"...it ripped half my thumbnail off."

Thursday, August 6, 1992

     Ez. woke up at 7:20 this morning and this time I hadn't already woke up coughing. It was still hard to get up though cause I had trouble getting to sleep last night. It was almost 12:30 before I went to sleep.

     I called Angela this morning & got directions. I missed one turn & had to go down a little ways to turn around & go back. I got some mud on the car cause I went off the side of the road a little when I made a U-turn. I meant to wash it off when we got home but I forgot.

     Anyway, Joe was home—he's taking leave this week. Angela said she wasn't feeling too good this week & I asked if she's been sick & she said it was morning sickness! She's about 8 wks along—due in March. Joe is supposed to go on shore duty in Feb. so he'll be here this time. I'd forgotten he was gone when Angela had Andrew & she was at her parents' in SC to have him.

     Ez. did pretty good while we were there. Except she wouldn't eat her spaghetti-o's. She ate some cheese & bread and later she & Andrew shared a banana. They never actually played together, kinda side by side part of the time. I took a picture of Anita playing patty cake with Ez. Andrew had some puzzles & Ez. was trying to do them but she needed help. I think we could get her some puzzles for xmas if not before.

     I figured up the checkbook & we're $90 in the hole. I'm not too worried yet.

     We stayed over at the Garcia's til about 1:45. Since Ez. didn't get a nap this morning she fell asleep on the way home. I was looking forward to a nice long nap but she only slept just a little over an hour. I finally tried giving her some M&M's when I was having mine. She liked them & had no trouble with them. They were messy though.

     I called Barb this morning to tell her the yard looks like it will need mowing by this weekend. We've gotten little bits of rain here & there but enough to make the grass sprout up. She said she'd call me back tomorrow. If they don't have time to come do it, or if it rains too much for them to, I guess I'll have to ask Mr. Gibbs. I asked Barb if Jamie or John could use a weed eater & she said yes.

     When we got home this aft. & I was getting the sun shade out, my hand slipped on it and it ripped half my thumbnail off. I had to cut the rest of it off—really short. That's the first time I've had any problems with it since Ez. was born. I figured there was something about the pregnancy that had strengthened it. Now my thumb is tender & will probably be sore for awhile.

     Ez. & Chief were really playing well together tonight. I was in the bathroom after supper & she followed me in as usual. She laid down to look under the door & I asked her if she could see Chief's toes. I stuck my toes under the door but he didn't do anything. When I opened the door & asked her if Chief was out there she just started cackling. I don't know what he was doing to make her laugh so much but she started to go out after him & he started running back & forth. Every time he came toward her she'd duck back in the door & scream & laugh. Then whenever he'd run away from her she'd go out like she was going to chase him but by the time she got out in the hall he'd be coming back & she'd come back in again. They did that for a couple of minutes, at least. After I finished I checked her diaper & it was really a mess, probably cause she'd been running around so much. Her other poop today was normal.

     It was really nice out today. It came a little shower while we were at Angela's but I forgot to check the rain gauge when we got home to see if it rained here. It's supposed to be cooler tonight so I may turn her fan off. I missed what the high was today. Ez. always makes a noise at the wrong time & I can't see without my glasses.

     I put Ez. to bed at 8:15 and thought she went right to sleep. About 20 minutes later I saw the monitor light going up & turned the volume up to see if she was kicking or what. I couldn't tell what the noise was so I went to check on her. I'm surprised & lucky she didn't see me open the door. I couldn't tell which way she was laying—I just saw her arm sticking up & her hand fiddling with one of the things on her activity board. She did that til almost 9:00.

     I didn't even think to try & put a tape in for my story today. I fiddled with the VCR this evening & couldn't get it to do anything except play and it still wouldn't play the tapes that are completely rewound. I'm afraid we're going to have to take it in. But I don't know if we should take it to Circuit City or Sears or the movie store. I'll wait til Guy gets back to do anything though.

August 6, 1992

"All big & not usual expenses."

Wed., August 5, 1992

     I finished writing to Guy Mon. night and mailed the letter & Sat. newspaper & Sun. bulletin. We went to ACE post office to do it. Then we went to the safe deposit box to pay it and put our wills in. We went to HQ to look for a little lamp to use for a plant light. They didn't have one exactly like I wanted but there was one for $4.98 that clips on. The models had a hanging hole where they were bolted down but the one I got didn't have a hole so I clipped it on the circuit breaker box door. Hopefully it'll do my plants some good. Our last stop was Wal-Mart. One thing I got was a pill splitter. She's only supposed to take 1/2 a vitamin every day. It works just fine.

     I'm tired of having to write so many things down twice so I'm trying to use carbon paper to do both at once. It'll look funny in my journal cause the lines don't line up. But it'll keep me from getting so much writers cramp.

     Everything went well today. I did wake up at 5 something coughing & never got completely back to sleep. I think it was a little before 7 when Ez. woke up. We got over to Gayle's without too much trouble. I left there about 10:30 and got back here around 12:30. I'd asked Gayle if she'd mind if I came home & put the groceries up before coming to get Ez. & she said that'd be fine. She was asleep when I got there. Gale had spread out the floor pillows in the living room. It woke her up when I got there. Gale said she could go ahead & eat there since she'd slept through lunch. She asked if I'd eaten & I told her just a candy bar & she fixed me a sandwich—real ham. Ez. didn't seem to be too hungry. She wouldn't eat any ravioli at all. She ate 3 rice cakes & half her yogurt. And she took her time about it. It was after 2:00 when we left. She said Ez. was such a good & quiet girl. She didn't get into things or cry any. I told her I wished she was like that all the time at home. She wore her shoes the whole time and her ankles were so red when I took them off after we got home. I'm debating whether to go ahead and have her wear them for an hour or so around the house every day.

     I just remembered something funny she started doing yesterday. Most of the time I have to bribe her to go up the stairs by putting a pacifier several steps up. Yesterday & today, instead of putting it in her mouth as usual, she reached for it with her mouth. It looks so funny, kinda like she's bobbing for apples.

     Something I wrote Guy about yesterday. When I was getting her pjs on I don't remember what she did that made me ask her where were her eyes. She put her finger beside her eye—I was so excited! She also did her nose & toes. For mouth she pointed to her ear. She was really tired so I didn't press her to do more. But she did them all right today. I looked back & can't fine where I wrote that she discovered her belly button one day last week. (Thu.) When I got her up & was rocking with her she all of a sudden pulled her shirt up & put her finger in her belly button. I was so surprised. I told her what it was & now she knows where it is when you ask. She likes to look for mine if she's in the bathroom when I'm using the toilet.

     She took a nap late this aft., around 3:30–5:00. I slept about an hour I think. She woke up a few minutes after I did. Sometimes I think she's got ESP for when I wake up & thinks she needs to wake up too. I gave her a bath tonight—cleaned the tub first. She sure does make a bathtub ring. I cleaned the downstairs bathroom while she was eating her snack. It was about 8:30 when she went to bed. Last night & tonight she fought with me brushing her teeth. Her poop seems to be back to normal again. It was nice going to the commissary alone. I lucked out & got a handicapped space. It sure seemed like there were a lot of old people there today. I spent more than I thought I would—around $123. So we're in the hole. I was trying to figure out what put us over to start with & it was the vet bill, Ez's shoes, & the safe deposit box. All big & not usual expenses.

     Gayle said the Claypools are renting a house a few blocks off of Edwin on the other side of Pr. Anne (not toward Mt. Trashier). Other news she told me is that Mark Pugh has two herniated disks from that accident and a blood clot on his spine that they're waiting to see if it'll dissolve itself. He's supposed to be taking it easy but is able to preach.

     I tried to call Angela Garcia this aft. to see if she still wants us to come over for lunch tomorrow but there was no answer twice. I'll try again in the morning.

"So I guess we're done with that."

Monday, August 3, 1992

     Yesterday was a long day. I got up around 6:35 so I could get my shower & breakfast before Ez. got up. She was stirring around by the time I got ready for the shower so I tried to hurry. She was awake by the time I got done so we came down & had breakfast. I fixed up the last of her baby oatmeal/rice cereal but she didn't want any of it. So I guess we're done with that.

     Of course she didn't take a nap in church, even though Martha wasn't in front of or behind us to distract her. I'd thought there was another pacifier in the diaper bag but it wasn't and she didn't have one to hold. She fell asleep on the way home but didn't stay asleep.

     When we were eating lunch she threw up, kinda. When I looked over at her, her face was all splotchy like it is when she cries a lot. At first I thought she might be choking. She was looking at me with a strange look on her face then I think she burped & then threw up. She turned her head at the last second so it went on her bib & the tray. It looked like the stuff she'd just eaten—there was a piece of bread & one of the cheese plus a lot of liquid. Then she acted like nothing was wrong, like she felt fine. I think maybe it was because she wasn't chewing things up good before swallowing. She ate the rest of her lunch just fine. Her poops had gotten back to normal but were loose again today, but not as bad as Sat. If she's still like that tomorrow I'll call the nurse.

     I was planning to run some errands after lunch today but when I put a tape in to record my story it didn't work. Instead of using the remote to program it I used the quick timer button. I did like Guy said, try different tapes til I got it to work. It worked on any tape that wasn't completely rewound but the blank one was rewound completely. I tried to turn it by hand but it wouldn't move like you can do an audio cassette. So I decided to stay & watch my story & then go but Ez. was getting grumpy by then. She only slept an hour this aft. I slept almost that long. She slept 1.5 hrs. this morning (woke up at 6:56) & I only got a few minutes. I tried calling Barb Leland and she had someone on another line & said she'd call right back. It was about 30 min. later & I drifted off a little while.

     I wanted to see if I could hire Jamie to mow the yard while Guy's gone. She said they'll be gone on vacation next week but he or John could do it before they leave or after they get back. I'm supposed to call her if it needs mowing by the end of the week.

     I was too tired to write here or to Guy last night. And didn't have time today so I need to now.

July 30, 1992

"I'm afraid it's going to be the longest two years of my life."

Saturday, August 1, 1992

     Guy left yesterday morning. I started crying about it on Wed. cause he had duty that day. He was supposed to get Thu. aft. off but it was between 2:30–3:00 before he got home. I wish we hadn't left so much til the last minute. We got most everything done but we were up til 11:00. It was mostly stuff that I couldn't do myself. I had to go to the bank to get him some money for his trip. I was waiting for the mailman so I could deposit my allotment too but he didn't come til after Guy got home and then my check wasn't there. Guy wanted me to go ahead & get his money so he could spend time with Ez. but he put her down for a nap soon after I left.

     We also ended up going over to Farm Fresh together. I hadn't realized I didn't have enough TV dinners to last from the time he left til I go to the commissary again. First I told him I'd go with Ez. after supper & he could get the mowing done while we were gone. Then I remembered I'd told Ez. the last time we were at Farm Fresh & she saw a little girl riding the mechanical pony out front that when Guy got home we'd come over and let her ride it. She wasn't sure about it at first but once we reassured her a few times she started liking it. It cost 25 cents and it seemed like a pretty long ride.

     Anyway, while we were waiting for the mailman, I trimmed Guy's hair. Other things he did were trim Chief's nails, get the baby swing out of the closet, vacuum, set up the Travel Tender, and we both made a cassette tape for Ez., singing Old MacDonald. Some of this we did while she was still napping & some was after we got back from Farm Fresh. But he also wanted to give her a bath one more time & to be the one to put her to bed. He said he was talking to her and she was just looking at him til her eyes got too heavy & he laid her down. She stood up as usual but didn't cry when he left.

     I know it must be hard for him to leave her but he really doesn't show it. I spoiled the end of the evening by starting to cry. We had a long talk with him doing most of the talking & me doing all of the crying. He just kept telling me that he thought I could handle everything if I just take it one day at a time, telling me what to do if certain things happen. He makes it all around so easy but I know it's not. It's hard enough for me to get things done when he's here to help me. I'll just try to take it one day at a time like he said. I don't know if I've mentioned it before but they're only supposed to be in for 2 days before they go out for another week or so. They're going to be in & out so much the rest of the year. Guy said some of the outings may be cancelled because 'they' may tell her there's not enough money for so many times. I sure hope so. I don't think the captain has any sympathy at all for families because she doesn't have any kids. Guy said she's got less than a year left on the ship but the next captain is a woman too. He keeps saying how it's just two more year. (as of Sept.) I'm afraid it's going to be the longest two years of my life.

     It was just so hard to say goodbye yesterday. He got Ez. out of the car for a few minutes & we just all stood there holding each other. After he put her back in and took me back around to get in I didn't want to let him go. He kissed me again through the window & said goodbye. I thought he'd stay there til I left. I was blowing my nose & wiping my eyes and when I looked around, he'd already gone through the gate and was halfway to the pier. He didn't even look back. That hurt me so much & started me to crying again. I don't think I sat there too much longer before starting the car & leaving. I missed my turn & went to the other end of the piers & had to turn around & come back. I cried off & on all the way home and all day & night; it gradually got less but now that I'm wring all this I'm starting again.

     I've already written him over four pages. I guess I'm going to be doing a lot of writing between him & my journal.

     We stayed busy yesterday. Ez. slept 8:30–10:45 yesterday & I slept about an hour. We ran errands. I had to take Guy's ACC paperwork by the office. He'd gone down there Thu. aft. but they were closed early because of a duck emergency. We took the old phone books to the recycling bin, went to the Wonder store, and went to Office Warehouse to get new ribbons for the CUP. They've been bought out by Office Max and everything's being redone in the store.

     Ez. took a nap after lunch & when she got up we checked the mail & my check was there so we went to the credit union. We went inside cause I needed dimes and I used the stroller. It wasn't as crowded as I thought it would be. Traffic was bad though.

     She went to bed with no problem. She'd had two very loose poops & had a low fever—100.5—so I gave her some Tylenol. She slept straight through the night til 7:45 this morning! 11.5 hrs!

     Soon after she went to sleep it started storming & she slept through the whole thing. Chief was real whiny though so I stayed downstairs til I was sure it was all over—about 10:00. I got the bills all paid then finished the books this morning. The money's down to $116 but everything's paid til the 15th except diapers and my trip to the commissary next week, which shouldn't be too much.

     We took the bills to the mailbox and strolled down to get the newspaper out of the box at the street corner. It was windy but the sun was very bright—I kept moving the stroller handle to keep her from facing the sun. She had some juice then I put her down for a nap. I was almost asleep 20 min. later when she started crying. I checked her diaper & it was ok so I told her to lay down & go to sleep. & I guess she did. But I couldn't go to sleep then so I decided to write awhile. It's been just over an hour now. If I try to sleep now she'll probably wake up. It's lunch time anyway.

July 30, 1992

"I hope she doesn't do this all night."

Wednesday, July 29, 1992

     Guy's got duty tonight then he's home just one more night before he leaves. I can't stand it & I don't know how I'm going to make it for 5 weeks without him.

     Ez. woke up at 6:25 this morning but she wasn't poopy. She slept from 11:45–1:45 & 3:45–5:00. I went back over to Hair Cuttery this morning cause my hair looked longer on one side than the other. I'd told the girl that yesterday but she didn't even offer to let me look in the mirror. I noticed it when I was getting ready for bed last night. The right side curved up toward the front & the left side was straight when I had it all combed to the back. This girl cut the left side curved too. She didn't ask if I wanted that or to have it but straight across. It probably would've taken 3–4" off to cut it straight. It looks ok now.

     Ez. went right to sleep at 8:15 but she sure seems restless. She's been crying a little three times already. The first time, I went to check on her & she was still laying down but got up when she heard me. I don't think she was really awake cause I didn't hear her cry any when I left. The next time she quieted down before I went in. The last time she was sitting up as I went in. I checked her diaper again & gave her all her pacifiers. She was still standing up when I left but she didn't cry. I hope she doesn't do this all night. (She didn't wake up any more)

July 30, 1992

"I hope so."

Tuesday, July 28, 1992

     Guy got the afternoon off today but before he came home he had to go pick up some refills at Boone for me then go by the commissary for a few things to tide me over til next week & some sodas for his trip.

     Ez. went down for a nap a little while after he got back and I went over to Hair Cuttery to get my hair trimmed. He did his paperwork for the ACC—was still working on it when I got back. I started on my monthly letter this morning & finished it & started printing it out. (this aft./eve.)

     After supper we went to the mall to get Ez. some shoes like the dr. wanted. Hofheimer's didn't have the right kind and the lady recommended Juvenile Bootery. She did just fine when the lady was measuring her feet and fitting the shoes. She [the lady] seemed to know what she was talking about. The shoes cost $35 but she said they should last about 4 most. We also got some of those lace caps with jingle bells on them. She wore the shoes home and really liked the bells. When we took her shoes off at home her ankles were red almost all around. Guy said she'd get used to them to where they won't do that any more once her ankles get stronger. I hope so.

     Guy washed the car & truck after we got back. It was dark before he got done. Then he did the dishes. Oh, he finally got the VCR to work. He said he just kept trying different tapes til he got one to work, then the others worked. Hopefully it won't do that again.

"If it's not one thing it's another."

Monday, July 27, 1992

     Today would've been Vivian Totty's 36th birthday.

     I was supposed to fix spaghetti for supper tonight because Guy's supposed to have his PT test tomorrow. But I forgot and fixed chicken cause it was on the menu.

     He came home in a bad mood but I didn't realize it til I told him I couldn't get the VCR to do anything—he handed me Ez. & started working fiddling with it and got annoyed when Ez. & Chief were both trying to get their attention. I tried to keep Ez. preoccupied then I went to start supper & she didn't want to stay in the kitchen. Guy put Chief outside then when he started scratching on the door he let him in & made him go to his room. I was in a bad mood by then & it hasn't been a very pleasant evening.

     There was a storm earlier (around 7:30) & the weather channel said there was a tornado spotted in Norfolk. We looked out but couldn't see anything besides a storm. Ez. & I sat in the downstairs bathroom floor til the worst of the storm was past. Guy went to get his big flashlight out of the truck. I don't know if the tornado did any damage. Guess we'll have to watch the news to find out.

     Between supper & the storm, Guy took Chief to the vet for his distemper shot. That plus the checkup & stool test cost $40. And now we may have to spend money to get the VCR fixed. If it's not one thing it's another.

July 26, 1992

"It was almost like magic."

Thursday, July 23, 1992

     Guy's home! for seven days.

Saturday, July 25, 1992

     It was almost like magic. With Guy being back, Ez. slept til 8:00 Friday morning. I did hear her around 6:00 but I guess she went back to sleep. She wasn't poopy either. And she slept from 10:45–almost 1:00. Guy got home around 12:30. He said they'd talked about giving everyone every aft. off til they leave but someone made one of the officers mad and they were lucky to get just Fri. aft. off.

     When he called tonight (duty day) he said they may get one aft. off next week but he didn't know which one. We were hoping to go to a movie before he leaves but I don't know when we're going to have time. There are so many little things we need to get done before they leave. 

     We went to Wal-Mart after Ez. got up & ate lunch; for diapers, etc. While we were in the store we could hear it thundering but it didn't start raining til we were home. Then it poured for a couple of hours. Guy said there was 4" in the rain gauge!

     It's really lousy that he has duty on the only Saturday they're home. And the captain is still planning on them going out again two days after they get back. I figured it would be hard having a woman co. but now I'm afraid it's going to be even worse than I thought. They're just going to be in & out so much for the rest of the year. We may not be able to take a long trip home for Thanksgiving like usual.

     Oh, Ez. woke up sometime overnight, I don't remember what time it was. I waited to see if she would go back to sleep but she didn't. I was trying to get up but it was just so hard & finally Guy said he'd check her. He checked her diaper & it was ok. She went back to sleep in a little while I think—I'm not sure how long he stayed in there. I heard her once after Guy left but I don't know what time that was. It was 7:30 when I heard her & got up. She didn't want to take a nap this morning. I thought she'd gone to sleep but when I checked on her before getting in the shower, she was playing with all the stuffed toys in her crib. She started fussing before I got in the shower so I got her up.

     Right after we ate lunch we went to Farm Fresh to get some milk. I figured she'd take a good nap & she slept all of an hour. I slept about 40 min. which is more than usual—I usually get about half as much as she does. I don't know what woke her up except the side of her head & hair were all sweaty.

     I washed her hair in the kitchen sink again. She's still not sure what's going on but she did a little better than last time. She should get used to it after awhile. The hardest part is getting the back of her head. If I try to lift her head she tries to get up. And she doesn't like for me to turn her head. I'm glad she still enjoys taking a bath. 

     One other thing about her waking up last night. Guy had turned the fan off when we went to bed & I've been leaving it on all night. He turned it on again when he checked on her.

"One day left!"

Wed., July 22, 1992

     6:06 with a messy diaper again this morning. I hope this is just a phase and that it'll be back to normal soon. I put her back to bed this time & she cried off & on. I don't know if she went back to sleep any or not—I didn't. I waited til 7:00 to get her up though.

     We went to the bank to deposit two Academy checks & get some money to eat out this weekend. I wish Guy didn't have duty Sat. so we could go to a movie. We went to Baby Superstore to return a sleeper we got the Sat. before Guy left. It was too short. I ended up exchanging it for a pair of PJ's plus buying a safety harness (for keeping hold of her when she starts walking). I looked at shoes but didn't have any socks for her to try them on. Hopefully we can get her some while Guy's home.

     I thought keeping Ez. up all morning again would make her sleep longer this afternoon. She slept from about 12:30–1:45. I slept a little over 30 minutes. Damien was bumping around next door. I tried to go back to sleep & finally decided to watch my story. Ez. woke up a few minutes later but I don't see how she could've heard the TV. She did take a 45 minute nap later.

     It stormed a little bit & the lights went out for a few seconds. It was rainy & gloomy the rest of the aft. so we didn't go check the mail. I checked the rain gauge and there was 1.3:! It's rained some more since then but hasn't stormed any more & hopefully won't storm tonight. There's a 50/50 chance it will tomorrow.

     Hopefully it won't be raining whenever we have to go pick up Guy. Their arrival time isn't on the tape yet.

     One day left!