Here we go again...

[DCJenn]

Ever see Fight Club? well, that's going to be me in Edward Norton's character if I don't start sleeping soon.

I haven't slept through the night in well, I don't remember when my last uninterrupted night of sleep was. or I end up going to bed super late because there's just too much crap to do at home. or I wake up super early because there's something that we HAVE to do.

Last night Nikolai woke up twice, then we had a major wind storm (or so it seemed) and then there was some kind of animal fight (no bodies though) outside.

Every night for the last week or so Nikolai has been waking up with a cough. It's terrible but he's sleeping through it. (I'm not!) I'm wondering if it's from that stuff that I used to seal the tiles in his bathroom. There is a lingering chemical smell in that bathroom that makes me nuts. I left his windows open today so hopefully that will help. There is no bathroom window to open- it's glass brick.

and the new cat is a night howler. yay. He stayed out all night last night which was fine with me but it was probably him fighting.

I have dark circles that are becoming permanent! and coffee is no longer a tasty drink in the morning but a critical drug to get me through the days without sleeping at my desk. (and not always successfully!) It's 3:30 and I'm on cup #4 since I got here at 11am.

actually, I do know when my last uninterupted night of sleep was- March 12. The last night that Rick was at home when he was home for that week of trauma training. I think that's the #1 thing I'll be happy about when he gets home- oh yeah the sex part is grand, but I REALLY want sleep.

142 days left.

[DCJenn]

We've finally turned the corner with the colds- he's spent the weekend catching up on sleep!

Today was the greatest Mother's Day I could have had- unless my husband was home. But he wasn't and it was a great day nonetheless.

Yesterday our friends called and asked what we were doing today and I said- nada- and asked if they wanted to come over- which is what they had in mind anyway. They have a soon to be 8yo daughter who loves to swim. and Nikolai loves her.

I instant messaged with Rick today and he said that his running shoes were wearing down-and I needed a new pair anyway so I went to the specialty running store (I was planning on just going to Lady Foot Locker because I have a $10 off coupon!) and had them look up his shoes and then told them about what the issues were- i do like specialty boutique stores when you know the salespeople are trained. The people who work there RUN. they know their stuff. Turns out he's in a pair of trainers-aka not meant for long runs for days on end. So I got both us a a new pair of shoes and some running socks because he keeps getting blisters, and well, I'm tired of my ancient breast cancer walk socks.

After that we headed to the chi-chi grocery store where I bought ginormous burgers, potato salad and snacky stuff- I told my friends they were in charge of beverages.

They came over and Gabby (their daughter) jumped right in the pool. Nikolai continued to be a wee bit afraid until he saw how much fun Gabby was having. Next thing you know we're playing "catch me mommy" as he jumped into the pool. We did this twice for at least an hour. He's totally knocked out right now. We ate lunch and then my next door neighbor (the one who drained the hot tub twice) came over with his new girlfriend and then our other neighbors two doors down came over so we ended up with lawn chairs and coolers of beer and water and a radio and it was great! Mostly I was in the pool with Gabby and Nikolai but I'm so glad we have fun people to hang out with!

I showed all the grown-ups how to work the pool fence so people can take advantage of the pool when we're not around. or even if we are around for that matter. I'm paying Frank the Pool Guy, I might as well get something out if it.

There is this kid who is stalking my pool- today he once again came over and started hanging on the fence and asked repeatedly if he could use the pool. Finally Paul (Gabby's daddy) in very stern Daddy voice told him he could not use the pool. Period. I think Petey is definitely going to be an outdoor dog after school gets out. and as Paul put it- this kid looks like he'd have a pocketknife handy so my pool fence would be useless.

but all in all- a great, relaxing day.

and my husband did call from Iraq to wish me a happy Mother's Day.

Jenn

[DCJenn]

Some pictures from Fiesta week with the relatives:


The Boys in the Bathtub. My dude is the one on the left.


My brother with the dudes. Please note the "chair rail" at shoulder height with the hideous mustard colored marbleing. and the ugly blue walls.


Mom and me and the boys in a Pedi-cab, heading back from the Riverwalk.


My brother and I in the pool with the boys. Note the hysterical Russian screaming to get out of the pool. No such luck, now. ETA: yes, the bottom of my pool was painted black. Won't that be toasty come August in San Antonio?

[DCJenn]

Our friend Mike is OUT of Iraq! Yay- one down, one to go.

He couldn't tell his wife when he was leaving for security reasons but did email her once he landed outside of Iraq. He may get hung up for a few more days waiting for more people to be transported out as well but hey- that's OK.

Meanwhile Rick reports that they're having some nasty storms and that the mud is a combination of "baby poop, chocolate mousse and elmer's glue."
He went to some of the other bases today and saw some of Saddam's palaces and the place he was building to celebrate beating the Americans. I asked if he picked up any decorating ideas he said no, things were a wee bit ornate for his tastes. I did tell him to find us some rugs and have them shipped home before he leaves.

on the home front, I think the diabetic cat is starting the inevitable downward decline. More puking, lethargic, looks like she's lost some weight. I'll take her to the doctor tomorrow- they need her all day. It sounds kind of cruel but I may just have her put to sleep tomorrow- it's really expensive to board her and I don't want her to become an unstable diabetic animal. It was different when we had Rascal- we didn't have Nikolai and Rick was home. I don't think I'm managing her as well as I could be- actually- I know I'm not managing her as well as I could be and that's not fair.

I also was surfing This Old House last night and found the picture of what I want my bathroom to look like- instead of pink halfway up the wall, topped with gold Greek key stencils...and coming up cork tiles. and no shower and no storage. and a full-size mirror topped with fake Grecian columns. Have I mentioned that I hate this bathroom? (the one w/ the boys in the tub- one column is orange and the wall next to it is yellow because I was testing the paint colors in different light- neither color passed the test)

Now all I need is money.

133 more days.

[DCJenn]

Yesterday I hired the sitter and took myself out of the house for five hours. I had a blast. Went to Borders (bought nothing), Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, Bath and Body Works, again bought nothing. Then, like a beacon, the Day Spa called my name. I went in and asked what services they had available right then and there. "An hour long deep tissue massage in 15 minutes?"

Ahhhhhhhh. It was fab. It hurt, but it was GREAT. (and I made an appointment for one month from yesterday for another one. I think I've earned it)

I took Rick's car to be washed- after I accepted the fact that washing the car by myself with a 3yo is doable but not advisable. I bought two full car details including hand polishing etc and will take my car this week and his closer to when he gets home.

Made myself a steak in puttanesca sauce with risotto and a spinach salad- had my 6oz glass of wine. Steak was perfectly rare, sauce was divine, risotto was yummy and really- there's nothing wrong with spinach and balsamic/EVOO.

and then, after I put the dude to bed and chatted online with my spouse, I slipped a Lush Golden Slumbers Bath ball into the tub and soaked whilst reading last month's Cooking Light. I went to bed with the windows open and woke up at 9am- realized that dude wasn't awake yet and we got up at 10am. Glorious.

It was EXACTLY what I needed- relaxation with more relaxation with sleep. In fact, it was perhaps the worlds most perfect day. (sans spouse)

and now, I'm going to get a drink of water and go to bed. It is habit-forming after all.

[DCJenn]

The Best Anniversary Present Ever:

Just wanted to say that I love you and I miss you. 7 years....I suppose we are lucky, we have had some tough times. Hell, I guess this isn't easy time ey? I can't believe that someone chose to put up with me for that long.

I think you are doing a wonderful job with everything at home and I couldn't ask for a better partner. It's like I don't even have to think about anything other than missing you and Nikolai, which is nice. It means that when I eventually get off of work, i can try to contact you and do the things that i need to do here.Not a lot of time off, that is for sure.
I am sorry I missed you today, I was on right after you left those messages. I got your packages, the shoes and the book and coffee. Can't have too much coffee.

Thank you again for all you do, I know this isn't a great way to thank you, but it is a start. I hope you know you are appreciated and loved!

Happy Anniversary!
Rick


and some pictures:

From before they left Wisconsin:



The palace Saddam was building for his sons:



The "Palace to Celebrate the Victory over the Americans." You'll note that it's not finished.


(notice the gun in his possession- kind of a mind warp - the doctor with the gun)

[DCJenn]

Well, this weekend was LONG.

Memorial Day on top of our friend getting home from Balad- made me a wee bit weepy. (a wee bit- like I burst into tears when A Prairie Home Companion played the National Anthem...)

We're hopefully at the 1/3 done mark but we both aren't yet convinced that he won't be extended. This is the military after all.

On the upside, "we" entered "our" 2nd year of payback on May 20. (because USUHS graduated early, they get commissioned early which benefits them in several ways- they are usually the first promoted and the paybacks/retirement start earlier. Everyone else is usually in June. although in only the military accounting...he enlisted in September of 1986 so his annual date for years in service is a September date- and we have no idea why. but heck- it really doesn't matter to us! Just keep on racking up the years and the % toward retirement.

I lost my mind and decided to redo the master bath- see the home section. It's going to look great. Although in all honesty, anything would be an improvement. I hope he likes it.

Potty training boot camp worked marvelously for #1. #2- totally not interested in doing this on the toilet. In fact, he appears to not care at all if he wallows in his own filth for hours. We will get through this but man- I'm so over poo.

My mom came in for a few days which was nice although I always worry about my guests- I lie awake at night worrying about whether people are sleeping. It's so stupid. I'm really tired after all of this so I'm going to finish my cup of Peach tea and go to bed.

122 more days.

[DCJenn]

Since my last post my bathroom caught Jenn P's water problems and I have a lovely swath of rotten moldy subflooring- extending under the wall and into the living room. Under the tub AND the toilet. I'm so hoping that it meets the deductible because that would help out SO much. I mean I had every intention of redoing that entire area anyway, and will regardless of whether the home owner's insurance kicks in or not- but still every little bit would help.

On the downside though I called the contractor and he said to not use the tub or toilet very often in case the water seeped into the joists and weakened them. (yay!) and he didn't think we would want to go crashing through the floor in the ancient cast iron tub full of water and a dude.

My mother's theory is that the tub is getting a lot more use than it had w/ the previous owners so the seals that were going bad have been thrown over the edge. She's probably right.

Ah the joys of the old house.

Four more months (hopefully) of this deployment. I am so thankful that it probably won't be a year. I can't imagine doing this for 10 more months. I really want to concentrate on saving money for the bathroom so I don't think we'll be going anywhere after our trip to my MILs. that could make for a VERY long, hot summer. Hopefully, everyone will be able to come to see us, instead.

As it is, I have a toilet and a new seat and seal in my kitchen area and the new plumbing for the tub in the entrance way and the tiles and vanities will be delivered tomorrow. I'm sure the adjuster will think that I did the floor on purpose but I didn't. I'm not that devious.

I'm mentally prepping for the visit to my MILs. I'm not dreading it exactly, I just really don't want to go. I will and Nikolai will be better for having spent a week with his other grandmother and some cousins. Right? I'm going to find a gym and disappear for as long as I can. There are plenty of people around to watch him- that's the upside of Small Town, USA.

We're going on the weekend of Father's Day which will be good for a few reasons- Nikolai won't have to deal with it, I won't have to deal with it and it'll distract my MIL and SIL from being too sad about my FIL not being around anymore. (He was was the father of my husband's youngest sister. My husband has a step-brother, too)

118 more days.

[DCJenn]

I LOVE USAA.

Once again, my homeowner's insurance has come through. Even with our 1% deductible, we're still going to get 3,700k. Deposited into my checking account tomorrow. and if my contractor think she underestimated the claim, I'm to let her know.

It certainly won't pay for the entire new bathroom but every little bit that I'm not paying out of pocket can go toward something else.

I had to confess to Rick a little bit about it because she came to the door while we were videoconferencing. I've left it that I'll get the floor repaired to a functional level and we'll figure out what we want to do when he gets home. Meanwhile, he couldn't see the tiles, vanities and tub plumbing behind me. I made sure everything was offloaded past the viewing area of the camera.

and in other good news, my child can actually kick to the point where he's able to navigate around the pool. My level of stress has decreased somewhat because he was able to keep his head above the water, float for a bit on his back and make it from one side of the pool to the other. It think it was the blonde in the bikini saying, "swim to me sweetie" that did it. He loves girls. and the blonde in the bikini was the owner of the new coffee shop around the corner from me so it's good to get to know her. They're getting a gelato machine installed this week. I may have to schedule longer training sessions at the gym!

I told my neighbor and his friends about my 9 year old pool stalker and told them that I'd rather have them (a group of college educated adults) in the pool than the 9 yo and his buddies taking a knife to my pool fence and then drowning in my pool. The pool stalker came over again last week, this time with his buddies. I told them they were welcome to swim in the pool, WITH THEIR PARENTS. You could see the incredulous looks cross their faces.

[DCJenn]

Unbelievable...

So, at work we have a very small contract with the city of San Antonio to take people w/ misdemeanor charges who also have drug problems. (bascially a jail diversion program)

It's basically prostitutes and people w/ lots of outstanding tickets. No biggie-it's going really well.

We were supposed to have our annual audit by the city 6 or so weeks ago. She didn't show. We were supposed to have our rescheduled audit today. She didn't show. She finally called my co-hort in accounting to say that they were short-staffed and she couldn't come. You know, we're chronically short-staffed yet manage to get all of our work done...

Annoying.

I even wore a skirt today.

Jenn

[DCJenn]

106 days left.

My biggest issue is sleep. I'm still not sleeping all that well and neither is Nikolai. He woke up at least six times last time- I want water, I want my blankie, rub my back, I want my daddy, I have to go potty, there's a bee in my room....

I ended up taking him out of his room last night and putting him in bed with me (against my rational thinking self) but I was so tired that I figured if he was going to continue to wake up screaming, at least I'd be right there. He eventually settled down but I'll bet now he's going to want to do this every night which just can't happen. I spent the entire night getting kicked and prodded. No fun.

It's horrible. I know it's attention seeking behavior for the most part because he doesn't do it when we have overnight guests. I haven't figured out which is worse- listening to him scream, "mommy" at the top of his lungs if I don't respond to him immediately OR having to drag my arse out of bed to attend to Tsar Nikolai's every whim. It's annoying. I know he's only three and that he misses his daddy but this isn't healthy for either of us. Neither of us are getting enough sleep at this point.

Oh well. I'm drugging myself with coffee this morning before I go to the gym.

I also realized that I'm going to have to take Friday off because I need to move all of the furniture from the Master bath and from Nikolai's room before the contractors come while we're gone. They're going to paint Nikolai's room- currently it's a dark lime green with a forest green ceiling. Pretty horrible I must say. I know they were trying to make the room look smaller by painting the ceiling but hooo boy is it ugly. He's getting the same creamy white as the bathrooms are getting so that I can accessorize it and then when we move him upstairs I can more easily convert it to a guest room.

My cooking class was fun last night (see post in food and wine) and I came home to find all of King William Realty babysitting my son. Everyone came over w/ spouses and kids which is great. They reported that Pool Stalker was once again at it- so my friend Laura's husband suggested that we get a chain and a lock for the front gate and put up a no tresspassing sign while we're in California. We're double fenced but I so don't need this kid hopping in pool and drowning. I should figure out where he lives and have a talk with his parents. I know he knows the kids who have been here from the elementary school and I'm sure he's jealous but I can't be responsible for that. This is the first time since the pool was built that kids are in it almost every day.

Rick is fine- as much as he can say, anyway. I had read in the Army Times or military.com that they were running out of fresh food and he confirmed it. They're going to MREs soon. It has nothing to do with the funding, it's a logistics problem apparently. Every day is one day closer to his coming home, that's how I see it.

There's an online blogger spouse at military.com - a navy spouse who has been ranting about military medicine for a long time. She thought fairly. Some of her issues are true (lots of waits for appts because there aren't enough providers for the families since the docs and nurses are deployed, the silly way you have to get appointments, etc) She wrote her article yesterday about speaking at the Medical dinner (sounded like a graduation) and realizing that lo and behold- doctors are people too and perhaps patients need to realize that medical care is a two way street. I didn't know whether to scream, laugh or cry. Why does this perception still exist? Good God- of course they're human! I'll post the article later.

Well, I have 15 minutes to get myself ready to go to the gym. I have to figure out what I'm going to wear to work. I think it's a jeans day today. I'm too tired to wear anything else.

[DCJenn]

95 days left- whoo hoo- we're in double digits!!

I survived going to my MILs. They are nice people. My younger SIL is fantastic and I think now that she's out of the clutches of my evil soon to be ex-BIL we will have a great relationship w/ her (and her two kids). He basically has cheated on her since they started dating (high school) and ended up giving her a (treatable) STD but didn't think to mention it to her.
He also trashed their credit and lived WAY beyond his means but insisted that she stay home and do day care (which she enjoys so it wasn't all bad).

The breeders are crazy and I can't write about how annoying it is to watch 22 yos do stupid stuff with their own children. yup- all of the breeders have two.

and one neice is a meth head. I figured something was up since Mollie was suspiciously absent from any conversation with my MIL. Sucks because she was about the smartest of the grandkids (at least the older set).

My bathroom was almost finished while we were gone- it looks great- there are some issues though- two minor water leaks (the contractor got a VERY early phone call this morning about that), they messed up the side of one of the vanities- most people wouldn't notice, but I'm not most people. The painters need to come back and scrape some paint and touch-up some spots. They need to re-refinish the tub- I don't know what they did but it looks worse now than when they started. They need to hang some hooks and towel racks and the medicine chest for Nikolai's room. (and his room is no longer Kermit the Frog green. Yay!)

So, we'll see. We exchanged some of the fixtures and amenities for credit w/ the contractor and he took the 6 X 8 foot mirror for credit as well. I have enough work here to keep him busy for a LONG time so I know he'll fix the stuff that bothers me. The problem is that I'm a wee bit OCD and would prefer to do some of it (especially the painting) myself.

Rick has NO idea. I can't wait to see the look on his face when he sees his new bathroom. It really is a vast improvement, that's for sure.

I'm keeping Petey and Nicki at their respective boarding facilities for the next few days until the contractors are done. Don't need the 800 pounds of dog fur and a compromised pet running around.

Ahhhh, it's great to be home.

[DCJenn]

You know- I miss my husband. I actually LIKE him and I'm proud that he has achieved so much.

Maybe it was going back to his hometown which had it not been in the desert, I would have described as backwater. No one goes to college. Hell, these days no one joins the military- they just get one dead beat job after another at the Antelope Valley Mall. (nope- I've never seen an antelope but I have seen tumbleweeds)

Acording to my MIL, Rick has been saying since he was a wee one that he wanted to be a doctor (he's never mentioned this- he just poo-poos the idea by saying "it's what I was good at"). and he did it.

How? He attempted to go to the local community college and work full time at his (now ex-) BIL's pizza place. He quickly realized that he wasn't going to be able to pay the bills. My ILs weren't exactly Joe and Suzie Normal so he knew he'd have to do it the hard way. He enlisted in the Army because they had the best GI bill and he took the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Ability Battery.) He tested the highest in language apptitudes (and if anyone can find my posts from Russia, you'll see that this holds true now- as annoying as it is) but the Infantry had the highest signing bonus so he went into the Infantry. He ended up graduating from jump school and became a member of the 82nd Airborne.

While in the 82nd, he was activated for Haiti and Panama. He describes his experiences in Panama as smells (ETA: including fear- he says fear isa real smell) more than anything else. Haiti is described as sweaty, hot, smelly, and more hot. Seriously mind-numbing time spent in hangars waiting to go.

He soon learned that his brain was more valuable than his brawn and he was promoted to company clerk (Radar O'Reilly in other words). He managed a stateside swap (when one member of the Army finds another member of the military with the same position and they trade spots for personal reasons) to Ft. Irwin, CA. He was there for two more years pretending to be Russian. Ft. Irwin is the place where people go to train against 'the enemy' which back in the late '80s was still Russia. Again, my posts and pictures from Russia will show how ironic THAT was.

He did a year of National Guard for which the Army still owes us pay but...I digress...

He went home and ended up with two AA degrees from the infamous Antelope Valley CC and transferred to UCSB. He got his degree as a biology major, worked in their eyeball lab (I have no idea what it's real name is but they worked on eyeball issues) and generally hung out on the beaches of Santa Barbara. Poor Guy.)

and he was the very first person in his family go have a college degree- of any kind.

He applied to three medical schools got into all but USUHS. Odd he thought. Well, turns out he did get into USUHS but they didn't notify him in time (typical military) so he missed the deadline and had to go in the next year. He had decided that if he could go the military route and incur no debt, he would.

So -he went to USUHS- and had a GREAT time. He was older than most and didn't give a rats ass about the rules and made great friends. He had four lab partners- all of whom graduated, got their first choice for residency, got their first choices for fellowship and all of whom are great guys. Their advisor stopped one of them a few years ago and apologized and said that those four had taught him that just maybe the 'gunners' didn't own medicine. Just maybe you could have a life, still be a good doctor, and have a good time doing it.

He did the military residency in peds and it was great. I mean it was great for him. It sucked for me but he learned a lot and developed a passion for peds and peds neurology in particular. He applied for the military fellowship in child neurology which had a reputation for toxicity but there were no other options. The head honcho in DC basically told him that he was stupid and would never make it (again- the non-gunner reputation) but they accepted him nonetheless.

About the same time, my husbands former CO- a captain at the time of my husband's Sgt. days- contacted him. He was now a Colonel at the ROTC program at BC and thought that my husband and another of the enlisted guys who had gone on to become a college grad and had re-entered the military as a helicopter pilot could maybe come up there to talk to the ROTC guys about mentoring their enlisted guys and to demonstrate that just because you enlist, you're not stupid or without drive. Unfortunately it never happened as his friend was sent to Iraq for a year and we were knee deep in fellowship and adoption crapola.

and you know what?

He did it. He managed to become a child neurologist. Some random Joe (or GI Joe) from fucking nowhere Palmdale, CA actually managed to escape. No one ever goes back to Palmdale, once you've escaped. Other than a TJs (and I have NO idea how they managed to pull that off) there is nothing to offer anyone. He passed the neuro written boards- and was to have taken the orals but for the small problem of being in Iraq. I think the asshats who run the boards should just grandfather him through but that's not acceptable to him.

So, that is how one guy from a tiny town in the desert of California managed to become a pediatric specialist.

and THAT is why, despite how he may personally feel about the war, he 100% will do what he is ordered to do, do it well and do it proudly.

I get all patriotic between Memorial Day (and a moment of thanks to whomever or whatever you believe in that I didn't have to put flowers on a grave) and the 4th of July. Personally? I think the Iraq War is a bullshit war -poorly planned with obvious piss poor followup. But I have NEVER met a military physician who didn't take their job seriously and who didn't do their utmost in providing care.

and that ladies and gentlemen, is why I miss my husband today. and why once again, I am thankful that he's only working with detainees, not having to go get them.

93 more days.

HOOAH- go Army!

[DCJenn]

90 more days. The Official Halfway Mark! but this is the military so I'll really believe when he has his orders in his hands...

[DCJenn]

Ack!

His computer just up and died. OK, so I freely admit being able to IM with my husband twice a day while he's technically in a war zone is silly. but I got used to it and it was nice to be able to have that connection.

Guess we're going back to the Vietnam War method of communications- occasional phone calls and letters. sucks.

He sent a letter to Nikolai- we got it yesterday. He drew the cutest stuff for him- a train, an airplane (with daddy coming home and waving out the window) and an outline of his hand. (he even colored in his wedding ring!) so that Nikolai and Daddy can "high five" every day.

Made me cry.

In the meantime, he's going to send me back the laptop and I am to take it straight away to the apple store and get it fixed. It should take a week for me to get it and than a few days to get it fixed and then a week or so to send it back-

Hopefully he'll call tomorrow.

and speaking of tomorrow, it's supposed to not rain. The front page of today's paper said we have had 40 days of rain in Texas. 41 counting today. crazy.

I'd like to see some of the West's dry heat and I'm sure they'd like some of the rain that we've had. This is just crazy.

Oh well.

83 more days.