5 @ 1 = 100

What in the heck does the title mean right? Well it means that when KS gets 5 letters at one time he has to do 100 pushups to get them. The first letter is free then he has to do 10 for the 2nd one, 20 for the 3rd one, 30 for the 4th one, and 40 for the 5th one. Well at least he cant say that we don't love him and we never write him! I am so thankful, I got a 45 minute call from my man tonight!!! He is doing so good, and seems to be really happy. He knee is "still there" which means that it is still bothering him, so please keep the prayers coming. He also told me that he failed his hearing test so he has to go to the hearing doctor after AIT... and he always tells me I'm the one that is hard of hearing, tisk, tisk, tisk... He said that it really isn't that hard and that he is enjoying himself. I am so happy to hear that he really is happy, I have been so worried that he was hating it, but he really seems to be loving it. They have already had four people accidentally discharge their weapons, for some reason they cannot figure out how to work the safety button. Those people have to write a 500 word essay to their buddies family saying they were sorry they "killed" there son/husband/whatever. Thankfully the guns only have blanks in them. So no one has gotten hurt, but the potential is there. They need to be fully aware of the weapons that they are carrying and the safety practices that need to go along with those weapons. KS will be participating in the Gas Chamber tomorrow, I told him DO NOT DRINK THE MILK, if he was to drink it it would have curdled in his stomach do to the gas mixing in with it. Nasty I know. I am so excited about picking him up in a little over a week. I will be getting a hotel Tuesday night on post and then picking him up Wednesday morning. He wants to go and look around town and see what all is there after I pick him up so it is going to be a nice day. Although any day with my husband is a wonderful day. He knows all of the husbands whose wives I am friends with. I have a feeling that our new Army Family is going to be wonderful as well as huge! He is happy that there are lots of men there with families and wives back home. I don't think he was anticipating having so much in common with that many men. Like I said I am just so happy that he is happy with his decision, and that he is having fun doing it!

What SUVs Can Teach Us About Maternity Care

Please go and take the time to read this article written my Amy Romano for Science& Sensibility. You can find it HERE. It is a wonderful article comparing maternity care to SUV's and it will address many of the concerns woman face in maternity care and it answers them in a not so expected way.

15 Months & 1 Year

On December 3 Cayleigh-Grace celebrated her 15 month day on in honor of that... Happy belated 15 month day Cayleigh-Grace! You are becoming quite the little lady. You walk around the house with your hand right below your neck and you remind me of a Southern Belle saying " I do declare." You have figured out how to get out of your bath seat all by yourself, this has resulted in you falling in the tub. I guess you haven't figured out just how slippery it is yet. You love your babies more and more each day, and your lovie has gone from you BaBa Lamb and you pink blanket to your "Daddy Bear" and your pink blanket. You only nurse 3-4 times a day now and you are still in size 4 diapers. You have thined out so much and your looks are changing every day. You look like a little girl now and I am afraid that you have outgrown the "baby" and have replaced it with a precious little toddler who has captured all of our hearts. You say "Uh Oh," "Mama," "Dada," "Bubba," and something that is beginning t sound like puppy. You have also begun to say Bye Bye whenever you see a car drive by or someone leaving. You will come to me and drag me all over the house telling me who knows what. I have no clue what you are saying but you seem to be talking in full sentences in a language all your own. You have also tattled on your brothers for the first time, Colin wouldn't give you his cookie. Let me tell you, you told me ALL about it. Colin and I laughed... sorry girl. Thank you for choosing us to be your family Cayleigh-Grace, your presence in our lives has completed us and made us whole. You have beautiful strawberry blond hair that is coming in more and more each day, and I wonder if you will end up being a red head like your Meme was when she was young. I cannot wait until your Daddy gets home and sees just how much you have changed in these short 3 weeks he has been away. You are still wearing size 18 and 24 month clothes and I think you will be in those for quite a while, your growth spurts have seems to slow dramatically, although I know you have gotten taller since your Daddy left.

Our Zoe turned 1 on Dec. 3rd, Happy 1st Birthday Zoe!

10 Days & 12 Hours

10 days and 12 hours is all I have until my husband is in my arms again. I cannot wait until Christmas exodus. Kiale could not have picked a better time to enlist for our family. He will have the hardest part of basic training behind him when he leaves. It will give his body time to recuperate and heal during the two weeks that he will be home with us celebrating Christmas and the new year. Once he goes back we will have only six weeks until Family Day and Graduation. Then he will leave for AIT out west. I am hoping that we will be able to arrange a surprise trip during spring break to go and see him, a surprise for the boys that is. I am hoping to be able to make it to where we only go about 6 weeks without seeing him.

During the past three weeks I have realized how strong I really am, and I praise the Lord every day for that strength. It is through Him that I am able to stay strong for not only myself but for my children. They feed off of me and my emotions and I know that the stronger I stay the stronger they are able to be themselves. Our daughter carries around KS's picture wherever we go, as well as her "Daddy Bear." We have pictures of him in our vehicle so that no matter where we go he is always with us. I will hear his voice at the most random of times and each time the kids press the paws of their "Daddy Bears" my heart skips a beat. To hear his voice and know that I am unable to go to him is hard. Especially in the middle of the night when through Cayleigh-Grace's monitor I hear his voice reassuring her that he will see her soon and that he loves her so. My heart and my body yearns to be with him and in his arms again, just as theirs do as well. Through this short separation I have realized just how much of my life revolves around my husband. I have realized just how much I feed off of him for support, love, and guidance. I have also realized that I can do things on my own and I can survive this separation and any others we may experience in the future. In the end I will be a stronger woman and our love and devotion to each other will be better because of it.

2 Weeks and 2 Days Down, 2 Weeks and 1 Day to GO!

Can you believe it is December already? Today is a wonderful day, KS had been gone exactly 2 weeks and 2 days and it is exactly 2 weeks and 1 day until I get to pick him up! I am so excited about Christmas Exodus, KS will be home for two wonderful weeks. Once he heads back to BCT he will have completed Red Phase so he will be returning to an easier time and he will have got the worst of it behind him. Have I mentioned how proud I am of my husband lately? Not many people hear the call to serve and even fewer answer it with pride and willingness.

The kids and I already decorated the house on Sunday and for those of you who don't know me I am crazy about my Christmas tree. I have MY own tree that I decorate. The kids are not allowed to touch it. Sounds horrible I know but its not that bad, they have their own tree that they get to decorate. I also have a separate tree for all of their ornaments, b/c their school ornaments cant go on my tree (I know its bad...) There school tree is in the kitchen so I get to enjoy it and their special ornaments all throughout the day and I still get to enjoy MY tree (yes they will tell you "This is Mommy's tree") They don't care and in the end everyone is happy! Cayleigh-Grace will be getting her tree as soon as our paycheck gets deposited into our account on the 15th (fingers crossed). Hers will be pink and her ornaments are sitting on top of her dresser awaiting their tree. I will post pics of it once I get it and put it up.

My Tree
The Boys Tree
The School Tree
Why is it that Christmas tree pictures never do the trees any justice, they never look anywhere near as good as they do in person. If anyone knows how to take good Christmas tree pictures can you please lend me your secrets!! It would be GREATLY appreciated!