Chateau Thierry - Belleau Wood -- Day 1

Yesterday we got in the car around 6am and we were off! The car ride was decent...only 5 1/2 hours and Hayden only got sick once and Bristol twice...but hey, that was moderate compared to our trip to Lubeck, so ILL TAKE IT! :))

 

We had our first toll both experience and boy were they expensive ((luckily since Thomas is "working" on this trip they as well as the hotel will be paid for! :)) yay)) but on the way the GPS lost the autobahn we were on because it was newly finished...lol so for a bit we had no idea where we were or where we were supposed to be! It was kinda fun until Thomas got frustrated! lol

 

When we arrived we were pleasently surprised at the hotel...it's really pretty and has a great view of Chateau Thirrey! We headed out to get something to eat since we weren't giving the kids anything through the ride so they wouldn't get sick again! We had to get something fast! McDonald's it was! lol :)) After that we went to a department like store to get swim diapers and laundry detg for the stuff that got abused through the ride! lol

 

Got back to the hotel and we were off to our first Belleau Wood experience with all the other Marines! Went to the cemetary and got to walk through the actual battelfield then headed to the infamous "Devil Dog Fountain" ...Thomas got to drink out of it! The whole experience was really awesome! -- You could tell Thomas felt so proud to be a Marine which is something I haven't seen in a long time from him! It was deff something memoriable! We then got to walk around the Belleau Wood museum which was really interesting!

 

Headed back to the hotel, checked in with Thomas' boss and we went out to eat at 'Buffalo Grill' -- we both thought it was really good ((Thomas ate ostritch...bad man...lol)) ...it was funny to watch the other Marines try to order and talk to the waitress, not a single one spoke French and she didn't speak a single word of English! There was alot of pointing and gestures involved!!

 

Then we headed back to the hotel for some SWIMMING!! :)) At first Bristol wasn't so sure about it, infact it took her about an hour to warm up to it but Hayden jumped right in...littereally! He LOVED it! We played till it closed, came back to the room, and it was bed time!

 

So that was our first day! :)) It was a lot of fun! Can't wait to tell you about today once something actually happens! lol We've got some down//hotel time while all the Marines head to the cemetary to put stuff together for the ceremony tomorrow! I think the kids and I will prolly go swimming or hit up the little play ground that they have! :)) Hayden is having a slight melt down that Daddy left but some French cartoons seem to be doing the job...sorat! lol :))

 

 

Day 11 - Post a recipe.

I decided that since the last question was a bust...lol because I'm not gurly enough...that I would go ahead and do another! :))

Though I've found a ton of recipes lately that really works around our house...

THIS IS MY FAVORTE...

&&its YUMMOYYY and couldn't be easier!

{{ Zesty Slow Cooker Chicken BBQ }}

((for 6 servings))

Ingredients

• 6 frozen skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
• 1 (12 ounce) bottle barbeque sauce
• 1/2 cup Italian salad dressing
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

Directions

1. Place chicken in a slow cooker. In a bowl, mix the barbecue sauce, Italian salad dressing, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. Pour over the chicken.
2. Cover, and cook 3 to 4 hours on High or 6 to 8 hours on Low.

...again, it's YUMMO!!

-Kimberly ann

Day 10 - What are some of your favorite makeup products, and what foundation/powder do you wear?

Hmm...lol

I only use mascara and eye liner...

I'm not picky either...as long as they are both black...I'm happy! :))

Wow..today was easy!! haha!!

Maybe I should look into different makeup...or atleast something more then the basics...

haha!

naahhh...

-Kimberly Ann

Day 9 - What virtues do you value in yourself?

FINALLY, a thought provoking one! :) Haha! In fact, I googled "virtues" to specifically see a list of things to pick from! No, I'm not an idiot, but I wanted to be sure I was on the same track I'm supposed to be...so I wanted a comprehensive list...only to realize...I was...in fact on the right track! :)

First, I'm going to change the question a little bit ((because this is my bloggy blog blog &&I do what I want)) :)) lol and I'm going to change it to...

"What virtue ((one single virtue)) do you value in yourself?"

I have several that I think make up my personality and who I truly am on the inside...BUT one specifically comes to mind:

{{Nurturing}}

This virtue is the one, single word that sums up who I am//try to be in my EVERYDAY life! Whether it be within my own household and family or with every person I come in contact with!

- I try to do what I can for those around me because I like to think that those people would put my feelings first as well! I want people to know that I'm thoughtful, and I care about their feelings! I want people to know that I love you ((until you give me a reason not to)) and I would give the shirt off my back if it makes your life easier!

I get to know others so that I know how I can make things better for them! I like knowing what makes people smile, what makes their world go around! It gives me a sense of happiness//fullness!

My family is the front runner in this race! I do everything and anything I know or can do to make things better! I baby my baby's when they fall down or I hug my husband a few extra times when I know he has had a bad day...I feel that through the warmth of someone is the direct path to the heart and that's where I want to be!

Well. Not really sure if that explains what I want to say...because I've got 3 kids who are all screaming about one thing or another so my brain isn't working as well as I wish it was...either way, there is the virtue! :)

-Kimberly Ann

Day 8 - Do you believe in the "cry until he sleeps" method?

Ahh...another easy one! :)

YEP!

As long as the child is in a safe and controlled environment and you are aware of the situation ((i.e. checking on the baby, can hear the baby, have a monitor on the baby)) then I think very much that this method is affective!

When Hayden was born, it was hard at first because...well he was my first! It's hard to just let your child cry and cry and just listen...it breaks your heart! But I knew he was just fine, and I knew what was going on so after just a few times...he had no issue sleeping in his own bed, and honestly made things prolly easier on me and him!

When Bristol came along it was hard for me at first because she spent her first week in the NICU so I almost felt robbed :(( but same with her...after only a few times it was done and over with and she was comfortable to sleep by herself!

I know that this method isn't for everyone...but for me having 2 so close...it was necessary for my children to have a little more independence...I don't see why it's not okay to allow your child to be comfortable in their own space...and so that mom can get some rest as well?!

Like I said...as long as there is supervision, and the child is in a safe and controlled environment...I don't see anything wrong with it! Yes...it's hard to listen to your child cry and scream...but think of how much more relaxing it will be for the BOTH of you once they get past it!?!?! :))

-Kimberly Ann

Day 7 - Have a beauty secret (e.g. hair tip, make up tip)? Share, please!

Hmm...I really don't think that I have any hair or makeup tips...

i have a lot of hair...but i hardly do anything with it simply because of that...I HAVE A LOT OF IT!!

&&i only wear eyeliner and mascara because the rest just seems like a waste of money and time to me

((no, I'm not putting people down who do it...it seems like a waste of time and money for MYSELF because i dont really enjoy shopping for it or putting it on...lol))

So this one was a bust today..lol

but atleast i remembered to do it...thats gotta count for something! :))

-Kimberly ann

Happy Mother's Day Mama Dodd :)) [[My 4th]]

So I thought I would recap how my Mother's Day went since it was just too amazing &&I want to remember it FOREVER!! :))

It started Saturday night when my amazing hubby got the PERFECT flowers ((pink daisies, and purple carnations...MY TOTAL FAVOTIES)) and he got them early because he was scared they would sell out...

{{HOW THOUGHTFUL!!}}

They were soo beautiful and made me feel like a million bucks!

Sunday morning, hubby let me sleep in until 10 when I got ambushed by the 2 most BEAUTIFUL babys in the world! They came in, climbed on the side of the bed and told me how much they loved me and Hayden handed me a card! When I was opening the card Hayden said: "Look mommy, butterflys...beautiful like you!"...

TALK ABOUT THE BEST WAKE UP EVER!! :))

I got lots and lots of kisses from my babys and got outta bed! Thomas already had coffee going and was packing for our picnic! He did everything! :))

We got the babys dressed and headed out to the park on RB where they kids would have tons of stuff to play on and there were picnic tables to host our picnic! The weather could NOT have been anymore beautiful! We sat under a HUGE tree which made it even more enjoyable! We played with the babys on the playground and took tons of pictures ((DUHH!!)) Then headed home because I had to pee and there wasn't a bathroom...lol

On the way home, Thomas asked if I wanted to go get some new jeans since I've dropped 2 pants sizes!! DUHH!! I want new clothes...IM A GIRL! :)) lol So we headed to the PX and I was able to fit my butt into EVERYTHING I tried on which was the first time that's happened in YEARS! :) I also bought 2 pairs of pants in the size I was BEFORE I got pregnant with Hayden!

TALK ABOUT A TOTAL CONFIDENCE BOOSTER!! :))

Headed home and Thomas cooked me the most AMAZING [[Steak, Baked Potato, and Broccoli with Cheese]] dinner, I've ever eaten...YUMMY!! :))

We snuggled the kids in bed and I posted my pictures! :))

A nice quiet evening was just the cherry on the cake!!

Thomas really made my Mother's Day the best it could have been! Time together with my fam{ily} was EXACTLY what I wanted and it made for the most amazing day!

I love my Thomas, Hayden and Bristol so much!! I'm more then proud to be a mommy!! <3

-Kimberly Ann

Day 6 - Your most embarrassing moment

Well...lol I guess I'm late again on this ((DANG IT)) so I guess I'll just do it at my own pace and not worry about if I get it everyday or not...lol Things are just too crazy around here to know when I can get this done!

Alright...this one is a bit tough because, well...I don't get embarrassed! I'm a REALLY outgoing and friendly to everyone so me getting embarrassed doesn't happen often!

hmm...

seriously. this is hard...

umm...

there was this one time...no, that wasn't really embarassing...

crap!

I guess if I had to pick...

I split my pants in the 8th grade while bending over to turn in a paper...in the middle of class?! I mean in school it was kinda embarrassing...but in all honesty...lol it wasn't really that bad?!

haha. i suck at this...

yah. that's all I've got...lol

well...I did get hit in the face with a softball once, but that wasn't really embarassing because DAMN that S&^T hurt...lol

yah, that's really all I've got...

:))

-Kimberly Ann

My bitty bug was admitted into the hospital with pneumonia :((

Here are the events that lead up to Bristol finally being admitted into the hospital with pneumonia!

• April 12th - I took Hayden and Bristol to the Dr Office with really runny noses, fevers, coughing, and congestion! Hayden was vomiting but Bristol just had all the other junk overall...they sounded the same! Dr Malloy said that Hayden had Bronchitis and the flu but Bristol just had a cold! Gave Hayden some antibiotics and Tylenol and we were on our way!

{{ I knew Bristol didn't just have a cold but what could I really do?! There isn't really anything out there 'over the counter' that I can give a child her age for a cold...so antibiotics were our only hope...BUT we went home without any for her! :(( }}

• After spending plenty of nights up with Bristol as she coughs her lungs up...and just listening to her get progressively worse I was finally able to schedule her an appt!

• April 21st - Took Bristol to an appt to see Dr Elmir! After establishing that she wasn't and hadn't had a fever in a few days and listening to her chest he said that everything sounded fine and "she doesn't need an XRay" but gave her antibiotics because I was very persistent about her cough...that she has the same symptoms as in February so it was prolly Bronchitis again...

• April 29th - 9 Days into her 10 Day antibiotic therapy...Bristol was continuing to get worse! She was starting to run a fever and was acting really lethargic so I decided to take her to the hospital...

After about an hour ((because the lady at the German ER never paged the DRs a nurse came by on her way out and sent the Dr our way)) he listened to her, they checked her temp ((103˚f)) and decided that she needed an XRay ((THANK GOODNESS FOR THIS DR DOING HIS JOB))

So Bristol and I headed up to radiology, got our snazzy new dresses ((that's what I told her to keep her from getting upset or scared of the crazy things they make you wear)) got the XRay and headed back down to the KinderHospital...

When we got back...the DR held it up in the air and without hesitation said "Yep, she has pneumonia! But let's go in here and put it on the board to make sure!" He placed it on the board and said "We are going to need to admit her right away and start giving her antibiotics through an IV!"

My chest started to hurt! I KNEW it wasn't just a cold and I knew it was getting worse and NEEDED an XRay but there wasn't anything I could do! I knew she needed more then what the clinic on Patch was offering but I was at their mercy and because of them...my 19 month old had to be admitted into the hospital! AWESOME WORK GUYS!!

I had to help hold her down and attempt to keep her calm as they put the IV in her hand and gave her some meds to control her fever...We headed to the clinic....I walked in to, what looked like a crib to the ceiling and all sorts of things ready to be hooked up to my baby as well as a roommate which i felt so bad for because we were getting in there around 12am! She was already passed out so this went way smoother then it could have! Layed her down, got her hooked up and then headed home to let Thomas know what was going on! ((I didn't have the cell phone because it was at home dead and I couldn't call because the cell phone number is the only one I know)) Got home, updated her daddy, got a few things and headed back to the hospital for our first nights stay!

• April 30th - Bristol woke up in a cruddy mood but seemed to perk up once she realized mommy was right there with her! Her fever was under control so she was able to really be more herself! They examined her and decided that she needed Inhalation Therapy ((breathing treatments)) 6 times a day - WOAH that was a lot to handle! - She had antibiotics through her IV and overall we seemed to have a mellow day! Her roommate went home in the early afternoon so we had the place all to ourselves which made it a little less stressful!! All of the nurses were very playful and made it was more pleasant then it could have been! OH and Nicole, Matt, and Ariella came to visit which really made Bristol happy! She TOTALY loves Ariella! They also brought her a toy which she played with until she couldn't keep her eyes open anymore!

• May 1st - Another day in the hospital! The Dr(s) came in ((5 of them listened to her breathe and she said "thank you" after each was done!)) The head Dr told me she was "VERY EDUCATED" which made me feel really good...and examined her and decided that she sounded a bit better so they changed her breathing treatments from 6 to 3! Bristol really seemed to be low though! She normally ALWAYS has a smile on her face but I didn't see one all day! She sounded like she was getting better but she seemed to be getting low! She was hooked up pretty much the entire time so she was only allowed about 3 feet from her bed and in her bed which can make for a hard time! :( I just felt so bad for her! Later in the evening they unhooked her for about 30 minutes so that she could walk around and actually be able stretch her little legs! It seemed to boost her a bit! :)) When bedtime came around she had a really hard time falling asleep thanks to her IV and in the process of trying to get comfortable a part of her IV busted and was shooting meds out...lol it was funny but the nurse fixed it right away!

• May 2nd - Another day just hanging out! Spent most of the time hooked up to everything but we played with her babies I took up there and a blown up glove ((just like my mom used to do for me when I was in the hospital)) and she sat in a stroller for HOURS buckling and unbuckling the buckle! lol Thomas and Hayden came to visit again and Hayden was so much fun to watch with his Sissy! Trying to be super careful and ask if she was okay...or when she would get upset he would tell her that it was okay! They went home and Sissy and I read some magazines and headed to bed! About an hour after we fell asleep the IV machine started beeping ((which meant it wasn't going into her arm or something was wrong)) and when the nurse came in she said "We have a problem, I have to take her IV out right away because it has blown up her hand!" - AHH...but when I sat up it wasn't as bad as I was originally thinking! - Her hand was just extremely swollen, like 4 times its reg size and hard as a rock! :(( So they took out her IV and wrapped it back up and we went back to sleep!

• May 3rd - Since she wasn't IVed anymore, she was really able to be down and around which made her seem more like herself! We wondered around, played in the playroom, and waited until the Dr wanted to see us! When he came to examine her, he said she sounded really great and clear and the he normally they wait a day of no breathing treatments before they will send you home but wanted to know if I wanted to try to do it faster?! DUH!! I want my baby out of here but only if she can! So he decided that he would take her off her breathing treatments for the rest of the morning and examine her again in the afternoon...if there was no change that we could go home! Played awhile longer and he came back in, listened to her and said she was free to go! :)) She just had to take antibiotics 2 times a day for the next few days! :)) - WE CAN DO THAT! lol

 When we first got to the hospital :((

 our first morning and she was so unhappy

 trying to bite her heart monitor off...lol

DEFF her daddy's daughter...lol

yay for glove balloon :))

:(( breathing treatments

what she did for HOURS...lol

her fat swollen hand from the IV

WERE GOING HOME!! :)

So that was how it happened...from a crappy clinic to a hospital who really took great care of my baby and got her on the road to recovery that she needed to be on! She is smiling more and seems to really act like herself which makes me SOOOO much happier! I missed that cheeky smile! <3

-Kimberly

Day 5 - Write a blog thanking someone who's made your heart come alive.

Since the last few days have been WAY off...and unexpected situations have come up...I'm just gonna start here and continue rather then trying to get "caught up" :))

In my eyes...this one should be a given for ANYONE who is married...though it's not always the case...it is for me; MY HUSBAND...

{{Thomas Jerome Dodd}}

The day I met Thomas was a day I KNEW we were destined for greatness together! The story has been told a million times but basically: I went to a Rascal Flatts concert with a guy...he went with a fellow Marine and his girlfriend since he was new in town! We flirted, danced, and he ended up going home with another girls number but still got ahold of me through the GF of the other Marine ((we went to high school together and did cheer leading together)) We texted and at the time I was just out of a 3 year relationship so I was texting several ppl..lol ((haha, yep...i was enjoying the single life)) but he was the first one I actually decided to CALL! We talked and he came over to my moms one night...walked around the block and just talked for hours when he kissed me! :) That kiss will remain in my mind forever...it was one of those "foot poppin kisses" :)) he melted my heart and has had it in the palm of his hands ever since!

We married a little over a year later and got pregnant on our honey-moon ((which is what I thought honey moons were meant for?! haha)) and we have been inseparable ever since!

Now that you know the story of how it happened...let me tell you WHY he is the one who made my hear come alive!

Before him ((and PLEASE forgive me if this comes across cocky...lol but honest)) every guy that I hung out with, or got into a relationship with...fell, HARD...I KNEW that I had guys in the palm of my hand and I used it to my FULL advantage ((emotionally...)) without being a "bitch" I guess...I was gentle but I knew what I was doing...but when Thomas came into my life...I wanted to give him everything I had! I was as vulnerable as I have ever been...I WAS ALL THOSE GUYS who I once held in the palm of my hand! He made my heart flutter with every blink of his eyes and knocked me off my feet with every kiss he planted on my lips! I had never wanted someone like I wanted him, and I would have done ANYTHING to keep him forever! The day he asked me to be his..made me week in the knees...I knew that I would and will always have my SOUL MATE...My Hero...EVERYTHING I could ever ask for.

He drives me nuts, we fight like cats and dogs, but at the end of the day when he is dead asleep the man tells me he loves me and I know with every fiber in my body that he means it! He is the reason my heart came alive...

-Kimberly