Monday, March 29, 2010

Two Months Shots

Check! I hate it when my kids have needles poked in them. Simon's already been poked so many times in his short life that today's shots didn't seem too bad. He got three shots in his legs and actually had an oral vaccination too.

I acquired the medical records for the boys from their Pediatrician's office. I still have to get Malachi's neurology records and my OB/GYN records. After getting those we'll be bringing all of our medical records with us.

This week we're going to decide what in our apartment is UAB (Unaccompanied Air Baggage two to four weeks to our place) and what is HHE (Household Effects - two to four months to our place). Some time in the next couple of weeks we're going to our storage unit to do the same thing. Up until recently I thought I was going to be able to get the stuff from our MN storage (a.k.a. my in-laws attic) too but it turns out that we've already used up our total allotted shipments. Hopefully we'll be able to get them before the next posting.

I haven't been super good at taking pictures of the boys lately. I need to get better at it. I've been even worse at putting pictures up on my blog. Apparently I don't feel like sharing them with the world. I'll have to get better at that too.

We have a TON going on between now and moving day (17 days to go), so I'll either be telling you about all kinds of things going on, or I won't be updating very often. Only time will tell.

Malachi's been in MN visiting family for over a week and I miss him very much. He comes back on Saturday, that day can't get here fast enough.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Bad Blogger

I realize that I've been kind of quiet since Simon was born. Blogging just seems to be so low on my list of priorities. But mostly I wonder where all the time went. When the day ends I think to myself "what did I do today?" Sometimes I have a good answer, sometimes I don't. With about 2 - 2 1/2 hours between feedings the time seems to go so fast. We have gotten some things done for the move though.

We've purchased pillows, more small appliances, bathroom accessories for two bathrooms, and some kitchen items. These things are pilling up next to our TV. So far I don't feel like it's taken over our living room, but we're not done. Just yesterday I caved and told John that he can buy a new TV before we go. That'll probably take up quite a bit of space. All of these things stay in their original package to make moving them easier.

Today we both had eye appointments. The Dr. told me that my Rx hasn't changed since my last appointment (which she knows because of my glasses) - so I guess that's great. I can keep my glasses or get more (go to www.zennioptical.com for some great deals on glasses, mine cost $9 with frames and lenses).

After that we met John's brother and his wife downtown for lunch at a great restaurant called Poste. If you want a delicious lunch or dinner check them out. B & S got into town last night and are here until Monday afternoon. Today they're checking out the White House and Capitol, and hanging with a friend tomorrow night for dinner and a show, but otherwise we have their full attention. Tonight's plan is to cook dinner at home which sounds really nice actually.

I had my postpartum check up today. I checked out great and can return to all activities. I can't wait to start running! I have to get a few things (left the running clothes in storage unfortunately) before I do so, but I think I'll get them quick to return to one of my favorite things (running...just in case you didn't get it). ;)

John's yelling at me. I have to go sleep now - not doing that enough during the day.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Spring Read Thing

A couple of FSO wives that I follow are doing a challenge called the Spring Read Thing. I first heard about this last year when I saw one of them doing it. Now both of them are and I've been inspired. I feel like my reading time has really been cut since I had Simon. This is a good way for me to pick it back up again. I'm already reading a book called Bringing Up GEEKS by Marybeth Hicks. John bought it and I'm eager to finish it.

Since I don't have about 99% of our book collection and won't have it until this challenge is over I'm going to have to work on books that I have here. I may have to buy a couple, but I think I brought a sufficient amount of unread books with me from Dallas and have acquired a couple in VA. Once my list of books is finalized I'll let you know what it is.

Friday, March 19, 2010

3/3

Those in the Foreign Service will know that, that number repeated twice means completion of training in a language. Today John took his Spanish test and that's what his score was. Congratulations John! I'm so proud of you!

My mom and sister have been in town since Monday. Steph got sick with vertigo so they haven't made it downtown yet - and it looks like they won't at all. They are on the way to Mount Vernon right now and tomorrow we're going to Monticello (Thomas Jefferson's house). They leave on Sunday after church and are taking Malachi with them. He'll be gone for two weeks. We should be able to get a lot done while he's gone. About 10 days after Malachi gets back we'll leave for Dallas. CRAZY!

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Housing, MED, car

Yesterday John got an email from post with the townhouse they're trying to get for us. It looks like a really nice place, so I hope the lease goes through.

I just faxed the form for Simon's medical clearance to MED. He got a glowing report so I expect to hear in a few days that he has world wide clearance.


We have a letter from USAA saying that as long as we have insurance we have permission to take the car to Costa Rica (we don't own it yet). So now we have to just get the car fixed. We'll start doing that in a couple of weeks.

Macy's is having a sale this weekend on a bunch of things that we need for the house. I might have to get John to take me.

Friday, March 12, 2010

Good News Everyone!

Simon's bilirubin is down to 8.8!!! Last Friday it was at 16.4, so this is very good news. We no longer have to worry about it. It makes me very happy that we don't have to go get blood drawn anymore.

Today we went to the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) to show Simon to the head of the Spanish department and to show my father-in-law around. Malachi was very sad that we weren't eating at daddy's work but Simon was hungry and I forgot to bring a bottle.

John has four more days of Spanish class and then he takes his final exam next Friday at 10am. We don't know what he's going to be doing after he takes his Security Overseas Seminar on the 22nd and 23rd. He has a couple of weeks where nothing is scheduled right now. I'm hoping he'll get a big group of "gap days" so that we can get a lot done. Malachi will be in MN during that time, we'd really be able to get a lot done.

His travel orders have been submitted, so when those get approved we can start doing things like get our car approved to be sent and get our travel advance (money) approved. We need to use our travel advance for fixing our car before we go as well as buying more things for post (e.g. crib, bedding, more small appliances, work clothes for John etc.).

The housing board is going out today looking at houses for us. Hopefully we'll find out soon where we're going to live so that we can plan exactly what we need to buy for it. I can't wait to have a house. We haven't lived in a house for over six years. John may even go to the office tomorrow (yes on a Saturday) to see if they assigned us a place.

Our friends are sitting on the couch next to us, so I better not sit here too much (this blog entry has been written over multiple instances over the last 24 hours). Happy weekend all!!

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Stuff

I feel like I should have a ton to say right now. But I feel like I have nothing to say.

Today we went downtown to apply for passports. We applied for seven passports: four diplomatic passports and tourist passports for me and the kids. It wasn't a fun trip, but I'm glad it's over. The tourist passports are on a four to six week turnaround right now. We're going to have to have them sent to post because by then we'll be there. I can't believe it's true, but it is. We'll be at post six weeks from Thursday.

Simon's doing well, but breast feeding is a bit of a struggle. I don't think his latch is very good. Also after nursing for 40 minutes he'll still eat up to 4 oz of a bottle. There's something wrong with that, I think. I'm going to call The Breastfeeding Center tomorrow to talk to or see a lactation consultant.

Malachi's getting restless I think. Thank God the weather is getting nice. He and daddy have been able to go to the playground yesterday and today.

Did I mention we're going to be at post in six weeks? I did? Oh...I'm excited. :)

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Still Yellow

Simon's been battling jaundice since he was born. We were sent home from the hospital thinking that we were done with it, and we were wrong. At Simon's two week check up on Monday the Dr noticed he was still too yellow. So she sent us to the hospital's outpatient center to get his blood drawn to check liver function and his bilirubin number. His liver function came back good, but his bilirubin was too high.

He also is still pretty lethargic during feedings, so they sent me back to the lab yesterday. We went into the office in the afternoon to get the results. His numbers had gone down a little bit, but not enough. Also he lost an ounce in weight.

So to treat him I'm supplementing formula after he breast feeds. Also today he's chilling by the window. I think he'll be doing that all day when he's not being fed.

Other than the jaundice and the mid-night feedings we're doing pretty well. We should be finding out which house we're getting on or around Monday. I'm trying to not be too attached to the one we're assigned though. Apparently another FSO had to keep changing housing assignments because the contracts fell through for some reason. The housing person in San Jose sent us links to the listings of a bunch of houses. Some of them are pretty awesome. I'm praying for a specific one. We'll see though.

We haven't gotten too much of our to do list done in the last few days unfortunately. Hopefully we'll get moving on that. We have all the passport applications here, Malachi's are filled out. We still have to fill out mine and Simon's. How does one apply for a passport when we don't know the baby's social security number? His card should be on the way, but I have no idea how long it'll take to get here.