Life

Sigh, life isn't working out as planned in my MASH (Mansion, Apartment, Shack or House) game as a child: I am not rich, I don't live in a mansion, and I don't own a Lamborghini. Some disappointment that game turned out to be! So far we're paying for a house we don't live in; driving a car that may or may not get us from point A to point B; and will end up forking over $1000+ to immigration this summer if Bush and his cronies have their way...impeach, impeach!!!!

But, there is nothing better to brighten your day than little girls, summertime and popsicles. This was Ella's first popsicle and she loved it! So adorable. We tried to go to Ko Olina beach but it was full so we tried another beach but the waves were up today and too big for the girls to go in the water. We came home and played in the backyard instead.

Daddy's Weekend

Well, I'm not sure how much of a Father's Day it was for Ron with him still on pain meds, sleeping as much as possible, and sustaining on a diet of Ensure and protein shakes. Ella gave her Daddy a card and a pair of board shorts and was so cute walking up to him her arms outstretched with her gift for him. She loves to share and give us things, anything really from her toys, to fluff on the floor, the remote, her milk. If we look at all interested in what she's doing she come over and give it to us. She so sweet! So when I gave her the card and gift and said "give to Daddy" she ran up to him and was so excited to "share".
Ron is enjoying his new laptop and it's making mine feel inadequate. Ooh, it's so shiny and new, everything works perfect and he's been watching videos and tv clips, listening to music, surfing the web....all in bed. I'm quite jealous really! It even has a built in camera and mic so we were able to see and talk to everyone at home in GA.

Though belated, I hope everyone had a wonderful Father's Day. To our Dads who continue to love, advise and support us, we are so grateful for everything you both do for us. To Ron for being a wonderful father and really being a big part of Ella's life. He is always so patient, so willing to help out changing diapers, looking after her when he comes home form work. He really is a hands-on dad, which can be rare unfortunately. Ella and I are so blessed and so loved. We love you Daddy!

Happy 15 Months

Ella is 15 Months old today. We had her well-baby check-up and at 31.5" she's still in the 95th percentile for her height; at 22.5 lbs she's still in the 50th percentile for her weight. Long and lean like Daddy. Everything else is great, she's hitting and surpassing all her milestones. She is learning everyday. She can understand so much now it's amazing! :

* She can find and bring to you when asked: her milk, juice, teddy bear, blanket, angel, froggy, shoes, and puppy.
* When we go outside she knows to get her shoes first.
* She brings us anything she knows she shouldn't have but has found lying around: the remote control, her cd's, the phone, our folded laundry... really anything that's not in her toybox.
* She knows "It's naptime" and will take our hand and walk to her bedroom, or get her blanket and stick her thumb in her mouth.
* Wrinkles her nose when you ask if she's got a stinky diaper.
* Blow kisses and waves bye bye. Can give "Eskimo" kisses with her nose.
* Mimics our facial expressions, and body movements.
* Will dance when she hears music or when we say "Dancing Ella!"
* Has signed for us that she's finished (eating usually).

Ron continues to heal. For anyone who knows him, knows he's so energetic and active. I think the hardest part of his recovery will be taking it easy. I came home with Ella after the doctors and the kitchen was spotless and he was cleaning the bathroom! LOL It was so funny to know that after a few days of sleeping he is now literally unable to sit still and the bathroom is sparkly!
We played out in the backyard and Ella has picked up on my gardening. She carried the watering can around and touched all the flowers with it. Too cute.

Adjusting

Today was a lazy inside day as it was overcast and although it never really rained, it sprinkled off and on. We watched a movie and walked over to the playground to get the girls out of the house. Ron is resting well and I'm keeping on top of all his meds. Every few hours he's looking better.

I'm trying to get off to bed early...last night I got caught up in Last Comic Standing and didn't go to bed til 11. I'm tired from having 3 kids in the house when I'm used to only one. There's Ella of course, and having Lahrissa here hasn't added any extra work, if anything she's a huge help with Ella, but she is old enough to not take naps and that is where I have to adjust. If I had a late night (which is often as I'm a night owl) I've been able to nap a bit while Ella's napping. Not any more so I have to train myself to go to bed at a decent hour again. On top of it, Ron is recovering and I am taking care of him. I love taking care of my family, but I have a great respect for those Moms who have mulitple kids. Phew! At least Ron's situation is temporary and Lahrissa is only here until early afternoon.

Tomorrow will be quiet, Ted's got the day off so I won't have Lahrissa. Of course, I scheduled Ella's 15-month check up for tomorrow morning at 7:30. So much for sleeping in! :)

Daddy's Home!

We went and saw Ron this morning. The progressive care/ short stay unit wouldn't allow children as it's with the ICU but luckily Katie was at work in the newborn baby photo office. She watched Ella and Lahrissa for a few minutes while I popped over to see how Ron was recovering.

What a difference a night makes! All the head bandages were off except for a few on his chin, and he was sitting up eating, I mean drinking, breakfast. We should have been more diligent with Ella's sign language as it would be really handy now. :) Unfortunately, the obvious jaw surgery combined with the amount of meds, is making Ron's communication very difficult for me to decipher. I need to learn to make more yes and no questions because "What do you need?" is becoming a 10 minute lesson in the sign/grumble/grunt language. Ron's speech will get easier with practice...try to talk audibly with your teeth clenched, not moving your lips... that's about where Ron is now... plus he's got a billion stitches and a swollen face.

We picked him up at dinner time and got the run down on his meds...all 10 of them. Ron was looking great, but still in a lot of pain of course. We walked out of the hospital and headed right to the Navy Exchange for a sale on laptop computers. See, a really big difference a mere 24 hours can make! We came out with a brand new laptop for Daddy... Happy (early) Father's Day to him. He's resting, Ella's hyper that her Daddy is home and I'm going to go to bed and ignore Ella talking to herself in her crib. The prince is back in his castle and his princess' are happy.

My Husband

Ron was 7.5 hours in surgery and was recovering with lots of morphine when I saw him at 6:00. The surgeons were doing rounds so I was able to get to run down: everything went according to plan; he has a lot of stitches and metal in his jaw (me too!); he's doing great and will probably be released tomorrow. They are monitoring him for pain tonight but once he can manage his pain with oral medicine, he'll be good to go.

Ron looks like he's a celebrity whose had "the works" done on his face. There are a billion IV's and his lower face and head are bandaged. He is a bit swollen but totally responsive. He squeezed my hand and asked what time it was...also wanted me to change the tv channel to ESPN so you know he's at least somewhat lucid. He's really doing well. All the reconstruction on his chin went great and the dr's said with his new chin, jaw alignment and bite, I may not recognize him... nah, that won't happen.

I must say, it's very hard to see someone you love in so much pain. I left Ella at our neighbors as she is "traumatized" if she sees her Daddy and he doesn't pick her up (like when he comes home from work...she's already crying with her arms up before he can get his jacket off!) I was gone a total of 2 hours, and Ella, after the first hour, realized I was not there and cried most of the last hour. Poor thing, she's never really been left with a sitter before.

Off to a big lonely bed. I hope Ron is medicated enough he can sleep through the night and rest up. His recovery is going to be hard at first but he's so strong, it should be a speedy one. I miss him terribly and wish I could make it better for him. Only time will do that. Hopefully he'll be home tomorrow so I can take care of him. He does so well taking care of us, for Ella and I, he really is our rock.

Busy Busy!

It's been a hectic week and it's only TUESDAY!!!! I started looking after Lahrissa yesterday. She's an absolute sweetheart. She is very well-mannered and is such a help with Ella. We went grocery shopping and played most of the day and it's really been such a great thing for Ella to have someone to look up to and follow around. They have become quick friends and are totally in love with each other.

Last night, I completely forgot about my WW training and didn't show up. Ron went into surgery this morning for his jaw (scheduled oral surgery that's been in the works now for the past 2 years) and so in talking last night and getting ready for the morning, I somehow forgot that it was even Monday. On the way home from dropping him off at the hospital, I realized I'd missed the training last night. Oops. They were very cool though and I will start up again next week. Phew!

Today, we went to Walmart and I have started a herb garden. It smells wonderful and I've got chives, garlic chives, basil, lemon basil, cilantro, parsley and hot chili peppers. Lahrissa and I gardened while Ella napped and after lunch they played in the sprinkler and pool. It's so nice to watch Ella play and have fun with Lahrissa. She's very good to Ella, taking sticks and such away from her or out of her mouth and playing all sorts of games with her. How cute are these two???

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Christin!!!!

Hope your day is fabulous! It was great chatting with you last night. Hope you have a great day and enjoy your dinner out tonight!

Miss you! Ella sends a big warm hug and a sloppy kiss to you.

Sunflowers

Ella and Daddy. She's so happy when she wakes up from her afternoon nap and finds her Daddy home from work:
Here's my fabulous garden... it's still small mostly but look how my sunflowers took off. They are as tall (if not taller) than me. All this from seed too.

Baby Basket

I have a couple of wicker baskets that sit on a bookshelf in the living room to keep Ella's toys in. She loves to empty them out and throughout the day the house is littered with her toys. She's really good at cleaning up when we say "Let's clean up" before it's time for her to go to bed... with a lot of help from us, she'll gather her toys and throw them in the basket, mostly missing it but it's the thought that counts. This morning as I was cleaning up our breakfast, I heard silence aka TROUBLE! Here's how I found Ella. How she got sitting in the basket, I'll never know and I'm not sure you can see in the photo but the baskets are really quite small...