Is there a doctor in the house?

The past few weeks has seen a lot of doctor's visits and because of the fantastic (read horrible) government health care system, it has contributed to my stress around here. Mostly I was just catching up on all the well baby visits the kids had missed because of the move. I also had to get all their immunizations up to date and get all this paperwork to get Sam into school and all of them registered with the daycare on post. I ended up there myself for an unexpected issue. And every time I had to take the kids in it was a nightmare of waiting and waiting to be seen, to get shots or to get medicine from the pharmacy. As long as four hours some times! The babies miss naps, meal times, I run out of diapers. It's ridiculous that such simple visits should take up an entire day. However, because we live on post they refuse to let us use civilian doctors as we're used to. The good news is, I like the staff. Their pediatrician and the nurses are wonderfully kind, understanding and sympathetic. Downright helpful. So far, I've decided to stick with it. Next week I meet my doc for the first time. Hopefully I like him/her!
But the kids are growing nicely and mostly healthy and nothing to complain about too much. I'm hoping to put the babies in daycare once a week so I can go back to grocery shopping during the week and not on the weekends! And it will give Ben a chance to get used to the harsh reality of the world: his mother can not be his keeper ALL THE TIME.
I've also been able to have some new friends/neighbors over this week and we've had such a good time chatting. They are especially uplifting to me, as at least once a week I feel claustrophobic and question my very identity.
So here are more pictures of my munchkins and all their shenanigans!
Elizabeth is way into climbing....and hitting.


Brian began making his smoothies again, and when Sam decided he didn't like it, Libby helped herself to it. She loves them!

I recently experimented with cloth diapers for her and have discovered they are far easier than I thought! I'm really liking them and have already purchased some. Soon I will likely put Ben in them as well and then goodbye late night runs to the store for diapers! Now that she's on whole milk instead of formula, our grocery bill is already showing the savings. Wahoo!

Sam feeding Ben a bottle. I think this was a first for these two!

I finally caught it! When Ben smiles, he sticks his tongue out. So funny! I also love the way he kicks his legs in excitement when he knows he's about to get nursed. And then he rolls his eyes in pure pleasure when the milk hits his stomach. So cute.

Sam and Ben playing "Space Explorers"

I finally finished the detail work in the nursery. I had been planning on painting names and phrases underneath the names, but time was short and it took me this long just to find the time. I bought these stickers nearly a year ago when I was still pregnant with Ben!




I also finally got to meet Brian's coworkers and supervisors and was offered to get involved in the FRG (attend meetings, not lead anything!). I'm really looking forward to the fall, when Sam will be in Kindergarten and Ben will be older and I can really start getting out more, like to Bible studies and maybe even the gym!
Brian will be heading out for his first road trip next month, and I'll be alone for three whole weeks! Mom is looking to come up and hopefully keep me from burning out! We hope to head down to Florida sometime in June. I'm dreading the stress of traveling with such young children, but we're hoping to keep things as slow and relaxed as possible.
I can't believe it's already Easter!