2012 New Year Resolution's

2 days left of 2011 and I couldn't be happier. 

2011 was an eventful year for us, hubby completed his 2 years as a Drill Sgt & got Drill Sgt of the cycle in March. Met my biological family, PCS'd to Alaska, got pregnant, and started our first deployment (his 4th).

I am so happy that 2011 is ending, it was a chaotic, stressful year. 

2012 has some huge events happening:

February our son will be making his big debut & hubby will be coming home from deployment (yes we have so much longer to go but its still in 2012)

With 2012 starting I figured I would make some New Year Resolutions that I would keep, and not another "lose weight" one.

So here they are: 

1. Declutter & Organize the house using this 2012 declutter calendar 

http://www.mysimplerlife.com/2012/Decluttercalendar2012.pdf

&

2. Get our finances in shape & pay off debt 

What resolutions do you have? Do you usually keep them? 

Not so worldless Wednesday

Getting through this deployment, with good days & bad.

Surviving Christmas

Christmas has passed and I made it through the day. I wish I could say it was an incredible holiday but of course with my husband deployed there had to be some bumps in the road. 

Christmas Eve was a slow day, spent the day watching Christmas movies until I noticed something was wrong with my lil man. I went to Labor and Delivery with severe back pain, decreased baby movement and shooting pain in my thigh. Of course the thigh pain was just the baby on a nerve but the back pain was more then that. Thankfully I went in, because I got another (my 2nd of the pregnancy) UTI. I had another UTI and a Kidney infection in my 2nd trimester. So this was my second UTI, hopefully it won't get worse. But because it was my second one, they decided I needed to be on antibiotics for the rest of my pregnancy. 

I spent 4 1/2 hours in Labor and Delivery, they hooked me up to the monitors, gave me 2 bags of fluid and antibiotics through the IV. 

Thankfully baby was doing great, his heart rate was 130-160 so he was extremely active once the fluids went though. I got to go home around 11:30, basically just have to be aware of the pregnancy and baby since I can go into pre-term labor if the UTI gets worse. 

Christmas morning I woke up to an early morning call from my soldier. We got cut off 2 minutes into our conversation then he called back later and we got a real conversation. He had a good Christmas, he got to have brunch then dinner. His dinner was more like a feast, turkey, ham, and all the yummy sides.

I spent Christmas sleeping and watching more Christmas movies.

 For dinner I went to a neighbors for dinner then came home to relax.
Not to mention we had a white Christmas complete with thick snow falling most of the day.

I braved the stores today, Target & Petsmart. I picked up some children DVD's that were on sale, and Christmas wrapping paper for next year since we'll be wrapping LOTS of gifts for Landon's first Christmas! Petsmart I spoiled the heck out of my animals, and bought tons of treats and toys. 

Really excited because next Christmas he will be home, and we will be celebrating our first Christmas as a family... Just us 3.

Oh & here's an interesting fact... not one person on my husband's side of the family wished me a Merry Christmas... NO ONE ... What's up with that???? Interesting how things work when your husband is deployed. 

The Making of A Military Wife

When the good Lord was creating Wives, he was into his sixth day of overtime. 

An angel appeared and said, "You're having a lot of trouble with this one. What's wrong with the standard model?" 

And the Lord replied, "Have you seen the specs on this order? She has to be completely independent, but must be sponsored to get on post; have the qualities of both father and mother during deployments; be a perfect hostess to 4 or 40; run on black coffee; handle emergencies without a manual; be able to handle flu, birthdays and moves around the world; have a kiss that can cure anything from a child's torn Valentine to a husband's weary day; have the patience of a saint when waiting for the Unit to return home; and have six pairs of hands." 

The angel shook her hand slowly and said, "Six pairs of hands... no way!" 

And the Lord answered, "Don't worry, we'll make other military wives to help. Besides it's not the hands that are causing the problem, it's the heart. It must swell with pride in her husband, sustain the ache of separations, beat on soundly when it's too tired to do so and be large enough to say, "I Understand" when she doesn't, and 'I love you' regardless."

"Lord," said the angel, touching his sleeve gently. "Come to bed... finish this tomorrow!" 

"I can't," said the Lord. "I'm so close to creating something unique. Already I have one who heals herself when she's sick, can feed three unexpected guests who are stuck in the area due to bad weather, and can wave good-bye to her husband, from a pier, off a runway and understand that it is important to his country that he leaves." 

The angel circled the model of the military wife very slowly. "It's too soft," she sighed.

"But tough," said the Lord excitedly. "You cannot imagine what this woman can do or endure." 

"Can it think?" 

"Can it think? It can convert 1400 to 2 p.m." 

Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek. "There's a leak," she pronounced. "I told you that you were trying to put too much into this model." 

"It's not a leak," said the Lord. "It's a tear."

"What's it for?" asked the angel. 

"It's for joy. Sadness. Disappointment. Pain, loneliness and pride!" 

"You are a genius," sighed the angel. 

The Lord looked somber and replied, "I didn't put it there."

Where's the Holiday Cheer?

2 days before Christmas and there is NO holiday cheer in this house. 

 I've glued myself to the TV and watched every Christmas movie probably made on Lifetime Movie Network, watched my stock of Christmas movies (that after the holidays will restock with new ones) and of course watched 25 days of Christmas on ABC family. But there is still no Christmas cheer. I've stayed away from shopping, and feel like the snow has taken over. Last night we got over a foot of snow, leaving lil old pregnant me to shovel. Thankfully my neighbor sent her husband over to finish shoveling for me. I can't imagine how I would be feeling if I had to do it all. It took me an hour to do my driveway, and I've paid for it. I've spent all day in bed with a heating pad and will eventually make it to the bath tub with a book. 

Even with a beautiful winter wonderland outside, and Christmas movies playing non stop in the house I just can't find the holiday cheer I usually have. I know that it's because my husband is deployed and he has it worse, but being in an empty house for the holidays is just not ideal.

 I did send out hubby's care packages right after he deployed so he is equipped with Christmas cheer. His package included chocolate chip cookies, christmas lights, cinnamon scented candles, peppermint Oreos, christmas pop tarts and some other goodies. So hopefully he will enjoy his Christmas care package as he celebrates this holiday in Afghanistan. 

I know there are so many families spending the holidays without their soldier, and everyone celebrates it differently. I'm going to my neighbors house for Christmas. I was invited today, and thrilled to go. I'm planning on baking Chocolate Chip banana bread. She is also having another friend whose husband is deployed and her kids over. As for my neighbor, her husband is home (and the one who shoveled for me today). I'm looking forward to spending the holidays with my neighbors. She was one of the first people I met out here in Alaska, and I'm thankful she thought of me this holiday season.

Here's something going around on Facebook, that got me teary eyed. 

Twas the night before Christmas
And there all alone ...
I saw a young woman
Who sat by the phone
For what was she waiting
On this holiday night
Where were the stockings Christmas tree, lights? I saw one little tear
As it rolled down her face
And she curled up in a blanket
Then looked round the place
Something was missing
Someone not here
In her face I saw sadness
Did I also see fear?
I paused and I wondered
What could it be?
That would cause a young woman
To look so lonely
How could anyone so precious
Choose such a life?
Then I realized this woman
Was a soldiers wife.
Her gift for this Christmas
Is to hear that phone ring
“Hey baby, I miss you Don’t worry about a thing” Each day I thank God for the soldiers that serve Ever willing to fight and lay down his life
But how often do I ever remember think
About the young woman who is that soldier’s wife
Thank you God for these women
They are just as strong
They sacrifice daily
And without help get along
So God please protect our soldiers
On this holiday eve so late
And give an extra hug
To their wives who wait

I hope everyone has a great holiday season, remember to say a prayer for the deployed soldiers.