Just heard from the lovely husband and the first delay is in effect. Twelve hours as of now puts them set for a 2:00 a.m. arrival - fabulous! I was just hoping that I could drag the monkeys out in the middle of the night to meet with him - three cranky kids and an airport area - nice. : (
There will likely be another delay that makes the nightmare scenario moot as they arrive the following day. Ugh - some days I despise the military!
Saturday, January 3, 2009
8 months-1 day
Running around like a headless chicken tonight, I realize that
a) the house will never be clean "enough"
b) nobody will care tomorrow
and
c) by Monday anything I did would be trashed again anyway (who am I kidding - by tomorrow).
So we work on "normal" tasks like bathtime and bedtime and brushing teeth. Here's to hoping that the kids sleep through the night in their own beds tonight. Here's to hoping they sleep at all. And here's to hoping some lame pencil pusher doesn't decide that one more day is no big deal.
Why should the last day/night of deployment be as difficult as the first? I don't understand it but it always seems to be the way. The kids are a bit more honery, I'm a bit more tense, things break and don't work the way they should. (You run out of alcohol except for the nasty Bud Light that you put in the fridge for him tomorrow.)
Ugh, make it through the night, fall into his arms tomorrow afternoon and sleep for three days as if the last eight months were just a bad dream...
a) the house will never be clean "enough"
b) nobody will care tomorrow
and
c) by Monday anything I did would be trashed again anyway (who am I kidding - by tomorrow).
So we work on "normal" tasks like bathtime and bedtime and brushing teeth. Here's to hoping that the kids sleep through the night in their own beds tonight. Here's to hoping they sleep at all. And here's to hoping some lame pencil pusher doesn't decide that one more day is no big deal.
Why should the last day/night of deployment be as difficult as the first? I don't understand it but it always seems to be the way. The kids are a bit more honery, I'm a bit more tense, things break and don't work the way they should. (You run out of alcohol except for the nasty Bud Light that you put in the fridge for him tomorrow.)
Ugh, make it through the night, fall into his arms tomorrow afternoon and sleep for three days as if the last eight months were just a bad dream...
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Nearly there
Well, we have "only" a week remaining. In the larger scope of eight months I suppose that it won't be that long, particularly with what we've been through in this eight months, but its bittersweeet to have him coming home so near to the holidays, yet not in time for the holidays - particularly when this year the kids finally started to "get it" in terms of Santa and presents and so on. (I base the statement that they really "get it" on their reluctance to take down the decorations or the train we set up under the tree because they want it there for "when Santa comes back.")
So, tomorrow my mom leaves and by the time we return from New Orleans, the day will be over - one more down in a long string of days that loomed endlessly before us at the start of this blog. Haven't decided if I'll continue here, or create a "homeport blog" or consider the name to be a daily mantra appreciative of every day that we are able to share with F once he's home - more of a coming home from the daily grind, than the long deployment.
In any case, seven days and hopefully (as of now) he'll be home, but as always that will be subject to the whims of the military, the command and I'm sure the weather.
So, tomorrow my mom leaves and by the time we return from New Orleans, the day will be over - one more down in a long string of days that loomed endlessly before us at the start of this blog. Haven't decided if I'll continue here, or create a "homeport blog" or consider the name to be a daily mantra appreciative of every day that we are able to share with F once he's home - more of a coming home from the daily grind, than the long deployment.
In any case, seven days and hopefully (as of now) he'll be home, but as always that will be subject to the whims of the military, the command and I'm sure the weather.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Musings of age
I was thinking last night as I snuck in a quick bath that I should be thinking profound thoughts and analyzing my life in some way today. Rather I was rushing to get my hair washed before C woke up hungry or K had a nightmare or H got bored with late night cartoons on Boomerang. That's about as profound as things get around here these days, although I was also debating finding myself a good quality face cream to keep the age lines from showing, but for now I guess I'll just accept them as part of me - as the kids do and my husband will if he ever gets home.
The kids and I went and made welcome home signs for F's return. The command puts them up all over the base so that people know the guys are home (and chicks too, but really there are only a relative handful of girls in the unit so let's get real, deal with being called one of the guys, you're in the military for goodness sake). It was nice, but they use house paint for durability, so I really wasn't thrilled with the kiddos "helping" if you know what I mean.
It seems odd that its less than a month until we have our big arrivals - dancin' grandma, the jolly fat man and last-but-certainly-not-least DADDY! Kind of seems like it will be a little bit of a let down after its all over, but we'll see what the new year brings.
The kids are getting a HUGE (for them) play kitchen for Christmas. I got a pretty good deal on one, I think and it just arrived. Hopefully I can figure out a way to set it up before Christmas Eve without them seeing it or grandma and I might be up most of the night assembling!
The kids and I went and made welcome home signs for F's return. The command puts them up all over the base so that people know the guys are home (and chicks too, but really there are only a relative handful of girls in the unit so let's get real, deal with being called one of the guys, you're in the military for goodness sake). It was nice, but they use house paint for durability, so I really wasn't thrilled with the kiddos "helping" if you know what I mean.
It seems odd that its less than a month until we have our big arrivals - dancin' grandma, the jolly fat man and last-but-certainly-not-least DADDY! Kind of seems like it will be a little bit of a let down after its all over, but we'll see what the new year brings.
The kids are getting a HUGE (for them) play kitchen for Christmas. I got a pretty good deal on one, I think and it just arrived. Hopefully I can figure out a way to set it up before Christmas Eve without them seeing it or grandma and I might be up most of the night assembling!
We're hoping to take the kids on a mini-vacation in January or February just because we can, and to give ourselves a break before returning to the real world - a kind of thank you to ourselves for surviving this deployment and thriving and growing.
In the meantime, I think we're going to get ourselves in the holiday spirit and go get a Christmas tree. Should be interesting trying to get a tree put up with the "helpers" here, but we'll see how it goes. So the tree ends up horizontal across the couch - whatever. We don't exactly have a Better Homes and Gardens kind of house as it is - more like something from Elmo's World (including the crayon walls - grrrr)!
Off to locate Christmas decorations and child-proof stuff to scatter about the house! And for anyone who is missing holiday cuteness...
In the meantime, I think we're going to get ourselves in the holiday spirit and go get a Christmas tree. Should be interesting trying to get a tree put up with the "helpers" here, but we'll see how it goes. So the tree ends up horizontal across the couch - whatever. We don't exactly have a Better Homes and Gardens kind of house as it is - more like something from Elmo's World (including the crayon walls - grrrr)!
Off to locate Christmas decorations and child-proof stuff to scatter about the house! And for anyone who is missing holiday cuteness...
Friday, November 28, 2008
OTR Again
Well, its finally time - the van is packed, the "stuff" is "stuffed" (instead of just the turkey) and its time to get on the road again. Early in the morning we're headed home. I don't know who is more excited, K or me, but we are all ready, I think to settle in at home and await the arrival of both big men - Santa and Daddy!
We've spent from Labor day to turkey day with the inlaws and it has been a complete God send being able to share C's birth and the task/joy of raising the three kids together, however it is certainly time to move on to our own place and our own lives again. C has never known a day without any one of several adults available to touch, pick up and hold him, and he might just be shell shocked to be stuck with "just" mommy for a while.
On a side note, it will be good to get out before the snow flies on Sunday night. Although we've had flurries off and on and it isn't a huge storm coming, it is enough to make me thankful that we're leaving now.
My next post will likely be delivered from the old homestead down south, and our internet is due to be installed on the afternoon of the 3rd. Wish us luck that Cable One doesn't bite us in the butt (again), as they seem to be the only show in town for non-dial-up on base. grrrrrrrr!
We've spent from Labor day to turkey day with the inlaws and it has been a complete God send being able to share C's birth and the task/joy of raising the three kids together, however it is certainly time to move on to our own place and our own lives again. C has never known a day without any one of several adults available to touch, pick up and hold him, and he might just be shell shocked to be stuck with "just" mommy for a while.
On a side note, it will be good to get out before the snow flies on Sunday night. Although we've had flurries off and on and it isn't a huge storm coming, it is enough to make me thankful that we're leaving now.
My next post will likely be delivered from the old homestead down south, and our internet is due to be installed on the afternoon of the 3rd. Wish us luck that Cable One doesn't bite us in the butt (again), as they seem to be the only show in town for non-dial-up on base. grrrrrrrr!
Monday, November 3, 2008
NF: Military makes sense
NEWS FLASH!!!! The military has done something that makes sense. Or perhaps it was Congress, which would make it even bigger news. When Frank was in the Reserves in Kuwait, he reenlisted. Recently, we received a letter stating that the bonus he received when reenlisting was due to be returned (meaning we needed to repay several thousand dollars) since he did not fulfill his RESERVE contract. OUCH!!!
I finally called again on it, I had always seemed to call after hours or at particularly busy times for them and never got through after an initial contact wherein they told me they couldn't talk to me until they had a copy of our Power of Attorney. Anyway when I got through today they said that there is a new policy, by which anyone who leaves the Reserves to go on active duty without a break in service would no longer be required to repay that Reserve bonus as long as the Active Duty contract would fulfill the time obligation for the Reserve contract bonus.
Long story short, we just wiped what would have been a large amount of debt off of our backs!!!! Wooo Hooooo!!!! I can move that payment into other areas of our budget where it will be well appreciated. Now THAT was a great phone call.
I finally called again on it, I had always seemed to call after hours or at particularly busy times for them and never got through after an initial contact wherein they told me they couldn't talk to me until they had a copy of our Power of Attorney. Anyway when I got through today they said that there is a new policy, by which anyone who leaves the Reserves to go on active duty without a break in service would no longer be required to repay that Reserve bonus as long as the Active Duty contract would fulfill the time obligation for the Reserve contract bonus.
Long story short, we just wiped what would have been a large amount of debt off of our backs!!!! Wooo Hooooo!!!! I can move that payment into other areas of our budget where it will be well appreciated. Now THAT was a great phone call.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
BTW - "they" lie
I know I read somewhere once the story of the "house of 'they'," but whoever "they" are, "they" are also liars. "They"say that it gets easier each time you leave (or your loved one does) but I don't think it does. I'm certainly not a novice at this experience, and I still cry every time.
For anyone who reads this and doesn't know our history, F & I have never spent an unbroken year together in the same place, the whole time. We met in London, the day after I arrived for a two year tour, while he was half way through his two year tour. We started dating in August, and I went home for Christmas, while he stayed in London hosting his parents. By June, he was gone, back to the states to go to school and I remained in London, where he came to visit once, and I came to see him once.
The following June, I left London and returned to the states. When I found a job in NH, I moved there, and F was in school in the same town, so that was good, although he went home to MA for summers and most holidays. Even since we married in May 2004, we have been apart a lot. From his time at the police academy (M-F for 12 weeks? in 2005) to deployments (Kuwait 2006-8mos, this one-8mos), I cry every time he leaves. And if anything, it gets harder.
I think in part it is harder because of the kids now. I know on some level that much of the acting out that follows him leaving is a lack of ability to vocalize how they feel when he leaves/is gone. But its frustrating because even though I know the problem, there isn't anything I can do to fix the problem. I know that we signed on for this, knew what we were getting into, etc. etc. etc. but again, knowing it and being able to deal with it are different animals.
So, we plot his return and have started the countdown. At some point I need to figure out exactly when we'll return to MS. C isn't the best car rider (although he isn't the worst either) so it will be a different drive for sure. I need to think long and hard about when to travel - I don't want to deal with winter driving if I can help it, but we'll see how things go.
On a more positive note, C is 4 weeks old today. He can hold his head up quite well, and I'm amazed at how fast he's growing! Although he seemed to swim in his big Britax carseat (Wizard) at birth, I actually had to raise the headrest the other day, so he's filling that out for sure. He's outgrowing clothes left and right and is starting to look more like a little baby than a newborn, if that makes sense.
For anyone who reads this and doesn't know our history, F & I have never spent an unbroken year together in the same place, the whole time. We met in London, the day after I arrived for a two year tour, while he was half way through his two year tour. We started dating in August, and I went home for Christmas, while he stayed in London hosting his parents. By June, he was gone, back to the states to go to school and I remained in London, where he came to visit once, and I came to see him once.
The following June, I left London and returned to the states. When I found a job in NH, I moved there, and F was in school in the same town, so that was good, although he went home to MA for summers and most holidays. Even since we married in May 2004, we have been apart a lot. From his time at the police academy (M-F for 12 weeks? in 2005) to deployments (Kuwait 2006-8mos, this one-8mos), I cry every time he leaves. And if anything, it gets harder.
I think in part it is harder because of the kids now. I know on some level that much of the acting out that follows him leaving is a lack of ability to vocalize how they feel when he leaves/is gone. But its frustrating because even though I know the problem, there isn't anything I can do to fix the problem. I know that we signed on for this, knew what we were getting into, etc. etc. etc. but again, knowing it and being able to deal with it are different animals.
So, we plot his return and have started the countdown. At some point I need to figure out exactly when we'll return to MS. C isn't the best car rider (although he isn't the worst either) so it will be a different drive for sure. I need to think long and hard about when to travel - I don't want to deal with winter driving if I can help it, but we'll see how things go.
On a more positive note, C is 4 weeks old today. He can hold his head up quite well, and I'm amazed at how fast he's growing! Although he seemed to swim in his big Britax carseat (Wizard) at birth, I actually had to raise the headrest the other day, so he's filling that out for sure. He's outgrowing clothes left and right and is starting to look more like a little baby than a newborn, if that makes sense.
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