As the halfway point in this deployment approaches, all I can think is, "really? we are only HALFway?". Spring can't come quick enough!
It isn't just the lack of help, or missing the company of my best friend, or not getting to watch Daddy play with Nora, that drags down my mood. It is all that PLUS the fact that Phil is lucky enough to be located in the dark ages as far as the modern military goes.
To my Army wife friends: stop reading.
I know that I am not the only one that NEVER gets to skype with her deployed soldier. I know I am not the only that anxiously awaits the 1 phone call a week we manage to get. I know I am not the only one who has NEVER been able to webchat with her hubby while he is deployed. And I know that 50 years ago, hell, 5 years ago the amount of communication we do manage (a few emails a week and 1 call) was a revelation. HOWEVER, when every wife around me seems to be complaining about going 3 days without a call and that the skype (that is used nearly everyday) was choppy and delayed, I often want to scream.
I should be thankful that he is able to call and email at all. I should be thankful he is relatively safe. I should be thankful, but honestly, I'm not. I greedily want more. Our ties feel so fragile and strained from the other side of the world, and not hearing from him, not being able to discuss the day to day, makes him feel even further away.
I am hitting a wall. A big brick wall. I don't want to climb over it or blast through it. I just want to sit down (maybe lay down) in front of it and wait for Phil to come home and help Nora and I work around it. Unfortunately, with a toddler underfoot and a house to take care of, sitting down on the job isn't an option. So, send strong vibes my way that I will get over this halfway slump and power through to the end...6 and 3/4 months to go...
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Happy Birthday to Us...
29 and 28...wow we are getting old. I know, everyone that is older than us will scoff at that statement, but Phil and I met at 21 and 22 and it was hard to imagine 28 and 29 then.
Unfortunately, Phil spent this birthday in dusty, hot Afghanistan. Thought it sounds like he got a lot of love through the mail. Thank you to everyone who sent him boxes and cards and happy birthday wishes! He (and I) appreciate the support so very much!
I celebrated both his birthday and my own this weekend! Nora and I went to the Sand in the City festival in Olympia. It was put on by our favorite Children's Museum in the area. We took our friends Cindy and Orion with us to play in the giant sandbox and watch the fantastic performers. It was a fun morning outing. That afternoon-well after Nora's long nap-we went down to Costco for some staples and a super healthy dinner of pizza and ice cream-Happy Birthday to Phil!
For my birthday, Nora and I spent the morning in our jammies watching my favorite musical, Singing in the Rain-Nora loved it and danced and sang along! After nap, I took some babysitter time to go see a movie with Becky! We had a wonderful time gabbing and watching. The only thing that would have made the day better would have been having Phil home.
The past 5 months have been a challenge, but was we approach the halfway point I feel less worried and more hopeful. Recently, Nora has been having an extra hard time with Phil being gone, and getting very upset. Last week, I made it into the FAME clinic and saw a psycologist about her. He didn't have any new suggestions, only to tell me I was doing everything they recommend. He did refer me to another psycologist that works with very small kiddos, like Nora, and Nora and I will be seeing her tomorrow! Hopefully, she will be able to give me (and Nora) some more ways of reducing the stress of this separation. Right now the hardest part of having Phil gone, is watching Nora struggle with it.
Unfortunately, Phil spent this birthday in dusty, hot Afghanistan. Thought it sounds like he got a lot of love through the mail. Thank you to everyone who sent him boxes and cards and happy birthday wishes! He (and I) appreciate the support so very much!
I celebrated both his birthday and my own this weekend! Nora and I went to the Sand in the City festival in Olympia. It was put on by our favorite Children's Museum in the area. We took our friends Cindy and Orion with us to play in the giant sandbox and watch the fantastic performers. It was a fun morning outing. That afternoon-well after Nora's long nap-we went down to Costco for some staples and a super healthy dinner of pizza and ice cream-Happy Birthday to Phil!
For my birthday, Nora and I spent the morning in our jammies watching my favorite musical, Singing in the Rain-Nora loved it and danced and sang along! After nap, I took some babysitter time to go see a movie with Becky! We had a wonderful time gabbing and watching. The only thing that would have made the day better would have been having Phil home.
The past 5 months have been a challenge, but was we approach the halfway point I feel less worried and more hopeful. Recently, Nora has been having an extra hard time with Phil being gone, and getting very upset. Last week, I made it into the FAME clinic and saw a psycologist about her. He didn't have any new suggestions, only to tell me I was doing everything they recommend. He did refer me to another psycologist that works with very small kiddos, like Nora, and Nora and I will be seeing her tomorrow! Hopefully, she will be able to give me (and Nora) some more ways of reducing the stress of this separation. Right now the hardest part of having Phil gone, is watching Nora struggle with it.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
PCOS and failure to thrive
Nora's new Fort, courtesy of Mommy the cardboard contractor
Nora decorating her Fort
Snack time with Grandma!
Race you on the slide!
Go Away Mommy! I play with Grandma!
Well, the Ambrose girls seem to be falling apart these days! Not really in the grand scheme of things, but sometimes it feels that way.
Yesterday Nora had her 30 month (though she is 31months) check up and while she weighed in at a whopping 22lbs, the doc was still pretty concerned about her weight. We walked away with three referrals (ENT, Speech Pathology, and Nutrition) and a "Failure to Thrive" classification. Of course the doc assured me she is healthy and I shouldn't worry, but we need to make sure there isn't anything impeding her ability to gain weight. Right now the concern is her tongue tie-or tight frenulum-that we have been watching and slightly concerned about since birth. If that turns out to be the culprit, the resolution is a simple outpatient procedure about as complicated as getting your ears pierced. If not, then we have eliminated one source of worry and will move on to other possibilities.
Other than her weight, and on going issues with constipation, Nora walked away with a clean bill of health!
I was back into the doc this morning to go over the tests and new medication that have been done and added in the last couple months. Thankfully, my medical picture is looking a little less cloudy and bleak than it was a month ago. The doc is sticking with the PCOS diagnosis, but my labs look really good. Hopefully, with continued management of diet and exercise I will be able to delay the more "severe" symptoms often associated with PCOS. While I am super bummed about the diagnosis, I am relieved that things aren't worse.
We did manage to have a bright spot in our week-Grandma Reale came to visit! She was here Monday-Thursday this week and came to all our activities! Nora was in HEAVEN. When we dropped her off at the airport this morning Nora wanted to get on the plane with Grandma.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Saturday, July 31, 2010
4 months down, 8 months to go...
So much happens everyday. Nora changes and grows and learns more and more, making everyday different and new and exhausting. Each day feels like a week of my life before she came into it, and that makes the last 4 months without Phil seem painfully long.
She is currently working on mastering the ABC's and spelling her name (verbally-we are still just writing lines for letters). While Grandpa Warner was visiting she counted to 10 on her own for the first time! Socially, she is off the charts and constantly surprising me with her observations and vocabulary. I suppose with a mom that is a serious talker, she can't help but pick up the vocabulary :).
We keep busy with activities almost every morning. I have found that MY day goes better if we get out of the house in the morning and do something. It can be hectic trying to go somewhere everyday, and some mornings I wonder if it is worth it. However, it seems to be helping keep me sane, so we will continue.
Potty training is our biggest battle right now. Nora was well on her way before Phil left and did a complete 180 this spring. Any advice from you moms out there for a reluctant potty training toddler? Going number 2 in the potty is our biggest hang up right now-and Nora has all kinds of history with problems in that area to complicate things further.
Last weekend we were down at Camas Days with the Reale family-check out Ter's site for some awesome pics. And we hosted Grandpa Warner this week, or Papa Worn as Nora named him. He got to see Nora in action and came with us to all our crazy activities!
Besides our usual activities and visitors, I had a bunch of extra stuff added to my plate this month. Mid-month my Dad and I went down to Portland and bought a minivan! He is currently doing some work on it to get it in tiptop shape for me and Nora to cruise around in. Pictures will be posted once it is all done! I have had some on-going medical stuff that has kept me in and out of the doc June, July, and August. Nothing life threatening, just stuff that needs to be handled. And on top of all that we have had some problems with the company Phil hired to take care of the lawn that has had me in and out of the JAG office. Consequently, I haven't been as on top of things as I usually am and have been a little extra stressed. I am so happy to see July over!
I am hoping to slow things down a little this month...July was a little too eventful. Though I am not sure how successful I will be; the calendar is already filling fast! As always, we love visitors and the guest room is all ready. If you are lucky, I may just put you to work ;)
She is currently working on mastering the ABC's and spelling her name (verbally-we are still just writing lines for letters). While Grandpa Warner was visiting she counted to 10 on her own for the first time! Socially, she is off the charts and constantly surprising me with her observations and vocabulary. I suppose with a mom that is a serious talker, she can't help but pick up the vocabulary :).
We keep busy with activities almost every morning. I have found that MY day goes better if we get out of the house in the morning and do something. It can be hectic trying to go somewhere everyday, and some mornings I wonder if it is worth it. However, it seems to be helping keep me sane, so we will continue.
Potty training is our biggest battle right now. Nora was well on her way before Phil left and did a complete 180 this spring. Any advice from you moms out there for a reluctant potty training toddler? Going number 2 in the potty is our biggest hang up right now-and Nora has all kinds of history with problems in that area to complicate things further.
Last weekend we were down at Camas Days with the Reale family-check out Ter's site for some awesome pics. And we hosted Grandpa Warner this week, or Papa Worn as Nora named him. He got to see Nora in action and came with us to all our crazy activities!
Besides our usual activities and visitors, I had a bunch of extra stuff added to my plate this month. Mid-month my Dad and I went down to Portland and bought a minivan! He is currently doing some work on it to get it in tiptop shape for me and Nora to cruise around in. Pictures will be posted once it is all done! I have had some on-going medical stuff that has kept me in and out of the doc June, July, and August. Nothing life threatening, just stuff that needs to be handled. And on top of all that we have had some problems with the company Phil hired to take care of the lawn that has had me in and out of the JAG office. Consequently, I haven't been as on top of things as I usually am and have been a little extra stressed. I am so happy to see July over!
I am hoping to slow things down a little this month...July was a little too eventful. Though I am not sure how successful I will be; the calendar is already filling fast! As always, we love visitors and the guest room is all ready. If you are lucky, I may just put you to work ;)
Monday, July 19, 2010
Photo catch up!
Happy Fourth of July!
Practicing sharing.
Nora and friends at the Hands On Childrens Museum
"Catch Allie!"
Auntie Terry taking good care of Nora!
Nora taking care of "Baby"
Nora loves water!
Climbing down the tunnel at the spray park on post
Look who came to visit us! Uncle Gabe, Aunt Kati, and Uncle Kraig!
Papa and Grandma cuddles on the Fourth of July.
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