Life in Dominica

It's been about 3 days since we've arrived here in Dominica. It's been quite the challenge adjusting to things here! I think the biggest challenge is getting used to the humidity! Ugh---gross. I am so sticky and sweaty ALL the time. It's ridiculous. I take a shower and come out and I still feel like I'm the shower because it's so humid! Other than the humidity, I am slowly getting used to things. We went to the beach the other day and it was so beautiful! It made me forget for a few minutes about the huge challenges that Fi Dan and I have a head of us. I just watched the waves wash up onto the shore and watched the sun set. The boys were playing in the water and for a second, things were perfect! Then the mosquitoes came out and started biting. Those dang things are so annoying. I've developed a new hobby and it is mosquito hunting.

Before I came, Fi Dan told me about how smart and quick these mosquitoes are. I laughed at him...but now I have to agree! They're not like the ones back at home where they just land on the wall and are waiting for you to squish them...nope, they hide inside the cubby holes of your desk, in your closet, on the curtains...and anywhere else you don't think they are. But now I know their hiding spots. Every night before I go to sleep, I sweep the room. Check the cubby holes, closet, clothes, under the bed, curtains, and the ceilings before I go to sleep! Sometimes I get them and sometimes they fly so quick that they disappear into the dark corners. Nenji and Ry have become quite the mosquito detectives themselves. If they see one the know to yell for me or they try to hit it themselves. :)

Today we went to church and it was so hot! It's in a 3 story building. There about 40 members, but most of them are students. I really like all the people in the branch. They are all so nice. A lot of people have been waiting to meet me and boys since Fi Dan has been called to be the 2nd Counselor in the Branch Presidency. It makes me nervous having so many people know about me. I kinda just like to slide in and hide...but Fi Dan has assured me that I will not be getting by unnoticed.

Fi Dan starts school tomorrow, so pray for him to do well!!!!  I am a nervous wreck thinking about staying home in this humid, hot weather.... so pray for me too!

Other than that I am so grateful that Fi Dan and our little family are together. I just keep reminding myself that this won't last forever and to just embrace it and enjoy the journey!

Our Adventure Begins!

We are now in Dominica!!! We left Wednesday night. My mom and dad took us to the airport and then we started our CRAZY journey here. While we were going through the airport, we got soooooo many stares from people. It was kinda annoying. Let me give you a visual, I was carrying my backpack and diaper bag, plus Spencer strapped onto my front in a baby carrier, and all the mean while pushing Nenji and Rylan in a double stroller. Fi Dan was dragging two small carry on suitcases PLUS two duffle bags on top of the suitcases, and he was carrying his backpack too. Some people were really nice and smiled but most of the time people did a double take and then just continued to stare as we passed by.

 On the airplane, the boys actually did an amazing job! We took off from San Francisco at 10:15 pm Pacific time and got to North Carolina around 6 am Eastern time. The boys just slept through most of it. Spencer was a little fussy, but Fi Dan was amazing and did a pretty good job keeping him quite the first 3 hours and then we switched and I took him the last two hours. We then had a lay over in North Carolina for about 3 hours and was soon on our way to San Juan, Puerto Rico. That flight took about 3 hours. After landing in Puerto Rico, we had another lay over for about 3 hours and then took a small plane to Dominica. That flight was about 1 1/2 hours long. We got to Dominica around 7 pm Thursday night. Whew! Let me say, I DO NOT want to do that trip again...except for when we come home! 

The drive from Milville Hall to Portsmouth, where we are living now, was pretty scary. Fi Dan warned me that the people here drive a little crazy but that still did not prepare me what we were in for. We had 11 bags/suitcases total, so that took up most of the space in the back of the van. Fi Dan sat in the front, and the boys and I sat in the row behind the driver and passenger. Mind you, there are no car seats regulations, so the boys weren't sitting in carseats. The roads here are super curvy AND they drive on the left side of the road as oppose to the right side like in the US. OMG....we were swerving like crazy and there were no street lights...and there were people walking in the dark on the side of the road...and we were passing cars up...and there were small little one-car bridges we had to cross...and Nenji and Rylan thought it was a roller coaster ride and kept putting their hands up and screaming every time we went around a curve...and Spencer was scared to death so he started crying. Oh My...that lasted for about 40 minutes. We finally go to our little house. We got the bedroom situation and slept...kind of. Let me just say the mosquitoes here are vicious. In just one night I got 9 mosquito bites. Luckily it seems like the mosquitoes only like Fi Dan and me because none of the kiddos have any bites. 

This morning the kids and I woke up pretty late...10 am...which is 7 am California time. Looks like we're still adjusting. Fi Dan was already out and about getting things done. He's such a good daddy and hubby. We had breakfast and then he took us on a tour around Ross University and to the grocery store. We live SUPER close to campus, so it's comforting to know Fi Dan is so close when he's away at school. We went to this social event at school for free pizza and we met a bunch of people from the LDS Branch here. They are really nice. 

Anyway, I am just really grateful we got here safely so thank heavens for that. But I am super excited to continue on with this journey! Wish us the best and especially pray for Fi Dan that he will do well and pass all his tests! :)

The sisters, I love these girls! I already miss them so much! 

My little Nenji, trying to hold back his tears. 

This picture is actually pretty funny. He was so excited to go to the airport until Kalu and Kashia started crying. Then I guess he realized he wasn't going to see them anymore. We did one round of good byes and hugs, and the second time around Rylan just busted out crying. So sad but funny.

On our way to San Francisco. 

We didn't buy any food yet, luckily we packed some snacks. This was their breakfast for day 1.  

It's sooooo hot and humid here. I'm just ganna let them naked boys.  

Chinese food! Fi Dan bought us so yummy Chinese food for lunch.  

By the beach. We live 5 minutes away from here and it's apart of the campus. 

Where's Ry? Keep scrolling down.  

Here's Rylan....standing all by himself because he's mad. He's just mad about the whole move. He thinks that    our house stinks and that the whole island Dominica stinks. And I kinda agree with him, it's got a hot humid wet towel smell to it. So here's Ry pouting. 

It's pretty nice view. The picture doesn't do it justice.  

 My babies....missing Ry!

He was happy we were going to be going home.  

Right outside our yard lives some cows! Nenji and Ry were so excited to 

have some "pets".

Speaking of pets....we found this little gecko in our room the first night! Yikes!!!

Nenji and Rylan thinks he's a pet and have named him Minion. 

Every time we come home they look for him and are so happy he didn't run away yet.

Little do they know, Daddy is going to catch him and let him free!   

Cowabunga Dudes! Happy Birthday Rylan!!!

Happy Birthday to my Rylan! He turned 3 on the 18th of this month! He has been into Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for a really long time now. He loves Raphael because his color is red. We were supposed to have his birthday party last weekend, but Spencer got sick and we were in the hospital so we postponed it until today. He was super excited and he had a lot of fun. BIG thanks again to my sisters Kalu and Kashia. I really do not know what I would do without them! They helped me I assisted them as they made eggrolls, papaya salad, meat balls, and chicken. If it weren't for them I would not have had enough time to do everything that I wanted to!

As for Ry's cake, we ordered it from Cupcake Cravings. They did an awesome job! Thanks so much for all those who came! We had a really good time. :) and I know that Ry did too!

Yum! I am so going to miss this in the Caribbeans! 

Papaya salad, meatballs, and Kalu's yummy peanut sauce.  

Kashia and my ever so famous cupcakes! So good!

Sorry, I didn't know how to turn it. 

Rylan's cupcake cake! Pretty sweet!

 He's so happy! I love that smile. 

Ry loved it! 

My decorations for Ry's party! Not to shabby. 

 Daddy and his boys! Spencer was napping.

 Family!

Happy Birthday Ry! We love you so much! :)

I'm too busy

It's lunch time and I asked him to eat his Mac n cheese. He claimed he was too busy and proceeded to cry. Lol...this kid.

Beacause I asked him to be quiet

Here Rylan is crying because he was being being a "wild thing" and I asked him to use his quiet voice. As you can see, he wasn't very happy about that.

Hooray dady's home....and Hospital Deja Vu

So remember about 4 years ago when my Nenji was almost 3 months old and was hospitalized? And I wrote a whole blog about what happened? Well, my poor little Spencer was also hospitalized this past weekend. He didn't have Kawasaki Syndrome like Nenji, but it was still pretty bad. I've come to realize and accept that little babies will get sick...ESPECIALLY if their older brothers are Nenji and Rylan because they can't keep their little kisses, hands, sneezes and coughs away from Spencer! Since Spencer has been born he has gotten sick 4 times already! That averages about once a month. Grr! Every time he has gotten sick, he has had a fever, a nasty little cough, and some wheezing. Every time we've gone in to see the Doctor, it's just the same thing...Tylenol to keep him comfortable and his inhaler every 4 hours (I know sad, but he probably has asthma cause his dad does).

This time, Spencer got sick the night before his dad came home. He had a really high fever. In the morning he still wasn't feeling well so I knew we couldn't go to pick Fi Dan up from San Francisco airport! I was so bummed, I had been waiting 4 months for this very moment. And I had played it in my head over and over again how we were going to run to each other like in the movies. ;) So my dad and the boys ended up going instead. I took little Spencer to the Doctor and they just suggested the same thing. (This was Wednesday).

The next day was Thursday, which was Ry's birthday. We couldn't do much because Spencer was still super sick and had a really high fever still. We just had the missionaries over and did a little celebration for Ry's birthday, and we promised him that we would take him to Chuckee Cheese tomorrow.

Friday morning rolls around and my little peanut was still in pretty bad shape, plus I noticed he was working really hard to breath. To shorten the story up we ended up going to the ER twice. The second time they transferred us over to the Pediatric Ward where we stayed for 4 days and little Spencer was diagnosed with Bronchiolitis . Now he's almost all better. We had a follow up appointment yesterday and then another one this coming  Monday...........and then next Wednesday night (May 1st) we're off to the Caribbean! And I still have Ry's birthday part to execute tomorrow and a ton of packing to do!

We are so happy that daddy is home now, but I feel soooo bad because his two week vacation has turned into some what of a nightmare. None the less, I am so happy my little family is back together.  I am also just so grateful that Heavenly Father heard our prayers and that my little Spencer is back home! :)

Reasons Why My Ry-Bug Cries

Recently I read about a dad who took pictures of his son every time he cried and then labeled the pictures explaining why he cried. I thought it was brilliant! I laughed so hard because I could totally relate to that dad. Rylan has a silly sense of humor and it carries over to reasons why he cries. So instead of wanting to cry myself every time Ry throws a tantrum, I've been taking pictures of my Ry and writing down why he cries. Some of the reasons are hilarious! And it really helps me get through the day. Here are just a few reasons why Rylan cries.

We got McDonalds for breakfast...he didn't like it that his Sausage Mcbiscuit

 came with a biscuit ...AND it didn't come with a toy. 

 I asked him to finish his food...so he ran around the kitchen screaming and crying.

He just ate some candy and wanted me to brush his teeth before they turned black....

but I was in the middle of feeding and changing Spencer. 

 I don't even remember why he was crying.

He wanted to watch youtube instead of a Disney movie. 

Someday I'm sure Rylan will be mad at me for posting up these pictures, but at least it will be well documented and if his humor is anything like mine, he'll appreciate it and even have a good laugh. :)