We dropped Chris off at the recruiters office at 3PM. He had a wallet with $20, his ID, his SS#, an address book. In his pocket he had a change of underwear. We also sent a book for him to finish reading and 2 magazines which we were told he would need to throw in the garbage at the hotel in the morning. We had planned that he would throw them away in the airport. We thought he could read on the plane.
We cried.
We are still crying.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
5 days or Our Own Toy Story 3
It seems like yesterday I wrote 35 days......
Today there are 5 days until Chris leaves. Wednesday he will spend in the cities with the recruiters running and working out at the Metrodome. Thursday. Friday. Saturday. Sunday. We will go to mass and have coffee. Should we go out to eat? Should we make breakfast /brunch? We have to have him at the recruiters office at 3 PM.
It is coming too fast.
But this evening we laughed.
I had been given a bunch of grandma and grandpa toys since we have few things left. There were some trucks and other things definitely for when these grand babies are a bit older. Yesterday afternoon Chris helped me take this stuff down to the furnace room for storage. Some went in the closet where legos and a few other toys are stored that survived our kids childhood and our need for storage. While we were finding places for the trucks and toys Chris found the soldiers he played with growing up. The little green army men and the 13 inch pose-able soldiers - boy barbies if you will (just don't tell him I said that)!!!
He became so excited and grabbed the box of soldiers carrying it upstairs to check them out for his nephews. Yeah right - the nephews aren't even born yet. Last night he went on line to try to find army figures for his nephews. Today he checked out Toys R Us and Target. They do not carry any real soldier type figures.
Chris was really bummed and started to look on line the first one he found cost $115. Then while he was sorting through the box and sorting out gear he found them stamped with the model/ maker. he looked the maker up on line and found the original ones that he has on Amazon for $35 to $50 and up. He bookmarked the page and then he finished sorting and dressing them.... I think one of them was used in a racy bachelorette party a couple years ago..... He also broke a leg of one of them trying to put a boot on. -hope that doesn't happen in REAL life!!
And now the soldiers are sitting on the dresser in his room waiting for the day his nephews can play with them.
Today there are 5 days until Chris leaves. Wednesday he will spend in the cities with the recruiters running and working out at the Metrodome. Thursday. Friday. Saturday. Sunday. We will go to mass and have coffee. Should we go out to eat? Should we make breakfast /brunch? We have to have him at the recruiters office at 3 PM.
It is coming too fast.
But this evening we laughed.
I had been given a bunch of grandma and grandpa toys since we have few things left. There were some trucks and other things definitely for when these grand babies are a bit older. Yesterday afternoon Chris helped me take this stuff down to the furnace room for storage. Some went in the closet where legos and a few other toys are stored that survived our kids childhood and our need for storage. While we were finding places for the trucks and toys Chris found the soldiers he played with growing up. The little green army men and the 13 inch pose-able soldiers - boy barbies if you will (just don't tell him I said that)!!!
He became so excited and grabbed the box of soldiers carrying it upstairs to check them out for his nephews. Yeah right - the nephews aren't even born yet. Last night he went on line to try to find army figures for his nephews. Today he checked out Toys R Us and Target. They do not carry any real soldier type figures.
Chris was really bummed and started to look on line the first one he found cost $115. Then while he was sorting through the box and sorting out gear he found them stamped with the model/ maker. he looked the maker up on line and found the original ones that he has on Amazon for $35 to $50 and up. He bookmarked the page and then he finished sorting and dressing them.... I think one of them was used in a racy bachelorette party a couple years ago..... He also broke a leg of one of them trying to put a boot on. -hope that doesn't happen in REAL life!!
And now the soldiers are sitting on the dresser in his room waiting for the day his nephews can play with them.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
almost hump day - December 1st
My kids
I am home from work and I am reflecting on the past week.
With the travel and the busyness of the weekend festivities I have had little time to prepare for advent. I don't want to lose sight of Advent. It seems like I am still overwhelmed with other things. Tomorrow is December 1st. My guess for the grand-babies birthday is Dec 2nd. It looks like I will lose. However since they will make me a grandma I am a winner!
Brittany and Ken
Saturday we celebrated Christmas. It was fun. The weekend was little heart wrenching at times knowing that after the 13th we do not know when we will all be together again.
It was hard for Kelsey and she had a minor breakdown at one point feeling like the odd man out. Both boys had their girlfriends there for our Christmas celebration. And however much everyone tried to ensure she was not left out there came a time when she simply felt alone with all of us and simply put she had a hissy fit- a drama time. She acted like a 4 year old and she probably was more embarrassed after.
Kelsey I think it has been hard knowing that the next time she comes home Chris will be gone. All of us will get to see him over the next 2 weeks. She will not. She has been the farthest away during this time. Brittany might get to see him again depending on when the babies arrive. I need to remember that each of us reacts differently to changes and loss in our lives whether the loss is real or perceived.
Nick and Jackie
Tonight Chris is cleaning his room. He is packing up books and belongings. Who knows when he will need these things again. He has moved the desk out creating a place for a crib to be set up. It makes me want to cry. The time is getting closer.
When the girls left for college I could go visit them and talk to them on the phone or computer they could come home when they were homesick. For the next 3 months we will be able to write letters. We know we will see him at his graduation and after that June? Sometimes I would like to have my own hissy fit. I want to have control over something that I have no control over.
I already know that I will miss my son. Will he be homesick? Will he know how much he is missed? Will I be able to be the support that Todd and the other kids need when they go through their own time of missing Chris?
Oh Lord please give me the peace and strength I need to send my baby- my youngest son off to Boot Camp.
Chris and Megan
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Over the River and through the woods....
Today we are supposed to leave for Brit and Ken's . Please pray I get done with work early. That the weather holds. That the rest of the family arrive safely today (Kelsey) and Friday. That Brit has a good appointment at the clinic today, that all is well with her and the babies and that she travels safely to and from this appointment.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Feeling better
I am feeling better.
I still have a cough but I don't sound like a frog any more.
Cold air causes me to start coughing and we are having a lot of cold here right now. This morning was 9 degrees. The inhaler does work when you know what to do!!
I have had little energy to do anything so we will make do with what we have. We are expecting a storm to be moving into the midwest and I am worried that we might have to wait until Friday morning to head Wisconsin for our festivities. However I am also worried that the weather conditions could get things moving for the little momma and our festivities will take place at the hospital.
The house is fairly clean and I have been trying to keep up with laundry but I am not prepared for food stuff. And I have a lot of patient charting to catch up on. Today is my short day so I should be able to get these things done but my concentration is awful!! I think it is the prednisone or the inhaler or a combination of the 2 but my ability to sit and work is non-existent. Which is why I am sitting here instead of doing the work I need to do !!
I still have a cough but I don't sound like a frog any more.
Cold air causes me to start coughing and we are having a lot of cold here right now. This morning was 9 degrees. The inhaler does work when you know what to do!!
I have had little energy to do anything so we will make do with what we have. We are expecting a storm to be moving into the midwest and I am worried that we might have to wait until Friday morning to head Wisconsin for our festivities. However I am also worried that the weather conditions could get things moving for the little momma and our festivities will take place at the hospital.
The house is fairly clean and I have been trying to keep up with laundry but I am not prepared for food stuff. And I have a lot of patient charting to catch up on. Today is my short day so I should be able to get these things done but my concentration is awful!! I think it is the prednisone or the inhaler or a combination of the 2 but my ability to sit and work is non-existent. Which is why I am sitting here instead of doing the work I need to do !!
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Binga Banga Boom or teaching is easier then doing
I'm still sick.
I still have a cough and sinus congestion.
in the past 13 days I have gone through nearly 4 boxes of Kleenex.
My nose has a callous under it just above my lip from blowing and wiping.
Today I saw the doctor. Although the chest x ray looked ok and did not show any pneumonia he would not rule out a pneumonia or bacterial infection based on something he saw at the base of the lungs involving my diaphragm and that I have been fighting this for 2 weeks. So he said he could treat me with an antibiotic, or prednisone or an inhaler. I came home with all three.
I took everything right away. I still feel sick. I thought if I did everything I'd be better.
binga banga boom. All better. Not so.
I have never in my life had a chest x ray. I have never used an inhaler. I have taught people how to use an inhaler. It is much harder then it looks. (Maybe because I'm mostly Polish and can't chew gum and walk.)
So I shake the inhaler. I take a few deep breaths. I let all the air out and I start to inhale with my lips wrapped correctly around the inhaler. I use the inhaler and the spray hits the tip of my tongue. Seriously? I wasn't expecting that. Now I know why I teach the use of a spacer :)
2nd try or puff or what ever you call it. Same thing. Medicine on the tip of my tongue how much got into my lungs where it needs to be?
So tonight I use it again this time I was better -the first inhalation.
I had shared this little episode at bible study and everyone was laughing at the nurse who can't use an inhaler. Now as I am using the inhaler DH is reminding me of the talk at bible study as I am carefully trying to get it right. 2nd inhale - the spray hit the tip of my tongue again. dang !! I am going to bed and hoping I can get it right in my sleep. Teaching this is no where near as difficult as doing.
I still have a cough and sinus congestion.
in the past 13 days I have gone through nearly 4 boxes of Kleenex.
My nose has a callous under it just above my lip from blowing and wiping.
Today I saw the doctor. Although the chest x ray looked ok and did not show any pneumonia he would not rule out a pneumonia or bacterial infection based on something he saw at the base of the lungs involving my diaphragm and that I have been fighting this for 2 weeks. So he said he could treat me with an antibiotic, or prednisone or an inhaler. I came home with all three.
I took everything right away. I still feel sick. I thought if I did everything I'd be better.
binga banga boom. All better. Not so.
I have never in my life had a chest x ray. I have never used an inhaler. I have taught people how to use an inhaler. It is much harder then it looks. (Maybe because I'm mostly Polish and can't chew gum and walk.)
So I shake the inhaler. I take a few deep breaths. I let all the air out and I start to inhale with my lips wrapped correctly around the inhaler. I use the inhaler and the spray hits the tip of my tongue. Seriously? I wasn't expecting that. Now I know why I teach the use of a spacer :)
2nd try or puff or what ever you call it. Same thing. Medicine on the tip of my tongue how much got into my lungs where it needs to be?
So tonight I use it again this time I was better -the first inhalation.
I had shared this little episode at bible study and everyone was laughing at the nurse who can't use an inhaler. Now as I am using the inhaler DH is reminding me of the talk at bible study as I am carefully trying to get it right. 2nd inhale - the spray hit the tip of my tongue again. dang !! I am going to bed and hoping I can get it right in my sleep. Teaching this is no where near as difficult as doing.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
A Wedding, Christmas plans and other family things
Our son Chris said lots of goodbyes to aunts, uncles and cousins - this is the last time he will see most of them before he ships out. He hopes to be back for the next wedding scheduled in June 2011.
We had lots of questions about how Brit and the babies were doing. It is a good thing we had just been there and I was able to answer the questions.
Jackie, Nicks girlfriend, caught the bridal bouquet - actually the bouquet was really 3 separate ones so 3 girls 'caught' the bouquet. And one of them, Anna, the brides sister, became engaged TODAY. - WOW do those bouquets work fast.
Kelsey was bummed missing the wedding. Friday at 8 PM she was still trying to figure out a ride to the cities so she could be there.
My brother Brad showed up for the reception for a short time. He was involved in a hunting accident last Sunday. He is doing well after spending several nights in the hospital. Most of his recovery will be from the 8-10 foot fall out of the tree stand. Family who saw him in the hospital said he looks amazing compared to where he had been just a few short days ago.
I am still recovering from this cold. It still stinks. I am going back to work tomorrow. I want to be sure I have enough PTO days to have time off when the babies come home. I have a feeling there will be a well worn road from our house to the babies by next summer.
We are almost completely ready for our early family Christmas. Since Chris leaves December 13th and since we knew Brit would most likely be on bed-rest or at least not able to travel 4+ hours. We decided to have Christmas at Brit and Ken's the Saturday after Thanksgiving. T and I and Kelsey will spend Thanksgiving with them then on Friday we plan to decorate their house putting up the tree and whatever else Brit wants. Nick and Chris and their girlfriends will come on Friday. Saturday we will wake up and have Christmas just like it is Christmas morning.
Traditionally most everyone in my extended family celebrates on Christmas Eve. T's family never really celebrated Christmas. We always spent Christmas Eve at my parents so we always did our thing on Christmas morning. This was necessary since Todd had church obligations for all masses. Christmas Brunch and gift opening with games and family time in the afternoon always worked best for us.
We realize Christmas is not about presents and we will celebrate Christmas at Christmas but this year is special. I think we are ready - I feel ready. I have presents to wrap and really just 3 things to buy that will need to be wrapped. Food to buy and prepare. The kids already told me what they would like and it is all the simplest things we made from the time they were little. I hope to bake a few cookies either on Friday or the weekend before Thanksgiving.
Please Lord be with us and with our family. Keep us safe - protect us. Help us to use the time we have together to be joyous and filled with good memories.
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