Buh-Bye, Iraq!

After enduring more than 24 hours of travel, a turbulence-induced vomiting person sitting RIGHT BESIDE HIM, and a 3 1/2 hour delayed flight from D.C. to Pittsburgh...my much better half has finally arrived home.  Exactly where he belongs.

Lunch at Red Robin, who I have to give special kudos to --- our meals were on the house after they found out Jason had just arrived in from Iraq; a quick stop to treat a special girl at Toys R Us; and a drive home in humid rain.  And now home.  For a bit of normalcy.  We have six weeks of downtime to unwind before we fly to Cairo.  We all need it; time together as family can be hard to come by! 

For those who have asked me how I survived the past year with three kids and a hubby in Iraq (and don't forget those six months in D.C. for training!), I have but a list of five essentials.

1.Lattes

2. Antacids

3. Stash of Chocolate for late nights (or wine if that's your thing)

4. Running

5. Strong Support Network (friends, family, work)

In the right proportions, these will get you through anything.  Late night? Got to work an early shift at the ER? Triple-shot latte (actually, make it two).  Kids won't go to bed until 11:00pm and you have two more hours of stuff to get done?  Chocolate.  Lots of it.  Kid accidentally breaks one of your few adult treasures - a precious bowl from Tiffany's? [Sobbing] and a call to a good, good friend.  Stories about Iraq in the news makes your stomach churn in ways you never thought possible?  Antacids. And another call to a really good friend.  Stressed to the max and feel like you're gonna snap the head off of the next person who asks your for something?  Long, long, LONG run.  Maybe you can even run a race with some friends.

See?  This list of five is exactly what you need.

To everyone who's been through this with us - and you know who you are! - Thank you for your love and support.

And that's it for now...because I'm off to go see my favoritist person in the whole world, who's been on the opposite side of the world from me for far, FAR, too long.

My favoritist person.  In the whole world.
Where he belongs.  Abby and Kellen were so happy
to see Daddy!  Owen is at Cub Scout camp this week,
but will see him tomorrow evening at family night.