Day 284 - Getting There

I've been hearing more and more lately things like "I don't know how you do it", "You make it look easy", and "Whenever I start to complain about my husband being gone, I think of you and get over it."

It's kind of nice to know people are thinking about our family living through this deployment. I'd like to think people appreciate Chris for the whole defending-our-country thing, but I really didn't realize people appreciate me too.

And while people are sympathetic to us and our situation, I look to other people's lives and feel sympathetic towards them. It can always be worse. There are many positives for us living like this. And to know there is a light at the end of the tunnel makes it that much easier.

I've been day dreaming lately about our reunion. The last one was filled with a lot of fanfare. We (just a year-old Luke and I back then) waited outside on a cold night with a handmade sign for the charter buses to arrive from the airport. The guys were still in their uniforms. It took forever for Chris to find me with all of the people in the crowd. But we found each other...(and nine months to the day later we brought Maria home from the hospital.)

I imagine this homecoming will be much different. I think we will be at the airport waiting for him. I think he will look like a civilian and no one around us will know what we had to endure for the last 14 months. And I know there will be a lot of hugs, lots of hugs...(but no more babies!!)

Days 282 & 283 - Open House

For the last few years my friends and I have had open houses this time of year to sell off all of our crafty projects. It never fails - it snows. And it snows like crazy.

On Friday we woke up to this:


It was an official no school snow day. That goofed my schedule up for a bit, but I got it all worked out.

The open house was amazing! Great sales and many people came through. I think we have a cult like following. People love our slightly-country, modern, whimsical, cutesy kind of style. I'm glad the snow didn't slow the shoppers down!


I think I am about sold out now. I have a year to get my stock pile back up. Now to find the time...

Day 281 - Christmas Program

(Luke is the first one in the front row.)

Tonight was a night that I feared. The school Christmas Program. So many things could've gone wrong. Would Luke be able to handle himself up on stage for 45 minutes with the entire community watching? Would the baby be able to not fuss during the show, which was scheduled for her bedtime? Would Maria drive me mad with her whining that she wanted to be on stage too?

I didn't want to take him. It would have been an easy off-the-hook this year since we have so many excuses.

But he had a part. He was a drummer boy. And he was "the best drummer" according to him.

So we went. And as soon as the singing began I breathed a huge sigh of relief. He was singing. He was doing the movements. He was almost smiling. He was not pushing anyone off of a riser. He was not wiggling his butt at the audience. Oh yes...the things I imagined he would do, he did not do. So I was relieved. And I nearly cried. Because for once, he looked and acted normal. And that made me feel like all of the hard work everyone has been putting into him is finally paying off a little.

Day 280 - New Meds

My son is a human guinea pig. In 9 months he's been on 4 different medications in many different varieties of dosages and combinations.

Tomorrow, comes his 5th. I hope it is the one.

Tomorrow it's an increase in the Tenex plus a new prescription of Vyvanse.

I hope this is the magic combo for us to survive tomorrow's Christmas concert.

Day 279 - I Believe

The full moon makes everyone crazy. It does. I'll blame it all on that today.

Day 278 - I'm Done

I've reached my breaking point. I'm so done with this. 5 more months, are you kidding me? And with winter right around the corner - my least favorite time of year - I am in a dreaded state of major funk.

So, if anyone wants 3 perfectly charming kids, they are up for grabs. I'm thinking about heading to a deserted island somewhere where there is a never ending flow of slushy drinks. No cleaning, no bills to pay, no cooking, no taxi service, no 5 am wake up calls, no kids sitting on top of me at any time, no meltdowns, no fighting, no Sponge Bob, no grocery shopping, no laundry, no light bulb changing, no floor scrubbing, no toys to pick up, no Baby Einstein, no recycling, no movie returning, no sock sorting, no diaper changing, nothing...

NOTHING.

That is all I want for Christmas, please.

Day 277 - Thanksgiving Pictures

Here are a few pictures of our Thanksgiving dinner at my dad's. Always good food going on there.


Elise had her first taste of un-Gerber-ized turkey. And, really, I do own bibs, I just would rather do lots and lots of laundry.


The family tradition of playing UNO. Luke was not intimidated in his inaugural match.