3 Weeks Down: Surgery, Preschool and homeschooling.

We have reached the 3 weeks mark! We are almost to a month and I have to say that I feel like time is clipping along quite nicely. I'm hoping it stays that way!

My awesome new car decal!

My husband received his first care package along with some cards and stuff that my parents mailed him! He loved the package and said he's enjoying the snacks!

Our map showing where Daddy visits!

This past week I had to have a spinal block done to try and alleviate my sciatica. I have Lumbar Spinal Stenosis and my sciatica has been constant for about a month now. The block still has not kicked in, so I've been trying to take it easy.  If I can't get relief from the block then the doctor is talking about doing surgery! I'm trying to avoid that at all costs! Surgery is definitely not something I was planning on this deployment!

During this down time I've had a chance to think about Liam turning two! It's only 3 months away!  My husband and I were thinking about sending him to Preschool when he hit the 2 year mark, but our budget is not at the point where we could easily do that this year.  So, after I started thinking about it, it hit me! Why not just have Preschool at home with him? I mean my philosophy is mostly made up of the belief that children learn through doing and playing! Liam gets lots of interaction with other kids thanks to play dates, my moms' group and church, so I wasn't worried about that.It's not like preschool is foreign to me...during college and right after I graduated I taught preschool. I even created and taught a Spanish program for preschoolers at the school I was at.

My dapper almost 2 year old!

Now to decide on a teaching method!  I learned all about them in college, but it has been a while. Off I went to the internet to do some research.  If we were going to send Liam to preschool the Montessori schools in the area are on the top of my list. So, I started reading up on Maria Montessori and also looking at comparisons of preschool programs. That's when I stumbled upon the Steiner Method, also known as a Waldorf Education. I really liked the idea behind it. It wasn't really child centered, but more of a child involved way of life! I felt like it went right along with my ideals. There are aspects of both Montessori and Waldorf education that I love. I knew for sure that I was not going to do strictly one or the other...more like a little of both.  I then started looking for a curriculum, but just could not find one that was exactly what I wanted and not a lot of money.

After thinking about it long and hard I decided to write my own! I knew that the basis for what I want to teach Liam was going to be everyday life and lots of free play! I also loved that a Waldorf education is based on the seasons and festivals. Keeping those things in mind and our love of books I came up with a simple Waldorf Inspired preschool learning guide! 

I am so excited to share it with you all in my next post. It still needs a bit of tweaking and I'm trying to create a Pinterest board to go along with it. That way all the resources are in one place, if you choose to follow along! We'll be starting "Preschool" the second week of September after we return from a trip home. 

If you would like to learn more about the Montessori method and the Waldorf method check out Global Mama's series Hunting For A Preschool! She gives an excellent break down of the methods and their critiques. Who knows maybe you'd prefer the Reggio Emilia method or the Charlotte Mason approach!  

 

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2 weeks down: Care Package #1, International calling and France!!!

We hit 2 weeks down on Sunday! Woohoo!

Ever since my husband left I feel like all I've done is go from one doctor's appointment to another! Some days there were 2 in a row! After today I will be down to just a couple this month! Shew! Today I had an outpatient spinal block to try and calm my sciatica and hold off on back surgery. It went well and I'm praying it will last until my sailor returns! Surgery while he's gone is not something I look forward too! Lol 

Speaking of my sailor! We got to Skype with him today while he was in FRANCE! His ship is in port for a little bit before heading back out to sea. He found free wifi in town and we got to Skype. The connection was poor, but I loved getting to hear his voice and see his blurry face!!! 

This deployment my husband invested in an international SIM Card for his cellphone. It is pre-paid and he can add minutes as needed. It has already paid for itself! My husband was able to use it on the ship when they pulled in. The convenience of using his own phone is so helpful! He doesn't have to wait in line at a phone bank or wait to Skype in order to contact us. I absolutely love it!  

The company we bought ours through is Telestial. My husband picked the Passport SIM Card. Keep in mind that your phone has to be unlocked and that texts, pictures and data cost extra. You can also buy an unlocked phone and SIM card on the Telestial site. I highly recommend this for deployments! It is cheaper than the international plans through cellphone providers and so convenient! 

Oh and I almost forgot we got our first care package sent out! I sent a smaller one this time with not a whole lot in it. The main reason for that is that he stocked up on stuff before he left and has only been gone a short time. The space on the ship is limited when it comes to storage. I'm sure later on he will be making requests for things he's ran out of! So, here is our first care package....snacks, k-cups, PC Gamer magazine, a laundry bag (that he forgot), a USB stick with pics and videos on it, cold medicine and a glasses cleaning cloth! I also added a jewelry box with three pennies I found on the ground the day he had to report to the ship. I'm not superstitious or anything, but I thought it would be cute to send them to him for good luck. ;) I also included a little baggy full of sauces (BBQ, Soy, Honey mustard) for him to liven up the bland ship food and a tub of Chick-fil-A Sauce too!

As far as how I decorated my box goes... I just used Chevron duck tape and scrapbook paper for the flaps. The stickers are scrapbook stickers, as well! I bought a big book of different colors of scrapbook paper to use to decorate my care packages this deployment. I just tape it on and then add decorations. Super simple! My husband informed me that the boxes just get trashed, so I don't go too overboard and I make sure pictures are easy to remove, so he can keep those and trash the rest. I hope that helps! :)


I hope the rest of our days, weeks, months pass as quickly as these last two! Until next time!! 

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Libros and Bedtime.

Since February is the month of love I thought I'd share something Liam loves. Books. Or as we call them, Libros. Here are his current favorites that we read at least once a day and  always before bed.

1. La Tortuga Azul (The Blue Turtle) - This book has been his favorite for a while now. It's about a turtle that arrives first for a picnic even though he's the slowest. I found this book at Goodwill when I was pregnant. I'm always on the look out for books in Spanish and have lucked out a few times at our local thrift stores. 
2. Tortillitas Para Mamá and Other Nursery Rhymes- This book is in English and Spanish and we found it at Barnes and Nobles. It contains lots of Hispanic nursery rhymes and songs. Tortillitas para Mamá is probably Liam's favorite thyme. He loves to tap his hand on his leg to the beat. 
3. Mi Amor Por ti/ My love for You- This book was a Christmas present from Liam's Abuelita. He absolutely loves to look at all the animals in the book. 
4. Los Pollitos Dicen/ The Baby Chicks are Singing - We sing this one more than read it. It's a cute little song and Liam insists on turning the pages.

 While on the subject of books and bedtime, I also want to share our families little routine.

When it's time for bed my husband takes Liam into his room and reads him his favorite books in our old vintage rocker. Then he says, "Ahora, cepillate los dientes, Liam." (Now, brush your teeth, Liam).  I'm usually sitting on the couch taking a much needed break at this point and I see Liam shoot out of his room and into his bathroom. After Daddy helps Liam brush his teeth it's my turn to take over. I sing Liam a lullaby in Spanish and then an Irish lullaby while we rock together. I've done this since he was first born and will continue to do it for as long as he lets me!

This is from this past November, but it was the most recent picture of the two of them in the rocking chair reading.

The Spanish lullaby is called "Duerme Niña". Of course, I change it to niño. I tried to find a YouTube video of it, but none of them were the right version, so here are the lyrics.
  
Duerme Mi Niña         
Duérmete mi niña,
duérmete mi amor,
duérmete pedazo,
de mi corazón.

Esta niña linda,
que nació de día,
quiere que la lleven,
a la dulcería.

Esta niña linda,
que nació de noche,
quiere que la lleven,
a pasear en coche.

The Irish lullaby is "Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ra". I remember my mom singing it to me when I was little. Here is the link to a YouTube video of it. I love hearing this old Irishman sing it! 

An Irish Lullaby (Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ra)

Over in Killarney,
Many years ago,
Me mother sang a song to me
In tones so sweet and low.
Just a simple little ditty,
In her good old Irish way,
And I'd give the world if she could sing
That song to me this day.

Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral,
Too-ra-loo-ra-li,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral,
Hush, now don't you cry!
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral,
Too-ra-loo-ra-li,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral,
That's an Irish lullaby.

When Pablo isn't home (which happens quite often even without a deployment) Liam watches videos of Daddy reading his favorite books on the iPad.Then I read him a few more, brush his teeth and sing. We try to keep the same routine even when Daddy isn't home. <3

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Surprise, Surprise.

  I seriously got the biggest surprise ever this week and it wasn't my husband getting to come home for a few days before deployment. Well, I guess that was the first surprise. The second one will have to be revealed after I tell this little tale.

My husbands ship pulled in this past Sunday for a few days before leaving again on deployment on Friday (tomorrow)! He had Monday and Tuesday off and then duty Wednesday before liberty ended Thursday, so our little family made the best of them. Dinners out, lots of Daddy/Son playtime and just enjoying every minute together!

On our way to get Daddy Monday morning!

Home after 3 weeks.

Then Wednesday rolls around. A friend posted a news article on Facebook saying, "Breaking: Deployment Delayed." Then more news stations started posting the same information. No one believed it. It was 2 days away! There was no way it was delayed.

My husband was on duty, so I couldn't ask him if it was true until he called me. He called about 30 minutes after the articles had been released and said that there was no change to the schedule. As he sat in the hanger bay talking to me there were cranes moving extra pallets of food onto the ship in preparation for deployment.  Then the Captain came over the 1MC to make an announcement. The hubby said he'd call me right back when the Captain finished.  Those 4 minutes seemed to drag on forever. 

When he called back the second time I could hear the happiness in his voice before he even got out the good news. It was true! Deployment had been delayed! There was no word on how long until they'd leave again, but at that moment it did not matter. All I knew is that I'd been given more time with my husband...more time as a family.

Our future is uncertain. As a Navy family we're always on call. I'm learning that more and more now. All we can do is cherish every moment together and live like he deploys tomorrow.

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Sick Days Are Nonexistent

I haven't been feeling well the last few days. I thought it was just a cold and I'd get better. That didn't happen. I planned on making a doctor appointment Monday. Then Liam started running a fever Sunday evening and was up and down throughout the night. I made him an appointment with the doctor first thing Monday. Diagnosis : Strep Throat.

I realized then that I really had to go see the doctor, because more than likely I had Strep too. Sadly, I was right. I have Strep and a Sinus infection. Joy. 

Having a sick baby and being sick yourself is no fun at all. It's especially bad when your other half is deployed. You don't get a break when they come home from work. It's just you 24/7. 

After pondering this it dawned on me...Pablo has never been home when Liam was sick. He's either had duty or been on an underway. Luckily, Liam has only been sick a few times. I guess those times were preparing me for deployment though. 

I also wanted to share my favorite all natural remedies for dealing with colds, allergies and sinus crud (as I like to call it). 

• Hot Chamomile Tea with honey and lemon juice - This just makes me feel better and helps me get some sleep. 

• Honey - Raw and local is best, but I feel any honey is better than no honey!

• Maty's All Natural Baby Chest Rub - I use to be a Vick's Vapor Rub addict until I found out how bad petroleum is for you. I switched to Maty's for Liam and use it on myself as well. It's amazing. I would even go so far as to say it's better than Vick's! 

 

• Gargle with warm salt water - I also throw in a couple shakes of cayenne pepper too. It clears up your sinuses and helps a sore throat! 

• A Hot Shower- Taking a hot shower or running hot water in the bathroom sink with a towel over your head helps clear your head. I just love breathing in that warm steam. 

•  A Neti Pot- A Neti Pot is great for cleaning out your sinuses. I just started using one and can really tell a difference. If you click on the link you can learn more about nasal irrigation on WebMD.

 

There you go. A few of my favorite natural remedies. Some are not exactly remedies, but relief. I don't know about you, but when I'm sick I'll take all the relief I can get! 

Do you have any natural remedies? I'd love to hear them. 

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Then throw a hissy fit!

In my last post's title I stated Keep calm and stay busy. Today I'd like to clarify that I was just jumping on the "keep calm" bandwagon, because I thought it was cute.  After remaining calm and taking care of whatever just broke or cleaning the vomit off your shirt then it is perfectly acceptable to throw a hissy fit. Vent, yell, cry....just get it out.

 I will be the first to admit that I cry and break down. I think it's healthy to do so every once in a while. Or maybe you aren't that type of person. If so then this need not apply.

Sometimes you just need to vent that your time with your spouse was too short or you haven't gotten an email in a week. Sometimes you just need to cry because your son woke up and ran around the house looking for a "Da-Da" that isn't there. Sometimes you just NEED to breakdown because you MISS him.

I think tears come with the territory of being a military spouse. You are not weak because you cry. You are stronger because the tears mean this lifestyle hasn't made you numb. You still miss him as much as you did the first time he ever left, if not more. I think that means something. So, go right ahead and vent or have an all out Southern hissy fit. I'll be here to listen.

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Keep Calm and Stay Busy!

***Update: See this post to read about my husband's deployment getting delayed!!!



I've found that the key to surviving a deployment is staying busy.  Having regular activities planned on a weekly basis helps to pass the time. Last deployment I was VERY spontaneous. Road trips, impromptu dinners with friends, random mall trips, etc. This time around I don't see that happening.  Nothing is spontaneous with a toddler unless it's a blow out diaper...

No, This deployment will not be as impulsive, but I am determined to stay busy. I'm part of a Moms group that meets weekly. Stroller walking is on the menu and I'm really involved in church.  Then there's also that kid named Liam. He keeps me pretty busy, as well.

Oh and let us not forget the care packages and letters! They don't take much time, but boy can you get carried away! ha! I'm thinking about adding a few posts about my care packages. What do you think?

In the theme of staying busy Liam and I had a play date at the mall this A.M. Here's just a few pics of Liam playing. It wouldn't be one of my posts without pics of the boy, now would it?

So, what do you do to stay busy during a deployment? 

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