Thanks a Pantload Kyrgyzstan!

Welcome Home sign for your beloved hero...free with shipping
Welcome Home outfits for the entire family...100 dollars
Welcome Home pedicure and haircut...98 dollars
The impeccable timing of a revolt in Kyrgyzstan dissolving all flights home indefinitely...FREAKING PRICELESS!

I am however, refusing to let this upset me. I have realized that being a military wife sometimes takes the strength, the faith and the patience of Job and seriously, me getting all upset and worked up does nothing for the situation, except give me a headache and awakens my faulty bowel! So, the kids and I are just patiently waiting, getting done some last minute chores and enjoying the final days of spring break. In past weeks, I have learned that everything works its self out and the only powers I possess are prayer and positive thinking so for now, I am patiently waiting, praying and enjoying the beautiful spring weather with the kids. I kind of feel like the only only powers I possess in this situation is positive thinking and prayer. So for now, I am busting my butt to correct the damages done by Easter chocolates, pruning hedges and chasing children! I am also no longer saying, this will be the last time I (insert chore) here...cause it looks like this week I will again be mowing the grass, sitting in church alone, and making suppers that no one wants to eat! Oy Vey!

SITREP!

Interestingly enough, I really don't have much to say! The kids and I are trudging along and marking off each day on the calendar with a big black marker...Ise and I like to sing, Another One Bites the Dust as we do it :)! Seriously though, the kids and I are kicking this deployment's butt. Since day one, I have emphasized to Ise that we have to be a team and work together and I could not ask for better cooperation and help from that little guy. Really, the hardest part is the void that comes without Blue Daddy's presence. Isaac misses him so much and that part sucks because I know just how he feels except that I am an adult and he is just a little boy.
Speaking of our awesome little man, he is doing amazing in school. He now can name all the letters and their sounds, plus he has started to read sight words. I am blown away by how fast he is learning! He can also count to 100 and write the first letters 1-10. We are still working on upper case and lower case letters, some of those still really trip him up. However, at the rate he is going, I think in a few more weeks, he won't even bat an eye! Ise is also playing hockey this season...and loves it! He still needs some work on his skating techniques but I have to give him credit, because he gets right out there and dives right in. It is incredible to watch these little tiny boys and girls in all that gear get out there and skate around, some of these kids look like professional athletes already.
Delainey is growing like a weed and becoming a tiny bit more verbal, although the high shrieking and blood-curdling screams still do her justice! Yesterday while shopping at Target, we passed the baby doll aisle in toys and I swear the child joyfully said, "babies!" She also took a bite of food the other night and then waved her hand in front of her mouth and said, "hot!" I am actually surprised that she hasn't picked up more language then she has...although she could be like her brother and is waiting to use it all at one time! Either way, she is an adorable ball of curly hair, frustration and joy! I can't wait till Luke gets to spend some time with her because I think he is going to be amazed...actually, I think he will be amazed by them both!
I am doing quite well, the kids are keeping me busy and then if that wasn't doing it, AWANAS, MOPS and hockey are filling up any remaining free time! I have found that some days being busy makes the days practically fall off the calendar and then other days, it seems to make the weeks a lot longer!

The Tears Fall When...

It seems like everything is breaking!

Ise talks about how much he misses his Blue Daddy

The baby girl hits another milestone that he misses

I pray for him and his buddies

I let my mind wander to all the things that could happen...

I am driving in the car

I can't get the stupid weed whacker to start

we take a family picture to capture some new place or event and we are minus one person

I hear a song that reminds me of him

The kids are testing my patience and I want to tap out

I realize that we are actually only almost four months down not five!

I realize just how much longer there is to go

Ise has a really bad day and says I wouldn't understand because I am not a man

I buy a microwave that is too heavy to carry into the house by myself!

At church when I am singing praises

I think about all the ladies I know that will never see their husbands come home again

when I just want him to wrap his arms around me and tell me he loves me

when I look at my babies and wish more then anything he was with us, sharing in these moments

....that is when the tears fall.

Real American Heroes!

3 Months Down!

90 days into this junk and we are still doing well! We are gearing up for the school year as Ise starts KINDERGARTEN in just three short weeks! I am still in shock but am so excited that he is so excited to be going! Thank you for all your prayers and loving thoughts, they are truly the reason we have made it thus far!

Somewhere In the Desert

Two Months DOWN!

We had a blast this past 4th of July weekend! I do not think I cooked a single meal that weekend but instead spent everyday at a different girlfriend's house! The kids also had a blast, they got to swim, play with friends and Ise even got to try out a couple sparklers...did you know that they drop lava bombs? This weekend was also very special since it marked the second month completed of Suck Fest 2009-2010! Only six more months till R&R and 10 more months till mission complete! We are chugging along and keeping busy and marking them days off the calendar just as fast as they are done! We miss Luke/Blue Daddy to pieces and cannot wait till we can wrap our arms around his neck and have him home again!

Now for your viewing pleasure...
Ise with his sparklers,

Delainey and me, I swear I could eat this girl up!

Desperately trying to get a picture of the two kiddos before church...Delainey was charging the camera! (Her dress is courtesy of G-ma M)

Sweet little baby girl,

Are We Having Fun Yet?

I seriously had forgotten how much "fun" these darn blasted deployments are. As I type this, the baby is in her room, losing her ever lovin mind. I usually do not let her do this but as it is, she has been doing it all day long. I know she is teething, I know it is not her fault, I know that this too shall pass. I also know that I can not take all the crying, screaming and throwing around of her head that this entails, especially since this has been going on for the past three days. I thought about skipping church this morning, I felt like crap (probably due to lack of sleep and headache from screaming child) and it was pouring down rain, but the freedom of putting the sweet baby girl in the nursery for a solid hour was all the motivation I needed to go! Isaac had a slight breakdown a few days ago. We were putting together the little prayer photos we made of Luke to mail out and he was helping me stuff the envelopes. He hugged one of the pictures to his chest and said, "I sure do miss that dude," and then began to cry. I was so not prepared for that so I too of course could not help but cry. I told him that Blue Daddy had a very important job to do and that once he was done he would be home with us. I explained that it was OK for him to be sad and miss him and that the best way for us to help Blue Daddy was to pray for him and be strong while he is gone. The poor kid, he was just so sad. This deployment seems to lack the stress of the last one and contains more loneliness and sadness. I miss him. I just really really miss him, and so do the kids.

Cinco de SuCkO!

Well like a bad dream, our BSD is here. I have so many emotions swirling around in my head and my heart right now but none I want to talk about or expand on. The kids and I will be laying low the next few days before we kick it up to high gear, get over ourselves and get on with making the next 365 days worth living and living to the fullest! Please keep Luke and all his comrades in your thoughts and prayers!