It's that time of year again, PCS season!

After almost eleven years of being an Army wife, I am truly ready to move after three to four years in the same place.  As I have said before, we have been exceptionally lucky when it comes to duty stations.  Eighteen months after our wedding, we boarded a plane and spent the next three years on the glorious island of O'ahu.  Three years later we headed to the swamps of Northwest Florida where we spent almost six years.  Then, the boys and I headed to North Carolina last year.  I have made all kinds of friends in our journey, and am thankful for every one of them.

One of the main reasons that lead to our decision for moving to NC while the hubby went to school, was that my brother was stationed there.  Most people have the opportunity to grow up with family close by, but I never have.  And until this last year, I didn't know what I was missing.

We found a house that was only 3 miles away, and I secured a job and a nanny.  Although my Sexy Beast was away, there was always the comfort of knowing I had family close by.  I had someone to spend holidays, birthdays, and lonely days with...until this weekend.

I have been fortunate enough to attend my brother's High School, College, and Medical School graduations, and finally, his Residency Graduation.  It was a gorgeous day and I would have enjoyed it more if I wasn't already mourning their impending departure.

Gonna miss you guys!!!

Everyone isn't special

With graduation season in full swing, I was surprised and impressed to read this article about a High School commencement speaker that told the truth.

I was not the valedictorian, I was not captain of any team, and at a young age I knew the worthlessness of a participation ribbon.

When I was in elementary school, in Jacksonville, NC, I vividly remember my first field day.  Our class had matching T-shirts and we were ready to win.  There were many different events that I had been entered in, and I didn't win any of them.  That being said, I enjoyed spending the day outside and being part of a team.  After the day was over we were given our team ribbons for the events won, and a participation ribbon for individual events.  As soon as I got home, the participation ribbon made it's way into the trash.  I understood that I had won nothing and the ribbon was a reminder of that.

I am by no means saying that if you do not win, you fail.  What I'm trying to point out is that I was not ruined by not winning.  I continued to participate in field day events in the following years because it was fun and not because I needed a ribbon that celebrates mediocrity.

There have been many things in my life that I did not win, but it never swayed me from trying!  I recognize that I may never invent something that could change the world, but that does not stop me from going to work everyday and doing my job to the fullest.


I take pride everyday in living my life, and I do not expect to be praised with a participation ribbon for being an adult.

I also don't understand the point of a graduation from Kindergarten, Elementary School, or Middle School.  I understand a High School graduation because your education will forever change in college.  You don't have to apply to attend 1st grade?

Okay, rant over.

I know not everyone agrees with me, but that's why I'm the best, most wonderful, amazing person in the world (as clearly demonstrated by all my participation ribbons), therefore I don't need your approval or permission.  But if you get hateful in the comments, I will delete them :o)

A Helping Hand and Being Thankful

After final negotiations with the insurance companies, I dropped off the Mini this morning for repairs, and had no choice but to have the boys in tow.  While we waited for the Enterprise to pick us up, there was another lady waiting for the same reason.  She was quick to interact with the boys, and Carter ran right over and sat on her lap.  After we were picked up and arrived to do all the paper work, the same lady was also waiting on her vehicle.  While at the counter Carter kept reaching for her, so she thoughtfully picked him up and helped keep him entertained.  The boys did pretty well for about 5 minutes, then started trying to open the doors to leave, so I had no choice but to buckle them in their car seats as we waited for our car to be ready.  I sat on the floor and did my best to keep them from screaming, and this lady came over and did the same.

I love my boys, but being in public seems to always be a challenge.  Some people point and give me dirty looks as I try to wrangle my 2 yr olds (that are often mistaken for 3 yr olds due to their height), but sometimes people take the time to hold a door open, talk to the boys, or even something as simple as a reassuring smile.

It doesn't go unnoticed or unappreciated.  It's little things like this that have the power to keep me from losing my temper or wanting to cry!

So, THANK YOU to the amazing stranger that made my morning, and THANK YOU to everyone that takes the time to provide service for those when they really need it!

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On a slightly related note, I'm thankful for the sand on my floors!!

About a year ago I woke up early and walked into the kitchen only to find sand tracked everywhere.  At first I started to get upset, but instead I started to cry.  I was thankful for the Florida sand that had been tracked into my house from my husband's combat boots!!  I was thankful that it was Florida sand and not Iraq or Afghanistan sand.  I was able to hold my husband in my arms at the end of the night, and know he was safe.

So, as I swept the sand off my kitchen floor this morning, I cried.  I'm grateful for the North Carolina sand on my floors!!  I'm grateful that my husband is finally here with us, and that he is proudly serving our country.

Love my Army Wife Life!!

The OPPOSITE of lady-like

At work yesterday, we were having a major lull so I was offered the opportunity to go home early.  I jumped at the chance and called the hubby to set up an impromptu date to see "The Avengers."  I made some the phone calls (using my built in bluetooth) and we planned to meet at home and leave right away.

I was sitting at a stop light, in heavy traffic, contemplating whether or not I'd have enough time to change when I got home, and my car lunged forward.  I thought I might have killed the engine, but I looked down and saw it was still running.  That's when I looked in the rear view mirror and saw a compact SUV ON my bumper.

I got out of the car to inspect and the other car was still touching mine.  I stomped over to the drivers window and screamed,

 

"DID YOU JUST HIT MY CAR!?!?!"

"it's okay!" said the driver...obviously keeping her window up while a maniac yelled at her.

That's when I literally spun around, while throwing my hands in the air, and screamed, 

"SERIOUSLY!"

"I'M GOING TO PULL OFF THE ROAD UP AHEAD ON THE RIGHT, DO THE SAME!"

I got back in my car, put on my hazards and pulled off onto a side road.  It was rush hour traffic and I saw no need to block traffic.  I turned my car off and waited...and waited...and the other driver stayed in the road.  

I called 911, and said I had just been rear-ended and "THE OTHER DRIVER IS INSISTING ON BLOCKING TRAFFIC LIKE AN IDIOT" to which the operator said, "unfortunately, it isn't against the law, but you are supposed to clear vehicles off the road if possible."

I then called the hubby and he called to cancel the sitter and said he was on his way.

I stood on the side of the road and watched as the other car continued to block traffic, and people stop to assist her to push her car off the road, until a Sheriff escorted her off the road and said he had called in the accident.

The only damage to my car was a couple indentions on the bumper from her license plate cover. 

When the cops arrived, and HOUR later, they asked us what happened, which is when they pointed out the damage on my car to the other driver, who said, "how do we know that wasn't there before?"  The cop then said, "because it matched your license plate holder perfectly."

I apologized for yelling and explained this was my first accident.  She said, "I'm a born again Christian which is why I didn't get upset."

The hubby called USAA, and her insurance called me last night to go through the details.  

I'm thankful that no one was hurt, but I'm very sad about my car, and my missed date with the hubby.

So, I'm hoping there's never a next time, but let's hope that I can conduct myself in a more lady-like manner if it ever happens again.

Getting Older

As I begin to plan for our road trip next month to my family's very first family reunion, it is abundantly clear that I'm getting old. Not that many years ago I would have no problem staying in a ghetto hotel or would have even put much thought into a trip THAT far in the future. I guess my first mistake was staying at a Holiday Inn Express when I had a 2 day certification in Chapel Hill this fall. The bed was SO comfy, and I didn't even use MY pillow that I take with me everywhere! Even though it had smoking rooms, mine obviously had never been or they are one of the few companies that know how to clean thoroughly.

Convenience is also becoming a higher priority than expense. It is still VERY uncertain if the hubby will be able to accompany me on the 22 hr road trip to Texas, so I'm trying to justify every option. If I had more than one friend in the area (outside of my brother & awesome SIL) I could probably find someone to drive with me...but I don't. I'm contemplating flying out a family member or even asking the nanny to come. Either one would be very expensive, but having another adult to help wrangle these TWO year olds might be worth avoiding a migraine.
Yes, the boys turned two yesterday.
I was excited to attend church, and was counting on my cell phone of almost two years to automatically update with the time change, as it has done since I got it, but it didn't. So, we took a lazy day and stayed in our PJ's and I gave the boys a taste of my first attempt at the 3D train cake I'm making for the party this weekend (since the hubby should be home by then). I think they liked it.

They are such crazy boys, and make me laugh on a daily basis.

Lora helped me finish the day by bringing over dinner, since we both had serious wallowing days Saturday, and we finished our Twilight marathon with Breaking Dawn. I'm so lucky to have my one friend (outside of work) that understands me and can relate so completely...everyone needs a local friend like that!

I'm still trying to avoid turning 30 this summer, but it seems to be inevitable. Although the number still freaks me out a bit, it comes with life experience that I wouldn't replace. But there will not be a party :o)

I can see clearly now the rain is gone...

To say I've been in a funk lately is a vast understatement. My patience is thin & my attitude needs a makeover. As we get into the busy season at work, I've been finding it harder and harder to paste on a smile after the millionth case of emergency vomiting. On an exceptionally trying day my manager handed me an envelope that was sent to the hospital & addressed to me. I planned on scanning it, but my scanner has decided to die...so here is what is said.

*Outside of card*
"Thanks!"

*Inside*
"...for making my life suck just a little less. :)"

"Dear Mary,

My name is **** **** and I was in the Pediatric Emergency Room on **-**-**. I was there because I needed to have my appendix removed. I wanted to say thank you for EVERYTHING you did for me. You truly are the best nurse in the world! :)
You made me feel comfortable when I felt at my worst!
*Mary, Mary quite contrary*
I will never forget you!
-Your Patient,
**** ****

"Mary,

Thank you for making our time in the ER bearable. Keep doing what you do, you're truly gifted. **** ****"

I've been carrying around this card in my work bag ever since. It makes me cry every time I read it. Knowing that I made a difference on a person's horrible day is the greatest gift I could ever receive.

So, take the time to thank those who you are truly grateful for, it will make a world of difference on their day!

Counting down the days

While attempting to function after the third stomach bug in three months, I found myself trying to count the days until my Sexy Beast will be home...two more months. Two more months. Two more months.

I know that doesn't sound like a lot to most people, and in all honesty it isn't. I'm thankful that my husband is at a school and not being shot at in a combat zone. I'm thankful he has a good job that has afforded him the opportunity to go from a GED to a Masters degree in eleven years. I'm thankful he is alive, even when we can't seem to agree on things.

To say this past year has been trying, is a vast understatement.

The boys and I moved to be closer to family, which just happened to be our next duty station, while the hubby went to school. He then broke his arm on his last day at work, landing him in the OR and then months of healing before he could once again pass his push ups, THEN wait for another class date to open up. I started a great job but found a very substandard nanny, then found a great one who ended up quitting the day before she was supposed to start, then had a fill in that didn't work out, THEN found another great one that has been fantastic. I said goodbye to my father, but was able to improve my relationship with his wonderful wife & family.

I recently found a blog, through a link on facebook, that really makes me smile. So, here is one of my Kairos moments I'm holding onto with a death grip

While Eric was home we were able to have a short date night. For the first time I ordered ribs, with the intention of sharing with the boys when I got home.

Cooper quickly stripped the meat off & proceeded to suck every morsel off.

Carter, on the other hand, didn't fancy getting his hands dirty & cried until I cut the meat off and handed him his fork.

So, although I was up most of last night with another stomach bug, I'm grateful that I had the nanny come for half the day so I could rest...because as luck would have it, looks like Cooper got it too. Also a HUGE thanks to my fellow Army Wife, Lora, who came to my house after I ruined our shopping trip in Raleigh, by getting sick, followed me back to my house and got the boys dinner & put them down...all so I could puke in peace. I honestly wouldn't have survived this last year without such thoughtful family and friends.

I've been writing this post in my mind for the past 2 weeks

As many of you know, my father was diagnosed with Brain Cancer last October. He had surgery to remove it soon after and was being treated with chemo & radiation. This event prompted my involvement in Relay for Life & to go see him back in January.

Many events have occurred since then, but none as emotional as the last two weeks.

Saturday, Sept 10th:
My Dad's wife, Ginny, sent me a text to call her when I could. I had the pleasure of bonding with Ginny when they came to visit me in Hawaii, and when visiting my Oma in Montana. She called to let me know that my Dad's mobility had continued to deteriorate & that he was going to be placed in a Nursing Home to get Physical Therapy in hopes of gaining enough strength to come home soon.

I cried when I got off the phone because he had slowly lost more and more strength with the long term steroid use, as treatment, and it was another reminder that his body was failing him.

Monday, Sept 12th:
I received a phone call from my Mother informing me that my father had been admitted to the hospital, and the cancer had spread. I was stunned & immediately called Ginny. My father has always been a man of few words, and NEVER complained, so when he started to voice his pain, Ginny immediately got him to the ER. There they discovered he had a raging UTI & kidney infection & admitted him for treatment. After getting his full history, they decided to do a CT...which is when they discovered that tumors were present in every organ. My heart sank. I called his RN, and made sure that I had enough time to get there.

Tuesday, Sept 13th:
Dad said he wanted to go home & be with his dogs, so Ginny made arrangements for Hospice & the VA, and got him home. I called work, hysterical, and told them that I was leaving immediately, but would be back in 8 days. My SIL had just arrived Saturday, with her adorable son (who is 3 weeks younger than the boys) and selflessly offered to watch the boys so I could focus on what I needed to.

Wednesday, Sept 14th:
After 3 planes & 8 hours, I made it to Tucson. My GPS decided it didn't recognize Arizona, so I somehow found my way to my hotel, picked up a new GPS, then headed to my Dad's house. Up until Monday, I hadn't been aware of my Dad's blindness, and was unprepared for the state I found him. He laid in the hospital bed (which the VA was kind enough to supply), and was only able to answer with a simple "yes" or "no." Ginny put me right to work helping feed him, and at that time I was thankful he couldn't see the tears streaming down my face. I could see that he didn't have much time left, but I was eternally grateful to be at his side.

Thursday & Friday, Sept 15 & 16th:
Hospice provided us with a portable suction, since his ability to swallow was limited & he continued to choke on anything we gave him. We gave the meds as prescribed, made sure he was clean, and positioned him as best we could. During this time I was able to help Ginny make arrangements for his wishes.

My younger sister emailed me a letter that she wanted me to read to him. I read it many times in hopes that I wouldn't break down, but I couldn't help cry as I read the touching words of an appreciate daughter.

As I said, my Father was a simple man, and he wanted to donate his body to science. This service is offered by Science Care, and they contract a mortuary, and after about 3-4 weeks, the cremation remains are mailed back to the family.

By Friday night his breathing had become more labored & fast...and I tried to prepare myself. Ginny didn't leave his side for more than a few minutes to help with the kids or help me organize papers. She talked to him & played his favorite Oldies in the background.

Saturday, Sept 17th:
He breathing stayed fast & labored throughout the day, and by the evening he was no longer responding. I continued to give him Morphine which slowly seemed to ease his breathing. I continued to sit at the kitchen table reading one of the many books I brought, while Ginny stayed at his side.

Every night on the drive back to the hotel, I cried. I cried for the pain he was in, the loss I already was feeling, and the pain in Ginny's eyes.

Sunday, Sept 18th:
We continued with out routine, although he could no longer take anything by mouth, and I could hear his lungs begin to fill with fluid. I continued with the morphine and keeping his as comfortable as possible. I helped with the kids & anything else to allow Ginny to be at his side.

Monday, Sept 19th:
His arms and legs started to get cold, and his breathing more and more shallow. I finally realized that no matter how well I positioned him with pillows, in the end it didn't matter.

That night before I left for the hotel, I grabbed his hand, told him I loved him & kissed him on his forehead. He had been resting quietly all day, but I could feel him slipping away. I cried horribly on the way back to the hotel & when I got into my room. I stepped into the shower & prayed that he would pass before I had to leave on Wednesday, so I could be there to support Ginny.

As soon as I stepped out of the shower, Ginny called to tell me he had passed. I went into fix-it mode & threw on my PJ's & headed back to their house. I sat on the porch with Ginny until the Hospice RN arrived to pronounce him, & until the mortuary came to pick him up.

She told me stories & conversations she had with him, and we both held each other and cried.

Tuesday, Sept 20th:
We tied up loose ends & Ginny & I made a trip out to the Air Force Base to get some things fixed & go to the commissary. This allowed us a lot of time to talk & reminisce...it was just what we needed.

That afternoon I realized what I needed. I gave the kids hugs, thanked Danny for all his help, and said my goodbyes to Ginny. I headed back to my hotel room and just simply cried. I had been ignoring text messages and phone calls all week because I honestly couldn't allow myself to talk or I would have never been strong enough to help Ginny. I talked with Eric for almost 2 hours and then cried some more. Just before bed I walked to Denny's & ate dinner in a restaurant, by myself for the first time ever.

Wednesday, Sept 21st:
I left for the airport at 3:30am and was headed back home. Finally at 8:00pm, I arrived back in North Carolina, and was greeted by a smile & hug from E.J. (old Army friend from HI) who was compassionate enough to give me a ride home.

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I'm still sad. I'm still hurting. But, I am eternally grateful for the time I was able to spend with my Father, doing those Nursing skills that have become second nature for me. I'm grateful that I could be there as a physical and emotional support to Ginny and the family. At first she apologized for being a bad hostess, but I quickly corrected her and let her know that if my husband was in the same state, I would also be at his side, every moment I could.

Please forgive my absence for the awhile, I'm emotionally drained and physically exhausted.

I want to thank all my family and friends for their kind words, and actions. My SIL, Nicole, was so accurate in saying that God has a plan...and there was a reason for her to arrive when she did. And, Amy S. for not hesitating to volun-tell her husband, who was more than willing, to give me a ride home. And especially husband & brother, Mike, who were really the only people I knew I could call at any hour to discuss what was going on and pour out my emotions.

Pay It Forward

This morning I received a text from my sister asking if I still had my breast pump because she had a girl at work that was in desperate need of baby items. Since my mother bought me the pump I thought it was only fair to call and ask her permission. What she said has sparked an idea..."of course, pay it forward!"

I have been so blessed with friends and family that recognized the needs I had, in preparing for the twins, and stepped in to help me get the items I so desperately needed. AND, who have continued to send me clothes and other items when times were especially tough.

So, I NEED YOUR HELP!!!

I've been going through all the baby stuff & I have BINS of clothes (since it was for 2) that I want to give to someone YOU know that could really benefit from it. But remember, I only have BOY items from ages 0-18mo and shoes up to size 6.

So, email me at: way2cool2bcocky (at) gmail (dot) com
Tell me about the person you have in mind & why.

Also, email me if you have something you would like to donate such as: gift card, items you make (I will be sure to link to your etsy/business page), or items you are trying to get rid of that are still in excellent condition.

I only have a small network of people, but I know you guys probably have someone in mind.

Once I get all the nominations, I'll post a voting poll on the Right column for everyone to vote on.
As of now I don't know how many winners they'll be (it depends on if anyone else donates & the ages of the babies), but I plan on a few. I'm going to go with the flat rate boxes, since it'll be cheapest for me, so I'm guessing at least 5 people.

I'll post the nominees on August 30th, and leave one week for voting.

Also, as people donate other items (come on, you know you want to) I'll update this post if anyone wants to donate girl things.

Help me get the word out to find some nominees & donors!!

So...I think my neighbors are making Meth

(**this is NOT the actual neighbor. Retreived from Google Image**)

If they aren't making meth, they are doing something illegal! There house is the same layout as mine, yet there are always at least 4 different vehicles (all VERY nice) parked there. They have black plastic blocking out all their windows & at least 10 LARGE dogs.

I first got suspicious when we originally looked at this house. Seeing that they parked cars in their driveway & their yard I could tell they were classy. Also in their front yard they had a BBQ grill, riding lawn mower, a bijillion kids toys (to include power wheels) and trash all over their patio. (Yet I get hate mail about weeds in my flower beds??)

Another one of my favorite antics are how they use their backyard to drive laps in their 4-wheelers. Sorry, is this something that everyone does?

In the past I've found her dogs running the neighborhood, in the 100+ degree heat, which I knock & ring the doorbell for over 5 minutes (which there are at least 3 cars there).

Today, Koa started going crazy in the kitchen. I walk over to see what he's barking at find one of their dogs on the other side of my sliding glass door. I'd encountered this dog before, on one of his many outings in the neighborhood, so I knew he was friendly, but it was the principle! I walked next door and knocked & rang the door bell every 30 seconds until someone finally came to the front door. I informed her that her dog was in my backyard to which she says, "wow, I'm so sorry." But that was it. I said, "can you come get him?" She says "oh yeah." I start walking back to my house (while avoiding the landminds her dogs leave in BOTH our front yards) and wait, and wait, and wait, until finally she sends her daughter over to get the dog.

Also, it's never the same cars parked there. Or the same men that sit on the front porch & smoke (and make out with one of the regulars). Also, the other day I went outside to put the trash out at 0530 and see people getting into cars and also people just arriving and leaving their cars.

I'm I super paranoid because I'm not a fan of theirs, or should I really be worried that my bedroom is the closet room to their house...in case of explosion?

Some people have too much time on their hands

Dear Nosey Neighbor,

I realize that you must have too much time on your hands if you felt the need to notify my property manager (which I'm assuming you did b/c you know the owner...or you are just THAT nosey) that "although [my] lawn is being mowed, the flower beds are in need of weeding."

Seriously...SERIOUSLY!!

Did you ever think that I might only have 1-2 hrs on my days off that I can manage to mow my lawn (while the boys are napping)!!

I'm not saying that I didn't need to pull some weeds, but thanks for ignoring the VACANT house next door that I was mowing their front yard because, you know, it's the NEIGHBORLY thing to do.

Whatever. Be a wimp.

Oh, and in case you weren't aware, YOU SUCK!

The Geographical Single Mom,

Mary

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So, for the followers I have left, I've been a little busy. Eric was able to come home for 30 days, and I chose to spend that time with him...and unpacking...and pulling weeds.

We were able to spend our birthdays & 10 year anniversary together. It amazes me how far we've come over the last decade!!

Oh, and I got a new car....a car I've always wanted...in my favorite color!!!

Meet the Mini Cooper S Countryman!!She is a thing of beauty, and drives like a go kart!
I want to give a HUGE shout out to Alan @ Flow Mini in Raleigh for his extreme patience as I test drove 4 different Mini's and working out the trade in for my Honda. All the staff were amazing & everyone had such a positive attitude!!! I'm loving my new car, and Eric can comfortably fit too!!

Work has been great. I'm learning a TON, but I'm also spending most of my time studying for numerous certifications. I'm off orientation the second week in August & I'm excited, but also scared. I'll talk more about that later.

For the few readers I still have left, thanks for sticking around. More help is headed my way in September and should be around until Eric is finally able to be with us again next spring. I am stalking without commenting, but I do try to drop a line every once in awhile.

I hope everyone is having a great summer, and I have a great post brewing about some tips on how NOT to be a moronic parent! Stay tuned!!!

It gets easier...right??

Wouldn't you be grumpy if you had to be woken up while sleeping like this??

I love my religion, but going to church has become a battleground.

The boys are NOT fans of sitting for 3 hrs, so I've backed it off to just the 1st hour, but it seems like that is too much! They wrestle with me & each other, throw their toys, bother EVERYONE around us and nothing seems to keep their interest.

And until they become afternoon nappers, which would screw with my sleeping schedule during the week, they end up with a short, or non-existent nap time. Makes for very unhappy kiddos.

It's slightly easier for me (not necessarily them) when I can sit with my brother & his family, but that isn't always an option. And our chapel is tiny with very few pews, and I've learned that sitting in the chairs just isn't an option.

Their going to grow out of this, right??

What toys/distractions have worked for your kids at this age (15 months), to keep them entertained???

In better news, Cooper is now sleeping until about 6am!!! I'll take it. I think that spending at least 30 minutes outside in the heat, and keeping them busy during the day has helped. AND, they may have just needed this time to get into their own routine. Although Eric just left again, we look forward to him making an appearance in time for my birthday at the end of the month, his in July, and our 10 yr anniversary a few days after that!.

Don't unfollow me yet!!

So, I'm in North Carolina, but life sure has thrown a few curve balls my way these past few weeks!

Cooper has decided that he doesn't need to sleep...pretty much ever. He is waking up every 2 hrs at night and is only taking about a 45 min nap. This wouldn't be so bad if Eric had arrived when we originally planned.

He was supposed to join me after two weeks, but on his last day (and his last jump) he had a less than desirable landing and ended up breaking his wrist, which had to be repaired via surgery.

He made it up a week late, and now can no longer attend his scheduled class in Arizona, and has to go back to Florida for an undetermined amount of time...waiting for his wrist to heal & then another class date & even possibly another duty station.

I started orientation and am LOVING the new hospital!!! They are 3 times larger than the one I used to work at, and I'm super excited to work in the Pediatric ED.

So, with all the stress & frustration, I've found one thing to be grateful for...I can wear ANY color shoes I want! And this is what I chose:
Don't you love them!! I have great plans to graffiti them out with signatures & my own wicked style.

I also have some great news! I have some AMAZING sisters that hooked me up, and coincidentally, will have hooked up one lucky reader. Yes, you read that right, I'm going to do a giveaway! A real one :o)

So, stay posted, don't unfollow me, and to give you an idea of how busy I've been...my nanny worked almost 50 hrs last week! Hopefully things will slow down once I hit the floor & get on a normal schedule.

REALLY??

One thing I have NEVER been is graceful. I frequently trip over my own two feet, and am personally surprised I made it through the pregnancy without serious injury!

To add to my clumsiness, I usually see it coming. I'll go to pour something, and a split second before I make a huge mess, I literally see how I'm going to spill...but there's no stopping me by that point.

So, in an attempt to prevent more accidents, I always try to keep my main walking area in the house clear of clutter.

In preparing for the move we are a little more cluttered than normal and our vacuum, which happens to be a metal Kirby, was in my way. Now, when I say in my way, I mean within 3 ft radius of me, because I'm just that clumsy.

I catch my feet on things all the time, but this time was different. The pain didn't go away, and it bruised right away and got very swollen. I buddy-taped it with two other toes and took some Motrin.

Two days later it's still sporting a nice bruise:

But, it isn't nearly as painful!

What irritated me the most is about two seconds after I grabbed my foot in pain and screamed obscenities grimaced in pain, my husband said, "be careful!" I gave him the look of death and said, "REALLY?"

I've never understood the point of saying "be careful" "watch your step" or "did that hurt", other than to point out to the clumsy person that they are a moron & klutz. What do you think??


**PS: I may or may not have painted my toenail after taking the initial picture and realizing I might scare young children if I left my disgusting feet as is.

One last plug! **UPDATED**

The Relay for Life event is in 3 days, and I'm 81% to my goal, $65 away!! You can make an online donation as small as $10!!

I want to do some HUGE thank you's to those that have already donated!

Carolyn, you were the first one to donate, then you joined the team, competed in a 5K with me, and have never stopped supporting me!! Love ya girlie!!

Desiree, I have seen you grow leaps & bounds in the past two years, and am SO proud of the beautiful young lady you have become!

Annette, I'm eternally grateful to you for raising such an amazing son, that has been a wonderful husband and stellar father! Thanks for always believing in me!

Mary Cullen, my co-worker who knows my passion and never hesitated to show her support!

Nicole, I'm so grateful to have you in my life!! I love our conversations & take joy in seeing your life grow with Peter & my adorable nephew Malachi!

Vanessa, my wife/nursing school buddy, your continued support in every endeavor I taken on is not unnoticed. You are my ROCK!

Michelle, my ROCKIN' SIL who endures talking to me, even though she hates talking on the phone, and has been generous enough to allow me to move within 3 miles of her!

Jeannie, my fellow Kick-A Army wife, I can always look to you for a smile, sympathetic ear, or even a great laugh! Hoooah sista!

********************UPDATE********************
I made my goal!!!

I big thanks to Yohanna G., Jacqueline L., Carolyn (for your donation in Nik's name), David C., & Vanessa C.

I was literally brought to tears when I saw the generosity of so many of my family & friends. You all knew how important it was to me...and you supported me! Thank you really can't express my gratitude. You ALL rock!

WARNING: Mad Skilz Ahead

So we've been working A LOT on getting the outside of the house looking good so we can post a picture for the listing. We have 3, yes THREE, full grown oak trees on our property, which makes for a lot of leaves.

We invested in a leaf blower awhile ago, which made Eric's job easy...but somehow I ended up having to pick up all the leaves (he's having pretty bad sciatic pain...which I can totally relate to...so I wanted to do my part). He also pressure washed the outside of the house & it looks ten times better!

Here's the pile of bags that I had the pleasure of bagging...at least what I could get done during nap time & when Eric got home from work!

I also trimmed the bushes by the front door, pulled weeds, laid the edging & planted flowers. For those that have been to my house in the last six months, you know what an undertaking this was! The pile of limbs that I took off the bushes was bigger than what was left! These bushes were literally touching our rain gutters before I began!

Then it was off to the backyard where decided to plan azaleas along the back fence line because there was NOTHING there...and it only gets indirect sunlight.

And, with the help of Miss Molly, who I ran into while shopping at Lowe's, I picked these hanging baskets to put in this corner.

So, my lack of blogging hasn't been because I didn't want to!! We've got a lot still left to do before I leave in less than two weeks.

It's all happening so fast!

Last month the boys celebrated their 1st birthday!! I only invited a few friends over, that have truly become more like family, and we ate & watched the boys devour their cupcakes! Here is the practice cake I made...I forgot to take a picture of the one I made for the actual day...it pretty much looks the same!

Carter

Cooper

The boys with their cupcakes

Carter

Cooper

The fam

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Sorry about being so MIA lately, but the move is progressing a lot faster than we originally planned! We made a trip to NC this past week to do a little house hunting, and of course we fell in love with the second to last house we looked it. It's the right price, and only 3 miles away from my brother & his family!!

We got back Sunday night and have spent almost every waking moment preparing our current house to get on the rental market. Has anyone ever heard of AHRN.com?? It is a great, FREE, website for military families to list their rentals!!

Because of availability, I'll be leaving FL on the 24th (the day after my last day of work), and waiting there for Eric to finish all his schooling in Arizona. Please keep your fingers crossed that I'll be able to find a good job & childcare! I have a phone interview tomorrow!!!

Although I'm super excited to be moving back to NC & being near family...I think I'm going to put the cold weather on notice. I'll definitely miss the warm weather here, but I think my allergies will thank me for the move!

I *Heart* My Army Wife Life!

That phrase ("I Love My Army Wife Life") is one of my many mantras. When I start to get frustrated with another "hurry up & wait" situation the military presents us, I try to stop and think how lucky I am.

I have been thinking about this A LOT lately. As we start to prepare the house for the rental market, I had a conversation with one of my main homies, Molly, & we started to discuss what would happen when I had to move. We resolved there would be a huge production of "ugly crying" (face red, eyes swollen, runny nose)...and I honestly started to tear up just thinking about it. I'm super excited to start our journey at our next duty station, but I'm so sad to leave so many amazing people behind.

In all the "bad" that comes from being a military wife, I've been afforded so many opportunities that I am truly grateful for. I was able to live on the beautiful island of O'ahu for 3 years! I lived off base, worked on the economy, picked up quite a bit of pigeon slang, learned some hula, and developed an unhealthy obsession with Aloha Shoyu, Coconut Syrup, Lomi lomi salmon & Coconut Macadamia Nut Tea. I've met people that have truly changed my life & love catching up with.

In "surviving" deployments & TDY's to Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Quatar, Jordan, Australia, Singapore & more, Eric and I have learned how to communicate. Whether it's a 5 minute conversation on a Satellite phone that echoes, letters written on 3x5 index cards, or chatting via IM or Skype, we know the importance of every minute. We have a mutual respect of each others roles in our family & how tasking they can be. This is NOT to say we don't disagree, um DUH we're married, but these separations have aided us in communicating our feelings/concerns effectively.

It seems like each move is bittersweet. Although I will eventually leave behind amazing people here, I know I'll learn and grow even more with the experiences that await me after the move! And, just to clarify, even though Eric is now an officer...I will forever be an Army wife... AKA Household 6!

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No matter what branch you serve, the US Military is a family. The heinous act that took the lives of two airmen in Germany last week is a tragedy. The friends of Nicholas Alden have set up an online auction on Facebook to raise money for his family. Please take the time to click HERE and place a bid OR look in the info section to find out how to make a personal donation. Although the military has decent life insurance, it can take quite awhile to receive those benefits, and if you've ever buried a loved one, you know of the immediate expenses. So, please support this family in their time of need.

(if the link doesn't work, do a search for "Auction to Raise Funds for the Alden family")

Why I love my job

It took me MANY years to decide what I wanted to do with my life. Eric was VERY accomodating and afforded me the time to sort things out by not pressuring me. I finally decided that I wanted to go into Nursing while he was deployed in Iraq for 13 months (I had a lot of time on my hands). I had the wonderful opportunity to be very involved with the FRG (Army's Family Readiness Group), and found true joy in serving others, even if it was just allowing a stressed wife time to vent.

Throughout Nursing School I was conflicted about what type of nursing I wanted to do. I fell in love with the ER due to the pace & the continual variety of people you see. Then, the summer before my 2nd year I was able to spend quite a few days in Labor & Delivery, and I fell in LOVE!

It is truly what I thought I wanted to do, but I new that being a new graduate the chances were slim to non that I would be able to work in that area. While in my last few weeks of nursing school I was able to interview for a position in Pediatrics. Due to the way my hospital works, this would not only allow me to work in a specialty area, but also float to the med-surg & post-surg which I took as a bonus so I would be able to stay well-rounded.

Over almost the past 2 years I have fallen in love with Peds. As in any career, sometimes a series of events can be disheartening...but then the sun comes out, and like in this book made for me by one of my patients, the rainbow brings hope!

"At the end of the storm, comes a beautiful rainbow."

"The magic rainbow is magic because it didn't rain first."

"The rainbow is beautiful"

"The flowers grow tall under the rainbow"

(close up of her message at the end)

Let the Battle Begin!

Last week we discovered the Cooper had yet another double ear infection. So, I didn't think too much about him tackling Carter or throwing temper tantrums. But, as the days go on, I'm afraid they're allowing me a brief glimpse as to what the future holds.

Cooper has been caught pulling, crawling, collaring & all out tackling Carter this week. Now, you might think he is a bully...but I tend to think he's just getting even. Carter is already an accomplished walker, and has used his freedom to steal whatever toy Cooper is playing with, and has also been caught using him as a human stepping stool.

Although there has been an abundance of screaming (since they are both cutting their top two teeth) there has also been joyous moments of laughter, without any parents involved.

We've also been attempting to rid Cooper of the middle of the night feedings. So far, he's lasting until about 5am. Carter sleeps very soundly, unless woken up by Cooper. Also, the cry it out method has proven to cause me more difficulty than Cooper. It's not that it breaks my heart to hear him cry...it's frustrating because he cries until he pukes, then I have to wake up Carter so I can steam clean the carpet. It gets easier, right?

I can't believe my little guys will be one next month!