i was drawn to the ocean

John and I agreed not to get each other anything for V Day. So he comes home last night with Matthew, after Matthew's basketball practice, with roses for me. :-)

We had Olive Garden carryout by candlelight with Tara and Ken, and Tara said a lovely little blessing for us (at my prodding!) We also listened to pleasant music. Evan seemed to like the music too.

Poor Evan has really not been feeling well. I took him to Dr. Kelly yesterday. His temperature had gotten as high as 103.8--and Tylenol/ibuprofen wasn't bringing it down any lower than 100.3. He is terribly congested, had crud coming out of his eyes and nose. Poor little fella. After only 3 doses of the antibiotic from Dr. Kelly, Evan is already doing much better. He is still not his usual self, but he is much better. Avery still has a runny/snotty nose, and a little bit of a cough, but other than that he is fine. Matthew can't seem to shake his cough, either. :-(

I called Dad earlier this evening to see if he was going to have any time off tomorrow. He said they are now restricted to the base, even on their time off. Last weekend, they were allowed to leave the base on Sunday, but they couldn't go more than 50 miles away. He is still not sure when he will be leaving the country, but it will be soon. When I called, I actually woke him up. Unintentionally, of course. He said he was having trouble sleeping anyway, though, because of field exercises/cannon firing/etc going on. Of course, soon he will be sleeping in a tent, so he's not compaining too much.

We tried to take Avery to get his picture made today because I had a coupon that expired today, but he just wouldn't have anything to do with it! He was in a real odd-duck kind of mood. I think he was just cranky and hungry. He was being really sensitive. So we weren't able to get it done. Oh well. No big deal. I gave the coupon to someone else (it was for a free 8X10 and 8 wallets for 9.95) and she was so glad to get it because she had left hers in her car, and she was dreading having to go back out to get it in the cold and freezing rain. So I was glad that someone would get to use it, anyway. We had gotten together with Tara and Ken again, and Ken gave me a coin to make a wish at the fountain. I wished for peace.

We haven't gone to the grocery store yet, because it was just getting too nasty out. I also didn't get to go to the peace rally up in Dayton that I had wanted to go to today, because of the weather. There's no way I would have dragged Evan out in that! Of course, he was with us this afternoon when we were out and about, but that was mostly indoors, or in the car. The peace rally would have meant being outside for about two hours.

Also stopped by Motherhood Express today to get re-fitted for nursing bra. I have gone down a band size and a cup size! Woo hoo!!!!!!! She didn't have the size I needed in stock, so she is ordering them in for me and will call when they are in. They were also taking sign-ups for a Save the Baby class--infant/child cpr, first aid, etc. So John, Amber, and I are going to take that. We will be paying for Amber, of course. If anybody in this area is interested, let me know. It's better, and less expensive than, the classes given by the American Red Cross.

Whenever we see Dr. Kelly, he makes a point to mention to me what a good mom I am. I think he knows that I struggle with depression and anxiety. And of course feelings of inadequacy. He is the sweetest man. We actually considered naming Evan after him! Of course, now I can't imagine Evan being named Charles.

Mom got me a little V Day present, too. I totally wasn't expecting that one. She always buys me ladybug stuff since I sort of collect ladybugs. I say sort of, because I originally started collecting ladybugs because when Lori and I were such good friends, she always called me Ladybug. Well, now we don't talk at all anymore. I haven't even spoken to her since right after Avery was born. So that's almost two years now. So as much as I love ladybugs, and collecting ladybugs, I have this little Lori twinge...I feel sad about it. I feel like she used me when she was a sales rep for the company I worked for, and then abandoned me as a dear friend and mother figure when I left the company. I really enjoy collecting faeries! No sad twinges there! But, I really don't have anywhere safe-from-little-hands to keep "pretties." Maybe someday...

I had two very strange dreams last night. In one dream, we were at Goodwill and John wanted to buy a garment bag, like the kind you would use on a trip/luggage type. And I saw a headboard that I wanted to buy for our bed, but John didn't want to buy it and I was really upset about it. The headboard and the garment bag were both extremely ugly/gaudy, and I wouldn't even consider buying either one in real life. So it was a very odd dream. Then, in the other dream, I was in a play, and I hadn't learned my lines and all the other actors were getting really mad at me! And there was some really skinny guy playing my friend Jason, who in real life, is totally not skinny!

Overall, it's been a pretty good weekend so far. My flowers smell so nice. I need to take down the V Day decorations. All 2 of them, haha!

Got a little tipsy last night thanks to Kendall Jackson Chardonnay. A little embarrassing, but it was good to relax and let go for little while. I can't wait until ConCave! Today we mailed in our registrations.