Phase 1 almost over!

It's been three weeks since I last posted on my blog. I guess that means things have been going pretty smoothly. We have gotten in to a routine and are doing fine. Dee has been sick with an upper respiratory infection but went to the doctor and got an antibiotic so he's almost better. Just a lingering cough. They had to work Memorial Day which I thought was just wrong, but I guess the military keeps working to keep us safe and allow us to be able to celebrate Memorial Day. They have been working 14 hour days for the past week and they are tired, but doing well.

We had Jolie tested to see if ADHD was the only diagnosis or if there were other issues. She did test ADHD prodominantly with Hyperactivity and Impulsivity. Both doctors that saw her said she was upset about her Daddy being gone and that she is worried about him. So they suggested counseling to get her through this so we will follow their recommendations. It breaks my heart that she is struggling with it, but we do what we have to do, pray for her, and before we know it, the year will be just a distant memory.

We are counting down the days. Dee will be home in 8 days! We will have 11 days with him before he heads back to Indiana. Then at some point, they will be flying to Aghanistan. I can not share with you a specific date for security reasons, but just be praying for him.

We are very excited about the time he has at home before going off again. I do worry that the feelings we struggled through before will resurface. BUT I pray it will be easier this time, since we know how to function day to day now. I call his time in training Phase 1. Phase 2 is the time in Afghanistan until his R&R, probably in November or December. We will get two weeks with him then.

Once he gets situated in Afghanistan, I will post his address and whatever items he may need.

We are hoping to get my laptop fixed while he is home so I can have the video cam to communicate with him. My laptop got a virus and it's not working! I miss having my "in-home" computer tech to fix the computers. He tries to talk me through things on the phone, but so far, no luck with the laptop.

Life goes on and we are truly blessed. Dee and I celebrated our 14th Wedding Anniversary this week, on the 27th. This is the first time we've been apart, but we will celebrate when he gets home. I just feel so blessed to have such a wonderful husband, and terrific dad for our girls! Every day, I wake up so full of life and know that I have someone that loves me back, just as much as I love him!

This past week, Jolie lost her first tooth and the tooth fairy came to visit will in the mountains on vacation! There we were, in a house of 10 family members, and all of us willing to pull it. She goes to my niece's boyfriend, the only non-blood relative there, and he pulls it. That is so funny to me. But she is so in love with him anyway! She told my niece she couldn't marry him because she loved him!
Then Jolie learned to really ride her 2 wheel bike! She had learned a few months ago, to ride a few feet. But now, she can ride, turn, ride in the grass, etc. She just took off! So her birthday is in July and guess what she wants? A new bike!

Jessie is growing up too fast. She is turning in to a beautiful young lady. She and I joined the fitness center in town and it's been a great thing for just the two of us to enjoy together. She feels so grown up and it is a special time for us. We trying to eat better and work out several times a week. I pray this sets her up for a good life skills, she can use the rest of her life.

I am still struggling with my wrist, from overuse on the computer. Imagine that! LOL I have started PT on it and with the water aerobics, I think it'll be better soon! We also joined the pool where my Mother In Law lives so we will be doing a lot of swimming which will help.

8 more days! I can' wait. We decided to not spend time traveling but just to allow Dee to be home and visit friends and family. We will not only celebrate our anniversary, but will celebrate Jolie's bday and Dee's bday. So lots of celebrating going on!

Wonder if Milano's will let us celebrate Dee's bday early? Usually they check your driver's license. Maybe if I explain, they will.

Thank you all for the prayers for Dee and our family. It really means so much and has helped us get through Phase 1. Keep praying as Phase 2 is fast approaching.

Three weeks down

Well, Monday will be three weeks since Dee left for MOB training. It seems like much longer than that, but we are finally finding a groove and functioning more normally. I think a big part is that the Army hasn't been pulling the rug out so often. That really throws us, as a family, for a loop.

I have been doing very well this week. Last week, God really touched my heart and helped me see things more in a positive light. I know God is going to use this time of seperation to really grow us as individuals.

I had lunch with my mentor and friend this week and she confirmed the same thing. She felt God had amazing things in store for our family this year. One of those things was that she remembers as a child, those children from a divorced home, the siblings were very close. She figured it was because they had each other and had to pull together. In contrast, she and her sister were not close until they grew up, and their parents never divorced. So in our situation, the girls are seperated from their Daddy, in a tough situation. So they will pull together and bond together. I pray this is true. It's been a rough year with all the fighting. But then Daddy gets to come home in a year, not gone forever.
She also said that God would use this time to help Dee grow stronger in the Lord and become more dependent on HIM, as he would for me too.
I know God puts us through things to make us stronger, so I know this year will truly be a challenge but we will gain strength from it. Our family will learn to cherish the time we have with each other every day, not take any for granted. Dee and I talk more because we can't vegg out on the sofa and watch TV. We talk every night and it's been nice. I know that might not continue once he deploys, but I do know the internet is pretty good over there. So we'll at least have Instant Message.
We found out Dee's dates to come home and it's for 9 days the first part of June! I am so happy it's longer than 4 days. PLUS they are letting him come home instead of all of us having to fly to Indiana. THEN I ordered his plan tickets and there was a big sale! So we got the roundtrip ticket very cheap! That is a blessing all the way around!
Dee got his two boxes of goodies and supplies we sent him. He was very surprised to have three boxes at the post office on Tuesday. The third box was a folding chair that has the design of the American Flag on it. He doesn't like to sit on his bunk bed to read and put on his shoes. So now he has a chair.
The girls and Dee have been scheming all week for my Mother's Day presents. Dee told me to give the girls his credit card so they could buy what he wanted to get me. Then Jessie used her own money to buy we some gifts! They wanted me to open them tonight because one I would need for tomorrow. So I opened them and got a beautiful green necklace and earrings, that I will wear tomorrow. Just happens I am wearing green tomorrow! Then Jessie also gave me a Starbuck's gift card. YEAH!
Then Dee gave me a gift certicate to receive a facial at the local beauty School. We've heard the facials are amazing so I can't wait!
I also recieved the most beautiful, precious letter from him today in the mail. He said the base didn't have Mother's Day cards so he just wrote me a letter. I love that! I told him I'd much rather have his words than someone elses! It was a letter I will cherish forever. So special. He really poured his heart out.

Last night, the girls and I had a Mother/Daughter day. We went to Chick Fil A first and the girls played at the indoor playground. Then we went and had our nails done. The girls got pedicures too. They had a little kid's chair that Jolie got to use. Too precious. Then I surprised them and took them to see Hannah Montana the Movie. We had a great time.

So all in all, we've had a good week. Dee is busy doing his "job" on the base every day and pretty much in a routine. Now that the changes have settled down, I think it's easier for everyone. Doesn't mean it over though. The leave dates could change 5 times between now and then. I'm praying they don't since we have ordered plane tickets, but we'll see.

Thank you all for your prayers these past few weeks. Hard to believe we have barely gotten started. We just take it one week at a time. Now just counting down days until Dee comes home in June. According to Jolie, "30 more days!"