Friday, March 31, 2006

Message for Daddy

Since you are far away and I do not talk quite yet on the phone, I thought that this would be a great way, dad, to tell you how I feel about you. Thanks dad, for all you're doing for me.

I think that this picture speaks for itself. Tam, no matter where you are or what your doing, remember the "little guy" here at home loves you very much. Hope all is going well.

Close your eyes and imagine me trying to give you a hug w/my little arms. I love you, daddy.

Your son, Dominic Loc Luciano Duong ("Buddy")

Thursday, March 23, 2006

Thumb Sucker

Well as you can tell we have a thumb sucker amongst us ladies and gentleman. If you haven't guessed it's our precious "Baby D." That's right he's a regular. Not only does he suck his thumb, but he's been busy doing other things too. Let's share shall we.

After his last check up the pediatritian told us to start him on baby foods. So far he likes squash & baby cereal mixed with 100% pear juice. He has tried baby carrots, but doesn't seem to like them as much (he normally finishes a jar in two sittings, but with the carrots he takes 4). Tomorrow we'll be trying him on sweet potatoes.

Oh, he is now rolling from his back to his tummy and he's soooo adoreable when he does it. Last night he scooted for the first time, and it wasn't no short distance.

He's truly like his father in everyway. Well I will close this BLOG for now. I'd like to get some rest before tomorrow. Please enjoy the pics. Take care and may God bless.


Can I get a thumb? Anyone?
Busted! Now they know I actually like playing with this contraption.

Just chilling with his grandma!

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

Day 25...

Well ladies and gentlemen, this is day 25 for me out here in the sand box. Not much happening out here. But lately we've been recieving casualties left and right. The PMT's are designated as litter bearer's. Meaning when the casualties come in, we grab a litter and carry the casualties inside to the trauma room where doctors and corpsman can work on them. There are times when I stay behind and do my duties as a corpsman. Yep, I still remember how to start IV and and putting on leads. I still remember my corpsman training.

Lately we've been busy with incoming casualties. Just watch Fox news or CNN news. The majority of the casualties come to us. Just the other day lab activated the walking blood bank. That's when different units who have specific blood type come in and donate blood. Lab needed AB pos, so HM1 Anchia volunteer to donate blood. He said he is AB pos. I had the pleasure of sticking HM1 Anchia.

Things are good out here. Sleeping well at night and waking up at the usual time. Chow is awesome out here. For breakfast, i usually have three hard boiled eggs, cereal, fruit and waffle's or french toast. For lunch the DFAC had a varitey of foods. Rice, grilled cheese, bbq ribs, buffalo wings, fried chicken a lot of other food. It is too much to list. For dessert, there's ice. Baskin Robin 31 flavor's. Of course they dont have all the flavor's but they have the ones that count. I usually don't do dinner. But on Sunday's they have lobster and steak dinner. Last Sunday, we went to DFAC two for dinner. They had karaoke night. It was the first time that they had it. Hopefully, they'll have it every night.

That's all that has been going on. Well there are always something going on, but it is hush, hush. Until next time... Peace!!!

Saturday, March 18, 2006

Arrivals & Departures

Well as you all know, three weeks ago, my dearest Tam left to go play good guy/bad guy in the "sandbox." Since his departure I have been trying my best to keep busy. With each day that passes it's another day closer to his return. Just like with each passing day, each new event that passes brings me closer to Tam's return.

Speaking of arrivals, our friend Heath Wilhoit was also over in the "sandbox." Well he came home after 6 long months to his anxiously awaiting wife, Rhianon. Today we had a get 2 gether at their house. It was the first time he say Dominic and man was he excited.









Last Thursday, our other friends (Regina & Joe) added an addition to their family. Like us they didn't want to know whether they were going to have a boy or a girl. At last our wait is over and Regina gave birth to a cute baby girl. Her name is Isabelle Luz Albaladejo, weighing in @ 7lbs & 5ozs (8ozs less than our Dominic) & 19 inches long. Her official birth date and time was March 16, 2006, @ 12:35pm.

Congrats you guys. Did you know you could love some one so small so much. It's a beautiful thing, somehow words can't explain it.


Next weekend our next door neighbors are having a babyshower for their daughter-in-law. They are expecting a girl. I forget the name at the moment, but will sure share when she makes her arrival. Also, the church that I attend finally caught up to us. Sunday, 3/26/06, they are going to have a shower for Dominic and I. They wanted to do give us one before Tam left, but they could never "catch" us. Well it looks like they caught up with us. Anyhow, baby's always need new things, so we'll enjoy. Well unfortunately unlike you reading the blog I have to get up early (not just because of Dominic). I have duty at the gym, one of my goals before Tam gets home is to look awesome. So for now tah tah. God bless. Tam when you read this know that we love you.

Saturday, March 11, 2006

4 Months of Life



Well okay, Dominic is actually 4 months & 1 week but whose counting!?! Yesterday was Dominic's 4 month well baby check up & just like everything else, he was given a clean bill of health. With his 4 month check up that meant, you guessed it, another round of immunizations (shots for us lame folks). I lucked out and didn't have to hold him down, the gentleman that did the shots had us lay him on the table while he held is legs and gave the shots. I tried talking to Dominic to distract him, but by the time the second shot came around he put it all together. Some strange man holding my legs down & mommy trying to distract me, I'm getting shots. Then he started to cry.

To back track a little. While he was getting is temperature checked before seeing the doctor, and for all of those without children it's a rectal temp check. This little man was grinning ear to ear at the corpsman.

Oh, you guys must be wondering about his growth progress, well let's shead the light. Dominic now weighs 15lbs & 5 ozs, is 26 inches long with his head being 44cm. Yes, he still nurses, however, here's the fun part. We get to start him on baby cereal from a bowl mixed with milk or pear/apple juice. In about a week we get to introduce him to vegetables from baby food jars. Oh our little boy is growing up, let the fun begin.

Here are some cute snap shots of our little man. Hope you enjoy, take care and God bless.





Sunday, March 05, 2006

Rub-a-dub-dub

Hello everyone. Just wanted to share a first with ya'll. Last Thursday was Dominic's first bath in the kitchen sink. Ok, not his first bath in the kitchen, but his first bath in the sink. When he was first brought home from the hospital, he was given sponge baths in the kitchen which he didn't like real well. After his umbilical cord fell off, during our trip to Louisiana & Florida, he showered with mom and dad. He continued to shower with us up until the time his daddy left for the "sandbox." I decided that while Tam's go, I'll give him a bath in the sink, makes it easier that way. He really loves the water and for that we have been blessed. Please enjoy the pictures.







Did I mention that he's camera shy ;-)!






He certainly loves bath time.

Saturday, March 04, 2006

Day 3...

Well guys, this is my 3rd day in the sandbox and it doesn't seem to bad. I thought it would be a lot worse than expected, but things are going quite well. The living quarters are concrete structures and my work space is also concrete. The showers and bathrooms are trailers which is about 200 yards away, so it is a walks away to drop the childs off at the pool and also to smell and feel fresh. I f you want to get around here, you would have to walk. Lucky for me, everything is near by. Of course we do have vechiles to use for work. Some of the places we go to requires us to drive because it is so far away.

Work as not officially started for the new crew (which is me and other people) until 06 Mar 2006. I know when we start working, time is going to fly by. Right now not much is going on, just turn over with the old crew.

The food here is great. There are always pastries in the galley, Baskin Robins, Gatorade, soda's... and a lot more other products. I think a lot of people here might come home a little heavier than when they arrived. Me, I plan on going to the gym every chance that I get and run whenever the weather permits. I know that coming the weather is going to change inthe upcoming months. I hear that it can get up to 140 degrees F out here.

Well that is all the update that I have out here. Take care.