2 years...

We have a grand plan, my husband and I.  We have plotted the "ideal" path for his Marine Corps career, and our family.  He has attained Lt Col command, which was at one time, the ultimate goal.   We figured that we would wait to see if he is selected for Top Level School after his command (summer 08).  If he did get selected for school, he thinks he would have a fair chance at making Colonel.  If things went this way, we would be looking at a potential of at least 6 or so more years in the Marine Corps.  However, things have changed a little regarding his command - an Iraq mission his BN had been training for since June has been given to another BN, out of Hawaii.  My husband is disappointed to say the least!  He is trying to get another mission for 2/10, but if he is not able to, then they will probably "roll up" 2/10 and send Tim to Iraq as part of the Division staff for a year.  He would be a commander without a command.  Upon his return from Iraq, if things happen this way, he would have 5-6 months left as CO of  2/10, but 2/10 would not be a complete BN.  This is a position he's waited for his entire Marine Corps career, and now he is talking about retiring in two years if things go the way he fears they will.  So, for the last week my mind has been spinning on "what ifs".  I actually think it might be nice if he could retire and get a job that would afford him more family time - maybe time to teach CCD, and/or coach the kids' sports teams.  Entire weekends as a family.  Of course, we would all miss the life we've known - and the benefits such as living on base, and all it has to offer would be a big thing to lose.  Maybe in two years, we'll be ready for such a change.  We shall see.

The next 40 weeks....

I'm PREGNANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  As a mother of 8, and a Catholic who relies on NFP, I should not be surprised.  And, I'm not, not really.  Well, maybe a little.  I will be 20 weeks pregnant on my 40th birthday.  I could not be more excited or happy than I am!  This baby is due on Easter.  I am sure it's a girl, and her name will be Amy Faith.  Because she will be a testament to our faith, and because I never met an Amy I didn't like!  Tim gets to name the baby on the off chance it ends up being a boy.  Time will tell!

What is funny is that I am trying to hide this fact  - primarily because I want to be sure I don't miscarry this time, and have to break that news.  Also, because I am not quite ready to hear some of the negative responses that will come.  I am used to being called crazy, and I can handle that.  Having a big family isn't for everyone, but I feel extraordinarily blessed, and am happy to let God plan our family.  The wonder of the miracle of conception, development and birth is no less magnificent the 9th time as it is the first time around.  I love being a part of this miracle!  And, most importantly, my husband is on board 100%.  He laughed when I told him the news - what a wonderful sound that was.  He is an amazing man.  It isn't like either of us is unaware of how much kids cost, or how many things can happen to them, or the daily stresses of life in a big family, or the tremendous responsibility we already have to raise our children.  But we are in this together, for the long haul.  I am thrilled to have his babies!

I am determined to eat right and exercise throughout this pregnancy.  It will be another c-section, my 4th.  Tim is due to go to Iraq in April, so I will have 7 months after the baby comes to get my body back before Tim comes home.  I love a challenge!

Father's Day

Mick is in the hospital again.  He slipped on the stairs on Tuesday, and wouldn't bear weight on his left foot.  I took him to the Dr on Wednesday.  This  Dr "worked" his leg up and down, from foot and ankle, and Mick didn't show any signs of pain, so, since there was no bruising or swelling, the Dr suggested that maybe Mick just "remembered" the pain he felt when he fell.  He didn't want to x-ray his foot unless necessary, so he told me to bring Mick back on Friday if he still wasn't using his foot.  On Friday, his foot was swollen, and I brought him in for x-rays.  The x-rays showed no break, but the swelling was alarming to the Dr (a different one, this time), so they admitted him and put him on IV antibiotics and did blood work, looking for cellulitis, or possible osteomyletis (bone infection).  He has now been in the hospital for 3 days, and we still don't know what is wrong with his foot.  They will do a bone scan tomorrow to see if he does, indeed, have osteomyelitis.  Mick has been a trooper through it all.  Never once did he cry or fight the nurses when they were drawing blood!  He is getting a bit grumpy at having to be in the hospital, though, and he isn't happy about having his arm on a board to support his IV site.  It's itchy, I think.  Tim and I have been taking turns staying with Mick, and I am making dinner to bring up to the hospital so that we can have a Father's Day picnic in Mick's room.  I just wish we could bring Mick home, and return to the hospital when he needs his meds and tests.  But, I know they are being super cautious, and I can't complain about that.  I was reading about osteomyelitis on the Internet last night.  I also learned that people with Down Syndrome are more prone to infection, and I am sure that is why they are being extra vigilant about diagnosing him.  I just want him to get better and come home.  The kids are excited to be going up to see him, but I know it will be hard for Mick to see Tim and them go home.  Sigh.

Casualties of War....

This morning a friend of mine was telling me about helping a friend of hers pack up her things in her house to get ready to move.  Her husband was killed in Iraq in March, and she and her kids are moving out of base housing and out on their own.  Maybe back to her hometown.  My friend said how hard it was to take the pictures off the walls.  And, she told me that her friend's kids were following my friend's husband around all day Saturday, calling him "Daddy".  She told my friend that the money she is receiving isn't nearly as much as she had expected it to be, and wonders how she is going to support her kids.  Man.  I cannot even imagaine.

Then, this afternoon I ventured over to the Lemon Lot at the PX (where people park cars and RVs they want to sell).  I saw a Marine in a wheelchair, having had his lower right leg below the knee amputated (or maybe blown off by a roadside bomb?).  Two boys, about 6 and 9 years old, were following him around, looking at cars.  I assume they are his sons. 

My husband told me last week that he will be returning to Iraq in March, for 7 months.  He wants to go, so I want him to go.  We both believe in the cause. He needs to be where the action is, and I love him for that.  I know I can manage while he is gone.  I've done it before, I can do it again.  But, quite honestly, I'd rather be blissfully ignorant of the dangers he will face.  I don't want to think about him being injured or killed.  He is my whole life.  And, when I see these brave men who are now broken (hopefully only physically - with their spirits intact), or hear these heart wrenching stories of the families that are left behind, it only makes it all the more obvious how important it is to treasure the time we have together - as husband and wife, and as a family.  God Bless our fighting men and women, and God Bless the families who support their desire to fight for freedom, for all, not just for Americans.

Pertussis

OK.  So there is a mini epidemic of whooping cough on base.  I have 4 of my kids on house arrest (quarantined) for the next 5 days, because they have been exposed to someone(s) who has been diagnosed with whooping cough.  Mine are healthy, and on prophylactic antibiotics, just in case.  My lucky husband gets to spend the weekend in NY, for Fleet Week.  I am not quarantined - maybe I will just join him!!!!

Working without a net....

This parenting thing is hard!!!!!!!!!!  My daughter is in her mid teens.  She is fairly typical, has had her share of ups and downs.  Teen-aged angst type stuff, mostly.  When my husband was in Iraq, she became friends with a girl from school, who was troubled.  As in, "kicked-out-of-base-housing" type trouble.  I first heard about this girl from a phone call to our home from an NCIS agent who had questions to ask my daughter regarding charges this girl was bringing against a former boyfriend.  My daughter was being a friend - trying to help this girl.  They continued their friendship, and this girl spent a few nights at our house.  She was friendly and polite enough, but not someone I'd have chosen for Katie to grow close to.  She seemed "fast" (I sound like my mother, ack!) Parental supervision/involvement seemed to be sorely lacking in their house, and, against my better judgement, I allowed my daughter to spend a few nights at their house.  She always came back reeking of smoke (both parents smoke), and her grades started to slide.  I didn't have concrete evidence to back up my instincts until I found a note this girl had written to my daughter, all about their drinking and partying, and plans to get drunk on Homecoming night, so that this girl could "lose her virginity again".  Needless to say, my daughter was not allowed to spend the night over there again.  I felt justified in cutting all ties between the girls. 

This year, my daughter has made quite a few really good quality, wholesome friends.  She started attending CYO and bible study, and acting more interested in her faith.  Her attitude around the house has improved immensely, and I have been very proud of the young lady she is becoming.  Unfortunately, the girls she has been hanging around with this year, the girls I really like, are all moving this summer!  AND........yesterday she got a call from the other girl from last year, inviting her to lunch to celebrate this girl's birthday.  Again, against my better judgement, I let her go.  They ended up back at this girl's house, and my daughter called and asked if she could stay there for awhile.  I said that she needed to come right home, and she did, without an argument.  Now, though, she is telling me that she wants to use her new found wisdom and faith to help this girl and her sister (who is 17, and the mother of a 3 year old).  I love her intentions.  I admire her desire to bring these girls to an understanding and relationship with God.  But it scares the heck outta me!  Alarm bells are going off all over.  What if my daughter backslides?!  What if she gets into some kind of trouble with these girls?!  What if they convince her that their lifestyle is more fun than the one she has recently started living?! 

She argues that it is all a matter of trust, and that if I trusted her it would all be fine.  It isn't her I don't trust, and every time I don't trust my instincts, I wish I had.  This will be an interesting conversation with my husband. He will be back at the end of next week, and I am anxious to see what he has to say.  I wish there was a manual, kind of like my favorite "How to Fix Just About Anything" book.  The lady who is currently running the CYO program at church is leaving.  After discussing this with my husband, we agreed to take it on, along with another good friend of mine.  It is so important to be involved in your kids' lives - especially through the teen years - and so hard to do when the younger ones demand so much of our time and energy.  But, it will be a valuable and rewarding experience for all of us, I hope.

Relationships

There is so much that is wonderful to sit back and observe.  This weekend, I was struck (stricken?) by how many truly good, truly happy, truly blessed people that I have the good fortune to know.  Which isn't to say that these people have lived trouble-free, easy lives.  They haven't.  Some have been through trials that would make another person bitter, or resentful, or, at least, cautious to open their lives and their hearts to others.  Some have endured more pain (physical, or emotional, or both), than most people will ever know.  The way they've chosen to live their lives is inspiring.  These are beautiful people!  They are the first to help and the last to complain.  I love that, and I am lucky to know them.