We do live a "normal" life....really

While this year truly has been the year of travel for our family....and we are not finished. We do live a pretty normal (well for a military family) life. Here is some evidence of that...

 

A sweet little face in a funny winter hat, that he loves because it has a little pocket that he can hide a gold coin (worth one or two dollars) in.

 One lazy day, when we pretty much did nothing majorly productive but enjoyed time together as a family. Erik stayed in his pj's and Lin and I had been watching tv, I went in my room to see what Erik was up to, and he was listening to music on the ipod. He is such a little adult sometimes. You can see he had been playing with his airplanes and destroyed the bedding but was thoroughly enjoying his tunes.

 Then we decided to try our hand at frozen hot chocolate. Erik loves loves loves to help in the kitchen. I have control issues though and I am trying to curb that and let him help more. He often requests to make muffins, or something that we bake.

 He really doesn't like loud noises at the moment. I guess the ninja doing its job was just too much for him.

Mmmm, those were yummy and sometimes those low key days are so soothing. Today for example, Erik got dressed but I didn't. I have put up a fort for him and read to him and am trying to get over a case of the grumpies. I told Erik last night when I put him to bed a certain code phrase, or question rather to ask me today when he thought I was being a bit mean to help remind me to change my attitude. I sadly admit, he has used that code question about 4 times. Sad, but true, I am trying and I am so glad that I have a little boy who is so much more patient with me than I with him. I am so blessed to have him around. It will be so sad next year when he starts school. I am glad that he has been such a good reminder boy for me today. I definitely need it.

Seriously Nasty!

Exhibit A

Plenty of room to breath in wonderful Oxygen

Upon first glance at this picture you may think, eww, why are you showing me the back of your throat?

Now let me show you Exhibit B....see the difference? I know this is gross but it proves a point!

very little space for that precious oxygen to come in!

Exhibit A is my mouth in a healthy everyday state, nothing out of the norm (well at least I hope!). I actually just took that picture right before posting this to show the difference of the two pics.

Exhibit B was my throat/mouth last week when I was absolutely miserable, as in take my friends up on their offers for a couple of days to come get EJ for a few hours while I laid around and did nothing because I felt so lousy. NOt typical for me...well I lay around when I am not well but usually keep the little man with me, not this time-I used my friendly sitter passes. And luckily I have awesome friends and more offers than I needed-it's so good to feel loved and have established a support network  before needing help like this.

Back to the comparison. Did you notice in Exhibit B, that the right side tonsil (which was actually my left tonsil) is so swollen it goes nearly halfway across my throat? Did you also notice that my uvula (the hangy down part) is swollen to the size of a grape? That my friends may have been one of the worst parts of this whole ordeal, that torture swollen uvula made me feel like I was gagging constantly and was so big it rested on the back of my tongue and sat on my gag reflex. The morning I woke up with that part of the illness I came out of the bedroom and started talking and immediately had to run to the bathroom and heave because it gagged me. Sorry I know, it's way gross. The night prior to the uvula swelling my throat hurt so bad I was brought to a crying fit to Mr. Moon which I think knocked him off his rocker a bit because although he has seen me cry plenty, I don't tend to cry over sore throats. It was ridiculously painful.

And the whole point of showing you this gross illness which lacks a name (the doctor didn't know what to call it and ended up writing "throat infection"-she also didn't see the uvula-that was a day later, before the antibiotics started working their magic)............I Mrs. Moon get the weirdest most random symptoms and illnesses since moving abroad and leaving my native land. Crazy but true.

To date I have suffered hand/foot/mouth disease....common to young children, strep throat (common illness) but with vomiting and GI issues....not so common symptoms, remember how I mentioned having 'floaters' in my vision....yeah I am cool like that-rockin the eyes of someone a few decades ahead of myself in the age game, oh and lets not forget about this most recent fiasco. I hope that I never have to deal with this 'throat infection' ever again and would never wish it upon my worst enemy. Luckily the uvula swelling went down within 24 hours but I had a sore throat (mild irritating one) for over a week, then it turned into the Exhibit monstrosity.

Luckily the Moon men did not get it. They were saved. Hallelujah!

Four Eyes

I think I mentioned my new specs but here is a better picture I think. The Mister did a fine job indeed in picking out these babies. I have been wearing them nearly all the time. As I have gotten older my eyes have changed. They are more dry now, I have 'floaters' or protein deposits that cause little specks in my vision, all sorts of not so fun things. And while people my age typically dont see these symptoms yet .... well lets just say I am special and seem to get lots of symptoms people my age dont get! You will see that soon! But really my eyes are changing, not only due to getting older, but my vision is so bad that it just sort of comes with that territory I have been told (by the optomotrist).

Oh to be young again :) just kidding, I am totally young-or at least feel that way some of the time but also feel like I am swinging in a new direction. Maybe thats because I am hitting a huge milestone birthday this next year. And everyone says things start to change after this major birthday. I am a bit anxious but hopefully I can put healthy living to the test and see for myself!