Update

Life has been pretty overwhelming to say the least over the past few months and finally I feel like we may have some breathing space. To friends who are not on FB, I will do my best to update as concise as possible the craziness that has been our life :) Pics will have to wait because I cannot find my cable and as soon as I do, I'll get them on here.

March 15th - Eli starts daycare/school

March 20th - We celebrated Eli's 1st Birthday a couple of weeks early so that my mother could be part of it before she left home for Malaysia

April 3rd - Mom leaves and I am truly by myself with zero support with a one year old baby and a dog :( What made it worse was that since Eli had never really been exposed to other children, he was constantly sick at daycare. I took him to the doctor multiple times a week.

April 14th - Eli suddenly developed high fever and had seizures at 2am. This was the most frightening experience and after 3 seizures in a row, laying limp in my arms and eyes glazed over, I was still on the phone with 911... it took 30 minutes for the paramedics to come... I really thought that I had lost my baby... I will never forget that night.

It turned out that he had a severe ear infection and that was what caused the temperature to spike so quickly. Apparently the seizures are a baby's way to cool their bodies... not cool for Mommy :(

May 1st - Historic downpours in Nashville, interstates flooded... I was vigilant all night, watching the news channel and praying very hard we will be okay. It was a sleepless night for me since I kept imagining that if I slept, that we'll drown in our beds. Our backyard is the Harpeth River

May 2nd - As soon as day broke, I hurried outside to see the conditions of the river. My heart sank... the nature trail is flooded, the rain is still pouring. Power goes out. No more weather reports. I call my neighbor at 6am to come over to see for herself... 2 hours later, the water was in our backyard. I scurried around packing food for Eli, some clothes, dog food and at 10am, the water was at our backdoor.

Our neighbor and I fled from our homes. We had to drive through some flooded streets which in hindsight was not the smartest thing but we really did not know what to do... I prayed so hard that God will carry us through the water and bring us to safety. Our kind neighbor had a daughter who lived in the same sub-division but on a hill. They opened their home to us. Still no power, Eli was on fresh milk and I just put it in a cooler (did not have ice) and prayed it would last

Our hosts kept making rounds in the flood waters, coming back with updates... it truly was surreal... cannot imagine that happening to us

2 days being cut off from the world and no power, the water finally receded enough for us to go back to our houses.

What I saw was devastating. Our beautiful home, no more. Everything was destroyed... all that was left was a soggy, fishy, rancid shell. Eli didn't think anything different. He wanted down to play with his toys... heartbreaking

I remember vividly just holding on tighter to Eli and sitting out on the front porch. Watching the neighbors get busy trying to get their houses back in order. Kind volunteers came searching for the "young mother with her husband in Iraq" and they were the ones who helped tear out the saturated carpets, hardwood etc

Thus, was the beginning of our nightmare.

It seemed that it was one thing after another, finding a place to stay, paperwork for financing (home rebuilding), interviewing contractors, mitigation work, the list goes on... Now, remember that thousands of homes were affected so resources were very limited so the wait begun.

I will probably elaborate more as I think about it.

June 18th - My first husband's 5 year death anniversary. Some of you may already know he drowned whilst rescuing me from a rip tide. Difficult day because it felt like I had to start over every 5 years and that each time, water is my enemy


July - FINALLY sorted out financing for the home rebuilding and building commenced

August 1st - I get a phone call. My husband is out of Iraq and is waiting in Kuwait for transport back to the US!!!

August 4th - Husband finally arrives in Maine en route to Mississippi

August 9th - Eli & I stood at the tarmac of the military base eagerly awaiting that grey-blue military plane carrying precious cargo to arrive. The emotions were absolutely electric. What a happy day it was, our family was together again!

Present Day (Aug 13th) - The Hubs is adjusting well to civilian life, Eli has taken to him amazingly well, our home is coming along (move back date is Aug 28th) and I cannot wait for the weekend to just be able to spend some time with my my favorites boys!



To Be Continued :)

Thirty Two

That's how old I will be in exactly 1 hour, 48 minutes.

How time has flown by, but with every birthday, I just thank the good Lord for allowing me to enjoy another spring, summer, autumn and winter... another year filled with moments, good as well as the bad, memories to cherish, frustrations to burn... alas such is this journey we call life.

It's definitely been a joyful, yet challenging year. Almost at the beginning of my 31st year, we welcomed our little bundle of joy... who, by the way, will be ONE in a few weeks! Every single day, I fall deeper in love with this little boy, just when you think it's an impossible feat.

One of the biggest trial this past year which will also be present for the rest of the coming year is my husband's deployment to Iraq. The separation is not as overwhelming as the fear of what might/could happen. I think that is the biggest stress I carry with me, I get antsy when I dont hear from him during the day and the anxiety only heightens as nightfall... I cannot sleep, I think the most horrible thoughts and when I finally hear from him, relief leaves me feeling like a wet rag and I try my very best not to be frustrated at him for not calling the day before. After the call, the cycle repeats itself.

Perhaps the loss of my first husband makes me paranoid but I am almost certain that other deployed families go through some measure of constant worry and stress.

I think I have physically aged so much in the past year, I have spotted my first grey hair, still carry my excess baby weight, hair falling out in clumps and just exhausted all the time... I suppose the 16 hour days, 7 days a week job does not make things better.

I am hopeful things will change, on the 15th Eli starts daycare and I have no choice but to leave at 4.30pm everyday to make it in time to pick him up from daycare before they shut their doors so we'll see how my job copes with that because right now, the expectation is that I go into work even though I am sick, I have pink eye right now and have gone to work all days.

So here's to 32, may you bring blessings to our little family, laughter and love in abundance.

Have a Blessed Christmas and a Wonderful New Year!

May Peace be your gift at Christmas and your blessing all year through!



Christmas blessings from our family to yours!

Eli is 8 1/2 months!

It’s been yet another block of time that has gone by… Jonathan came home for Thanksgiving and as with every year, we make the trip down south to Alabama to visit with NeNe and PeePaw as well as the rest of the family. This year, my cousin Elene and her husband Luca were visiting from Genoa, Italy so it was a merry crowd. They managed to attend a Predators game, shop, shop, shop and shop as well as visit with the in-laws and most importantly, meet the Prince! Unfortunately, Eli had been sick since November 7th from first, the cold and then an ear infection. I had the same symptoms simultaneously as well and it has been a long road to recovery. Nevertheless, he is well and cheeky to boot.

8 month update.

Weight – 18 lbs 5 oz
Length – 24 inches

Motor skills

He now works his keyboard/turn-wheel with such ease, it’s so cute to watch him work his wrists, he does it so deftly.
Zooms around the house in his walker
Walks around the house with someone holding him up
Rolls/pulls himself around the house to get to things he wants

Social skills

Can associate “Mummy”, “Ah Mah” (grandma), “Bama” (dog) and “Daddy” to the correct person/dog


Understands

Pong-pong (bathe)
Ka-ka (# 2)


Words he says;

Da-da (his first word)
Pa-pa
Nen-nen (milk)
Ma-ma-ma-ma (grandmother)
Ta-ta (bye bye)


At 7 months, doing the "Tom Cruise"


At 7 1/2 months at Grandpa's for Thanksgiving. This is his cousin Shelbie. It was so funny to see the little guy so curious about her, touching, patting, kissing... I think this boy loves blondes!


Look at that cheeky grin!

It's been a cold winter for us and I came home one day to find a little green dinosaur zooming around in his walker so naturally, photos had to be captured of this delightful creature...


Mr. Dino at 8 months old


Attacking the black*berry


How can you not de-stress with this face????


Mmmmmm how do you not squeeze this little face!

Happy 2nd Anniversary!

Everyday and especially today, I celebrate the joys of today, the memories of yesterday and the hopes of tomorrow.

Who would have thought when we stood at the altar 2 years ago today, that life would unfold the way it did. We're so blessed and I look forward to growing old with you.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!

I love you,

Your Wife

Eli's First Halloween

Halloween this year was a blast for Mommy and Eli. This was our first trick or treating experience and it was a very relaxing night. Hubby was out of town so he missed out on another one of Eli's first :( Nevertheless, the next time he is able to, Eli will be walking and talking and really be able to enjoy the experience.

This year, we just went around our part of the subdivision (we're in like a little satelite group off of the main subdivision with about 50 homes). We started out at about 7pm and I got a chance to meet new neighbors, visit with the ones we know and show Eli off and I really had no intention of racking in the candy but everyone kept stuffing goodies into Eli's bag, even when it was bursting at the seams, they kept forcing more candy in... I will need to bring a wagon the next time we go :)))))

Here are some pictures to enjoy.


At the pumpkin patch with Daddy a few weekends back picking out the perfect pumpkin. You can tell that he reeeeallly wanted this one. He could actually lift the thing off the ground!


My little dinosaur is all decked out and waiting patiently for Mommy to get ready



Dino likes flowers!


I love my sister, Bama and she loves me. I tug at her ear and she nibbles/licks on my fingers!


Come on Mommy, we gotta go trick or treating! I was kinda disappointed that the outfit didn't have a tail but still, I thought he was the cutest dinosaur ever :)


First stop, is our neighbor right across the street and Ms Mary Anne gave me something I could actually EAT :)


Not too sure what to make of this little baby, he sings "I feel good!" and wiggles his bottom... I think he is kinda funny.


All knackered out. The Dino was actually SNORING, it was hillarious!


Home with our bounty... life's good being a dinosaur!

We hope you had as fun a Halloween as we did!

Eli - 6 months

This is long overdue but as with everything in life, better late than never :)

October 7th marked Eli's 1/2 year birthday and with every milestone it seems, a visit to the pediatrician was in order. This time around, it was for his 2 vaccination shots and the regular flu shot.

He was a happy baby during the car ride and when we checked in at the front desk, hamming it up for the nurses and the rest of the patients until he saw the nurse from his last visit... I had my back to her and did not realize it until I saw his eyes widen and his lips quiver... how DO babies remember???? It's simply amazing!

This time around, they had some toys in the room which I used to distract him, he did not cry with Shots #1 and #2 but with #3, he realized what was going on but 20 seconds later, he was back to being Mr Happy.


Getting ready to go to the doctor's office


Being cute whilst waiting


More waiting... not sure why they bother with appointments since we have never seen the doctor earlier than 1 hour after arrival!


Looking at the pretty girl in the waiting room... my boy has started young!


The moment of truth, the weigh-in


My itty bitty 5-pounder is 17 whole pounds now... just the perfect size for snuggles and kisses :)