Yay for GREAT doctor's appointments!

Since Gabe was 3 months old he has had ear infection after ear infection and constant fluid in his ears.  At first we tried treating it with antibiotics but when that didn't clear up the problem our doctors wanted to watch it and see if it would clear up on it's own.  Well, needless to say, he is now over 2 years old and still has fluid in his ears.  Since moving to Fort Riley they have kept telling me if it lasts 3 months he'll be referred to ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat); however, 3 months came and went and still the word was: "well, lets see in another few months..." Frustrating.

So, we moved to IL and started his regular appointments at the nearby Air Force base.  (Side note: waaaay better care and attention to patients than an Army hospital, sad to say.  And, they even gave both kids really good books for their well baby appointments!)  Anyways, the new pediatrician said since we are here and close to Children's Hospital in St. Louis we might as well start the referral process since it takes some time to be scheduled for tubes in his ears.  So, after being here three months we finally had our appointment today with the ENT department at Children's Hospital.

At first I thought this appointment wouldn't go well since an hour before my appointment (that I had to wait over a month for because they are specialists with full schedules) they called to tell me the doctor had an emergency and wouldn't be there and I could either reschedule or be worked into see another doctor with no guarantee of appointment time.  I took my chances and headed to the office.

First of all the facilities are so kid friendly - Gabe didn't know what to look at as we headed towards their office.  There were trains on the ceiling and wagons shaped as different animals to pull the kids around - for free!  Every wall seemed to have something for kids to learn or play with.  I loved it!

We get to his appointment at 1:05 and within 20 minutes we were in the back seeing the doctors.  No waiting in a room after waiting in the lobby -- we were seen immediately!  She looked in his ears and saw no current infection and then tested for fluid.  He has some shallow fluid, but nothing to be overly concerned about.  Then, it was time for his hearing test. 

I wasn't too sure how Gabe would do since we were 2 hours past his regular nap time and only got to sleep about 10 minutes in the car.  They took us into a dark room with large speakers and a few toys, the kind with rings on a peg.  He was so excited he started playing with it immediately.  (lol)  One lady went behind glass and over the speakers told Gabe when to place the rings on the peg.  He did sooo good!  He did it every time he was asked.  Then, they placed headphones on his ears and he had to listen through them.  He did very well again, although by this time he had to be reminded a few times to wait and listen for the command. 

Once they were finished she said he had great self-control for a child his age and she was very pleased with his test results.  He tested perfect for a child!  So, next we were off to see the actual doctor and she reassured me that his speech is right on track and there is no need for tubes anytime soon, but since we are living near exceptional health care facilities for the next six months or so, I can bring him back before we move.  I am so blessed to have healthy children and a wonderful husband who provides for all us to receive the health care we need to stay healthy and happy.  :o)

Happy Monday!

Today marks the first day of a busy week for us here.  Today Gabe and I cleaned the house and I had to work later in the evening.  I work a simple part-time job to get me out of the house and socialization to other adults.  The pay is decent and I get another blurb on my resume so it's not all bad.  Boring, but work none the less.

Tomorrow is an exciting day - I can't wait.  I am getting my hair done tomorrow.  (It's the little things you get to do when you're a housewife that excite you...)  I love getting my hair done because it is the easiest thing I can change if I don't like it to something else.  I have always struggled with weight and self-esteem but with my hair I can make almost any change I want and it can be completely different the next time - whatever makes me happy.  Getting my hair done comes right after shopping and baking in my life as stress relievers.  So, we'll see tomorrow what color I end up with this time!

Tomorrow is also my Pampered Chef party.  I'm pretty excited to order some new kitchen stuff we really don't need for our new house.  (You can be just as excited by placing an order for my party too!  Visit www.pamperedchef.biz/cvincent select option 1 then use my name, Jennifer Pagan.) 


I am soooo very excited to get a new house on post when we moved back to Kansas.  I can't wait to have my little family all back together and enjoy our little lives in the hills of Fort Riley.  They recently changed the way they assign homes so based on our rank we actually qualify for housing previously designated to higher ranking members.  So, that means we can get more space and more upgrades.  :)  Here is one of the new floor plans they sent me last week.  I can not wait!  (P.S. Check out the size of the master bedroom's closet!)

Downstairs

Upstairs

Is it Springtime Yet?

The past few days have been kinda blah to me. Thursday Gabe headed back to "school."  He was so excited to go back.  He got his backpack together the night before and was ready!  Sadly, when I dropped him off the next morning he cried.  For the very first time since attending the daycare at the local Baptist Church, he cried.  I felt so bad.  I think it was hard for him this week since his Daddy had left for "work" two short days prior.  He was in good spirits when I picked him up that evening so I guess he managed to have fun throughout the day.

"Ready for school Mama"

Friday didn't seem to hold too much excitement either.  The weather turned bitterly cold and even started to snow.  I knew Gabe needed to run off some energy since he was extra whiny that morning.  So, after his short nap I promised him McDonald's for lunch so he could go slide.  He was so excited he ate one chicken nugget and two apple slices and couldn't stand it anymore.  He needed to be in there with the kids.  So, off we went into the play area.  He took his shoes off like all the other kids and started to slowly explore.  I knew he wouldn't actually climb in anything and slide down since I wasn't going in with him.  He's not quite brave enough just yet to try on his own.  But he did start to climb up one side that had large steps.  He made it up two and cried because he couldn't reach the bottom step to slide down.  He would figure out one step but wouldn't do the same maneuver for the next one.  Despite his inability to get down he decided to climb further up.  He was so proud of himself.  And then reality set in for him.  He was high and couldn't get down.  Another little girl went in the same area and acted like she wanted to play with him a bit and when he said "Help me" she gave him a snotty look and took off.  (I won't write what I wanted to say to that mean little girl, but I'm sure you can imagine.)  Anyways, after about 5 minutes of crying I knew he wasn't about to try again like he had been so I had to go rescue him.  In doing so I jammed my middle finger and it hurts terribly.  He was sad to leave of course but he needed another nap - he was sooo grumpy!

Today it snowed some more and what little hits of Spring we had last week are covered in snow.  No pretty yellow daffodils or tulip leaves peeking out for sunshine; just snow, snow and more snow.  So, I ask...is it Springtime yet!!

My view leaving work today

View tonight from the front porch

Back to our regular schedule....

I had to take a break for a few weeks since Luis had to come home suddenly on emergency leave.  Gabe was so excited to see his Daddy at the airport!

Unfortunately his brother was shot and killed by New Hampshire police and Luis was able to come home to pay his respects.  His brother was trying so hard to make something of his life, it's sad to know it was shortened and with no explanation given to us from authorities it makes the tragedy harder to bear.

January 15, 1982 - March 2, 2011

Despite the reason for his homecoming we did make the best of our time together and greatly enjoyed spending time with his family, some of which he hadn't seen in over 10 years.  It's so wonderful for our children to grow up and know everyone in the family.  I know Luis was limited in the family he was able to grow up with so I'm ever so thankful we have these opportunities to see everyone and share our time together.

Alfonso and his grand and great-grand kids

Grace, Alfonso, Luis and Johnny

Once we got back from New Hampshire we spent time with the kiddos visiting the St. Louis Zoo and we went up in the Arch.  The Zoo and the Arch are probably the first things I would tell people visiting the area to check out.  The Zoo, unlike any others I've ever been to, is free!  It is full of animals and will take you all day to take in all that it has to offer.  For additional charge they have a Children's Zoo which allows the kids to get closer to the animals.  They have an indoor area where you can pet rabbits, guenea pigs and they had the owls out when we visited.  There's the outdoor petting zoo with goats.  There are places for them to climb and explore - it's just wonderful for them.  They also have a stingray tank, a carousel, and a train ride. 
  

Watching the Elephants

Children's Zoo

As for the Arch, just visiting the grounds is a great start, but for even more fun you have to go inside.  The Westward Expansion Museum, undergournd, is neat.  They have displays of animals and talking wax figures that give a little history about the movement west.  There is a small, and I do stress small, elevator that takes you to the top of the Arch, 630 feet above the ground, for breathtaking views of the city: both the IL and MO sides.  If you stand still you can even feel the Arch sway from side-to-side.  It's just something you have to do at least once in your life!
 

Looking down below

Elevator to the top

After we spent some much needed quality time with our kiddos we needed to get away for a free days and recharge.  So we headed off to Branson.  We had a great time.  We stayed on the strip at the Holiday Inn Express, caught the Dixie Stampede dinner show, ventured around Silver Dollar City and saw the Yakov Smirnov dinner Adventure show.  They were both great, although Luis' favorite parts were lunch/drinks at the Rowdy Beaver and Ernie Biggs Piano Bar.  We also hit up the Tanger Outlet Mall, The Shops at the Grand Palace and the new shops at the Landing.  It was a good two days of rest, relaxation, fun and shopping!  I can't wait to go back with Gabe - he'll love all the city has to offer. 

After all our sight-seeing adventures we wound down our two weeks together with a trip to the Park for kite flying.  Gabe loved holding the string, but when he was done he said: "Don't let go..." and promptly let the string go.  Our friends Heather and Lorenzo darted up the hill across the park to try and catch the kite.  It was a great day.

It's always sad to see Luis go back to "work," as Gabe calls it.  It hurts my heart even more to hear the sadness in my little boys voice when he asks to go with daddy and is told no.  I know he'll be home soon.  His grandfather always tells me, you can never stop time.  It will always keep going and I'll be one day closer to seeing my love, safe in my arms again.

On the Road Again...

One of the perks I enjoy about being a stay-at-home Mommy is that I have more free time to travel and visit with relatives.  It's especially nice now that Mom has a new schedule and gets every other Friday off; so we can all take trips together.  Both of my babies have been on -he-go since they were born, so being in a car seat for hours doesn't faze them at all. 

Gabe's First Road Trip - February 2009

Lilli's First Trip - October 2010

Two weekends ago we headed to Tulsa, Oklahoma to visit my grandmother since she had been in the hospital.  Not the greatest reason for a visit, but luckily she was released the day we arrived and was doing quite well.  I particularly like visiting Oklahoma because there are younger cousins for Gabe to play with.  He loves interacting with them.  There's just something different about playing with little people and not Mom.

Samantha pulling Gabe in the wagon

Jacob and Gabe playing ball

For Lilli, she is in heaven because she is held all the time.  And when she was done being passed around like a hot potato she was content to roll around on the floor.  She has finally decided it is okay to be on her tummy, so she frequently rolls over during her sleep.  In fact, almost every morning now, we find her tummy-side down.  She adored every one in Tulsa as much as they did her.

Great Grandma Tuck and Lilli

Catching some zzzz's with Aunt Susie

This weekend we are headed to Kentucky to visit some of my Dad's family: my Great Aunt Martha and my Aunt Mary.  I'm sure the kiddos will enjoy this trip as much as they have enjoyed all the others.

Gabe, 4 months, with his Great, Great Aunt Martha
May 2009

Gabe, 4 months, and Great Aunt Mary
May 2009