If you want Jenn to post more, leave a comment

It’s been awhile since the last post.  I try to get Jenn to post more, she just never seems to get around to it.  I’ll be leaving real soon for Iraq, so she might do better about updating after I leave.  I’ll still be able to access the site, so I’ll post updates and pictures when I can.  We recently visited Georgia, and I posted a couple of pictures of that trip.  Jenn’s edited some other pictures and will post those later.  Enjoy.

Sarah and Uncle Joe

 

 

Uncle Joe and Hannah

 

Aunt Jenn and Nieces

Jason

Time Speeds Up

I wonder how long it will be before Joe will check this blog.  You see he doesn’t actually believe I’ll ever post again…I just haven’t felt like it to be quite frank.  I have spent the last five months getting the FRG up and running.  I don’t want to knock the previous FRG Leader, but let’s just say that if everything were up to speed it wouldn’t haven’t taken up so much of my time these last few months.  But then again, it’s almost like starting with a clean slate, so I have the ability to help mold the program how it’s supposed to be.  SOP’s were either incomplete or not done at all, there huge lack of participation (i.e. out of 90+ spouses I was the only volunteer), and over half of the data I had was incorrect.  Here’s the thing though.  I got to fix it–and I mean this in a “I like fixing programs” kind of way.  So, all the work is finally paying off.  Participation has tripled, I actually have volunteers, and all of our SOP’s and Continuity Binders are up-to-date.  We have had: a very successful Car Wash Fundraiser; a Unit and Family Day BBQ that went pretty well; and a Spouses Pre-Deployment Briefing that was underattended, but the feedback from those who did participate was positive, so all in all I’m feeling ok about it. 

Oh, for those that don’t know, FRG is Family Readiness Group.  It’s basic purpose is to help the Families of the Soldiers attached to the unit learn to resource for themselves as well as provide occasional esprit-de-corps development activities.  This is one of the hardest things to stress, because they used to be called “Family Support Groups”, and sometimes the members still expect more than the volunteers can give.  This caused a LOT of burned out volunteers, since the same people get called upon to volunteer over and over.  So basically instead of “fishing for them”, we’re supposed to “teach them to fish”–still working on that though:)

So in addition to being the FRG Leader for the Company, I also took over as the Membership Chairperson for the Spouse’s Club.  In Germany, I really enjoyed participating in the Spouse’s Club, and am totally pumped to get back into it.  They are working on growing the program here, and have a lot of fun activities planned.  Some of the board (myself included) was cleaning out the Spouse’s Club building, and came across a big box of Officer’s Wives Club photos from the late 40’s to the late 70’s.  They are black and white–a real treat for me to work on.  We are going to work on (I say we, but I kind of volunteered to spearhead it:) mounting and framing as well as cataloging the photos.  We are using them as inspiration for our Open House, and having the board members dress in period clothes from the photos.  I’m so excited, now I have an excuse to get some of those ’swell’ forties and fifties dresses!  Gahhhh!!!!  I think we’ll have a lot of fun with the theme of “Army Spouses Thru the Years:  Look How Far We’ve Come!”  I also might get to dress up in costume for the Gala in March, but I’m not giving away what that’ll be just yet–but I am pumped about that one too.  I must not have dressed up enough as a child–what’d you think Mom?

In addition to these two things–which have kept me as busy as any full-time job I’ve ever had–we’ve had quite a bit of company these last two months.  My Mom and Dad, Joe’s Mom and Dad, Chris and Kathi have all visited for varying amounts of time.  I managed to be well for all the visits except Joe’s parents.  I ended up running a fever and getting some chest thing and spent most of their visit in my bed.  After they left on Monday, I pretty did more of the same, and started feeling better by Tuesday night.  However, I was still worried since I had to fly to Florida on Thursday for the arrival of my newest niece, Grace.  So, Thursday morning, I called my PCM and made a same day appointment, explaining the whole “I’m going to FL to help my sister who just had her fourth baby, and want to make sure I’m not carrying the plague” story to her.  So, breathing tests, a workup, and a chest x-ray later determine that I’m pretty much over the “plague” part, but that it was my asthma that as usual was being a beast.  So they put me on the WORST meds ever…oral steroids for a week.  Hate, Hate, Hate, Double Hate, Loooaaathe entirely:) 

Grace is precious though.  She’s pretty calm, but she was already in the doghouse before I even arrived in FL.  My flight left VA at 7ish.  Grace arrived at 5ish.  Rotten Stinker–literally–Ethan will tell you.  Aagh!  I scheduled it for over a week before her due date, but to arrive two hours before I leave–it’s just maddening I tell ya!  The boys just love “Bwace”, and Hannah has warmed up to her as well.  At first she just wasn’t very interested.  Plus, she had a houseful of willing slaves to do her bidding–Aunt Jenn, Mam-maw, Aunt Kathi.  I was there for a week, so I was Hannah’s BFF the whole time.  Boo-Bear or HB as I call her (Hannah Banana–although Ethan told me her name was Hannah Elizabeth) just wraps you around her little fingers.  Laura said she wandered around looking for me the day after I left:(

While I was in Florida, Joe was staying in a posh hotel in DC for several days to accept a Deployment Excellence Award on behalf of his unit, so at least I know he ate.  Even if it was psychotically expensive up there.  The unit and Joe have been VERY busy the last few months, so it’s pretty much come home, crash, get up and do it again for him.  He did go down to the Outer Banks a few weeks ago with a friend.  They took their Jeeps to some beach that lets you drive on it.  The beach part sounds ok, but I don’t care about the driving on the beach part.  It probably destroys the serenity of the laying out on the beach with all the dang noise.  But don’t tell him I said so.

Joe’s leave starts the end of this month, but as for dates we’ll be in GA those are up in the air.  All I know, is that on August 2nd, I will be UNAVAILABLE for anything.  Why?  Because I’m a total Twilight Series geek, and that is Breaking Dawn’s release date.  As is my custom, I will be obtaining my copy at midnight on Friday and most likely reading straight through.  I have warned Joe on pain of something very unpleasant to NOT bother me that day.  Unless there is a natural disaster or some other disaster I can’t ignore for twelve hours, I will be reading in my pj’s and the phones will be off. 

So other than the fact that I apparently am allergic to cantaloupe to the point where the ER doctor likened the lip swelling to “Channeling Angelina Jolie” , falling UP the stairs, and getting Joe to go clothes shopping for the first time in a year,  nothing much is going on here.  Just the usual weirdness.

From my Phone

I am making this post from my phone. Why? Just because I wanted to see if I could. If you give me some more time I will figure out how to post pictures I took with my phone, like the one of the beaver dam some of my Soldiers found during our last FTX. I would’nt call it an FTX like I’m used to. I set up a site for soldiers throughout the Battalion to come to and race on who could take apart different weapon systems the fastest.. The soldiers were divided into teams of 9 and we only saw about 3 teams a day at our site. (there were many different sites throughout the training area) needless to say there was a lot of downtime between teams showing up, so I let my soldiers do a little exploring of the area surrounding our site which led to the discovery of the afore mentioned beaver dam of which I took a picture and will post when I figure out how.

Airport Musings

I know most of you think I have forgotten about this blog.  I haven’t.  Right now I am sitting in the Jacksonville Airport waiting on my connection to Philadelphia.  I have been going non-stop (it seems) since I last blogged, and this feels like the first time I have actually sat down somewhere with absolutely nothing to do except wait.  It’s part of the reason I love airports.  I can people watch all I want postulating on all the places these people have been or are going.  First there are the employees, who are always undoubtedly bored.  They act as if they have seen everything and yet know nothing if you ever ask a question.  It’s quite a paradox.  Then there are the first-time travelers.  Bless their hearts.  They didn’t read their airline’s policy on luggage, and, really did think they could bring a trunk the size of a loveseat. They are the ones who always get offended at customs that they can’t simply walk through, and have no problems telling the customs agents this.  For example, there was a girl behind me who had on a head wrap.  Well, the customs lady was very nice, but told her that she could pat down her head wrap instead of asking her to take it off.  See, I would be grateful that they took my hair-do into consideration—it really is a pain to have to redo everything in an already crowded airport bathroom.  But often this is not the case.  The customs agents get attitude and dirty looks instead. 

Another example, is the frazzled parent.  Here is the type of one-sided conversational answers that can be heard on an average day of a customs agent:  “No, I cannot simply wave you through.  Yes, I do have to inspect that stroller.  Yes, the liquids rule applies to you too.  Yes, flight attendants will happily give you water for the formula you brought, although, you really can’t bring this whole can of unopened Good Start onboard.  Well, no you don’t look like a drug dealer.   Unfortunately drug dealers try to look like average folks.  I’m really sorry that you just bought it, but this is for the protection of all passengers.  No, not from formula toting frazzled parents.  From the people who pretend to be formula toting frazzled parents.” Bless those customs agents.  Out of all the times I have travelled, I have only encountered a really rude one maybe once or twice.  They are either all deaf, or have far more patience than I am capable of.  They treat everyone like they are potential criminals until proven innocent, and in today’s climate I actually prefer that when I am about to embark on a plane trip.  Because when I travel a few thousand feet above the Earth in a souped up tin cylinder, I’d prefer the other passengers to have been searched for contraband THOROUGHLY.  Better safe than sorry.  Too bad they can’t do anything about the too-chatty seatmate or the stank-breath snoring seatmate who sleeps with his mouth open facing you.  I’ll try to post more when I get to the next airport.

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So, I am now in Philadelphia.  We skirted the edge of the thunderstorm system so we had a bit of turbulence, but I’ve had worse.  I’m sitting at a mostly clean table in the food court sipping a Freshens Orange Sunrise, charging my laptop, and typing.  I am always so grateful for something not greasy to eat in an airport.  Phily has a fairly good selection including an Au Bon Pain, Auntie Anne’s, and a few other healthier options.  See here’s the thing, I get seriously motion sick on pretty much anything.  So I want non-greasy foods in airports since I may taste it again later.  Gross, but there you are. 

The chatty seat-mate was behind me.  I tried to drown her out, but she was seriously loud.  And she kept up her chatter on her views on depression and its treatments throughout the whole second hour.  The poor girl sitting next to her had much more patience than I do.  Luckily, the woman didn’t actually want the girl’s opinion, so the few “Mm-hmm” and “Yeah’s” the girl muttered were sufficient.  She really just wanted to hear herself, I think.  She should get a blog.  Then, she can talk about whatever she wants without annoying complete strangers:)

I’m really tired but I have another two hours until my flight even leaves.  These announcements are killing me.  Dublin, Munich, London.  I LOVE Dublin, Munich, and London.  But, I must admit, that I’m happy to be going home to Virginia.  I always miss the familiarity of my own house after a couple of days away.  Poor Joe has been on his own since Wednesday.  And while I’m used to him coming and going and am not phased by it if it’s only for a week or so, he is used to me being there.  I have a suspicion that he has subsisted on cereal and McDonald’s (ewww).  Well, that wraps up this episode of Airport Musings!

 

 

No apologies

Yup.  So I haven’t posted in a while.  I would apologize, but I decided against it.  Truth be told I simply haven’t felt like it.  I am having another insomniac night, so here’s an update.  We have been busy.  January was a blur.  Laura, Deron, Ethan, Daniel and Hannah came and visited for a few days.  We had a good visit and the kids got to see SNOW.  Granted it was only a teeny, tiny bit, but people….those kids live in Florida.  Not so much, with the snow-having.  We visited the Transportation Museum (planes, trains, and automobiles, ya’ll) and the Children’s Museum in Portsmouth-that was fun.  Here’s pics from the roll of film I didn’t leave in Laura’s purse.  (Yes, I still use film, albeit kodak portra film.  I do have digital and I use it sometimes, but I -GASP-prefer film.  It’s more challenging.  Sure, you can manipulate anything converted to a digital format, but it’s more fun for me to try to get the good shot on film.)

Ethan hanging out on the shore of the James River. 

Wren family members!  Hannah and Daniel have both inherited the ‘tongue thing’!  On my Mom’s side, we do this thing with our tongues when we think.  No we aren’t crazy, or at least not anymore than normal!  No idea why, but almost all of us do it or have done it at one time or another.

This is what happens when Mommy and Aunt Jenn are trying to get pictures at the same time.  Sorry no snow pictures!  That roll went to Florida with Laura.  Joe got some of it on video, so maybe I can get him to post it.  My sister has a few up on her blog, though. 

 

I near about gave Joe a heart attack to get this picture.  We had gone out to Fort Monroe for the day a couple of weekends ago, and I saw this cat stalking these geese across the field, so I screamed “Pull Over!”  It seemed completely logical to me at the moment.  Unfortunately, the cat was a wimp-or not as dumb as I thought he was-, so I sadly missed out on what would have been a hilarious catfight. 

He does humor me so!  Seriously though, how cute is he.  This is the “I’m sick of being your guinea pig Jenn.  I’m hungry, feed me” look.

I prefer to be the one behind the camera, but Joe insists on having a turn. 

This tourist couple stopped off the side of the road where we were (on base at Monroe), and asked if we would like them to get some shots of us together.  I think they turned out pretty good!  Here’s the thing though.  I had to climb that tree to get up there.  As many of you know, I am extraordinarily clumsy, so I fell a little bit both going up and coming down.  So yes, I am clinging to Joe mighty tightly in an attempt to not fall 12 feet to the ground. 

Things have been good.  Joe continues to be really busy with work.  The Company Change of Command he put together went off perfectly–except the weather, but there’s no controlling that.  He lost his awesome Platoon Sergeant this month to a PCS (he’s going to Germany, SIGH), so he was a bit bummed out.  He and his wife have six kids and they are all really excited to get to move overseas.  I am not going to lie and say I am not SO jealous, but I AM really excited for them.  They have a great attitude about it, and they’ll have a wonderful tour there.  Don’t get me wrong though.  We really do like the area we are in now.  It’s really nice and has so much to do. 

I am going to start volunteering with Red Cross doing casework for AFES (Armed Forces Emergency Services) again soon.  I just got an email from the Casework Chair last week, so I need to get back in touch tomorrow or so and see what I need to do.  I’m also volunteering with the Company FRG as treasurer /secretary–they are in a bit of transition and lacking somewhat in volunteer strength, hence the dual positions.  I have another couple of things I want to do, but more on those later.  

So, between all this and still getting the house how I want it, we stay busy.  A ridiculous amount of time has been spent in recent months on the “Rug Issue”.  Our lease requires that we have rugs on the hardwood.  Since the animal print our landlord offered did not exactly go with our decor, we ordered some rugs through AAFES.  People! Oh my gosh!  The third party company sent the wrong color twice.  As of right now, I have five WRONG rugs, two RIGHT rugs, and still need one more correct rug.  There is a bit of difficulty with the fact that some people are unaware that they are in fact idiots and cannot comprehend that red is not blue, so hopefully after almost two months, it will be FINALLY cleared up this week.  This one service rep informed me that since the word “Cranberry” was in the title, that the vendor probably thought I wanted red.  Here’s the thing though.  “Cranberry” is not in the title.  The rug series is called “Canterbury Garden”.  I said this to her (and enunciated) and she said “Right, Cranberry Garden.  You see what I mean? They thought you wanted red, because cranberry is a red color.”  I am not one who is easily made speechless, but folks, I couldn’t find the words.  I mean what do you say to that?  Well, I’m finally tired, so that’s all for now folks!

2007 is over! Woo-hoo!

Happy New Year!  Alrighty then.   Can you tell I’m happy last year is over?!  It was not the easiest year ever, and yes, I am THRILLED to see it go.  I bet ya’ll thought I forgot how to type.  Not so much though.  Have you ever had a person that constantly snarks at you about doing something, so you continue to not do it, just to see how many colors they can turn?  Probably not kind, but oh so amusing for me.  In case you haven’t guessed I’m talking about Joe:)  It drove him nuts that I wasn’t posting.  Not sure what that’s about…I don’t post anything I wouldn’t say out loud.  Or maybe I do…hmmm.

Belated birthday greetings to:  Mr. Ken, who does not have a home computer, no matter how many times Joe has dropped ’subtle’ hints, celebrated on Dec 1st; Deron, who aged another year on the 21st and remains older than me:) ; Mom who celebrated a monumental milestone on the 22nd (at my house:); Paige, who celebrated on 30th; and Hannah-Belle who celebrated her first birthday on Tuesday January 8th, and who will be having her very own party at my house next weekend (she’s having one this weekend in FL, but will be visiting me soon).  If I’m in the country, I try to be there at least for my nieces and nephews 1st birthday, but we decided that since we’ll see them soon after to have two parties.  Yay!

Hannah will also become a big sister to Grace Lillie in June!  I haven’t decided but I think I’ll call her Gracie or switch it and call her Lillie Grace.  Laura found out that the baby is a girl on Tuesday.  Let the record show, I knew it.

So things have been overwhelming to say the least.  November was fairly horrid, what with Joe’s PE and all the moving stuff.  We did go to GA for Thanksgiving weekend, though.  Joe and I really enjoyed seeing his aunts and cousins on his Dad’s side during our visit.  I always think about Joe’s Nana, Grace, at this time of year.  I went to Thanksgiving with him for the first time during my first year of college.  I really liked her right off the bat.  She reminded me of all my wonderful aunts that I had grown up around.  Saucy and funny.  As we went to leave she pulled me aside and pointedly said “You know, girls can ask boys to marry them nowdays too.“  People, I almost fell out.  I still grin everytime I think about it (although I’m pretty sure I blushed crimson when she actually said it) and am so glad to have that memory of her. 

Back to this year though!  We spent a little bit of time with both sides of the family before heading home.  Here’s a few pics.

 

Our niece Sarah is a total Daddy’s Girl.  Ya’ll don’t know how hard it is to get her to smile for the camera, let alone catch it on film.  Usually by the time I press the button, she’s stopped.  Patting myself on the back:)

Jacob, however, does not have that problem.  The kid would smile on command or whenever I held up the camera.  Isn’t he just too cute?!

Sarah, playing with her babies.  We got these for her for Christmas twin boy and girl baby dolls.  Since we wouldn’t see them in December, we went and ahead and gave Sarah, Jacob, and Joel their Christmas presents at Thanksgiving

Another pic of Jacob cheesin for the camera with Paige looking on.  I love his little overalls. 

December flew by.  I spent a lot of that time trying not to have a panic attack at the sheer amount of stuff left to do to the house.  Joe said in one of his “You haven’t been posting so I will” posts that I had the house done.  Um, no.  Perhaps in guy world.  But not in ANY other world.  Seriously.  Mom, Chris, and Kathi came up to visit on the 21st and got there at 10PM-ish.  We literally finished getting the house presentable (which does include dumping things in the garage and out of sight) at 9:33.  We had a good visit with them.  We went to Colonial Williamsburg, Ripley’s, Yankee Candle (ohmygosh, it’s a massive candle type mall–crazy), the planetarium, and discovered two tasty new restaurants, including a decent pizzeria, Stephano’s in Williamsburg.  I am so picky about pizzerias, if they don’t taste similar to Giuseppe’s in Augusta, they are off the list.  So anyway, we had a good visit and they headed off on Christmas Eve to go home. 

Three days later, we were able to spend some time with Jeff, Jeni, Kaity, and Joe, who were up from GA for a visit with several friends and relatives.  The first day, we went to the VA Living Museum that is just down the road, and followed it up by going to dinner.  The Museum was fun, and I think, a good trip for the adults and kids alike. 

This cute little otter was one of my favorites.  He (or she–I don’t know which) was very friendly and put on a big show.

Same otter continuing to play with his or her company, aka Uncle Joe and Kaity.  Hope the otter is in a good mood when we go back next weekend.

Kaity in a tortoise (I think) shell.  I was going to try to get both kids in the shot, but Joe was struggling with sitting still for the camera:)

I love this picture.  The lady asked him if he wanted to touch the horseshoe crab, and the look on his face was priceless!

That night we played Uno Attack.  I used to play Uno with my family when I was younger, but this is even more fun.  The next morning Joe made breakfast.  Here’s the thing.  He always makes breakfast when we have company.  Seriously, people probably think he does that sort of thing all the time.  Um, no.  Just when we have guests.  Sneaky, sneaky.  The next day, we went to the Transportation Museum on post, and I think Joe (my Joe) enjoyed that the most.  It was pretty interesting, and I am not typically generous with compliments when it comes to stuff like that.  The boys (Ethan and Daniel) should be very impressed when visit it while they are here next weekend. 

Since then, we have just worked on the house more, and gotten necessary stuff done.  Like the root canal I had last week.  Ya’ll are probably going to laugh, but I fell asleep.  The had to put a bite block in and a rubber dam to keep my mouth open cause I kept dozing off.  And it was just local anesthetic.  I picked up that habit when I used to go to Dr. Meister’s office.  I was never nervous going there, since Aunt Janet was there, and I started falling asleep when getting fillings and such.  I haven’t been able to shake the habit since and warn anyone working on my teeth, not only cause I will bite down, but also since I occasionally…snore.  Joe came in the office to check on me and the receptionist told him I had been.  Gah!  Embarrassing, but probably unsurprising.  My face actually feels hot thinking about it. 

Joe has been busy at work setting up the Company Change of Command for next month, in addition to everything else.  I have been working on decluttering our office and going through gobs of paperwork and paper.  I had our just-emptied recycling bin filled up by that afternoon.  But all in all, it’s starting to feel like home.  I am growing rather attached to the area, but it’s judgment is still pending.  Allergy Season has yet to strike….

Me Again:)

Hey, it’s me again.  Jennifer claims to be too busy to post, so I’m going to put something in.  Regarding the last post, the girl’s father paid to have my Jeep fixed out of his pocket.  About a week later somebody did the exact same thing to me, only this time they didn’t stop but took off and left me with a nice blue scratch down the side of my door.  Maybe I should start taking the bus.  Oh well.  I did end up getting the new phone the Voyager.  It has a nice touch screen, mobile TV, a navigation system, mp3 player, etc..  so far, I’m really impressed.  I’m moving into my fourth week of actual work as a platoon leader.  After the first two weeks I wasn’t sure what I had gotten myself into, but I’m starting to get a better feel for it.  Jennifer’s been busy trying to get the house the way she wants it.  She has also been working for the FRG (Family Readiness Group).  Friday night we had our company party which Jennifer spent a lot of time setting up for.  Hope everyone is doing well.  I’ll try and get Jennifer to post something next time, I know ya’ll are tired of hearing from me.  It being the weekend, I promised Jennifer I would help around the house, so I better get to work before she figures out that I’m only posting to procrastinate. 

Minutes after the last post…

Just after I finished posting the pictures, Jennifer and I left for Wal-Mart, which is only five minutes away.  Just before we got there this little 17 year old girl in her Mini Cooper tried to enter the same lane I was in, and in the exact same spot that I was as well.  I couldn’t even see her because the car was so small, but Jennifer saw it real well.  In the end all I have is a couple of scratch marks on the plastic part of the front right fender.  She ended up with some dents and a big black round mark on her door where she drove into my front tire.  Soon after that, when we finally made it to Wal-Mart, somebody tried to back into me. (I wasn’t in the Jeep that time.)  I hit his trunk to get his attention. ( He was also about to back into the cars that I was up against.)  He just leaned his head out the window and said “thanks”.  At least the visit to the Japanese Restaurant was uneventful.  I have to go put up some shelves now and get my uniform ready for tomorrow.  First day of work, although it is probably going to be a half day, and they will want me to sign out on pass.  I’m guessing I won’t get much accomplished.  Also, the new Voyager phone from Verizon comes out tomorrow,  hope there is some left for me.

My new Jeep :)

This past weekend Jennifer let me go and get another vehicle.  I’ve been wanting one of these since I can’t remember. 

His and Hers Jeeps (they even match)

Front view of our new house.

Joe’s first post

I know it’s been awhile since the last post but Jennifer has been busy putting together the house.  I am posting because I’ve found myself (much to Jenn’s chagrin) with copious amounts of free time.  Mind you I do try to help out with what I can (Jennifer shaking her head in the background).  If you’ve read other posts, then you know that I was in a motorcycle accident.  Most of my wounds have healed, I have only one scab on my knee that has yet to fall off, and I have almost all movement back in my left elbow.  I thought I was out of the woods, and could get back to life as normal.  Well, not just yet.  A couple of days after driving up here I noticed a sharp pain in my back like a pulled muscle.  It hurt enough where I couldn’t lie down without trouble breathing.  Most of the pain subsided during the day, but after the third day when I didn’t sleep at all, Jennifer made me go to the doctor.  Long story short, they found a pulmonary embolism.  I ended up staying at Portsmouth Naval Medical Center for three nights which is three nights too long for me.  They started me out on Coumadin and Lovenox injections (which Jennifer had to give me, because poking myself with a needle isn’t high on my must do list.)  They released me during the holiday weekend so I couldn’t have my blood checked at Fort Eustis until Wednesday.  When it was checked, they found that my blood was too thin.  When my Navy doctor found out, I guess he got a little worried and ordered me to just sit on the couch and not move.  Now my blood is at the target level, and I have to be on the Coumadin for six months.  I still can’t sleep on my back so I’ve set up camp sitting up on the couch, and basically being a big baby.  The boxes are all unpacked and Jennifer has singlehandedly put our house together.  There is still stuff left to do, but it should be ready by the time anyone comes up to visit.  I wish I could post some pictures on here too, but we haven’t taken any recently; maybe next time.