Prayers for Nolen

So, I apologize if this is a bit jumbled or brief, but whether you pray or you just want to send positive thoughts please send them this way!

This morning at 1 am, I noticed Nolen had been a little bit more difficult to settle down and kind of fussy...so when I went to nurse him I noticed how hot he was. I took his temp and found it to be borderline at 100.7. Knowing that Anna had been sick the entire day and running a fever I knew it was probably a virus and debated rather I should bring him in or not. I called the on-call doc and the doc suggested I bring him in. The hospital confirms that Anna does have a virus but that due to his age Nolen would need to undergo a Spinal Tap, Blood Work, Catheter for urine samples, and observation to verify that there wasn't another source of infection. Even then, they might still admit him for observation and antibiotics as a proactive measure.

A good friend comes and picks the girls up, leaves me in the ER with just Nolen around 4 am. Nolen's labs come back and he does in fact have Spinal meningitis. We won't know until sometime tomorrow if it is bacterial or viral. We want it to be a viral infection and hope that Nolen starts to feel better (he's very restless and fussy) over our 48 hour stay here. If it is Bacterial than this will become a whole different ballgame.

Specific Prayer Request
-A Clean Culture showing that it is Viral Meningitis
-Anna and the girls and my friends Children remain well
-Rest for Nolen, ease of his fever and discomfort
-Peace for Ryan since I know this must be very difficult not being able to touch and comfort his very sick child
-Strength to hold it together for me
-Safe travels for my sister who is coming up tomorrow morning to help with the girls and take care of the house if this does end up being bacterial meningitus.

Thanks for your prayers/well wishes.

We went to Sea, sea, sea to see what we could see see see

Ryan's squadron had family day at a local military beach out here. When the invitation went out...I thought...Who in their right mind? That would have to be some crazy woman to try and take a 5 week old, potty training 2 year old and 4 year old to the beach all by herself....and before I knew it, I had coleslaw made and was making the drive to the beach....with a very full hybrid.
I don't know what drove me to the brink of insanity...but whatever it was...Thank you! I had a wonderful Friday evening with my "military family" and they were always there to lend a hand with carrying things to the beach or taking my fearless two year old out into the ocean.

Kaelyn spent most of her time on the beach playing in the sand, but she eventually ventured out into the water (despite her overwhelming fear of sharks that has been known to have her hiding on a very large boat from the water).

And she loved it! Have I mentioned that I have a brand spanking NEW CAMERA! It's the Fuji XP FinePix. Not only am I loving the clarity and detailing of this point and shoot camera, but the REAL reason we went with this camera is that it is virtually indestructible...Want to take it scuba diving---go right ahead. Want to hike Mount Everest---this is the camera for you. Point and case, the camera went swimming in the sandy surf rescuing sweet Anna from her very sick obsession with the waves and surfs!

She was way too comfortable with the waves. She would go out as far as she could, get knocked down, tumble in the undertow and start to get carried back out....come up coughing and smiling and do it again....and again...and again. Thank you peanut shell for the awesome sling which lets me snag my child!

It was a lot of fun watching her just run head first into the face of waves that were much taller than she was. I adore this child's lack of fear and determination (only when it's not directed at me). She spent a good fifteen minutes trying to "move water"

With a shovel...

Thankfully, I had my military family to keep an eye on Kaelyn while I spent the majority of my time playing Baywatch with Anna!

Ever since I've decided to embrace every fun opportunity that comes my way regardless of my overwhelming to-do list, I have found that we are really starting to enjoy our time together despite Ryan being away. I also find that the things on those lists always end up getting done and can often serve the purpose of filling that void of time after the kids go to sleep when I would normally snuggle with the hubby.

Let the fun begin

Ryan has gotten word that his official papers for his waiver to return to flying status will be coming in towards the begining of next week AND he has a flight scheduled very soon! Thanks to those of you who have been praying about this for us! We really appreciate the support.

So, let the fun of deployments and quasi-single parenting begin!

Sitting, Waiting, Wishing

(This was from Kaelyn's Delivery, Ryan wanted a picture of me in pain while he was eating McDonalds....even though he tends to find humor in situations where he shouldn't, I still want him there)

Great news...Ryan should (there are no garuntees in the military) be here when I deliver baby three. This has been a HUGE concern of mine, but since his waiver is still sitting on some desk somewhere, his commander has decided to keep him in his new position until the jobs done, send him to some additional training school for a month, send him on local/short missions for another month, and then keep him sort of close to home until I deliver, with a deployment scheduled ASAP afterwards (maybe we'll have 4 weeks, if I get my wish). Even though he'll be stateside, he'll be gone a lot, but I am SO NOT complaining! We are also still wishing and hoping that his waiver gets pushed through and he comes off his current status!

In other news...

Anna's vocabulary is GROWING! She's starting to use two word sentences more regularly, recognizing colors and FINALLY enjoying swim lessons! She kicks and "scoops", jumps in the pool, goes under the water with eyes and mouth closed, and can blow bubbles! This is HUGE compared to the fact that the first two sessions were spent with me having to pry little nails out of my skin or fight to keep my swimsuit on due to her CLAWING.

Kaelyn's doing great with school work. Can write, recognize, and make the sounds of all her letters. She shows interest in learning how to read, but the desire to put forth the work isn't there yet, so I'm not pushing. She LOVES doing school work, and her favorite things involve math, cutting and drawing/writing. She's also very excited about the new baby.

I'm offically 1/2 done cooking the next Baby! Ryan finds out on Thursday what we are having, but I'd like for it to remain a surprise. The baby is the size of a cantalope!

This is the point where I started having SERIOUS problems with Anna...problems that resulted in me landing in the hospital for a week or more, having some intense drugs put into my system, and Ryan getting to leave his TDY (it's like a mini deployment) about 2 weeks earlier than planned (would have been sooner, but these things never are easy to make happen). So far, I have frequent contractions, but nothing that is regular or bothersome. Some days are worse than others, but I've managed to take it easy when needed and prevent any hospital stay or continual medication...here's hoping that the next couple of weeks are just as good!

Borrowed Time

Ever felt like you were living on borrowed time? I don't mean in the morbid sense. I know that Ryan will be leaving soon, I don't know specifics, but I know soon. Here lately, I've found myself really enjoying the simple things with him, like waking up with him in the mornings, hearing his voice in my home, listening to the girls exclaim "Daddy" when he walks in, being able to talk to him, and discuss the day-to-day. I've even found myself enjoying the annoying things, like the way he NEVER cleans the sink after dumping his razor out, the extra clothes in the laundry, the scuffs left on the hardwood from his boots, and his annoying habit of NEVER throwing out leftovers! When he's gone, it's the things that annoy me that I miss the most.

I was wondering last night, if Jesus felt the same way. He knew when he would die, how he would die, and at whose hands...yet he choose to live every moment of his 33 years to what I think would be the fullest. I wonder if he found himself enjoying the little things in life, like a hoard of children crowded at his feet, meals with friends, the temple, and a wedding or two. I think Jesus also realized that there was more to this world and choose to spend time with some unsavory characters, because their lives are worth it. The sick, the dieing, the downtrodden, the weak, the poor, the sinners and the forgotten were worth moments of Jesus' short 33 years on this planet. I wonder what more I could be doing with my borrowed time.

Our Turn to Dance

Our first dance as husband and wife on Nov. 19, 2005

This blog is intended to document the journey of our sweet family of four at our new home in New Jersey. Ryan is now in a new position where he will be gone all.the.time.

The name comes from a song that really spoke to me during our first deployment. It's Come Home Soon by SheDaisy.

I put away the groceries And I take my daily bread I dream of your arms around me As I tuck the kids in bed I don't know what you're doin' And I don't know where you are But I look up at that great big sky And I hope you're wishin' on that same bright star I wonder, I pray [Chorus:] And I sleep alone I cry alone And it's so hard livin' here on my own So please, come home soon (Come home soon) I know that we're together Even though we're far apart And I'll wear our lucky penny 'round my neck Pressed to my heart I wonder, I pray [Repeat Chorus] [Bridge:] I still imagine your touch It's beautiful missing something that much But sometimes love needs a fighting chance So I'll wait my turn until it's our turn to dance I wonder, I pray [Second Chorus:] I sleep alone I cry alone Without you this house is not a home So please, come home soon [Third Chorus:] I walk alone I try alone I'll wait for you, don't want to die alone So please, come home soon Come home soon Come home soon

As much as I hate Ryan being gone, as difficult as it can be, and as painful as it is to explain to my children where daddy has gone and why, his job makes a difference. He does this for my family, for my children, and for our safety so that we can live without fear. All that said, when he leaves and while he is gone, I find myself waiting patiently (okay, so not so patiently) for Our Turn to Dance.