doctor. thunderbirds. ice cream

Thank goodness I decided to ask Tess to watch the twins while I brought Jazlynn to the clinic for her 3 year well check. As expected, she freaked out. She didn't want to stand on the scale, or stand be the wall to measure her height. It got worse during vitals. The poor airman trying to ask her questions...she tried calming her down by using stickers and crayons, but it only calmed her down her a few seconds and then she would start resisting again. The funny part is that even if Jazlynn was crying she was still answering questions through her cries. When the doctor came in he said that Jazlynn was very talkative and was impressed that she knew all her colors and shapes. Like always, Jazlynn is on the bottom of the growth curve but is still progressing steadily. The only thing the doctor recommended was for her to switch back to whole milk to help her gain some weight.

After her checkup I walked over to the immunization center to have Jazlynn get her flu shot. I think my poor child has that room imprinted in her memory, because as soon as we walked into the room she stated that she wanted to go home. She started griping my hand tighter and tighter and tried to hide behind me and my purse. I didn't even notice Jesse and Makayla behind us cause I was trying to calm Jazlynn down before her shot. I had to hold Jazlynn down so the tech could give her a shot in the thigh. I'm glad the tech was fast because Jazlynn's getting strong and it's hard to hold her down.

She cried until we walked out of the clinic then she calmed down and started talking about all the pretty stickers she got at the doctors.

After I picked the twins up from Tess's house I brought the kids to the BX so we could buy floaties to wear in Amanda's pool. She invited us over to swim and have lunch on Thursday. When I was driving over to the BX we saw the Thunderbirds practicing for the air show so I decided to park near the grassy area so we could watch the planes. Jazlynn was excited to see them do tricks while the twins were a little more resistant. Alyssa and Lil' PeeJay would run to me and hold me tightly when the Thunderbirds flew overhead. I think they're more scared of the loud engines more than the planes themselves. After the planes were done practicing we went inside the BX and bought our floaties and had ice cream at Baskin Robbins. Lil' PeeJay fell asleep while we walked around the BX so he missed out on the ice cream. It's the first time I let Jazlynn pick what flavor she wanted. She choose Strawberry Cheesecake so I got Alyssa the same thing so they wouldn't fight. I let them have their own dish and they ate it by themselves. It's also the first time I let them eat their own ice cream and surprisingly they didn't make a mess! It's a good thing because I forgot to bring bibs with me. Jazlynn was so happy and told me thank you for the ice cream which totally made my day.

When we came home I wanted to open the back shed to get one of the lighter folding chairs to bring to the air show cause I don't want to carry the heavy ones. But I realized I don't know what happened to the keys for the lock! I'm hoping the hubby knows where it is because if he doesn't I'm afraid I'm gonna have to get some bolt cutters or something! I need stuff in that shed!

what i did today

keeping an eye on the typhoon that should pass near guam on saturday.

cracked open the living room and sliding door typhoon shutters to let some sunlight in.

killed a boonie bee nest.

got in a fight with an old guy at the commissary parking lot.

brought the kids to the playground inside the bx.

made fried chicken and red rice for dinner. the kids' new fav dish.

gave kids their baths.

did laundry.

vacuumed.

dusted.

finished decorating cupcakes for the twins birthday.

hung streamers and balloons to make tomorrow extra special.

baked chicken for the twins' birthday pancit.

prepped veggies for the pancit.

frustrated with the phone card cause i can't figure out how to use it to call the hubby.

fixed the tv by changing the lamp. super proud of myself there.

talked to the hubby. said he got in an argument with an old guy too. we laughed cause we realized we both fought with old guys today. he said he was proud of me fixing the tv by myself. said i was a super mom and super wife. that made my day!

waiting for the storms

It's looking like we'll be stuck inside for the twins' birthday. A tropical storm is supposed to hit Guam today and last until tomorrow. After this one passes another one is projected to hit the island as well. I'm starting to go stir crazy in our little "cave". The kids seem to get louder and louder and the walls seems to be moving in on us, haha. I have some more art projects planned to keep us busy while we're stuck inside the house. Most of them are fall/halloween orientated. I have a haunted house ginger bread house to decorate, halloween candy necklaces, fall themed coloring pages, and pumpkin coloring. I'm hoping this will keep the kids busy so they won't be cranky.

As of now the island of Guam is in TCOR1 but the military is still in TCOR3. I'm not sure why we're in different TCORs but I'm already prepared for these storms to pass through. I can't wait until it's over.

I was able to talk to the hubby on skype last night. The internet connection in the sandbox is actually better than when he was in training. He said he was going to try to find a cell phone so we would have another way to communicate. I hope he's able to find one.

I hate how the kids get cranky when I'm on the phone or talking on skype. When we're trying to talk to PeeJay because I could hardly hear each other over the kids' crying and screaming. They all fight for the phone or the computer screen and it's frustrating. I need to figure out a way to solve this problem so we can enjoy talking to each other in peace.

But yeah, back to my life inside the "cave". I did all the laundry just in case the storm hits hard and we don't have water to do that later. Now I need to fold and put all the clothes away and change the twins' diapers...I can smell something...

TCOR 3

We've been stationed here in Guam for almost 3 years now and we've only gone into TCOR 3 twice. The first time we had a typhoon scare, we were still living in our first house. We didn't even know that a storm was brewing until we saw a long line of cars at the gas station. We were like, "Did they lower the gas prices?" "Maybe gas is free!" We were new so we were clueless. Once we learned that a storm was coming the commissary and BX were busy! Everyone was there buying emergency supplies and there was hardly anything left for us. Thank goodness the typhoon changed its course and missed Guam because we weren't prepared.

After that incident we learned to always stock up on emergency supplies, canned goods, water, and batteries.

The last time we had to secure our house it was just a base exercise to make sure we were ready for typhoon season.

Now that the hubby is away, we had another typhoon scare. Neil called and woke me up in the middle of a good dream around 7am this morning telling me to keep an eye on the weather. I didn't hear anything from my husband's squadron yet, so I wasn't too worried. I couldn't go back to sleep so I started stacking the patio chairs and folded the kids' table just in case. At around 10am Tess called and told me we were in TCOR3 so we started putting our patio furniture in our car ports. When we were almost done Jesse came over and helped me take the tarp down and then I had him help Tess too. After I came back from getting gas and water Samuel came by to check on us and Tavis's mom called too. Then Amanda messaged me and Neil came over to double check everything outside...so yeah, i had lots of help! Thank goodness for our support system while PeeJay's away.

Jazlynn was so funny when the shutters were all closed. She was like, "Mommy, it's too dark! It's not night night yet!" I told her that we were gonna go camping in the living room.

Now I feel a little claustrophobic in the house with all the typhoon shutters closed. I'm hoping this storm continues to change its course so it'll miss Guam again.

air show coming up

I'm thinking about bringing the kids to the Air Show that's going to be held on base this Wednesday. I keep thinking about the logistics of kids, stroller or wagon, diaper bag, snacks, umbrella, folding chairs, etc... I'm trying to think of the best way to pack for the Air Show. I'm contemplating between bringing the double stroller or wagon. The stroller would be easier to push around, but if it rains or if it's sunny the wagon has better protection against the weather. If I bring the wagon I can put more inside it when the kids aren't riding in it, but it'll be harder to load in and out of the van. I'm thinking about how I'm going to manage carrying a folding chair, diaper bag, and umbrella while pushing a stroller or wagon. How I'm I going to manage taking kids to the bathroom? We all can't fit in a port-a-potty. There's so much to think about before going to a new place and it's even worse now because it's just me with the kids. Usually, I push the stroller or wagon and PeeJay carries the extra stuff. What I'm I going to do if it rains. Can I push the stroller or wagon while holding an umbrella and making sure Jazlynn stays near me?

I really want to bring the kids there so they can see all the airplanes. I know they'll enjoy it, but I'm afraid Alyssa might be scared of the planes flying overhead. She always cries when I helicopter or loud plane flies overhead. I don't think I'm going to bother going if the weather's not nice. I don't feel like bringing 3 toddlers in the rain after Lil PeeJay just got over a high fever.

We spent the majority of today doing art projects. Lots of crayons, paper, and stickers. Jazlynn kept pretending like she was writing her name. She would say random letters outloud while scribbling on her paper. The look on her face was so serious though! We also watched Over the Hedge. I love how they can follow the story and they understand the characters' emotions. It just goes to show that they're getting older.

Anyways, the hubby is leaving training for the sandbox soon. Hopefully, we'll be able to talk to each other one more time before he takes off because who knows when he'll be able to call us next...

Hit and Miss

I hate how the internet connection for the hubby is either a hit or miss. The connection is never reliable was sucks because it's the only way we can "see" each other. I'm hoping that he'll be able to have better internet when he gets to the sandbox.

I made the kids french toast and apple slices this morning. I've been giving them cereal for the last few breakfasts, so this was a treat for them. I love how Lil PeeJay eats all his french toast first then his apples, Jazlynn eats her apples first then her french toast, and Alyssa alternates her food until she's finished. They're all so close in age, yet they're different.

Jazlynn's such a super helper and is very mothering to her younger siblings. When one of them bumps their head or something they run to their big sister for a hug. Jazlynn would give them a hug and a kiss and they would stop crying. If one of them is upset Jazlynn would say, "Aww, it's okay. I'll help you." She's great with them and loves to "help" me fold laundry. I usually give her towels to fold while I do everything else. Jazlynn's very talkative and outgoing when she's at home or with her regular group of friends, but she's shy and attached to me when we're at parties.

Lil PeeJay is the most affectionate of them all. He loves giving hugs, but when he has a meltdown it's all over! He's the one that whines about every little thing. However, I think it's because he can't verbalize his feelings quite yet. He speaks the least and bearly speaks in sentences. I figure his whining is partly because of his frustration. He's so darn cute though. Our filipino friends call him pogi.

Alyssa is our clown. She smiles and laughs all the time and is so cute even when she's crying. However, she uses her cuteness to her full advantage. I remember we were at a playground and all the kids took the basketballs already, so she ran up to an older group of kids and gave them her cute look and they gave her the ball. When she's in trouble she looks at you like, "But I'm cute..." and you can't help but smile at her. People tell us she looks like Boo from Monster's Inc.

We spent today coloring, playing with stickers, doing pretend play, and building with blocks. Alyssa always plays "Mommy" and pushes her doll in the little stroller. She even hangs a bag on the stroller like I do with their diaper bag. Jazlynn uses "cooks" in her kitchen and Lil PeeJay likes building with blocks. All of them enjoyed drawing with crayons. Thank God for washable crayons. I didn't even know there were washable crayons until a few months ago. I love them cause they wipe right off the wall or couch if the kids get carried away.

I cooked up some steak today to go with our left over salmon. I love how my menus have been these last few days. Spaghetti and garlic bread, Spaghetti and fried chicken, fried chicken and fried rice, fried rice and chicken nuggets, tuna casserole, tuna casserole and salmon, salmon and steak...yeah, I've been trying to use up everything in our freezers and pantry. I haven't gone grocery in over a week and that's a new record for me. I'm trying to save money cause Christmas is around the corner and we need to celebrate the twins' birthday this coming Friday. I'll probably take them to JW Tumbles then out for ice cream.

It's been a lazy Sunday and it's been good so far. Bathtime tonight, which is task in itself. Giving 3 toddlers a bath isn't too bad, but if they don't keep still it tests your patience. When PeeJay was here I would give the kids their baths while PeeJay would vacuum the living room. Once he finished vacuuming, it would be time to take the kids out of the bath and dry and change them. He would dress one kid while I would do the other two. I'd do the girls hair while he would start cleaning the kids' ears. They sit so sit for him when he does it for them. They always wiggle around when I do it. Now that PeeJay's away I have to do everything and it isn't too much but I miss his help. I love how we already know our jobs and we don't have to tell each other what to do. Teamwork...I miss that.

birthday cake and beer pong

Just came home from another birthday party. I was able to enjoy a few rounds of beer pong even if Lil' PeeJay was attached to my hip. It was nice to relax for a second and have some fun. Thank goodness for Tyra and Tess who helped me with the kids. I love how Lil PeeJay likes to follow Tyra around and how he runs up to her to give her a hug when he shes her. It still puzzles me how Jazlynn is so shy at parties. When there's a lot of people around she's glued to my side and when I'm out of her sight she freaks out. She's the most energetic one out of all of them when they're at home or with her regular group of friends. I'm hoping she gets over her shyness once Preschool comes around.

Remind me never to dress my kids in white during a party. Den Marie's and Katelyn's birthday cakes were so cute decorated in black and pink icing...but once the kids started eating that chocolate cake with black icing I was afraid of it getting everywhere! I started scraping off the icing so they wouldn't make a big mess. Alyssa's mouth was stained black. I wanted to wipe her clean as soon as I saw it but it looked cute. I can't wait to see the pictures Julie and Faith took of them.

Lil PeeJay kept trying to use his cuteness to get away with playing with things he wasn't supposed to. He kept wanting to wash his hands because he wanted to play in the water. Poor Tess kept bringing him to the sink, but after the 3rd time she finally told him no more. Then he ran up to Tyra and led her to the toy closet and started pointing at the top shelf where all the board games were. He kept asking to play with them...but I didn't allow it.

Jazlynn kept pooping her underwear! Ever since PeeJay left she has seemed to forget where to go poop! It's frustrating, but maybe it's her way of acting out cause her daddy's away...I dunno... I just hope she gets over it soon because her potty training was doing well for months.

All in all it was a good night. The kids had fun. I had fun. We got home safely and now we're waiting for the chance to talk to their daddy again.

Better internet connection

Less people=better internet connection. The hubby's internet connection was a lot stronger last night and we were able to talk on skype for a few minutes. Thank goodness for technology. Being able to see each other on the computer makes our time apart a bit easier. Jazlynn broke out in a rash last night so I had to give her Benadryl so help prevent the itching. The medication knocked her out an hour before her daddy called so she wasn't able to see him again. The twins played in their room while their big sister slept. As I folded laundry I could hear them laughing in their room. After I finished folding and putting my laundry away I went to take a peek at the twins. I found them with a half empty tube of Desitin! They had smeared the oily sticky cream onto each others arms and legs! They looked at me all innocent with the "What's wrong mommy?" look on their faces. I had to give them a second bath to get them clean again. My goodness, when you think you have babyproofed every possible thing you can in your childs' bedroom they prove you wrong.

So far so good this morning. Jazlynn's rash has disappeared. The twins didn't take their diapers off and they didn't trash their room. I'm hoping they take a good nap later this afternoon so they will be in a good mood at the birthday party we're going to tonight.

There's been so many birthday parties this month. I guess people do a lot of baby making during the holidays, haha! There's 2 birthdays today and 1 birthday party tomorrow. At least all these parties are keeping us busy and the kids have a chance to play with their playmates.

I'm so thankful for friends here in Guam. So many people have offered to help mow our lawn and watch the kids to give me a break while PeeJay's deployed. Without my support system I think I would go insane! Most of our family are in Alaska and California...an ocean away from where we are stationed so they can't really help me. With family being so far away, my friends have become my family. Thank God for them!

But yeah, now I'm waiting for my salmon fillet to defrost so I can bake it for lunch. I think I'm gaining weight from all the cooking and baking I've been doing lately. I've been trying new recipes and all of them have been yummy so far. Latiya, pancit, banana bars, different types of cupcakes, filipino style spaghetti, fried chicken...this is not the house to come eat at if you wanna diet, haha!

3 weeks down about 27 more weeks to go

I was doing so good until last night when I cried for the first time in 3 weeks. Now that the hubby's training is coming to an end, it's finally hitting me that he'll be heading to the desert soon. I have a history of being a crybaby so going 3 weeks without crying while being apart is a new record for me!

Earlier yesterday morning, the kids were really looking forward to seeing their daddy on the "pewter" but weren't able to because of the poor signal strength on skype. Jazlynn was pissed. She kept saying, "Mommy, I can't see my daddy! I miss my daddy! I can't see him on the "pewter." I want see my daddy!" I hate it when I see my daughter so distraught and I can't do anything about it. We ended up talking on our cell phones but that didn't satisfy my kids. They wanted to see their daddy.

I lost it later that night when we tried skyping each other again. We saw each other for a few seconds but the lag was so bad and our call kept on getting dropped. At least I was on long enough to see the hubby's new haircut, haha. I was getting so frustrated because we spent most of out time trying to call each other than actually talking to each other. When we finally gave up on skype and used our cells his bus was already coming. My frustration ended in tears, but I felt better when he called a few minutes later just to say "I love you and drive safely tomorrow." That made me cry again but that time my tears were because I was happy. The hubby just reminded me why I love him so much and put up with this "single" military spouse stuff.

Today my kids challenged my patience. This morning I went to their room to find Alyssa butt naked trying to put on one of Jalzynn's underwears and Lil PeeJay had tipped over their esel and was using it as a slide. Jazlynn was just laying in her bed like nothing was wrong. Later that afternoon, I put the twins in their room hoping they would settle down into a nap. A few minutes later I heard lots of laughing the closet door opening and closing. I knew that wasn't a good sign so I braced myself as I opened their bedroom door. I found Lil PeeJay sitting on top a dresser in the closet with a box of baby q-tips in his lap while Alyssa was sitting on the floor below him throwing pieces of cotton in the air as if it were snow. Within 5 minutes they had gone through 2 boxes of q-tips and had ripped the cotton from the stick. Yeah...

When I finally got them to settle down, I let Jazlynn help me bake cake for the bottom of my latiya. While I was gathering ingredients she decided to start without me and cracked the eggs. Yeah...I think there's a few egg shells in the cake now.

Goodness, that's just the first part of the day. Later while I was doing laundry, they decided to climb my chair to get to the dvds and they opened a handful of them. While they played in the bathtub I decided to multitask and get some vacuuming done...bad idea. When I wasn't watching they decided to add more soap to their tub to make more bubbles...but they used the ENTIRE bottle of bubble bath that I had just opened two days earlier.

Yup, toddlers definitely keep you on your toes... I'm too tried to write about everything else. I'm still waiting for the hubby to call. I'm hoping skype works better for us tonight!