End of Deployment!

This is MANY months late, but here it is...
As the months rolled on, Adam informed me he had the choice to stay on ship and visit more stops on the way home OR come home early. Well my homesick husband picked to come home early. I knew that this could possibly be our first, last and only deployment so I wanted to make it special for all of us. I called his mom and dad and told them to come help welcome Adam home, I also DID not tell the kids daddy was coming home. I told Alexis we were going to go take pictures of daddy's men and of us to send to him, and she never thought anything of it because we take pictures all the time!

Days leading up to seeing my husband...
I cleaned the house top to bottom, cleaned out and washed both cars, I worked out like crazy so i would look good, I got my hair done, went shopping for a new outfit. Bought the husband's favorite beer and food. I had heard from Adam, that flights got delayed in one of the countries and day and time kept changing.

Day of homecoming...
I was told it would be wee hours of the night, Friday night/Saturday morning. So we went about our day as if nothing was happening. When it was bedtime I told Alexis, I have a very special surprise when you wake up tomorrow. She was so excited she couldn't sleep. I was so excited i could hardly sleep. Caleb was the only one who sleep the whole night. When I finally shut my eyes my alarm went off, I checked my email and went right back to bed because time got changed AGAIN. Finally got up and around mid morning and then waited! I finally asked my photographer if she could just come over and take pictures of us and the sign we made. Alexis started asking "when do I get my special surprise?" I kept telling her soon. We loaded up and headed to the place where the Marines and Sailors would be getting off the bus. Caleb fell asleep so we decided to stay in car as long as possible. Finally, Adam called and said he would be there in 10 minutes!

My heart was pumping, my hands were sweaty, I was holding my sign that says "It's been 208 days...now get over here and KISS us!". I started to shed a tear as the buses pull up. I started yelling, I can here his mom and dad cheering as well. Then I found his face. I shouted: "Alexis who is that man?" she RUNS up to her daddy who embraces her in his arms and we are all overjoyed! Adam walks up all calm and casual and lays a wet one on me. And I know after many months of sleepless nights, all the stress is over and my heart is complete!

Over half way:)

I know it has been months since my last update, but I can finally say we have more days behind us then ahead!!

May- Allie had her first big dance recital with costumes. She was front and center and stole the show. They had a daddy/daughter dance at the end and since daddy is deployed her Papa came and danced with her. Caleb has 3 bottom teeth and he started going to drop off daycare.

June- we gained another Angel in heaven, Adam's Grandmother passed away. School ended and we said goodbye to a few friends who PCS'ed (permanent change of station). We started playing with our friends down the street whose daddy is also on the MEU.

July-We drove to Michigan. On the way there we made many stops at different places. We stayed the night with a few friends and made many memories with my brother Conrad and his family. I became a godmother to my niece Victoria. Caleb started low crawling.

August- We drove back home, with ants in are car and baby Caleb had a serious eye infection & pink eye. what a fun ride!?! Allie started dance class for her 2nd year. Allie started kindergarten. Caleb is working on 2 top teeth. I started selling Scentsy, which I LOVE!

September- is just beginning but we have already filled it with many activities. Allie's birthday- we had a big celebration with friends and family at a horse farm, where all the kids had a blast with pony rides and games. Allie started gymnastics for the 2nd year in a row. I started volunteering at a couple places. Caleb can stand holding onto something and is very attached to his mommy and binky.

I am officially in Homecoming mode! Trying to get all the things done that I wanted to do do before Adam gets home. I just ordered Adam's Welcome home sign, I started working out 2 times day, and Kids and I are working on Spanish everyday! I have a potluck at my house once a month to try out new recipes.

Staying busy...a blessing and a curse

As you may have noticed, I have not written a blog entry in a little over a month. We are finally adjusting to our life with out Adam/daddy...which means we are staying extremely busy. Staying busy helps me keep my mind off the pain of not having my husband, but it also helps keep the kids from thinking about where daddy is.

May is the last month for Ballet/tap and for gymnastics, in the 2nd week in June Alexis gets out of school. Along with appointments, playdates, organizing MEU outings, its been exhausting. Some days we have 3-4 things (activities) going on that day! Some days I wish we weren't so busy. However the day we don't have activities I find myself organizing/planning more for the next week.

Over the summer my big plans consist of cleaning out the house, getting rid of things we absolutely do not need and taking a drive back to my hometown with my 2 crazy kids!

Being Apart....

                            When it comes to being apart Adam and I are no strangers....
                  
                                                    The last 8 years in review

2004-2006 - Middle of August 2004- Adam and Paula meet and start dating in college, Christmas break 3 weeks long. summer break 3 months long.

2007- January- Adam enlisted into the USMC and leaves for boot camp for 12 weeks, all his training ends in late September 2007

2008- January-May Paula is in SC to  finish college

2009- January- Adam is selected into the Officer program 10 weeks, summer/fall  Adam is in the basic school which consumes his life, we got to see each other mainly on Sundays IF he didn't have to make up a class or do homework.

2010- Adam is in more training from November 2009-June2010

2011-January-September Adam is gone every couple months to training exercise for sometimes a couple days to weeks. October Adam starts leaving for work ups on his upcoming deployment gone 2 weeks to a month at a time.

2012- January-March- Adam is gone for weeks at a time for his last training before the deployment
March-? Adam is deployed

Each and every time we were apart, I was able to pick up the phone and call him. Talk to him, about whatever was on my mind. But this time i do not have the luxury. I can obviously deal with the distance, but not knowing if he is OK or when i will hear from him is what hurts the most. distance does make the heart grow founder but geeze I would love 1 full year without him being gone for days or months,  but life in USMC= unlikely!

So I guess I just need to embrace it. Take this time (the longest time I have ever not worked since i was 14) and enjoy life. Enjoy and make a life long relationship with my kids, go and do different things that I wouldn't normally do. But it is hard to do those things when you are constantly worrying about your other half, or trying to deal with the stress of being a "single' parent.

The what ifs.....

Just another Wednesday night at the Smith house, getting the kids ready for bed when all of a sudden....
I notice a message from a friend expressing her concern about the 24 MEU, and how they lost 2 men. IMMEDIATELY I start to research whats going on. Seconds later I find, http://www.militarytimes.com/news/2012/04/marine-morocco-embassy-says-2-killed-crash-041112/

I read it, then re-read it and my heart starts racing. I cant stop thinking about the last conversation I had with Adam. He was bummed out that he was NOT going to be able to get off the ship and train in Morocco. BUT the what ifs entered my mind and I panicked. I forward the link to my in-laws and a close friend. Reminder to all this is Adam and my first ever deployment. I put the kids in bed trying not to let on that anything is going on. As soon as I walk out of Allie's room I fell to my knees and started praying and through tears I begged, that Adam would be ok, safe and sound on the ship.

Thoughts all night while watching the news, talking with friends and researching for updates on-line, I could not help but think about the what ifs. What if Adam was needed to help train and was on that helicopter. What if he was one of those who are injured or deceased! WHAT IF?!! The thoughts just drove me crazy. Everyone just kept telling me "NO news is GOOD news". I could not get it out of my head. I was dreading the thought.....what if i heard my door bell ring!

The waiting game, hours felt like they were going by at a snails pace. I just wanted the media or the Marine corps to release the names of those involved in the crash. I wanted for my own selfish reasons to have some sense of relief. I WANTED more than anything an email or a phone call from my husband reassuring that he was safe and sound. BUT as I found out, ALL communication was shut down until families of those involved were notified.

When I finally woke up from what little sleep I did get, a friend of mine called and tried to re-assure me that Adam is ok. In my gut, i felt a little better and went about my birthday plans. I was sitting at lunch with some of my friends and I got the email I was waiting for. Then later that night, I got my call! To hear my husbands voice was the best feeling in the world. I am new to this whole deployment thing, but I HOPE I NEVER have to go thought the worry and wait again!

I hope all of you reading this will keep the families of those involved with crash in your prayers. Also for ALL the brave military members overseas!