Happy 2nd Birthday to Aiden!

Today was Aiden's 2nd birthday. We all had a great day. We went to Chuck-E-Cheese's for dinner and we played some games and he went on a couple of small rides. And of course we saw Chuck and his band perform several songs on stage...always the highlight of any trip to CEC. There was much dancing and fun to be had :)... When it was time to go, we used the tickets Aiden won from his game playing to get him a Chuck-E-Cheese basketball. After that, we all came back here to the house and he opened the presents he got. He got some really fun stuff, to see all of the great pictures go to our Picasa site and look at the new album. Aiden, you are the most amazing child I have ever come across. You have overcome so many hurdles to get to where you are today. The odds that you would even get through your first day 2 years ago were very low, and look at you now, running and playing with the best of them! You are the sweetest, funniest, kindest, most animated little boy ever, and We love you SOOOO much! Happy Birthday Aiden!

Trick-or-Treat

Aiden's first night of trick-or-treating was tonight. He LOVED it! He got the idea very quickly, as we had been to an office trick-or-treat party for the early childhood intervention program that we work with to get his therapies. He actually did all of his own walking for 6 blocks, despite us having the stroller there for him! We were both very surprised by this. His pug dog costume, along with the dogs dressed up in their polo shirts were a hit. Everyone thought is was really a cute idea. This year there were sooooo many kids, while we were out tonight, we saw nearly 300 kids out, as compared to around 50 total, and only 20 or so of those used to hit our house. We had 3 big bags of candy and those were gone in short order. So, overall it was a really great Halloween. Aiden had a blast, he got candy, that TRUST ME, will be doled out sparingly. And Jeremy and I enjoyed watching him and helping him at the houses. It is so incredible to see my little man growing up so fast. In less than 2 weeks he will be 2 years old....time flies...Anyway, here are a couple of pics from tonight.

Well....things here have been pretty slow and relatively boring. We have been spending our time doing the mundane things of day to day life. Aiden is growing by leaps and bounds, and as always is highly entertaining at every turn. We have had lots of appointments with his wonderful team of therapists through the early childhood intervention team. We will actually be going to the speech therapist more often each month, because he isn't talking much at all. He babbles, but there are no words other than Mama and Daddy coming out of him. Other than that, and his physical therapist, the other appointments are only every now and then to track his progress. It just seems his speech is delayed by a lot. We are all looking forward to Halloween on Friday night. Aiden has his costume, that he helped pick out. He is going to be a pug dog, and we are going to take Max and Grinch with us. I will be posting pictures of that on Friday night when we get back. Right now there are pictures of his costume up on the Picasa site from the day we tried the costume on him to see if it fits. More Friday...

Another Stripe

Well, it took long enough, but the Air Force finally saw fit to grant Jeremy his next stripe. He can actually sew on his Senior Airman stripe, because as of Oct. 10, 2008 they gave him the promotion. Along with that, we got the information that he will finally be getting a job with a class date. Which means that he will be leaving for tech school for that new job soon. The approximate time frame of the tech school is looking to start in January or February of 2009. And the job is supposed to be Aerospace Maintenance. Which is basically maintenance on the various different parts of planes. We aren't sure what type of plane and what the maintenance involves, but supposedly it will be the reallllly big planes, the C5s according to what is 1st shirt says. So, yay for us, things are looking up for the time being. It's nice for a change. We'll keep you all posted!

We're Home!

Ok, so it's a little bit late in coming, but we are home from South Carolina. Aiden and I have been sick for the past week since we got home, and are just now doing better. We had a wonderfully fun and relaxing 2 weeks there with Jeremy's parents and brother. We saw some things, did somethings, and we were completely lazy while Aiden was TOTALLY spoiled ROTTEN. The first thing we did was go to the Greenville Zoo. Where Aiden got to see lots of monkeys, and pet some goats, which he really enjoyed.

We also got to spend some time down in Charleston at Chris's house.



While we were there, we went to the South Carolina Aquarium, which Aiden LOVED. He really liked all of the "ishes". He spent most of his time climbing up on the ledges in front of the tanks and pointing at the fish saying "ish", then he would stare at the tank for minutes at a time watching them go by. We may have a future oceanographer on our hands. While we were there, he also played in the children's area, which was made to look like a fishing boat, and a shark cage. He really liked both of those areas.
After all of that and getting a nice driving tour of downtown Charleston, and the base where Chris is stationed we went back up to Greenville. Sue, Jeremy, Aiden and I also drove up to Asheville, NC one day to tour the Biltmore Estate. Which I will say is unequivocally the most beautiful, and largest house I have ever seen. We have a few illicit photographs that Jeremy got by sneaking his phone around the cameras they had stationed everywhere. We should have them posted up on the Picasa site soon. Other wise we are picture free from there, because they don't allow cameras, phones with cameras, or video cameras in. But trust me when I say incredible and totally worth the visit. While we were there we also visited the winery, which is very nice. They have a very nice selection of wines, which for anyone who is a wine head, it is pretty good. Aiden did wonderfully through the whole day, even with 5 hours of it being restricted to his stroller or someones arms/lap. He got a little stir crazy, but otherwise held up very well. Other than those outings, we spent most of the trip at Sue and Russ's house either playing computer games, watching tv, reading, talking, or as seen here, playing Rock Band. Which Aiden came to love...
That was our whole trip in a nutshell...well a rather large nutshell, but a nutshell none the less. I'll get more pictures up on the Picasa site soon!

Vacation

We will be gone for a couple of weeks. We are going out to South Carolina to stay with Jeremy's parents and visit with them and Chris, Jeremy's brother. We are really looking forward to the trip, seeing everyone...and for everyone to see Aiden and how much he has grown! I hope you all have a great couple of weeks...Until then, here is a picture of Aiden for you all to enjoy! Isn't he sweet?

New Pictures

I just wanted to let everyone know that we have just posted a whole lot of new photos of Aiden on the web album. And a warning that the bottle is empty, you will understand if you look at the pictures. We are all doing really well, this weekend was chock full of activity. Saturday, Aiden was just full of energy and running around like a chicken with its head cut off. Then on Sunday the chapel had its Fall Festival. Jeremy, Aiden and I got there around 9 that morning to start setting up, then around 10, I finally broke down to all the not so gentle prodding from everyone to leave him in the childcare room for a couple of hours. It was the first time Aiden had been cared for by anyone other than a family member. So, for me this was a bit traumatic...for Aiden, the first few minutes were horrible, then he completely forgot that and had the time of his life. After that, we all ate the lunch that was provided, and then while Jeremy and everyone cleaned up, Aiden ran around with a little girl named Lydia that is his age and played with her while I ran herd on all of the little ones. So, our weekend was fun, and very entertaining.

Labor Day Weekend

I always love long weekends, especially when you are able to have long lazy weekends. Our Labor Day weekend was a long lazy weekend. Jeremy had a 4 day weekend, due to a Military Training holiday on Friday. So, we ran a few errands on Friday, and then we did nothing but play with Aiden and watch a couple of movies that night. Then on Saturday afternoon we went swimming at the base pool, which Aiden always LOVES...He is such a little fish. Unfortunately we always forget to bring the camera when we go to the pool. After that, we all took a long nap...Actually, Aiden and I fell asleep around 7 pm that night and didn't wake up until the next morning. Then Sunday was just a lazy day, Jeremy played computer games, I read, and Aiden played with both of us. Monday afternoon, Jeremy grilled some steaks that we ate with some veggies, and for dessert we had rasberries and bananas which Aiden just devoured. So, overall it was just a nice lazy weekend. I really hope that everyone else had a wonderful Labor Day weekend!

Absolutely Cheesy: Hair Clip Tutorial Part One

Absolutely Cheesy: Hair Clip Tutorial Part One

Poem

As a few of you already know, I have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, type 2. Basically, this means that I have the less extreme version of the disorder. Every now and then, sometimes more often than I would like to admit, I have a rather bad day or two. I have had a few of them recently. Per usual, Jeremy has been very supportive, and done his best to help me through the craziness that is my head at times like this. He found this poem posted online for me that I really liked, and it seemed to fit the way I have been feeling the past couple of days. I just wanted to share it with you all.

Bipolar
By:
Embracinghope
My moods swing like a child on a playground.
Back and forth; I fly.
Back and forth; I experience.
And as time carries me forward, I fall unhappily.
Only to be caught in the pools of depression.
And as I slowly climb to my feet, I’m brought into mania.
A fake happiness; a fake grin on my face.
I walk through a deep set of woods, awkward and alive.
Millions of thoughts run through my head.
I can’t capture one to read what they have said.
Too happy; I can fly.
Too happy; I’m magical.
I rise up only to fall back down again.
And when I’m normal, when I’m sane, is when I remember.
Flashbacks tear me down.
I’m remembering the thoughts’ sound.
And what I did.
I’m remembering everything.
Everything I want to forget…

And when I fall again,
All of the trees come tumbling down on top of me.
I’m carrying the world.
I feel so heavy.
And I open my eyes and I try to breathe.
But I can’t, I’m trapped in this misery.
Take me, take me.
I can’t go on like this.
Breathe me, breathe me.
I’m too sad to care.
And as times goes on, it seems to leave me behind.
My days are left uneventful.
And my nights are left with an alive mind.
I can’t control what is happening.
I didn’t do anything wrong.
I’m just losing myself.
In a world that isn’t mine…

And when I’m in the static of anger and irritably,
I fight; I snap at everyone and everything.
When death hovers over my mind like a storm cloud,
I think deeply and I wish and ponder on what this world would be like
without me.
I regret what I say; I don’t mean to hurt anyone. Sometimes I want to rip
out my own heart for having to do something so harsh.
And sometimes I am forgiven. Sometimes I dig too deep.
But with a mind like mine, I have to take precautions.
I have to watch myself.
So I don’t fall.
So I don’t rise to high.
So I don’t settle so comfortably.

And if you see me walking, with a stolen identity.
Say give that back, that’s not who you are.
I know you better then that.
I want to stay who I am and not be the storm in my brain.
I can’t let that happen, I can’t let myself go insane.
Not like that, no way.
And there are days when I wish I was normal.
Why can’t I be like those kids who don’t have to take medication?
Why can’t I be like those kids who aren’t crazy?
Why do I have to be me, locked up and shut out?
Why do I have to be me, an outcast and a loner?
And there are days when everything is OK.
And I can live a normal life.
But I have to be careful for my down side.
And the times when I feel a little more then alive.
But somewhere deep within me,
I know I can survive.

Copyright © 2008 embracinghope, All Rights Reserved

Absolutely Cheesy: Fabric Applique Baby Onesie

Absolutely Cheesy: Fabric Applique Baby Onesie

New Blog

Ok, so folks, this is a new thing for us. I thought I would actually start a blog to let everyone know what is going on in our lives here in the middle of nowhere. Seeing as it is so hard for everyone to keep in touch, and to remember that we are out here :) Currently we are all doing well, Aiden is being very much the true toddler. Throwing fits, running around the house at full tilt, getting into everything he can, and playing with the dog and cats. Jeremy is still working at the Post Chapel as a Chaplain's assistant. And, for all those who will ask, No, we haven't heard anything about the retraining yet. We are still waiting in Air Force limbo on that front. I am doing about as well as can be expected, seeing as I am chasing after a very active toddler and trying to keep up with his schedule of appointments, which seems to be more active than mine is. I will do my best to keep this up to date on all things Sinclair, and I will also put updates here as to when we add pictures to our web album on Picasa. Love for all!! Jen