"River City"

Hey friends. As the marine corp puts it, we will be going to "river city" the next couple weeks. Essentially we will not have regular internet access, as we are unsure when we can get connected at the house. They told us they could check in one week to see if they could even get us internet. I suppose this is one disadvantage to building a "new home" on a "new street", but since there are several others in our neighborhood we are hopeful this will not last forever, we will check it periodically as we can from "free wi-fi" locations to scan for important things. Please feel the freedom to call us as need be.
Poe 619-847-4498
Mike 252-622-5065

#3 update

I'm nearly half way through the pregnancy, and #3 and I are growing and healthy.

Pictures of the House

Here are some pictures of the house. We are looking forward to making it home. I didn't take any shots of the bedrooms b/c they are all the same color and not much to look at. Once we get stuff put together I will probably post more pic's.


The Front


Kitchen


Living Room


Master Bath

What boredom can do?

We have spent the bulk of this week shopping for appliances and other things we will need for the house, since we don't get in it until Friday. This has been our great idea for peace in the store. The kids sit in the cart and watch a movie and we get to price compare ask questions and so forth. Someone suggested we should write a book. I don't think we'll get started on that anytime soon.


I told Shiloh one day about how women from India have a dot on their forehead, now every time she has a circle sticker, guess where it goes, regardless of the size? Followed by "look mommy i'm an Indian". I guess she didn't know what else to do after that.


Passed out


Of course all their patience hasn't come with out reward! Strawberry Cake, Yum yum!!

We Made it!!

We made it! We are staying at Whiting Field, there was "no room at the inn" at NAS P-cola. This works out for us since it's closer to the house and the rooms are very nice here. We got a suite, which has 2 bedrooms, living room and kitchenette. We are pleased with our accommodations. We get to see the house this morning, very exciting! We of course drove by last night on our way through town, what a blessing it will be. God was extreamly kind to us in our travels and Mike and I both thought, "we're here already?". Mike specifically said, "that wasn't painful enough". We are thankful!!!!!

Living in a suit case?

I mean living out of a suit case. There's really not much a person "needs" that can't fit in a suit case anyway. This will be our life for the next couple weeks. We are officially homeless, but have been taken in by some charitable friends for a couple days here in NC, and then off we go to FL. I'm anticipating it to take 2-3 days since it is 15 road hours, and the vehicles are so loaded they will need frequent breaks, we might need them as well? Any prayer during this time of transition on our behalf will be a great blessing.

"MY" Day!!??

Yesterday was hard for me. I struggled with sin all day, the sin of not accepting Gods sovereign plan for my day. The day was intended to be a packing day for us, and in part it was that,(mostly on mikes account) but it was also other things. I had made arrangement to take the children to a darling families home in our church for the morning to capitalize on packing efforts. The Lord had other plans, as you saw we had snow and decided for safety reasons it would be best not to venture out in it. As the morning progressed Shiloh seemed to be developing a new "issue/illness". Since we had just healed from our ear infection/stomach virus/hive week this was really defeating for me. She would cry and say "my tummy hurts" no symptoms other than an occasional cough that had been lingering for a couple weeks. But the "my tummy hurts" complaint with the crying( which indicated that she was actually uncomfortable), looked a lot like the onset of pneumonia we had in December. After waiting and watching for a couple hours with no improvement we decided we should head back to the Dr. the only other place the kids and I have been this week besides home. So Shiloh and I loaded up despite the snow. And to make a long story short she has "viral induced asthma", she needed nebulizer treatments. And was sent home with an inhaler to be used every 4 hours. The Dr. seemed hopeful that this is temporary, and that her little lungs should settle down in time, but didn't promise anything. We are to return before we head to FL "if she's not perfect", the Dr. said. So here I sit sinfully thinking I should be packing as my sick daughter can't breath and wants her mommy to hold her. The lord convicted me of my sin and was kind to show it to me. The sin is always in me, but the circumstances bring it forth. Had the day gone as I had intended, I would not have had the opportunity to repent. A sweet sister in Christ with more years of life experience sent me this paraphrase verse for encouragement, and it has been just that. So naturally I wanted to share it with anyone else who might be encouraged by it.
Isaiah 43: 1-3
Fear not for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters (trials)
I will be with you and through the rivers ( continuous trials) they shall not overflow you ( not more than you can bare).
When you walk through the fire (sever trials) you shall not be burned ( God's protection to us) nor shall the fame scorch
you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy one of Israel ( His people), your God.

Snow Day

We got snow in NC today. A rare occurrence.


A picture out the window.


Mike thought the street looked pretty with all the snow covered homes and trees, so naturally we stood in the middle of it for a photo.



The troops on their way out.

Creative Thinking

While packing I came across some pipe cleaners and decided to let the kids enjoy them, this is one of the good ideas they had. And it kept them busy for quite some time.



Busy at work.

Hives

We've got those too. But we are actually on the mend, thankfully. Hosea broke out in Hives Sunday night, so he's looked like this for 5 days, probably our longest hive visit yet. The Dr. said he thought it may be related to the virus he has? Either way, he gets loads of anti-histamine. They appear to be fading for real today. I say "for real" b/c they have appeared to be fading since Monday, but in reality they just seem to be moving around to different places, and leaving dark bruise looking spots where they have been, so he is blotchy pink and purple all over. I believe our virus is fading also, Shiloh is still coughing, but both kids ate breakfast this morning, and so far both have kept it, a change from yesterday. Also we've been on the antibiotics for 48 hours now, so I can imagine the ear infections are also healing, as both kids slept all night last night.


I also decided to include Shiloh's hive picture from December with her Rocephin reaction. I didn't get her picture in the peak of the hives, but she still looked pretty rough by the time I thought to snap it, so her hives had been fading for about 14 hrs. She looked much more like the nutty professor the night prior, but I wasn't thinking 'get the camera', I was thinking 'get to the ER'. If you are wondering why the Schloss children have such an issue with hives/allergies, look no further than their maternal gene pool.


Now you may be wondering what we've been up to for our confinement. So I decided to include Pic's of that as well. First is the everyone being sick on the couch picture.


Last but certainly not least is the kids doing their newest most favorite thing to do, and my least favorite thing they do. They spend a good portion of time being busy worker bees collecting pollen, or in this case anything they can find that can be carried and dumped into the pack-n-play, this specific picture included all diapers and wipes in the house, a box of 48 crayons, the box of animals, all toys to be found, Shiloh's bag of accessories, Hosea's sock drawer, they grabbed his swim suit while they were in the neighborhood, and of course some shoes, dolls, blankets, and then I walked in. The operation was spear headed by the little man, but the two worked diligently together until the all tactics were stopped by the one they call "mom". I had to get a picture and snicker to the side as to not encourage it, but they did "play well" together while I was cooking dinner, so I am grateful for that uninterrupted time.

Germs

We've got them once again. This winter has seemed to be one aliment after another. We all just take turns having them, and thankfully each of us haven't gotten each one that has passed through our home. Mike and I seem to be at the end of a perpetual cold, seriously we've had "cold" symptoms for over a month now. We seem to go on as though they don't exist, and cold symptoms are so similar to allergy symptoms that I'm quite use to living with them any way with some help from my good friends benedryl and sudafed, we hang out all the time. So besides our December illness which included, but not limited to pneumonia, allergic reaction to rocephin, and chicken pox. Then January with virus after virus. Here with find ourselves in February with ear infections, both kids right ear is infected. Now they say ear infections are not contagious, but i do find it odd that they have them at the same time. Thankfully our Dr. visit this morning was painless, which I originally made b/c Hosea's body has been covered with hives since Sunday night, and they both were given a Rx for Abx, which we are hopeful they are not allergic to. All sarcasm aside, we are thankful for good health care and medicine. Speaking of things this season of illness has been good for, I have managed to get all our photos in albums, I've filled 10 in the past 2 months, horrah! We've also had lots of cuddle time, which is sweet. So not much excitement to report here. I should start packing since we are to leave for FL in 8 days, something else some time at home will be good for. And for the record I am an avid Germ-x user, and we do wash our hands regularly. Just incase you were wondering.

Rainy Day

"The sun did not shine. It was too wet to play. So we sat in the house all that cold, cold, wet day. I sat there with Sally. We sat there, we two. And I said, 'How I wish we had something to do!' Too wet to go out and too cold to play ball. So we sat in the house. We did nothing at all. So all we could do was to Sit! Sit! Sit! Sit! And we did not like it. Not one little bit."
-The cat in the hat by Dr. Seuss



On one rainy morning not to long ago I found the children with their little chairs pulled up to the window watching the rain and cars drive by, it reminded me of the beginning scene of The Cat in the Hat. Though contrary to the story, Shiloh and Hosea didn't seem to mind so much.

Why???

Why does my son's face look like this.......




I can't imagine it was because he was doing this.......




And just happen to dive right into this..........



For the record, even after his injury, they both still think diving head first off furniture is a good idea.

# 3 on the move

I suppose I haven't written much about our new little one, that's largely b/c #3 lays low. But this week the little one has started to kick its way into the spot light. It's been exciting to start feeling fetal movements. They are still only my pleasure, but soon to be a joy for the whole family I'm sure. The 2 recorded heart rates for #3 were, 158 and 160, both on the fast but normal side. I believe Hosea had a fast heart rate in-utero, but I don't think it was that quick, more the 140's, and Shiloh was a 120 girl. If it is telling of personality, look out #3 is coming through! We are excited to meet our new little one, but also happy the bake time isn't complete, as our big move is only 2 weeks away.

Florida House Update

As many of you know, our departure date from NC was delayed to Feb. 18th, originally being the 1st, but this has been a huge blessing since the building of our home in FL is also delayed. The only struggle has been on my part and largely to do with a strong urge to "nest", pretty minimal. All in good time, as if the 5 months I have won't be enough to get everything in order, I'm a mess like that. As I tell my children "this is a good opportunity to practice patience". Plus there are still many sweet moments to be had here in NC, friends to enjoy, and such.

Mike was in contact with our relator today! There was a meeting last week about the projected time-line of our home there. We got some new pictures, which I'll attach. We also found out we get to do a "walk through" on the 23rd, and look for things that need corrected before we move in, and will close shortly after that. We are excited to see and hear such a progress report! God has been so kind to us in this.