Things seem bad, but they could be worse.

Last week was chaotic to say the least, but then things seem to always be hectic when my husband is away! Juggling school, a baby- I guess I should say toddler, pregnancy, volunteering, and running the household - I am used to things being all over the place. Well, last week our niece moved in with us. She is a freshman in High School. I am thrilled that she is here with the little guy and I, it was just unexpected. I have only lived with me as a teenager and of course I was perfect! (I am sure others have a different opinion) After she was here I started to realize how much I was unprepared for this. I haven't been in H.S. for a while now and the advances in technology have really impacted how kids react with each other. I was more nervous because this is a niece from my husbands side of the family, if it were my side I do not think I would be as worried. Of course I do not want to over step my role in the family, so I am treading cautiously with rules and how to enact them. The situation seemed more scarey because I began to make decisions with out my husband, and then I would let him know what I had decided after. Luckily, he understood why some of the decisions were being made so quickly with out his knowledge. He was then able to come home on Friday until Tuesday for leave to help me get things re-organized in our home. We spent most of our time figuring out how to situate everything, but then he decided he needed to go out for a ride on his Harley! I was upset, to say the least. I couldn't believe that he would come home, help me get things together, and then just take off for the day yesterday to go on a bike ride with the neighbors. He had the nerve to tell me that he needed a break, he needed to do something fun. I bit my tongue, so I wouldn't go crazy on him. I reminded him that I had been home taking care of everything, while he was away, and when I wanted to go out to dinner with friends I had to take our son along because I had no one else to watch him. I let him know that I would like to have a break and enjoy some alone time. I understand why he wanted to go out for the ride, the frustrating part is that I don't think he understands how stressed I am, and that I need to be able to enjoy some alone time as well! He was originally supposed to leave Monday morning to go back to work, but was able to extend leave for 24 hours. He asked me if I would like to go out to dinner and movie tonight! That made me cry because I would like nothing more, but some child free time with my husband. We do not have many more days available before his deployment and then child number 2 will be here after he leaves. Things seemed so much better until he informed me that he was going to meet up with an old friend for drinks at 4pm. I had such hopes that he finally understood where I was coming from and then they were dashed. Maybe I will still get to go see a movie tonight, even if it is by myself! Things will calm down in our house eventually. I just have to remind myself that I am lucky to have my husband, so many other wives have lost theirs and would probably give anything to have these little trials with their husband again. The fact of the matter is my husband loves us and works hard so we can be taken care of. We are blessed to be in good health, have a roof over our heads, and food to eat in the refrigerator. The fact that I was having a rough week and my husband could come home is Amazing! Soon he will be gone and I won't be able to call him when ever I want. We will be lucky to email or skype everyonce in awhile. We each have to be thankful for what we do have and not focus and what we don't. Until next time, I hope you all realize that even though times seem tough someone else has them worse than you.

Didn't realize I would still be effected by those events

Almost ten years ago our country experienced a horrific tragedy. I was a Senior in a small town high school, and watched in shock as I saw the images unfold on the morning news. I knew then that our country as we knew it had forever changed. I just did not realize that only a few days shy of the ten year anniversary of 9/11 I would be sitting in my home with our toddler son asleep, pregnant with our second child, and my husband gone training for an upcoming deployment to Afghanistan.

A few months ago I was concerned because I knew my husband, K, would be leaving on a year long deployment to Afghanistan, and our son, KJ, and I would be home to fend for ourselves. I was most concerned about helping our young son remember his daddy during those long months. I have already gone through a deployment with K, so I know I have to stay busy to help the time go by. The problem is that during the last deployment I spent my time working two jobs, and hanging with friends till all hours of the night. I don't think I slept for more than 3 hours a night during that year. Well, we just found out a few weeks ago that we will be adding another member to our family! The bummer is that the new baby is due after K leaves for his deployment. Now instead of making sure one child remembers his daddy I have to make sure two of them do!

Many other military wives have faced this challenge as well. This war has been going on for awhile now. That means that many other women and men have had to face this and have come out the other side ok. I look to all of you for inspiration.

I decided to start typing tonight after watching 9/11 images on the television. I was sitting in our living room beginning to miss K. He has not been gone that long for training, only 3 weeks, but I am missing him so very much. I know we only have a few months together before he leaves to go over seas and most of that time he will be away. I can only hope that 2013 gets here quickly and that all the soldiers in our Unit come back.