TODAY'S THE DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HE'S COMING IN TODAY!!!

I was hoping it would be tomorrow just so we could have him through New Year's, but coming in today still means I'll have someone to kiss on New Year's Eve!!! He leaves on the 2nd, the Friday before the kids go back to school. It's always hard to say good bye again, but the next time he comes home it'll be for good. Well....until the next deployment anyway......

WOO HOO!!!! I'M TOTALLY STOKED!!!

Not Enough Hours......

I finished my last final for this semester yesterday. Apparently while I was walking into the testing center, Clem called. I got his message when I got back out to the car. I wasn't terribly heart broken over it because he was online yesterday afternoon. I had to remind myself that this time around is MUCH better than it was 5 years ago.....and 60 years ago. At least now I have the luxury of online communication and letters that will get to me in 8 days. My poor grandmother. I'm always reminded when I talk to her how hard it was when my grandfather was in WWII. I don't think I could've done it back then.

I'm not much of a morning person (I'm sure that comes as a shock to most people), but yesterday morning was an exceptionally bad one for Lilly and me. I felt so terrible after I got the kids to school that I decided I'd surprise Lilly by picking her up early from school and having a "date." Needless to say, she was completely surprised. We had hot chocolate and spent a long time just talking. She's really an awesome kid-very smart, very aware. I had fun with our one-on-one time. I thought Dewey might be a little upset with me when I told him yesterday afternoon, but he wasn't. I think I need to make more of an effort spending special time with each kid. I think it would help everyone. I felt better after spending time with Lilly. I think by spending quality time with each of them it'll help with all my feelings of guilt and inadequacy as a mother. Dewey and I had a long talk the other night about how I feel about being a mom.

Since I finished my final a day early, I decided to spend the whole day catching up on my housework. So what do I do instead? Get on here. I have a kitchen, 2 bathrooms and PILES of laundry screaming at me. It never ceases to amaze me how little time I have when school's going on to do simple, necessary things like folding laundry. It often kills me that I don't have someone here to share the load. Good news, though. He'll probably be home Wednesday or Thursday (17th or 18th) for R&R. WOO HOO!! We actually get 2 Christmases in a row with him!!! It's purely coincidental that he'll be home this year. I've even lied to the kids telling them he won't be home until January or February. It would be nice if I'm forgiven for that little fib, but I think the kids' reaction will be worth it in the end. I think that's what I'm MOST excited about. How often do we get to do something for our children that will bring them so much joy? He'll only get 15 days home, but 15 days is better than no days. I'll just be left with almost 9 more months without him. That's ok. It'll pass eventually, and then we'll get him home for next Christmas, too. HOLY COW! 3 CHRISTMASES IN A ROW??!!

Well, I really should go get my stuff done. It's already 1130. I only have 3 and a half more hours until the kids are home. Toodles!

Busy, Busy, Busy

This is Matthew looking holy and "blessing" Lauren since he somewhat resembles Jesus here. No blasphemy intended.

I've been asked a bit lately about my absence. Fear not. I have been remarkably busy.

First, there's the issue of my arthroscopy. Obviously, I made it through. It was some MUCH needed time off. They left the cyst, which I've since named Gordon Baker. Baker's cysts usually arise from almost any form of knee arthritis and cartilage (particularly the meniscus) tear. One night, while strung out on percocet, I decided that I should welcome my cyst into my life. I decided that if I must live with it, I should at least name him. Alas, Gordon Baker was born. It turned out that he was farther back in the joint than was originally thought, therefore he stayed. That's fine with me, as long as he doesn't cause me problems.

Post-surgery was a bit more than I anticipated. It was great the weekend Mom was down here. Lilly went camping with Dad, so it was just Kay, Alyssa, Mom and me. At one point over that weekend, Kaylan and Alyssa were on the bed with me while we had a tea party. Then Kaylan looked at me and we had a brief conversation that went something like this:

Kay: Mom, I like when you have your medicine.

Me: Yeah? Why's that?

Kay: Well, because you get really happy and you smile a lot.

I know what you're thinking, "Out of the mouths of babes...," right???

(And this is Joseph doing his best Blue Steel while doing his best Captain Morgan.)

I spent the week prior to surgery making sure I had everything done for this latest psych course since the day of surgery was also the last day of this class. I did and managed a B.

The week of recovery was a &*$@#. My knee was so swollen and it itched under the bandage. The itch was almost worse than being bed-ridden for a couple days. But I managed and now it's better. The follow-up was awesome. The stitches came out, and I got the green light to continue my life. WOO HOO!!! That meant simple things that I had taken for granted, like driving, were ok. Dr. Ditzler said "moderate activity." Funny, I suspect that MY idea of moderate and HIS idea are very, very different.

Then came the rush to get ready for Thanksgiving. The kids got out of school the Tuesday before and we went straight up to Mom and Dad's. It was nice getting everyone together. I don't think I've laughed that much in years. Everyone got along and there was much laughter-mostly making fun of Veronica and Joseph and all the stupid songs they used to make up when we were kids. Then there was the issue of Lilly being SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much like I was when I was a kid. I swear someone should've punched me back then. I was watching some OLD, OLD, OLD home movies from when I was about 8 (Lilly's age). Dad should've stopped the camera and then turned it back on with me in tears holding a steak over one eye. Justice.

(Mom, Joseph, Hailey and Alyssa with Heleman.)

So, now I'm back, getting registered for next semester. I've officially decided to finish my current degree plan, and then I'll go back to major in poli sci. At least I have something for fall back on should politics not turn out the way I want, and I have a funny feeling that everything's going down in a hand basket. But that's just me.

That's the update since a few weeks ago. It still feels stiff and swollen most of the time. I guess that's to be expected since it hasn't even been 3 weeks and I have arthritis. Now the other leg's starting it even more than it was before. Perhaps it's just compensation pain. Whatever. It's dinner time and I'm starving. Laters, lovely people.