This then inspired us for an entire evening for baking cookies. Ruth did a great job at unwrapping the hershey kisses for inside the cookies. She also did a great job at eating them just before I could get them in the cookie dough.
martedì 23 dicembre 2008
December 23rd...two more days!
We are just so excited for Christmas Day!! We try to do as many christmas related things because in two days it will be all over. Tonight there was a santa outside of someones house a few blocks away for kids to visit and hot chocolate and cookies. It was so exciting so we bundled up quick and got over there to get one last picture with Santa. Ruth firmly announced to santa for the THIRD time that she NEEDS a bike and a camera for christmas.
Sleep over
Ruth's best girl friends are Kay Kay and Madison. These two girls are so darn cute and Ruth loves spending time with them. They recently came to our house for a sleep over. They had SSSOO much fun!
Ruth and Kay Kay pretending to be babys with their bottles and baby food while watching the old school christmas pooh.
The three of them taking a bath together. Not sure what Ruth was doing with her hands in her mouth.
Ruth and Kay Kay pretending to be babys with their bottles and baby food while watching the old school christmas pooh.
The three of them taking a bath together. Not sure what Ruth was doing with her hands in her mouth.The football fans...
Ruth and Robert are very hyped for the Steelers season and try and catch every game on TV together. Ruth LOVES her Pittsburgh Steelers, her jersey, and watching the games on TV. I am not sure whether she truly loves these things or just loves the fact that Daddy loves them. Either way she is a true steelers at heart!!domenica 14 dicembre 2008
Happy Holidays!
The reason I say....Happy Holidays and not Merry Christmas is because Ruth is learning about other religions this year and not just Christmas. She is starting to fully understand the concept of Christmas. She understands the two most important things Baby Jesus was born and Santa brings lots of presents! Two of Ruths best friends, Kay Kay and Madi, twin 4 yr old girls, are Jewish. Miss Carol, their mommy, began to teach us about the 8 days of Hanukkah and the beginnings of Judaism. I have reinforced the idea of what Kay Kay and Madison do to celebrate and explain the little that I do know. So Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!
Ruth met Santa clause. Scroll back through last years post and you will see the screaming little girl who was absolutely terrified of Santa. This year things went better. She was still nervous and shy but she went willingly, told him she wanted a bike and a camera, and gave a partial stare/smile at the camera. Mean Mommy told her if she cried and didn't talk to Santa then he wouldn't bring presents. So she willingly climbed up there and spoke quietly to santa.
I will leave you with a picture of Ruth and Santa. We hope everyone has wonderful holidays and will begin to post much more....or try.
Updates on the past 4 months
Wow, I am sure am amazed that time flies like it does without posting. I am horrible I know. Things have been very much on the hectic side.
Since the last post in August we had a wonderful visit from aunt susan and uncle chuck whom she loved at first but after a week Ruth began to not like Chuck. I was busy getting things out of the car after a long day trip and Chuck was outside chatting with me. Ruth came running down the driveway and fell and skinned her knees pretty bad. She was crying so hard with big gator tears rolling down her face. Susan came to the door and said "Chuck what did you do to her!" I stated "Oh he pushed her down". Of course Susan, Chuck, and I knew we were just kidding but Ruth, on the other hand, thought we were 100 percent serious. This led to Ruth being scared of Uncle Chuck after loving him for over a week. She kept telling me "Uncle Chuck pushed me down!" LOL. Eventually she loosened up but it sure was hilarious. We went all over the island and saw so much while they were here: Palermo, Agrigento, Catania, and so much more but what I will always remember is "Uncle Cuck pushed me over!"
Just a few days after Susan and Chuck left we had a nice, but too short, visit from my Mom, Grammy Eck. Grammy Eck came bearing an entire suitcase of clothes for Ruth as usual and she absolutely loved that. We again hit Palermo, Agrigento, Catania and more just the next week. Ruth was such a good sport to see the same things all over again and do the long car rides all over again ultimately resulting in the usual car sickness.
You thought our crazy hectic time stopped when our company left? Oh no. Just a few days after Grammy Eck left we headed on an interesting trip to the states. The hectic part began right after Grammy Eck left when we tried to find a flight. We had it all planned that we would leave on the third of October however we soon find that there are only 10 seats left on the military flight...this is the flight that EVERYONE wants because it is a commercial 767 that is so very nice with great service...better than a regular civilian commercial flight. Because it is so wanted it was NOT going to happen that we would make it on with 10 seats. Not to mention we were traveling with our friend Carol and her twins as well as our friend Mandy with her son. So it was immediately watching for the next available military flight. When I say military, I mean military. We stumble across a flight on the 27th of September almost a week before we planned to leave. So we scrambled our bags together and headed off to the airport, three adults and four kids. Interesting I know. So there we are...standing on the flight line looking at this huge grey plane that is much bigger than anticipated. A C-5 cargo plane that is absolutely gigantic. The seating on the C-5's have only 76 seats and they face backward at the very top of the airplane...what a hike up!! We get seated and strapped in and soon after get ear plugs and realize their are no windows, no food or drinks, and no flushing toilet. Oh boy..... Spain here we come. We make it safely to spain in the middle of the night and spend a night in a hotel in which the kids will NOT sleep. Then have to check out of our hotel room to wait about 7 hours in the airport waiting for a 9 hour flight in the same C-5 headed to norfolk. We made it safely and spent another night in the hotel in which we got in the middle of the night again and got up at 430 in the morning to head to the civilian airpot. After three days of travel and 4 take off and landings we FINALLY make it to San Diego.
Almost three weeks with our friends from San Diego was great. Ruth had a play mate she shared everything from bedroom to sippy cups every day. Ruth grew up with Baby Charles when she was a baby. We lived just a few paces away from eachother in the same complex and spent every waking moment together. When we first arrived it was as if they had completely remembered eachother even though they hadn't seen eachother since they were 10 months. Toward the end of the visit Ruth's other best buddy, Kylie came to San Diego to see us. Kylie's mommy, Lorraine, and I were best of friends from before the kids were born. Our husbands left us when we were just first pregnant on deployment and returned after the kids were born. Lorraine and I will always have a special bond as I was there for every moment of labor coaching her through it and in return, she was there for me during my labor, leaving her three month old with family in the waiting room to make sure that I had someone special there. We had a great time for the three short days we had together and the kids got along great.
After three weeks we got on the airplanes again headed for Philadelphia. Grammy Haueisen was there to greet us along with Derek...Roberts 6 yr old cousin. We spent two days in Philadelphia swimming in the hotel indoor pool and spending both days at Sesame Place!! Ruth was fascinated with Elmo, Zoe, and her all time favorite...Abby Cadabby. Ruth was in awe with live shows, chances to hug all of her favorite characters, and ride all the fun rides. Her favorites were dinner with the characters and the parade afterward. I was so happy to be able to give her the opportunity to experience seeing live what she watches on TV every morning.
We then went to spend the time with Grammy Cline as well as many visits to Grammy Haueisen. We had a great time and wished we would have had more than 8 days to spend with them.
Then it was heading back to Norfolk Virginia to try and catch one of those "nice military flights" again meeting Carol and Mandy while reuniting all the kids together for yet another long trip. With only 35 open seats an airport full of people we can only pray that we will make this flight. After all this traveling we are sure that our nerves are way too shot to handle a C-5 again. While sitting there for hours we patiently waited to hear the magic words over the intercom system, "Rebecca Haueisen you may proceed to luggage check in." We made it!!! Which made every bit of traveling so much easier and it only took 15 hours to make it back. We made it home just two days before Halloween after 30 some days of travels across the world and back.
Things have calmed down greatly since we have been home however our lives are still busy.
Since the last post in August we had a wonderful visit from aunt susan and uncle chuck whom she loved at first but after a week Ruth began to not like Chuck. I was busy getting things out of the car after a long day trip and Chuck was outside chatting with me. Ruth came running down the driveway and fell and skinned her knees pretty bad. She was crying so hard with big gator tears rolling down her face. Susan came to the door and said "Chuck what did you do to her!" I stated "Oh he pushed her down". Of course Susan, Chuck, and I knew we were just kidding but Ruth, on the other hand, thought we were 100 percent serious. This led to Ruth being scared of Uncle Chuck after loving him for over a week. She kept telling me "Uncle Chuck pushed me down!" LOL. Eventually she loosened up but it sure was hilarious. We went all over the island and saw so much while they were here: Palermo, Agrigento, Catania, and so much more but what I will always remember is "Uncle Cuck pushed me over!"
Just a few days after Susan and Chuck left we had a nice, but too short, visit from my Mom, Grammy Eck. Grammy Eck came bearing an entire suitcase of clothes for Ruth as usual and she absolutely loved that. We again hit Palermo, Agrigento, Catania and more just the next week. Ruth was such a good sport to see the same things all over again and do the long car rides all over again ultimately resulting in the usual car sickness.
You thought our crazy hectic time stopped when our company left? Oh no. Just a few days after Grammy Eck left we headed on an interesting trip to the states. The hectic part began right after Grammy Eck left when we tried to find a flight. We had it all planned that we would leave on the third of October however we soon find that there are only 10 seats left on the military flight...this is the flight that EVERYONE wants because it is a commercial 767 that is so very nice with great service...better than a regular civilian commercial flight. Because it is so wanted it was NOT going to happen that we would make it on with 10 seats. Not to mention we were traveling with our friend Carol and her twins as well as our friend Mandy with her son. So it was immediately watching for the next available military flight. When I say military, I mean military. We stumble across a flight on the 27th of September almost a week before we planned to leave. So we scrambled our bags together and headed off to the airport, three adults and four kids. Interesting I know. So there we are...standing on the flight line looking at this huge grey plane that is much bigger than anticipated. A C-5 cargo plane that is absolutely gigantic. The seating on the C-5's have only 76 seats and they face backward at the very top of the airplane...what a hike up!! We get seated and strapped in and soon after get ear plugs and realize their are no windows, no food or drinks, and no flushing toilet. Oh boy..... Spain here we come. We make it safely to spain in the middle of the night and spend a night in a hotel in which the kids will NOT sleep. Then have to check out of our hotel room to wait about 7 hours in the airport waiting for a 9 hour flight in the same C-5 headed to norfolk. We made it safely and spent another night in the hotel in which we got in the middle of the night again and got up at 430 in the morning to head to the civilian airpot. After three days of travel and 4 take off and landings we FINALLY make it to San Diego.
Almost three weeks with our friends from San Diego was great. Ruth had a play mate she shared everything from bedroom to sippy cups every day. Ruth grew up with Baby Charles when she was a baby. We lived just a few paces away from eachother in the same complex and spent every waking moment together. When we first arrived it was as if they had completely remembered eachother even though they hadn't seen eachother since they were 10 months. Toward the end of the visit Ruth's other best buddy, Kylie came to San Diego to see us. Kylie's mommy, Lorraine, and I were best of friends from before the kids were born. Our husbands left us when we were just first pregnant on deployment and returned after the kids were born. Lorraine and I will always have a special bond as I was there for every moment of labor coaching her through it and in return, she was there for me during my labor, leaving her three month old with family in the waiting room to make sure that I had someone special there. We had a great time for the three short days we had together and the kids got along great.
After three weeks we got on the airplanes again headed for Philadelphia. Grammy Haueisen was there to greet us along with Derek...Roberts 6 yr old cousin. We spent two days in Philadelphia swimming in the hotel indoor pool and spending both days at Sesame Place!! Ruth was fascinated with Elmo, Zoe, and her all time favorite...Abby Cadabby. Ruth was in awe with live shows, chances to hug all of her favorite characters, and ride all the fun rides. Her favorites were dinner with the characters and the parade afterward. I was so happy to be able to give her the opportunity to experience seeing live what she watches on TV every morning.
We then went to spend the time with Grammy Cline as well as many visits to Grammy Haueisen. We had a great time and wished we would have had more than 8 days to spend with them.
Then it was heading back to Norfolk Virginia to try and catch one of those "nice military flights" again meeting Carol and Mandy while reuniting all the kids together for yet another long trip. With only 35 open seats an airport full of people we can only pray that we will make this flight. After all this traveling we are sure that our nerves are way too shot to handle a C-5 again. While sitting there for hours we patiently waited to hear the magic words over the intercom system, "Rebecca Haueisen you may proceed to luggage check in." We made it!!! Which made every bit of traveling so much easier and it only took 15 hours to make it back. We made it home just two days before Halloween after 30 some days of travels across the world and back.
Things have calmed down greatly since we have been home however our lives are still busy.
domenica 24 agosto 2008
Camping again?
Robert has been coaching football all day every day all week. He has only been home but a couple of hours each day and Ruth got to see her daddy no more than 30 minutes a day this week. Of course it was just one week of two-a-days training however it was stressful at home with Ruth constantly wanting her Daddy. To get away from the stress of school for both of us, work for both (I start back subsitituting this week), football, and everything else stressing us...we went camping again. This time it was just the three of us and we had a fantastic but quiet time. We spent most of our time on the beach or cooking by the tent. Ruth went to bed early and Robert and I played cards and watched a movie...something we haven't done in quite a while. We woke up the next morning to head straight back to the beach for fun in the sun before heading home.
In times past Ruth has been not so sure about the water...only entering with her on our hips. This time however she was a water baby and was running in and out by herself all the way up to her neck! It was a blast to watch her and here are some pictures for you to enjoy as well!
Attempting to say cheese and make a goofy camera face for me....
Jumping in and out of the water with Daddy...
Rolling around and letting the waves crash up over her...
Lets see what kind of mess I can make by pouring sand and water in my water shoes!
All this fun required a nap with Daddy on the beach. Her face is totally saying "Mom...quit bothering me...what is it with you and that camera?"
In times past Ruth has been not so sure about the water...only entering with her on our hips. This time however she was a water baby and was running in and out by herself all the way up to her neck! It was a blast to watch her and here are some pictures for you to enjoy as well!
Attempting to say cheese and make a goofy camera face for me....
Jumping in and out of the water with Daddy...
Rolling around and letting the waves crash up over her...
Lets see what kind of mess I can make by pouring sand and water in my water shoes!
All this fun required a nap with Daddy on the beach. Her face is totally saying "Mom...quit bothering me...what is it with you and that camera?"
domenica 17 agosto 2008
JUMPY HOUSE!
Ruth is so definitely spoiled and because of this we now know why she acts the way she does....spoiled. She has been to party after party, playgroup after playgroup, and the neighbors house...all of which have jump houses. I just couldn't resist buying one when they came into the NEX the other day. She is in love. She better love it for 199.99. It is good for children up to 8 and reviews say that it holds up for years. I hope she certainly gets her daddy's money's worth out of it!
lunedì 11 agosto 2008
She is all girl!
Ruth is always doing the girly things at home and away from home. She cannot get enough of her baby dolls while she is home. At Miss Mandy's she is constantly playing dress up with hats, purses, and of course you won't catch her without a baby doll in her hands!
I just thought this picture was adorable. Thank you Mandy for taking this picture and not missing a priceless moment while she is in your care!
domenica 10 agosto 2008
Bedroom!
FINALLY! Ruth's bedroom is finally put together since we initially started in April! All of you probably know what crap I have been going through to get a boxspring from the Navy Exchange. This whole process did not come together NOT because of the NEX but rather someone we met the other night at a barbeque. The exhange STILL has not gotten the boxspring in yet but once again, promises me this week. Tomorrow actually. The words "domani" are very frequently used in the Italian language. Domani means tomorrow and is a word day after day. We went to a barbeque on saturday night across the street and there was a couple with a little girl Ruths age. I knew of them and have talked in passing but as we sat there enjoying a conversation for the first time she randomly says, "I have this full size boxspring in my storage area that is driving me nuts! Its taking up room and I can't use it because someone borrowed the mattress." How so very exciting! So I offered to take it off of her hands. She said "Of course." and we got in her car, drove to her house, dug it out of the storage closet, placed it on her roof, and drove it back to the house right away. We ditched the barbeque for a few minutes and put her bed together before going back over. There is still a lot of work to do on her room but she is sleeping there for good now. We need to hang some of her pictures and place a few more nick nacks and picture frames on her dressers and night stand.
giovedì 7 agosto 2008
When you thought I wasn't looking
WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING
LITTLE EYES SEE A LOT. Each of us (parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher, friend)
influences the life of a child. How will you touch the life of someone today? Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make my favorite cake for me, and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.
When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say a prayer, and I knew that there is a God I could always talk to, and I learned to trust in Him.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing, and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don't.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn' t feel good, and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw tears come from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw that you cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be.
When you thought I wasn't looking I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.
When you thought I wasn't looking I looked at you and wanted to say,'Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking.'
LITTLE EYES SEE A LOT. Each of us (parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher, friend)
influences the life of a child. How will you touch the life of someone today? Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
mercoledì 6 agosto 2008
Gelato Man
What is the one thing that reminds you of a small town summer day, 50 cents, and an irresistable tune? Thats right; the ice cream man! We have a very nice italian man who now rides around the neighborhood with his Gelato truck selling us homemade gelato and granita for only 1 euro. He has around 30 pots in the back of his truck, each filled with a different flavor of his deliciously creamy ice cream in so many different flavors. Although there isn't the traditional american ice cream man song, he does have an interesting honk that is unique to us and even Ruth screams "Ice cream" every night when he rides around. I took a pictures so that all of you in the states know what an italian ice cream truck looks like. They are pretty popular to see on the side of the road on a hot summer day in the cities, but now we have the joy at the end of our driveway.
All those old toys
How is it that my daughter has every toy in the world yet plays with none of them? Toys are only novelties for the first week or two then they just work their way to the bottom of the toy basket like everything else to never again be played with. I will get everything out of the toybox and reorganize the toys, clean them, find all the little parts and pieces for each toy, and neatly place them back in the toy box with those old toys right on top while reminding her of how much fun she used to have with them. Nope...not interest. We payed around one hundred dollars for this little quad toy and the outrageous amount to ship it here for it to be played with for a couple of weeks non stop and then become a porch ornament. This is coming all to mind only because Ruth is usually in daycare during the day and doesn't get the time with her toys. Many of you may know that we are dealing with all sorts of crazy illnesses in this house that we just cannot place our finger on right now and until diagnosed and ruled not contagious sick Ruth has been spending these glorious past few days with sick Mommy. In the mean time I am yet again reminded she is spoiled and doesn't even use what we buy her.
The only thing that has surpassed time and has become the prized toy that was worth the money... her kitchen. We bought this kitchen for christmas last year and it is the only toy that has past the test of Ruths liking. Even sick, cooking in her kitchen cheers her up.
The only thing that has surpassed time and has become the prized toy that was worth the money... her kitchen. We bought this kitchen for christmas last year and it is the only toy that has past the test of Ruths liking. Even sick, cooking in her kitchen cheers her up.
sabato 2 agosto 2008
Camping again...
Two weeks after our first camping experience we decided we loved it and went again. This time though, we went early and got an excellent spot. We had a beautiful view of the ocean right from out tent and at night and early morning you could just lay there and here the waves crashing on the rocks and sand. It was so beautiful and peaceful. We went for two nights and Ruth loved every minute of the beach. We can't wait to go again...
The view from the front of our lot...
The view taken right out of the tent door...
martedì 15 luglio 2008
Camping in Siracusa
This past weekend we went with a group of people on an adventurous camping trip to the beach in Siracusa. Yes little ol me went into the wilderness and slept in a tent. We had so much fun around the campfire and snorkling the next day out in the crystal clear ocean. Ruth had some friends with her that she enjoyed running around with and playing in the sand. Fun was had by all and Robert and I plan on camping next weekend in Ragusa at the beach. Enjoy the pics...
Robert and I enjoying the shade...
The kids were so messy by the end of the trip...covered in bubbles and dirt
Daddy and Ruth out in the crystal clear ocean
This is my favorite... Ruth was supposed to be sleeping in the tent. I told her that she needed to lay back down, watch her movie, and not get up. After gasping, she thought I couldn't see her and quickly threw the sheet up over her head and quietly whispered to herself, "Hide, Hide."
The girls around the campfire after the children were in bed.
Ruth really should be eating lunch! Instead she is enjoying her new pooh chair we got just for camping.
Robert and I enjoying the shade...
The kids were so messy by the end of the trip...covered in bubbles and dirt
Daddy and Ruth out in the crystal clear ocean
This is my favorite... Ruth was supposed to be sleeping in the tent. I told her that she needed to lay back down, watch her movie, and not get up. After gasping, she thought I couldn't see her and quickly threw the sheet up over her head and quietly whispered to herself, "Hide, Hide." 
The girls around the campfire after the children were in bed.
Ruth really should be eating lunch! Instead she is enjoying her new pooh chair we got just for camping.
mercoledì 9 luglio 2008
Angela Burshteyn
I spoke with the people at CAPPA, a labor doula organization, that informed me of the information I was looking for. As we were transitioning out to Italy there were some family issues that arose with Angela. When the family issues became too much she resigned her position as California state director for OSD and soon thereafter, on July 10, 2007, she took her own life. She leaves behind two school aged children who I worry about tremendously, although I know there is nothing I can do.
Angela, you meant so much to us and I will never forget your smiling face and the love you had for Ruth. You will be missed greatly....
In Memory of Angela Burshteyn
California State Coordinator for Operation Special Delivery
who passed away on July 10, 2007
Two Horses
Author Unknown
Just up the road from my home is a field, with two horses in it. From a
distance, each looks like every other horse. But if you stop your car, or
are walking by, you will notice something quite amazing. Looking into the
eyes of one horse will disclose that he is blind.
His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made a good home for
him. This alone is amazing. If nearby and listening,
you will hear the sound of a bell. Looking around for the source of the
sound, you will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the field.
Attached to her halter is a small bell. It lets her blind friend know where
she is, so he can follow her. As you stand and watch these two friends,
you'll see how she is always checking on him, and that he will listen for her
bell and then slowly walk to where she is, trusting that she will not lead
him astray. When she returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, she
stops occasionally and looks back, making sure her friend isn't too far
behind to hear the bell.
Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because
we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges. He watches over
us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need.
Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by
the little ringing bell of those who God places in our lives. Other times we
are the guide horse, helping others see.
Good friends are like this. You don't always see them, but you know they are
always there Please listen for my bell and I'll listen for yours.
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Angela, you meant so much to us and I will never forget your smiling face and the love you had for Ruth. You will be missed greatly....
In Memory of Angela Burshteyn
California State Coordinator for Operation Special Delivery
who passed away on July 10, 2007
Two Horses
Author Unknown
Just up the road from my home is a field, with two horses in it. From a
distance, each looks like every other horse. But if you stop your car, or
are walking by, you will notice something quite amazing. Looking into the
eyes of one horse will disclose that he is blind.
His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made a good home for
him. This alone is amazing. If nearby and listening,
you will hear the sound of a bell. Looking around for the source of the
sound, you will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the field.
Attached to her halter is a small bell. It lets her blind friend know where
she is, so he can follow her. As you stand and watch these two friends,
you'll see how she is always checking on him, and that he will listen for her
bell and then slowly walk to where she is, trusting that she will not lead
him astray. When she returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, she
stops occasionally and looks back, making sure her friend isn't too far
behind to hear the bell.
Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because
we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges. He watches over
us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need.
Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by
the little ringing bell of those who God places in our lives. Other times we
are the guide horse, helping others see.
Good friends are like this. You don't always see them, but you know they are
always there Please listen for my bell and I'll listen for yours.
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
*Taken from CAPPA newsletter February, 2008
Ruth's Doula passed away...
As I was sitting and thinking in peace and quiet (after bedtime) the other night I realized...I haven't heard from Angela lately. I sent her an email but it has been a few days and I hadn't heard back from her. So I drop Ruth off at Mandy's and decide that I am going access her website and get her phone number again and call her later tonight. Well its almost 10 oclock and I can't seem to get any work done because of all the searching I am doing. Her website is no longer up and running. This makes me even more troubled. It isn't like her to not return an e-mail and not renew her website that once had pictures or her and Ruth on it the day she was born. I do a quick search for her and I find an article in CAPPA (a national organization of doulas) that states, "In loving memory of Angela Burshteyn who passed away on July 10, 2007." Now I have been spending all morning trying to find her obituary, her children, any news article or anything on what happened to her!
Let me explain what Angela meant to me. I found out I was pregnant almost as soon as I found out Robert was getting deployed for 6 months. Calculating out the dates made me realize that Robert would be deployed for the birth of our first born baby. I was directed to a website called "Operation Special Delivery" that offers free labor doulas that help during your pregnancy, are there for your birthing process, and after the birth. Soon after applying for a free doula, Angela showed up at my house in San Diego. She came in with stacks and stacks of papers and I was overwhelmed. She sat in my kitchen, at my table, for hours and explained all the papers and helped me fill them out. All of this paperwork was so SHE knew what I wanted in my delivery room and how I wanted things done so SHE could take care of everything and not me. Wow she was amazing.
She met me at the hospital a couple of times to go to my prenatal appointments and held my hand. She called me on a weekly basis to ask how I was feeling. I called her one night and said, "I think I am in labor and I am on my way to the hospital!" She met me there and sat with me, walked with me, rubbed my back and told me everything would be ok. The hospital sent me home that night in labor and she begged to come stay with me. I convinced her into going home with her family and getting some sleep but she was not happy with me :) Two days later my water broke. I called her immediately to tell her. Her husband answered the phone and said, "Um she is sleeping right now, can I take a message?" I told him I was in labor and needed her but to let her sleep a couple of hours. Well that didn't happen. When she heard she rushed right down to the hospital with donuts and muffins for the ENTIRE nursing staff and myself. It was 8 am but she had been sleeping when I called. Why? Because the night before she was in the hospital at a 20 hour birth until 6 am. With just 1 hour of sleep she climbed out of bed and rushed to my side. For no monetary value, just volunteering her time to a military wife all alone. She coached me through my entire labor and delivery and helped with EVERYTHING.
Soon after getting home from the hospital Angela made the one hour drive from her house to mine to see Ruth and make sure I was ok. She helped with breastfeeding and became my friend.
Our relationship didn't stop there. She became a close friend. I can recall many times sitting with Ruth alone in our house on the phone with her till all hours of the morning. We always had something to talk about. I can hear her distinct voice in my head as I write this right now.
Angela became the president of Operation Special Delivery for the entire state of california soon after Ruth's birth and she began to become a nationally recognized labor doula. She began appearing on all the local san diego new stations to promote OSD. All of the San Diego news stations did a live interview with Angela...with little Ruth in her hands...holding her tight and presenting her with pride that she had helped Ruth and her mommy while daddy was deployed.
I haven't talked to her in a year now, tomorrow will be one year since she died, but I do miss her despite the fact that she has been gone a year now and I didn't know until today. It is hard sitting and thinking of her sitting at my table. It is hard to think of us sitting at Denny's together at 5 am before we appeared on the 6 am news. And it is especially hard to think of Angela holding Ruth the many times she has.
We had a going away party for all of our friends to get together one last time in San Diego. Angela showed up with her husband and two children and seemed to be the life of the party. At the party she gave Ruth a stuffed animal with a photo album of her and Ruth together. That photo album means so much more than it ever did. We will cherish it forever and someday when Ruth can understand...I will show her it again and tell Ruth all about Angela and what an angel she was to us when we needed her.
I havent been able to find anything on Angela. You see she has two school aged children that I am worried about. Angela was married to a wonderful guy in San Diego but he is just the "step father". She grew up, married and had children in Midland Texas. When those children were just babies, her husband became very abusive and at one point tried to kill her. She fled with both children to San Diego. She made a life of her own and met her wonderful husband who is from Russia. I am worried where those children are and how they are doing. I have no way of finding out.... I just wish I knew....
Let me explain what Angela meant to me. I found out I was pregnant almost as soon as I found out Robert was getting deployed for 6 months. Calculating out the dates made me realize that Robert would be deployed for the birth of our first born baby. I was directed to a website called "Operation Special Delivery" that offers free labor doulas that help during your pregnancy, are there for your birthing process, and after the birth. Soon after applying for a free doula, Angela showed up at my house in San Diego. She came in with stacks and stacks of papers and I was overwhelmed. She sat in my kitchen, at my table, for hours and explained all the papers and helped me fill them out. All of this paperwork was so SHE knew what I wanted in my delivery room and how I wanted things done so SHE could take care of everything and not me. Wow she was amazing.
She met me at the hospital a couple of times to go to my prenatal appointments and held my hand. She called me on a weekly basis to ask how I was feeling. I called her one night and said, "I think I am in labor and I am on my way to the hospital!" She met me there and sat with me, walked with me, rubbed my back and told me everything would be ok. The hospital sent me home that night in labor and she begged to come stay with me. I convinced her into going home with her family and getting some sleep but she was not happy with me :) Two days later my water broke. I called her immediately to tell her. Her husband answered the phone and said, "Um she is sleeping right now, can I take a message?" I told him I was in labor and needed her but to let her sleep a couple of hours. Well that didn't happen. When she heard she rushed right down to the hospital with donuts and muffins for the ENTIRE nursing staff and myself. It was 8 am but she had been sleeping when I called. Why? Because the night before she was in the hospital at a 20 hour birth until 6 am. With just 1 hour of sleep she climbed out of bed and rushed to my side. For no monetary value, just volunteering her time to a military wife all alone. She coached me through my entire labor and delivery and helped with EVERYTHING.
Soon after getting home from the hospital Angela made the one hour drive from her house to mine to see Ruth and make sure I was ok. She helped with breastfeeding and became my friend.
Our relationship didn't stop there. She became a close friend. I can recall many times sitting with Ruth alone in our house on the phone with her till all hours of the morning. We always had something to talk about. I can hear her distinct voice in my head as I write this right now.
Angela became the president of Operation Special Delivery for the entire state of california soon after Ruth's birth and she began to become a nationally recognized labor doula. She began appearing on all the local san diego new stations to promote OSD. All of the San Diego news stations did a live interview with Angela...with little Ruth in her hands...holding her tight and presenting her with pride that she had helped Ruth and her mommy while daddy was deployed.
I haven't talked to her in a year now, tomorrow will be one year since she died, but I do miss her despite the fact that she has been gone a year now and I didn't know until today. It is hard sitting and thinking of her sitting at my table. It is hard to think of us sitting at Denny's together at 5 am before we appeared on the 6 am news. And it is especially hard to think of Angela holding Ruth the many times she has.
We had a going away party for all of our friends to get together one last time in San Diego. Angela showed up with her husband and two children and seemed to be the life of the party. At the party she gave Ruth a stuffed animal with a photo album of her and Ruth together. That photo album means so much more than it ever did. We will cherish it forever and someday when Ruth can understand...I will show her it again and tell Ruth all about Angela and what an angel she was to us when we needed her.
I havent been able to find anything on Angela. You see she has two school aged children that I am worried about. Angela was married to a wonderful guy in San Diego but he is just the "step father". She grew up, married and had children in Midland Texas. When those children were just babies, her husband became very abusive and at one point tried to kill her. She fled with both children to San Diego. She made a life of her own and met her wonderful husband who is from Russia. I am worried where those children are and how they are doing. I have no way of finding out.... I just wish I knew....
sabato 5 luglio 2008
Happy 4th!
We hope everyone had a wonderful fourth of July!! Ours was interesting. Robert had to work, as he does EVERY holiday. He worked until 7:30 and then came home to get us and we all rushed out to the fireworks. We got to the football field at the base and there was a loud band, food, and lots of fun.
At first Ruth was scared of the loud music and stayed cuddling tight to daddy and whining.
Soon she realized that the music was ok and actually FUN! So she got up and began to dance with all the kids.
They announced the fireworks were going to start so she got excited and sat patiently waiting in her pooh chair. We warned her and talked all day about how there would be pretty lights to watch in the sky but that it would make a loud "boom boom." and that it is nothing to be scared of. Well this pre-talking didn't work. She still clung to daddy crying and cringing with each bang.
The fire works lasted a short while as the result was not good at all. The first set of fire works went about 10 feet in the air, exploded and lit the whole field on fire and this was the view. They continued the fireworks through the fire for a short while but with all the smoke and flames it was hard to enjoy it.
At first Ruth was scared of the loud music and stayed cuddling tight to daddy and whining.
Soon she realized that the music was ok and actually FUN! So she got up and began to dance with all the kids.
They announced the fireworks were going to start so she got excited and sat patiently waiting in her pooh chair. We warned her and talked all day about how there would be pretty lights to watch in the sky but that it would make a loud "boom boom." and that it is nothing to be scared of. Well this pre-talking didn't work. She still clung to daddy crying and cringing with each bang.
The fire works lasted a short while as the result was not good at all. The first set of fire works went about 10 feet in the air, exploded and lit the whole field on fire and this was the view. They continued the fireworks through the fire for a short while but with all the smoke and flames it was hard to enjoy it.
The coaches daughter
Many of you may know that Robert is one of the new football coaches for the high school here on base. What many of you may NOT know is that Ruth has volunteered to be his assistant. Ruth was playing with his whistle in the car. She figured out how to blow in it and of course made us go deaf. All of a sudden the noise went silent. When we turned around she was sleeping with the whistle in her mouth! Roberts response, "Thats my girl right there! The coaches daughter!"
Ruth and Joseph
It has been way too hott outside to even go out to play during the day. So when it starts to get dark she meets the neighbor boy outside. They have a blast running around the yards, picking flowers in Josephs yard, copying eachother, and screaming in excitement. She has so much fun and always talks about him and wants to go to his house. She can't seem to say Joseph so instead she calls him "Jo Jo," but he responds to that too.
lunedì 30 giugno 2008
Customer Service
This is more of a rant blog, than a picture/brag about Ruth blog. Why does customer service have to be so crappy at the NEX over here? I am not sure either; but let me start with my day.
I go to the store this morning with two intentions. One-To get Ruths hair cut and...Two-To return a toy she got for her birthday that she already has. So she falls asleep in the car and so I do my shopping first while she is sleeping and the haircut later. I go to the toy section and find a similar toy for her for 7 dollars more than the one I am returning. I go pay for it and then look at my receipt..sure enough they charged me 12 dollars more. I go back to customer service and she won't even come look at the label she just says "Well I will call toys to tell you why its different." So the toys lady says, "It is a different product or something and the price is 27.99 not 22.99 as marked." Well too bad right? I mean how obvious can it be? The shelf says "Leapfrog Word Whammer 22.99" and the name of the toy is the..yup you guessed it...the Leapfrog Word Whammer. No confusion for me...only for the toy clerk. So then I stand and argue with her that i want my 5 dollars back as she insists she can't do that. So then I get the manager of the toy department and he argues with me that the toy department forgot to put up the new prices since everything just got "marked up"...I didn't think they can do that but let me continue. FINALLY after 30 minutes of arguing he says "OK" and I get my 5 dollars back.
Ruth is still sleeping so I swing by the furniture department to check on full mattresses. You see...I have been needing a full mattress and box spring for quite a while now. I ordered and recieved a transhipment of new bedroom furniture for Ruth (took 2 months) all while the NEX was still waiting for mattresses. 2 and a half months after I begin asking for mattresses and boxsprings is today...the lucky day...they tell me they indeed have mattresses and boxsprings! YAY! SSSOOO I buy them and head on my way to get Ruths hair cut before going to the warehouse to pick up the long awaited mattress and boxspring. I get her haircut, head to the warehouse. NO ONE is willing to help me out and ask what I need. I stand there for 20 minutes...all the while I notice they overcharged me 20 bucks on the mattress!!! Here we go again. I get in the car drive down to the NEX and go to customer service AGAIN. Fight AGAIN about the price mismarked and get my 20 bucks back. Maybe I am stubborn but 5 bucks is 5 bucks and 20 bucks is a lot on a one person income. So then I head BACK to the warehouse. Finally they decide to help me out....this entailed them informing me that they never did get the boxsprings in. HHMMM. So lets see here. They tie the mattress to my roof all the while telling me that it is stupid to do that and it is not going to make it to my house. Only because they want their 65 dollar delivery fee. DUH....NO I have a luggage rack that will do just fine for 6 miles of back roads. So now I have to go BACK to customer service...with a mattress in a box strapped to my roof. I get my money back for the boxspring and still cannot use the mattress anyhow because there are no boxsprings. Almost 3 hours after arriving to the store I get to come home with a mattress. I get it out of the box...it is a one sided mattress. What is this? I have never seen a one sided mattress. I contemplated the idea of it being the boxspring but sure enough..it is the mattress. I call in and ask them to explain how this could be for 250 bucks...a one sided mattress. I get told, "Maybe its the box spring because I know that we got the boxsprings in and not the mattresses." He goes to the warehouse and looks and calls me back and says, "This is the new generation of mattresses...one sided." My next move probably was not the best. I started screaming that is stupid BS and I will make sure to bring his mattress back to him and get my money. I looked online... sure enough mattresses are now being made one sided so you no longer have to flip them. OOOPPSS. So I called my ol friend Pipo at the furniture department and appologized for cussing him out. Now...I just want my boxspring!!! Which do they have them?? The furniture department says the do the warehouse says they don't. A new shipment comes in tomorrow...maybe I will finally get the boxspring on that shipment. Who knows. Ruth has had her big girl furniture FOREVER and the dresser drawers were made wrong and do not fit in the dresser...waiting on those to come in the mail. Her bed has been waiting for a month now to have a mattress AND a boxspring and we haven't gotten there yet. When it finally gets completed I will snap a few pictures of the completion of the process and post them here. In the states this would be so much easier....
AHH let me add...my batteries for my camera have not been charged in a while and I NEED to get on the ball with that so for now...no new pics. SORRY :(
I go to the store this morning with two intentions. One-To get Ruths hair cut and...Two-To return a toy she got for her birthday that she already has. So she falls asleep in the car and so I do my shopping first while she is sleeping and the haircut later. I go to the toy section and find a similar toy for her for 7 dollars more than the one I am returning. I go pay for it and then look at my receipt..sure enough they charged me 12 dollars more. I go back to customer service and she won't even come look at the label she just says "Well I will call toys to tell you why its different." So the toys lady says, "It is a different product or something and the price is 27.99 not 22.99 as marked." Well too bad right? I mean how obvious can it be? The shelf says "Leapfrog Word Whammer 22.99" and the name of the toy is the..yup you guessed it...the Leapfrog Word Whammer. No confusion for me...only for the toy clerk. So then I stand and argue with her that i want my 5 dollars back as she insists she can't do that. So then I get the manager of the toy department and he argues with me that the toy department forgot to put up the new prices since everything just got "marked up"...I didn't think they can do that but let me continue. FINALLY after 30 minutes of arguing he says "OK" and I get my 5 dollars back.
Ruth is still sleeping so I swing by the furniture department to check on full mattresses. You see...I have been needing a full mattress and box spring for quite a while now. I ordered and recieved a transhipment of new bedroom furniture for Ruth (took 2 months) all while the NEX was still waiting for mattresses. 2 and a half months after I begin asking for mattresses and boxsprings is today...the lucky day...they tell me they indeed have mattresses and boxsprings! YAY! SSSOOO I buy them and head on my way to get Ruths hair cut before going to the warehouse to pick up the long awaited mattress and boxspring. I get her haircut, head to the warehouse. NO ONE is willing to help me out and ask what I need. I stand there for 20 minutes...all the while I notice they overcharged me 20 bucks on the mattress!!! Here we go again. I get in the car drive down to the NEX and go to customer service AGAIN. Fight AGAIN about the price mismarked and get my 20 bucks back. Maybe I am stubborn but 5 bucks is 5 bucks and 20 bucks is a lot on a one person income. So then I head BACK to the warehouse. Finally they decide to help me out....this entailed them informing me that they never did get the boxsprings in. HHMMM. So lets see here. They tie the mattress to my roof all the while telling me that it is stupid to do that and it is not going to make it to my house. Only because they want their 65 dollar delivery fee. DUH....NO I have a luggage rack that will do just fine for 6 miles of back roads. So now I have to go BACK to customer service...with a mattress in a box strapped to my roof. I get my money back for the boxspring and still cannot use the mattress anyhow because there are no boxsprings. Almost 3 hours after arriving to the store I get to come home with a mattress. I get it out of the box...it is a one sided mattress. What is this? I have never seen a one sided mattress. I contemplated the idea of it being the boxspring but sure enough..it is the mattress. I call in and ask them to explain how this could be for 250 bucks...a one sided mattress. I get told, "Maybe its the box spring because I know that we got the boxsprings in and not the mattresses." He goes to the warehouse and looks and calls me back and says, "This is the new generation of mattresses...one sided." My next move probably was not the best. I started screaming that is stupid BS and I will make sure to bring his mattress back to him and get my money. I looked online... sure enough mattresses are now being made one sided so you no longer have to flip them. OOOPPSS. So I called my ol friend Pipo at the furniture department and appologized for cussing him out. Now...I just want my boxspring!!! Which do they have them?? The furniture department says the do the warehouse says they don't. A new shipment comes in tomorrow...maybe I will finally get the boxspring on that shipment. Who knows. Ruth has had her big girl furniture FOREVER and the dresser drawers were made wrong and do not fit in the dresser...waiting on those to come in the mail. Her bed has been waiting for a month now to have a mattress AND a boxspring and we haven't gotten there yet. When it finally gets completed I will snap a few pictures of the completion of the process and post them here. In the states this would be so much easier....
AHH let me add...my batteries for my camera have not been charged in a while and I NEED to get on the ball with that so for now...no new pics. SORRY :(
domenica 22 giugno 2008
Birthday Party number 2!
We had Ruth's birthday party last weekend, but I am just getting around to posting pictures. The kids had a blast and we had a total of 24 kids in attendance! Thank goodness it wasn't at my house! All the children were dressed for the affair in Luau gear but not only that...many of the parents were in their get up too! Her luau turned out awesome so take a look!
We had a pull string pinata that was a flip flop and a surfboard pinata for batting at. The kids had a blast collecting all of the candy! By the way I should say that Robert and I made the pinatas ourselves with a collective total of 16 hours of work on them! Only for them to be smashed to smitherines...
Daddy is trying to help Ruth pick up some of that candy!
Her flip flop cake. Both of the cakes turned out great.
The cake table with the pinatas and the surfboard and flip flop cakes and dec it up with pineapples, cocunuts, and hibiscus flowers was my favorite part.
Ruth licking icing off of her finger. She stuck her finger in before anyone else had a chance for a piece.
We had a pull string pinata that was a flip flop and a surfboard pinata for batting at. The kids had a blast collecting all of the candy! By the way I should say that Robert and I made the pinatas ourselves with a collective total of 16 hours of work on them! Only for them to be smashed to smitherines...
Daddy is trying to help Ruth pick up some of that candy!
Her flip flop cake. Both of the cakes turned out great.
The cake table with the pinatas and the surfboard and flip flop cakes and dec it up with pineapples, cocunuts, and hibiscus flowers was my favorite part.
Ruth licking icing off of her finger. She stuck her finger in before anyone else had a chance for a piece.
giovedì 19 giugno 2008
Ruth attends a CDH home
Ruth has been going to a Child Development Home for about a month now and seems to love it. I get a lot of homework done and even get my cleaning and errands run before she comes home. Mandy, her daycare provider runs her daycare out of her home with her son who is 4 months younger than Ruth and a baby that is 9 months old. She loves helping take care of the baby and playing with Landon all day. Mandy does a lot of craft time for the kids and makes things fun. In these pictures that I will leave you with Landon and Ruth are making their own lunch...PIZZA! What fun.
First the sauce
Then the best part...the cheese
Pepperoni..
LETS EAT!
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