PhotoHunt--"High" in HI

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For this view.
Koko Crater on Oahu.

You've got to be kidding me...

Today Erin and I had plans to go to a kickoff event for "Walk to Iraq and back". Abs was up early and got on my computer. I got up and while ABs and Junior were in the living room playing I was searching through the pile of unfolded clean clothes that are in a basket in the laundry room.

I heard Abs doing a weird cough.

I return to the living room to find that she had barfed all over the carpet. Great. At 7 years old can't she make it to the linoleum, the bathroom, the trashcan? Apparently not.

So I send her to her room, get Em up to watch Junior while I try to clean up the mess without adding to it. I can handle blood. I cannot handle barf.

Of course I have no carpet cleaner. I did what I could and sprayed it down with febreeze and lysol. I covered it with a towel. I think I will just throw away the rug and resort to cold hard linoleum floors everywhere.

So do we go on the sick diet again for the third week? Is she really sick or is this one of the "My name is Abs and I barf at random times just to keep you on your toes" episodes?

My inlaws brought over a German feast this morning. I hope I don't regret partaking in it.

I'm so tired of sickness. I'm tired of laundry. I'm tired of changing sheets and clothes. I'm tired of wondering who is going to hurl next. I'm tired and we still have 62 more trash days to go. Tomorrow will be a better day....

Friday

Before Gunner left I scheduled three, hour and a half massages.

My first one is today.

So hopefully (at least for 1 1/2 hours) Emily won't forget something that she needs to tell me (she has a permanent call home pass from her teacher), Abs will keep her hands to herself and get some work done and Junior won't fall or develop some funky rash. Maybe I will turn my cell phone off.

Daily Life

We are over two weeks into this deployment and my donut of misery is still stuck on "a long, long time to go...". LOL Slowly but surely we will make it though.

Gunner moved into a new company not too long ago and last night I went to my first FRG meeting. The Rear D Commander started off the meeting by telling us "I know that there is a difference in the way officers and enlisted are treated. I know that there is a difference between the way that officer and enlisted wives are treated. That's just the way it is." He then went on to say that he has been approached by several enlisted wives wanting their husbands to come home because of certain situations and it just wasn't going to happen and it wasn't up to him. Whatever, don't lump us all together. Just the way he said it and acted, I was not impressed. He does have an extremely hard job and he said his phone is ringing off the hook all day and night because of families and the Soldiers on rear-D that he is trying to keep out of trouble. Not a job I would want. I imagine he was right in saying he slept more in Iraq than he does here at home. A thankless but important job. At least he was willing to help out where needed--he did clarify that he doesn't babysit or do lawns. Yes, once again, this is Gunner's third deployment to Iraq and there are wives out there wanting to know who will mow their lawn! Several ladies said that they had never touched a lawnmower and their husbands didn't want them to do that type of work--well then hire someone! If you don't want to pay, then figure it out yourself. Don't be so helpless. I consider myself fortunate that I am independent and was raised to be that way. My husband is a nice complement to me, but he is not my identity.

They are having a kick off to the Walk to Iraq and Back event this weekend. I am hoping to attend with the kids since there will be lots of activities for them to do and there is a huge playground at this location. I'm sure the girls and Junior will have a good time! I started keeping track of my miles, but will start over since he just left. Anyone who wants to send their miles to me, please do! I told Gunner he had to contribute as well so he better hit the treadmill while he is over there, in his spare time if he has any. I've been a slacker about going to the gym, but now that Junior seems to be doing much better I should have a lot more time on my hands...well at least next week I will.

I found a great opportunity for families in the Fort Hood area and I'll post more on it once I hear back from the person in charge. Erin and I are tenatively planning on going and can't wait!

The kids and I are doing great and just plugging along. I have a lot of different things planned while Gunner is gone and am looking forward to getting it all going and having a good time. There were several wives there last night that talked about how their husbands didn't want them going anywhere or doing a lot while they were gone because they would miss out. I say get out and do as much as you can. The 15 months are going to go by whether you sit at home or not, so make the most of the opportunities out there and volunteer, work, go to school, save money, see something new, try something new, make a change! Just my $.02 for the day!

Voting

I had a voter registration card all filled out for Gunner to sign and he forgot to do it before he left. I called the Secretary of State's Office and they told me that since I am registered to vote, I can sign his registration with my name and just note that I am his wife. Scary. I did it though and it will go out today.

Wordless Wednesday

This was Em while we were stationed at Fort Lewis. We had our favorite Vietnamese restaurant that we went several times a month. Abs was a newborn, so Em must have been about 3 1/2.

Happy Birthday!!!

7 years ago today at Fort Lewis, WA, my little Abs made her debut. She was 9 lbs, 9 oz and was born with a mass of curls. They must have disappeared along with her ability to listen! Happy Birthday Abs!

Tonight the girls start swimming lessons! They are both excited about it, and I hope that they really learn to swim this time.

Junior is still sick. His sodium level was dangerously low so he had to get retested this morning and we will know more after those results are back, what the next step is. Hopefully it is up and he is on the road to recovery. He still had a fever this morning and is sacked out on the couch watching Barney. Thank goodness for puple dinosaurs!

Happy Easter!

The Easter Bunny stopped by for a visit early this morning. He probably ran into the Tooth Fairy while he was here.

Junior woke up with 102.1 fever so we managed to get into the weekend clinic and he has a double ear infection. Ugh. At least he is on antibiotics now so hopefully he will be back in fighting form tomorrow.

The girls and Junior each got a chocolate bunny. I told them that they could have a little bit, but they could not eat the entire rabbit. Here's a picture of what Abs left. Next time I will be more specific.

My friend Krista called me and told me about a super easy way to dye easter eggs! Thanks Krista! All you had to do was put the eggs in a colander. Then pour vinegar over them, then put dots of food coloring, then run them under cold water. The girls loved it and anything almost mess free is good for me!

Now it's time for ham, mashed potatoes and deviled eggs. Yum.

Happy Easter Gunner!