Now Coming From . . . Alexandria!

Well, we're here, finally! We made it in yesterday and we've taken a look at our house and so far, we like what we see. But we haven't seen the inside yet, as we are getting our keys this morning from the property management company. It's in a nice established neighborhood, and on a cul de sac, so it feels safe. We have a fenced in back yard for the kids and Archie to run around in, and it even has a cool trellis structure and tomato plants left over from the owner. Rob just called the moving company and our things are supposed to be delivered tomorrow. So we hope that stays on track. The whole Alexandria area we live in is alive with excitement and activity. There are tons of stores around, and a library within walking distance. You know where my priorities are! The only blip that I've come across is my somewhat futile search for a measles only vaccine for Ben. Neither the nearby base nor the health department for the county has one. They only offer the MMR, which also has mumps and rubella vaccines, and Ben definitely doesn't need all that in his system. I don't know if I'm going to be able to find one. I'll try to make an appointment with a doctor as soon as I can, but I'm not optimistic at this point. I have the feeling that I'm going to have give in and give him the MMR and hope for the best. How I wish the gov't wasn't such a bully about vaccines! I feel that I have to give in so that Ben can get the help he needs, even though I know the MMR isn't in his best interest. I think Jenny McCarthy is right. Vaccines aren't bad things, but there's definitely TOO MANY TOO SOON!

Missoula, Billings, Bismarck, Minneapolis, Madison, Oh My!

Okay, so I'm getting really tired of driving. As I write this, I'm in the HoJo in Madison, Wisconsin waiting for my family to wake up so we can get breakfast and continue our journey to Indianapolis. By Sunday, we should be in Alexandria. The kids are holding up pretty well, but, well, they're kids! Flexible creatures that they are, they aren't fazed by much. Their parents on the other hand are going a little loopy. There is such a thing as too much family time. Hotel rooms aren't known for their size. Still, Ben has been pretty good this whole trip, though I have to watch him like a hawk when he walks along a city street. He seems to have a dirty old piece of gum radar, and will find anything that I don't want him to have. He walks around town holding my pinkie, and will not forgo the pinkie for any other finger of mine. It's his favorite finger. Go figure. He's been off his gluten free diet for over a week now, so consequently, he's been quite stimmy and hyped up, moreso than usual, but agreeable and cheerful for the most part. Haven't really been able to give him any supplements at all. Still, only three more days of driving and then my life can get back to some semblance of normal. I hope. Bye!