it's F R A C T U R E D in two places

It was a rough night and tough morning with Caden, but we're slowly getting pain medication in him even if Daddy has to convince him to cooperate with me over the telephone. At this point, I'll take whatever help I can get with my strong-headed little guy. Jim took Coleman on a bike ride last night which brought tears and sobbing from our little man who has a hard time sitting still.

When he woke up in the recovery room yesterday he said, "What did those guys do to me?" He said yesterday and just mumbled again, "I told you I didn't want my tonsils out." Too late now.
Ok, I think I'm ready for them to come home. They've been gone {a whole} two nights- that's long enough for this mama. I truly can't even think about Justin moving out for college next year. Can't.
Ty called back yesterday afternoon to let us know he's alright. Jim answered the phone. He said they did take him to the Krankenhaus {German hospital} and has his finger in a splint. Fortunately, it's not a buckle fracture and it doesn't need to be set.
He's still playing- just can't catch catch too well. At the end of their conversation, Jim asked if he wanted to talk to me. He said, "Nope, I'm ok." Guess talking to dad was good enough.

Their sheets are clean, rooms are tidy. Tomorrow night, they should be home {exhausted} from three-a-days at camp. Wake up and breakfast at 6:30 should be enough of a shock for them after being on a lazy summer schedule the last two months.

I can't wait to hear how they did. I miss them.
Ty's room before:

Ty's room now:

Justin's room before:

Justin's room now:

C A D E N S tonsils are O U T

They're out. We're home from Caden's surgery- his tonsils and adenoids are gone forever. What a relief. He had a little anxiety while waiting for them to take him back. Once again, we had a wonderful anesthesiologist who offered some happy juice to take off the edge.

It not only made Caden happy, Jim and I couldn't stop laughing. Within ten minutes, he couldn't even form a word. Still fighting lying down, he tried to get up several times while his eyes grew heavier by the minute.

Watching his eyes roll back and mumbling words at the same time was very entertaining.

If there's one thing Caden hates- it's anyone laughing at him. He wasn't so out of it he didn't notice our laughing and tried to form the words, "stop laughing." It came out more like "ttt laff..."
Oh, it was funny- good stuff. I don't know why they don't offer it more- why make surgery more traumatic than it already is? He now doesn't remember a thing.

He did have a tough time coming out of the anesthesia in the recovery room. When we were brought in, he was thrashing around and they were having troubles holding him down. I think the assistant was more than a little relieved to see us step in and help with him.

He ripped the monitor off his hand, so they put it on his toe. When the nurse went to give him more pain medicine, she realized his IV was out- somehow he knocked it out as well. As soon as I saw this, I felt all the blood leave my face and started seeing stars. There's something horrible about seeing your kids in pain. I don't always handle it so well.

The nurse quickly got me a chair and a soda to get some sugar in me as well. I think I panicked thinking they were going to have to put a new one in. Luckily, I recovered before passing out and we avoided a new IV stick in our little guy.

I know everyone handles anesthesia differently, but I can't help but wonder if personality plays a part as well. When we first saw Coleman in the recovery room {last month} he was resting calmly. Moaning, but calm. Caden = crazy thrashing. Coleman had a couple extra doses of pain medication. Caden went without.

After lots of throwing up, he was finally able to get up and walk to the bathroom.

We let him know as soon as he could make it there- we could go home. The nurse would push him out to the curb in the wheelchair.

Of course he immediately said, "I don't want a wheelchair. I'm going to walk." Coleman was quite content taking the free ride down in the wheelchair.

Caden took it too, just a little {or, a lot} more reluctant. These two are definitely day and night!

There's no place like home and we're planning on a calm day of rest.

Day One {not even half the day} at football camp and we already got a call from the coach. It's Ty this time. While catching a ball he has fractured his finger in two places. Not a great start to the week. I think the German hospital was closed {either their normal long lunch or another German holiday}, so they're heading back later. We should get a new update this afternoon.

If it's not one, it's another. Have I ever mentioned life with boys is never dull.

S U R G E R Y tomorrow

Busy, busy day. Down to one kid tonight and it feels strange. I'm not sure I like it. Actually, I know I don't like it- not one bit.

Justin and Ty left this morning for football camp. I made eggs for breakfast and neither of them finished their plates. Both had a nervous tummy. For Justin, it's high expectations from a coach that has yet to see him play. He wants to do well and feels the pressure to show what he's made of. His ankle {while improved} still isn't 100 percent. Oh, I just hope he doesn't get injured more.
For Ty, it's back to football after a couple years off. Even having a solid foundation and knowledge of the game, it's showtime and the pressure is on to do well. I wish I could take the stress and pain away from both of them, but I can't. Jim dropped them off at the school this morning to catch the bus for a 4-hour bus ride to Ansbach.

Watching them stress only reminds me of earlier volleyball days and puking in just about every bathroom of every locker room in the Anchorage vicinity. I had a nervous stomache and never figured out how to overcome it. I'm just sorry I passed it on to them.

Coleman had the easiest day {by far} as we took him out to a friend's house for his first overnight sleepover. He was super excited to go- he even let us know he did not need his blankies. Wow- he's growing up.

For Caden, it's surgery tomorrow. Round two for us this month. He's getting his tonsils out- showtime is 6:15am. We should be home by early afternoon if all goes well. It's the same doctor who took Coleman's out. We expect a smooth day and are stocked up with lots of popcycles and ice cream.

Justin's the last one to still have his tonsils. He said, "I've had them 17 years with no problem- I see no reason to take them out now." He's got a point- for now, they're staying.

its a little D O O R

We're surrounded. Luckily, it's not a bad thing. Our house is right off the street- connected to a huge garage with three different bays.

Connected to our house is the first section that they keep all their mowers and yard stuff in.

Even with our oversized single garage and huge basement, Alexandra told Jim he could keep his mower/weedwacker or even the big bikes in if we needed the room.

Directly behind our house is Alexandra's brother's house. Their driveway goes along the side of our house. On one side of his house is Alexandra's house and to the other side is their mother's house.

All three are beautiful homes with gated driveways and immaculately landscaped yards. No chicken coops around here.

We have a little terrace behind our bedroom with a big wall. So, behind that wall is the brother. In spite of beind so close to their house, it actually feels quite private. Super close to the kitchen- if I have my way, we {Jim} grill out every weekend.
Slowly, we're making our way through the boxes- settling a little more each day.

Here's a look at the little guys' bedroom. The view from their window is directly into the brothers yard. Not a bad view.

Here's a look at their room put together. A valance up, quilts on their beds. It should stay nice and clean since their toy room is hidden through this small door.

The best thing about it- the doors are so almost soundproof, when they're playing in there I can't hear a thing.

It's great.

Yes, it's a little door- I have to duck going in and yes, I've already hit my head more than once.

Today, it's more work on the office in the loft.
Eventually, we'll have an organized house.

really H A P P Y

That's a little too long to have garbage on the top of my blog- sorry. After almost a week without the Internet, we're back online and in touch with the outside world. Last week, we had a cable {not so bright} guy come to re-align our satellite for the free {Armed Forces Network} limited television that we have here.

In the process, he cut off our Internet and phone. The big boys headed out to the library to get online. Jim had it at work. I went without.

My husband {as sweet as he usually is} said he thinks I might have had the hardest time without it. At first, I got a little defensive. What's he talking about? I can live without the computer- no problem. Fact is, I think I did. Once again, he's {probably} right. To me, this feels like a journal and missing a week is missing a lot.

Today, I'm really happy. Happy for simple things.

It's Friday. I get more of my husband the next couple days which I always love. If it was during the school year, I'd be excited for more time with the boys too. But, being summer- I've kinda had enough of them this week.

I'm happy for the new sheer curtains in our kitchen. Alexandra had them made and brought them over this week. Nothing extravagant- a simple sheer but I love them. I think it makes the room feel finished.

With her coming over this week, she asked about the boys- even mentioning them by name which I couldn't believe. Again, she asked if we're happy here. She then said, "I really hope you don't have to move." I told her no way- we're staying put, we love it here. She responded, "Ooh, but is that a guarantee?"
I guess nothing in the Air Force is guaranteed. It's a nice feeling to know she wants us here. We're not just renters that are an inconvenience to them.

I'm happy for new plants. There's a yard-sale site here kind of like a Craigslist for the military here who are constantly coming and going. I love house plants and obviously couldn't bring ours from Kansas.

I've slowly added one at a time that I've found on this site. It's much cheaper than buying all new pots and plants.

This week, I got five {5} beautiful, healthy plants in their pots all for $20 from a lady. Isn't that a silly thing to be so happy about?

On a super tight budget, plants aren't high on the priority list- it was nice to find such a bargain. It might sound funny to say they were in their pots, but seriously- I bought a plant one time {here} that the lady had taken out of the pot and put in a plastic bag, ugh.

I'm so happy the big boys {at this moment} are at equipment check out for football. Yeah! That means football season is around the corner. We're super thrilled that after a couple years off, Ty decided to try out as well. We'd LOVE to see them both out on the field together. They head off to camp on Sunday.

On the subject of football, it makes me happy that Justin's coach has named him as one of the captains for this years team. It's not just the fact that he's a captain which is {I guess} kind of cool. It's the fact that in spite of never having seen him play football, he can already see the love and dedication my son has for the game.

Working and working and working for so many years- to move for his final {senior} season with a new team wasn't easy. I know I've had a lot of guilt. It's reassuring to know he's already being seen for what he's become rather than having to spend half the season proving himself.

It's nice to see him so excited and ready to get out and lead by example. I'm also happy his ankle {while still black and green with bruising down to the ends of his toes} is doing much better- he thinks he's ready to go.

Mostly, we're happy this week to be done with the Russians. Totally done with that negative chapter of our lives that I won't bring up again. We had to get a housing liason to help us get our money back.

They called and called {five times a day} and Rosa wouldn't answer her cell phone. She keeps it in her front pocket. Jim told housing that they weren't on vacation. Finally, the housing lady called on the housing phone {again, no answer} then, she called right back on her cell phone {a new non-base number} which Rosa immediately picked up. I think that's just awful- so spiteful.

They already have new renters in and will continue to rent to desperate Americans looking for a house. I don't get it. We even found out the housing office had a file on them already. They tried to charge previous renters for cracks in the walls from the house settling. Insane. How are they even allowed to continue renting? I have no idea.

They charged us a ton and didn't give us our interest on our $4300 USD deposit they were holding {required of landlords} but, we're done. Done.

I think more than anything this week, I feel a new calm that I haven't felt since leaving Kansas. It's almost like I feel like I can handle anything now. We've weathered the storm and come out ok.

I'm quite certain when our time is up, we'll be excited to get back to the US, but for now- it's ok. We can hopefully enjoy our time here as opposed to enduring our time here. Our house finally feels like a home.

I think that makes all the difference in the world.

so many C A N S

A week after moving in {after she returned from a trip to their vacation home in Italy}, I had the chance to spend some time with Alexandra, our new landlord. The more I am around her, the more I like her.

Everytime I walk away from her I say to myself and anyone around me, "She is just so nice. I can't believe how nice she is." Yes, I say the same thing every single time. Over and over.

Getting our utilities set up was one of the most stressful things related to our relocation. I now understand why my friend didn't quite understand what I was talking about or why I was so frustrated for weeks on end.
Alexandra did it all for us. She set up the Electric/Gas appointment and let me know what day they were coming to sign the contract. It's the same company for both utilities- how easy is that? We're paying our estimated water straight to her with our rent so no worries or another direct deposit to set up.

Garbage. It's been one of the most difficult things until this last month. Look at all these garbage cans. and they're all ours.

Five cans total and three of them are gigantic.

I almost can't believe it. After moving in, we had more than we ever had in our other house. I was happy with that. They have a BIO collection in this village which is wonderful.
The glass recycle bins are at the end of our street as well which is super convenient. This experience has made me understand that it's not that difficult- with a little help from a German-speaking landlord kind enough to take care of you.

Last week, Alexandra let me know she called the garbage company and they would be bringing larger cans for us. I was in shock. She made the call for us. Over garbage- so silly. They not only brought a new larger black can {for our yucky garbage}, we now have two. The smaller is the size of our old one.

They also brought a new small BIO can to go with our super large BIO can we already have. Check out this super huge blue paper can as well.

One day after working on some house stuff with her she said, "I really hope you enjoy living here." She has no idea. Not a clue.

the B E FO R E look upstairs

Since I obviously don't have our upstairs put together {yet}, here's what the before looks like. I hope to have a burst of energy and drive to finish up this whole move-and-get-settled thing any day now. It's so easy to start out strong, then fizzle. Why do I have to do that? It's so irritating.

This is the loft area that is now our office. Look at all that light. It gets warm up there, too but the windows open all the way up which is nice. Already, I love sitting up there when it is raining which has been about every other day this month. The beating of the rain on the upper windows is so calming.

Here's a look back across the upstairs. The boys bathroom is at the end. Coleman and Caden's bedroom is next door. Justin 's room is next and Ty's is closest to the computer. Yes, I do think that's how he picked his bedroom. It was all a question of proximity. Router. Wireless Internet speed. Games. Need I say more? Oh, my sweet Ty.

At this end is the bonus {slanted} room that is now an overflow office {junk} room and spare bed set up for Justin to sleep in once company comes and he gives up his bedroom.

Have I mentioned how much we LOVE living next to base since most of everything in our life right how happens on base? I love that Jim gets off work at 5:00 and can be home by 5:05. Love it. I know it's crazy, but it feels like so much more time together.

B E A U T I F U L gladiolus

Look what we picked! A few months ago, we found beautiful tulips in this you-pick field.

This time, we were able to walk to the field as the sunflowers and gladiolus are in bloom.
Again, the small field is beautiful with every color available.

With stems as tall as Caden, it was fun to just walk around looking at the full, vibrant blooms.

You simply walk down the rows, pick the flowers you want, then put your money in the coin slot to pay for them.

Just a quick fifteen-minute walk from our house, Coleman and Caden rode their bikes while Lady and I walked.
We made it home with five of them and delivered two to Oma across the street who was delighted.

As it feels like summer is slowly slipping away, it was a bonus to feel the sunshine on my face- made for a great afternoon.

testing out the T R A I L S

Lately, the weekends just seem to go by way too fast. It was a nice weekend around here, just not nearly long enough.

As mentioned in my previous post, we finally took a break from unpacking and cleaning to get out and enjoy the trails in our new village.

Saturday, we went on a four-mile trek. Sunday, we ventured out for two miles. Coleman and Caden rode their bikes both days. Ty joined us on Sunday which was great.

Jim was kind enough to jog & walk with me since I'm still a wanna-be runner who moves slower than anyone in this entire world. Entire world, no joke.

After a two-month break from running with my friend, I was feeling the aches {again}. It was nice to get moving again and especially to take in a little fresh air. As red as my face gets, you would have thought I was sprinting. Aah... the joy of getting back in shape. There's a special bonding that I feel when we work out together and I love it. We just need to do it more.

The little boys loved it, too. Of course, Lady was in heaven. We took periodic breaks, said Morgen and Halo to several grandpa and grandmas and enjoyed the calm and beauty around us.

Here's a little of Mackenbach and the sights in our neighborhood.

A little corner grocery store

There are two bakeries around the corner from us. The first weekend we were here, we took off to do errands. With no breakfast food in the house, we left Ty some Euro to run get something at the Bakery so he wouldn't starve. He said he started talking to the lady in German and she politely said in return, "You can just say it in English." Kind of funny.

There are a lot of Americans in our village being so close to the base. I'm sure she's used to Americans. He said the pasteries were yummy.

A little restaurant just down the street. We'll have to try it out.

Love, love, love the horses. Across from this field is a field with about 15 of them. Beautiful.

We found this little guy in a field of wheat. A couple others were close by.

We take this bridge to leave our village and into the wooded area across the street. The bike trails within our village and going out are endless. You can probably take a different route every day of the year and still have options. We did go on the same trails we mistook for a street just a few months ago. We're learning.

 I also LOVE, love, love the amazing wildflowers here. I think that might be what reminds me most of Alaska. The colors are amazing. Here are a couple. I was running too fast {haha} to get pictures of them all.

Mission Accomplished: two exhausted little guys back home again

Maybe we should have started with a shorter ride and worked up to four miles. They were both pooped!