Pity Party is Over

Today I went to my first Physical Therapy appointment since having my knee surgery. First thing the therapist told me was that I had "to stop the limping." I was a bit offended. Not like I was trying to limp. I was just happy to get around without crutches. But she was right. Limping hurts my back, hips, and other knee. So she explained that I have to re-teach myself how to walk properly. I have been very gentle with the incision area and she wasn't gentle at all. She pressed down on the area and got the blood flowing. It hurt pretty bad, but it seemed to help. She told me I need to straighten and bend my knee fully. If I didn't bend it, they would do it for me and she assured me it wouldn't be fun. So now I have lots of exercises to do at home and twice a week therapy sessions. The therapist said that when I go back to my five week follow-up apt with my surgeon, I should feel like I never even had knee surgery. So I am excited. Maybe that is enough motivation to actually do the home exercises this time around.

But the sympathy from Mario has unfortunately stopped. It was good while it lasted.

Bored to Death

I haven't had to take any drugs for pain since my surgery. But I am bored out of my mind. I thought Mario would entertain me, but he's too busy doing spring cleaning (just a few months late.)

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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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