5 stars

An email from Gunner today:

ABW,

here are my 5 star accommodations. wish you were here. I love and miss you

Gunner

I love how even though it isn't much they will make it home. He sent a picture of the whole room (which of course was a mess), and they had put up blankets, to have a little privacy and put them in the dark when they were ready to sleep. I'm sure over the next 15 months they'll make it a place to call...home doesn't sound good, although I guess for 15 months it has to be something more than just a place to sleep.

I heard about the possibility of the tours getting shortend, but like Erin and I discussed, we would believe it when we saw it. We both agreed, that knowing the army, it would be the new people that came in. At least we can say we were right! Tonight is trash night though, which puts us at 5 down and 60 left. Hey, it's progress!

The trip home

We finally made it home. We left Joplin after breakfast and hit the turnpike. We stopped and got gas, and then about every 45-60 minutes after that we had to stop for Em to go to the bathroom. I told my mom that she must be drinking in the car ( I rode with my mom on the way back)--which we don't allow. I checked later and found an empty sprite bottle. I asked Gunner if he knew that she had one and he said yes, but she was not drinking it in the car. It was empty.

One of the MANY bathroom stops that we made was at a McDonald's where we all tossed back a cheeseburger and were back on the road. Junior slept through it poor kid.

In Oklahoma we stopped at a gas station that had a casino attached to it. We pottied and then since I didn't have my purse, I asked my husband for some money to try my luck. So while my husband stood outside the gas station feeding the children chocolate chip cookies my mom and I ducked in the casino. I tripled my money! My mom lost. I walked out and my husband asked me if I lost it all and I handed him back $6. Yeah, we aren't big gamblers, I started with $2.

We finally hit Texas and got within 30 minutes of home, so we pulled over so Em could potty....again....and Abs and I switched back to our car so my mom could head on home in peace and quiet. (Miss us yet mom?) Junior had pooped and spilled water all over himself when he opened his sippy cup, so I took him inside to change him. I always change Junior in the car or before I leave home or in the stroller. I'm not a big fan of public bathrooms or changing tables, especially in gas stations, but he was a mess and the car was packed. I put him on the changing table and he freaked out! I quickly changed his diaper and couldn't even attempt to change his clothes, so I took him outside to change him standing up. It was so strange for him to throw such a fit like that, that I mentioned it to Gunner. He told me that Junior doesn't like changing tables and he always does that. I laughed and laughed--not that he was scared, but that I had not had to change him while out in public the entire trip till the end, so I didn't even know this.

Okay Gunner, I think you have paid your dues, you win "Father of the Year" but I still hold the longest running title to "Employee of the Month!".

Home

There's no place like home.

After traveling all night, we were more than happy to come home and see the children and get showers and a good meal. Thanks for the soup mom!

The kids were happy to see us....Abs was of course in her room having a time out. I have to work today and DH is taking all the kids to the zoo and for a picnic.

Junior got into bed with us this morning and it was so nice having him curl up next to me and throw his little arms around me. I sure missed him and he of course grew half an inch in the last 11 days! I couldn't wait till the girls got up this morning either.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I have plenty for which to be thankful about.

Change

Since DH is gone so much he misses out on so much with the girls and Junior. When he returned from Iraq last December Junior was just over 5 months old and he had only seen him for the first 13 days of his life. DH carried Junior in and was going to set him down on the ground as I was busy putting down the diaper bag, etc. I heard him ask the girls if he could sit up yet and they told him no. It kind of hit me then how much he had missed out on and how even with pictures, letters and phone calls he still didn't know his own son. We quickly remedied that and he has always been a very involved father with diaper changes, baths, medicines, etc. with each of our three children.

A lot can change in a month. DH left knowing his son and in that month he grew, changed and started new routines. So yesterday he spent the afternoon and evening learning what his son likes and dislikes now. He learned the new way of putting Junior down for the night and (since he still doesn't sleep through the night)what Junior was looking for at each time of the night--bottle, binky, time to wake up. I didn't realize how much Junior had changed during this time. I mean I knew, but I can't imagine what Chris sees when he comes home to such big changes in a little guy. The girls grow up and change a lot but it is not nearly as drastic as Junior. He is climbing on top of the furniture, starting to throw little fits, knows to wait by the door when it is time to go "bye-bye", can work a lot of his toys and much much more.

So when DH leaves soon I will make a point of putting everything down on paper for him, more scrapbooks, and tons more pictures (if that is possible!). I meant to do it last time but ran out of time, but this time I want to do a Year in Review album and put down the highlights of each month at the END OF THE MONTH (and now wait since I know I won't have time to do it then) for him to enjoy.

Headed Home

Dh should be home soon and of course I caught a cold. Hopefully he doesn't get it as the world stops when he gets sick!

Took Junior to get his picture taken today by my frind Molly at Photographics Unlimited. I can't wait to see the proofs! They have a great setting there and can do a lot of outdoor shots which I love. I like variety. We will go back before DH deploys and get some shots of DH with the kiddos. I know I should get in some pictures, but I am not ready for that yet! I got three microdermabrasian sessions for my birthday (what I wanted) and I have an appointment next week. Maybe I will look/feel younger?

Girl Scouts starts tonight and the girls will be in the same troop this year. It's a big group of girls so I am hoping that there are no problems.

.....he's home and we are off and running. When does life ever slow down? I'm looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow and having my sweetie home.

Also Abs was on green today and did not get in trouble at all. She saw the doctor yesterday and got her medication adjusted and hopefully we are headed in the right direction. The teacher said she is extremely bright and can do everything asked of her and do it correctly. She does have a referral out for an ENT and we will talk about the tonsils.