Moon Family News

Memory Verse

2012-01-23T18:20:00.002-05:00

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Romans 10:17

I am memorizing one Bible verse a week,

following the Bible Memory Plan by Pamela L. McQuade.

P.S. This is my slow creep back to our blog.

Emiliano's Arrival

2010-07-19T12:36:00.011-04:00

Emiliano's arrival on June 22nd was early and eventful. Our c-section was scheduled for Thursday, June 24th. Felipe was on a flight home from Oklahoma and Elias and I were going to pick him up. My parents and sister and her family were back in Massena for a few days. I woke up on Tuesday the 22nd with inconsistent contractions that gradually progressed throughout the day. I called the on-call nurse twice to find out if it was labor or just contractions since I was 38 weeks. Each time the nurse said it was up to me whether I went in or not...so, I figured I was just supposed to handle it at home. It was too early to go into labor, right? Well, I couldn't take it any longer and called a friend to take me to the hospital and my family was on their way. When I did get to the hospital and saw a doctor, I was 6 cm dilated already!! This baby boy was coming! Felipe was only a few hours away from arriving and I asked if they could wait so he could be there for the birth and they said no. The wait for the anesthesiologist felt like an eternity, but after experiencing labor, the c-section was a breeze and I was in a state of euphoria. Felipe called periodically to let us know where he was and they passed the message along to me in the OR. My sister, Julann, was in the OR with me for the delivery which was unplanned but so nice to have her there for the birth. Felipe arrived to the hospital about 30 minutes after Emiliano was born and caught me in the hallway as they were wheeling me to recovery. Felipe then went straight to the nursery and got to spend several hours with Emiliano while I was in recovery.

Introducing...

2010-07-19T12:21:00.003-04:00

Emiliano Andres
born June 22, 2010 at 7:08pm
7lb. 4oz. & 19 1/2 in.

Lovin' my Elias

2010-06-21T15:31:00.005-04:00

Only a couple of days left with just little E and me. He is such a vibrant little boy. He is one chatty 3-year old!! He loves to tell stories, remembers vivid details of events and takes his time sharing every detail with anyone who will listen. And he loves his bedtime stories that I make up for him...when we get sidetracked he says, "Let's finish our story". He asks lots of questions!! He loves to sing and I love listening to him sing when he doesn't know I can hear him. He is so sensitive-he doesn't like to see anyone sad or hurting and he's a hugger. He loves his cars, trucks, airplanes, animals and dinosaurs! Just ask him and he can tell you which one is an allosaurus, stegosaurus, triceratops, brachiosaurus, T-Rex, pteranadon, etc...

What a fun boy and blessing Elias is!!

Elias is going to be a great big brother and I can't wait for him to meet his little brother!

Baby is almost here...

2010-06-21T15:00:00.002-04:00

A couple of maternity photos taken around 32 weeks. My sis-in-law did a great job!

Only a few days left till we meet our little boy!

Did we tell you?

2010-05-16T15:12:00.005-04:00

I don't think I've posted that our little Moon expected to arrive June 24th is a BOY!

We are so excited to meet him and see how his big brother, Elias reacts to and interacts with his little brother! At our appointment at the perinatal specialist back in February, we found out we would be having a boy and that he was healthy and his growth was as expected, after some concerns. We had a second ultrasound to measure his growth and he measured a week ahead and I'm hoping that it doesn't mean he's going to be a BIG baby. As long as he's healthy, though, his size isn't all that important. We are so thankful that God has gifted us with this little baby boy. We are pretty well set on his name, but we're going to wait until he's born to share it :) (And I think we even have a few girl names we could use if we are surprised)

Draw Me Nearer

2010-01-30T18:21:00.001-05:00

For your nearness Lord I hunger
For your nearness Lord I wait
Hold me ever closer Father
Such a love I can't escape

For your nearness I am hoping
For your nearness Lord I long
Have no need of any other
I have found where I belong
Yes, I have found where I belong

So draw me nearer Lord
Never let me go
Closer to your heart
Draw me nearer Lord
Draw me nearer Lord

In your nearness there is healing
What was broken now made whole
Restoration in its fullness
Lasting hope for all who come

In your nearness I take shelter
Where you are is where I'm home
I have need of only one thing
To be here before your throne
To be here before your throne

So draw me nearer Lord
Never let me go
Closer to your heart
Draw me nearer Lord
Draw me nearer Lord

And keep me here, keep me here
There's no where else I'd rather be
So keep me here, keep me here
There's nowhere else I'd rather be
There's nowhere else I'd rather be

~Meredith Andrews

This song speaks to me in so many ways and has been a prayer of mine through many trials over the last few months. Sometimes when I don't know what to say, other than "Help me, God", this song becomes my prayer. God has been faithful to carry me through difficulties and "grow" me through those tough times...and I trust Him for the future...as He continues to draw me closer to Him.

Busy, busy, busy

2010-01-23T21:06:00.002-05:00

Oh, we are busy around here... but I wanted to slow down to post this lovely picture of our beautiful son...I'm not biased, right?

It's hard to believe we are 17 weeks along in this pregnancy, it's going so fast and it is probably because I'm running around with an almost 3 year old! He is learning fast and coming up with some funny phrases...Elias' favorite one right now is "when I get bigger, I can....." He's afraid of the car wash, but every time we drive by it, he'll say, "when I get bigger, I can go to the car wash". He doesn't like soda, but says he will when he gets bigger. He also has been asking me, "are you sure?"...Elias got a doctor kit for Christmas and he calls it his "doctor pit". So funny these days the things he comes up with.

Future Arrival...

2009-12-05T22:08:00.003-05:00

We are prayerfully excited to announce that another Moon is on the way.

Expected to arrive around July 1st, 2010.

We are trusting God to carry us through this pregnancy if He sees fit. Our weekly ultrasounds have revealed a strong heartbeat and an active little one, growing nicely each week. But, we place this baby in God's hand for the future, hoping that we can bring this baby home!

Another Homegoing

2009-11-28T10:34:00.003-05:00

My grandmother, Barbara Terrance, (Great Nana or "Grape Nana" to Elias) went home to be with the Lord early this morning. She never woke up from an outpatient procedure she had done yesterday morning. Thankfully, we were already here in Massena, and had time to visit and play with her on Thanksgiving. She loved Elias to pieces and he definitely loved her. We will certainly miss her and can only imagine the joy she is experiencing in heaven!!

Lots of Catching Up...

2009-11-03T14:07:00.002-05:00

It has been way too long since I've posted an update. Everytime I sit down at the computer, the phone rings, Elias wakes up from his nap, or the laundry calls out to me, or more frequently, the computer freezes...So, today it's meant to be! I've posted a hodge-podge of pictures from the last few months and I'm going to try my best to get caught up.

Elias helped me make Felipe's b-day cake. His 41st birthday was on Oct. 7th, a Wednesday, but I didn't make the cake until Friday, oops! But the double layer chocolate cake with chocolate frosting was pretty yummy, and I made it from scratch!

It was a brisk October day after it rained, but we needed some fresh air. I love this boy!

Splashing in the puddles

Elias fell asleep after a very busy day with Nana & Papa. Elias never falls asleep outside of his bed (unless he's riding in his carseat), but he was exhausted. He held on tight to his car, though!

Hanging out at the waterfall behind the Burrville Cider Mill for hot homemade donuts and apple cider...so yummy!!

Elias reading with Aunt Kiki.

Back in September, we celebrated 3 family birthdays in one night...our Birthday Bash!

Elias and Aiden dancing outside Mama Lucia's...the restaurant we had birthday dinner at. The boys needed a break and to stretch their legs.

Aiden and Elias are true buddies and have fun everytime we go to Massena to visit family.

Being silly with Kiki!!

We Miss You, Papa Adams

2009-09-24T21:29:00.002-04:00

Our Dear Papa Adams went home to be with the Lord today...

Felipe's dad made such an impact in his life that I will be forever grateful to him!

We look forward to the day when we will see him again in heaven!

Thank You, Lord for the Sure Hope & Joy of Heaven!
We love you, Papa Adams!

Boo-Boo

2009-08-08T22:30:00.002-04:00

Elias bonked his nose one day and asked me for a band-aid, even though there was no cut or scratch on it. I obliged because I KNEW it would look so cute that I would need to take a picture of it. Oh, and he's playing with one of his most favorite toys...his Mack Truck (from Cars movie). Everytime he sees the movie, he memorizes another line from it...It is so cute when he says, "I'm not a Mack, I'm a Peterbilt!"

Slip 'n' Slide

2009-08-08T22:15:00.004-04:00

Elias had fun with the Slip 'n' Slide at Nana and Papa's house. He needed a little bit of coaxing at first, but had more fun trying to drink the water than sliding on it. But, Uncle Josh took a few turns sliding down it, which was fun to watch.

Meet Nora Mae

2009-08-08T22:02:00.004-04:00

My sister, Julann, and her husband, Mike, welcomed their sweet little bundle of joy on Aug. 7th at 4:56 am. Nora Mae weighed 8lb.6oz., 21.5 inches long. I cannot wait to get out to Washington to cuddle up with my new niece! Congratulations and lots of love to the new parents!

~These are pictures from Julann's cell phone, all I have right now, but I will post more after Elias and I go out to Washington to visit next week~

Elias and his buddy, Aiden

2009-08-08T21:31:00.007-04:00

We were in Massena a few weeks ago, and Elias got to play with Aiden while were were there. They had so much fun and actually played together this time, not just side by side. They were so silly, copying each other and somehow toward the end of their playtime, they ended up with their shirts over their heads....

They were cracking each other up!!

They asked Papa to join their "Shirt over your head club", and of course he joined them.

The boys were reading books together on the couch, until they heard Papa come back on his motorcycle.....

And they ran to the door to see him on his motorcycle.

Elias loves to "Party Dance", as he likes to call it. He had lots of fun with Aiden this trip!

How Do You Mend A Broken Heart?

2009-07-11T18:33:00.007-04:00

This weekend, we were hoping to post an announcement and picture of a new addition to our family due in February 2010. Instead, we are grieving the loss of another sweet, little baby. Bleeding and cramping that began earlier this week were a red flag, since we miscarried March 2008. The nurse-midwife was optimistic to start, which calmed me, but she was unable to find a heartbeat and sent us for a higher level ultrasound and bloodwork. The radiology tech regretfully did not find a heartbeat, we couldn't see one either, even though we watched the screen with hopeful eyes. They sent her the results immediately, blood levels were way much lower than they should have been. I was just about 10 weeks along. Felipe and I had been cautiously optimistic, knowing that we have no guarantees with any pregnancy, but trusting God's plan for this little life, that He knew his/her number of days before conception. I miscarried the day I was scheduled for my 10 week ultrasound, my mini-mental "safety" marker. While I don't quite understand God's timing yet, I'll trust Him to reveal it when He decides, for He IS perfect, and all-knowing, all-powerful, AND loving. And we are so thankful for the joy of our son, Elias, and blessing that he is to Felipe and I. Hug your little ones (and grown ones) a little tighter today, and Thank God for the opportunity and the blessing to have them in your family. We are grateful for the many prayers and the support of our friends and family, carrying us through this unimaginable time.

"He is closer to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34:18)

"Praise be to You, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, that we may be able to comfort those in any trouble, with the comfort we have received from God." (1 Corinthians 1:3-4)

"Hello, Governor....Hello, General Oates"

2009-07-02T21:03:00.011-04:00

We recently went to the Fort Drum Air Show and had the opportunity to meet and have a very quick lunch with NY Governor Paterson and Fort Drum's Commanding General, General Oates. Prior to this, I prepped Elias on who we were going to meet and how to shake their hands. So, when the opportunity arose, he did say, "Hello, Governor". We very quickly got a picture with the Governor, and was so fast, my brother, Dustin, had to take the picture and didn't get in it. Thanks for taking the pic, bro! But it was nice to be able to bring some of my family along for the event.

Felipe had a few minutes to talk with the Governor during lunch.

Elias was excited to met General Oates and shook his hand and said, "Hello, General Oates"!

I didn't take too many pictures of the actual airshow because everything showed up so small. But, I loved seeing the American Flag flying with one of the parachuters.

Me and my brothers- Dustin and Josh

Papa, Elias and Papi

50 State Flags and U.S. Territories

It was a fun and tiring day. Lots and lots of planes and helicopters. We actually left before it ended because Elias was crashing, but Felipe stayed with Dustin and Josh to watch the rest of the show...I think they liked the planes as much as Elias!

Snakes in my belly

2009-06-18T19:09:00.004-04:00

The other day, Elias and I went to the park to play before lunchtime. We had a fun time on the slide, climbing the big ladder, riding the bouncy lion, and SWINGING! While we were swinging together (and going pretty high), I asked Elias if he had butterlies in his tummy?
And he said, "No, Mommy, I have snakes in my belly".

Pics from 5K Race

2009-06-15T14:33:00.009-04:00

Back in May, Felipe and I decided to run a 5K ~Run for Alex~and at the last minute, asked Courtney, my sis-in-law to join us. Of course, on the way there, it DOWNPOURED, almost discouraging us from running...but, it lightened up to a drizzle, so we pushed on. It was hard running in the rain...I've just barely started running on a treadmill, but I am more motivated to run 3 miles in a "race"/walk than on a treadmill.
We took a before picture...all dry

Felipe pushed Elias in the jogger, but Elias totally thought he was racing, too!

One of our after pics...we survived!

The best part was the popsicles after the race!!!

And one of Elias' friends from school, Anna, was there with her family, so Elias got to enjoy his popsicle with her.

Our after pictures...not too bad....we're still smiling!!

I think Felipe probably had the most fun out of all of us...as always!

More pictures found

2009-06-15T14:21:00.003-04:00

Something happened when I cropped this picture...but it captures just how much Elias likes to ride the tractor with Papi!! He cannot wait to drive it on his own.

Elias finding flowers in the middle of our construction zone

Busy, Busy, Busy!!

2009-06-15T14:09:00.002-04:00

With all the construction work going on around the house, Elias is drawn to tools like Papa's and Dusty's and Josh's. He had some practice this wekeend and he was using his hammer with real nails! He got a kick out of pulling things out of Papa's tool belt, mostly nails, but other random items.

This weekend Elias was interested in Uncle Josh a lot (more than other times for some reason). They were kicking the balls around the backyard and up the slide. To tell Josh he wanted to play with him, Elias found Dusty's shoes and brought them to Josh and said, "Here you go, Josh...play in backyard...those are Josh's shoes", even when we told him they were Dusty's. I tried to play out back with them, but Elias told me, "No, Mommy, just Josh". He loves his guy time.

Fishing on the River

2009-05-28T21:28:00.003-04:00

There they are....my two favorite boys! Fishing on the Black River...the river in our backyard. Elias enjoys fishing with Papi, he has been practicing with his kiddie fishing pole in the house and is getting the hang of it.

Felipe and Elias were fishing while I cooked dinner the other day and I walked out to the river to go get them and walked up on this scene....it melted my heart, and I ran back to the house to grab my camera to capture this. It's been a process, since Felipe returned, for Elias (and myself), to adjust to him being home and all that brings to our lives. It is certainly wonderful to have him here now, but I don't want to fool anyone and say it has been easy. I never anticipated the anxiety that Elias would experience, and even fear...since there has been a big change in his life. But when I see these special bonding moments between them, my heart's at ease, and know that each day, Elias' anxiety level goes down a notch and his comfort level goes up...it doesn't happen overnight, and I was a little naive to think that it would, but I'm still learning. Felipe has been busy working on the dock to make repairs and "make it look pretty", it's not an easy job, but it's coming along, but that's why there are piles of lumber strewn around the bank of the river...or the "beach" as Elias likes to call it!

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-10T14:42:00.009-04:00

Happy Mother's Day!

To my mother, grandmother, mother-in-law, and all the mother's and mother's to be out there. Last year, Elias and I said goodbye to Felipe and sent him off to Kuwait. We are praising God that Felipe is home this year, home early, and we can spend time together as a family!

Elias is quite the blessing, more than I ever dreamed possible. God, You ARE great!! I am so grateful for him and humbled by the responsibility of raising him. I have enjoyed looking back at some of Elias' first pictures and videos today, remembering when he was so new and tiny!

My mom has been there from the start since Elias was born and I couldn't do this without her! She's always there when I need her and cares for Elias with a very special love.

Our family on Easter...

we were unable to get a picture with everyone looking or smiling, so I went this this one.

Elias, my buddy!!! You are growing so fast!!

You have made motherhood such a joy, Elias...

My life forever changed when you were born and I am amazed by you everyday!

I look forward to the future with you.

We are still here...

2009-04-17T18:26:00.007-04:00

We are still here, yes we are! My laptop has been visiting the "computer doc" to try to bring it up to speed and add some memory, which means for a few more days it's a little harder to upload pictures. Plus, we've been busy enjoying regular life with Felipe home, taking us away from the computer more.

Construction projects on the house have begun, and I will post pictures soon- we've removed the siding off the house, added a new porch and sunroom on the front. We'll be putting new windows, siding and roof on the house soon. Now, when I say "we", I really mean my Dad and two brothers and Felipe has helped out when/where he can. It is beginning to look like a brand new house and we are so excited to see the final product. We are thankful we have "qualified" family closeby to help with these projects!

Felipe and I made a three day trip to Kingston, Ontario in Canada for a little "Fantasy" getaway. I'll share the pics of our "Flight to Fantasy" room...an amazing hot air balloon themed room, complete with a hot air ballon right in the room! It was wonderful to have time to ourselves with no particular schedule to follow and take a short break away. Lots of thanks to Nana and Papa for entertaining Elias while we were away.

Oh yeah, Elias had a birthday, too!! When we found out Felipe was coming home early, we were excited that he'd be back in time for Elias' 2nd birthday. Elias had a quiet party with Felipe and I, then we went to Massena for a family party, including webcam with Aunt Julann and Uncle Mike out in Washington. They were able to watch Elias open his gifts, see his cake and blow out his candle. It worked out so nicely to share his birthday with them. And we got to see Aunt Julann's growing belly, too!! (she's due August 5th with a baby girl!!)

Felipe will go back to work the middle of next week, so I think once he does, we'll start to try to get back to a routine...bedtime/naptime, dinners, bathtime, etc...haven't been as routine as we're used to, but Elias has just taken it in stride and adapting to whatever comes out way. It works out better for all of us, though, if we're close to a regular schedule, and I find behaviors and moods improve with a more regularity. Elias and I love having Felipe home, but, sometimes it still doesn't feel real that he's home, since he has been gone so much in the last 2 years or so. He's only been home for 6 months of Elias' 2 years of life!! Where did the time go? I'm glad to have him home now and as we anticipate Felipe's retirement next year, the thought of no more deployments thrills me!

The Lord has certainly carried us through some difficult times that would have seemed unbearable without His Strength and Perfect Peace. He is faithful when friends are not and He is strong when we are weak...Thank you for your prayers for our family while Felipe was deployed. They sustained me through late nights or long days, knowing our brothers and sisters were lifting us up to The Throne, I cannot thank you enough!!

"The Lord rules over the floodwaters. The Lord reigns as King forever. The Lord gives His people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace." Psalm 28:10-11

So.....stay tuned for pictures, they are coming!!!!

Happy

2009-03-30T22:54:00.002-04:00

Enjoying the mild weather
Tomorrow's a BIG day for my little boy!! Oh, I love him so!

He's home!

2009-03-20T20:29:00.004-04:00

"I so happy", "I miss you Papi!", "Papi's home", "Go see tractor?", "Go to the beach, Papi?"

(A couple of Elias' fav phrases today)

(I told Elias he could have a lollipop if he sat still long enough for the picture and smiled pretty,

and it worked)

In the car on our way to pick up Felipe from the airport,

with one of Elias' favorite snacks-a fruit stick!!
Felipe's flight made it on time with no delays and Elias and I made it to the gate about 5-10 minutes before he got off. Elias was very chatty while we waited, letting some of the lady travellers around that Papi was coming home on an airplane. Elias ran right up to Felipe and gave him a big hug and kiss with a smile on his face. It was such a joy and a relief to see Elias with Felipe...father and son together again.
Elias made this sign for Papi at school yesterday. We brought it along with us today, but he didn't want to bring it in to the airport, which was fine with me because we seem to have enough to wrangle through security without carrying a sign with us, so we showed it to Papi when we got to the car. Elias was pretty proud of it and his handprints on it.

Felipe has been quite tired and trying to get his sleep rhythms set to this time zone. He's been sleeping a lot, so I look forward to spending time with him tomorrow. Even if he's napping all day, I'm happy to have him home. Home sweet home!

Tomorrow, Tomorrow....

2009-03-19T13:05:00.001-04:00

I love ya tomorrow, you're only a DAY away!!

How many more days?

2009-03-15T16:17:00.004-04:00

"Papi's coming home on Friday!"

We can't wait and can't even imagine

what it will be like to have Felipe home again.

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived

what God has prepared for those who love him."

1 Corinthians 2:9

Okay, Just Kidding!

2009-03-09T13:43:00.002-04:00

Well, real quick...I had a feeling when I wrote yesterday's post, that we'd hear differently about Felipe's return. His return is pushed back about 5 days...UGH!! But, yes, he will be home for Elias' 2nd birthday and home earlier than we planned on. I'm really trying to remind myself of that and keep a thankful attitude for those things. IT's HARD. God, you're in control.

"To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven."
Ecclesiastes 3:1

Change is a Comin'...

2009-03-07T07:46:00.007-05:00

As far as I know, we have just a week left...7 days...168 hours...before Papi comes home!! It will be here before we realize it!! We aren't sure yet if there will be a delay of a couple of days, but it's just a matter of days. I'd rather not wait, but either way, Felipe's coming home-Hooray!!! I am so happy for Elias...he needs "Papi-time". I need "Felipe-time". We need "family-time".

We had a slight warm-up last week, so Elias and I spent some time out in the yard and down by the river. The ice hadn't melted yet on the shores, but we watched the slow current of the river, geese flying overhead, and the beginning of a sunset. I tried to get some of the river in our picture.

This is what we got when I said make a silly face!

2 More Weeks!!

2009-03-01T22:16:00.009-05:00

In less than 2 weeks, God-willing, our separation will be OVER!!! I've made up songs to sing with Elias to prepare him for Felipe's return-"Papi's coming home, Papi's coming home, Hi ho the dairy oh, Papi's coming home, From Kuwait, Hooray!!" ~to the tune of The Farmer and The Dell~ This weekend I asked Elias who was coming home soon, and he answered, "Papi, I so happy". I don't think he's fully grasped the concept of what's actually happening, but at least my excitement is rubbing off on him so he can't help but be excited when we pick Felipe up. Hope you enjoy the recent pictures that Courtney took during our last trip to Massena and this weekend when her and Dustin came to visit.

Chickaladee!

2009-02-24T22:02:00.004-05:00

A word from my bird-lover for all you bird lovers out there!

P.S. We have flight information for Felipe's return!! That makes it even more official!

"Amazing Grace"

2009-02-21T20:38:00.003-05:00

Out of the mouth of my babe...

Guess What!?!

2009-02-21T14:56:00.005-05:00

Felipe IS COMING HOME!!! In.....3 WEEKS!!! Yes it's true! We just got the word on Thursday. I can hardly believe it's true, but we are soooooo thankful for this answered prayer. Thank you to those who shared our requests to THE Lord, our kind and faithful God! Romans 8:28 has been my encouragement the last few weeks while we've waited for news: "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Whether Felipe came home in March or May, we trust that God's purpose is right and good for our family. But, we are praising God for the joy of an early reunion!!

We spent Valentine's weekend in Massena visiting my family. It was a nice time to relax with family and unwind a little. Elias was pretty busy and loved every minute with his Nana, Papa, Aunt Kiki, Uncle Dusty and Uncle Josh. He even fit in a visit with Great Nana & Great Papa!

Papa got out his KTM motorcycle and once he got it running again, Elias got a ride on it!!! He didn't even care that it was FREEZING outside.

(Elias with Dale-he thought he looked a little like Papa)

We visited with friends, Dale & Bonny, during our time in Massena. Bonny made us lunch: Applebee's Oriental Chicken Salad....delicious!!! Elias felt right at home, played with her grandkid's toys, wandered around her house looking for the cat and Dale. He reminded us to pray before we ate our lunch and then sang Amazing Grace for Bonny! We had such a nice time catching up.

Elias had a playdate with Aiden. Aiden is a couple of weeks older than Elias, but he's a "tad" bit smaller than Elias. For the most part, they played side by side, but occasionally had to teach them how to share the toys. Aiden was still over at bath time, Aunt Kiki was watching him, so we decided to "throw" them in together.

Okay....Okay....

2009-02-08T17:49:00.007-05:00

(Elias was thrilled to wear one of Papi's hat!!)

It has been a few weeks since I've posted anything...we've been busy and I've just avoided blogging. So here are a few pics.
The slight warm up made the snow packable for a little snowman. We used a snowman kit my mom gave me a few years ago. Elias was a little confused when it melted away a few days later.

A couple of weeks ago, we got about 2-3 feet of snow over a week's period of time. I love living in this area with lake effect snow! That meant huge snowbanks perfect for playing outside in. This picture above is Elias sliding down the huge snowbank in front of our house.

The other side of the snowbank that I started to dig a tunnel into.

Just so you could see how high the snow was in comparison to me. Untouched/unplowed snow was probably about 3 feet deep! And actually, we did get a bit more snow after this was taken.

A picture of the snow at our back door!!

So, we're enjoying winter up here!! Even when it's way below zero (it's been the coldest winter in about 30 years), I pull a "treat" out of my Rainy Day Box to entertain Elias and myself. Just recently, I introduced Elias to playdough, which is a great table-top activity that I particularly like to do after lunch before naptime, to help Elias wind down for his nap. When Elias wants to play with it, he'll ask me "Mommy, play all day?"

When we're outside, Elias likes to find the moon in the sky and the other day once he spotted it, he said, "I coming to get ya moon!"

13 Weeks...3 Months...91 Days

2009-02-08T17:42:00.003-05:00

Felipe with another Major of the Kuwaiti Army

At this point we're prepared for 3 more months. However, you can keep us in your prayers as we wait to see if Felipe can come home a little early. Don't really know why they'd let him come home early, but it doesn't matter to me if it gets him home. But 3 months isn't all that bad if it doesn't get approved. I'll keep you posted AS SOON as I know anything definite!!

We love snow!

2009-01-25T20:37:00.004-05:00

We woke up this morning to at least 12 inches of snow. It was a pleasant suprise to me, except that church was cancelled. I probably could have made it through the foot of snow in the driveway, but it was nice to not have to shovel out a path to the garage and try to blaze through the snow in church clothes...it probably would have ended up a "dressy jeans" day. And if I did get stuck...I would be ON MY OWN to get out...sooooooo, needless to say, Elias and I had a slow, laid back day today. Right before lunch, Elias asked to go outside, so we bundled up in several layers to brave the 15 degree weather. I stuck Elias right into the snow on the front porch before shoveling to see how deep it was and it went up to his knees. Elias was a good little helper with his shovel. It was so, so cold and hard to bring him back in, even though he wanted hot chocolate so badly, he wanted stay outside much more.

We got a fun Christmas box a couple of weeks ago from Felipe's family. Elias has really enjoyed the gifts they sent, particuarly the matchbox cars. He likes to line them up around the dining room table, or pretend one of them is a tow truck or a train. It's fun to see his imagination develop.

Elias and I were pretending that "Ellie", his elephant, was a baby, so we wrapped him up in a blanket. Then I got an idea to wrap Elias up like a baby...he thought it was HILARIOUS!

Elias and his baby, "Ellie"

I love the look on Elias' face..."do I have to?"

Pure joy!

15 Weeks...15 Weeks...15 Weeks...

2009-01-25T20:09:00.005-05:00

This has been my chant...15 weeks...15 weeks...15 weeks... we are so close!! Our weeks are busy so they're going by quickly, but I don't usually like to wish time away, especially since Elias was born. But now that we're getting so close to having Felipe home, I wouldn't mind if the next 3 months flew by! Speaking of flying...

Felipe flying in a Super Puma

Felipe greeting a Kuwaiti Army Official after he flew in

Lunch with the Kuwaiti Army Official..."roughing it"!

Moneymaker

2009-01-24T14:22:00.002-05:00

The other day, Elias and I were in Walgreens buying milk, and found ourselves waiting in the checkout line. There was an elderly gentleman cashing out and he noticed Elias (and his curls). He said, "That's a lot of hair for a little boy, I hope you can handle it." Elias proceeded to say "Morning", talk about his Nana & Papa, and that it was cold outside. As the gentleman was leaving, he pulled a dollar bill out of his wallet and handed it to Elias and said, "Here, this is for being such a good boy. Enjoy it."

Another Winter Wonderland

2009-01-18T15:28:00.002-05:00

This weekend we got around 12-15 inches Saturday and a few more today. It was a little hairy, because my parents drove down through perfectly clear weather till they got just outside town, then hit this lake effect snowstorm with whiteout conditions. There was so much snow, they couldn't pull in the driveway, since my plow guy hadn't made it yet. So, I bundled up Elias and started shoveling a path toward the end of the driveway...it seemed extra long yesterday! My parents caught my neighbor who was out snowblowing his driveway and got him to come over and clear a big enough spot for their car. It was quite a sight...we were all shoveling, even Elias (with his little sand shovel) for what seemed like an eternity while my neighbor snowblowed party of the driveway. I took a picture of our front yard before our plow guy came and cleaned up the driveway. There is so much snow, it's hard to tell what anything is. I have to say I have been enjoying the massive amounts of snow we get being just East of Lake Ontario. I don't even ski, but I love how the river and trees behind our house look covered in snow, getting snowed in. I love it!

And FYI-our house will have a new front porch, red siding (like the garage), and a nice new roof this spring/summer...it will be TRANSFORMED! Can't wait to share those pictures with you all.

For those of you counting....

2009-01-18T14:55:00.004-05:00

Felipe has 16 weeks left in Kuwait! The weeks are actually going by quickly and I'm starting to mentally prepare for Felipe's return. If you're a military spouse who has experienced frequent separations or deployments, you understand the hesitation for return of your soldier. I whole-heartedly want Felipe home, no doubt. However, during the 12-15 months that he's gone, I get into a daily routine that doesn't involve a husband, and with Elias, we have a regular routine where I serve as the mom and dad (with some help from my family). So, the transition after Felipe comes home may or may not be smooth, especially with a very active, vocal, smart little toddler now. I would say we have never reached "crisis" level after Felipe returns, we talk A LOT before, during, and after... communication is essential, so we each know what's going on in each other's minds. A little patience and understanding goes a Loooong way, as well. It is work for me, I'm quick to react and respond, and I have to consciously "bite my tongue". But, to have the opportunity to see Elias with his father, to have our family together, the work is well worth it! Please think of us when you're praying...as we anticipate a smooth return and adjust to a family of 3 in our house!

More Holiday Fun

2009-01-12T14:38:00.005-05:00

While in Massena for the holidays, we had lunch with Great Nana and Elias leaned in to pose for the picture...the little ham! Thanks for the treat Great Nana!!
Bathtime is Elias' favorite time of the day and it was fun for him to have baths at Nana's house and play with Aunt Julann, too with some of his new bath toys he got for Christmas. I haven't cut Elias' hair since October, I'm letting it grow and it seems like it's getting curlier as it gets longer.

Aunt Julann and Uncle Mike got Elias this cool Sesame Street Rider jacket for Christmas that looks like Papa's riding jacket. Elias was trying to give a "thumbs up" like Papa, but he can't quite get the thumb up by itself. And Uncle Dusty taught Elias to say, "Let's Roll".

Papa's riding jacket is so thick and stiff that it will actually stand up on the floor by itself...Elias was encased by the jacket!

Get Back on The Horse

2009-01-11T13:38:00.004-05:00

Felipe would never turn down a chance to ride a horse. There are herders there in Kuwait, herding camel and all sorts of other animals, and Felipe happened upon this horse and asked to ride it.

Elias smiled when I showed him this picture of Papi riding a horse.

4 months...17 weeks...120 days...and Felipe will leave the desert...Lord Willing!

Elias and I still miss you, Felipe!

This week Elias said, "Mommy, I are hungry"

Yesterday, Elias kept his pull-up dry ALL day long until right before his bath around 7pm!

He even stayed dry through his nap! Today has already been another story...but at least I know he's capable and we may not be far off from packing up the diapers!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

2009-01-04T19:51:00.006-05:00

I'm a little late on the Holiday greetings...I took a little break from posting, but I'm back!

We spent our holidays with my family, it was great! Julann and Mike made it out of Seattle on Christmas Eve and everyone was home for Christmas (except for Felipe). It was just a lot of fun hanging out, relaxing, watching movies, reading, and playing Rock Band, too!

Elias hopped on his tractor from Nana & Papa amid the mountains of gifts wrapped and unwrapped. He had so much fun with the whole process of opening gifts and playing with his new toys. He loved everything he got and played with each gift right away, we had to convince him to stop playing for a minute open a new one! It was quite cute.

Tools from Papa!!! (Of course!)

Elias has just started saying "Of course"... He'll ask me a question, then say "Of course!" Adorable!

Whatever Papa does, Elias does. Elias is Papa's little shadow.

Great Nana & Papa (who Elias has started calling Grandma and Grandpa on his own) got Elias a Red Flyer Tricycle that will grow with him. He loves filling the little bucket on the back and already knows to keep his feet on the pedals, but needs some help to actually pedal.

In time, in time.

I LOVE Elias' smile!!

Elias spent A LOT of time on Papa's lap...they're true buddies.

Cuddling with Nana

Spending lots of time with Aunt Julann (and Uncle Mike) was a highlight of our holidays.

Elias calls books without pictures that have text only, Bibles. So he rounded up some paperback books that people were reading and passed them out to read their Bibles and that is what he was doing here with Aunt Julann. Elias learned to say Merry Christmas several weeks ago, but I also taught him that it was Jesus' birthday that we celebrate, so he started saying, "Happy Birthday, Jesus" and hearing the song on the radio encouraged him even more. I know there is still alot that he doesn't understand, but it's a start!

We celebrated Julann's birthday at the Lobster House.

Dustin and Courtney

Elias was my date to dinner. Once dinner was over, Elias asked to go look at the lobsters in the tank, perfecting his "lobster" pronunciation, and went around the entire table taking a different person to the tank until everyone had seen the lobsters. And each time he went he pointed out or noticed something different like the bubbles, the lobster claws, the sleeping lobster, etc...

Nana & Papa

Josh & Maureen

More Papa time!!!

Jamming with Uncle Josh's Rock Band instruments...Fernando Ortega was actually playing on the stereo!! Elias has taken off with singing, he loved the microphone as you'll see below. He repeatedly asked everyone to sing Jingle Bells throughout the holidays and he'd shake his maracas to the beat then on the last note, wail "Sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeigh" as loud as he could!

Singing is serious stuff...

Hey Papa, I'll take vocals, you play bass, k?

This was how it all started....it was neat to see Elias try to copy his Uncles.

The girls

Sisters

Cute pic of Mike & Julann

Mom & Julann

Dustin & Courtney

Elias and I had so much fun visiting with our family. We spent 9 days together and it flew by way too fast. We missed having Felipe home to celebrate Christmas and bring in the New Year together, but we only have 18 weeks left until he returns! Hope you all had joyous holidays with family and friends!!

2008-12-21T10:35:00.005-05:00

I found some cozy, soft Christmas pajamas for Elias and thought he could get them early, since it's been sooooo cold. I thought it was a cute outfit with the cowboy hat!
Elias recently learned "besito", which means little kiss in Spanish. If you ask for a besito, he gives you a kiss on the cheek and makes sure to make the "smooch" sound with the kiss! He's quite generous with his kisses, and I eat them all up.

I love this shot of Elias getting a besito from Mami!

I love this boy and his smile! He is so full of life just like his Papi!

I got Elias a kitchen set for Christmas and gave it to him this weekend. I know there are MANY skeptics out there about giving a boy a kitchen, and Felipe was one of them. But, Elias has had so much fun playing with kitchens in the nursery at church or at school. He loves to pretend to cook and clean. I made sure to find a boy-friendly model...it doesn't hurt to teach him young that it's okay to cook or help in the kitchen. ;) He has already played with it for HOURS and he's only had it for a day!

~Twenty Weeks~

2008-12-21T10:25:00.001-05:00

Only twenty more weeks in the desert, Felipe!

21

2008-12-14T21:46:00.002-05:00

21 Weeks! That's 147 days! Can you tell we can't wait to have Felipe home?

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HaPpY bIrThDaY to my brother, Dustin! He's 25 today! Love you, brother!

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Look below for a couple of pics Felipe sent me...I couldn't get the post moved up, so check it out below.

20 Fun-filled Months

2008-12-07T16:01:00.006-05:00

My sweet little bear...is 20 months old! He's growing so fast, I can barely keep up with him. Each day he surprises me...each morning he greets the morning with excitement...he is so bright-eyed and observant...you cannot sneak anything by him.

I love how he says "Love you, Punkin" before he goes to sleep at night...and has started asking for a Kiss when he "bonks" his head...he's so huggable...loveable!
My sweetheart!

Elias asked to put his gloves on and played with them on. It was quite funny to see him try to do puzzles with them on. Don't worry, I did eventually pull them off so he could do the puzzles.

Elias had a playdate with Luke, who is 3 years old...they did so good together. I thought Elias was getting tall, until he stood next to Luke...they were getting ready to go give Buck a dog bone.

Elias and Aiden had fun playing together...Elias had some opportunities to learn to share his toys...They stopped long enough for Kiki (Aunt Courtney) to read a book to them together...before Elias sat down, Aiden patted Courtney's knee to show Elias where to sit.

"Mama, I stuck!"

Elias rode with Uncle Dusty and Papa on a trip to the dump...it was some much needed "guy-time".

Awwww...Elias is a hugger and he made sure Uncle Dusty got his share over our Thanksgiving trip to Massena.

Elias and Aiden sharing the Sit-n-Spin. They both got a kick out of riding it together.

Elias relaxing in his rocking chair watching a cartoon.

No...It's not a Secret Society

2008-12-07T14:53:00.007-05:00

Here are a few pictures of Felipe the other night at the desert camp of a Kuwaiti brigade after three weeks of training.

Soldiers were trained in the following (in Felipe's words):

1. Basic Rifle marksmanship.

2. Close Quarter Marksmanship.

3. Target Descrimination/Escalation of Force.

4. Enter and Clear Room

5. Inner and Outer Cordon with M1113s.

6. Tactical Movement Convoy Training with M1113s.

7. Personnel and Vehicle Search.

8. Establishing a Tactical Control Point.

9. Mechanized mounted Movement to Contact

So, Felipe is BUSY over there, even though it looks like they had some fun...

22 Weeks

2008-12-07T13:35:00.003-05:00

It's funny...counting down weeks reminds me of counting the weeks of pregnancy. While we wish we were pregnant and anticipating the arrival of a baby...God has seen fit to hold off any expansion to our family, at least for a while. We fully trust Him to guide us in that area of our family. The last couple of weeks have been difficult since Felipe left and finding that we weren't pregnant and several of friends have shared news of pregnancy. I am so thrilled for all of them...new life is exciting...a miracle...precious...children bring me such joy. (That's why I LOVE working with children) I find that I am finally Content with my empty womb. God continues to work on me...this didn't happen overnight (even though I would have preferred it). So...Felipe and I are excited to have ONLY 22 weeks until his return from Kuwait!

23 Weeks and Still Counting

2008-11-30T20:40:00.002-05:00

So, we've started the countdown again till Felipe comes home! We have 23 Sundays left until Felipe should come home and we couldn't wish more for it to go by fast! Elias and I are certainly ready for him to be home. You can keep track of the weeks with us and pray for our family when you think of it...we welcome all the prayers we can get, for we cannot endure this deployment without God's strength and grace. I often sing favorite hymns as prayers and this one frequently comes to my mind.

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee.
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

Summer and winter and spring-time and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide,
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Great is Thy Faithfulness! Great is Thy Faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy Faithfulness, Lord unto me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Happy 23rd Birthday to my little brother, Josh! It was fun to celebrate with you!

HodgePodge

2008-11-22T07:27:00.004-05:00

Elias saw my camera sitting on the counter and asked me to take his picture. The first time he didn't smile, so I asked him to smile and this is what he gave me.

On another note...As Elias grows up and moves into the stage of "correction" (and discipline) he is learning to say he is sorry after he has disobeyed Mommy. Well, last week, after splashing too big and too much in the bathtub, before I could even say anything,

Elias said..."I sorry Mommy"...that melted me! And then, when he was playing with his elephant, Ellie, and dropped him on the floor. He picked Ellie up, gave him a hug, and said "I sorry Ellie".

The other thing Elias has recently started asking is "What doing, Mommy?" He seems to ask this when we're riding in the car somewhere and I'm driving.

So I tell him, "Mommy's driving and Elias is riding".

Elias was busy helping Papa fix one of his toys using different screwdrivers, even a small handheld power drill (he wanted to keep it!). Elias had pushed a red wooden ball in the toy, but it was just a tad too big and got lodged inside. There were like twenty tiny screws to take it apart to get the red ball out so the toy would work. It took waaaay longer than it needed to, but the nice thing was Elias enjoyed the project and he got to do it with Papa. Oh, Elias has just started trying to say Grandpa....kind of a "Ganpa". But we usually call him Papa, so I'm not sure where Elias learned it.

Another thing to share - we went to Elias' pulmonologist yesterday for a follow-up visit and he is pleased with Elias' health and asthma control. So we will go back in three months. Since his allergy to soy and egg whites is pretty low, he said we can start adding more to his diet...yay! At this point, we just need to keep him away from peanuts. The interesting thing that the doctor is checking on is whether Elias can get the flu shot or not. Apparently the shot is prepared using eggs and he is not sure what kind of effect it would have on Elias injecting egg into his system. He said eating some egg baked in a cake or something probably wouldn't have much effect on him, but directly injecting it might. He's talking to the allergist about it and will let me know.

Some Kuwaiti Desert

2008-11-15T15:56:00.003-05:00

Felipe sent me a couple of shots of the training he was doing with Kuwaiti soldiers this past week. He coordinates training of US and Kuwaiti soldiers on this huge training "field"/base. It's hard to tell, but Felipe's standing next to the door of the helicopter. Take note of the massive span of SAND.

Keep up the good work, honey!

My Growing Boy

2008-11-05T19:07:00.009-05:00

Elias constructed this little sculpture...can you tell he LOVES tractors?

Papa came up with the idea of using rice to play with Elias' tractors inside, instead of sand. Elias is a big fan...and it is a lot of fun...just a big of cleanup involved. But he scooped, pushed, and dumped rice around for almost 30 minutes! It is a nice little activity when I'm cooking dinner or cleaning up after dinner.

Some other things Elias has beeen up to:

Just the other day, Elias sang up the "Solfege" scale....~"Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, Ti, Do"~All on his own!!!! When he does his inhaler (once in the AM and once in the PM) we usually practice counting, the alphabet, etc...When Felipe was home, he started practicing counting in Spanish, then practicing the scale with Elias since he likes to sing. He'll copy each word after someone says it, but this was the FIRST time he had said ALL eight on his own....with NO prompting. He was just outside playing on his slide...singing away! Oh...he doesn't sing each note quite in tune yet, but he's getting there!

Oh...today at school Elias told one of his "teachers" a knock, knock joke...

Elias: Knock, Knock

Tina: Who's There?

Elias: Tock

Tina: Tock Who?

Elias: Tick Tock

Silly boy!!

We voted!

2008-11-04T14:08:00.003-05:00

Elias and I voted today after Bible Study at a local elementary school. Elias just accompanied me in the voting booth, he didn't actually place a vote (for those worried about voter fraud). They said people were lined up at the door at 5:50am waiting for the doors to open at 6am! Who's up at THAT hour? Plenty of people I'm sure, if they're military or mom's to early risers....anyway...

GET OUT AND VOTE! You have no say in the leadership of our country if you don't make the effort to vote!

P.S. Felipe voted, too, by absentee ballot.

Happy Birthday!

2008-11-03T22:59:00.003-05:00

Or in Elias' words...."Happy Birthday, Grape Nana"!!

(Great-Grandma)

We hope you have a great day!

Bye-Bye Car-Car...

2008-11-03T15:23:00.007-05:00

Our dog, Carson, was hit by a car last night, actually two cars...and he didn't make it. He didn't die right away, but within minutes he stopped breathing. There wasn't anything we could do for him....We are sad. Elias has already asked for Car-Car (that's what he calls him) and wandered around the house looking for him.

The house feels empty without him. We miss him already. He was so good with Elias, who asked for "giddyups" everyday, he played chase around the dining room table with Elias, tolerated uncountable tail tugs, ran laps around us in our big backyard, loved playing in the snow, and he LOVED doggie daycare.

It may be a blessing in disguise for Elias' health since he's allergic to dogs. I'm trying to just focus on the positives. It is always sad when you lose a pet.

We took this picture of Elias and Carson 2 weeks ago while Felipe was home. I'm so glad we have it....for memory's sake.

Hey, Little Monkey!

2008-10-31T20:22:00.003-04:00

Elias was a monkey today for Halloween...he liked his costume, which made it fun for us.

They had ALL SORTS of special snacks today at school. Elias is eating apple slices with orange cool whip. I think he just used the apple to eat the cool whip, but he hasn't had it before, so it really was a treat for him.

A picture of some of the kids sitting at their snack/lunch table.

Getting ready for the parade through the classrooms!

One of Elias' friends at school

Felipe taught Elias a little ditty-"Pick Bananas....Peel Bananas....Eat Bananas...Go Bananas" Elias still says it on his own... but I got him to do it with his monkey suit on!! In this pic, Elias was saying, "Eat Bananas"!

Elias' fav teacher in the Toddler Room...Tina

Elias resting...it was A LOT of activity all at once!

This evening, we went to our church's "Trunk or Treat" with fun and games and candy. Elias watched several older children jump in the bounce house before working up the courage to climb in and start jumping. As long as there were small children in there, he was good, and actually enjoyed with the bigger kids jumped and made him bounce up and down. A few months ago, Elias was too scared to go in a bounce house, so I was pleased to see him climb in on his own and hold his own with some BIG kids.

Enjoying the Winter Wonderland

2008-10-29T21:15:00.002-04:00

We got almost 1 foot of snow last night, the power went out a couple of times and I think a couple of our trees/bushes broke from the weight of the snow (I heard some popping last night and they are almost completely folded over). All the school districts were closed, so there weren't any children for me to see today. Today was my first day back to work in 2 and 1/2 weeks! I was able to go in late ~10:00 and catch up on paperwork and ease back into things since I had a huge stack waiting for me. When we got home (5 hours later...I don't work too much, I wouldn't want to over do it ;)) Elias and I got suited up to play outside. I just bought him snow pants, so I thought we'd try them on and break them in...it took some work to get him in, but we had such a blast. Elias couldn't walk in the snow, he fell face first into the snow everytime he tried! But, when I pulled out the sled....it was golden. I felt like a little reindeer or husky dog pulling the sled around the yard through the snow. But, the grin on Elias' face motivated me to go one more lap.

Let it Snow!!

2008-10-28T22:00:00.003-04:00

It's SNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!!!!
Brrrrrrrrr....it's getting cold out here! Elias was amazed by the snow, tried to eat it off the ground like our dog, Carson, and did NOT want to come inside even though we were freezing.

This pic was taken off our back porch around 5pm, but there's about 5-6 inches right now! I was hoping to get snowed in and it looks like I might get my wish!

It'll be in the 50's by Friday, so it won't last long. But I'm loving the snow!!

All Things Papi!!

2008-10-26T16:11:00.006-04:00

This is an "Ode to Papi" with a few pics with Mami...but I thought I'd share some of their adventures together while Felipe was home.

It got REALLY cold last week, I thought it was going to snow, and secretly hoped that it would while Felipe was here.

Elias has recently discovered his love for pictures....he says, "pictures.....rocket....cheese" We took pictures over and over the other day, counting down like a rocket's blastoff, then saying cheese and then Elias wanted to "see" the pictures after we took them.

The boys relaxing....probably watching "Thomas the Train". Elias just started saying "Thomas". But, he is loving trains right now.

We spent an afternoon at Old MacDonald's Farm. It was a lot of fun for all of us.

"Mami, I want this one"

Elias got a free pony ride because they needed a "model" for some pictures they were taking with the pony.

Elias was thrilled to ride the pony!

Elias is still talking about "baby...cows...barn" We went on a "dairy tour" through their dairy barns from the youngest calves, to the teenage barn, to the maternity ward. It was neat to see them at various stages of life and we even saw a calf that was just born about an hour before we came through.

Fun, fun, fun feeding those goats.

"Can you catch me?"

2008-10-26T13:48:00.003-04:00

Felipe has left....he left yesterday morning on a dark, rainy day that matched our moods. It downpoured all day. I didn't really have much energy to cry, so I think the clouds did it for me. Not that I wasn't sad. It was a really tough good-bye, 15 days went so fast and made us want for more. We had another glimpse of what family life can be like with Felipe home. I just encourage anyone who typically has their spouse home to appreciate the little things...garbage taken out, dog taken to the kennel, changing a diaper, filling your gas tank up, etc....you may not notice their help when they're home, but after they leave for several months, it's like a treat to have it when they're home. I am not perfect, I know I take Felipe for granted at times and the things he does for us...but I just want to encourage others...a little reminder to enjoy your daily meals together, hug your loved one a little tighter, to say that "Thank You" to show your appreciation, your gratitude.

Please pray for continued safe travels for Felipe on his way back.

Congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. Dustin Hollenbeck

2008-10-22T20:25:00.006-04:00

Dustin & Courtney Hollenbeck

October 18, 2008

The beautiful bride, Courtney, my new sister-in-law! She's already felt like a sister for a LONG time now, but it's nice to make it official. Welcome to the family, Court! We love you!
So, right now I only really have pictures of Courtney and the bridesmaids, it was hard to keep Elias occupied, go where we needed to go and take pictures, too! So, when I get copies of the married couple, I'll post them. I just wanted to share some of the ones I had.

Julann (my sis), Katie, Bailey (jr. bridesmaid), Kristi, Courtney (BRIDE), Nancy, Kim, me!

LOTS OF GIRLS!

Note the handsome little boy in a little brown tuxedo! and miniature tie that matched the ties the groomsmen wore. (my mom crafted that peice!) He LOVED wearing it and the suspenders that held his pants up!

The fall background was just beautiful and perfect for pictures. Autumn is Courtney's favorite season and the colors-golds, browns, oranges, etc. are also her favorite. So, no one was surprised when Dustin and Courtney picked a fall wedding date.

Elias was quite excited to get into his suit! He really was a trooper with all the activities going on and the enormous amount of time spent in the car. On a side note, he was so thrilled to spend time with his Uncle Mike and Aunt Julann. He has "Mike" down great and Julann sounds more like "Doreen", so cute! And if he couldn't say her name, or didn't want to, he'd just say "Mike"!

Don't let the sunshine fool you...it was a very brisk fall day...with a high in the 50's...

it felt much cooler!!

Courtney and Julann

Courtney and her mother, Monica

Nate and Bailey (they're brother and sister and they walked with Elias down the aisle) Nate was the ringbearer (he's 11yrs old) and wore a matching tux with Elias. When they asked for the rings, Nate pulled out two ring pops and gave them to Dustin with a serious face! It was hilarious! He came up with the joke all on his own.

Nate and Bailey are Courtney's cousins

Courtney and Mom

Oh yeah...it was Mom's birthday, too...she got a daughter-in-law for her birthday!

Nice gift Dustin!

CONGRATULATIONS!

Papi's Home!

2008-10-19T20:40:00.003-04:00

WELCOME HOME FELIPE!

Felipe made it home Thursday, the 10th. Elias and I made it to the airport just in time to get up to the gate to greet Felipe as he got off the plane. It is so nice they allow military families through the security checkpoint to greet their soldier's at the gate! We saw Felipe get off his plane, but waited and waited for him to come through the door (he had to wait for a checked bag). Elias was pleased to see his Papi and went right to him with big smiles! It didn't take him long to warm up to him.
Elias in the car right before we left for the airport...we were both VERY excited!!

A couple of pics of the balloons and signs we made for Felipe!
I took a pic of me packing up the car while Elias napped.

We have been quite busy since Felipe got home, so I have more pics to upload and share later.
We want to make the most of the rest of our time together before he has to go back.

Anticipation!

2008-10-08T22:16:00.003-04:00

Here is an 18-month picture of Elias. He had his check-up today...25lbs. 9oz. (50th %ile and 33 1/4 inches (75th %ile). We got a call today and Felipe will be flying in tomorrow!! We can't wait...I'm doing my best to stay busy until it's time. You may not hear from me for a few days, but I'll get back eventually! Stay tuned for updates on our visit.

P.S. I took this pic outside Bob Evans before breakfast the other day! It was the perfect staging for a fall pic. ;)

Happy 40th!

2008-10-07T21:44:00.003-04:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FELIPE!

You'll always be young in our eyes.

We love you and can't wait to see you!

No More, No More

2008-10-05T20:57:00.002-04:00

No more Sundays! We're not sure what day this week, but....FELIPE'S COMING HOME!! I'm going to do my best to keep busy around the house so the days don't drag. Elias and I are so, so excited. Even though it's only been 5 months (we've gone longer), I feel like I've forgotten what Felipe looks like, what it feels like to have him in our house, and hear his laugh. This has been a long 5 months, but it will be easily forgotten once we pick Felipe up from the airport....We can't wait! We get to meet Felipe at the gate (a courtesy for military families greeting and sending off their soldiers) and I am looking forward to Elias' reaction to seeing his Papi again! I'll let you all know how it goes!

Sweat Test

2008-09-30T16:48:00.003-04:00

Elias had his sweat test today at the hospital. He wasn't thrilled with the electrodes that stimulate the sweat glands on his arm. I think he thought he was getting blood drawn, but once they put the collection things (I don't know what they're called) on to collect his sweat, we were able to walk around and look at the fish tank, then watch tractors and dump trucks doing a big construction project outside while we tried to kill 30 minutes. He charmed the older volunteer lady working at the registration desk with smiles and giggles, and said "morning" and "bye-bye" to every lady we passed in the hallway. A little charmer...

I just spoke to the Pulmonologist's nurse and Elias' results came back NEGATIVE for Cystic Fibrosis! Praise God!

Allergies and Asthma

2008-09-28T19:58:00.003-04:00

Well, Elias is sleeping...Thank you, God, for a few quiet moments. Elias has truggled with a HIGH fever and vomiting this weekend....with 3 hours of sleep last night. Three, did you catch that? My mom was up with him the majority of the night...Thank you, God, for a mom who lets me go back to sleep and stays up all night with Elias.

So, the point of this is to update you all. Our pediatrician pulled through with an urgent referral to a Pediatric Pulmonologist in Syracuse. Thank you, God, for opening an appointment so quickly (within 5 days). I brought all of Elias' chest x-rays for the doctor to review and shared his entire medical history to try to give him the full picture. The Pulmonologist was great-he listened to my concerns, answered my questions, and was very genuine. He is confident with a diagnosis of Asthma considering the number of episodes Elias has had with diffiulty breathing, then lung collapse, most recent. So, he changed his daily medicine to an inhaler with a spacer twice a day, a chewable tablet (Oh, by the way, Elias LOVES to take it and show me that it's all gone), a new rescue inhaler as needed, had blood drawn for allergy testing, and ordered a repeat sweat test. We go back to see him in November for follow-up. And I just have to say, I've called them at least 5 times already with different questions and they have been so kind and helpful, actually listening to me and following through on requests. Thank you, God!

This week I received the results from the allergy testing: cat/dog dander (great), house dust (Ha!), peanuts (we knew this), egg whites, and soybean. Crazy thing is, Elias has been drinking Soy milk since around a year old...I got rid of that quickly! You wouldn't believe the amount of things that include eggs and soy that you wouldn't think of. While we have to avoid all peanuts, we can experiement with the amount of egg whites or soy Elias can tolerate. Thank you, God, that Elias is not allergic to wheat and/or milk protein in addition to his allergies! So, we have somethings to work with to try to keep Elias healthy and out of the hospital.

We thank you for your continued prayers and concern for our sweet, little boy. He has been through more health-wise in his 18 months than I have in my 28 years! Elias has the sweat test on Tuesday, he had it once during his last hospital stay, but they were unable to obtain enough sweat. Please pray that enough sweat is collected so that a conclusive reading can be made. This tests for cystic fibrosis and we'd just like an answer either way.

Uno, Un, Ein, Um

2008-09-28T19:13:00.005-04:00

ONE Sunday remains...I sort of had a moment of panic today! How did the time fly so fast? Felipe could be home in one Sunday? Less than 14 days? I think I'm ready...there's so much to do!!!

Can you guess the languages above?
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"ONE"-
Uno...Spanish, Italian
Un.....French
Ein.....German
Um....Portugese

And Then There Were....

2008-09-21T21:52:00.002-04:00

TWO Sundays left! Amazing. I have pics from our last trip to Massena including Elias' playdate with Aiden and an update on Elias trip to the Pediatric Pulmonologist last week. But, I don't have the energy to do so tonight...so stay tuned!

Operation Tribute

2008-09-21T12:42:00.007-04:00

Today at church was Operation Tribute day...soldiers wore their dress uniforms and corsages were passed out to spouses and the service was in honor of the military families in our church and there are MANY! Several church leaders shared heartfelt gratitude for the soldiers' military service, serving their Savior and serving the body of Christ (the church). At the end of the church service, our Pastor asked the soldiers to stand up front so they could be prayed for, several have recently returned or are preparing for deployment or permanent moves. Afterwards, he asked them to turn around to the congregation... there were probably 30 men standing up there and everyone stood up, applauding in support for them for a couple of minutes. It was a little overwhelming to see/feel the appreciation and support, some of the guys were choked up. It was encouraging to know that the church took the time to publicily express their thanks, especially when the majority of the church is military. After church, I gave my corsage to Elias and he carried it out to the car, calling it an "ice cream cone"...then he tried to eat it!

Thank you...to the military men and women who may read this...Thank you for the indescribable sacrifices you and your families make. Thank you for your courage and your endurance through hard times. Thank you to those soldiers who even when they are in the middle of combat are sharing their faith and the Gospel.
Thank you, from a proud Army wife!

And Thank you to our own Soldier...Elias and I love you, we miss you, and we are proud of you and all the hard work you do...we can't wait to have you home, for good would be nice, but we'll take any amount of time!

3 Sundays

2008-09-14T20:01:00.002-04:00

One more Sunday has passed...yahoo! And we can rip off another sheet off on our countdown till Felipe comes home! 3 more Sundays! We can hardly wait!

Little Artist

2008-09-11T17:06:00.002-04:00

We did a little art project the other day mixing different paint colors together. Elias really liked putting his handprint on paper, only one turned because it got quite messy with paint everywhere! Lots of fun, though...messy is always fun!

9/9/99...9 Years Ago...

2008-09-09T19:19:00.004-04:00

9 years ago....I started my third year of college

9 years ago...Felipe was promoted to Captain and went back to school

9 years ago...I took College Biology I

9 years ago...Felipe took College Biology I

9 years ago...I had a tree lab assignment to complete for Biology

9 years ago...Felipe started the tree lab assignment

9 years ago...I met Felipe under a tree on campus...I can't remember what kind of tree it was (kind of ironic)

9 years ago...Felipe and I finished the lab assignment together

9 years ago...An unexpected, but sweet friendship "budded" into love that brought Felipe and I together in a way only God could fashion and orchestrate. I am so thankful that I felt the nudge that day to wander over to the tree and work on the lab assignment...and as a result, met this totally handsome, charming, and friendly man.

Felipe, I am thankful for you and our relationship...that day is a memory I treasure...

9 years ago...I got a better grade than Felipe on the tree lab assignment, even though we worked on it together!

4 Sundays...

2008-09-07T19:56:00.002-04:00

In case you're counting down the days like we are...Felipe could be home in about 4 Sundays! Elias has grown so much since Felipe left in May. He's learned so many new words and his little personality is really developing-he is so happy, friendly and thoughtful. I'm looking forward to seeing Felipe experience little Elias again and see Elias interact with his Papi...who he prays for several times a day...he truly loves his Papi!

Potty Training 101

2008-09-05T21:17:00.002-04:00

So, my little wonder baby (hold the applause, please) is peeing on the potty now...

Right before Elias went in the hospital, he started consciously peeing in his potty chair. He definitely still goes in his diaper, but throughout the day, he will tell me..."peepee...potty" and we both say "run, run, run" as we run to the potty get his diaper off and at first I thought he was going to poo in the potty because he looked like he was pushing, when I realized he was pushing pee out!! His eyes get really big and we both yell, "yeaaaaaaa!". When Elias tells me....he goes. Occasionally, I'll ask him if he needs to go potty and he'll tell me yes or no, somewhat accurately, too! I definitely give him a chance to go first thing in the morning, right before and after naps, bathtime, and bedtime. The other day, Elias went 6 times successfully!! I know it's early, but he has figured out what peeing is...half the battle...and I'm not pushing him in any way, but since he's giving me the cues that he needs/wants to go, I'm going to roll with it. I'm totally open to anyone's suggestions/tips for successful potty training since this is the first time I've ever done it.

We're Home!

2008-09-04T23:50:00.003-04:00

I didn't really want the pictures here, but I'm too tired to move them around...so sorry if it's a little disconnected with the story...
Elias found these two lockers in the room to be a fun place to hide, he loved closing the door, then talking to himself, playing peek-a-boo, and just hang out in there.

This stroller was Elias' transport to radiology for his follow-up chest x-ray. He just liked the fact that he was going for a "ride". And of course, we had to bring Ellie, the elephant, along for the ride, he is definitely a comfort for Elias.
We spent a lot of time in the crib, in the oxygen tent reading, playing, coloring, watching cartoons, or sleping. But, Wednesday the doc released Elias from continuous oxygen and we felt free!
It was a good thing that Nana was here to help out...Elias knew she'd rescue him from anything!
Elias and I were chilling out watching a Handy Manny show on DVR to relax a little bit once we were home.

It's been a long day, but a good one since Elias was able to go home today! Praise God for Elias' improved breathing. He hasn't improved completely- "he's still sick", in his doctor's words, but well enough to heal at home.

I'll try to fill you all in on what's been going on. On Monday, Elias had a nagging cough during the day and after dinner he started wheezing. I gave him a couple of his nebulizer treatments, but by about 10:30pm, I knew the treatments weren't making any difference. My mom was already here, because she was going to watch Elias for the day on Tuesday while I had a Staff Day at work. So, we packed up a diaper bag and an extra bag with books and toys...I even said, "I'm not going to pack as if we're staying for a few days", even though I had a gut feeling...I just didn't want to acknowledge it at the time. We made it to the ER around 11:30pm to a fairly full waiting room. We didn't have to wait long before they found a cubicle for Elias and the ER doctor saw him and had tests/x-rays/treatments started within an hour of our arrival. Not bad, since some people in the waiting room had been waiting for over 4-5 hours! When his chest x-ray came back, the doc said it looked like one small patch of pneumonia on one lung and a larger congested area of pneumonia on the other and he needed to be admitted for further monitoring and treatment. We went to the ER Monday, the 1st of September and Elias was discharged from his last hospital visit August 1st... one month!

We waited a while before we made it upstairs to the Peds floor around 3:30am or 4am, I'm not really sure anymore what time it was. They started an IV line in the ER, drew blood for testing and started steroids and antibiotics and breathing treatments. Once in our room, I climbed into Elias' crib and slept with him and my mom slept on the other vacant crib...for about and hour or two. Oh, we slept in an oxygen tent, because the doc wanted Elias on continuous oxygen, so if he wasn't in the tent, he needed the mask on. After several breathing treatments and all the meds, Elias still had a hard time breathing, you could see his chest retracting at his ribs and his neck. The doc said it was probably more likely he's suffering from atelectasis (collapse of airways in the lungs) rather than pneumonia, but they look similar on x-ray, so they continued with the antibiotics. He was getting Chest PT, percussions over his lungs to move mucus out of his lungs and they gave us a "percussor" to do the tapping on his back over his lungs, which he enjoyed and liked tapping the nurses and doc when he got the chance, or even Mommy and Nana.

Dustin and Courtney came to the hospital to visit us and help give us a little break. Courtney stayed the night with me so mom could get some rest back at my house, that was a big help! The Children's Pastor, Pastor Justin, from our church, Parkside Bible Church, came to visit Elias and see how he was doing. Elias recognized him and was pleased to have him pray with us for Elias, then Elias asked him to pray for Papi, too.

By Wednesday, Elias was breathing much better and started to perk back up and show more of his personality and charm. A sweat test was ordered to determine if Elias has cystic fibrosis...unlikely, in the doc's opinion, but wanted to rule it out. But, they were unable to obtain a sufficient amount of sweat, so he's not going to order another one at this time. Usually, kids with CF sweat a lot, so they wouldn't have trouble getting a sweat sample. His repeat chest x-ray still didn't look great, but some improvement. Elias was so cute when he was in the x-ray contraption, he was crying and the x-ray tech told him to find me and wave hi to me...he found me, then reached up a little bit over the plastic thing holding his arms up over his head and gave me a little wave of his fingers...so sweet, it broke my heart!

So....we're home, Elias is extra cuddly still and loving hugs. He learned to say the phrase, "All Better" very clearly and said it several times today to the doc and nurses. We have a follow-up appointment with our regular pediatrician next week and we'll be referred to a pediatric pulmonologist to address his needs and lung issues.

Please keep Elias in your prayers, that he would continue to heal and improve, he's still not 100% yet. And pray for wisdom in the doctors that we see that they might find the correct way to help keep Elias healthy! Elias has been such a trooper through all this, still saying "Morning" to the nurses in the hall when we went for walks, or "Thank You" after they came in to give him his medicine. He quickly learned to hold his hospital bracelet out for them so they could scan it before giving him meds before they even asked him.

It has been so encouraging to know of all the people praying for Elias around the world as he has been shared on several prayer chains. It has uplifted Felipe and I to experience your Christ-like love, care, and encouragement, even though we're separated from so many of our friends. It means so much to us, more than words can adequately express, but we thank you! God has been so good to us!

We love the zoo!

2008-08-31T13:08:00.007-04:00

Saturday, Elias and I went to the local zoo for a little one-on-one time. We had a lot of fun because all the animals were out. Usually there are a few that seem to be hidden out of view. Elias did a lot of walking, but after looking at each exhibit, I'd ask him if he wanted to walk or ride and he got to choose...toward the end, he kept choosing to ride! :) We kept bumping into an older gentleman with his two grandchildren, who seemed to know the names of ALL the animals at the zoo and their history, too, so we learned a lot more than the information posted on the signs. Elias and I shared an ice cream treat at the end, to top it all off.

We've been practicing saying "cheese" and smiling for the camera...it barely works out just right, but I thought we'd try. Elias was so serious in this first picture.
Then, he said "cheeeeeese" and smiled...
And ran right through the bear cave!!

P.S. HAPPY 17-Month BIRTHDAY, ELIAS!! WE LOVE YOU!!

and Happy Belated Birthday to our friend, Penny in Pittsburgh! We won't tell everyone that it's a BIG one!! ;) Miss you, friend!

P.P.S. We have only 5 Sundays left until Papi returns!

To The Fair!

2008-08-27T22:26:00.005-04:00

Elias had one of his daily nebulizer treatments with Papa before we left for the fair, aka Dino. They were reading Elias' Bible that Papa got him for his birthday. Within the last couple of weeks, Elias has asked to read it and enjoys it. It's a Rhyme Bible for Toddlers, so it simplifies major Bible stores into simple rhymes that are fun to read. Right now, he likes the stories of Noah and Jonah the best.

So, we made it to the NY State Fair...it was HOT!! I didn't take any pictures, but got these few from my mom. I think we were too sweaty to even think about taking pictures. As soon as Elias and I got on the train ride, he started screaming, so we moved to an open car and he calmed down. He loves trains, so I was surprised that he wasn't excited to ride one. There's a short video of our little ride on the train.
The carousel wasn't Elias' favorite ride either! He kept asking me to let him down, he wouldn't hold on, so I had to hold him up....leading to an arm cramp in my right arm. The whole ride, and it felt like the LONGEST carousel ride I've ever been on.

Elias Says His Name!

2008-08-27T22:21:00.002-04:00

Elias now says his name pretty clearly, so I wanted to get it on video, while it's still with his "baby" pronunciation. It's a little muffled...and he was ON THE MOVE, so try not to get dizzy, but it'll give you a glimpse into his talking...there's a bonus Spanish lesson at the end! Enjoy! He's 50/50 on whether he or someone else is a girl or boy, but it's fun to play the game, he's usually right about himself...75% of the time.

Making Friends

2008-08-27T22:04:00.002-04:00

My friend, Jo-Anne, has a grandson a couple of months older than Elias and he came up to visit. So we planned a playdate for the boys. It was fun to watch them play next to each other and try to figure each other out. His name is Tyler, which Elias can say since he has a buddy at school named Tyler...but, he was so confused that he didn't look like the Tyler he knew, so he called him "boy".
Check out Tyler's big brown eyes!!
Elias has recently taken to the Disney cartoon "Handy Manny" and he will now ask me to watch it..."Mommy, Mommy... Manny?" So cute!
My mom found a Fisher-Price farm set at a garage sale (for a steal) with some animals, then we found a tractor and a few more animals. He LOVES playing with this play set...he's sat and played with it for 20 minutes at a time!! And that's a long time for a young toddler!

6 Sundays to Go!

2008-08-24T20:52:00.002-04:00

Well, this will be short, but I wanted to let you all know the countdown's getting lower!! 6 Sundays left till Felipe's home!! We went to the ~GREAT~ NY State Fair today and I'll post a pic or two and maybe a video of Elias later this week. I have a handful of other pictures to share, when I get a few free minutes. This summer is flying by. Elias and I are trying to keep up with playdates at church, trips to the zoo, visiting family, dinner and walking with friends, oh, and SHOPPING! The leaves are already beginning to change here in upstate NY...I hope it doesn't mean an early WINTER! Well, we won't be able to stop it from coming, so we'll just enjoy it! It will be much more fun with you home, Papi!

7 Sundays to Go!

2008-08-17T18:35:00.002-04:00

A friend of mine, who is a military wife, recently shared that she used Sundays to countdown her husband's returns. I mentioned this to Felipe and he thinks it's a great idea...instead of counting DAYS, we're going to count Sundays. It just makes it a little more bearable. Felipe's planning on coming home for Dustin and Courtney's wedding in October, Lord willing!! And if he does, we only have 7 Sundays to go! Elias and I can't wait!

Just Hangin' Out

2008-08-10T23:39:00.003-04:00

Hey, little cowboy...E's loving his new hat!
Elias has really taken to his tunnel lately. He crawls through it round and round, several times...wanting me to chase him.
And then, Elias pretends he's taking a nap after all the running around.
Can you solve the word scamble?
Elias is recognizing the letter "E" pretty consistently now and just started the letter "B".
This past weekend, he started saying "Adios" to Daddy, patting his own chest and saying "Elias", and the word "animals".
E's pretty healthy now. He's getting an asthma nebulizer treatment twice/day and has the "rescue" nebulizer medicine if he starts wheezing or coughing. So far, so good.

He sleeps!

2008-08-05T21:00:00.003-04:00

For the first time in MONTHS, Elias is sleeping quietly with NO snoring! I had to put my hand on his chest to feel him breathing to be sure, because I have gotten so used to hearing him snore at night when I check on him. So, Thank You, Lord, for a clear nose for my baby! He can breathe!! (I can't remember how to spell this word...I've looked at it too many times, now! Breath or breathe? Don't you hate it when that happens? And you can ask Felipe, I'm the "grammar nazi")

This is how I spent MY 16 month birthday...

2008-08-01T19:37:00.009-04:00

...In Room 302 on the Pediatric Floor at the Hospital...

I brought Elias to the ER because he was wheezing quite badly and his nebulizer treatments were not fazing it. We waited for about 4 hours before being seen by the ER doc, but after reviewing his chest x-ray, he was concerned that it was pneumonia and he needed to be admitted. But the Pediatrician reviewed his chart and x-ray and said it looked more like asthma, but he was working too hard to breath that he needed to stay. So, we headed upstairs and tried to get Elias to sleep (he got 3 hours that night and he usually sleeps 12). My mom came down to help me out!! Thank you!!
We walked the halls with his IV pole. It was so hard for E to be attached to it, because he seemed to want to go just beyond the length of the tubes. We were always running after him to keep from pulling on the IV. They attached a splint-like brace to his arm and ace wrapped it so he wouldn't pull out his IV. Every now and then he'd forget he couldn't bend his elbow and try to bring a cracker or something to his mouth and he couldn't reach it...poor little bug...Isn't he cute in his little children's smock?
We also spent time in his crib...we read books, played with his trucks/cars, and looked out the window (as you saw in the picture above). It helped keep him contained for a little while and gave us a break from running after him. For the most part he acted and played like normal, but would start wheezing after too much activity. Before they admitted him, he cried for several hours straight, probably a combination of overtiredness, a fever, and not being able to breath, so he has been very hoarse and squeaky ever since.
The first night he slept in an oxygen tent in his crib. His oxygen levels were so good, that they discontinued it the next day. They continued with breathing treatments every 4 hours (even through the night). But every respiratory therapist was impressed that he actually liked the mask (and they made sure to tell the other RT's)...and it made each treatment so easy since he did.

Thanks to Nana for rescuing us!!
Elias "rowed" his boat...it helped pass the time a little
"You mean, I get to go home?!?"
We got to leave the hospital this morning after the Pediatrician saw him, we were so happy to pack up our bags, put Elias in clothes and walk out the door. Elias kept saying "bye-bye?" while we were there, he really couldn't wait to get home. It was an exhausting 36+ hours, but we are so thankful that Elias has improved so much and that the doctors were able to take care of him and address his needs. He was such a trooper through it all. I'm so proud of him! We will now do daily nebulizer treatments for the asthma and I'm praying that this may be the answer to minimizing the frequency of illnesses/bouts of wheezing and make a difference in that aspect of E's health. I'll keep you all updated on how it goes.

Happy 16 Month Birthday, Little E!!

We love you!

Many Thanks

2008-07-29T13:00:00.003-04:00

This is long overdue! I just want to publicly say THANK YOU to our friends and family for your prayers and support thus far. Thank you for holding Felipe in your prayers...I know there are a few prayer warriors out there (I'll protect your identity) that consistently pray for him, his safety, and spiritual growth while he's in the desert everyday. Thank you...from both of us! Felipe is literally "on guard" every day, more so in a spiritual sense than physically. He is very challenged in his workplace to maintain a Godly testimony, as we all are, but it seems that many of his co-workers are intimidated just by the fact he's a Christian. Please pray that his daily actions (and words) would reflect Christ, in order to be a light in that dark, dark world over there. Many are just watching to see if he will stumble. We are praying that he will visit in October. We just can't wait. This separation has gone so much slower than any other, probably because he just got home on November, then left 6 months later. We anticipate retirement in less than 18 months...to have Felipe home home, would be amazing! Please pray that the timing of paperwork would go smoothly without too many complications so that he can retire at 20 years without going over by much time.

Thank you for praying for Elias and I...he seems to continue to thrive, grow and learn even with his Daddy gone. I secretly wish he could just stay 13 months old until Felipe comes back, so he didn't grow up while he's gone. He loves his Daddy though, even if he only sees him on the computer, it satisfies his need so far. It is wonderful to be close to family, they help out in so many ways...fix-it projects around the house (and the BIG projects, too), mowing our lawn, watching Elias so I can sleep in on a Saturday!! (one of my favs!), and the list goes on. And it also give Elias "guy time" with Papa and his uncles, which he needs. So, Thank you, Mom and Dad...Dustin, Josh, and Courtney for all the ways you help Elias and I. We wouldn't make it through this separation without you. What a blessing!

Happy Anniversary, Honey!

2008-07-28T20:36:00.004-04:00

Seven years...where did the time go? Even though I knew I was marrying into the military, I never would have dreamed we would be apart for over 3 years (almost 4) years of our marriage. How can that be healthy? Well, God has faithfully carried us through all the ups and downs-the moves, the changed orders, the broken promises, separations, new churches, new friends, new houses, birth of one baby, loss of another, and so much more. I wouldn't trade this life, for it has made us who we are and shaped our relationship. It has been an interesting and amazing 7 years, and I can't wait to see what the next 7 years (and beyond) bring us and our little family. I love you, Felipe!

I can do it Mommy!

2008-07-26T00:45:00.005-04:00

Here's a video of Elias climbing up and sliding on his own (pretty much). He is able to do it all on his own now, he's practiced since the "taping" of this particular episode. I now have to try to teach him that he can't climb up every slide, because he may meet some other child's feet on their way down!

Some random thoughts today:

This morning, I awoke to Elias talking over the monitor. It was still a little early, so I just laid in bed listening to him. I quickly realized that he was saying all the names he knew-Nana, Papa, Mama/Mami, Daddy/Papi, Josh, Kiki (for Courtney), Dustin/Dusty, Peggy, Tyler, and several others that I couldn't hear clearly, but he kept repeating them over and over...so cute! He does say "Mo-Mo" for Josh's girlfriend, Maureen, "Ju-Ju" (it's often choo-choo) for Aunt Julann and when I ask him to say Uncle Mike, he says "bike"!
Elias likes to give high-fives to say good-bye!
When Elias wants a toy another child has, he says "All Done?" trying to convince them they don't want it anymore.
Elias' favorite game right now is "Oh, Tractor?" where we search through his farm book through all the animals looking for the tractor...oh, tractor...oh, tractor? THERE IT IS!! We play this over and over and over. At first I thought he was saying helicopter, since that is his most recent word acquired, but then figured out he wanted to play the game when he kept grabbing the farm book.
Looking through a peek-a-boo book with Nana, Elias pretended to cry with a "WaWaWa" when he saw the babies in the book.
Whenever Elias sees a young, 20-something man anywhere, he says "Josh?" thinking it is my brother, his uncle Josh...especially if they have a short haircut!
My final hurrah...Elias knows what his potty is, where it is and says "potty" and "peepee". The other day he grabbed his diaper and said "peepee". I asked him if he needed to peepee on the potty and he started running to the bathroom. I quickly pulled his diaper off and sat him on the potty and we sang a song. He lasted about 15 seconds on the potty and stood up.....and peed on the floor!!! I think it is still waaay early to train him, but if he sends me signals that he's becoming aware of what his body's doing, I'm going to pounce on it. He's so quick to learn that I don't think he's going to take long to teach. I'm afraid it won't be long before Elias is waaay smarter than Felipe and I...we will have our work cut out for us!

This one's for you Daddy!

If You Were Mine...

2008-07-25T07:30:00.002-04:00

I wasn't sure at first why...but, when I realized the date, it's been 4 months since our miscarriage...I had a sad and lonely moment tonight, I couldn't fall asleep, so I started listening to Fernando Ortega...his smooth and simple voice is so calming and his lyrics are very reflective, I just love his music. This song actually captured what I was thinking and feeling at the moment. I'm not even sure what his inspiration behind it was, but when I think about the "tiny one" we lost, that we never met or held, I HAVE to remember that baby was God's to begin with and He saw fit for that baby to be with Him before we ever got to meet him/her. It comforts me to think about that...it takes a lot of the sting away.

When my heart is troubled and I am weighed down,
Then I like to think of how this lonesome world would be
If I could see your face, or hold you in my arms
If you were mine, if you were mine.

If you had a bad dream I would jump inside it,
And I would fight for you with all the strength that I could find.
I would lead you home by your tiny hand
If you were mine, if you were mine.

I would sing of love on the blackest night.
I would sing of God, and how His goodness fills our loves.
I would sing to you, ‘til the morning light
If you were mine, if you were mine.

Like Father, Like Son

2008-07-19T19:00:00.003-04:00

These are a couple of pictures of Felipe as a toddler that I found in his childhood photo album and scanned into the computer. I can see a strong resemblence to Elias at this particular age. When I look at my own baby/toddler pictures, Elias doesn't seem to look like me. Did you notice Felipe's crazy hair in the first picture? Elias isn't quite as dark as Felipe, but he is already developing a nice skin color that is way darker than me! Man, I am so jealous! These are the only pics we have of Felipe, his mom wasn't able to find her albums. Bummer...it's fun to look back and compare features.

We love you Papi...and miss you very much!

Bronchiolitis...Oh No! Roseola...Oh Yes!

2008-07-16T12:49:00.002-04:00

So, my little bug is fighting a virus...again! Elias had a fever over the weekend and was real lovey-dovey with me and laid on the couch and watched movies with me (a first!) His fever was gone by Monday morning. He took a 4 HOUR nap yesterday and seemed well enough to go to school today. I woke up thinking I had pink eye again...but the nurse reassured me that it's just allergies. Then, about an hour later, she tracked me down to let me know Elias had a rash on his belly and back and she'd keep an eye on it. I went up to look at him and he was happy and playing. An hour later, the nurse found me to say the rash had spread to his neck and diaper area and he was fussy. She gave me a handout on Roseola, a viral infection I've never heard of. So, I made a call to the doctor and made an appointment...and they confirmed it. Not much we do for him at this point other than keep him comfortable and let it run it's course. The fever is gone, just the rash remains, but he is still cuddley...I'll take that part!!

To help feed my medical mind, here is more information about Roseola, since I'd never heard of it before today:
Roseola, also known as sixth disease (the sixth discovered disease causing a rash), is a viral illness in young children, most commonly affecting those between the ages of 6 months and 2 years. It is typically marked by several days of high fever, followed by a distinctive rash just as the fever breaks.

Signs and Symptoms:

mild upper respiratory illness,
followed by a high fever (often over 103° Fahrenheit) for up to a week
child may appear fussy or irritable and
may have a decreased appetite and
swollen lymph nodes (glands) in the neck
the high fever often ends abruptly, and at about the same time a pinkish-red flat or raised rash appears on the child's trunk and spreads over the body

Information courtesy of KidsHealth
http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/roseola.html

Prodigy?

2008-07-15T15:36:00.002-04:00

Now, I know we all love our children, and are a little biased toward their abilities. I don't want to brag too much, but, doesn't it look like Elias is playing his little heart out on the piano?

Hot Days of Summer

2008-07-15T14:25:00.003-04:00

Here is Elias chilling in his little pool.
Elias associates lawn mowers with Papa...He heard a neighbor mowing their lawn the other day and he said "Tractor? Papa?" So, when Papa came for a visit this weekend, he took him for a little spin around the yard. This picture above was taken a few weeks ago, the fence has had a facelift you'll see below....
It's a picket fence now!! Our garage is red, and this fall we are putting new red siding on the house and it should look quite striking against the white fence! Thanks to Uncle Josh and Josh L. for working on the fence!! Elias now associates paint cans with Josh, so funny!
There's that monkey again!!

E and his Buddy

2008-07-15T13:41:00.003-04:00

When we go to Massena, Elias usually has a playdate with Aiden. The radio flyer wagon is a hit with the boys and they took turns pulling it, pushing it, and RIDING in it!! They both just barely fit in it together.
It was funny how they were both so interested in each other's toys, Elias really wanted to play with Aiden's yellow car. They did a great job learning to share.
Bubbles are a big hit and Elias often asks for them if he sees the bottle on the counter. I bought a bubble gun that blows bubbles continuously when you pull the trigger and it is fun to have so many blowing around. I actually got it to use at work to encourage kids to jump to pop the bubbles or stomp them with their feet, but I brought it home to share with Elias. Oh, and you'll notice Elias' monkey pack, he loves walking around and wearing it.
One fun thing about going to Massena is playing in Papa's big truck! The horn is really sensitive, so of course E loves to "beep, beep"!
Elias and Aiden were discovering each other's belly and Elias started saying the word "belly" that weekend. E tried to see everyone's belly under their shirt, I just redirected E back to his own.

The Haircut

2008-07-13T22:14:00.004-04:00

Elias had a haircut this weekend. I asked for "a little trim" to clean him up since his hair was getting a little crazy. And before I knew it, chunks of hair were falling on the floor, and I said, "Don't make it too short!!" You can't really tell in the pictures, but it is much shorter than I had planned on. It is still curly and not too short, so I didn't cry. He looks more like a big boy now. I'm just thankful E's hair grows fast!

~~Before~~

~~After~~
Elias was grooving with his lolli (his prize for being so good during his haircut). He did not let that thing out of his hand till he had licked it all away. I don't usually give him candy, the only other time he's had a lolli was at his last haircut, but it didn't take him long to figure out he liked it!

What do YOU Say??

2008-07-13T21:46:00.003-04:00

It is a lot of fun to ask Elias what different animals say and I got most of them on video...enjoy!

Check out below....

2008-07-11T22:09:00.002-04:00

I finally got my computer to cooperate with me and finished my post about the airshow...you can find it below!