October

This year has been incredibly up and down. It started out with Matt coming home a few days before 2012. So, of course it started out amazing! January was busy, Matt went back to work, we drove to Joplin, MO (then Fayetteville, AR and Crossett, AR), Bruce turned 7 and Levi turned 3... We then had their joint birthday party, valentines day, food poisoning or stomach flu for the 3 boys on my birthday and Bruce got stitches! April was Easter and Bruce's spring break. May was another bout of doctors appointments for me, including an MRI, an IR (interventional radiologist) Memorial Day and then an embolization (a surgical procedure where they put in coils in some veins). June was Bruce's last day of First Grade, Matt's 29th birthday, block leave and a visit from Poppi and Lolli. During the month of June I also took on a new role and started helping with the FRG (family readiness group). July was swimming, heat and Matt in the field. I also had another embolization, just 6 weeks after the first. August was more field time for Matt, Bruce starting 2nd grade and getting back into the groove of everyday with Levi. I also started as the co-leader of the FRG at the end of the month and the first part of September. September was filled with meetings, football, family time and fun. And Bruce got glasses and lost his 2 front teeth! October was Matt re-enlisting indefinitely, getting promoted and heading to JRTC. The boys and I are busy just keeping busy, Bruce with school, Levi with getting bigger and smarter everyday and me with my tasks and things I've chosen to do! We also have gotten involved in a great Sunday school class and we help with a great nursery one Sunday a month. This year has brought more friends, more fun, more love for our family and closer relationships to each other and God. It has also brought pain for both Matt and myself (normal getting older things, getting hurt and/or chronic pain. All in all this year has been pretty good. I think the rest of the year will bring more things our way that should be good! I'm thankful to God for everything in our lives! God Bless!

Homecoming and Christmas pictures!



Waiting at Green Ramp for Matthew,
 20 December 2011

Waiting outside to see the plane land!













7 months and finally back together!

They are still inseperable from dad!





April already?

I have really slacked on the blog... I wanted to keep it up to date, but so many things happened in a short amount of time, and it sort of got away from me.

In October, I believe was the last time I updated this... Since then, I had surgery, Matt came home from Iraq, we celebrated Christmas and New Years and then we went on block leave to Missouri and Arkansas. Matt made the E7 list to be promoted, he went to a new unit and has now started his new job position. I was just in the ER Saturday night, due to a random severe allergic reaction. The boys have both had birthdays since the last update. 7 and 3 already? Time really does go by before we know it.

December was a great month! My Mother-in-law came here and helped me with my surgery. which was December 19. Just minutes before we had to leave for the surgery, I got an email that told me Matt would be home the next evening!!! Best News Ever! Especially right before you are going under surgery! The surgery went well, and it was even better that our Christmas present was there the next day! We went to Green Ramp at 8:00ish and finally got to see him around 11:00. 4 days before Christmas! It was the best thing ever!

Boys will be boys

There is a bit of a mix up in this house. Levi thinks that he is six and Bruce acts like he is two! I would much rather them act and be like their own ages!!! Levi argued with Nana about this over the phone. She said, "How old are you?" he replies with, "6". She says, "you aren't six, if you are six, why aren't you in school like bubba?" and he comes up with, "I home school".... Haha. Bruce, however, doesn't act the cute and funny parts of two, he acts like the "terrible" part of the twos. I will say though, he is getting much better lately. I just remind him to act almost 7, not almost 3.

Bruce is suprising me with his drawing skills! The aren't  the most clear pictures, but he draws very creatively and really shows the scene that he has in mind... He very much reminds me of me. He used to not remind me of myself too much, but the older he is getting, I am being reminded of the good and bad things from when I was a kid. He is nosy, and I too was very nosy. He is very creative with story telling, people think that he is telling a real story! He loves cucumbers (both boys do) and that was and is my favorite summer time veggie to eat! Bruce also is like dad too! He uses silly excuses to try to get out of chores! ;)

Levi is growing too quickly! He is only 7 inches shorter than Bruce and 14 pounds lighter, yet there is a 4 year age difference! He brushes his teeth about 5 times a day on the average day, and he washes his hands consistently too. His pictures of people really look great and his coloring is very well for his age, but he usually uses just one color per coloring page. He already has some mad arguing skills. I have no clue where or who he got that from! ;) And he blames other people for things, because he thinks it is funny. For example, "Levi, why did you mess in your pull up?" "Not Levi, daddy"! Um, I wish it was daddy, but he is a bit far for that... hahaha. And he always says it with a smile and a laugh, then says, "No, not daddy, me".

My hands are definitly full! I do feel like I have two of the same age a lot of the times, because Levi wants to be just like Bruce and they do a lot of things similar... I love being a mother though, and I wouldn't change it for anything else in the entire world! We are trully blessed!

I would update on Matthew, but since he is deployed, I will wait to update on how he is and what he is up to until he is home.

God Bless!

A topsy-turvy sort of month

I have been MIA this month in the blogging world. I actually love to write and blog and get it all out... However, I am not even sure if my words are read, I don't mind though, I like to look back regardless! This month has been very up and down as far as good and bad days, good and bad news and everything in between!

I found out this month that I will have to have surgery in December, which I am happy about, but also very nervous and anxious about too. First thing, I have no clue when Matt will be home and if he will be able to be here for me and the boys during that time. Secondly, he was going to be here for sure, on advon, but something bad happened (not to him) and he can no longer leave early. I was upset at first, but I know that everything happens for a reason, and that just because he won't be here for sure on time, doesn't mean he won't still be here either way. Another reason I am nervous is because the last time I was put under for surgery, I was 7, for my tonsils. Also, it will be just days before Christmas... I don't want it ruined for anybody, so I hope and pray it goes down without a hitch.

Halloween is Monday. Another holiday that Matt will miss this year. So far, he has missed our anniversary (that's the day he deployed, father's day, his 28th birthday, both Memorial day and Labor day, the Fourth of July and soon to be Halloween and Thanksgiving. It could be much worse, so on holidays, we still celebrate them the same way we would if Matt was here so it is almost like he is here still anyway. We just feel bad that he misses out and still works and such while we can celebrate.

Christmas present shopping began in September! We will have the shopping done by Thanksgiving, so December can be used to relax before my surgery, get the house together and bake lots of goodies!

I just wanted to update on me, I will update on the kiddos and the husband later!

God Bless

My Doctor Appointment

Yesterday I finally got to go back to my off-post Doctor. I had wished that they would have referred me back off post a month ago when I was in, but things happen for a reason. If they would have done that, I would have most likely had the surgery this month or next. I am glad we are doing it, nervous, but glad. I will have the surgery on December 19. Which means that it will be easier to deal with because I won't have to worry about bed times, going to the bus or waking up too early while I recover. Bruce will be on Christmas break for it!

I am really nervous to be put under and have a tube down my throat, but I know that in the end, things will be fine and hopefully we figure out what the next step will be after this. This is possibly only my first of a few surgeries, but we won't know for sure.

God is watching over me, Matthew and the boys. I know we will all be alright.

God Bless

Morning time

Here at our house during the week, when Matt is home, the adults are awake between 5:00 and 5:30 am. The kids are awake between 6:30 and 7:15. We are early risers, and I love having time to myself before the kids are up; to shower and get dressed without hearing, "are you done yet" or "open up, I need to talk to you momma" (but all they "needed" to say was hi or I love you). I love seeing the sun rise, hearing birds chirp (when they do chirp here), seeing the dew on the lawn and the frost too in the winter. I love watching the news and drinking coffee and just having peace and quiet for a few minutes.

But, I especially love being awake and hearing "Good morning mommy" followed by 2 hugs (one from each boy) and then I ask them how they slept and they good! That is what I enjoy every morning, I am wide awake and love being able to enjoy the peace and quiet so I can equally enjoy the precious morning moments that the boys give me!

God Bless!