Knee Surgery

Today I finally had my knee surgery to fix the tear in my meniscus. I was nervous about being put under. But I don't remember a thing. It was great waking up a half hour after surgery and not even knowing I had been in surgery. Too bad child birth isn't so simple. I was able to go home within two hours of the surgery. Besides feeling a little drowsy, I feel great. I am even able to walk on it a little. We'll see how I feel tomorrow or when the drugs wear off. I am so glad to have Mario home to take care of me and the kids. The Dr told Mario I might be able to start running again in 2 or 3 months. Yeah!!!!

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The Last Week

I still wake up each morning excited that I wasn't dreaming and he really is home. It is so nice to not have to reach for my phone first thing in the morning to check my email for verification that he made it back to camp safe that day. What a relief!

We had a great first week. He had to spend a couple days at work in-processing. But he and I got to go to lunch a few times while the kids were in school. It has been nice to have some alone time with him during the day and then I don't mind sharing him with the kids in the evenings. Mario has been so tired from the time change that we have been going to bed pretty early. A few nights ago, we were sound asleep when the phone rang at 9:30. I answered the phone half-asleep. The caller asked for Mario and I forgot that Mario was back and I told the caller that Mario wasn't home. Then I saw Mario move on the bed and I said, oh wait, he is home. I am sure he was wondering why I didn't know if Mario was home or not. Mario got up to talk to the guy but then had to call him back the next day to repeat the conversation since he didn't remember any of it.

Mario was home in time to watch Eric and Erin's first cross-country meet. They both did so well. Erin has been waiting a long time to join cross-country. She loves running like Mario and I. Eric never seemed to like it but he would run an occasional 5k with us. I was surprised when he told me he wanted to join the team. My first reaction was there must be some cute girls on the team. Erin came in 6th place out of the 3 schools competing. It was amusing to see the little groupie girls that were following Eric around at the meet.

We took Mario up to Phoenix to the hotel that we had spent a couple nights at over the summer. It has a little water-park that is included with the room price. We enjoyed a night at the water-park and then an hour the next morning before we had to pack up to take Eric on a Youth Temple trip. Then in the afternoon, Mario and I were able to attend the Temple. The endowment sessions were backed up so they were looking for couples to do Sealings. That was so nice to sit across the altar from Mario. Then we got to spend a few minutes in the Celestial Room, something we had both looked forward to for 6 months.

It will be so nice to have Mario in church with us today. And then the fun starts tomorrow. I have my knee surgery at noon. Fortunately Mario has the next 2 weeks off to pamper me!

He's Home!!!

It almost feels like a dream. I almost have to pinch myself to be sure I am not dreaming. Mario flew into Tucson yesterday just before 11 am. I had heard that families could go to the gate to meet the deployed member. So I got to the airport early and got an escort pass and met him right as he walked out. After worrying for 3 months before the deployment and the entire 6 months during it, it was such a relief to have him home safely. I cried tears of joy!

I wasn't the only one getting teary eyed this week. Several women told me that when the twins announced in sharing time that "daddy is coming home tomorrow," they shed a few tears.

I convinced Mario to let me pick him up alone and leave the four kids in school. It was so nice to have a few hours with him alone. I knew it would be a little overwhelming when the kids got home. I knew they would all be so talkative (and talk over each other) and be so excited.

On the way home from the airport, we got a phone call from Sister Park, our neighbor. I handed the phone to Mario and I heard him ask her what was wrong. I immediately thought our house must be on fire. Itt turns out, she was dropping a warm pie off at the house for Mario (because she has a key). But she didn't know the alarm was on. I never set the alarm when I go out, but Mario tells me to, so I set it that day so he would be impressed I was using it. She said her ears rang for 2 hours after that. Poor Sister Park. But the pie was very good.

Here's video of the twins seeing Mario for the first time:

Unfortunately I don't have video from the big kids. But they were very excited too. Mario brought home gifts from the Afghan bazaar for each of us. I got a beautiful bowl, Eric a compass, Erin a horse, Nathan a shield, and Zachary a bugle. We'll see how long before Zach's gift finds its way to to the trash!

It is so nice having my best friend back. Mario has been wonderful. I had heard stories about other husbands coming home and forgetting how to help out around the house because they had been gone for so long. Not Mario. He went right to work. Mario is great with the kids and gently reminds each of them to show me respect and to quickly obey. He is careful not to overdue it right away though. He doesn't want them to resent him coming home.

I feel like our family is complete now.

What Could Have Been

Mario could have been home already if his flight out of Afghanistan wasn't delayed for 6 hours. He is scheduled to leave Manas on the 22nd and fly home the 23rd. But the rotator flight left Manas on the 18th also. He called to see if they had any space available seats on the August 18th and they said yes. So Mario made arrangements for someone to meet him at the terminal to turn over all his gear so he could hop off one flight and right onto another. Not surprising that he missed the flight. Military flights are never on time.

Oh well, only 4 more days. I have a lot to get done anyway. I feel like I need to clean the house spotless before he gets home (that's my own OCD) but I struggle with that because if I pace myself and clean a little each day, I know the kids will undo any good that I do. So what's the point?! I guess the house will get as clean as I can get it Monday morning while kids are in school. I did get my visiting teaching done, haircut, pedicure, and my room clean this week. I cleaned the garage last week and hired landscapers to do the yard. So cleaning and grocery shopping are the only things left on my list.

I am so excited!!!!

Impatient

I realized this morning that I am glad I didn't meet Mario until after his mission. Waiting two years would have been torture. I am not sure how I am going to make it through this final week. I better stay busy. Mario flies into Tucson next Monday at 11 am. I can't believe it is almost over!

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Countdown

I am having trouble sleeping because I am so excited about Mario coming home soon. He leaves Kabul in a couple days and will start his journey home. He is tentatively scheduled to be home a week from Monday. It seems almost too good to be true. We are all so excited. I even cleaned the garage today so he wouldn't come home to a disaster. While cleaning it, I discovered a lot of boxes (we keep the box to everything since we move so often.) I then realized all the things I have bought while Mario was gone. He will come home to a new TV, dvd player, sound system, TV stand, Playstation 2, Vitamix and dehydrator (I am sure I missed a few things). He's going to think I shopped the entire time he was gone. I guess I have to do something to entertain myself while he is gone. Time to get back on a strict budget.

Dr. Munoz

It is now embarrassing that three members of the Perez family have been seen in the Orthopedic clinic in the last month. My kids' pediatrician, Dr. Wyrick, asked me today if I would like to change my preferred provider to Dr. Munoz.

I reread the paperwork from Erin's Urgent Care visit from last week and it stated that I needed to follow up with the pediatrician in 2 days. Well, almost a week later, I called to get an apt to see her. Dr. Wyrick became concerned that her elbow may have a fracture so she called Dr. Munoz and asked if he would see Erin after some x-rays were taken.

When he walked in, he asked me if there were any other members of the family, besides Mario that he hasn't met yet. I told him that hopefully he wouldn't be meeting my twins (esp. since he retires this month.)

After a scare at the x-ray (the tech had to go talk to the radiologist because something looked abnormal to her) we finally learned that Erin's arm is just fine and she can resume normal activity. It might just be a little sore for a while. Erin hasn't let her injury slow her down though, even with dr note saying no physical activity, she was still playing basketball.

It was nice to have some alone time with Erin today while the boys were all in school. Between all these dr apts, we got to go out for lunch.

Just a Sprain

I finally got the report back from the Dr. Erin only has a sprain. Unfortunately that means she still can't start cross country today. She has been looking forward to joining cross country since the beginning of 5th grade. But at least she only has to wait 2 weeks instead of 6 or more.

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Happy 11th Birthday Erin!

August 8th & 9th are crazy now that our kids are older. When Eric and Erin were younger, I could get away with having 1 party for both their birthdays. But now, they insist on separate parties (I wonder if that will change as they get older and they like each other's friends!) Erin asked for a fondue party for her 11th birthday. Erin and I made cheese and chocolate fondue and some homemade pizza. Erin invited 3 friends and had fun eating lots of junk food and watching "New Moon," and playing hide-and-go-seek.

Only 1 more year of Primary!!!! And now it is time for me to take a long nap! I've learned that maybe there's something to be said about parties at Chuck E. Cheese or the Melting Pot. They may be expensive, but there is little to no work on my part!

Erin after eating too much chocolate fondue

Bugling Violation

Terri,

My Lt got a speeding ticket while we were here... the only coalition member in the history of the war. It has brought him great fame throughout the Command. So, not to be left out, I have been looking for some kind of ordinace or law to violate. Then I saw a no-bugling sign and got an idea. Check out the picture.

Love,
Mario

Teenagers' Favorite Pastime...Sleeping

I can't believe I am old enough to be the mother of a teenager now. Eric celebrated his birthday with 3 friends, Friday night playing his new Teen games. We compromised and let him play Teen games 2 days early since his birthday was on Sunday this year. Tonight we are having friends from church over for dinner (pot roast), a game of Settlers, and cake.

Happy Birthday Eric! It has been a great 13 years and we look forward to many more years with you at home. (I am trying to forget that he will be going off to college in 5 years and a mission in 6.)

Friday Updates

I guess Mario is getting tired of me asking him everyday when he is coming home. He started teasing me and telling me that he is only updating me on Fridays. Fortunately he was only joking and he told me on Saturday that he is tentatively leaving for the US on August 22. Looks like we only have 2 more weeks of waiting. Here's a recent email which I found the non-negotiable terms at the end to be very entertaining (just goes to show Mario knows me all too well.)

Terri,

Okay, it's Friday. Time for your weekly update on my departure situation report.

So, yesterday I ran into a friend, an Army major who works for the Chief of Staff (CoS), and who is partly responsible for getting departure paperwork processed. It turns out, one of the NCOs that works directly for the CoS and this major, is the guy I went through the Camp Guernsey training with and who I flew here with (I told you about him crying at the passenger terminal, if you recall). Well, I mentioned to the major that I was waiting to get my paperwork signed and that I was hopeful it would be soon so I'd know if I was going to be home in time for my wife's surgery (that's you). He said he'd look into it. I wasn't too hopeful anything would happen differently than the usual last-minute processing everyone encounters, but I ran into that NCO about an hour later and he told me the major was pushing the paperwork along.

Nothing had come of it when I got to work today at about 2pm Kabul time. However, when I was walking about, I ran into the NCO again, who indicated he would just print my paperwork and put it in front of the CoS for signature. He feels emboldened since his last day is today and he leaves tomorrow.

No further information is available at this time.

Now, after 16 glorious years of marriage I've learned well that anytime I talk to you about such high-interest topics I end up with more questions than I have answers for. And, I'm willing to answer some of them, but under some nonnegotiable conditions. They are as follows:

1. You are limited to three (3) questions only (multipart questions are disallowed since that violates the intent of this stipulation).
2. Your three (3) questions must be sent to me via email to allow well-thought out replies.
3. Questions that are directive in nature (such as, "Why don't you go tell the CoS to get a move on?") will be disregarded.
4. None of your questions can be about why the NCO I came with is leaving tomorrow and I still have to wait.

Love,
Mario

Oh, No...Not Another Broken Arm

This morning Erin was putting away some vitamins and getting a cup down from the cabinet. All of a sudden she let out a loud scream. I guess she hit her arm on the tile countertop. Eric immediately thought she broke it and that I should take her to ER. Erin thought she just bruised it. I tried to call the dr and see if I could take her into the base and have it x-rayed. But they couldn't see her and told me they would have a nurse call me back. I sent Erin to school and I emailed her teacher to let her know what happened. I had a busy day scheduled with volunteer work all morning and then lunch with an old friend from Guam. Then I had to get ready for Eric's birthday party.

I had to drop everything when I got an email from Erin's teacher saying that Erin couldn't write and was in a lot of pain. I immediately took her to Urgent Care where they took x-rays. Unfortunately the dr couldn't be positive that her arm wasn't broken. He said there was a suspicious area in her growth plate and he needed to send them in for a radiologist to look at. So we will know for sure tomorrow. In the meantime, Erin has a sling and instructions for no PE for at least 2 weeks. Poor Erin. I think the orthopedic surgeon is going to laugh if I walk in with another patient from our family. Eric and I both see him and now possibly Erin.

Our Favorite Mutt by Zach

I am Special

Today Eric called me just before school started because he forgot a flash drive at home. He asked me if I could bring it to him at noon. I wondered why noon but then realized that was his lunch time. I figured that he was hoping that I would take him to lunch in addition to bringing him that all important flash drive with an important homework assignment on it. He is so lucky that I am a stay-at-home mom.

Anyway, at lunch, we discussed his "sorta" birthday party. His 13th birthday falls on a Sunday, so I told him that he could have friends over on Friday night and he would be allowed to play some Teen games a couple days early. He has been waiting for this day for a long time. He invited one friend from church that I don't know. So I am not sure what games his parents allow him to play. I asked Eric if I needed to call his mom and ask for permission for him to play the Teen games Friday night. Eric said, "Sure mom, but I don't think you have to. I am sure he is allowed." I commented that he (Eric) wasn't allowed until 13, and Eric's response was, "Yeah, mom but you're special."

I know he was referring to the fact that he is probably the only 12 year old on the planet that has to wait until he is 13 to play Teen games. But it was kind of nice being called "Special." I choose to take it as a compliment.

.

It's August!!!

Yeah, the month I have been waiting for since last November. Mario comes homes this month!

Here's an email I got from Mario this morning:

I didn't go anywhere today. Everyone that's in my departure group was very excited when they came in to work today... WE'RE IN AUGUST! We go home this month. Jeff leaves in 9 days, one of the NCOs leaves in about 12, the rest of us in 19.

August is going to be a whole month of celebrations. We are celebrating that August is finally here. Next week we get to celebrate Eric's 13th birthday and Erin's 11 birthday. Then we will celebrate Mario leaving Kabul. The ultimate celebration will be at the end of the month, when we finally get to greet him at the airport.

What an exciting month!