Feeling the Heat

So far, everything is going OK. Cam has gotten the chance to call just about every day. We talk around 3 my time, but it's around 10 his. When I start working, things will be changing a bit and he may have to call early in the morning his time, and late at night mine. Whatever, I'm trying not to be too picky. At least we do get to talk often. During the day I can expect to get at least 1 e-mail and now he has an address for me to send him stuff!

In the car the morning Cam left.

He seems really tired when I talk to him. They're working like 15 hour days 7 days a week and he's still running pretty much every day. There's so much that I want to remember to tell him but I can never remember when we're on Skype. I just end up saying "There was something I wanted to tell you..." about 5 times and then remember after we hang up. He said there are alot of sandstorms and the other day it rained during one, so it was literally raining mud. He sounded pretty excited because he got to drive the CWO's truck around to pick people up and he said he got to go "mud boggin." Should be pretty safe though since it sounds like there was no wet grass to slide on and that's what usually gives him trouble. haha

I'm so proud of my very smart little boy! He's so advanced for his age...I mean...he's not even 1 and a half yet and he's already hit the "terrible twos." Incredible. The past 3 days have been full of back-arching, screeching, and going limp. Maybe even some foot stomping too! Not to mention all of the snot and tears! I don't know if it's because of DST, playing hard, missing Dad, moving, or just having an out-of-whack schedule, but I'm hoping this passes quickly. Jac's not the kind of kid who just "gets over it" or can be distracted. If I ignore him, it gets worse. If I speak firmly, it gets worse. I hate giving him what he wants when he acts like that (I don't want him to think that's how to get my attention), but most of the time, it's my sanity. He wants to play outside all day long and he's perfectly happy. The minute we need to come inside to catch the phone, use the bathroom, or whatever, the tantrum starts. Oh, and lets not mention the fact that he will refuse to eat if I don't let him hold his own spoon. You should have seen spaghetti night. Ugh...I'm exhausted after only a week and a half of being a stay-at-home-mom. Now I remember why I work! haha. Well, at least we still have bedtime. My little angel sleeps in his room from 7 to 7 uninterrupted! Thank God...I need some rest!

He's lucky he's got the cute thing going for him!

Eating his cupcake from Grandma...he's so rotten!

I've finally gotten over whatever nasty thing I had. I was so sick of coughing I could throw up...literally! Eww. Jac and I are still in Tricare Insurance limbo because of the move. I'm so scared we're gonna get really sick and get stuck with the bill because I haven't turned in the paperwork!

Penn came over this afternoon for a little dip in the baby pool and a bubble bath. After chasing them around, Mom came home and I painted a bookshelf, had a shower, ate supper and went off to church. I'm zonked! It's bedtime...after all...I gotta get up and shower before Jac rises at 7, otherwise I'll have to wait until naptime after lunch. I don't think I could do this all the time! Goodnight!

Ahh...peace

I LOVE SKYPE!

I got to talk to my man today...about 3 times...maybe 4. He finally made it to Iraq. He said that they flew them in at night to avoid being fired at...freaks me out! Anyhow, he got his Internet hooked up today and has to pay a whopping $100 a month for the second best connection. He said that the best connection was $180 and the smallest was $77. Crazy!

So glad we got him a laptop for Christmas! It's already been worth the money. We both have a webcam and got to talk on Skype. Jac was so excited to see his Daddy and couldn't stop laughing. He kept trying to kiss the screen. He's got a room to himself which I think is pretty good, but makes it seem even more lonely.

Here's a song that I really wanted to play at the end of our wedding as we were walking out the church. Everybody thought it would be too wierd so I didn't do it (my biggest regret). It makes me sad, but it's perfect.

"Walk Through The World" -Marc Cohn

I'm writing you this letter from some old hotel
I can feel the distance between us
From the Spanish Steps to the Liberty Bell
I know the angels have seen us... seen us, baby
They see you down on Seventh Avenue,
While you're just hanging by a thread
And I'm sitting in a lonely room without a view,
Wishing I was there with you instead

Won't you walk through this world with me
Walk through this world.
Over the miles of mystery,
Walk through this world with me.
I'm staring out across the rooftops, baby.
I've seen the writing on the wall.
Heard a little bit of thunder, at the seventh wonder,
but everything is bound to rise and fall, that's all

Walk through this world with me
Walk through the world.
Over the mountains and the shining sea,
Walk through this world with me...
Walk on... Walk on, Walk on...

Let me get this ringing out of my ears,
Let me get these stars out of my eyes.
'Cause I just want to look back over all the years
with you right there standing by my side.

I'm writing you this letter from some old hotel, they can see us, baby

(listen to the song here: http://music.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=music.Discography&artistid=5672&albid=8792725&songid=30804258 )

Again!

I got another call from Cam yesterday morning around 11. Not much news. He's still in Kuwait and it sounds like they're all pretty bored there. Just sitting around waiting to go to Iraq next. He hasn't called today and I don't think he will (since they are like 8 hours ahead of us and that would make it about 1 in the morning on Thurs). Hopefully that means they are on the way or maybe they have already arrived in Iraq. I can't wait to get his address so I can send him a present in the mail.

Mom and I are heading back to J-ville tomorrow to start getting packed up. Dad, Pack, and maybe Bob will come up on Friday night or Saturday morning to start packing up a moving truck. Jac will be staying with "Grandma Dotty" for the weekend. I'm pretty sad about leaving our first home together. That's probably why I haven't started packing anything up before now.

Anyhow, it's almost time for church so I better be going. I've got to give the kid a bath since I won't have time in the morning. Peace out!

First Good News

Cam called around lunchtime yesterday to let me know that they had arrived in Kuwait safely. He didn't know how long they would be stuck there or when he would get to call again, but hearing that they landed safely after a 23 hour flight was a huge load off. That's pretty much all the news I have right now.

Missing him...

He's Gone

So this post should be short and sweet. Cam had to be on base this morning at 5:30. After we got there and unloaded the rain started coming down. We waited for as long as we could, but Jac was freezing and hungry so we sat in the car for a bit before we had to say goodbye.

Bottom line...THIS SUCKS! Today was the hardest day of my life thus far. I'm so thankful that in almost 3 years of active duty, this is the first and last time we will have to do this. I don't think any amount of reenlistment bonus is worth having to watch a dad have to say goodbye to his family. As sad and lonely as I feel, I know he's having a much harder time.

So as Jac's shirt says..."It's all downhill from here." After today, maybe it will start sucking a little less until it's time for him to get home. I'm hoping to hear from him in the next couple of days and I'll post an update. I'm back in Florence for now and will be headed back to NC in a few days to start packing for the big move.

That's all for now...

Time Is Slippin Away!

Well folks, D-Day is near. Cam was told on Friday morning that they would gather on base to leave this Thursday. Today, they told him that they flight will now be leaving on Sunday morning which is much better news. I was feeling pretty positive about the whole thing, trying to think of it as just a small transition phase of our life together, but getting an actual date makes it all more real. My last day of work will be on Friday, so all this couldn't possibly come at a worse time, but let's face it...Friday is gonna suck regardless, so I might as well be here and say my goodbye's.

Mom and Dad came up on Saturday night to babysit Jac so that Cam and I could get away for a night. We justified spending the extra money saying, this is our anniversary (July 22) and both of our birthday celebrations (June 30, Aug. 26). We went to the same Bed & Breakfast in Wilmington we stayed at on our honeymoon. It was awesome! Cam called in earlier that day and they had a cancellation on one of their best rooms, so we were pretty pumped about getting it. When we finally arrived shortly after 8, the owner realized that Coker sounds alot like Coger, and he had already checked another couple into our room by mistake! All of their rooms are pretty amazing so we didn't put up a fight (as long as we had our hot tub) and took another room. I would feel horrible about kicking another couple out. As it turns out, our new room (The Cabana Suite) was probably better anyway. It was a little smaller and didn't have a fireplace, but everything else was pretty great.

The plaque outside our room

Wet bar, closet, and freakin awesome hot tub!

Bed, Dresser, and Art...with a Carribbean vibe

View from the front of the bed...I know...we should have taken a pic BEFORE we pulled down the covers.

On Sunday morning, we slept in, went downstairs to eat a late breakfast, and then headed to town for a little shopping. I got a sweet new hippie shirt from Loose Lucy's so I was pleased with my purchase...it actually fits! Anyhow, it was an awesome night...I hope it ties me over for the next 6-7 months!

I'm planning on going back to Florence on Sunday after Cam leaves. I'll probably be zonked! Mom is off all week next week, so she may come back to J-ville with me to start getting packed up for the big move...maybe the first weekend in March? Who knows.

I've got so much to do here at school to get ready to leave. The problem is that I'm having a hard time caring about any of it. All I want to do is spend time with Cam and Jac. My slackness here at work is a direct result of wanting to be with him every spare second I have. I can't even think about him not being here without getting a lump in my throat and watery eyes. I know that God's in control, but that doesn't make me miss him any less.

My favorite place to be...with my boys!

Happy (Belated) B-Day Jac!

Big news! Cam got promoted at work! It's really kind of a big deal (at least I think so). He went up on a sergeant board for his company, battalion, regiment, and MLG and won all of them! We're talking a big percentage of Camp Lejeune here. So...I took the day off so that I could be there to see his ceremony, and apparently they decided to "surprise" him. Long story short...I missed it. So while I was sittin at home waiting for him to get here and celebrate, I was feeling a bit nostalgic and I put together this little slideshow of Jac's first year. I can't believe my little tiny baby is a toddler! :( Here it goes!