Hello again from the beautiful country of Italy…it has been some time since I last posted but a lot of things have been going on here…as you will read.

First, let me get to the main story…Miss Peyton is now 6 weeks old (as of this past Friday). I can’t believe how time has flown by. She had her 6 weeks check up today and she is 9lbs7.6oz and 21.75in long. Comapred to Xavier she’s a slow grower…but gaining none the less. The main obstacle we are having to deal with is she has been diagnosed with Congenital Hypothyroidism.  In her case her thyroid levels are normal (which means she has a working thyroid), however, her brain is making an abundance of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone(TSH). So she takes synthroid once a day and gets her blood drawn once a month to make sure she is receiving the right amount of medication.  We have the choice to take her off when she is a year old to see if she has the transient(temporary) or the lifelong condition.  We have chosen not to take the chance and wait until she is 3-4 years old to take her off. At this age the brain is, for the most part, developed so the risk of any brain damage is very minimal.  Plus, the odds are that she has the lifelong condition so we are treating it as such.  She is hitting all of her milestones and is doing great. She is smiling and trying to laugh. She loves mobiles when she’s laying down and will watch the one on her swing until she falls asleep.

I’m not sure how many of you know but we are also doing cloth diapers on her (pictures at the end of this post).  I’m really enjoying them…and they make her look like a fluffy bottom…lol

Xavier is doing quite well adjusting to not being the youngest. In fact, he’s enjoying his little sister and tells EVERYONE that she is his “baby”… He’s a great helper getting her diapers or wipes and even a towel when she spits up.

Xavier is doing excellent in school. We just had parent/teacher conferences last Thursday and he’s doing above average in all his developmental milestones.  Geno and I are very proud of him.  We are also signing him up for basketball tomorrow. He did “ok” in soccer but I still think his attention span is very short. 

Derrick is also doing very well. He just turned 14 on Nov. 12th! His 1st quarter as an 8th grader is over and he received all A’s & B’s.  We are very proud of him.  He also played in a 3 on 3 basketball tournament and won 1st place.  His picture was in the Caserma Ederle Outlook - last page, on the bottom, he’s in the middle. He’s getting signed up also for basketball tomorrow.

Geno and I are both doing well.  It’s great seeing Geno with Peyton. He wasn’t around for this portion of Xavier’s life and he admits he wish he would have been.  He’s having a blast though with Xavier. They wrestle each other and lately Xavier has changed his name to “Snake Eyes” and calls Geno “Duke”…

We are, as always, preparing for his upcoming tour to Afghanistan.  After he leaves I will post his mailing address for anyone that would like to send a care package.

Thanksgiving is coming and we are hosting it for many of the single soldiers in Geno’s platoon, as well as, a few couples.  So far the total is about 20 people! I’m really looking forward to it! Everyone deserves a fresh, homemade meal! Christmas I’m not quite sure what we are doing. Geno will be gone by then so we will see…I might invite a few of the wives over…

Well, thats about it for now…here are some recent pictures…more are on Flickr

Cake blowing…

Xavier loves her so much…and, yes, I know he needed a haircut! It was done later that day!

Her “Fluffy” bottom…

Dressed for the day

Heading out…