The Thanksgiving Holiday

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday because my husband, Alfred, was able to come home on a 4 day pass! He is still in the States training but will be going overseas the first week of December.

It was so good to have him home. We had Thanksgiving dinner with his siblings then went to my Mama's for dessert and to visit with her and all of my siblings.

We were also able to celebrate Kayla's 15th birthday while he was home with family and a few friends. Her birthday is actually today but we didn't want Alfred to miss out. Within the next couple of weeks, I'll be taking her up to the DMV to take the written test for her driver's permit!

I had to drive Alfred back to his mobilization station last night. Saying goodbye this time around was alot harder than the first time. There were many tears and I didn't want to let him go. He called later after we had left and the tears began to flow again.

But I will remember the memories of us being together and focus on keeping my home and family well cared for and loved until we are all together again. 

Girls Who Wear Glasses

It turns out I am slightly near-sighted and need glasses for driving at night and to see very far away. I don't think that is too bad.

Boo-Yah!

Wanna hear some FaBuLoUs news? Alfred gets to come home for Thanksgiving on a 4 day pass! I am so excited I can barely contain myself!

So now I am thinking about everything I want to do to get ready for his homecoming. Like clean the house really well 'cause I only did the bare minimum the past 2 weeks, buy his favorite foods, plan Kayla's birthday party so he can be here for it, paint my toenails, etc.

It's going to be a wonderful Thanksgiving after all....

Doctor Appointments

I went to the Navy Hospital today for a doctor appointment. I am scheduled to have an ultrasound December 7th and then I'll know more. In the meantime, I have pain medicine to give me a little relief.

Tomorrow I am going back to the hospital to have an eye test done. I can see perfectly fine, except at night if I am driving, which was especially evident last night when I was out after dark. It is rare for me to be out at that time, but I figure I may as well have the eye test while I have the insurance!

Alfred said, "I've been telling you  you needed glasses! But, noooooo. You had to be stubborn."

Raspberries! :)

While the weekend weather was cool, this morning the skies are gray and it's muggy. At 72 degrees, it sure doesn't feel like a November morning.

I had a good weekend. My best friend Paula came over for antique and thrift store shopping. I didn't find anything I just had to have and that's okay. We also had a birthday party to attend. My niece turned 6 years old! Had a good time visiting with all my sister/brother-in-laws. And yesterday I got to spend a couple hours visiting with my Mama.

It appears that was just the medicine I needed.....a change in scenery and adult conversation. It greatly helped to pull me out of funk I was in and I am ever-so-thankful!

Not much on the agenda for today. I intend to tidy up the house a bit, take a nap later, watch a little tv and cook dinner. I have to be up bright & early tomorrow for my doctor appointment at 8am in Pensacola.

That's about all for today...

Veterans Day

To my soldier....I love you with all my heart.

Thank you for being strong and brave.

Promise you'll come back to me...

Daybook

TODAY:

Outside my window: It's a blustery day with grey, dreary skies. The wind is whipping leaves from the trees and scattering them to and fro.

I am thinking: how wonderful technology is. Though my husband is many miles away, I can still talk to him via cell phones. And when he goes overseas, I'll be able to talk to and see him via Skype!

I am thankful for: free medical insurance though the military and my doctor appointment next week.

From the learning rooms: science experiments, drawing, Charlie Chaplin, writing, baking, cooking, and lots more....

In the kitchen: Meals are very simple. Kenzie makes pancakes almost daily. Kayla made brownies last night.

I am wearing: pajamas still...

I am writing: not much of anything besides my blog and posting has been few & far between. With Alfred's deployment and my health issues, I am finding it hard to be positive and uplifting. Sometimes it's better to say nothing at all in times like these...

I am going: to pay off as many bills as possible and save money while my husband is deployed to ease the load for him when he returns.

I am wondering: whether to continue on with Mary Kay or not?

I am reading: Not much of anything right now. Need to get back in to the Word daily.

I am hoping: to get my car washed and vacuumed out soon!

I am looking forward to: being pain-free and my husband being home for good after this deployment!

I am hearing: the sound of my fingers tapping on the keyboard...

Around the house: I tidied up today as I couldn't stand to look at my home any longer. I've been taking it easy as to avoid as much pain as possible.

I am pondering: what this next year will hold for me and our family.

One of my favorite things: hot cocoa with marshmallows on blustery days like today.

A few plans for the rest of the week: thrift store shopping with my best friend and my neice's birthday party, both on Saturday.

A few pictures to share:

Zeus - our Cane Corso

Kenzie's science experiment - Lava in a cup

A few quick sketches I did, taken from the book The North Star by Peter H. Reynolds.



Hope

Our military insurance has kicked in and I have a doctor appointment next Tuesday first thing in the morning! I feel like hope has been graciously given back to me when I thought I would plunge deeper into the abyss. Constant pain is no picnic and it is increasing. From what I can feel, the knot in my stomach is about the size of my hand.

Anyway, I am glad to feel there is a light at the end of the tunnel and am anxious to find out exactly what's going on with my body and get relief at last. Then, happy days will be here again!

I finally got around to taking the Halloween decorations down from the front porch this morning. That had been bugging the heck out of me, so I am glad it is done!

As of now, Alfred is headed to Mississippi where he and his team will start the mobilization process. I am missing him like crazy and I still have another 362 days to go.... I am going to do my best to enjoy this year and keep myself busy with several projects, but I sure will be glad when this is all over.

Here is a picture of my husband & his team, taken this morning, as they headed out. Alfred is in the solid green jacket. Wish I could have been there!

Wish I could say that I felt better physically, but that just isn't the case. I guess this is going to be the way it is until I can get this all taken care of. Nevertheless, I am going to do light homemaking and try to be satisfied with that until I can do more.

With that said, I am off to do a little cleaning and enjoy the rest of the day. Hope you enjoy yours, too!  

We've had another taste of Autumn the past few days. It was quite chilly outdoors. I turned the heat on this morning to take the chill out of the house. The utility bill was atrocious the last few months of summer, so I am now trying to keep it as low as possible.

After the day I had yesterday, I will be taking it easy again today. I am still not 100%. Back in July, I had a pap smear and my gynecologist thinks I have uterine fibroids. I am waiting for our military insurance to kick in so I can have a uterine ultrasound done and hopefully a partial hysterectomy. I have been in pain for well over a year now and it has really ramped up the past few months. I feel best while laying down, but I can't lay down all the time! I have a home, children and pets to care for. So I am in a predicament.

This evening we are going to Mama's for dinner. Most of my siblings will be over watching the football game. I could care less about football, but it will be nice to visit with family and have one of my Mama's home-cooked meals. :)

I better close for now so I can try to do a little around the house. Enjoy the weekend!

It has been a hard couple of days.

Yesterday I said farewell to the love of my life for a year while he serves yet again overseas in the military. There were tears from us both and long embraces. I didn't want to let him go, but at last I had to because I had a 5-6 hour drive back home.

I am proud to say that despite my penchant for panic attacks (which are mostly controlled by medicine) I drove through Birmingham and Montgomery with no problems! I am darn proud of myself! And I am ever so thankful my Mama went along with me just in case I needed her. She's the best!

Today, I was in so much physical pain that I ended up vomiting. I haven't done that in years! I took it easy for the rest of the day, though I did cook dinner - a quick and easy casserole dish that I know the girls will eat.

I was able to talk to Alfred a few times today and he's going to try to call me later before bed. It helps to be able to hear his voice and talk to him.

I am now off to watch tv with Kayla. Enjoy your evening!