. Too cute!

Ella and Nolan were such flirts! Giggling, talking and holding hands...I believe Ella has her first boyfriend, though it will be a short romance as we're headed to Hawaii and they're headed to Boston. Short and sweet. Nolan is adorable it's hard not to love him. Nice to know Ella has good taste :)

After a short shopping spree at Target, they both cried most of the way home until they eventually passed out! I guess all that crying over each other wore them out. Seriously, I can't imagine having twins!!!!


Fix window sensor
Clean stove
√ Target
Extra Keys cut
√ Have wedding rings cleaned
Call alarm company
Get Ella'’s ear's pierced
Grandma's 3-day walk
Refinance house
Hire property manager
Ella'’s urology appointment
Ella'’s prescription refills
Pedicure and manicure
Haircut and highlights
Pack Ella's Clothes
Pack suitcases

Happy 7 Months!!

Whoo hoo! Ella is 7 months old today. My my time is flying by! Here are our baby pictures...Ella totally doesn't look like me but then maybe the hair is throwing me off! :) She totally looks like Ron! Oh my goodness, does she ever! Look at all that hair!!!

Her Roseola is over and done with, she was chatty and happy all day today...though last night was a rough one. Ella woke up at midnight and I ended up feeding her as rocking her to sleep and putting her back down wasn't working. After nursing her and laying her down, she screamed and cried for 30 minutes (that was as long as I could handle it, Ron of course slept through the whole thing...and she's in our room!) I made her a bottle and she continued to cry. By 1 am I was watching tv while Ella just laid in my arms and stared at me. She wasn't fussing, she just had no intention of sleeping. She finally fell asleep after 2. Ron got up with her at 5:30 and we let her cry for a bit. We woke her up at 7:30 and she went with Ron to church. I was just too exhausted to go.

Hummm, Ella was back on schedule today and while I ran some errands and Ron had the garage door installed, Ella spent the afternoon with her Granddad. He passed the test, Ella was feed and sleeping when I got home. Way to go!!

Our list is getting shorter.....

√Church with Grandma
√Install garage door opener
Fix window sensor
Clean stove
Target
Extra Keys cut
Have wedding rings cleaned
Call alarm company
Get Ella'’s ear's pierced
Grandma's 3-day walk
Refinance house
Hire property manager
Ella'’s urology appointment
Ella'’s prescription refills
Pedicure and manicure
Haircut and highlights
Pack Ella's Clothes
Pack suitcases

To Do Lists

Ella is almost back to normal. She slept well last night and took many naps today to catch up on her sleep. Her rash is gone but her cheeks are still rosey (but not at all blotchy). She was relatively happy most of the day and is starting to get her appetite back.

Well, after reading Amy's blog yesterday, I realized my list of things to do in the next 12 days is loooong! Seeing as I play around on this blog enough, I'm going to post my list and check off what I've accomplished in order to stop my procrastination! (Did I mention 12 days!) Each day I hope to see my list get smaller and smaller:

Before we leave:

√ Hotel Reservation - Hawaii
√ Car Rental -– Hawaii
Church with Grandma
Install garage door opener
Fix window sensor
Clean stove
Target
Extra Keys cut
Have wedding rings cleaned
Call alarm company
Get Ella'’s ear's pierced
Grandma's 3-day walk
Refinance house
Hire property manager
Ella'’s urology appointment
Ella'’s prescription refills
Pedicure and manicure
Haircut and highlights
Pack Ella's Clothes
Pack suitcases

Friday the 13th Indeed

This pretty much sums up our day. Ella was up at 5 am and was up most of the day, cranky and irritable. Her rash has turned bothersome and she is constantly rubbing her face on my shoulder, my shirt, the bed, her blanket. She's rubbing her eyes and face like she does when she's tired, but she doesn't stop. I took her to the doctor this morning and she does indeed have roseola. I'm not sure how well you can see in the photos but her face is all red and blotchy and her body is covered with spots. Although totally harmless, occasionally it can be like having the measles. Aghhhh! We got some children's Benadryl for the itch and it is working slowly. Ella hasn't napped all day but 20 minutes here and there.

I gave her a bath tonight and avoided a major tub disaster by sitting Ella on the toilet...she pooped like a big girl and then it was back in the clean tub. Drinking water out of a water bottle, bathing by herself and using the toilet...what next for this little lady!

Ella cried a lot today so I had lots of time to capture her teeth coming through. (Can you see the little white bumps!) As I put her to bed (finally), her rash seems to be going away. It should be gone tomorrow I hope. After our day today, I'm ready to hit the hay, after a nice cold beer!

Mac n' Cheese

I forgot to mention....Ella had her first taste of real food. I gave her a few noodles from my mac n' cheese and she chewed them up! (Though I had to hand feed her as she couldn't pick them up off the tray herself). We also tried Chicken and gravy (baby food version) for dinner tonight.

And....

A tooth has popped through! One of them has pierced her gums and you can feel how sharp it is against the rest of her soft gums.

She'll be 7 months on Sunday and I'm still nursing; it's been such an accomplishment for me and well worth it. I love our time together and we've bonded so close. I'm so glad I've been able to up til now and will begin to wean her off closer to her first birthday. (Though we'll see what comes of the whole teeth situation :) )

Roseola

After a few errands this morning and a restful afternoon, we went over to Ron's Grandma's to help with a few house chores. Ron has her all hooked up with the computer and gave her a quick lesson on the internet.

(Hi Grandma!!!)

Ella enjoyed her visit as always and left with lots of love and kisses.

I'm not sure if you can see in the pictures but I think I figured out what Ella's fever was all about. She broke out in a rash today and her fever is gone. From what Amy has told me, it looks like Roseola; a harmless rash most babies get at some point. She isn't at all bothered by it, she isn't rubbing or itching at all. It's on her chest, across her back, her neck and the side of her face. Again, totally oblivious to the whole thing. (Amy - oh my goodness, no worries or apologies! It was a week after we saw Nolan. Besides, it's only fair as our pool could have given Nolan a lot worse! :) )

Woah! Did you see "Grey's Anatomy" tonight!!!!

Rollercoaster

Well, Ella's temperature went down to normal today. I checked when we woke up and again at noon. All's okay at 98.6. By 4 o'clock it was up to 102! What the ???????
I'm so confused! I gave her some Motrin and within an hour it was back below 100. She's taking her anti-biotics every night with no problem, maybe that's what's throwing us for the loop.

Dadadadadadadada

Yeah! Ella is talking.....sort of. She talks to herself using "ma" "la" "na" "da". Usually it's just a lot of nattering and repetative sounds. But tonight she answered when Ron was talking to me from the other room. She heard his voice and started "dadadadadada" and then paused to listen for him again. She had the biggest smile on her face and was so proud of herself. "Dadadadadada" to you too, Ella!

She's been using sounds for a little while now but this is the first time she seems to have related a sound to an object. I'd like to think "mama" was her first word as she'll start most of her cries, "Maaaaaaaaaaaaa" or "Mmmmmmmmmmmmum" but I think it's just the sound she makes when she's gearing up for a wail.

We went to the doctor today. Ella's high temperature isn't going down much. It's not a fever yet, but it's hovering around 100.5. They tested for another UTI and the test came back clean; the doctor thinks she picked up a virus and she's just fighting it. It should be back to normal in a couple of days but until then it's Tylenol, Motrin, luke-warm baths and a whole bunch of nakedness. The good news, she's drinking lots of liquids to help fight this. She won't drink out of a sippie cup or her bottle, but she loves water and juice as long as it's out of the bottle it came in. She really does think she's a big girl!

I had the best news from my dearest friend. It made my day! Congratulations!!!!!!

Temperature's Risin'

Ella was burning up this morning. I gave her some Tylenol and her high temperature went from 101.7 to 100.9. I've been giving her Tylenol all day and gave her a cool bath tonight but she's still warm and her temperature isn't dropping below 100. I'm going to call the doctor tomorrow and take her in to make sure she's okay. Maybe another UTI? I'm not sure but this is how the last one was discovered.
Hawaii is getting closer and closer, 17 more days!

Sleepy Sunday

We met some of Ron's friends for a walk at Arabia Mountain this morning. It was so cool...temperature cool. Luckily I bundled Ella up but Ron and I only had short sleeves and burrrr it was chilly! I love the cool weather, I just wish we had bundled up a bit more.
This afternoon, I slept the entire afternoon away. It was so nice to be lazy! Grandma took Ella for lunch with her girlfriends and Ron went over to the house to get a garage door opener installed (they ran out of time on our neighbors house so we have to reschedule).
Happy Thanksgiving my Canadians! Wish we were there for some pumpkin pie! YUM!