More randomness..yes, the limbo continues.

So I am trying to fill my mind with business. Can ya tell? LOL

So for an update on Big Joe and next duty station. Still nothing. I have only learned that we may have to move much sooner than I had originally planned, or at least Joe will report earlier and the kids and I will follow come January. The more people I talk to about Irwin the more nervous I get. But I know God is in control and I will keep praying for His will...but just remind Him how concerned I am.

I cannot believe the summer is almost over!! Joe has a week of gymnastics camp starting tomorrow (wooohooo). Then I have 4 days with him, and that's it! He is back to school! Something really cute Joe said today on the way to church.

Joe- "Mama, they don't have submarines in the military."

Me- "Yes, babe, they do in the Navy and Marines."

Joe- "Oh, I didn't know that. (long pause) Well, they don't have a kayak cuz there is no where to mount the gun."

I nearly had to pull over I burst in to laughter.

Random cuteness of all three.
Garrett is doing well. Talking more every day. Still working on the potty training, but not perfect yet.
My lil heart breaker...I can't stop thinking about the lil girls knockin on my door for him.

Katie is the same. She did get her very first tooth this week. And I pierced her ears...something I never thought I would do so young. But never say never...you know! I did get two of her tests back with negative results. I should hear more this week. I think this will be a pretty long road though. Patience, Liz, patience.

Look Mama, My big brothers gave these to me. I think I like em!! Can you see my purty new earrings? :)

For being such a tomboy myself...I LOVE dressing her up. So much fun!

And just a random P90X update. Phase II was difficult for me. Had to redo a week. Didn't feel well at other times, and the late nights were really catching up. But I have lost 5.5 inches total from my waist. The scale has still not moved but I can see all sorts of muscle definition I haven't seen in a long long time....like teenage years. So woohoo!! I'm hoping Joe being at camp next week will let me workout during nap time again since the 10pm thing is TOUGH. And I can hit phase three harder than ever when school starts!!

Limbo Blog

The past couple of weeks have been full of limbo. Joe will hear any day on what our next post will be. Of course we would love to stay here for several reasons, awesome school, awesome house, my Dad is 20 minutes away, great church and friends. But we (mostly I) are learning to just appreciate where we are even if it is only for a few short months. Like they say, the anticipation is much worse than the event. So we will wait...and even though I don't look forward to putting a for sale sign on this beautiful property I am so excited about being a complete family again.

We are also in waiting on the health of Katie (kinda of another reason why I am nervous to move). Her doctors are very concerned with her size and are running several tests. I like the fact that they are being thorough but it is very scary for them to list a bunch of things that could possibly be wrong with your baby (enter Little Joe flashbacks here...shiver). I am trying to look at it as I will love her no matter what they say and we will learn to handle any if any issue she might have.

Other things we have been doing are having a yard sale, getting Katie's 9 month pics taken, getting church directory pictures taken, and growing veggies :) I was so please to pick my very first watermelon the other day!!!! Although I picked it a little early..pout. Did you know you have to have bees to grow melons? Luckily we do :). And there is a very fine line with a ripe melon and an overripe melon...hence the picking early. And you can't "thump test" the melon in the heat of the day to see if it's ripe because they all sound that way. Need to do it in the morning or evening. I have a whole new appreciate for melon farmers :) Hopefully my next one will be PERFECT!! I have enjoyed a tomatoe and an ear of corn though :) Yum this has got to be my favorite part of summer...just just can't beat homegrown food. Ok random pics to go with random post ;)

My first harvest of the season :)

sneak peek at Kati's pics....so stinkin CUTE!!

The boys wanted to build a fort and decided their sister needed to be in on the action :)

Joe comforting Garrett...melt my heart.

Move over..Joe is 6!!

I cannot believe my sweet 6lb 10oz baby is 6 years old. He had such a good time yesterday despite the rain all day. They still enjoyed the slip-n-slide as well as about 120 water balloons. It was crazy and loud but man did they have fun!! Joe decided he wanted a construction themed party so I did my best and thought everything turned out really cute :) There was of course cake and a pinata too :)

Pretty good Mom :)

Whack it!

We liked it too!!

A friend shared her son's birth story and things she loved about him....just another idea I will steal from her (thanks Heather :)). Joe was deployed to Iraq and I had had a pretty complicated pregnancy with Joe. I was life flighted to Topeka for 2 weeks after going into preterm labor and suffering a heart condition. So by the time 37 weeks came around I was ready to have that baby. A good friend of mine was visiting me and she was almost as determined and decided to take me out for buffalo wings and a 2 mile walk to get things started. So when contractions started a few hours later I was slightly hopeful but didn't think it would happen. My friend drove me to the hospital at about 4pm. My blood pressure was up and I was 4 cm, so the doc just decided to break my water. Woohoo!! Then after 13 hours of natural labor and 1.5 hours of pushing (yes natural people...was told I couldn't have an epidural because of hardware in my back) Joseph Ollin was born at 3:05am. I will never forget after peeing on the doctor she looked at me and said "He better look like your husband cuz he doesn't look a thing like you." There was no doubt he was his father's son and the argument over his name was settled. I couldn't name him Jacob...he was definitely a Joe. He was perfect and precious. And although he has endured a lot he continues to amaze me. Love him to pieces :)

Now to 6 things I love about 6yr old Joe

1. His smile...everyone talks about it...it lights up the room.
2. His love. This child is so loving, to his siblings, to his parents, to just about everyone.

3. His goofiness. He has an awesome since of humor and can crack me up even when I am down.

4. His eyes...they are like cool water. I think they are beautiful.

5. His toughness..I'm not sure if I could be as tough as this little boy.

6. His brain...this kid is SOOO smart I know I know every Mom says that about their kid but he has a way with numbers and I really think he has a photographic memory. He can tell you what day of the week almost any date on the calendar is...it's crazy.

RC and Moonpie Festival

Ok by that title you KNOW I live in the south! LOL So it was a last minute trip last week to Bell Buckle TN. By the way Joe loves to say the word Bell Buckle...I heard it at least 50x during the weekend. This is an annual event with different contests, a parade, and vendors and of course plenty of RC and moonpies.

So I went with two friends, David and Tim. David's wife had work and Tim's was taking care of their sweet baby girl who wasn't feeling so hot. After parking on the lawn of a beautiful home we trecked downtown and took a look around. We waited for the parade which consisted of the only cop car in Bell Buckle (yes they only have ONE), a 1952 firetruck, a new firetruck, a small bus, a hot rod, a dune buggy, and a man on a horse! Too funny. They had contests for the oldest person there, youngest, furthest traveler, and others. We tried to see some of it but it was so crowded we couldn't. They also served the world's largest moonpie when it was over.

We had a good time visiting with a magician, eating, and buying some homemade blackberry cider. I had a great time even though I am still recovering from a very badly burned shoulder. It was stinkin hot there! We also had several comments of either David or Tim was the father of all five children present and I was obviously the mother...yep bet you didnt know I had twins 10 days apart ;). Mostly we just smiled at the comments but it was pretty funny.Downtown Bell Buckle.

The 1952 firetruck. They honored their firechief of 42 years that had passed away last year.

Joe and Garrett doing tricks with the magician.Hannah feeing Joe some ice cream..so cute right?

Dads of this family

Joe and I have been blessed with wonderful fathers. I just wanted to talk a little bit about my Dad and Big Joe as a father.

My Dad is an unbelievable man. He grew up in Central Texas as the oldest of three children. He entered the Army as a young man and severed our wonderful country during the Vietnam War. He was married to my mother for over 40 years before she passed. And in her last months he brought all the home health care needed to their beautiful home and put her bed in from of huge windows so she could see the river and horses from her bed even though the docotrs were suggesting a nursing home. He is a great man. Stern, rugged, cowboy like nature. Yet I was a Daddy's girl for sure. Some of my best memories as a child with my Dad are doing donuts in an elementary school parking lot on snowy days, Daddy daughter nights at Sonic where he would take me to get half price burgers, riding on his motorcycle when I was very young, spending weekends at our lake cabin fishing, tubing behind his boat...you catch my drift. He still loves to chop wood for his fireplace, still loves his horses, wears cowboy boots to work (and my wedding ;)). I will never forget him walking me down the aisle telling me to picture Gunner running though fields as I looked at him through my tears. When it came time for the question "Who gives this woman to this man?" He replied very bluntly, "I'm not giving her away to anyone. She's on loan." I LOVE him. When I hemorrhaged after Katie's birth he was there...even though he doesn't like blood. When I hit a tree on my bike when I was five he was there to patch me up. I couldn't have picked a better father for me. And they say a girl tends to marry someone like her Dad...didn't think that was really true until I met Joe.

Joe is an awesome Dad. The rough and tumble type. A big kid at heart behind that rough, muscular, officer exterior. I love to watch him with the boys and I CANNOT wait to see the relationship that develops between him and Katie. Again when I need him he is there...even if he is half way around the world. Many times he has talked me through situations at home when he has much more to worry about at work. He was on the phone for Katie's birth, cut the cord for Garrett's, and was ecstatic to receive a Red Cross message that his first born arrived with Joe. He loves to take the boys to Tractor Supply and look at "man stuff". He has coached a soccer team amazingly when he has been home. And he has made the statement that we will wear three shirts and peel them off for different sporting events saying "Joe's Dad" next shirt "Garrett's Dad" last shirt "Katie's Dad".

So guys this is for you. I hope you have an awesome and wonderful Father's Day. And to our Greatest Father, God, thank you for giving me such wonderful men. May we honor You as well.

Summer fun! and p90x update

Well three weeks in and we are going strong :) We had a week of VBS and the kids loved it! I had a good time too but I think it wore me out more than them lol. By the way I taught 2yr olds. Garrett was in my class along with 10 -15 other lil ones. It was nice to spend time loving on him without Joe and Katie. I worry sometimes about the whole middle child thing. Kid will probably be extra spoiled because of it.

All three suited up for VBS.
Hannah and Garrett looking at giraffes :)
Joe and Hannah playing in the sprinklers.
Katie hung out in the sling with me :)

On the last day of VBS we went to the Nashville Zoo with some good friends. They have two little girls. Their youngest being just ten days younger than Katie. We had an awesome time...kids and adults. Joe's favorites are still the elephants...too bad they were kinda far away. But he loved the lil sprinkler area. Hannah (4) was cracking me up scooting near the water but if she got a drop on her she would scream and run for the hills!!!

Baseball season is officially over. I survived!! Overall it was quite as stressful as I thought. And Joe has really progressed. He makes an awesome catcher. And made several base hits thoughout the season. We've also hit the pool a couple of times...I went for a 2+ hour ride on Dad's girlfriend's farm, and have even ventured to Chuck E Cheese....can you tell I am trying to keep them busy lol??
Random cute pic of Bug. Trying to show how little she still is. If you know me well I have very little feet (those are a 5 and a lil big). She is still in 0-3 month clothes...but packs a lotta punch from that lil body :)

So now for the p90x update. Today I began phase II which is the start of a new workout routine for the next three weeks. I could tell I was starting to plateau at the end of week three so I am excited for the change. This is definately INTENSE though. But hey if you want the result you gotta work hard. Here are the latest results....drum roll please.....tatatata waist 30 inches hips 37 inches. Yahoooooo!! If I remember that's 4.5 inches off the waist and an inch off the hips in 4 weeks people!! Still no weight loss but I hear that's normal....and I need to quit thinking numbers and just be happy with size. So woohooo! BRING IT!

8 years and 8 months

On June 2 Joe and I celebrated yet another anniversary apart. Bleh. I remember a friend of mine posting what they had done over 8 years...so this year I wanted to do the same...

June 2,2001- Joe graduates from USMA at 10am and we are married at 3:00pm

June 3- Disney World!!!

June/July 2001 Joe and Liz go to be camp councelors at an all girls camp in SC

Fall 2001- Liz attends senior year at school while Joe goes to Knox and then Ft Riley KS

Sept 11, 2001...need I say more

December 2001 Joe and Liz take a road trip from Tennesse to Texas to Oregon to Kansas (to move Joe to Fort Riley Kansas) over the the span of 2 weeks in Joe's itty bitty Honda Civic

May 2002- Liz graduates from Sewanee with BS Liz moves to Kansas REALLY living with Joe for the first time. Liz gets a great job working for KS Wildlife and Parks

Fall 2002- Liz and Joe lose their first baby to miscarriage at 13 weeks..thankfully we get pregnant soon after with Little Joe

Spring 2003- Joe to Iraq OIF I

July 2003 Little Joe is born!!!

(the saga of Lil Joe's health begins....if you really wanna know email me)

November of 2003- Joe comes home on emergency leave for Little Joe. Meets his son in the hospital...was on every major news station and in the Kansas City Star. Little Joe has his first surgery.

January 2004 Little Joe stops breathing in the hospital and is revived...his 2nd and 3rd surgery soon follow

April 2004 Joe returns from Iraq

CRUISE TO CARRIBEAN!!!

6 weeks later Joe will find out he will return to Iraq in 9 months for OIF III

January 2005 Joe goes back to Iraq for OIF III

Febuary 2006 Joe returns from Iraq

May 2006 Joe and Liz lose another baby due to miscarriage..again thankful to get pregnant easily eafterwards.

May 2006 Joe and Liz move back to Liz's hometown where Joe will recieve his Master's degree in Military History Liz gets a job at a vet clinic as a surgery tech

May 2007 Garrett is born!!!!

December 2007 Joe grad from Austin Peay....the first to recieve Master's in Military History

January 2008 Joe leaves for 6 months to Ft Knox

June 2008 we recieve word that our latest pregnancy is a GIRL!!!

July 2008 Joe leaves for Korea...15-18 month tour

August 2008 My first baby goes to Kindergarten

October 2008 Katie is born!!!

December 2008 Joe comes home on R&R meets his daughter and spends 4 weeks with family

June 2009 HERE WE ARE

Sooo....needless to say I've been alone a lot in the last 8 years. Joe has lost classmates, friends, babies, and his platoon sgt was severely injured and is still in a coma today. But we have never been so happy...so in love..so grateful for what we have. We have a wonderful family, friends, church, home, shoes on our feet, clothes on our back, and food on the table...can't get much better if you ask me.

Part II 8 months

So if you did the math above Bug is now 8 months old. I just cannot believe it! She is a total Mama's girl. She loves to snuggle and be tickled. She'll sit on her own for a little while. She thinks her brothers are hilarious!!!! She has some teeth coming. I can see them but they haven't broken through. Thus she is putting everything in her mouth, including her adorable feet. Still tiny..still precious.