Day 112

Sometimes you are have days where you are reminded of how many people really care

I recieved a card from our church today signed by many people

And a membership to the community center for me and my children

It is possibly the best present I have ever recieved

This will help me survive winter

Help my son survive winter

And help me survive my son this winter

We have a place to pass the time

To burn off energy

To burn off stress

I feel very loved and thankful tonight

Day 111

My heart is breaking for a woman that I barely know

She has had two pregnancies,

given birth to two beautiful children

And lost both of those children

Either hours after they entered this world or right before they entered this world

Why should one person have to go through all that pain

What sense does it make to have to go through that hardship

Why would something like that happen to a person a second time?

I just feel horrible for her

And SO SO thankful for my two beautiful children

They are healthy, they are with me

we may be going through a tough year with my husband being gone

But he will come home

We will be a family again in this world

I have my children with me every day

And that is the best gift someone could ask for

I would take the brattiest behavior

Worst behaving child in the world

(which I sometimes believe mine is)

as long as my child is with me and healthy

I have so many people that tell me my family is in their prayers

Tonight this family is in my prayers

Day 110

Had a normal, everyday day today

(sidenote: could that sentence have more "days" in it?)

Enjoyed some summer weather knowing it won't be here much longer

Had a picnic

Got filthy dirty at the playground

At least one of us did

And most importantly took a nice long nap when we got home

what a lovely day

Day 109

Started our day getting me and two kids ready in under 1 hour

Somewhat of a miracle

Went to church

Went to the park

Went to the store

The part wasn't really in the plan

however it was in my 3 year old's plan

Actually his plan was to play at THREE parks

Not sure why or where the plan came from

Luckily he settled for one

Took him on a walk this afternoon and made him walk

Because if I hadn't gotten him out of the house to wear off energy I was going to lose it

Heard a heartwarming story about a mom and a soldier at church today

Got goosebumps just hearing it

Had everyone praying for my family

And felt very blessed to have so much support for my family

Day 108

Not much today

Felt exhausted from having my 5 hours out

Then staying up late to have a late night conversation via skype with the hubby

The first time since we left where we had 45 minutes of uninteruppted conversation

No kids

No internet problems

It was a nice ending to my birthday

Enjoyed a fire and smores on a cool almost fall night

Was very glad I didn't live anywhere in the path of the current hurricane

Hope and pray that people are ok tonight

Day 107

5 wonderful hours

with no kids

with good friends

with good food

with wine

what a wonderful night it was

I haven't had 5 hours kid free in longer then i can remember

It felt so nice to just be an adult for a while

It was the perfect birthday present

The only thing missing was my husband

Day 106

Today was a much better day

Not perfect, but better

Did some skyping with the hubby while my 3 year old jumped on the bed the entire time

Not distracting at all

Tomorrow is my birthday

I am celebrating with with a couple friends

I want to celebrate with the hubby

It's hard to have days like this while he is gone

I'm glad I have friends who realize that

I already had one friend bail on the night saying she had good things going on her life and she needed to take a night to "celebrate with her husband"

I'm trying really hard to not take that personally but I do

I have a husband gone overseas who can not celebrate with me

she has a husband home every single night

And this is the one night they had to celebrate?

My reality tells me that I really shouldn't be offended

she has no obligation to celebrate with me

And a big part of it is probably because I am feeling bad that my own husband is not home

But it still stings a little

Day 105

Thank goodness this day is OVER

That's all I have to say about today

I have heard so much screaming

and crying

and disobeying

From the minute we woke up

Until the minute they both finally fell asleep

I'm to exhausted to even have a glass of wine

THAT is tired

I hate to wish days away

But boy am I glad today is DONE

Day 104

Another sick day

Another day of hoping for a nap

Another day of not being able to nap

I couldn't tell if I was more sick today or tired

Finally went to bed at 11pm after getting my daughter to sleep

She woke up again at 1am

Nose now stuffy, unable to breathe

(I knew it was coming)

Proceeded to stay up until 3am

Throwing up

And getting her nose sucked clean

Back to bed until 4am when my son woke up upset

Still not sure what he was upset about

Back to bed until 6am when my daughter was up again

Needless to say I am sick and tired

Literally

Day 103

Today I spent most of the time both my kids were napping on hold

I feel horrible with my cold

And all I wanted to do was lay in bed

Which I could have since I had two sleeping children

Instead I sat on hold with phone and televison companies

Who apparently are not smart enough to understand what it means to cancel a service due to a deployment

I had two letters today in the mail threatening to send past due amounts to collection agencies

I have never been so frustrated with a certain company who I have had problems with for the last 3 months

I am amazed at some people's inconsideration due to deployment

and of two deployments and how many contacts/conpanies i have had to talk with and cancel things with

this is the ONLY company that has ever given me issues

I was told different things with every person I talked to

I was told at one point that it was my fault there was a past due amount because the phone number they had for me was no longer in service and they had "tried" to get hold of me

Well no s#&* it is out of order....because I CANCELLED all the services when my husband left!

Besides, I am really not an idiot...like I really believe you were trying to call me to straigten things out

Hopefully this will all be straigtened out in a couple days

After I finally talked to a supervisor who seemed to have power in the company to actually help me out

But I won't confirm that until I actually see results

You just can't trust anyone these days....

Day 102

Oh sickness in my house

My 3 year old woke up with snot covering his face

Of course that means its been a day of fun (insert sarcasm)

He's to sick to want to eat

And when he doesn't eat...watch out

He unfortunatly takes after his daddy in that department

And if he is hungry...don't even attempt to talk to him

It's like jekel and hyde

Now I feel myself getting sicker by the moment

Which of course means that the baby will be sick soon

The highlight of my day?

I recieved the sweetest message from the hubby today

Letting me know how much he loves me,

What a wonderful mother I am

And how beautiful I am

Totally made my day

And made the snot and crabbiness disappear

Day 101

Attended a deployed spouses workshop today

It was interesting

Felt nice to be with others in the same boat as me

Got lots of free stuff for me and my kids

Plus a free lunch

Can't complain

Took my NBDB with me (non-bottle drinking baby)

Had lots of help entertaining her so was actually pretty easy having her

Got a break from my 3 year old

I'd say that is a successful day

Day 100

100 days

100 days done

100 days he's missed

The kids are 100 days older

At least 25% done with this deployment

Seems like so many days behind us

Seems like so many days ahead of us

So many things have changed in the first 100 days

How many things will change in the next 100?

So many things missed

By all of us

Day 99

Long day of activites

Visited family

Visted with friends

Played and Played and Played

My son has never been so dirty

I didn't even want to touch him until he was clean, thats dirty

However the dirtier you are the better day you had in my opinion

At least when you are three

I also have two exhausted kids so that makes a long day worthwhile

Now its time to lay down, and do nothing except watch mindless tv

Sounds good to me

Day 98

Beautiful day

Enjoyed hours at the park

Soaking up the last days of summer

I know they won't be here much longer

Did a mini "interview" with my 3 year old

My favorite answers

What makes you happy? "Giraffes coming in my house"

What makes you sad? "crocodiles coming in my house"

what do you want to me when you grow up? "daddy"

What is your favorite movie? "Daddy reading" (the dvds daddy sends us from Iraq of him reading a story)

What is your favorite book? "daddy's books"

Can't help but say....."ahhhhhhhh"

Day 97

Not much to write about tonight

We didn't do a lot today

Just some playing here and there

I'm just so tired tonight

And can't even think enough to write something

Think that's my sign that its time to shut it down

And go to bed

Day 96

Finally made it back to my parents

Only drove on one road that said "Road Closed"

Assured that my house is now secure again

Or should I say secure for the first time since apparently it hasn't been since the last time I was there

Did not see a wolf in my yard

Decided I could do no more yard work until my husband came home and sprayed for bugs

Had my patience tested to the limit again

Tried to control my reactions based on an article I read in Parents magazine today

Came home to my vehicle leaking a stream underneath it

Added to my to-do list for tomorrow

Was mostly just happy that it didn't break down on the way home

Now I am happily looking through my list of shows that recorded on my DVR while I was gone

And getting ready for an exciting night of catching up on them

A sleeping child in each room

A DVR full of shows

A warm, clean bed

Couldn't be a better night

Day 95

Just cleaned and organized today

Enjoyed being at my own house with no one else around

Had my patience tested to the limit by my 3 year old

Put him to bed at 8pm on the dot

Despite the fact that he would miss talking to his daddy tonight

I simply could not handle another hour and a half before he called

Felt somewhat bad about it

But mostly felt relieved that he was in bed

One down, one to go

Day 94

A day of cleaning

Inside and outside

Have to say I enjoyed inside more

Since that didn't involve deer flies swarming my head

Still not sure about this "country" living

Had a good visit with another military wife

Felt good to be able to talk deployment with someone who understands

Put some kids to bed and called it a night

Day 93

Long day of errands and cleaning

Also happy to report the biggest creature I saw were some spiders

Who have all been conveniently been sucked up the vaccuum hose

Makes me miss my husband a lot

Being here at our home without him

I miss our home and having my own place

But its way to lonely

I want to be home

But I want to be home with him

Day 92

Headed back to our house today

I was slightly nervous after the picture of the wolf in my yard my neighbor sent me

And my fear of mice roaming my unihabited home

I didn't see either

That was a huge sigh of relief you just heard

I don't do mice...and I sure don't do wolves

Now on to cleaning and organizing and the fun stuff like that

And hopefully no wild animals or tiny little furry creatures

Day 91

I'm saying it and believing it

And just really hoping I'm not jynxing myself by doing it

But I think I can officially say my 3 year old is potty trained!

It's just like a miracle

In a slightly less dramatic, life changing way

SO happy he is finally on the potty band wagon

So here's to hoping he doesn't fall of the wagon

Day 90

Enjoyed a beautiful day at the park

Trying to take advantage of these last days of nice weather

I know they won't be around much longer

Considered going back to our house this week

Although the picture our neighbor sent me the other day of a wolf standing in our driveway makes me a little nervous to go back

Who has wolves in their driveway?

Wish I remembered how to use the gun my hubby has

But truthfully while he was explaining how to use it I was slightly zoned out

Mostly thinking "When will I ever really use this gun?"

Especially when he was talking about using if for protection

But the gun is locked away, the ammo locked somewhere else

And i have to put it together

So really if there was an emergency I think I would hide and call 911

Like I would really even remember where all the pieces of the puzzle gun are

Whatever,made him feel better to tell me about it

Truthfully I just need to go up and take care of some things

I just don't want to drive there

And since there is no food there I need to tactfully invite myself to dinner at the neighbors

Sigh....

My to-do list is pretty long right now

I should probably stop looking at it everyday

And actually start doing it

Day 89

Oh what a long day

I almost made the up for 24 hours award

Thanks so much to my lovely daughter

I guess it seemed like a good idea to stay up screaming and crying until 2am

Forget the fact that she had me up since 5am also

She'll probably be one of those girls that is up screaming and partying until 2am too

Talk about a LONG day

22 hour day to be exact

Not sure what the problem was

Took care of every basic need

And slathered the teeth in orajel

I had a sneaking suspicion that she simply wanted to sleep next to me

And she was not going to win that battle with me last night

It's also 11pm the next night though and she seems to be wide awake

She might be winning after all

Day 88

Today I accomplished more before 9am then I have all week

Mostly thanks to my 5 month old who decided that the between the times of 5am to 6:30am would be an excellent time to be awake and play

By 6:30am I figured it was pointless to attempt to go back to sleep

Considering that my 3 year old would be up around 7am

So instead I gathered my energy and ran 4 miles on the treadmill

Then showered

Cleaned the bathroom

Did 3 loads of laundry

Dressed and fed my 3 year old

Made a strong cup of coffee to have with breakfest

Vacuumed the entire downstairs

Washed the sheets from the guest bedroom and re-made the bed

Washed the bathroom rugs

Put away all the piles of clean laundry that have been sitting around for a week or so

Took out the garbage

Not neccessarily in that order

Whewww....no wonder I was ready to drop by 9am

By 5 month old slept until 9:30am

Sure glad she got some good hours of sleep in (sarcastic tone)

Lack of sleep=ZERO patience

So had to take the kids to the park to run off energy before I lost my mind

Don't worry, I got about a 30 minute nap this afternoon (sarcasim insterted here)

Day 87

Did a whole lot of nothing today

At least it felt like it since we didn't leave the house

I did do some cleaning, laundry and have the dog a haircut

Also made a pretty awesome castle with big blocks

So I guess we did do SOMETHING today

My 3 year old had several tantrums

In the middle of one he started crying and saying "I miss my daddy"

Talk about breaking your heart

I felt terrible

And instead of continuing to tell him to stop crying or go to his room until he could

(if you knew the ridiculous thing he was crying about you would say the same thing)

I scooped him up, hugged him and said we would try to see if daddy was on the computer

Our luck would have it that he was

Hopefully this isn't a new ploy that he's figured out to get mommy to baby him and feel sorry for him instead of mad

Either way, it was hard to hear

And its harder for him

It's gotta be hard to try to understand all this craziness

Today we also heard of 31 US soldiers that lost thier lives in Afganistan

So hard to hear news like that

Our soldier is in Iraq but its just way to close to home for my comfort

So tonight we are praying for those families and the terrible journey they just began

Day 86

Oh what a day

Tried to take advantage of the beautiful day and prediction of rain tomorrow

And spent all day outside

Again, just took one for the having fun team and skipped nap

Totally regretting that decision at the current moment

We are all three waiting in my bed for daddy to call on skype

My 3 year old should have been in bed an hour ago and is currently driving me insane

He is also keeping my 5 month old alert and awake instead of falling asleep

And really my only choice is to sit and wait

Dumb timezones halfway across the world

And with that...dumb deployments

Day 85

Had a busy day

Enjoyed some library story time

Or "school" according to my son

Played at the park

Enjoyed some aunt and uncle time

Had a nice family dinner out

Good day even though we were slightly off all day from going to bed so late

Tonight we are going to bed at normal hours

I'm missing the big country music festival again this year

And only a small part of me thinks being out there with a big wine cooler in my hand

WOuld be better then in my nice cozy bed

Learned some new major family drama

Debated if I should talk with the hubby about it

Decided to let him in but still not sure that was the best decision

He can't really do anything over there

But seems like I should still let him in on our lives and his family

hmmmmm....tough call

Day 84

Spent some time with the hubby's family today

Enjoyed catching up with everyone

And learning the latest family drama

And WHOA is there draaaaaama

My 3 year old enjoyed the toy trains

Got home way to late

Got everyone to bed way to late

I'm exhausted and ready for bed

Day 83

Went down to a little crazy days in town today

Which equals crazy sales, crazy people and craziness in general

Tried out my new $8 baby bjorn

Besides the extra 20 pounds of weight I had to carry in 80 degree weather

It worked pretty good

And my 3 year old did excellent and staying with me

spent about 20 minutes shopping

And over an hour bouncing in the air bounce houses

Burnt a lot of energy

So a successful trip

Found out today my so called phone company cancelled my phone line 2 months ago

Not a huge deal unless you depend on that line to secure your house while your away as it works with the security system

SOOOOOO mad

Had some very nice not things to say to the company when I called

And am already dictating my mean nasty letter to the company

This is also the only company I have ever had an issue with ending a contract because of a deployment

Consenses of the day is that I will never go near this company again

And I will spread the word to all who will listen

Luckily already have a new company lined up to take over

I'm super woman dealing with deployment CRAP

And I will come out on top

Day 82

Rainy day, filled with thunder and lightening

Had a nice lunch with my mother and sister in law

My 3 year old enjoyed the lunch atmosphere

Who wouldn't enjoy chicken nuggets and playland?

My 5 month old cooperated

We all took a nap this afternoon that felt wonderful

I broke down and let my 5 month old sleep in my bed so I could nap

I do pretty good with the constant fight we have

About sleeping in her bed versus my bed

I usually win and persevere long enough that she finally passes out in her crib from exhaustion

But sometimes a nap is a nap and the fight is not worth it

Skyped with two kids awake and tired

Not so much fun but still good to see the handsome hubby's face