Jack counts to ten!




He has trouble remembering the number 4, but picks right up with the number 5 and so on when I through the 4 in there. It took me a long time to actually get this on video!

and excuse his naked butt, we were picking out diapers. haha

Jason is good at his job.
He was supposed to go to Air Assault school in October but because of court he couldn't.
Last week he came home to tell me that they were sending him in front of the Soldier of the Month board.
They are holding off on that so they can send him to Air Assault school.
Did I mention he is a team leader now as well.
I am proud of him. As much as I complain, I am so very proud of my husband.


Jillian came over today and like the good little housewives we are, made up a two week meal plan and grocery list. Friday we are heading into KY to take advantage of their no tax on food and do our grocery shopping.
It was fun, the kids played and Jack was worn out and has been in bed since 5pm. Of course he has woken up at least 4 times, but nursed back down pretty easily.

Today Jack pushed out the screen in the living room and escaped. I asked him where he was going and he told me 'that way, bye, see you soon, go watch grass'
I am not sure why he was going to go watch grass, but hey, whatever floats your boat!

I just want to point out that 4 of the listings here: http://hyenacart.com/CharityShop/ are raffles.

If you can spare a few dollars per raffle, please please do so!

http://hyenacart.com/prod_details.php?id=45299&vid=4

Yarn: $1.50
http://hyenacart.com/prod_details.php?id=76519&vid=4

Chocolate: $1.00
http://hyenacart.com/prod_details.php?id=52317&vid=4

Storybook Goodmama diaper set: $2.00
http://hyenacart.com/prod_details.php?id=92214&vid=4

Amy Butler Goodmama Diaper set: $2.00
http://hyenacart.com/prod_details.php?id=69878&vid=4

I told him tonight I needed him more focused in the house, with the family.
He told me he loved me and I told him he needed to show me.

and the answer is 4 hours because he lied and went to Z's house.

One has to wonder, just how long does a 'I'm just going to go look around GameStop' trip usually last?

I just want to share this hyenacart charity site with you guys.
It is to help the family of a fallen solider.

Bid for the Berkys is opening on Wednesday, in memory of Bryan Berky, all profits go to our friend Erin and her infant son Harrison to help them at this difficult time.
http://hyenacart.com/CharityShop/

She was a member of the Goodmama forum before it shut down.

I just made Banana Apple walnut muffins.
I forgot to add the oil.
I figured they were doomed.

OH wow, they came out GREAT!



Recipe will be up later on my tastebook. :)

I might be feeling better, but that desire for a drink is still there.

I also love pumpkin oatmeal cookies. :D (I got this recipe from starving_bones last year. it is awwwwesome.)


If you want to see any of my recipes, pm me your email address and I will send you a link to tastebook. I am working on making a cookbook! and you can get a free book with 10 referrals!

I feel much better.
Between Jack getting sick, the dog and it's never ending surprises and annoyances, and lack of sleep I was just very much on edge. Today Jack was super clingy and I just wanted to pull my hair out.
We went over to Jillian's though and she fed us homemade potato soup for dinner, and Jack got some energy out playing with Penelope. Jason is out, the house is clean, quite and cool, and I feel a million times more relaxed.

Despite feeling like jumping out the window I got quite a lot done.
Last night I shined my sink. It sparkles I tell you! Seriously, it looks brand new, and that is saying a lot because I am in a rental and well that sink definitely saw better days. I love it.
Cleaning the sink led to trying to clean the silver trays under the elements on the stove. I soaked them and they look better. Then I went to bed.
This morning, I cleaned under those trays, wow was that a mess. I had to soak a rag and let it sit on the baked on food under there just to be able to scrap it off. But other than those trays, my stove is spotless.

I cleaned the 'craft chair' which really was just a chair full of paper, and egg cartons and junk mail. I even cleaned up the laundry room shelves and threw away a ton of stuff that was never used.
It is safe to say that my kitchen has nothing in there that doesn't actually belong. I even cleaned the cabinet doors, microwave and oven!

I also made pumpkin cranberry muffins again. This time I used bits and pieces of different recipes to kind of make my own and added a streusel topping. AMAZING.

Jillian was kind enough to lend me some diapers since Jack is back to wearing them. (I still can't believe he went from using the potty by himself to ASKING to wear a diaper. oh well such is life.) She sent us home with Diggery Doo, and Rugged. Then she GAVE us Beach Bear! I love that diaper, it is soo cute. She is also letting us borrow a pair of longies that are too big for her daughter. Jack is so cute in them!
On top of that she pulled out a big bin of clothes she is getting rid of and let me riffle through it. I left with a trash bag full. hahaaa. We have very similar taste in clothes.
AND! I had this in the first entry I wrote, but Amber is also sending me some diapers to borrow! :D


Now I am here sitting in my quite, cool, dark house by myself, and loving it. :)

OH! Jack got his second Imagination Library book called A bore of a snore, and the main character's name is Jack. :)

I could really use a stiff drink.

Jack has gone from using the bathroom all by himself to peeing where he happens to be standing.
So back into diapers until he wants to give it another go. (He actually asked me to put a diaper on him earlier, he picked PLARS.)

I am going to blame the NC trip, plus being sick, plus the dog. ha. :(

and I really really need to do something in regards to this house. I am so overwhelmed everytime I turn around there is another mess that needs to be cleaned up. There is just to much stuff, namely toys, but also papers and other crap that doesn't have a real home.
I think this is another reason why I am feeling so stressed out lately. Clutter stresses me.


also I really really love this song:

Now the dog is in heat.

The only thing that would make this whole experience even better was if she were to magically have puppies in the middle of my bed.

A few comments from people who know me well, and a comment about support during deployments I have come up with a plan.

Dena says she will watch Jack for $10 a day, which would be $30 a week. That is so doable it would be stupid not to do this. I am going to start school in January and take classes until Jason deploys.
Not only do we really need this year to save money, but most importantly I need to be near my family and their support. It seems silly to stay out here and stress about school on top of everything else. School will always be there, and the guy I talked to said, that lots of the military do just that while at the school.

I am really excited. I guess I will call the guy, whose name is Richard, tomorrow and set up a day I can go in and take the assessment test and fill out the application.
Jason just has to fill out the thing online to transfer his GI BILL. The military also offers $6000 for military spouses to go back to college and if I score high enough the school will give me $1000 towards tuition.

Is this really happening? :D

This is definitely something I want to do.
Three hours, three times a week.

I don't know what to do with Jack and I don't know what to do when Jason deploys in May and I am supposed to be moving home.

I could put Jack in daycare but that seems like a waste of money, especially if they charge by the week and not by how many hours he is actually there.
I could ask Dena to watch him, which seems like the best option, if she would do it.

I could stay here while Jason is deployed and I would be finished school a couple months after he gets home but I would have to find a new place to live and not much money would be saved. Or I could take a leave of absence and go home and save the money, like the original plan but graduate later.

or do I start in January, Jason leaves in May and then I stay for 6 months and take classes and then go home for six months? or leave in June stay for six months at my parents house and then come back and take classes and then Jason comes home.

I really don't know what to do. I called my mom to ask her opinion and after silence she said "I don't know what to tell you, I just lost half my email, Taylor what are you doing?"
Glad I can count on her. :(

I requested information this morning from the local college on their dental assisting program and they just called to set up an appointment.

2pm TODAY Jack and I are going to go see if I am going back to school or not.

Jack is congested and coughing. He threw up last night, but I think that was more to him thrashing around and coughing after just nursing, than him being sick. My throat hurts when I swallow but so far that is all.

That dog is still here despite being told they would be by Monday night to pick her up.


I really just need someone to talk to.


ETA:
I just requested information on the dental assisting program at a nearby college.

Sometimes I am so ready to pack everything up and take Jack to my parents house.



Oh and now that the child support has been lowered (but not taken affect) the Army is taking $221/month for a travel debt we thought was already taken care of.

Jack just opened the bathroom door, lifted the toilet lid, hopped on and went pee. All by himself. Then he came over to me said 'more, watch' and did it all again with an added flush at the end. Yay!

We had his second dentist appointment this morning. Dentist said his gums are healthy and his bottom teeth look great, plus the top teeth have not gotten any worse. Which means he knows I am telling the truth when I say I brush Jack's teeth. No mention of breastfeeding and he agreed that the antibiotics could have played a role in what is going on with his teeth. Plus my sharing of drinks and things. We go back in December for another fluoride treatment, which seems to be helping in combination with the xylitol toothpaste to stop the decay. I can even see the difference.
The dentist is going to talk to his partner (the one who deals with the the surgery Jack will need) about going ahead and taking care of Jack's teeth before his 2 year molars are in (especially since we will be moving in May and only have from now until then to take care of this) Normally they like to wait because it is likely that the same problem will happen with those teeth. However the dentist doesn't see that happening with Jack because he DOES have good dental hygiene, which also means that he will most likely not having any problems with his adult teeth either.
Once Jack realized that they weren't taking any x-rays this time he calmed down quick and was in a great mood by the time we left. The assistant also told me she thought it was cool that I did all that research before we came back in.

Jack and I both have the hiccups. haha. I hiccup, he hiccups, I hiccup, he hiccups. funny.

Tonight we were supposed to go to the zoo, but it is raining and Jillian cancelled. She is having a not so great day today. Which is all fine and dandy I haven't even put together Jack's costume. I was going to last night, but Jack didn't go to bed until around 11.

So tonight I will put together his costume for the costume parade at the library and I am going to dye my hair.
Tomorrow Jillian is going to pick us up and we will head over to the library and then back to her house for lunch and playtime.

I am tired. Jason thought midnight would be a great time to let me know I was going to need to take him to work at 5am if I was going to use the car. sigh. Thankfully I don't have to pick him up.

I also think we might be watching a dog for a couple of days.

OH! and Jack totally snapped a library DVD in half "/ (I mean it was already cracked and I think he did it taking it out of the case, but still. That sucks. I feel bad.)



oh and some of you may remember that ( tree )