Loosing it.

So, before we moved to Hawaii, my husband basically left for a year of training. He was home maybe every other weekend (just to mess up my system and make my daughter miss him more). But for a year, I was raising and maintaining my sanity with a 6month old and a 2.5 year old. They grew over the year, obviously, to an 18 month old and a 3.5 year old. Still, I maintained. I had a few issues but I maintained my sanity. I was able to handle bringing the kids to the hospital for an allergic reaction with the baby. Again to the hospital a few months later with a broken collar bone on baby. Fast forward: my girls are now 3&5. Each has their own personality and they know how to push my and each other's buttons. Husband has been gone for 2 weeks (2 more to go), I have showered maybe 5 times in these two weeks. I am running a low grade fever for the third day. I get maybe 5 hours of sleep a night. I can't see straight, and it is taking all my energy to not yell at my beautiful sweet girls for asking me for the 10th time in the last 3 mins "What is for snack?" I never thought that the year of single parenting a baby and a preschooler would be so easy compared to what I am dealing with now. I think the maggots yesterday were the last straw. Obviously, I am not able to maintain a clean house. I try to get the sink cleaned out at least once a day, but it is so difficult to do that when you have kids tearing at each other's throats or screaming "you don't love me anymore!" I have lost my sofa to loads of laundry that I have not had a chance to fold yet. Toys are everywhere as are dirty clothes from the 3 year old that needs to change her wardrobe 3 times daily. Oh, did I mention that the 3yo might be working on an UTI and the 5 year old has some strange rash on her eye? Ok.... I am done complaining for now. I just needed to get this off of my chest. If you have read through this rant.... THANKS.

Room Parent Work

Next week is Teacher and Staff Appreciation Day and our class will try to celebrate all week.  I had some great ideas on what to do for the door decorations.  I took a photo of each of the children and I had plans to ask each and every one of them what they like most about their teacher.  Of course, I never had a chance to talk to the kids.  Never. So, here I have all of these photos but no idea what to do with them.  Pinterest to the rescue.  Well, actually it is Google to the rescue.  But either way, I got some even better ideas that I adapted to my skills.  Here is my concept drawing.  A long time I ago I had done a craft with the kids that used coffee filters and food coloring. I had about 100 of these tie dyed filters left.  I thought they would be a beautiful and easy flower.  I was right!

 I did not have any help until I was just walking up to school and the grandmother of one of my daughter's classmates was there.  "Do you need any help?"  YES!!! I wanted to scream. But, I calmly told her what my plan was and if she could help me out that would be fantastic. So, we got to the teachers' lounge and examined our materials.  Big rolls of colored paper.  Die (or is that dye) cut machine to make flower and letters. We started cutting the flowers.  I might have to use this again to make some paper flower leis on Wednesday. After we were all done cutting we figured the layout for the door cover.  Here it is before we glued.  My helper did the grass.  She is awesome.   Apparently, she used to be a class parent and a volunteer at the school for many years.  Everyone knew who she was.  I felt a bit small, but she was teaching me well.

Here we are in the gluing process.  We tried to make sure that everything was tacked down properly.

Our final product placed on the door.  I think it looks awesome. Of course, I have nothing to compare it to.  I think the teachers will be pleasantly surprised when they arrive at school on Monday morning.  You think?

A Brave Princess Birthday Party for a 5 year old.

This is what happens when I put Daddy in charge of the activities for a 5 year old's birthday party.  I was in charge of the food and he was in charge of all outdoor activities. The little girls made "ruins" to wear out of polymer clay.  They shot paper arrows with homemade bows.  They searched for Merdu (sp?) and found him hiding in the mango tree.  Then, they tossed coconuts at him to make sure he would not hurt anyone any more.    

Rainbow (Dash) Party for a 3 year old.

Well, Evelyn's party was quite a success. Even though it had to be cancelled and rescheduled due to illness, it was a nice and casual Hawaii party.  And. being that it was really Evelyn's first birthday party, she was so happy.  It is a month and a half later (writing this in mid January) and she is still talking about it!  This makes me happy.

Taste a Rainbow

 It was an awesome rainbow theme.  About 10 friends came by with their parents and some with their siblings.  We had rainbow fruit skewers, rainbow deviled eggs, rainbow veggie tray --yes this rainbow was a bit abbreviated as I could not find fresh blue and purple veggies that I could easily serve cold.  Cupcakes were tie-dye rainbow and each looked different.  I used Fruity Pebbles to create rainbow colored marshmallow treats.  My husband spent a long while separating out two bags of Skittles only for me to put them all in a single bowl in ROYGP order.  He was not happy.

Wow!

We had rainbow crafts available.  Pasta necklaces and rainbow crowns were on the agenda but only a few people did them.

We also made our own hobby horses to race...as Rainbow Dash likes to race.  That was loads of fun until Evelyn's big sister decided that it was a perfect time to break down and cry b/c it was not her party.  This behavior lasted for a few days. I think it was too much sugar.

But, the highlight of the party was the cake.  It was a blue cake that looked pretty normal until we cut into it.  Yes, seven layers of colors.  Bright colors. The awe on everyone's face was worth the work that it took to make it. It tasted very good too!

Table of rainbows.  

Rainbow Veggie Tray

Rainbow Deviled Eggs.

We had planned on this being a "pin the cloud on the rainbow" game, but most of her friends did not show up until an hour after the party was scheduled to begin.

Pony Races!

The cake looks pretty ugly on the outside!

Happy Birthday!

I love her sister's (on the left) reaction to the cake!

The cupcakes were pretty too.

I have not written in a while.  Kids are doing great.  Little One starts Junior Kindergarden on Monday and Wee One starts preschool next month.  I am not sure how I will handle having all the time to myself.  I know, I have lists and lists of things that I want to do.  I plan on using the paddle board two times a week.  I plan on riding the bike twice a week.  The house needs to be FINALLY kept clean.  Maybe I will catch up on laundry.  I hope to travel the island more and take some photographs.  I really want to shoot, print, and sell my work.  I am good enough.  I really am.

I have thousands of photographs that I need to scan in.  My goal is to scan 25 images a day.  I think I can do it.  That is about an hour of work.

Other things that I plan starting this school year is get my Tang Soo Do studio going.  Joint Forces is just a breeze right now.  I want it to be a force that people notice.  I know, I don't know how long I will be here in Kailua, but while I am here, I will do my best to make it work.  Here is my plan.

Session 1:  Teach a class for grades 4, 5, and 6.  This will be an 8 week session.  Starting January, in Session 2, I will add grades K, 1, 2, and 3.  I hope to get one or two of the older kids to help with the younger kids.  I hope this plan works.

Hugs,
Leslie

My kids are UTD on all their shots!

My kids are UTD on all their shots!

So, for the most part, I am an attachment parent.  Yes, I used an epidural during both births.  I my defense, I did feel the pain of labor.  I got to 7cm with DD1 and 9.5 cm with DD1, but that was enough for me. Epidural made me more comfortable and there were no complications.

I am m part of an AP group and many of them are anti-vax and intactavists (anti circumcision).  It is strange, b/c many of these moms are Navy wives and G-d only knows what types of bugs their husbands will bring home after their deployment.

Anyway, one mom who's son has FPIES wants to find a sick kid to infect her 10 month old infant.  She says "because of his allergies, he cannot get the vax" and she wants him to get the "natural immunity"  GAH!  I just want to scream.  I am usually very quiet and I do not post my opinion on the touchy subjects, but when they started talking about a Pox Party, I had to step in.
Here is my comment:

"I totally understand why you would not want to give your son the vax right now. Evelyn was delayed withe several of her shots because of her allergies (not nearly as severe as his). But this is what goes on my my head. Is there any other childhood illness that we deliberately infect our children with? Why do we do this with chicken pox? Also, I would not want to infect a small child that does not understand what is going on and why they feel like poo and why they are so itchy and yet they can't scratch. By getting infected, you have no idea what the severity of the virus they will get. Will they have complications? Will they get the pox in their eyes, in their mouth, on their penis, in their vagina, in their anus ? Yes, 90% of kids are exposed to this virus before the age of 10, but, personally, I think it is cruel and actually 'anti-AP' to deliberately infect our children with any disease."

Did I say to much.  I mean, I AM pro-vax.  I like the Sears delayed schedule, but still, all vax by age 2.  I want my kids to go to a public school. We might end up in China or Guam or somewhere else that I cannot even think of.  We are already in Hawaii and there are so many people here from Asia that I have no idea what my kids are being exposed to.  

Remind me again how this works. If I make no changes to my diet/exercise routine I will have no changes.   If I add exercise and make no other changes, I should, eventually see a weight loss, right?  If, after exercise is established, change my diet, my weight loss should be greater.  Is this correct?

Testing for Master

(just found this in my drafts... originally written in May, 2011)

 I miss it. I really miss training in Tang Soo Do.  Yes, I have a tiny kids class that meets weekly, but, that is not really training.  That is parenting.  Anyway, I just have one more class of those Tiny Terrors --oops, I mean Tiny Tigers.  I need an adult class.  I miss lining up by rank.  I miss being yelled at to lower my stance. I miss having my finger position corrected.  I miss it.  I miss being called "Ma'am" and "Ms Flaum."   I miss the teamwork  working for a common goal with a group.     A few weeks ago, the Masters Clinic was held in Alabama.  I was just looking at the photos of the Master Candidate Class and I realize that I outrank about half of the group.  Kind of pisses me off that those that I instructed will be master rank before me.  Some of my students will probably test before me as well.  I have not trained, honestly, since June 2006.  Now, when I try to train, I pee in my pants (thank you, childbirth).  I also cannot remember my hyung.  I have no idea how the new sword forms go.  I cannot recall all 30 one-steps.  But, I do know the second verse to "make new friends..."

I get packages to my kids for every holiday from a family member:  Halloween, Chanukah, Christmas, Valentines, Easter, and Independence Day. In each box contains a few toys, some trinkets from a "dollar store," a stuffed animal, some clothes, and lots of candy. The clothes always REEK of smoke and I have to air them our or wash them before I can even try them on my girls. The candy is...well... candy. I have told her many times that I do not like my kids eating that much candy. It is a once in a while treat. She does not seem to care. One Easter she said to me "it is only on Easter, let them eat it all." Of course, I dealt with a 2 year old with a sick tummy that year. Then I get "It is Christmas, it is ok." Of course there is the "oh, it is Halloween, it is ok to have some extra candy." I mean, come on, your husband is diabetic, his mother was diabetic, I come from a family strong in diabetes. Both my husband and I fight our weight in order to stave off sickness, and she sends us bags and bags of candy (and smoke laden dresses). 

Thank you for letting me vent. I feel a bit better.

How to fart a baby.




By request, I am posting this video.  I had taken an Itsy Bitsy Yoga class back when Iliana was around 8 months old.  Wow, I wish I had taken it when she was younger, but the skills that I learned in that class were heaven-sent.  "Dinosaur walk" darn near killed my quads, but at 2am after a few hours of screaming, it would calm the savage beast.  But, farting the baby was the best thing I ever learned and I hope that you can learn from it too!

Hugs,

leslie

Well, we made it.  Everyone is safely in Hawaii. We are living on the windward side of the island of Oahu in an awesome town called Kailua.  Apparently, it is one of the best places on earth to wind surf and kite ski.  We do not go to the beaches that often, but I hear they are nice.  Husband is getting used to his new job and his new 'uniform' for work.  He went from wearing a jacket and tie to work every day to an Aloha shirt and khakis.  His old dress pants do not match his new shirts.  We will take him shopping sometime soon.  Little girl turns four in a few days.  Every day, she wakes up and asks "Is today my birthday?"  Since August, she has been asking for various toys for her birthday.  She has seen the wrapped gifts and she is starting to get excited.  The Wee One is now two.  She is cutting her upper cuspid teeth acting her age.  We are still breastfeeding and having some trouble with the night weaning.  A small part of me thinks, "maybe I should get pregnant so the milk will change and maybe she will want to stop breastfeeding."  But then I continue to think... then I will have another baby that will grow into a two year old that will grow into a four year old that I will have to pay for college. I just have to be strong. Husband is not helping much with the weaning process.  Honestly, I am not sure what I should be doing. She is SO demanding.  As I type, she is beating at my breast with her hands and pulling my shirt up and down to get to me.  SIGH....

Unpacking by the movers

GoGreen Pocket Diaper Giveaway!

GoGreen Pocket Diapers Giveaway!

by Baby Half Off on April 9, 2011

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Wow, I am a parent.

I knew it would happen.  I heard about it from other parents, but it just happened to me and I want to write about it while it was still fresh in my memory.

Today, at dinner, Iliana was singing her ABC's and then she changed the words.  "A B C D Pappy" is what she started singing and every time she sang it, Evelyn thought that was too funny. So, Iliana just kept singing the same line, over and over again and they both were giggling at the table.  I am looking at them, I have no idea what is so funny.  Then I start laughing, because that is what I thought I was supposed to be doing.  Then, they started laughing even louder...this time AT ME!  I just don't get it.  What was so funny?  Then it dawned on me...I am a different generation than these girls.  They are my daughters, not my peers.  I know there will be many more moments like this one, and I hope that I can be a part of them, even if it is from the outside.

Random Thoughts

I am so tired.  Sleep does not seem to help my exhaustion.  I am lonely.  I wish I had someone to talk to at night.  Just six more months until I have a partner again. I have no idea what things will be like when he returns.  Phone calls seem pretty sad now.  There is never much to talk about.  I never have anything to add to the conversation.  It is hard to listen because the girls are always--being girls. 

As much as I dislike being a single parent, I have gotten used to it.  It has been six months already.  He has been gone so much this past year.  A few weeks in January.  A few in March, a few in April, more in May.  I don't like it. Yes, it is good for his career.  But when is is my turn?  I love being Mom, but I miss being Leslie.  I miss being able to go dancing with girlfriends (or husband).  I miss just being able to eat dinner in front of the TV. I miss training in Tang Soo Do.  I miss photographing weddings and events and beautiful things out in the world.  Heck, I would like to be able to shower without my door open so I can let the bathroom get all steamy.  I like that. 

That is all for now.  Everyone is asleep and it is 9:30pm.  Time for bed.  Good night.

Remember what Chanukah is all about

 Just read this  on http://www.askmoses.com/ I really liked this response to "Can I have a Hanukkah Tree"

 Remember what Chanukah is all about

Posted by: Lisa, West Hempstead, NY on Dec 28, 2005

It’s quite ironic that out of all the Jewish Holidays it is on Chanukah that people want to “adopt” other cultures and celebrate “like everyone else”.

On Passover we celebrate freedom from slavery. On Purim we celebrate freedom from the threat of annihilation. In the story of Chanukah. however, they didn’t want to kill us or enslave us. All the Greeks wanted was to deprive us of our own identity and make us “like everyone else.” They hated the fact that we have our own Jewish culture and pride. They tried first to persuade us, then to force us, to “adopt” their culture and customs.

We celebrate Chanukah precisely because we didn’t cave to the “peer pressure” and remained dedicated to our own heritage, traditions and holidays. G-d saw our devotion and determination, He performed miracles, and gave us yet another holiday to celebrate with pride and Joy.

On Chanukah we celebrate a victory over “cultural oppressors”. We remember that people fought for our right to practice our OWN traditions. So it would only make sense that when celebrating Chanukah today, you celebrate the miracle by being proud of who YOU are!

Hawaii Weather

Comparison Weather Facts

• On average Pearl Harbor, HI is warmer than Virginia Beach, VA by 11°F.

• Virginia Beach, VA recorded the highest temperature of 105°F in 1918.

• Virginia Beach, VA on average is cooler than Pearl Harbor, HI by 15°F.

• Virginia Beach, VA recorded the lowest temperature of -3°F in 1985.

• Pearl Harbor, HI averages more precipitation than Virginia Beach, VA by 106.4in.

Hawaii? Yup. Hawaii.

So, we just got word of our transfer to Hawaii.  Not sure of any specifics yet, but we know it will not be until after July.  My husband is still in training and his program does not end until July 8, 2011.  But, wow, we are moving to Pearl Harbor, HI.  This is kind of really cool.  I am afraid for Hamlet though.  He might not do to well in the heat.  But, with proper A/C he should be fine.  Might not be able to move him until after October because of the heat.  We will deal with it.  I have so much to think about now. So much to do.  House has to be fixed up.  House has to be cleaned.  House has to be sold or rented.  Need to find a new house to live.  But, Hawaii. I guess it is such a romantic place.  At least in all the movies and photographs. I hope it is close to that.  Of course,  I grew up watching Magnum, P.I. so in my head, THAT is what I think Hawaii will be like.  Oh, wouldn't that be nice to have Tom Selleck to be my neighbor?  Or my house guest? 

Anyway, so after DH is done w/ his training, hopefully, we will take a family vacation.  Then, maybe have some time to be with each other before the big move.  That would be nice, right?

So, here are my other questions/concerns...
Will our family come and visit?  I guess we will see them about as often as we do now.
Can we afford housing there?  Looks like we will be spending about 50% more on housing than we do now.  But, I think we get COLA that should offset the money issues.
I hear the school system is a joke there.  Well, we will not be there for so many years that it will make a difference.  The girls and I will learn other ways.
Is there much of a Jewish community there?  I hear there is a synagogue on base. I guess that will be our best option.  I will miss the JCC and Iliana will miss her friends.  We will have to find some mommy groups.

Oh well, the wee one is awake and screaming.

Update on Poop.

Toddler is now officially pooping in the toilet. YAY! She will even do it in a public bathroom--which is better than some of my friends. Anyway, she is still totally obsessed with her Star Wars toys. She loves her "New Baby Jabba" more than any other toy in this house. Today, we had a melt-down on the way to school because she did not have him with her. She was screaming that she missed her baby jabba and she loved her baby jabba and that he was hiding. Here she is loving Jabba.

Star Wars and Poop

Well, after over nine months of trying and suggesting, the toddler finally pooped on the potty by her own choice. We had been offering her a "new baby dragon" for several weeks and she kept talking about her new baby dragon, but never actually tried to get it.

Then, two weeks ago, Daddy upped the ante. The Galactic Heroes Jabba's Sail Barge was put on the table as her reward for pooping on the potty. She was SO EXCITED when she saw it. The first night, she sat on the potty holding the unopened box and tried, and tried and tried for hours to poop. She would wake up at night, hold the box and try again. We finally had to take the box away from her. Every day she would tell everyone that if she went poopy on the potty , she would get a "new Jabba." No one really understood what she meant, they just smile and nod. Now, this set is pretty cool. It has Jabba the Hutt, Max Rebo on his piano, Droopy McCool, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Boba Fett, and R2-D2.

Tonight, around 8:30ish she finally did it. She mentioned the new Jabba to me, I asked her if she was going to try again tomorrow, she said "no, I try now" She proceeded to take her diaper off and she sat on the squatty potty (baby bjorn). I gave her a book to read and I went to check on the baby that was crying in the other room. While I was changing a diaper, she tells me "I'm Done!" Now, this is what she always says when she is done pooping. I asked "did you poop on the potty?" "Yeaah!" is her reply. And, there it was. A poop. A nice, toddler sized poop. Luckily she has pooped earlier that day so it was not her normal softball sized poop.

So I climbed up onto the top of the cabinet and got the box. It took, what felt like forever, to open the darned thing. But she was so happy when I finally got Jabba out. One by one, she was telling me the names of all the characters. She added them to her other Galactic Heroes and was so happy that she even shared some of the toys with her baby sister. She was up for over two hours singing the Star Wars theme and playing with those toys.

So, when I went back to he room to clean up the poop, the poop was gone. I was a bit confused at first. Did I actually see the poop? Am I going more insane? But then I saw the tell tale sign of little short black hairs. Hamlet. The pug ate the poopies. GROSS. She was so upset at first when she realized they were gone. I told her that Hamlet ate them, YUCK! So, she will be telling the story tomorrow to her classmates (who are at least six to ten months younger than her and will not understand).

Good night.