North Carolina - here we are!

So, some of you may know but many may not. The kids and I have left the blinding cold of Minnesota to be closer to Mike in balmy North Carolina!!

We are staying with Mike's uncle and aunt which is about 3 hours from the base but Mike comes up to their house each weekend to see us. It's a huge blessing for us to even be able to be down here in the first place! We are so thankful for how Mike's uncle and aunt have taken us in and cared for us. 

Mike is a couple months into his training now and it has been going alright. It's a  lot of stuff he already knows from going to school for mechanics and there's not a lot of hands-on, so he gets a little bored sometimes! But temporary bordem is a welcome trade for hearing that this is the happiest he's ever been at any job he's ever had. He's told me more than once that he loves his job now - that he's found his niche! 

He is over half-way done with school and we are looking forward to graduation and going back home to warmer weather than it is currently! 

We've been spoiled by having a few days in the 70s and a number in the 60s! I can't believe that I have been out walking with the kids in early February. :) 

Most exciting - today is George's FIRST BIRTHDAY!! I can't believe he was born a year ago already! It seems like just yesterday - which I know is cliche - but it really does go that fast. He was a little 7lb 3oz, 20 inch, blue-eyed, jaundice baby! Now - he's almost walking and eating table food and starting to give up his bottle. Not to mention, he has 7 teeth and is getting another one. :) We had a small celebration last night with us and the Thompson's with cupcakes and a couple small presents - both he and Emma were covered in red frosting! 

Well ... when I am able I will try to get a video or some pics of last night and our fun! Hope you are all well. 

Mike's Christmas Leave

So, we were blessed to have Mike home for almost two weeks for Christmas! He got back to MN on the 20th and was here through January 1st. It went WAY too fast and was a little too busy but it was wonderful!

Here's some pictures from his time home with us!

Mike & Emma

Mike & Emma on the way home from Duluth

Mike & George :)

George - he's getting SO big!

We're missing one - but us at the Jone's family Christmas

Emma on Christmas morning

My favorite pic of us!

Homefront Update Continued...

So since the last update ... George ended up going back to the Dr. and having pink eye, a double ear infection, and was wheezing bad enough to go on the nebulizer. Oy! Thankfully they are both healthy now!

Also, Mike's leave date was pushed up 4 days and we lost our family weekend with him. So he left for NC Saturday Dec. 8 and got to NC on Monday. He started school today. He did tell me today that he was graciously blessed with a ticket home for Christmas. So he will be home on the 20th and we will get to enjoy him until the 1st!!! YAY!

I must say entering into this type of life-style is not easy. We have already enjoyed some rough days and I do, honestly, sometimes fear the road ahead of us. It's going to be a bumpy ride for the next year and a half. BUT I will continue to say that we'll get through it and I don't say any of that for sympathy - simply as truth! I am desperately looking to Christ for strength and just want to make sure that I rely on him.
So if you think of us pray for us. Pray for the kids and I at the homefront and pray for Mike as he is away from everyone and everything. We love you all!
Now some new pics!!!
George
EmmaThe Family

Homefront Update

So it's been quite a while since we just gave an update on life. Facts: Emma is 19 months now & 26.5 pounds, George is 9 months & 22 pounds. Mike is really enjoying his new job at the base. He leaves December 12 for school but should be home for Christmas. I am now 14 weeks along and doing well - I have a check-up next week.

So, the last 2 weeks have been a drain on me physically and emotionally. The week before Thanksgiving both children got the stomach flu. Emma was throwing up about every 25 minutes from 4:30 until about 9 pm. George started the same at 8 and went until 11. The next day (Friday) Emma didn't throw up at all but was exhausted and had a fever but George kept throwing up. Saturday Emma still had a fever and George got one too. They both were consistently crabby and weren't eating. The diarrhea started on Friday and continued through the following weekend (the weekend after Thanksgiving) as well as the crabbiness. After Thanksgiving they both started getting colds - runny noses and coughs. On Monday (the 19th) I took George to the Dr. about and ear infection but he didn't have one. The this last Friday (the 24th) I ended up taking Emma to the Dr. with a temperature of 103 and she did have an ear infection. She cried the entire time the Dr. looked at her and was miserable the entire day. :(
Yesterday George had a temp too but only of 101 so we didn't take him to the Dr. and both their eyes have been draining goop.
So last week I definitely hit my breaking point. I was so exhausted and drained. Plus I wasn't communicating well with the Lord and wasn't getting the time with Him that I needed. I finally broke down this last Saturday and sobbed, telling Mike that I didn't want to be a mom anymore. I didn't know if I could do it anymore and I just didn't want to right now. I don't think I've ever felt that way before. I was so tired and so sick of taking care of everyone ... I wanted to be done - at least for a little while.

I'm still not where I want to be or even need to be emotionally to be the mom I want to be but it'll get there eventually. It's getting better - that's for sure. Today we had a hard day but a good day. Emma and I had some battles that she didn't want to lose but she doesn't get to win. The good part was that we didn't turn on the tv at all and we listened to worship music all day ... in the afternoon we twirled and lifted our arms and sang - it was so wonderful and adorable! Plus the kids loved it. I needed it!

So all in all things are getting better and I'm getting some rest and we're focusing more on what we should be focusing on - Christ!