Buns 12 Days of Christmas

On the twelfth day of Christmas my bunnies gave to me,

Twelve minutes of snuggling,

Eleven cordless lights,
Ten nose nudges

Nine gnawed on packages,

Eight big arm scratches,

Seven sweet kisses,

Six bunny binkies,

Five big THUMPS,

Four vet bills,

Three chin rubs,

Two chewed cords,

& a pile of bunny poop under the tree.

Christmas Day

Christmas Morning just goes by way too quick with just the 4 of us!
I think the entire un-wrapping ritual takes a mere 23 minutes -

and that's with the dreaded turn taking!

We had fun flying the remote helicopter on the helipad behind our house, trying to fit Madi's new "stuff" into her room, and each of us lounging around with our new books.

The afternoon was spent with the Hansen family sharing great food and a very comfortable atmosphere. They have been wonderful! (filling the void for the cousins we're missing back home).

Christmas Eve and all is well

What could be better than a Christmas Eve when everything's right in the household:
Pink cheeks all around from spending the day on the water with friends.

The reindeer dust has been sprinkled at the beach.

Our tummies are full of spicy spam fried rice.
And we each had our own bottles of Martinelli's sparkling cider while in our new pj's!

Jungle Bells and Sandmen

Here is our annual attempt at the Christmas spirit around our little concrete block of a house.

I think it was 90 degrees the day we got the lights up.

The best part of the yard decor - the frogs that are illuminated by the glow . . .

Christmas, Island style. . . .

Burgers grilling on an open fire.

Triggerfish nibbling on our toes.

Sandmen santas being built by the kids -

And all of this done while barely clothed. . . .

. . . Another Christmas in Guam!

Frosted Window Panes

What do you do on a boring Sunday with no power, no AIRCON!, and terrible allergies . . . . .

You remember Grandpa's BOX CAME!!!!~

The mailman kindly puts our boxes in the garage for us if we're not home. That's very thoughtful of him, but sometimes it takes me a while to notice. (Especially if it's in a BIONAIRE box) I saw it on our way out to the Christmas party last night and put it inside the laundry room until today.

Our dinner consisted of taffy. (We're so pathetic. We all ravaged it like we hadn't eaten in . . . . .hours)
I'll have to wait until the house cools back down before we break out the hot chocolate. (It's now 9pm and the air has been working for about 20 minutes)

But we loved the snow in a can. . . . .You will never understand how much you got your money's worth on that purchase! We cut out stencils and made our own frosted window panes.
I will admit the images melted a bit with the humidity being so high without the aircon in the house - but we're the envy of the neighborhood.
Thanks for a fun afternoon!

Oakleaf Club of Guam's Annual Cookie Exchange

Twas a month before Christmas and all through the room

Drifted the smell of cookies which lifted my gloom

I tiptoed to the kitchen to get a glance

Where I saw a few Oakleaves in their cookie making stance

I watched in wonder as the cookies did appear
Fresh from the oven as the party did near

Jane has everything laid out with care

I knew the other guests would soon arrive there

Come join us for the cookie and ornament exchange party this year

For good times, good friendship, and for good cheer!

Bring three (3) dozen baked cookies if you want to play

And of course bring an ornament to swap on that day

Pull out your favorite cookie recipe and get ready to conjure up sweet treats
And don’t forget to bring an empty bowl for the cookies you get to keep

The Oakleaf Club’s Annual Cookie Exchange and Ornament Swap on
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
7-8:30 p.m.

We're finally home (deep breath) - but I'm no where near ready to start life back up on Guam.

Honestly, I can't quite put into words how the last month and a half has been. I'm just not too keen on David's employer or our "benefits of being a military family".

Someday I'll have to tell you about how one of the DR's asked Madison "How can you not be embarrassed with a brother like that . . . ."
I think that was the day after she asked how our visit to the "family compound in Utah" was.

Dr. Cramer is the best man around throughout all of this! He's been on board since mid June and has some colleagues at the U reviewing Madison's record - something not even ONE of the DR's at Tripler ever cared to do. (From the cardiologist, rheumatologist, neurologist, psychologist)
Silly old me wasn't even aware her record wasn't anywhere even close to Hawaii's eyes until halfway through this adventure and the psychiatrist asked if I happened to bring it. . . . . .

What was accomplished in Hawaii:
1 - Madison was incredibly successful with her hypnosis and pain management. We suffered through a couple of trials of different pain medications and varying side effects - but everyone finally came to agree on an anti seizure medication.

2 - No diagnosis. But at least seeing our "mystery case" in person helped dissolve the thought that Madison was faking this whole thing for attention and had "conversion disorder". So we're back home with ever present purpuric rash and butterfly cheeks. And now . . . . she's learned how to "float away on a cloud" when her legs just won't climb one more stair.

3 - I learned that Guam has the highest rate of pediatric patients that are medically evac'd to Hawaii for pain management through the military (which was how we were categorized on paper)
There have been casual studies about what factors are on Guam are contributing to military kids' health, etc. (hazardous chemicals in the soil, exposure to jet fuel, etc.) But nothing official according to the govt.

For all I know - Madi's case could be something as simple as an allergy to the mold that is ever present on Guam.

4 - During our time away. Madi was never completely better - but her pain was less. I was anxious to see what Utah's climate would be like on her body - but I don't know if we were there long enough to really tell. Her rash was quite obvious - but we were really stressed and tired that whole week. So who knows.

5 - We were basically told to "get on with life. Yes - she has symptoms. No - we can't pinpoint it. Give it time, maybe more clues could show up - or it will completely go away."

Real life is no where near an episode of HOUSE, M.D.

It's all just pretty raw right now. Please just try and fill in the glaring blanks.

I'll get out of my funk sooner or later . . . .I have to get on with life by getting Christmas mailed here pretty darn quick!!!!

I Can't Believe It!

After 10 years, 4 moves, 3 different areas of the world, and many times in different ovens - my Pampered Chef rectangle stone broke.

I was making a cute, yummy pizza braid for dinner - I opened the oven to pull it out and the stone was in 3 pieces. It must have broke close at the end, because the braid looks cooked, and pretty much in good shape.

I feel strangely sad. Really.

Liberation Day

We just got back from the commissary.
Our big purchase included milk, cereal, and frozen pot pies. I guess you can tell when Dad's not around by our shopping cart. He's enjoying the land of plenty - San Diego. Seriously, he went to a Padres game last night with 30ish OB Jennifer - and stayed for the whole thing! He never did that with us when WE lived there. PLUS, he bought a new shirt for the event. Granted, it's because he's freezing his fanny off there - but I only get t-shirts and uniforms! Nope, not jealous. Just pooped from having to deal with my unusually sick 10 year old and haven't had a moment to myself since my airplane ride home from Utah in April.

One good thing about Madi's being sick - it's kept us here to actually see Guam's Liberation Day.
*little history lesson here*
Guam celebrates the 21st of July - when the U.S. Marines arrived back on Guam to liberate the Chamorro people from the Japanese occupation. It's really been quite interesting and stirring to hear some of the survivors stories from the "occupation". The concentration camps, what the Japanese did to the people, POW's etc. The Japanese attacked Guam one hour after the Pearl Harbor attack (Guam was under the US Navy at the time). The Japanese held control in Guam from December 41 until July 21st, 1944. Guam is the only US owned land that has endured "occupation".

It's very similar to the 24th of July with pageants, a little carnival (no rodeo, but you can ride a carabao) and of course the big parade . . . .with families camping out along the parade route. The kids and I drove up and down the route the night before and I was telling them how it reminded me of the 24th when I was little. But one major difference . . .every single canopy (Guam, remember) had a BBQ going. And I'm not talking portable propane - we're talking drums with charcoal. (Propane is such a haole thing!) And each canopy had HUGE plastic banners across the front saying things like "Biba Guam! Gumataotao Family" You could smell the smoke all over the island.
My party poopers wouldn't even watch the parade on the t.v. - let alone go sit in the rain to watch. They wouldn't even entertain the thought of going to see the fireworks! Humpf!
I'm off to attack the trail of ants leading around the tub. The kids are hollering up a storm about it!

Take one step forward, three steps back!

Madison has gone backwards probably a month today. Her rash is so bad that even Garrett noticed it while we were in the kitchen (I think he really made her feel bad with his reaction). She's had one of those "wall" type hits - she can't eat, very lightheaded, very pale, and terrible headache. And she was so looking forward to the Paula Deen cobbler I had made, but she just couldn't do it. I'm so down - I really thought she was headed in the right direction.

Garrett went to bed about 7:30 - after I spent what seems like forever telling him it's o.k. to go to bed early once in a great while. He agreed - but only to watch a show in bed. I think he was asleep before he hit the pillow.
The Bunns are good. A little stressed about the clean cage and laundry room - well Mama is anyway. I think Floppy relishes in an orderly bunny environment. Garrett kept asking why he was being punished and having to clean their cage . . .Do you think we've gone wrong in the whole parenting thing with him?

O.k. - I'm seething with negativity - I guess I'll just go sleep it off (even though Garrett tells me that all I do is take naps.)

Silly Grandpa, yes mangos grow in Guam!

Our weather is back to normal . . . . hot and very very sticky! We just got back from a party hosted by a local businessman to honor Naval Hospital Guam It was held at the "Gerber compound" (actually Mr. Gerber's yard, but ok, call it a compound). We're all pretty icky with big poofy hair. Madi came and ate A LOT of food - she doesn't do much of that since she hasn't felt good.

All the manamko (elderly) keep saying the mango trees are too full for this late in the year - and that means bad weather!
But on a good note - church is tomorrow which means we'll come home with our weekly supply of mangos. Oh - they are soooo sweet!

The ladies at David's work call them caribao mangos - because if you let them rot it will smell like a caribao left you something. No joke - a 60ish Chamorro lady uttered that explanation to me.

I'm just hoping we stay dry until after David gets home from San Diego. After seeing the winds last week, I really think 100MPH sustained might be more than I could handle right now. Our little 55 with 70 gusts blew out enough power, phone, water and cable. I would really hate to see this little island after a true typhoon!

At least I have mango puree in the freezer!