Sunday, May 28, 2006

This and That

It's windy today, but beautiful, and in my home we're beginning a new journey you could say. As all mom's who've potty trained know, it can be easy, hard, or well just be. My youngest has decided it's time! YAHOOOOO!!! Let me tell you this momma is a very HAPPY Momma! LOL He's not even 3 yet, so I've refused to get all stressed out, but I'm an honest woman and admit to being jealous when friends who's children are the same age (or gasp younger) who's kids are PT. Finally Jack's ready! He never made it to the potty once yesterday, but he was in big boy pants all day and he TRIED to get there, and that my friends is HUGE progress. Right before bedtime he told me, "Mommy I have to pee" so I told him to hurry up and get to the bathroom, he didn't quite make it, he walked back sad and said "oh no Momma, I peed." His underwear were soaked, but he DID try. I gave him a big hug and told him "Tomorrow you'll make it". That seemed to cheer him up and on went the diaper for the night, and into the pj's.

Both my boys have been "blessed" with allergies. I never had issues with them growing up, but as an adult they've reared their ugly head at me, and so we all seem to suffer together. The last few nights the boys just cough and cough. I went to the pharmacy and had their script refilled, but it's not helping, so I'm going to see if I can get them in on Tuesday and try something stronger. My oldest, does NOT like how the coughing breaks into his sleep and told me last night that he's just sick of coughing all the time. About 2 am both boys got into bed with me. I have a few extra pillows in my bed and them elevating their heads seems to help a little. Eventually I had one on one side of me and the other on the other side. Now in general I struggle to sleep like this, but last night we all just seemed to fall into a deep sleep. Of course my allergies are not bothering me, so I'm not sure what exactly is high right now that's irritating them. It's NOT pollen I know that. We had thick pollen a couple weeks ago, and I thought my head was going to explode and although it aggrevated them, it wasn't bad for them. I'm seriously considering having them do allergy tests on both boys if they can here at our clinic (I don't know we may have to go else where for that test). But, I need to know exactly what it is they are allergic to and make sure they're getting the best medication for that particular allergy.

Well, onto my fun topics. It's a pretty nice day, there are dark clouds looming over us, but it wouldn't be Spring in Germany if there wasn't the threat of rain! LOL The temps are perfect, there's a slight wind, hopefully the rain will stay at bay and I can take the boys out to play for at least an hour after they get up from their nap. If we don't, I'm going to pull out the paints and let them paint Daddy a picture and mail it off in his care package on Tuesday. I have a big package ready to go out. I had it ready Thursday, but Jacob had his Tball party, and we didn't get to the post office before it closed at 6. Friday somehow we just didn't make it there, we didn't do a thing either, I hate when days get away from you like that! Our post office isn't open on Saturdays and Monday's Memorial Day, so Tuesday it is! I plan on being there right at 10 when it opens to get the package out to him. I am thankful that I can mail him care packages for free. That's just one of the many perks of living in Germany. Since only the military touches the packages, we don't have to pay for them. Well as long as they weigh less than 70 lbs! Seriously that's not hard, even if I some how managed to get a package to weigh that much, I'd just split it in two!

Well that's it. Nothing too exciting, but that's life! :) Oh wait, a friend and I are planning a trip. We're trying to decide where to go...France, Italy, or Spain. I think we may end up doing Italy. She has 3 kids and then my two. We're going to find out the cheapest route to go, whether it's driving, flying, or by train...where to stay, etc. We both are wanting to go to Rome and to Vatican City (neither of us are Catholic, but seriously how can you not go there when in Rome!!) So hopefully in the next couple weeks we'll have that all figured out, dates, prices, etc!

Here's a little trivia for you. Did you know that Vatican City is it's own state?!! I never did until we moved here to Germany. We get AFN (Armed Forces Network). We do not have to sit through all the commercials that you guys do, but we do have our own "set" of commercials. More of mini infomercials you could call it. Different information on Europe, the US, Asia, etc, etc...One of them it tells you all these facts and says "Can you Guess what city/state/country that is"! That's when I learned that Vatican City is not just part of Rome! Just a little information for you today! See now you can truly say you've learned something if you did not know that! I'll try to throw out some other little known facts here and there on here! :)

God Bless and Have a SON Filled Day!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

We drive to Italy. The trains can be quite time consuming and costly. And driving to Hahn airport to use Ryan Air takes almost as much time as just driving to Italy does. You might get good air fare out of Nurnberg or Munich though.
http://www.airberlin.de/
http://www.easyjet.com/

Driving the Italian Autostradas isn't that difficult, but you will run up quite a bill in tolls, so take plenty of euro for that. You'll also need leave paperwork from your Rear D to get gas coupons from the post in Vicenza (first post over the border). Only Agip stations accept the coupons. If you choose to drive, park your car outside the cities and take public transportation in. Do not try to navigate Rome in your own car....you'll just end up frustrated and driving in circles or an accident.

Consider staying in Campgrounds. Italy has wonderful resort style campgrounds with bunglows or mobile homes (with A/C if you book early) that have full stocked kitchens, groceries on the grounds, and plenty to keep families amused after long hot days as tourits.

http://www.easycamping.it/camping/i
http://www.eurocamp.co.uk/

Have a great trip! Italy is wonderful!

And, you are right! The Vatican is it's own state. As a Catholic, I did know that.

Vatican City — formally State of the Vatican City, or Vatican City State (Italian: Stato della Città del Vaticano, Latin: Status Civitatis Vaticanae) — is a tiny sovereign state whose territory consists of a landlocked enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. The entire state is about 44 Hectares (108.7 acres) and thus is a European microstate. It is the smallest independent nation in the world. Since it is governed by the Bishop of Rome (the Pope), its government can be described as ecclesiastical and the highest state functionaries are in fact clergymen. It is the sovereign territory of the Holy See (Latin:Sancta Sedes) and the location of the Apostolic Palace—the Pope's official residence—and the Roman Curia. Thus, although the principal ecclesiastical seat of the Holy See (Basilica of St. John Lateran) is located in Rome itself, the Vatican City can be said to be the governmental capital of the Roman Catholic Church of both East and West.

Sue said...

Ah Christie, great pun on words (SON) LOL -- I would definitely to the Italy trip. I hear enough spanish around here to make that trip non desirable and France I would love but I have done the Canadian French thing -- why bother LOL. Enjoy your trip where ever you end up :) and Congrats on the potty training thing, I still am not completely trained (just kidding -- accidents don't count LOL)