This is for you Amy T

Well, this is for Amy T and anyone else who wants to read it. Last Saturday I got the opportunity to go to my home town of Dover, Delaware to go to a baby shower for my dear friend Lorili. She wasn't due until the end of February and the shower had been planned months ago, but little Dallin decided he wanted to come prior to the shower and arrived on the 18th of January. He was only five pounds 13 ounces so Lorili thought it was better to leave him at home. But this is Lorili "holding" her baby.

This was the biggest baby shower I have EVER been to. I thought I had walked into a wedding reception. It was held in a small gym with a stage at a local school. There were at least 9 round tables that held 8-9 people. Every table but one was full. Lorili's oldest sister had planned everything to a T. What's even more remarkable is that her sister planned this enormous party all the while grieving her husband who died the week before Christmas. She said having the shower to plan gave her something positive to focus on. The cake was amazing and the frosting was the best I had ever tasted ( I wanted to eat it by the spoonful). The tables were set with all kinds of favors and centerpieces. Her theme was monkeys and on the stage was a huge palm tree covered in lights with stuffed monkeys hanging from it. Each table had a "barrel of monkeys" in the center with monkeys sprinkled around. The food was great. She had people bring crockpots full of soup, plates with different types of sandwiches, and fruit with a chocolate fountain.

Ofcourse I was so busy enjoying the company and the food that I forgot to bring out my camera until after the cake was eaten and most of the people were gone. Infact I didn't bring out my camera until almost everything was cleaned up. Amy, your mother was so funny - first she decided that she was going to come sit with my mom and me because we were the only ones at our table, but then she decided she would stay her table until after she got her food because her table got to go 4 tables in front of mine. Then AFTER she got her food she sat with us! Too funny. Then she wanted to hold Piper and Reenie said that she would hold her until MJ finished eating. Your mom scarfed her sandwiches down so fast and asked for the baby. My mom said but you haven't finished your soup - MJ replied "Who cares". Reenie said "but your soup will get cold, do you want me to spoon feed you?" Thankfully MJ replied no - she didn't care about her soup when she could hold a baby. It was so cute and funny. I love our moms!

The best part of the day was seeing so many people from my childhood. Amy T - we missed you and oh how I wish you lived closer. Your mom and I talked about how we need to do some job searching and get you out here. I was going to ask Lorili if we were going to her house Sat night to spend the night since it WAS her birthday - it would have been like old times with Lorili, Angie, Natalie, Me etc... Also at the shower was Tammy, Amy Duran, Elizabeth Snyder and her sister Jenn, Sis. Hyde, Kroshus, Thwaites, VS, Temple, Kopp, Victory, Bothell, Evans, Sylvester, Stapleford, Trisha, Mariana. It was really like old times except for the slew of new people in Dover Ward that I didn't know and the fact that Tabitha Stapleford and Rachel Haxton are now 21 and not 4.

Natalie showed up at the very end with something very twinkly on her finger. Yep- she's engaged. I am really happy for her! She looked so good. She and Matt really remind me of their mom. I miss seeing Sis. Badell's smiling face when I go back! Natalie said she really missed you too.

It was a really fun day! I love childhood memories and seeing the people who helped me create them.

On a weird side note - Lorili was due Feb 24th and had her baby Jan 18th. My cousin Amanda was due to have her baby on Feb 18th and had it on Jan 24th. What's up with 24 and 18? Taffy and Boss - you are both due mid Feb will you be going way early too? I was wondering what was up with Feb babies coming so early!

Monster

There's a monster in my family!

Isn't she cute?

Rubber Dolly

Our little rubber dolly (as my mother always calls babies without their clothes on) is getting too big for the bathroom sink. It's much easier to hold on to her in the small sink, but now she likes to push her feet against the edge of the sink forcing her head and back against the other side. I have to be constantly conteracting her pushes and kicks so she doesn't hurt herself. I think it's time to make the big move to the kitchen sink but that makes me a little nervous too because babies are so slippery.

She usually enjoys her baths and even lets us make little soap horns on her head.

We love it when she gets all dried off and wears her sweet smelling baby cologne (baby lotion).

Tiny Soldiers

For Christmas, Chase and MacGregor got ACU's (the new military uniforms, BDU's were the old green camo). They even got "desert tan" boots. Before Daniel returned home he got name tapes embroidered for them. Last Friday was "hat day" at school. The boys wanted to wear their military hats so we decided they should go all decked out in full uniform. Thursday night I sewed on their US Army and name tapes.

Another GREAT thing - We have our Halloween costumes for next year! Daniel can even go dressed up with the boys! The boys got camo face paint in their stockings so this summer they'll have alot of fun hiding in the trees at my parents cabin. We decided no face paint at school though! :)

Repetition

This is our Natural Gas Bill for the month of December.

You don't see that number very often. (Did they just hold that key down?) Hmmmm.........

Boston Globe Article

We were recently sent this link to an article published in the Boston Globe. Daniel had told me in November that there was a journalist from the Globe embedded with their unit. He was there for some time. The unit that Daniel was attached to (399th Combat Support Hospital) was based out of Massachusetts.

Daniel really enjoyed the article. Hopefully he can give his feelings on the article when he has time, but he told me that the article was very accurate. It really took him back to his stay there in Mosul and I could see the emotion in his face as he looked at the pictures of some dear friends. He became very close to many of the doctors and staff he worked with there and it was very special to see them again in these pictures.

Daniel was there the day the author wrote about (the day the pictures are from). I remember talking to him about it. It happened the day or so after I had Piper. I remember being in the hospital and hearing about the bus that had been bombed in a city nearby Mosul. Daniel's position during a mass casulty was to be a "trauma team leader". He "triaged" or assessed the wounded as they came in and determined what they needed done and where to send them next (surgery or clinic etc...).

If this link works correctly you should be sent directly to the article. In the middle of the text is a box that has a link to some slide shows. Daniel's group is in the second slide show. He is pictured in the second slide. He's one of two people seated, he's on the right. His roomate, Dr. Apostle is in another slide examining a foot. The voice you hear narrating was Lt. Col "JC", their commander. Daniel said he was a terrific guy. He told me he has never worked with a better group of people!
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The following appeared on Boston.com:Headline: In Iraq, 'it's us versus death' Date: December 31, 2006"MOSUL, Iraq -- The alert hit the 399th like a shot of pureadrenaline. "____________________________________________________________
To see this recommendation, click on the link below or cut and paste itinto a Web browser: http://www.boston.com/news/world/articles/2006/12/31/in_iraq_its_us_versus_death?p1=email_to_a_friend

Sisters!!

They sure like to be together!! Infact, Ainsley was really good in the first few weeks about looking but not touching but now she has become a bit more brazen. I found her picking up the baby off the floor (Ainsley was sitting on the floor, not standing, so that was a little easier to take). Then a day or two later I saw her opening the swing and trying to take her out (heartstopper!!). And then when Daniel and I had our backs turned Ainsley tried to pick Piper up out of the bouncy seat. Everytime we catch her Ainsley says, "BUT SHE'S CRYING". We try to tell her she can talk to her or rock her in the swing or seat but NOT pick her up. I just envision her tripping with the baby. Chase walks around holding the baby once in a while and THAT even makes me nervous. To Ainlsey's credit - she does seem to support the head and bottom. :)

I am happy with simple floor play - everyone remains on the floor - making faces, singing, wiggling arms and legs. BUT most importantly - staying on the floor!

So, Do they look alike? We are still trying to figure out who this baby looks like. At first we saw Gregor. Lately I've really seen Chase but there is something about her that looks different than the rest - we are thinking perhaps her eye shape and width apart is a little different. She has some similarities too though. She has that perfectly round grapefruit head and her mouth seems very similar to Ainsley's. What do you think?

The Playoffs!

So the EAGLES made it to the playoffs after a very shakey season. They made it past the first round against the "Stinkin" Cowboys. Last night was game 2. And we were ready!

I wish I had thought to get the camera out a little earlier because Chase, Gregor and Ainsley all got Eagles jerseys for Christmas. Daniel has an Eagles shirt, sweatshirt and hat. So everyone was decked out last night but the game didn't even start until 8pm so the kids had gone to bed by the time I thought to get out my camera.

We had a fun family night. We had treats - popcorn, soda, ice cream, and apples and caramel dip. The boys made signs to hold up - "OFFENSE" and "DE + an image of a fence." Daniel would get so excited and yell at the top of his lungs scaring the poor baby out of a sound sleep.

In the end though the EAGLES lost it. With a minute and half left on 4th down the quarterback got it to his receiver that would have walked it right into the end zone.... BUT.... a lineman had false started and the EAGLES were forced to punt. So sad! After the game, I heard Daniel say, "That's too bad" and few minutes later - I heard him say again, "That's too bad". He went on to say it roughly 10 more times over the next 15 minutes or so until I finally pointed out to him that he was saying that repeatedly. I think we was rethinking the game over and over and that phrase just kept coming to mind! Funny!

Daddy Loves Baby!

Here are the pictures that eluded us for so many weeks!


Daniel has been home just over two weeks now with his new baby. I think he may like her a little bit!

He loves her! Although sometimes she's not so keen on all his doting.

You can't imagine my joy at taking and looking at these pictures. I'm so glad Daddy's home!

Check below on 12/23/06

I finally finished the post I started some time ago - Because I am not proficient at blogging I couldn't chage the date to make it a current post and it posted below my most recent entry. So please scroll down to 12-23-06 and see ..... THE REST OF THE STORY (for you Paul Harvey lovers) ........ which is the "The Whole Story (a little late).

We've Made the News!

I have started a new post but haven't seem to have had the time to finish it. I will try to this upcoming week when the kids go back to school. I did however want to add a link to the news paper article that we appeared in this week.

Christmas Eve, our local NBC station came over and interviewed Daniel and I about our experiences - Daniel's experiences overseas, mine at home, seeing the new baby for the first time, being home in time for Christmas etc... It appeared on several newcasts Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I am hoping to have a link created so you can see the clip. My brother in law is going to help me set that up when he has a chance.

A reporter for our local paper saw the TV newscast and asked to come do an interview. He came to the house and did an hour long interview and this is what appeared on the front page of the paper the next morning. It was a large color photograph. We made the front page with news of Gerald Ford's death and Saddams death sentence. At least we were "GOOD" news!

http://local.lancasteronline.com/4/28973

I thought it was a really nice article. And I must give credit to my father for the photography. He took this picture, which is a cropped portion of a larger picture, at the airport the night Daniel arrived. I will touch on the whole arrival night in the post that I haven't finished yet. Since I don't have enough copies of the actual article in print to send to everyone - I hope you enjoy reading it online.

It's been interesting how many people have seen the article and had no idea Daniel had even been gone. Even some of our neighbors that live on our street didn't know - but then again, because I was living alone I was very quiet about it to people I didn't know well.

The Whole Story! (a little late)

So here's the whole story - Daniel arrived back in the US on Sunday, Dec 17th. He called me around 2pm from New Jersey! Can you believe that? I told him I would come over and pick him up!! It was hard knowing that he was 2 hours away and we couldn't see him. He said as he flew over eastern PA he could see our town and the highways around it. It must have been so hard to be so close to home and have to go all the way to west Texas before returning here! As of Sunday night he knew he would have processing all of Monday and Tuesday. At that point he was hopeful he could return home on Wednesday.

On Monday however he found out that they have to have an exit interview. They were scheduled on Wednesday and Thursday and they do them by rank. So Daniel, being only a Captain wasn't scheduled until Thurday morning. They had a reservation for him to return to Harrisburg at 9:30pm Thursday night. Well - if you know Daniel he has a way of talking people into things. He talked his way into an earlier interview - he just waits around and talks to the right people. It also helped that he had a friend who was a Colonel who went to bat for him. He called me Wednesday afternoon around 1pm. He told me he had already had his interview and would be arriving in Philadelphia at around 12:35am that night (Wed night, early Thurs morning).

As excited as I was, I was also a little stressed out. I thought I had 2 days to get ready for his return. Wednesday I would clean the house etc... and Thursday I would get laundry done, change sheets etc... Now I had a few hours to get everything done. Luckily, Daniel's office manager's college age daughter had come over for the day to help out. She mostly spent the day entertaining Ainsley which was a fabulous help. She also wrapped presents, made lunch, and folded laundry.

She left around dinner time and the kids and I ate some leftovers and ran Chase to basketball practice. On the way home we stopped off at the pharmacy for some large black markers and poster board. We needed to have some welcome home signs. When we returned home around 7:30, my sweet visiting teacher ( who had already spent several nights at my house helping me) called to say she and her college age daughter were coming over to do whatever I wanted. They came and folded laundry (so much laundry with a baby) put sheets back on the bed and helped the boys with their posters and helped me hang giant letters on the garage door that said "Welcome Home Soldier!! What a blessing they were.

I put Ainlsey down for bed around 8:30 and she slept til about 11:40. My mother called around 11:30pm to ask what time Dan's plane arrived. I told her 1:35AM (it had been delayed an hour) and that we were getting ready to get in the car. She said, "OK, we'll see you there". I couldn't believe they were going to come all that way at that hour but I am so glad they did because with 3 children that may have been too asleep to walk inside, a stroller, 2 cameras, 3 posters and a baby - I was so glad to have the help.

I must thank my father again for the photography displayed here. These pictures wouldn't have been taken if I was in charge with all that was going on. My dad even brought his trombone and was going to play the Army's fight song (as we go marching along) as Dan came down the terminal, but the plane arrived 10 minutes early and by the time we got to the gate people were already coming off the plane. We were too busy fumbling with getting the baby out of the carseat and cameras and posters ready that the trombone never made it out. (Although Daniel was on the last row of the plane and nearly the last person thru the gate so we probably would have had time if we'd known that). The trombone finally made it out of the case as we arrived back to our cars. It echoed generously thru the parking garage and Daniel sang along. Chase said that was his favorite part of the night! I have some of it on video and if I can put it up on the blog, eventually I will. It was a wonderful night!

Here are a few more photos from the evening!

HE'S HOME!!!

1:35 AM Last Night!! Philadelphia Airport! (We're really glad we don't live in Denver!)

More to come when I have time! (and a little more sleep!)

Just My Luck!

So today was my first attempt back to church since the baby was born. Now I'd be bringing 4 children by myself - Way Fun! So I set my alarm for 7am so I could get up and get everything done in time. My intentions always seem to be thwarted somehow though. First, I was going to go to bed at 9:30 cuz I was so tired. My kids got to bed a little later then intended so I was off to bed around 10pm. But my mom called just as I was walking to my room. I hadn't talked to her all week so we spoke for a half hour or so. As I hung up the phone the baby was ready to eat and by time I fed her and got her back to sleep it was nearly midnight. I really did TRY to get to bed early. Then my sweet husband has been calling me to update me on his locations home, but it seems it always happens during the middle of the night - and not when I am already awake feeding or rocking a baby but right during the middle of my sleep blocks. Friday night he called about midnight and last night he called me at 5:15 am to tell me he was Ireland! Cool! Since he left the US 3 months ago - he's been in 5 new countries. Ofcourse I hadn't had time to go back to sleep after his phone call before the baby was ready to eat again. Anyway to say that when my alarm went off this morning I wasn't ready to get up is putting it lightly.

Around 8 or so Chase came in asking me if we were going to church. I said yes, we'll just be a little late. OK - alot late. Finally I just worked it out with myself that we were just going to make it for Primary cuz no matter how fast I think I can move - I just wasn't going to make it for Sacrament meeting. I quickly fed the baby, got a shower, blew dried my hair, found an Sunday outfit that 1) would actually fit since I have't tried on any dress clothes since having the baby and 2) I could nurse in, then I bathed the baby and got her dressed, Oh and Ainsley would actually have to be dressed and have her hair done too. I had all but forgotten about her. Then I had to remind the boys to eat and get church socks and shoes on, rounded up dishes to go back to people at church, got the baby in the car seat and we were off. Chase was nice enough to get Ainlsey cerael this morning and make me a bagle to take in the car.

So we arrived at the church around 10:20 - just as Primary would be starting. But 2 blocks before we got to church I saw at least 3 ward members driving the other way. I thought to myself - "Well I might be late, but look at all the people leaving church early - I shouldn't feel so bad". Well as I got closer and closer more and more people were leaving the parking lot. Then I noticed our whole ward out in the parking lot visiting and getting into their cars. WHAT? Yes - Just My Luck! There was a gas leak and they canceled church after Sacrament meeting! I am so glad that I rushed around the house today getting 5 people ready for church just to get there to turn around and come home. Hopefully the Lord will bless me for my intentions.

On the bright side - dear Sister Hubbard offered to take my big kids home to her house. So I have a few hours of free time that I am now off to use. I may wrap presents, I may clean my room, I may begin our Christmas/New Years cards (I am not sure when they will make it out), I may take a nap or just enjoy holding my baby without needing to help anyone else. Whhooo!

Thank you Thank you!

I just have to tell SPH1 how thankful I am that she was able to come. I would have never survived that week without her. I am barley surviving now but am able to get thru a day at a time knowing that Daniel has begun his journey home.

We love Gramma!

And I feel like during these last few days of flying solo, my older kids have really gotten the shaft as far as attention. I am either cranky from not enough sleep or I don't have 2 hands to help them because I have a baby in my arms or they have to do things or tell me things with a screaming baby in the background (which is very distracting and stressful). So after a busy day of chores and bribes to get everything done - I finally had a fun activity planned to give them some attention and to make it finally feel like Christmas. We were only able to do this activity because of this:

We finally had an hour or so without the screaming. But our swing isn't working properly - I don't know if I put it together backwards (Where's a man when you need one!) or if the motor is having problems because I put in brand new batteries. The swing only works for a little and just slows to a stop so we took turns running over to the swing and giving it a big push inorder to keep Piper asleep.

So we made a few Christmas Cookies - Peanut Blossoms. We made them with caramel kisses and they are pretty yummy. Here's a short run down.

**** I will have to upload these pictures a bit later. Blogger isn't letting me upload anymore right now. So pictures coming soon.***********

The Journey Has Begun

Daniel's replacement got to Iraq on Thursday. You know - someone else always has it worse than you so there is no sense in feeling sorry for yourself. I am feeling that way especially now since Daniel told me that his replacement had had triplets in June. So his wife is home with 6 month old triplets and a 5 year old for the next 3 months. And how sad to miss the triplets first Christmas. I really don't have it that bad I guess.

Got great news yesterday. I got an email from Daniel yesterday saying he was out of Iraq and was at an Air Force Base in the country of Qatar. Then I recieved a phone call about midnight last night saying Daniel had arrived in Kuwait. He's not sure how long he will be there before they fly them back to Texas but he was hoping he would be shipped out in the next couple of days. We still don't have a definite date for his arrival home but we are now hopeful that it will be by next Saturday, the 23rd. Please pray that will. We thank all of you for your continuous prayers on our behalf and we are overjoyed that this period of separation is almost over.

Got Attitude!

Over the spring and summer Ainsley went thru a phase of saying, "Nanny Nanny, Boo Boo" ALL the time. This just grated on Daniel's and my nerves. Luckily for us she has outgrown this phase but I think she has already passed it on to her sister. This is what I saw yesterday!

A Visit By "THE DON"

And I don't mean Dr. Sullivan! Saturday night (Sunday morning for him) while having my daily instant message chat with Daniel, he said he quickly had to go. This was at least 30 minutes earlier than he usually has to go to be at the hospital for rounds on time. I asked why he had to go right then. He answered they were closing the building. I again asked why. (Sometimes I think I ask too many questions). He said they had a visitor and then quickly signed off.

Sunday morning I stayed home with the baby again while everyone else attended church. I've never had a winter time baby and I am a bit paranoid about germs and RSV etc... Anyway, while at home I turned on the news and saw that Donald Rumsfeld had made a surprise visit to Iraq to thank the troops since he will offically be leaving the Pentagon next Sunday. HMMMM..... I thought.

Daniel didn't contact me at all on Sunday so I dropped him an email late Sunday night asking him if everything on base was ok, to contact me when he could and if his visitor had been Donald Rumsfeld. He gave me a call this morning assuring me that everything was ok. He had several patients on Sunday and our late night chat (early morning for him) was missed due to his physical fitness test he had to take at 5:45 AM. (So much for letting your breakfast settle!) I will brag on his part (cuz he never would) - he did the best you can do on situps and pushups - 75 in 2 minutes. And he came in 40 seconds shy of getting the best you can do for his 2 mile run. He ran a 7 minute mile though - I think that's pretty good and he led the pack of 8 he ran with.

And Yes - Donald Rumsfeld was in Mosul. He visited the base that is adjacent to Daniels - FOB Marez. It's just a mile or 2 from Daniels base. Daniel has been there a time or two but wasn't given permission or notice in time to make it there for the visit. I guess they shut down all communication prior to those visits so word doesn't get out about their high ranking visitor until after the visit is complete. Cool Huh?

Online Holiday Greeting

I was contacted by our local news today asking about Daniel. They said they had seen his online greeting on a website that they frequent looking for local soliders. They have asked me about doing a story and I told them I would talk to Daniel about it first and call them to follow up. I also asked her for the website that has his greeting. This is the link:

http://www.dvidshub.net/?scriptbeta/holiday-greetings.php&hC060

Once on the site you go to the right hand side and click Holiday Greetings. Then you click on the state of PA. Then you search for Daniels name. There is a video and an audio option. It was neat to see him in "live action". First time in almost 3 months. He looks good! Check it out.

Update

It's been a week since my last post. We are doing quite well. Piper was able to come off the biliblanket last Thursday afternoon and her levels Friday were the lowest yet at 10.48. Yeah!! She had a Drs. appointment on Wednesday and the doctor told me she looked great. Her color is now rosy not yellow and her eyes are white not golden. She had gained 14 ounces since she left the hospital a week ago. She left the hospital at 7-13 and weighed in at 8-11 at her appointment. The doctor was very pleased and said she is obviously getting enough.

She has become somewhat fussy when not being held in the last few days. Ainsley was the same way until she was about 2 months old. Piper is happy in your arms and will sleep soundly until you lay her down. How do they know? Usually within 5 minutes of being put down she starts to fuss again. I am so thankful for the helpers in my life. Except when they fight about being the helpers and whose head should be directly in front of her face.

This is the reason I am able to post this blog right now and use two hands to type -

My mother-in-law (SPH1) is here right now helping me and can I just say "LIFESAVER". Normally I get hesitant to ask people to help me cuz I don't want to burden them but poor SPH1 right now. I fear we are wearing her out! I told her I am going to use her while I can because next week I have to fly solo. I have been getting up with the boys but going back to bed as soon as they leave. SPH1 takes care of Ainsley and holds the baby if she's up before I am. She also holds the baby while I do my daily nighttime instant messaging with Daniel, otherwise I am typing one handed and it takes forever to have a conversation. (I am glad Daniel will be home soon so I won't have to worry about IMing with one hand anymore). She's also been doing laundry, making meals and babysitting so I can get to appointments etc... We saw a news segment this week about new moms being much more proned to mental illness in the first 3 months after giving birth. They said the peak day is day #19 (the day SPH1 leaves to go home). I hope I don't have a meltdown!

Would you like to see something ridiculous? Good thing I didn't have any other ailments or my bracelets could have reached my elbow! I had one for my patient information, one for my allergies, one for my blood information and one that matched the babies.

The other problem was the bruising. I had my own issue with bilirubin going on. I got 3 sticks - 2 for drawing blood and one for the IV. At first I had 3 small purple dots but as the week moved on I got HUGE yellow bruises surrounding the sticks. (Just like when I got my wisdom teeth out - I had yellow and purple bruising from my cheeks all the way down my chest. My father told my grandmother that it was because the doctor braced his knees against my chest to pull my teeth out. Funny Dad! ) The lighting for the pictures can't capture it well but believe me, it was UGLY. The lab tech taking Piper's blood for her tests asked me if I got slapped. I said no - my husband's not even home - just kidding honey. I told her I had had blood taken a few days ago.

It's all worth if for my baby Piper!