I am still here...

So I know I've dissapeared for a while, but earlier this week the boys and I travelled to Iowa to spend time with my family until E finishes up in Florida. We had a good time there, but with all the sickness I was sort of ready to go. I haven't quite figured out how to get pictures up on my Dad's computer yet... so bear with me.

The flights were pretty good. The only real crisis was going through security. N had one of those cheap fire hats that he was wearing. I told him he could wear it and walk through the tunnel, but the security people made him put it on the belt. You can imagine how that went over. Then because the hat is made out of next to nothing, it got stuck inside the x-ray machine. All the security people were trying to fish it out because there was a three year-old freaking out about it! Anyway, we made it, and I think we only held up the security line for 10 minutes or so! Don't you want to travel with us?!

Conversations with N...

Here are the best N sayings of the week.  

There was a storm a few nights ago, that was really, really loud.  We're pretty sure our building got struck by lightning at one point.  So we went in to check on N to make sure he was OK.  He was a little scared, but OK.  The next morning we were talking about it to him.

me:  Do you remember the storm last night buddy?

N:  Blinds were blinking and it was loud!  (I love the description of his window blinds blinking!)

Then that night as we were putting him to bed again.

N:  I don't want storm on again!  (I think he's thinking it's like a light switch)

me:  Well, God decides when the storm goes on, but there probably won't be a storm again tonight.

N:  Probably not.

A few days earlier when e was still down with the stomach flu, I was pouring him some pedialyte into his sippy cup.  N asked what I was doing.

me:  getting e some water

N:  It's pedialyte for his bobbom (bottom)!  We get it at Target.

Yes, pedialyte for his bottom... I suppose that explains it, shame on me for oversimplifying!

Conversations with little e

So e has been saying tons of new "words" lately and I wanted to get some of them in writing before I forgot about them.  He is such a funny little talker.  When he is in a good mood he will just "talk" nonstop.  The funniest is when he just walks up to us, starts talking away, complete with head nods and hand gestures.  We can't understand most of it, but it's hysterical.  He will even do this to strangers.  He definitely has something he wants to say!

He does however, have some words we can understand, and he said his first sentence yesterday! "I wa O's"  (I want Cheerios.)  Now, obviously he needs to get a few manners, but if you know e, it's no surprise that his first sentence involves getting food!  I have since heard him exchange the Os for other favorites.  "I wa aga-aga," (water) or "I wa go-go" (yogurt).  Then I make him say please "eese." This all started because he doesn't say yes or no.  Just please.  So when I would try to figure out what he wanted, I'd give him options and when he said "eese", I knew that's what he wanted.  Now, he's just eliminating my guess work, and I love it!  His other newest word is quesadilla or "de-da."  Are you sensing a theme here?

He's just getting so big.  He and N now fight over who turns off the TV and turns out the lights.  N is still sort of protective (read - controlling) of e, and e is starting to get really upset by that.  He wants to do his own thing!  Even if it's not what Mom or big brother wants him to do.  He loves to play with drawers and cabinets, and N knows they are not supposed to.  With N the rule follower and e the free spirit, you can just imagine how that goes!

Happy Father's Day?

So after our lovely bout with the stomach flu (E did get a touch of it on Saturday morning), we really, really needed to get out of the house and celebrate yesterday for Father's Day.  Unfortunately it was raining, so the beach was out.  You know how upset I was... but it was Father's Day, so we decided to press on and have a fun family time at the bowling alley.  Many of you know how much the boys enjoy bowling, so we were all looking forward to some fun.  Here is a picture of N getting his shoes on and getting ready...

Unfortunately, about five minutes after this picture was taken, he tripped, dropped the bowling ball, and BROKE HIS FINGER!  Yes, the ball landed on his finger and he was really hurting.  Poor little guy.  E took him in and had the x-rays done.  Two small breaks.  Apparently he was really good for the x-rays and was saying "cheese" for the special camera taking pictures of his hand.  Too funny!

All they can do for it is tape it to the next finger over.  So he came home with his two fingers taped together.  I tried to get him to let me take a picture of it, but he would only let me take a picture of his "fixed finger" (the other hand... get it, one hand has a broken finger, the other a fixed one!  The kid cracks me up sometimes.)  So here is the fixed finger, while eating ice cream.  Ice cream makes even a broken finger better doesn't it?  

This morning he let me take a picture of the broken finger.  Poor little guy.  Who knew bowling was such a dangerous sport?

He's so sweet.  He keeps asking me to "fix finger?"  I keep telling him that God is fixing it, but it will probably take a little time.  But we can help by keeping the tape on there.  He calls it "my tape" as in "no water on my tape!" or "don't touch my tape!"  Or if he's in a better mood it's his "super tape" as in "look e-i, I have super tape!"  

I have to admit, I really didn't think it would be N that would have the first broken bone, I thought for sure little e would get one first.  I also have to admit that I didn't think a bowling ball would be the cause!  So, if you're keeping track... that's one ear infection, two pneumonias, two and half stomach flus, one flea infestation, and one broken finger!

Down for the count...

That would be little e and I, with the stomach flu.  Yippie.  How'd we get here you might ask... well, here is the story of the last week in our apartment.

We had to take both boys into the doctor for coughs and fevers, (to the only downtown pediatrician that would see us because we couldn't get appointments at the clinic because we're tricare standard, not prime, because we came from Korea.  There is a certain amount of irony in the fact that we had better access to medical care in Korean than we do here... but I digress.)  It turns out they both had pneumonia... or at least e had pneumonia and N had something that highly resembled pneumonia and responded to antibiotics... vague diagnosis from the doc on that one, but it's not important... try to follow along!

But of course, they couldn't get sick at the same time.  Nope we were in the pediatrician's office two days in a row.  Oh yeah, the first time we waited an hour and a half to get seen.  Fun times.  We got antibiotics on board both of them, and the fevers and coughs improved drastically.  So yesterday when I went in to get little e up from his nap, he had that "I feel so much better now, Mommy!" look on his face.  I even picked him up and laid him on top of me on the bed to cuddle for a bit... it was at that exact moment he decided to get sick with the flu.  Yup, he threw up all over me.  Let me tell you, if someone would have told me how many times I would have been pooped on, peed on, or thrown up upon as a mommy, I wouldn't have believed them.  Not that I'm complaining... I know it comes with the territory, more just stating a fact.

Then today, I came down with it.  Lucky me.  So I pretty much have not left the couch all day, just long enough to get N food, because he is still healthy and feels the need to be fed.  Imagine. So anyway, if you're keeping track, in the five weeks we've been here we've had one ear infection, two pneumonias, and two stomach flus.  Oh yeah, and a flea infestation.  Don't even say it Karen, I know what you're thinking!   Anyway, pray that the other two don't get the flu too... I'd like to get to the beach this weekend!

New picture!

So you probably noticed the huge new picture at the top.  I'm trying to figure out a way to make it not quite so giagantic, but it will have to do for now.  Anyway, my friend Adria, a photographer here in the area, took some awesome photos of our family this weekend.  Here are some of the proofs of my favorite few.  Enjoy!

If you live in the area, and want her contact info let me know.  She does awesome work... obviously!

Red light, green light...

This and duck, duck, goose have become favorite pass times in our house.  But we don't quite have them down yet!

Duck, duck, goose usually starts with one of the boys running around and ducking me or his brother, no matter where we are.  There is no sitting in a circle involved!  If N is starting it, he will eventually find a goose, then both boys (even if I'm the goose) will run wildly around the apartment, in no apparent direction.  Again, no circle.  It's even funnier if it's e, because he can't say "goose" so everything is a duck.  Then for some reason (that only he seems to know) he will decide to take off running after one of his "ducks"... again, not in a circle.  This random ducking and running can go on for quite some time, with very little order!

Red light, green light is usually played by running in a circle around the island in the kitchen.  The funny thing is N will only play if he is in charge, really.  I was telling this to my friend Lynn, and she asked which one of his parents he got that from.  I responded, "Um, that would be both of us..."  I'm hoping one of our family members will comment and say we weren't bossy children... but unfortunately I think I know better!

No leaks!

So we have been potty training N, and for the most part it is done.  However, we still put a diaper on him at night, just to be sure.  Aparently this isn't enough for him though.  This is how we found him last night when we went in to check on him.  

Yes, that is a pair of underwear on over his diaper, or at least that's what we thought.  When I got him up in the morning, I realized he actually had put on two pairs of underwear over his diaper sometime in the night.  

This isn't the first time he's done this either.  One night last week we found him with two swim diapers pulled on over his diaper.  Apparently he wanted to make sure he was covered!  Crazy kid...

The best thing about our new apartment...

... no fleas!

The second best thing about our new apartment is the playground.  We are very much enjoying it, here are some pictures from a couple of days ago when they were feeling especially photogenic! 

The unfortunate thing is, it's getting really hot out!  Like 100 degrees!  So we can't go out in the middle of the day, and even when we go in the morning we can't stay long and take lots of water breaks.  Here's little e taking a quick rest.

Oh yeah, and did I mention that this place is directly under the approach for the airport?  For most people, that would be a disadvantage.  But not us!  Here is e pointing out one of the many airplanes flying overhead.  "Airnane!"