BACK TOGETHER AGAIN!

Homecoming Day April 13, 2009!!

An amazing day...couldn't have been more perfect. The girls and I are enjoying EVERY MINUTE with Jeff. I'll blog more soon, just wanted to share ALL the pics from our wonderful reunion! Thanks for all the love and support from everyone. It means the world to us!

Enjoy...

Happy Easter DD 187

Well, with less than 48 hours to go, the girls and I are doing everything to keep busy!! Today was no exception. We had gymnastics first thing this morning and then we headed straight to Hunt Club Farms for an Easter Festival. Erin, Jack and Sylvia met us there and the six of us had a blast. We jammed packed the morning with an egg hunt, meeting the Easter Bunny and lots of other characters, a hay ride, carnival games, inflatables, a petting zoo, a busy playground and a sack race....can you say HAPPY EASTER!! It was truly a fun day!! Can't believe Daddy will be home Monday to help eat all our Easter goodies...time is REALLY flying now!! Happy Easter!

DD 180: 6 MONTHS!

Well, it's official, Jeff has been gone 180 days! It's hard to believe that he has been gone 6 months and we have just 7 days (and a wake up) until he is back at home with us.

So much has happened the last half year. Here are a few things that Jeff has missed out on while he's been gone:
-The girls have grown and changed so much ( Em was just 16 months when he left) and has changed from baby to full grown toddler
-We've battled sickness after sickness (several colds, several rounds of the flu and pneumonia)
-We've celebrated several big holidays/birthdays (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, My 31st birthday, Valentine's Day and Easter this Sunday)
- My new found appreciation for running and my first 2 races (5K and an 8K)
-Housing and vehicle repairs X 10!
-180 nights of reading and tucking the girls into bed
-Kim and Larry having a new baby (this Wednesday)
-Several visitors (April & Cailyn, Kelly, Cindy & Lucas, Karen, Mom and Linda) and a 3 week trip to Maine
-Lily learning to write her name, cut with scissors, color in the lines and so much more at school. She is so smart and has become so independent these last 6 months
-Em growing long hair, getting her last 4 baby teeth and learning to talk and sing
-A new year and a new president!
-The change of two seasons
-A new sport for the girls, Gymnastics. They LOVE it!
-180 hugs and kisses from your three girls!

We are so excited...just need to keep busy to help pass these last 7 days!! We love you sweetie!!

Puddle Jumping DD 171

Just trying to pass the time until Daddy gets home!

My Pity Party DD 170

(Warning....may be TMI for some readers!)

Usually I'm a glass half full kind of gal, but I'm struggling to stay positive these last few weeks of deployment! I've been having a very big pity party for myself, especially these last few days (which I think I deserve). For starters, I managed to blog/speak WAY too soon on Saturday. As I wrote a few days ago in my "Round 3" post, " Lets hope the flu is gone for good and Lily and I can avoid it!!" Well, I absolutely jinxed myself. Rounds 4 and 5 were on the way!!

The night after the race (which I was exhausted and in a dead sleep), I awoke at 3:30 a.m. to Lily screaming in her bedroom. I ran in to find her cover in vomit (sorry TMI). Yes, she too had caught the horrible flu bug Emma had last week. Before I could change the bedding and give her a bath, she was already getting sick again. The poor thing was at it until 6 a.m. and then on and off again for the next 24 hours.

Here comes the "pity me" part... I started feeling really bad the same afternoon Lily was sick. I was very nauseous and had all the symptoms (minus the vomiting), but knew I had to take care of Lily. However, I was a wreck. After no sleep, a full night and day of cleaning up after Lily and taking care of Em, I called in re-enforcements. Erin and Bea each came over to help with dinner and bedtime and then I was off to bed early. Lily and I both slept well and woke up feeling a little better. It was short lived. Lily managed to get sick ALL OVER MY BED!!!! I was mortified. Again...what did I do to deserve this (insert more pity for me here)? At least that was Lily's last time being sick.

So, Monday was yet again, another low key day resting on the couch and eating chicken soup. Em was back to herself and just running circles around Lily and I. By the end of the day Lily seemed back to herself and we all took a walk to get out of house. Cabin fever was eating at all of us and the fresh air felt good. I decided everyone HAD to be better on Tuesday. BOY DID I THINK TOO SOON!!!

The next morning I woke up and felt nauseous again. I refused to believe I still had this horrible bug and tried to ignore it. I showered, fed and dressed the girls and brought them to school. By the time I got back to the house I was hurting. Most the the 2.5 hours the girls were at school, I spent in the bathroom getting sick. Not only was I sick as ever, I was REALLY mad!! I only have 3 weeks left of this deployment and this is how it ends??!! I tried to pull myself together enough to go get the girls at school, but it was a VERY rough drive. Thanks to Erin (and her Mom) for driving the girls and I home from school. I literally couldn't stop getting sick. That afternoon Bea took care of the girls and then Michelle came to usher in the night shift. She even stayed the night to take care of us. I LOVE YOU LADIES!! THANKS FOR ALL THE HELP!!

SO....I am 2 days post sickness and recovering. A little weak today, but went out and ran errands and ate some solid food. Can't believe these final weeks of deployment...I am really working for this homecoming! 5 SEPARATE SPELLS OF THIS BUG IN 3 WEEKS!! I won't say much else, as I ALWAYS seem to put my foot in my mouth. I will say this, Jeff will be home in 17 days and they just can't come fast enough!!

Round 3, DD 164

Well, I thought Emma was better!! Tuesday proved to be another long night for Mommy. After 2 previous bugs, Em had another round of all night vomiting. Since this was the third time in three weeks that she was sick, another trip to the clinic was in order. The doc said she most likely caught a bug back at the end of February which weakened her immune system (this causing her to catch the flu). The flu can last up to 2 weeks, so Mommy may just have pushed her back into her routine too quickly (play dates, school). After a few days of rest Em is finally getting back to her silly self. Lets hope the flu is gone for good and Lily and I can avoid it!!

Daddy SO owes me for all the late nights and messy fluids I've been cleaning!

Sick Day DD 158

My poor little sweetie!! Today was another crazy day. Emma started dry heaving at 4:30 a.m. and proceeded to vomit every hour or so most of the day. She would perk up between spells, but then would crash minutes later. Mommy has been cleaning up lovely piles of bodily fluids all day....including dog pee! Kastor decided it was too rainy to go outside and used the dinning room instead! The rug doctor is definitely coming next week! Ohh....when is my darling husband going to be home to help me with all this chaos! ;)

A Wonderful Warm Weekend

DD 152
This weekend started out in the high 60's on Friday and topped at 80 degrees today!! It was SUCH a nice weekend to be outside and get lots of fresh air. Spring is really on it's way. It's hard to believe we received a snow dusting last weekend and this weekend we're in shorts and flip flops!

The girls and I took full advantage of all the nice weather. We were outside all weekend playing, taking walks, spending time with friends and getting caught up on some yard work. I even took my 1st ever 5 mile run Saturday night!! I'm so excited I decided to do a 8k in a few weeks!! Spring just seems to put me in such a good mood. Here are the pics from the weekend, wish you were here with us Daddy!

The 5's

5 Months down... 5 weeks to go!!

Deployment Day 151

We are so excited!!!!!!! Daddy will be home in a little over a month. Some months have obviously been easier than others. This deployment has definitely had it's ups and downs. However, I finally feel like the end is near! Jeff actually has a solid return date and time. The girls and I are thrilled, all talk is of Daddy's homecoming. Can't wait to see our beautiful daughters run into Jeff's arms. Here's hoping March screams by... April can't come fast enough!

What's left of our countdowns

A kiss a day from Daddy:

A link every week and then a link every day for the last 7 days:

A New Month DD 117

Well, we're marching up to month FOUR! Thank goodness!!! I am SO SO ready to leave January far behind me. This has literally been one of the most difficult months of my life. For starters, the three of us have all been terribly sick. I have literally been to the Doctor's Office five times in the last three weeks. Emma unfortunately has had a cough for nine weeks. The doctors have given us several different diagnosis (cold, bronchitis, reactive airway disease, asthma and pneumonia). On her third visit she had to have a chest x-ray and they found a blurry spot. Most likely it's the pneumonia, but to be safe we have a visit with a Pulmonologist in a few weeks. Poor little thing as had to endure two rounds of antibiotics, two rounds of steroids and an inhaler. Lily and I also caught horrible chest colds (which I'm still recovering from). Lily was so sick that she ended up with an ear infection as well as an upper respiratory infection.

On top on having to lug two sick children to all these appointments, the Clinic staff has been less than friendly. Actually, they have been flat out rude and incompetent on most occasions. The icing on the cake, a 1.5 hour wait in the clinic pharmacy (each time) for meds. I have now decided that going to Target and paying a small co-pay is worth my weight in gold.

To add insult to injury on my already horrific month. Jeff's command is asking him to extend our tour and do another six month deployment shortly after he returns home. Nothing is set in stone yet (as all us Navy wives know everything changes a million times before it's final), but just the idea of starting over and doing another long six months has me sick to my stomach. Keep your fingers crossed for us an I'll keep you posted.

So... a brand new month and hopefully a run of better luck. Lily is on the mend and although Em has pneumonia, she is actually doing very well. I am feeling better, just trying to kick the tail end of this cold. I also have some visitors to look forward to, my Mom will be here in just a few short weeks and Jeff's Mom will be visiting in March. Hopefully this will really help these last 2 months fly by.

Thanks to all of you who have helped, offered to help or sent your love and support these last few weeks. It has meant the world to me!

Our Little Princesses

Deployment Day 116

Cindy and Lucas Visit

Here are lots and lots of pictures from my sister in laws visit. She came with my nephew, Lucas and we all had a great time. The best part, lots of help with the girls, a shoulder to lean on and some much needed rest. Thanks for all the help and support Cindy. You've been a real rock for me during this deployment. Love ya!!

DD 100!!!

100 days Daddy!!! Wow!!! Can't wait to see you in April! We love you...

Halfway, Deployment Day 98

Since we're still not sure the exact day Jeff is coming home, a rough estimate puts us at the halfway mark.....YAY!!!!! It's hard to believe that the girls and I have been separated from Jeff for 98 DAYS....3 long months!! However, it's a great feeling to know that after 4 months of summer work ups, and 3 months of deployment, we are finally on the home stretch. The holidays were such a big help, it really made the last month fly by! Even while typing this post, I can't believe it's the 13th of January!

We have a lot to look forward to in the next three months. My sister-in-law, Cindy, my mother-in-law, Linda and my Mom are all coming for visits. I am also busy co-planning Kim's baby shower which will be in February. Of course there is Valentine's Day and the first day of Spring. We also are planning a trip to D.C. to see my friends Beth and Karen (maybe we can see you and the girls too Arinn?) . The girls will love all the museums and monuments and I am excited to hook up with some dear friends!

The countdown to Daddy's return can officially begin! I have missed Jeff so much this past year and I'm really looking forward to LOTS of family time this summer. Although the web caming has been nice, I can't wait to see and hear Jeff in person and give him the biggest hug ever!! I think I may have to wait in line, as I'm sure 2 little girls will beat me to the punch. Thinking of home coming (albeit way too early to be doing it), I get over whelmed with how wonderful it's going to be to be together again. A true happy day for all of us!

As tough as deployment is, I know that I have it better than others. Many of my friends have their husbands gone for multiple deployments or for year long stretches (go Amanda). So I count my blessing every day that Jeff is safe and that he is coming home after his six months are up. The girls and I, as well our entire extended family, are so proud of Jeff and all the men and women who serve our country so bravely. Jeff always reminds me he serves to better the lives of our children. I know it's tough for the girls to comprehend now, but I know some day they will understand why Daddy had to go on his "big trip" and they too will be proud of their Daddy for serving his county.

BRING ON THESE LAST FEW MONTHS...WE'RE READY!!!
We love and miss you so much Sweetie...here's to a speedy 3 months and your safe return home!

31st

I won't lie, I've been missing Jeff a lot these last few weeks. Traveling, Christmas, New Year's and my birthday, all family holidays that I love to share with my super sweet hubby. However, I'm very fortunate to have such wonderful, supportive friends and family that helped me celebrate my 31st birthday. Thanks to Kim and Larry for a relaxing dinner and my FAVORITE strawberry cake. Another special thank you to my friend Erin for a delivered home cooked birthday dinner. You ladies are the best!

I am amazed every day that I'm actually surviving this deployment. I never take for granted how lucky I am to have such an amazing support system. Thanks to everyone for all the birthday cards/gifts, flowers, calls, emails, posts.... it made me feel so loved!

Getting Back to Reality DD 92

Back to Virginia Beach and trying to get settled into our old routine again. All the boxes arrived from Maine, so we've been unpacking and digging out from MOUNDS of new toys and books. Laundry, cleaning, errands, pet care and back to school and the gym...it's tough to go on vacation!

Cyber Christmas

Daddy couldn't be here with us physically this Christmas, but we did get to share some of our morning with him on the web cam.

DD 60

MONTH TWO DOWN!!!

Today marks month two of Jeff's deployment. This second month seemed to fly by much quicker than the first. I guess the busy holiday season has my head spinning. Trying to keep up with all the every day stuff and the holiday to-do list, has me busier than ever. I must admit, I'm happy to be distracted. When I actually stop and sit down I feel a little over whelmed with how much I miss Jeff. Although we get to talk on a pretty regular basis, it doesn't seem to be enough. I just want him home with us enjoying this wonderful time of year. I promise I am not whining, lets call it venting. I'm proud of Jeff and his dedication to his country, but I'm also selfish. I wish he could do all these exciting things from right here in Virginia Beach. But....this is how it has to be. I try and just take one day at a time and that helps. Jeff has also been wonderful with this support and constant encouragement. Being separated really opens up an entire new avenue for communication. The hand written love letters still give me butterflies!
So overall, we're managing and getting very excited for our 3 week trip to Maine next week. The girls and I are going to be spoiled by my Mom and sister. When we get back in January....we'll be at the half way mark!!

Here are some pictures of Jeff out in the field.
We're all so proud of you Sweetie!!

Hard at Work

A picture from Skype today...it's was so wonderful to have a good connection!

DD 54

CRAFTS.....

CHRISTMAS MOVIES....

DECORATING...

COLD WEATHER....

CHRISTMAS MUSIC.....

THE CHAOS OF THIS BUSY TIME OF YEAR....

We wish you were here to enjoy it all with us!! We miss you Sweetie!