Keeping Busy

   These days I find myself trying to stay as busy as possible.  I've had several family members attempt to help me with that goal by visiting, starting with my little sister, joined by my older sister.  Then came my Moma Deana.  She was quickly followed by my mom and little brother, who stayed behind with me after my mom left.  Even with all these visitors, however, I still find the month of July to be going by very slowly.  I'm looking forward to August, since it will bring with it my chance to be back in school, but it's still July.  So, I've been filling the time with projects as well as people.

   For my birthday, my mom gave me a sewing machine, and when she came to visit she helped me learn the basics, took me to get supplies, and even helped me begin a dress for Monkey.  I finished it today, and I'm so excited that it came out alright!

Ta-Da!

My beautiful model!

The iron-on my little brother picked out!

     The best part about this dress is that the material only cost me about $10!  I used three handkerchiefs you find at Walmart for $1 a piece, two pink camo ones for the front and back, and one black handkerchief for the bottom trim.  The iron-on was about $3, and the ribbon was about $4.  Talk about a bargain!  I didn't even have to buy a pattern or anything because my mom pointed me in the direction of this awesome website that has amazing tutorials!

    I've also been cooking up some goodies for my first care package to send to my husband.  Because it's a birthday box, though, I can't share everything I put in there yet, but I do want to share this awesome recipe for Homemade Granola.  Yes, J, if you're reading this you'll be getting a bag of it in your box.  The recipe is from Paula Deen's Holiday 2010 issue, but the recipe itself comes from her step-kids.  Here it is:

See, J?  It's all lined up by your box, ready to go :-)

Michelle and Anthony's Dried Fruit and Nut Granola

Here's what y'all need:
3 cups rolled oats
1 3/4 cups sliced almonds
1 cup roasted and salted sunflower seeds
1/4 cup firmly backed brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
3 TBS butter, melted
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
2 (7 oz) packages mixed dried fruit

Preheat oven to 250.  Spray a large rimmed baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.  In a large bowl, combine oats, almonds and sunflower seeds.  In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, honey, melted butter, cinnamon and salt.  Add to oat mixture, tossing gently to coat.  Spread mixture evenly into prepared pan.  Bake for 1 hour, stirring mixture every 15 minutes.  Remove from oven and let cool in pan completely.  Stir in dried fruit.  Store mixture in airtight containers for up to one month.

   My favorite part of this recipe is how much you can play around with it.  Take the dried fruit for example, there's so many to choose from!  This time I went with mangos, bananas, and strawberries, and it was perfect.  However you mix it up, you've got a yummy, customizable, healthy snack to get you through the day.  

Y'all enjoy and have a great night!

"Do One Thing Everyday That Scares You"

   Over the years, I've discovered something about myself.  I'm a chicken.  I am!  I am afraid of just about anything you could name.  Some are reasonable fears that come from years of experience.  Take, for example, my fear of public speaking.  I'll never forget the time, in my Freshman year of college, when the teacher (being a laid-back and easy-going woman that everyone loved and could relate to) said that she knew that the weekend had had a lot of social distractions and asked us to be honest about who hadn't read the chapters assigned.  My hand shot into the air, grinning and saying, "Oh yeah, who was too busy at the Renaissance Fair?"  This was before face-palms were a thing you said instead of did, and that day I saw at least three faces actually hit their palms.  Apparently that was the weekend the first Twilight movie came out, and most people had spent their time at the midnight premiere, not watching men in tights pretend to joust and explain falconry.  I didn't get the memo.  Needless to say, I'm much more cautious about what I say in public now.  Hence, Public Speaking=Reasonable Fear.

   I also have irrational fears, like my fear of going to the hair salon.  Don't misunderstand me, I love having my hair cut.  I like feeling pampered when someone else washes my hair; I'm all for the dead ends being gone, and that feeling of lightness when you get rid of a couple of inches.  But, I can't seem to drag myself to the hair salon as often as I should.  The reason?  Two words: head lice.  I am so petrified that I am going to sit down in that chair, and as the woman begins to brush out my hair, she'll jump back, saying, "Ma'am, we'll have to ask you to leave.  You have lice!"  Then I'll be forced to hang my head and walk out while she sets about burning all her brushes.  I know this is irrational, but it doesn't help that I had a three-year-old in daycare up until a month ago, which made the fear at least possible.  In my mind anyway.

   Finally I have emotional fears.  These are the fears that make me feel like if I even try, I'll fail.  Then I don't try and I never change, so I feel like a failure anyway.  I saw the quote "Do one thing everyday that scares you" on Pinterest, and it spoke to me.  Tonight I was scared again.  I wasn't afraid of the run that was facing me; I was afraid of the idea of failing.  I was afraid of all the people on my street laughing at the fatty as she ran by.  My mind went back to PE in middle and high school, and I almost didn't do it.  But then I remembered this quote, and I began to feel something totally different.  I felt excited.  I felt ready to rip off those chains of fear and face my obstacle head-on, and you know what?  It was worth it.

    Tonight I finished Day 1 of the Couch to 5K program.  I came home with my calves burning, drenched in sweat, and jittery, but I felt like a bad ass!  I told myself when I started out that I wouldn't be one of those people that talk incessantly about their workouts (and I still don't plan to...incessantly), but I get it now.  It's a feeling of pride I've never had before.  It's pride in oneself, and I wanted to share it the best way I know how.

   Keeping in theme with a healthy lifestyle, I made a yummy soup that I want to share.

 Summer Squash and Corn Chowder

2 slices applewood-smoked bacon
3/4 cup green onions, divided
1/4 cup chopped celery
1 lb yellow summer squash, chopped
1 lb frozen white and yellow baby corn kernels, thawed and divided
2 1/4 cups low fat 1% milk, divided
1 tsp chopped fresh thyme
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 cup shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese

Cook bacon in a large Dutch oven over med-high heat until crisp.  Remove bacon from pan, reserving 2 tsp drippings in pan.  Crumble bacon and set aside.  Add 1/2 cup onions, celery and squash to drippings in pan.  Saute 8 minutes or until vegetables are tender.  Reserve 1 cup corn; set aside.  Place remaining corn and 1 cup milk in a blender, and puree until smooth.  Add remaining 1 1/4 cups milk, thyme, 1/2 tsp salt and pepper to blender.  Process just until combined.  Add pureed mixture and reserved corn to the Dutch oven.  Reduce heat to medium; cook 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated, stirring constantly.  Stir in 1/8 teaspoon salt.  Ladle about 1 1/2 cups soup into each of 4 bowls.  Top each with 1 TBS onion, 1 TBS cheese, and 1 TBS bacon.

Enjoy!

PS-If you want the Nutrition facts, simply click on the link :-)

Things You Just Don't Say

  So tonight Tessua and I were having one of our texting conversations, and it went a little something like this:

Me (talking about deployment):  "It's just one of those things that you don't really understand until you've been through one."

Tessua:  "Yeah, and then you get the people handing out advice..."

Me:  "I know!  Like when they say, 'Well it's not like you've never done this before.'"

Tessua:  "Agh! I feel like we need laminated cards to hand out...'Things No to Say to a Military Wife'.  We can count down from 10 or something.  Number one should be, 'Distance makes the heart grow fonder'."

Me:  "#2:  'At least he's not in Afghanistan'."

Tessus:  "Haha, unless of course, he is."

Me: "Let's not get technical. #3 should be 'I couldn't do that, that's crazy!'"

Tessua:  "Haha, I like that one.  I just say, 'Well I did, and I did it well.'"

Me:  "Nice, and #4 should be, 'Aren't you afraid he'll die?'  I'd like to just say, 'No, idiot, that never crossed my mind until just now'!"

Tessua:  "Yes!  People need to know better than to bring up death to a woman whose husband is deployed!  #NavyWifeIssues!  Idk if it exists, but it needs to!"

I vowed to google it, and apparently there already is a list (for the full list of things not to say, click here).  Sad times.  But!  There are no laminated cards yet, so I think we need to get to work on those!

  Not all my time has been spent griping about ignorance.  I've also been working on a few projects.  Of course, I'm going to share my favorite (so far) with y'all.  I was so proud of myself for finally making something that I had pinned on Pinterest that was neither food nor Monkey related.  They were these DIY coasters, and the turned out fabulously!

These are the ones I made for my sister.

  These were so easy to make, and they'd be perfect for stocking stuffers or a little something for a neighbor or the friend who has everything.  So here's what you'll need:

Plain white tiles from Home Depot (Mine were only $0.11 a piece)
Scrap-booking paper of your choice (or you can use photos, wrapping paper, etc.)
Mod Podge Gloss
Rustoleum Crystal Clear Enamel
3" foam brush
3/8" self adhesive felt pads

First, cut your paper (or photos) into 4x4" squares.

I love the 12x12" scrap-booking paper because you get 9 squares out of each sheet.

Ta-da!

Using your foam brush, add a layer of Modge Podge to your tiles.  Next, place paper in the center of the tiles, running your finger over the top to get any bubbles out.  Allow to dry for 15 minutes.  Add three coats of Modge Podge over the top of the paper, allowing at least 15 minutes between each coat.  Wait at least an hour after the last coat before spraying with the Rustoleum Crystal Clear Enamel Spray.  
In a well ventilated area (preferably outside) apply 2 or more light coats (within minutes of each other) of the enamel spray, spraying in a steady back and forth motion, slightly overlapping each coat.  Wait at least 30 minutes to fully dry.  Add the felt pads to each corner, and you're all finished!

These are the ones I made for myself.  

I loved the way they came out!

After seeing these, my mom requested a set.

  Well it's too late for me to do much else, so I'm going to hit the hay.  I hope everyone has a wonderful evening and a relaxing Sunday :-)

Deployment Goal

   Life's been pretty busy lately, what with the fractured skull, the 24 hour visit home, and the house guests, but I'm enjoying it, because it's helping this month pass by quickly.  I've also been busy working on my deployment goal.  In the time that J is gone, I'm getting into shape.  The goal is to be able to run a 5K with him when he gets home.  Anyone who knows my husband knows that working out is to him what cooking is to me.  Go figure!  This homeport, though, J made an effort to get involved with me in the kitchen, so it feels right that before he left I made more of an effort to take an interest in what he loves to do.  We began the Insanity workouts together, and although I was proud of myself for hanging in there as long as possible with the videos, I realized that my fitness level was way under what those required, so I decided to start off a little slower.  I began the Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred the day after J's departure, and I'm enjoying it.  I'm also seeing and feeling a difference already.  I don't have an ideal weight in mind, but I do have an ideal feeling.  I want that feeling that comes with chasing my little girl around the house and up and down the stairs without getting winded. I want the feeling of a pair of jeans that no longer fit suddenly becoming too big.  I want the feeling of sitting down without sucking in, and I want it in a way that doesn't mean I have to punish my body for enjoying good food.

   With that in mind I've also begun to make some (small) changes to the way I eat and cook.  I'm not saying I'm going to throw out my Paula Deen magazines any time soon, but I am saying that I'm cooking more vegetables and drinking more water.  I'm also "pinning" more healthy recipes, like this one for Chicken Divan.

Here's what you'll need:

1 1/2 lbs broccoli (3 large heads) chopped

3 boneless skinless chicken breasts

1 Tbsp. light butter

2 tsp. extra virgin olive oil

2 cloves garlic, crushed

2 Tbsp. shallots, minced (onions would work too)

4 Tbsp. flour

1 cup fat free chicken broth

1 cup fat free milk

1/4 cup white wine (or dry sherry)

6 oz. shredded reduced fat swiss cheese

1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

1/4 cup seasoned whole wheat breadcrumbs

Salt and pepper

Cooking spray

Bring a large pot of water to a boil.  Add the broccoli and boil for about 3 minutes.  Pour into a colander, and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking.  Drain well and set aside.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.

Season the chicken with salt and pepper.  Saute chicken on medium-low heat until browned and just about cooked through (about 5 minutes on each side).  Remove from heat and transfer chicken to a cutting board.  When cooled, slice chicken into bite sized pieces. 

Heat a medium skillet on medium heat.  Add the butter and oil until melted and then add garlic and shallots (or onions).  Sprinkle flour and whisk until smooth.  Stir in broth, milk and wine (or sherry) and bring to a boil.  

Remove from heat and stir in half of the swiss cheese.  Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Arrange broccoli in a casserole dish.  

Pour half of the sauce over the broccoli. 

Arrange the chicken on top and cover with remaining sauce.

  

Sprinkle in remaining swiss cheese, grated parmesan cheese and top with bread crumbs. 

Spray a little oil on top.  Bake 30 minutes, serve hot. 

I don't have a picture from when it came out the oven, but I can tell you that it was yummy!  It didn't even taste like something that's low-calorie or anything like that.  That's probably why I loved it.

Enjoy!

The Farmer in the Dell

   As I said in my last post, Monkey's skull fracture will take about 2-3 months to heal itself, and in the meantime we're supposed to be taking care that she doesn't injure herself further.  The doctor was very clear when she said no swings, no trampolines, no climbing, rough-housing, or basically anything that could increase her risk of falling for a week.  The doctor failed to mention that telling your daughter to go get dressed was a no-no.  I walked into her room a few minutes after I sent her in there and found her two feet off the ground, standing on her wobbling, plastic toy kitchen in the closet, trying to pull a dress off the hanger!  I think I almost had a stroke!  I'm also under the impression now that my darling J must have given her a mission to give me as much grief as possible while he's away, because everything that's happened so far sounds like something my mother-in-law would tell me he had done as a child.  Between the two of them, I'll be grey-headed by the time I'm thirty.

    The worst part about the doctor's orders (even though they're reasonable) is that they eliminate our favorite option for passing the time: the park.  Monkey can't even use our own little swing-set in the back yard.  This has caused Mommy to be a bit more creative.  Today we made Farmer in the Dell Puppets.

  I found a great site that has printables to turn toilet paper rolls into puppets, and I'll link each character individually.

Here's what you need:
Print outs of the farmer, the wife, the child, the dog, the cat, the mouse and the cheese
6 toilet paper rolls (or three paper towel rolls cut down to size)
1 toothpick
crayons
glue

Simply print out the characters.  Have your little one color them, or you can choose to print one out that is already colored, and then assemble them on the toilet paper roll.  The cheese came with the mouse printout, so I just taped it to a toothpick.

Monkey loved this!  She's been playing with these things more than her toys today.

She was singing, "The cheese stands alone"

After the joy of singing “The Farmer in the Dell” wore off, we lined these puppets up as pins and bowled with them.

Next we made a fort in Mommy’s office, where I was able to catch a break while Monkey entertained herself with two activity books.  Plus she was seated, therefore less likely to hurt herself.  

Apparently dogs are allowed in this fort.

This Tag Junior Reader was a gift from Monkey's grandmother, and it's  the perfect thing for when she needs to be entertained but Mommy needs to be busy.

Add caption

After all that and a movie, there was still too much time before bed, and Monkey was getting more and more insistent on the park, so I took her outside and let her run around with the dogs, play with chalk, and roll in the dirt to atone for the lack of her favorite pass-time. All I can say is thank God for Pinterest, because I am out of creativity, so that's where I'm headed now.

Only, change "Facebook" to "Blogger" and you've got me pegged.  

One Hell of a Night

   Happy Fourth of July everyone!  And happy birthday to me.  As most of you have gathered from Facebook, the past 24 hours have not been uneventful for me and my little Monkey.  (That nickname seems to become more and more appropriate with age.)

   Yesterday at around 12:30 Monkey was sitting at the kitchen table, playing Play-Doh with her two friends while their mother and I sat next to them, chatting.  Monkey stood up to grab a cookie cutter that was just out of reach, and fell flat out onto the floor, landing squarely on the back of her head.  She cried for a good 30 minutes as I rocked her, putting an end to play time.  She asked for a movie and lounged on the couch, grouchy and sleepy, but seemingly no worse for wear.   When the movie was over she returned to her usual Monkey self, so I felt the danger had passed, and we began getting dressed for our pool date with two of my close friends.

   We had a blast at the pool, and Monkey swam her little heart out.  It was no wonder she was exhausted on the ride home, but something didn't feel right with her sleep.  Usually fighting it to the last blink, she gave in with no fight.  I attempted to rouse her several times on the way home, but she was intent on returning to dreamland.  I got her home, bathed her, and broke my "no more than one movie rule" by plugging in The Lion King 2 (her recent favorite) as I began to cook dinner.  During this time she was squalling, using a cry I haven't heard come out of her since infant days.  I wrote it off as extreme fatigue, but in the back of my mind I kept hearing the word "concussion".  This led me to go check on her so often that I pretty much ruined the soup.  I tried to get her to eat with me, but I couldn't rouse her from the couch.  I even offered a picnic in the living room, but to no avail.  I finally gave in and fixed her favorite snack: cheese, cherries, blueberries, and yogurt, but nothing was working.  My child couldn't keep her eyes open long enough to even tell me if she was hungry or not.  So I did what I always do when faced with a medical decision: I called my mom, an MA for more years than I can remember.

    When I gave my mom a synopsis of the days events, her first words were, "Get her to the ER."  I was shocked to hear the words in my head spoken aloud in my mom's voice, but after much deliberation, I decided I would let her sleep and wake her every so often to be sure she was okay.  But then I spent three minutes straight, picking her up, calling her name and doing everything short of shaking her silly before finally waking her.  That's when I knew I needed to be sure.

   I called my trusted friend, Tessua, and she rode with me to the hospital at Keesler AFB.  Once I got Monkey signed in and registered, I was called back by a male nurse in his mid-forties with two earrings in one ear named George to hear why we were here.  Now, if anyone out there has kids, you know that it always seems to happen that your kids miraculously look and feel better once in sight of a doctor.  I think it's their way of rebelling even at an early age.  So when I was telling my tale of possible concussions and lethargy to the nurse with my alert and talkative daughter on my lap, I anticipated some disbelief.  What I didn't anticipate was the utter lack of professionalism, kindness and disregard for any possibility that I could be counted on as a good source of what's expected of my child.  When I used the word "lethargic" the man grabbed my daughter's blankie, flopped it around in my face and said, "This is what we call lethargic.  Not sleepy; not groggy, but a limp floppy rag."  Taken aback by his blatant arrogance, I shot back, "Look, my mother is an MA.  I'm studying Nursing, and I've read enough books to know the meaning of the word "lethargic.  When I say she was lethargic, it's because it took my 3 whole minutes to wake her."  He seemed to shrug this off and went about his exam, huffing and puffing.  Wanting to make sure my daughter was in no way overlooked because of something I had done, I attempted to make amends.  "I hope you don't think me rude," I began.  "It's just that I know she looks like she's fine now, but she wasn't like this when we left the house.  When we left the house she was lethargic."  Rolling his eyes he simply said, "We just get a lot of moms in here who throw that word around too much."   Next he began feeling around my daughter's head to see if she felt any pain.  Again, if you know anything about children, you'll know that if you're a stranger touching them without any explanation, they're going to react badly.  So when he was plucking her head asking, "Does this hurt? Does this hurt?" my baby girl simply cowered in my lap.  Finally, after a bit of coaxing from me, she answered with a nod, and his exact words were "I'm not impressed.  If it were hurting her she would have screamed when I tapped her head."

   My this point I was already disgusted and just ready to go home, but then it got worse.  This George took us to our room.  Tessua, who had heard almost everything from the lobby and was equally disgusted, joined us.  He left us in the room, making sure to leave the door open a crack, which I found odd.  Then I heard him mimicking me in the most unflattering manner at the nurses station not ten feet from my door.  His antics were met with an uproar of laughter, and my stomach turned over as he walked back past my door, met my eyes with the most triumphant of looks, and strode right past.

   When the doctor came in I gave him an account of what had passed the best I could, with the tears that were threatening to overflow.  I kept them at bay, however, and the doctor (who guessed who I was talking about before I even finished) apologized and promised to reprimand George.  Finally feeling like I was being heard in my concerns for my child, I was satisfied.  The doctor did a CAT scan and found a 6 cm linear fracture on my daughter's skull.  There was no bleeding, but she was to be transferred to Mobile, AL for further observations.  The doctor, being a truly understanding and kind person, listened intently as I requested to be sent to Baton Rouge where my family is.  The best he could do was New Orleans, but that was good enough for me, putting me an hour closer to home and family if I should need something.  Needless to say, I was extremely grateful.  The doctor also told me that George felt really badly given that she did have a fracture, and that he had apologized.  I received this gracefully, but in my head I was wondering if he would feel as apologetic if my child had been perfectly fine.  I doubt it.

   I can say however, that the rest of the night I was faced with enough kindness to atone for the lack of it in the start.  The nurse that replaced George was very sweet.  When she had painstakingly placed an IV in my daughter's little hand, she turned around to grab a bandaid only to turn back around in time to see my little girl rip the unwanted thing from her hand.  We were all flabberghasted.  The nurse handled herself very well, stating only, "Well that's a first," before moving on to inserting another one in Monkey's other hand.  I think it was a testament to the strain on my nerves to admit here that I laughed out loud.  My little girl, fractured, tired, confused, longing for home, and not wanting that damn thing in her hand any longer did the only thing in her power to make herself more comfortable.  I had a moment of realization that she's going to be okay.  Now and in years to come, she'll change what she can and live with the rest, and that's what I want for her.  I want her to be a survivor.

She told me, "I'm a boxer, Mommy, like Daddy."  

Knocked out

   Soon the ambulance was there to whisk us off to the hospital.  Monkey was excited to see the "special car with the flashing lights" wearing her "special gown".  The men who conveyed us to New Orleans were angels, simply put.  The man who rode in the back with us, Shannon, was attentive and even a bit indulgent to my child, making the driver turn on the lights before Monkey was ushered inside so she could see how pretty they are.  When she fell asleep and her head was flopping from side to side, Shannon found a blanket to roll up as a pillow so that her head would lie still.  When I seemed restless, but sleep eluded me, he got me talking.  When my issues with George surfaced, he not only knew who I was talking about without my naming him, he even offered the comforting, "He's and angry old grouch who is good at what he does, but everyone's always telling him to just shut up."  Shannon even went so far as to award Monkey a "special prize" (a little stuffed animal he had tucked away) for being a big girl.

In the ambulance

   We made it to New Orleans Children Hospital in the wee hours of the morning, and I expected more of the same headache I had a Keesler.  What I found was the best hospital experience ever.  Usually the check in staff is tired, grumpy and sick of dealing with idiots and drunks, but the two women who helped me get Monkey signed in were amazing.  They made me laugh, reassured me, smiled and even sang me "Happy Birthday" when they saw my date of birth on my ID.  Then the amazing paramedics wheeled my daughter in the waiting room where she had a better view of the fish tanks and dancing dolphins on the wall.  They pushed her stretcher around the room until she'd seen everything twice, and then they indulged her in a game where they adjusted the bed up and down while she giggled.  I finally felt that my daughter was getting the treatment she needed, and I would recommend that hospital  to anyone.

  We were admitted to a room where we could rest, and we did.  When the doctor came around today to see Monkey, she was found to have no neurological damage, no swelling, and nothing more to worry them.  We were sent home late this afternoon, and now I am exhausted and she is begging to go the the park.  Aren't children the most amazing little creatures?  They can heal themselves with sunshine and smiles.  They are resilient almost to a fault, and their spirits are so easily lifted.

She made a name bracelet in the playroom.

Putting together a puzzle in the playroom

   I know this is turning into a very long post, but it's not over yet.  It would be a sin for me to not mention the unfailing support of my fellow Navy wives.  Tessua was a saint with her jokes, comforts, and random musings that helped me get through the night at Keesler.  Both Tessua and my dear Mrs. Emily showed up to bring my baby and I home with a stuffed animal and stickers in tow.  Then the day was ended with all of us getting to sample some homemade cupcakes Mrs. Emily had baked for the occasion.  I am truly blessed.  And of course, I have the support and unfailing love of a large and caring family.  I'm so grateful to everyone who asked about my little girl, worried about her, prayed for her, thought of her, and just made it known that they were there.  I love you all!

Going, Going, Gone

  It's official; my husband is gone now.  On deployment.  Adios!  And you know, as much as I'm going to miss him, for the moment I find myself feeling at peace.  It's funny how when you're dreading something, you'd rather it hurry up and just happen than wait around dreading it.  That's how the pre-deployment phase has been for my husband and I.  We knew about a month in advance when he'd be leaving, and we took the time to get our stuff in order, spend time with one another and take care of all those last little "honey-do" things.  We then hunkered ourselves down into hermit mode to absorb every last little moment to carry with us over the next few months.  Then we were told he had another week.  By that point I was all for them just ripping the bandaid off and getting this deployment started.

   That being said I'm extremely grateful for the extra time.  His last day here, especially, because it was so perfect.  We had a lazy morning watching a movie after a huge breakfast of eggs, bacon, and grits.  Then we brought Monkey to the park where I watched them play together, taking as many photos as possible.  Then we played Hide-and-Seek in the pine trees behind our house before heading in for lunch.  Then we all played tag and pretend until dinner time, which was wonderful and carefree thanks to the roast I had in the crockpot.  During dinner J looked at me confused, asking, "This is lunch, right?"

   "No, Love," I said.  "This is dinner."

   "It can't be going by that quickly, can it?  Can I just rewind today, and keep reliving it?"

    I felt the same way.

   Soon after dinner, it was bath time for Monkey.  Then we had time for a few more games and shenanigans before bedtime.  Mommy read a story; Daddy said an extra-special prayer, and Monkey fell asleep with no fuss.  Then we had our time together to say all those last-minute things that needed to be said before we too drifted off into our own dreamlands.

   As I'm sure any weathered military spouse will tell you, the key to getting through a deployment is keeping busy, and we went to it with gusto today. Monkey had two of her friends over to play.  I cracked down on cleaning and getting my errands run, and the day has flown by.  We've even begun a couple of crafts to help keep track of the time.  I'd like to share them with you.

   This is the chain we made last deployment.  We would add one link for every day Daddy was away.  We're doing this project again this year, and we'll see how long it'll get.

   We're also starting a Deployment Diary, where we write a short list of all the things Monkey does each day, and when Daddy comes home we'll be able to read it as a bed time story.  To make it fun for her, she gets to draw a picture of one thing she did that day.

Working hard

    Well that's it for now.  I'm sure the ugly cries and sobs will come later, but for now I just feel so blessed for all the wonderful memories I was able to make this year with my husband, and I look forward to all the one-on-one time I'll be getting with my baby girl.