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