Dirk had decided that since no one is home, he will follow me around everywhere. He has also claimed Sam's side of the bed..........don't know who will have a bigger fit when Sam comes home.........him or the dog!
And yes, his shirt says "Who's Your Doggy?"
Ok, I know this is not a picture for everyone.......but since Daddy cannot download pictures, this journal is the easiest way to keep him updated too.
Last Wednesday, Abby had her last school shots in her upper leg. On Thursday night we noticed a small reaction and gave her Benadryl. On Friday morning the small reaction was a big reaction..........and we promptly made a doctors appointment. We traced around it with pen and marked the times (see picture).
The results: it was NOT a reaction to the immunization...............it's a BACTERIAL infection FROM the shot........resistant to the "cillin" family. So since Mommy is allergic to Sulfa we decided not to go that route, and she is on a super duty antibiotic. The medicine is yucky, but we've tamed it down a bit with some highly concentrated cherry Icee syrup!
It looks so much better this morning, but still 28 more doses of antibiotics to go!
After all of the waiting, she didn't want to get on the bus this morning. She wanted me to drive her to school. She finally agreed to get on the bus ONLY if she could sit with Melissa. Silly girl.
She is in the frog class this year, so look for lots of "froggy" stuff. We went to Kindergarten Orientation on Friday, she seemed to like her classroom and loves her teacher.
"The keyboard has no letters on the keys, all rubbed off.....lol...thank goodness for keyboarding class....lol."
This was part of a letter that Sam just sent. Just thinking about all the letters that were sent home from soldiers.......so many that they rubbed the keys off of the keyboard....makes you grateful for the silly things like keyboards.
Salvatore S. Culotta II
HHB 1-319th AFAR
COB Speicher
APO AE 09393
As you can see there is no rank or social security numbers this time!
To address current demand, the Postal Service has created a special “kit” that contains the necessary mailing materials based on the most popular items ordered to send care packages to the troops.
This kit may be ordered by calling
1-800-610-8734 and requesting CAREKIT04. The kit contains 4 Priority Mail boxes, 6 Priority Mail “Flat-Rate” boxes, 10 Priority Mail labels, one roll of Priority Mail tape, and 10 customs forms with envelopes. There is no charge for the kit.All packages and mail must be addressed to individual service members, in accordance with U.S. Department of Defense regulations.
Tonight was Open House at the Elementary and Middle Schools.
We have the greatest teachers this year! They are all teachers that we have had before....hmmmmmm.....wonder how that happened ;)
Abby is in Kindergarten. She is in the Frog Class. She has been waiting forever for the first day of school. Jacob is starting second grade, he hates to read, but hopefully this year he will want to read a little more. Melissa is in all her glory. Mrs. Kelly gives homework every night and Melissa couldn't be happier! Alexander is at the Middle School in sixth grade! He gets to join band this year and wants to play the sax. Andrew is starting school this year at Albritton Junior High, still playing the trumpet.....and Shay is heading to EE Smith for 10th grade (although mom is not too excited about EE Smith). Shay will be participating in the JROTC program.
Tomorrow is the first day of school.......Sam and I always teased the kids that we would have a party on their first day of school..........so much for that plan. Instead, my friend, Rebecca and I are celebrating with lunch at Fat Daddy's since all of her little ones are in school too!
Friday night we had our second annual back to school luau. It was a long day.
Melissa loved the Fayetteville Police Band....they let her help with the sound and one of the officers sang "My Girl" to her. The band's equipment is paid for from seized money and items from drug raids!
Abby was really good, she played with her pink flamingo that she named "Chicky".
Jacob just kind of hung around and did his own thing and made many trips to the snowcone stand.
Shay and Andrew spent most of the day setting up. We started at Noon and finished with clean up about 9:30. I'm glad the Luau's are only once a year.
Alex passed out the leis, in the end we just handed out two and three to get rid of them!
School starts on the 25th!
Abby has decided to put her birthday list in early, she wants a digital camera, a real one. She's been taking pictures all day with MY camera. She wanted me to put her pictures on the journal so her daddy could see them.
Sometimes I'm amazed that she's only five.
I signed on earlier today and Sam was online, she came in and saw the background and said "Dad's online, move over, I need to tell him something". She told him about school shopping. Her school shopping included a purse and 6 pairs of shoes (NO, I am NOT kidding) She told us earlier in the year that she couldnt' wait to go school shopping and she was buying LOTS and LOTS of shoes.
And yet she's only 5...........scary.
Sam was able to make a 10 minute phone call last night. He is doing well but said he forgot how hot it really is over there!
He should have a permanent address in about three weeks.
Sam left on Tuesday.......NOT.......their flight was delayed 24 hours.......we were VERY HAPPY to see him, but Wednesday morning was even tougher than Tuesday morning...........
It really stinks to say goodbye twice.
Thank you to friends and family for all of the support and all of the prayers. I will update Sam's address as soon as I get it!
2 days down.........363 to go..............
Sam left this morning for a year "vacation" to Iraq. I will send an address when he gets to where he is going.
We're doing good......just starting to get ready for back to school.
Shay worked this summer helping to install new playgrounds in the housing areas.
The heat made it yucky, so some mornings he would go out at 5:00 to beat the sun!
He hated the mulching!
The kids (and Sam and I) received VIP Passes for the Hilary Duff Rocks for the Troops concert last night.
We had a great time. We were able to meet Hilary and have our pictures taken with her. We even had second row seats!
(The other girl in the family picture is not Kayla it is our friend Courtney Russell! Even though Shay has a thing for redheads both sets of parents reminded their kids that this was NOT a date......it's a good thing we've been friends for a LONG time)!
