Baby Names

So it seems that Cory and I (well, mostly I) have fallen in love with a name that happens to not be on the baby name poll. Unfortunately I cannot add the name to the existing poll so I'll have to post a brand new one. Thanks for voting in the previous one! Now, just vote one more time!

It came...and it's still here

Carter and I are now both sick. I woke up this morning with a lovely version of the hacking cough, sore throat, congestion and runny nose.
We'll be spending another day inside watching Elmo.
I'm hoping this will pass shortly. Cabin fever sets in really quickly over here.

Da Bears

We got Carter two personalized jerseys from a shop right off base yesterday. Cory and I agreed that he'd wear this one while the Bears were playing and his Cowboy jersey while the Cowboys are playing. IF they play each other Carter will wear the jersey of the team that has the best record at the time of the game.

Here it comes

Carter woke up with a runny nose today and a hoarse cough. The weather changed last week and we've been wearing jackets, so I figured it was only a matter of time. At least he's not too crabby when he's sick.

*come by my house, we have alcohol for sick season anxiety (you know who you are)

For your enjoyment

This is Carter's new trick. We call it "the Fonz"


This is Carter helping Daddy do jumping jacks


...and stretching

Now what?

I was privileged to join my friends Laura and Brynn at a wonderful place called Happy Quilt this week. They have 2 very long rows of fabric that are pre-packaged. A man sits outside and cuts from the bolts, packages them and then places them on one of the rows. It's an easy way to get a little bit of this and that. They also have rolls and rolls of fabric that you can have cut. Now, most of you know that I'm not much of a seamstress, in fact I'm pretty sure the only thing I can do is sew on a button.
My Ma Bettie would probably be embarrassed, she's quilted her whole life, wins all kinds of awards and makes the most beautiful quilts for the family. In fact, we don't even own blankets (okay except for the few we've received for presents for Carter), we only have home made quilts. (Aren't I smug?)
But I've asked Cory for a simple sewing machine for Christmas (with maybe a craft sewing book?) and plan on doing something with this adorable baby fabric!

Best friend, enemy, it's all the same when you're one

Carter had a buddy come play today. He's gone to play at Shane's house a few times before, but this was the first day Shane came to our territory. (Where you're not allowed to dance with your cookies....Oh, the horror!)
Carter seems to be big fan of Shane, Shane's not quite as enthralled with Carter. You know, who would like a kid that's trying to boss you around and steal your juice all the live long day?
All in all, they played really well together and I'll let the photos speak for themselves.

TGIF

Carter found something to keep him busy while I'm putting away groceries.


We took a trip to the park last weekend to have a picnic. Turn up the volume to hear Carter giggling like crazy at the huz bouncing the ball on his head.


And here's the diaper dance

This one time, at band camp...

Now, I don't always volunteer this information freely. But this morning, y'all are lucky. It amazes me that a lot of friends of mine now a days, don't believe me....they don't believe that I was the ULTIMATE band nerd. I didn't just go to band camp every summer. I went to the Drum Major Academy. Band was my LIFE for 6 years. Band started my every day at 6:55am and ended my every day at 4:55, once a week we ended at 9:00pm. I took private lessons and even learned the tenor sax so I could be in jazz band. (you know, so I could have an extra few hours of band per week.) Actually, a series of unfortunate, misguided, naive events are they only thing that kept me from going to Texas Tech with my best friend to be in The Goin' Band from Raider Land. (One of the biggest and best College bands in the Nation by the way!)
Since I can remember I had wanted to be in the band. Since about 4th grade, I knew I wanted to be a drum major (for you non-band type that's the person who leads the marching band).
If you've ever met a band nerd, we're almost as bad as trekkies. It's something we can't help but talk about, think about and pray pray pray that our kid will love band as much as we did.
I don't always tell people how much of a band nerd I was/am because I don't know what kind of stigmas people still hold on to in this adult world. Obviously, I wasn't the most popular kid in high school, I don't want to ruin my chances here!? lol, jk.

The huz sent me an e-mail that he got at work about the high school here needing some adult help for their pep band. At first I was super excited! I haven't played with a group in years! And, some of the fondest memories of my whole life are Friday night high school football games - in the band of course.
Then, the hesitation crept in. On one end of the spectrum, the few friends I have here are totally going to see me and make fun of me. They'll be like the cool kids sitting in the student section throwing things at us. (And have help from their little munchkins this time!)
On the other hand I wonder why they need adult help? Are they really bad? I mean, you know I'm desperate for 'some action' here....but you know I sat first chair and all....(okay, you really can't take me seriously. I sat first chair, but I'm not that conceited.)
I replied this morning that I would help, but only if y'all promise not to make fun of me. Because I will totally teach my kid to throw rocks at yours.

Anxiety

I'm not sure if my 'small medical crisis' was related to anxiety or not. I know that if it was an ulcer, anxiety could have been a big contributor. Or it could just be that by body likes to play "April Fools!" every year or so. Like, "'Surprise, I could kill you today but I'm not going to because I'm so nice like that!"
Isn't that sweet?
But, while I'm getting along so much better here I still feel almost a constant state of manageable anxiety. Not so much ups and downs anymore but a constant stream. Like if you had a small amount of coffee hooked up to your veins and just felt a little extra 'pep in your step'.
I've made some really good friends (as well as acquaintances - sure to be friends soon) here, but I really think it's being so far away. But, I've never been a homebody, I traveled to Europe when I was 14! I went to Los Angeles pretty much unsupervised at 17! I traveled 10 hours away from home to go to college. I know that's not quite the same...but I never thought I'd be so nervous about living so far away.
So far Korea has treated me well. It's a very interesting place, and I want to explore it more (however, only with other people...not on my own)
I just want to shake this whole ridiculous thing and put my 'big girl panties' on.
Until then, If I'm rambling too much about things that don't matter/things you don't care about on the playground, or avoiding you altogether....just know someone turned up the drip on my anxiety central line.

I never thought I'd need to say...

If you don't stop dancing with that cookie, you're going to be in trouble!




* I know this sounds harsh, but I swear it was warranted

I'm in love with a fighter pilot, and a doctor.

While I believe more and more everyday that God has blessed me with a fantanstic husband, I do have a second love...
My OB from the States.
I had a very troubling visit to Yongsan yesterday that left me with more questions than I went in with and became so frustrated that I decided to call Dr. Decker (the Doctor who followed me while I was pregnant with Carter)
Before I left for Korea, I had a last appointment with him and he told me to call if I needed anything. I hadn't wanted or really needed to call him before today. I called at 6am here and hoped, hoped, hoped, the receptionist would be compassionate and understand that she couldn't "take a message" because for them to call me back would cost $153,233,234.
I was very lucky and she put me on hold while he was in with a patient and he asnwered the phone only a few short minutes later!
He very thoroughly answered my questions, said that I could send my blood work (that had been in question) to him and he'd tell me what he suggested, and was very compassionate and understanding about everything. He gave me the info and advice needed to go fully armed into my next appointment.
This guy's not getting paid a cent to give me advice or talk to me on the phone inbetween patients or to review my records. I think I love him.
He embodies what all doctors should aspire to be. Not only a healer,but understanding, compassionate and an advocate for their patients.

My Korean adventure's more authentic than yours.

I had a very scary, frustrating and anxiety filled 'Korean Adventure' over Labor Day.
The huz was supposed to leave for Safety School on Tues. so we spent all rainy day Monday at Everland. We had a great time, I felt fine and was just a little tired from being on my feet all day.
As the evening wore on I began to feel sick and at approximately 11:00pm my body decided to rid itself of all contents (through ever orifice it could find).
After inspecting the contents of the extra large mixing bowl by the side of the bed we decided 'Kool-aid red' wasn't a color we liked.
We headed to the ER.
When the results of my blood test came back, the 'lovely-people-with-a-stretcher-and-portable-O2-and-a-cardiac-monitor' whisked me away in an ambulance to Suwon.
My husband got to experience the only James Bond moves in our Ford escape that are allowed "Following the ambulance on Big 1 and running red lights after the ambulance"
I was informed (only after asking) that I was bleeding, you know, somewhere...they didn't know where, but probably in my stomach.
"Goody!"
After a blood transfusion, an extensive OB and GI workup and 3 days in a Korean Hospital, I'm back home. Taking it easy, eating horribly bland food and trying to keep Carter busy with Elmo DVDs.

My care was great, the doctors very knowledgeable but...
Things that irritate me about Korean hospitals:
1. They leave you alone all day and then wake you up doing ridiculous things all night. I was woken up to take my toenail polish off, (still don't know why - they never looked at my feet again) for them to change my sheets (yes, in the middle of the night), for them to take out the trash, for them to walk me down the hall for a daily weight, and for random people to turn on my lights, look at me and then leave.
2. They don't wear gloves except in the ER, but they wear masks.
3. Every unit you go to they like to put in a new IV.
4. and of course, that whole 'communication' thing.