213 days

Today it begins, 213 days until Derek comes home. At some point during our night he arrived in Afghanistan(even though he had left 9-28). He said he was tired, and needed sleep. This last weekend my mom helped me drive back to Texas from Georgia with the kids. The first day we did about 8hrs of driving & the second we drove 6. We stopped in Vicksburg, MS stayed in a la Quinta bc I have never had a bad experience there until this visit. I did not get sleep bc Dreycin didn't go to sleep until around 3am! And we woke up to no hot water! At least the boys got a bath the night before! So we had true bed head driving hair until we got to Dallas on sat around 4pm! Since ten it has been an uphill battle to get us organized in my parents house along with establishing a schedule for the boys. It's a work in progress but its getting easier. What's not easy is hearing my son D say he is sad. Sad that daddy is too far away. Sad that he says he misses his house. But I know being here near family and friends is what is best for us. My mom and dad play such a big part in the boys lives that i wanted to be closer! Just last night Dreycin had a hot date with my BF, it was so cute watching them hold hands and walk! And tonight Dreycin squealed with delight when his pappa K came to get him out of the car to go eat chick fila! He is loving being here, but all the changes have to be so confusing to an almost 3 yr old. On Monday he started soccer class, and Wednesday we had kindermusik! I also managed to go to gym for yoga on Monday and Tuesday, and again on Wednesday for weights and cardio. On Wednesday I also took the kids with me to go to the gym childcare, I only got in 40min but as time goes on they will get more accustomed to "mommy going to the gym!" After all I truly feel that the only way I can get through this deployment being a single parent is if I can workout & have that me time. It makes me feel like a better mom, feel good about myself and is so energizing! Anyways, I'm pretty sore haven't felt like this in a while! I've also seen my Chiro/acupuncture doctor 2x this week and he is fixing my "mommy syndrome" back! I am starting to relax a little more, yet I know I've gotta keep up the pace because we have 7months left! Oh and We already sent Derek a box so hopefully he will get his goodies now that he is just getting there :)

9 days left

We only have 9 days left in our house on base! This last month has flown right past us! This week we went up to Jacksonville to have Dreycin's MRI @ wolfson's Children's hospital and f/u neurology appt at Nemour's. We drove up on Sunday, had sushi on the river and got dessert at whole foods! Monday morning I had to call the nurse at MRI at 630 am for arrival time, and they told us to be there by nine. Our goal was to let Dreycin sleep as long as possible because he wasn't going to be able to eat until after procedure, and we were told our table time was gonna be 11am. Dreycin had a cough a couple days prior to the MRI and generally if a child is sick at all they don't do the procedure! Well I was convinced we were gonna be sent home, but they said he sounded clear! We were told after checking in that they were running 1.5 hrs late! Meanwhile I have Dreycin asking derek and I for a snack. It was so hard to tell him ok later baby :( but bc I'm a mom I decided I wouldn't eat either, so I would just bare through it with him. We didn't get the MRI started until 1240pm! Derek was pisted to say the least bc the staff has to know that these are kids we are talking about, and we can only tell them they can't eat for sinking until we have a totally foreseeable complete and utter Toddler meltdown!!!!he kept seeing chick fila cups & bags bc there was one in the hospital, and he loves chickfila! But we got by, and the only thing he didn't like was wearing the hospital gown! It was cute had whales and fish, but was itchy and flannel like, so I started telling him it was like Super Grover's cape and that's how we wore it until we went back. I had also chosen to put a pull up on D since who knows what could happen under anesthesia? Most of the morning was spent in a playroom, furnished by childrens miracle network. It had all sorts of toys, ride on toys, kitchen. But suprisingly Dreycin chose to watch Calliou, little einsteins, octonauts, and mickey mouse. We had also bought him a mobigo super cheap from target, but he wasnt interested. And B slept in my arms for an 1hr or so. About noon we were finally taken downstairs to MRI. I chose to go into the procedure with Dreycin, and once we were in there, there were about 5 other techs, drs, assistants and us two. But for those two minutes I only saw Dreycin looking at me, holding onto me wondering what was gonna happen. I held him and told him everything was gonna be all right and told him to breathe in the bubble gum smell aka gas mask with the anesthesia. He screamed, fought me, and I had to hold him tighter, that's when the nurse saw put her arms around me and Dreycin to hold us both. The doctors were telling me to sing to him, but i couldnt I was fighting tears and all i could say was im right here baby, your ok. Over and over again. Within 30seconds Dreycin was out, he was in my arms very limp, sleeping soundly. I laid him down, and they said Ok Mom, this should take 1hr and we will call you back before we wake him up. I really liked the idea that I was the last person Dreycin saw and the first to see when he woke up.when I laid him down the years flooded, but I knew I had to leave him. After i walked out the plan was to insert IV in Dreycin, they were going to draw bloodwork, administer an IV anesthesia for sedation, and contrast for MRI. During the surgery we were right outside the recovery room/MRI suite in a waiting room. We were the only ones waiting. I told derek I had to eat something or I was gonna pass out, and I'm serious because I had inhaled some of the gas just from being right next to Dreycin!
Imagine that child and mother passed out during MRI, but thinking about it they did tell me that it's often the mom that needs the anesthesia! And I wonder if that has accidentally happened before and that's why the nurse held me too!! Anyways we went to 8th floor cafeteria and got waters and the only thing I could find dairy free, baked lays. I wanted to get right back to waiting area. Did I mention how wonderful Bronson was all morning long! It was like he knew he had to be a good boy, better yet maybe he sensed it! He kept me smiling the whole time! Around 30min in one of the anesthesiologists was going to lunch and said that Dreycin was doing great! At 145pm Derek was like ok it's been an hour, so he went and asked them if he was done and they said we were going to be called back in just a minute. When I first saw him it looked like he was intubated but his nurse said that it was like a mouthguard for waking up from anesthesia, plus she mentioned he snored and this was useful for kids that snore during procedure to open up airways better. He started to wake up in about 3 min after we were back there. I got in the bed with him, and we laid there for about 15min. He drank some apple juice, had some animal crackers, but kept getting upset that he had an owie on his hand where the IV was!, we tried to wipe away blood but that made him even more upset. We were told that the rest of the day needed to be light indoor play, assist D with bathroom. We were discharged and walked straight over to chickfila to get my baby boy some food! He was extra whiny, irritable but that was to be expected after anesthesia. He only wanted me to carry him, which doesn't happen often anyways. After that we got in car to head back to hotel. Derek and I stopped at high tide burrito(very good) to get something quick. The joy of our hotel & hospital (and burrito place) is that it was all on same road within 2 min of each other! We went back to hotel but no one slept and Dreycin was calm for a few hours but quickly returned to the rambunctious toddler we know! So later that evening when we couldn't keep him from bouncing off the walls we went to the navy base walked looked around, then went and ate at whole foods. You would think the boys were tired but nope they were still egging each other on at 11pm! Meanwhile Derek and I are beyond ready for SLEEP! Finally they feel asleep, me in the middle with both under one of my arms!We woke up the next morning, got ready and went to Dreycin's follow up appointment at Nemour's. They didnt have the MRI results, and were confidant they were fine. They knew this would be our last visit before moving to Dallas, and told us they would call us with the results. In the meantime, if the breathholding spells got worse, or happened again to call them. So we left thankful that all of it was behind us, and it was done before the deployment. We went and had lunch again at hightide burrito, then headed over to whole foods for a quick grocery shopping of veggies and fruits! we were on the road by 130pm, and for the first 2.5 hrs both kids slept just like on the way up. THis is the time Derek and I had to talk about what we had left to do before deployment. Things I needed to do after he left, what to send, who to send the POA to etc. My laundry list keeps getting longer. Two days went by with no phone call, and Thursday morning the neurology clinic called. Dreycin's MRI had come back, and right when I answered the phone and she began to talk my heart sank. Turns out the MRI of the brain was completely normal, what is of concern is that there is a lack of blood flow (on the right side of his neck)from the vertebral artery to his brain. The vertebral artery supplies the brain with 20% of blood flow and controls coordination, gait, balance. So after the doctors met about Dreycin's case, they concluded that we needed to find a neurologist in Dallas and ask for another opinion and go ahead and get scheduled for an MRA which is similar to an MRI, but it looks at the blood vessels. So Ive looked at doctors, and found one nearby in Frisco. It will be one of the first things I do when we get to Dallas, finding doctors for all of us! The pics are from Bronson's bday shoot, and the last two are from Jax. Eating dinner on the river the 1st night, and Dreycin being "floated" down to MRI in a boat!

Pics!

Family pic from the ocean oneders bash! And a pic of the cute lollipops (which I copied off of pinterest!)
Dreycin eating kale!
New rice milk snacks for B I found at target! (and a Dr bronner Chapstick for me!)
Boys playing in B's bday present, a slam dunk ball pit jumpy house thing!

28th bday/12month update/labor day wknd

Wow can't believe it's been a whole year since I had B! And I'm 28! He is trying to talk so much lately! He signs eat, more, all done & milk. He says bye bye all the time, but ironically hates his car seat! has said all done, hi, mama, dada,aba(which we think is for Abuela), peppa( pepper). And of course he is babbling all day long, and tells us when his brother is doing something he doesn't like! He was wearing 18-24mos but now that he is EVERYWHERE he is fitting into those 12-18mos clothes! He wears a size 4/5 diaper. His Ocean ONEders party was a blast, we had a huge bubble machine, a crab piñata, and vegan cupcakes! I even made octopus lollipops from a organic brand of lollipops. I decided not to serve coke or juice at the bday party bc that is not our lifestyle any longer and thought it just didn't suit for B's bday party, given the journey we have been on this last year with his allergies. On my bday we made pizza at home and had some take & bake everything vegan cookies from earth fare. I didnt want to go out to eat & I didnt need a cake, just my sweet family together! Derek and I were talking about the last 9 months how we have changed our ways of eating drastically, and in a way Bronson saved us from eating our way to death! On my side I'm carrying genes that make me predisposed for diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and thyroid. I'm hoping that with diet and exercise I can change my genes. In the last 9 months I have lost at least 25lbs, and my husband about the same. We both go back and forth about 5lbs! I wear mostly a size 8, use to be a 12. I fit clothes that I wore in college & when we got married. Thinking back to when I gained weight was around the last deployment when I was in grad school. Spent about 3 days in the car driving two hours to school and two hours back home, most meals back in those days was drive thru's. And with Derek gone I barely cooked. I had 2 part time jobs, & one full time internship at a psych hospital! And with my internship i got free cafeteria food the days I worked....makes me want to puke when I think of what I ate there!! Anyways, can't let this deployment be an *excuse, I have to find time for me despite being a single parent for 7 months.....which is why I can't wait to get to Dallas and do more group fitness classes at Lifetime! We have a little more than 2 weeks here in Georgia, and I am so excited to be back in Texas! I am happy that we will be busy and that will make the deployment go by fast! We are signed up for kindermusik, Dreycin will be doing soccer shots and a tots tumbling class!

We took advantage of this long weekend and moved ALOT of our stuff! All that's left is the beds, w&d, 1 couch, table, toys, misc kitchen items and a dresser. We have 14 days left in our house, And then we will be in a guest house until derek deploys. My posts have been few & far between, so my next may be in Texas!!

It's upon us.....

Deployment is right around the corner and the stress of it is definitely getting the better part of us this week. We came back from gulfport with snotty noses and coughs, I swear it's because we are allergic to this place bc Derek isn't sick! And what was once a pile here and there around the house of things going to Dallas is now going to Dallas with Derek this weekend! I feel like I'm taking a lot but then again feel like I'm not taking enough! Ive packed many boxes, made two storage trips but feel like little progress is being made. At least I started out way in advance! I feel like I have been focusing so much on packing and moving, that I'm scrambling to prepare for B's 1st day on the 28th! We are having a bday party here for him next weekend, and pics the 23rd and family pics the following week! I am kind of nervous about having to make B's vegan cake but I'm gonna practice and make one for my bday next week, yes I'll be 28 on the 22nd! This is such a stressful time that I just wanna celebrate the time we have together, but so many things running thru our heads of lists.....things to do, change, etc. how the boys will do with daddy gone. I about lost it the other day when we were driving to MS I had the boys watching the sesame street deployment DVD and as I heard what they were watching about Elmos dad having to leave little tears filled my eyes, and I was just glad I was not watching it with them :/ because I would have probably broke into a hysterical misfit of crying! Which I'm sure eventually will come upon me too...

Preparing for deployment

This post is all over the place.....These past few weeks ive been packing, selling, giving away some of our stuff! We had a garage sale made a little over $200! There is a huge baby and home consignment sale coming up that I'm putting baby stuff in. We have secured our storage, paid the 1st month and sold Derek's other motorcycle(he had 2)! I'm so glad I will barely have to take anything to Dallas, very fortunate to have a fully furnished house, kitchen items and all! I will be taking my kitchen aid mixer though!

Dreycin is in the "I can do it my own self" stage! He is loving music class and I hear him singing most of the day, which I absolutely love! He likes to sing Take me out to the ball game and The more we get together! We also started a mommy & me Zumba class, which is awesome bc not only does he get rhythm but this mama gets a workout too!! I was sweattttty after the last 2 week's 45 min class!!! Dreycin asks to go bowling every weekend, its one of his favorite activities to do! This weekend we went bowling on base and did the blacklight bowling 1 game & it was $6! Bronson bowled (rolled) his first ball and bowled a strike!! Guess its in the genes! We have a sitter coming 2-3x a week right now, mostly the days I have yoga (bc I get really frustrated when Derek forgets or has to work late) and to help out Friday mornings with the kids & B at Zumba bc he shakes his booty but isn't able to move around very much. Dreycin really took a liking to her quick & B doesn't cry when I leave! B has been sleeping in his crib in his room for a little over 2 weeks! He sleeps thru the night most nights but this week he has woken up 2x bc he has two bottom teeth coming in! Can't believe my baby B will be 1 in 1 month! He is waving hi, giving slobbery wet kisses, trying to run.....oh yes he is walking! It's been busier having two very active mobile boys! Bronson is giving high 5's, throwing rolling and kicking balls, and messing up any activity that his older brother is doing! And that boy can put down some food! He eats everything now except dairy, egg, and meats. He loves all fruits, and in the last week has tried homemade pizza and spaghetti squash which both were big hits! Tonight he even tried some yuca I made! He really likes to take the fork or spoon and fee himself now, along with making a mess at every meal time!
We are heading to Gulfport for 7 days this coming weekend to spend some time with my dads sister & her family, we usually try to get together at least a couple times during the year and especially now that Derek is being deployed. I can't wait to relax, shop, eat, and did I mention relax ;)
Now that the deployment is less than two months away I am having alot of different mixed emotions. One for sure is that I know this is the most ideal and safest deployment we could ask for as a military family. Derek will never have to leave the base and for that reason I know in my heart I will not worry like the last deployment. I know this will be hard on my boys and I hope being around their grandparents will help ease the pain of the father being gone and not understanding. I pray for lots of patience because who knows how hard this will really be with 2 kids. I am happy that the 6mos I will be in Dallas we will be busy taking so many educational trips to the zoos, aquariums, bouncy house places, music classes, soccer classes, gymnastics classes.....you name it we will prob try it! And I'm happy that my parents, my friends and family and Derek's family will get to know the boys more, get the quality time that they dont get to have since we have always lived so far away. I am sad to leave our house on base but not sad to leave gnat & allergy filled Georgia! I'm still undecided on where we will live when Derek returns from deployment. I could care less if we are in a 1 bdrm apt as long as we are together again ;)

Whirlwind

The last two weeks have been so busy, we had Dreycin's 2 appts in Jax, my mom came to visit, we had a yard sale, and I'm slowly starting to pack up things we don't use everyday and declutter!
1st on Dreycin's dx we were told that he has a combination of both pallid and cyanotic breath holding spells. There is a chance because of his actions during the spell he is having a seizure less than 1 minute, and for that reason his dr is ordering an MRI. Children usually outgrow these spells between age 4-8, and we believe his stems from pain or traumatic event. This is completely involuntary on his part, so for that reason we have no idea when they will happen. It may happen with a minor fall, or it may not. Our MRI and f/u have been scheduled for Sep 10 & 11th, which is really close to Derek's deployment date and if I have to I'll just have to manage the 3.5 hr trip by myself with both kids. But come deployment time the kids and I are moving back to Texas. With Derek being gone, the boys issues, & my lupus....I can without a doubt say I'll need the support of my parents, family and close friends. We had the yard sale to get rid of some stuff because we are putting everything in storage except for a small trailer of stuff I'm taking to Texas. I'm looking forward to being home, doing lots of fun activities with the boys to stay busy while Derek is gone. Right now we are not sure about post deployment if we will move back to Georgia, I'm thinking if we move back it will be to Florida probably Tallahassee. So we are moving forward and I'm starting to plan B's 1st bday :)