29 November 2009

Amanda apologizes for the lack of a blog last week, however as many of you know she is pregnant with baby #4 due to show his face July 2010. Little blob is causing quite the ruckus and mommy now has been diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum and is taking lots of medicines to keep her from vomiting and losing weight and getting dehydrated. However this all after not being able to keep anything down for 3 days and spending 3 days in the hospital recovering.

This week after Amanda was released from the hospital on Wednesday we readied for Thanksgiving. Amanda's mom and her fiancee flew in on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day (this apparently saved a bucket load of money). We planned to combine Thanksgiving with some friends, but our traditions are so different that it really didn't go well. We won't do this again in the future. The boys ate lots and had fun. Even Gavin really had a grand time....the mashed potatoes were a hit, especially since they went well in hair, nose and ears! He needed a bath after. Friday was black Friday shopping for Rob and Amanda.....they finished out the kiddos presents and found GREAT deals!!! Even tho they waited a little late (9am). Saturday everyone put up the Christmas tree and decorated it. Looks OK, but we have decided we need a better one and some new decorations for next year, ours are becoming old and sad looking. We got some new lights for outside, which hopefully gets decorated soon. Also trying to get our Christmas card picture taken. Will be doing the Christmas letter this week, if you'd like to get one please send your name and snail mail address to EMSAmanda83@yahoo.com.
We had Gavin's birthday party on Sunday and unfortunately no one showed up. But Mommy made a cool cake and he had a blast with his presents....will try to post them on the blog when they get uploaded! Until next week CHEERS!!!!

15 November 2009

So the big news this week is that Mr. Gavin is ONE. He has mastered fast (but still out of the ordinary) crawling and pulling up on ANYTHING. Mostly this includes people's legs! He is into E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G!!!!! We're not real sure how the christmas will work.....his new found favorite thing is pots and pants and banging on things. He also has found something that entertains everyone including himself.....the shaking the head "no". He finds this rather amusing and so does everyone else so we are incessantly doing the same to try to get him to copy. He has a little mini birthday party yesterday on his day, but will have a "big" party when Nana gets here on the sunday after Thanksgiving. All are invited!

Rob is finally back from the field. Peyton & John have a new found obsession......flashlights. Due to the cheap $1 Halloween ones my mom sent that I was not expecting to last the night (and I dare say neither was she!). Well they lasted until Thurday night and John finally broke him. His poor little heart was broken and he went to be crying with promises from Mommy to buy him a new one at Walmart the next day. Well when offered the $1 non-Halloween equivalent, they were NOT impressed. We ended up with the almost $6 Cars version....oh well. Oh and of course could not leave the store without some playdoh to boot....it is amazing we were able to leave without any matchbox cars!

Nothing New to report about anyone else! Onto pictures!!!!

8 November 2009

In the wake of the events of 5 November 2009, we chose not to post a blog this week.

1 November 2009

Really? Is it November already??? Amanda has just been thinking back to one year ago when she was hospitalized thinking she'd be having Gavin any second. She did hold out for two more weeks from yesterday.....

All of the boys dressed up yesterday for Halloween. Peyton was Thing 1, John was Thing 2 and Gavin was The Cat In The Hat.....Gavin was not impressed with his costume or the whole trick or treating deal. But P&J had a BLAST!!!! Apparently their costumes were a hit. Everyone we passed commented on how cute they were. Pretty darn good considering they actually weren't costumes at all! Amanda's sister bought them Thing 1 and Thing 2 matching shirts a while back (they are finally about to grow out of them) and Rob got some long sleeved red shirts and red sweat pants from walmart (great investment since they can keep wearing them). Then we gelled their hair all spikey and sprayed it with wash-out blue hairspray. They loved it! Trick or treating on post was mostly a wash...most people don't stay home and we found that a lot of people actually brought their candy with them and gave it out as we passed by. (Interesting idea, wish we'd have thought of it!) We also went to Amanda's friend's April's house a few exits up on the highway. She went ALL out. Decorations were awesome and her husband was scaring 3/4 of the people that came up to their house. P&J were a little afraid at first, but once they were convinced that it was just Mr. Sam they were ok. Rob took them trick or treating while Amanda stayed back with cranky/sleepy Gavin and talked with April. Trick or treating was waaaaay better in that neighborhood. The favorite treat was actually not candy at all. Someone ran out of candy and gave the boys the new years toys that blow out. Gavin thought they were HILARIOUS!!!

Not much to report for the rest of the week. Rob is still in the field. The boys' babysitter went on vacation and we tried out a new back up babysitter. Ms. Elaine is the wife of Rob's co-worker/friend. They had a lot of fun there. Rob is trying to go to a class in December, warrior leadership class that will help him to get promoted. Amanda's job has been overly busy with people being more rude and demanding than normal, due to the arrival of the H1N1 vaccine. Amanda has been exposed numerous times and actually cannot get the vaccines the clinic has been provided as they contain thimerosol, to which she has had a violent reaction in the past. She has also decided to decline for the boys as well. They likely have been exposed secondary to Amanda's exposures and they don't go to daycare. Gavin probably has some immmunity from breastmilk. We just don't think it is necessary.

Gavin cut his 3rd tooth this week and has learned to shake his head no and crawl.....the crawling is rather interesting. He doesn't go very fast yet and it is not what you would traditionally think of. He keeps one leg in front of him and drags his butt across the floor. It is rather amusing. He is also pulling up and trying to walk. It probably won't be much longer for that!

Well that is all for now.....13 days until our little monkey turns one!!!

25 October 2009

Another week has come and gone!

Peyton, John and Gavin were all sick this week with a very long lasting (about 10 days total) stomach bug. Gavin still is being a little cranky and quite picky with his food. We all packed up on Saturday and went down to San Antonio to meet up with Amanda's friends Emily and her son Graeme and Keri and her daughter Elaina. We met up at the San Antonio Zoo. Everyone had a blast and we got some good pics of the little ones getting to know one another.




There is a rumor going around that Rob's unit is going to be disbanded. Not all of 3rd ACR, just 4th squadron. It does make sense as all of 3rd ACR is heavy tanks and equipment and 4th squadron is all aviation. It's like that little jingle "one of these things is not like the others". We've heard a lot that they are going to be making a large aviation brigade, which would make WAY more sense. One of the troops has already switched and now wears 'Task Force 49' patches. News articles have stated that Ft. Wainright (ALASKA!!!) is going to be taking them. We will see, this is a BIG RUMOR....and even things that aren't rumors can change in a heartbeat in the army. Rob is in the field this week, prepping for deployment. We hope that he will be able to be home for halloween...


Amanda has been working her butt off and has gotten her first federal paycheck (boy do they take out A LOT of deductions!). She also was approached today by one of the Physician Assistants that she works with at the weekend sick call clinic. Her normal job is working in the ER and she really likes Amanda. Often she claims that Amanda is HER nurse, even though they are not assigned. She says she loves working with Amanda and she is more than competent and knows what to do in emergency situations. She asked Amanda to come and work over in the ER. Amanda does not technically fall under the qualifications, not having enough experience as a nurse, but she thinks that they most probably could waive it considering Amanda's paramedic training previously. (The PA also said they like to keep her happy and working there so they tend to give her what she wants!) So Amanda will be checking out that opportunity soon!


Hope everyone is well and has a happy and safe HALLOWEEN!!!!

18 October 2009

Hello again friends and family!

We had only a few things happen this week....

Gavin stood up by himself on Saturday. He also seems to have totally realized how to talk. He has said "hi", "yes" and "nana". Although the only one he likes to say on command is Dada and sometimes Mama. He decided just today to shake his head NO continuously while Mommy put him down for a nap. Although he still can't really crawl yet he is getting around much better (and faster!) by scooting on his butt! BUT he did crawl in the tub tonight (and swam!). He also turned 11 months old on Wednesday and Amanda weighed him at work, 19lb 7oz!! YAY Gav....he is now in about the 11th percentile.....

Peyton & John have no new news to report...they are growing like weeds, we had to move them into size 3T this week. They helped Mommy and Daddy decorate for Halloween....they think it looks good!

Amanda got a great compliment at work, by the head nurse, Lt Col Mendoza. He told her that he has heard good things, that she is a great nurse and should keep up the good work. It's always nice to hear!

Rob's squadron had "family day" on Saturday at BLORA (Belton Lake Outdoor Recreational Area- Ft Hood's own lake with a beach and playgrounds and other recreational activities). There was free food and candy (ALWAYS a plus!) and games for the adults. Rob's troop (Renegade) won the Tug o War. They also raised money by paying to throw a pie at the 1st sgts (really funny!). The boys had fun on the playgrounds and dancing to the music...Gavin had fun eating (he has apparently made eating a sport...). P&J really wanted to go down to the water but it was a little too cool for it. Rob will be going out the the field on Tuesday. We're not sure how that will work, but it is possible he will miss Halloween again. We have heard they will not come home the whole time. We have heard that they will be home only for the weekends and we have also heard that they will be doing 12 hour shifts....this is the Army and it is sure to change, that we know. It is also unlikely that we will know until the very last second (that is always nice when you have childcare to worry about!).

Well it is late and everyone needs to be in bed.....more next Sunday!

The first sunday 11 October 2009

Welcome to our new blog! Amanda has decided that as a way for all our friends to keep up with the goings-on with our family, being so far away, that we will post blogs every sunday to let everyone know what is going on....especially pictures of the boys so everyone can see them grow!

So right now, the major things that have happened recently:

Amanda was hired as an army civilian, working in the same clinic but now has better benefits and a very stable job. Yay, no more worries about contracts ending!

Rob is working on several things. He is set to deploy next year. He is trying to get surgery to remove the excess skin he has from losing 110lbs and also Lasix for his eyes. He is also trying to promote to Sgt, and is thinking of signing up for re-enlistment. We may get to chose what post we move to next, Ft. Drum(NY), Ft. Lewis (WA) and Ft. Bragg (SC) are all on our short list. We could move as early as Jan or it could be a long while.

Peyton & John have a speech problem. We've spent since March trying to get them into some program to help. We are finally in the final stages of getting help from the local school system. Amanda's nephew went to speech a while back and her sister said it helped a bunch so we're hoping for similar results. The boys are SO excited that they are going to get to "GO TO SCHOOL!!!". They are speaking in more full sentences and say more words, but most are unrecognizable to anyone but mom & dad so we hope there is some change....

Gavin will be 11 months old on Wednesday (how did THAT happen!!!???). He is working on becoming mobile. He still hasn't gotten crawling down in the least bit, but he scoots a lot on his butt and does get places....he LOVES to walk holding our hands and tries constantly to pull up on furniture....surely he'll be walking soon. He is also learning his voice! His first word was "Hey", followed shortly by "Mama" (this word is often SCREAMED at mommy when she comes in the door from work or to get him up in the morning or after nap) and his new favorite, "Dada"! He loves feeding himself (making a HUGE mess!) and the ensuing baths (especially with his big brothers). We can't believe we'll be planning a first bithday party for our little guy soon!

Until next week....