Birthday

I threatened to cancel my birthday yesterday. I figured that I should just wait to celebrate when Mario gets home so I won't be disappointed if the kids misbehave. But Erin was excited to bake me a cake (the kids threw a fit when I told them that we would just order one at the restaurant. They wanted homemade, ugly cake since they said "It tastes much better than bought cake." Erin made the cake and then asked if she could decorate it with horses (like Mario did for her birthday cake last August.)

When I woke up this morning, there was a note slipped under my door that asked me to not come downstairs until at least 6 am. When I finally came out, this is what I found:

Mario had sent streamers in my care package. So Erin decorated the house and she baked some popovers for breakfast. That was her first time making them and they came out perfect. I had never had a popover before but I loved them especially with the honey butter that she prepared. Mario called during breakfast and his whole office sang Happy Birthday to me.

After breakfast, the kids gave me my gifts. I kept telling them that all I really wanted was for them to get along and do what I asked without complaining. I guess giving me other gifts is easier. Nathan gave me Eric's Pooh Bear from when Eric was a baby and a picture he colored. Zachary gave me a teddy bear from an Easter party and a picture he colored, and a painted rock. Erin is making her gift at school but it isn't done yet. Eric asked if he could take me to Subway for lunch. Then I opened the much anticipated present from Mario. He sent me a necklace with green stones and an Omega watch. They were gifts from the "Exotic Asian Bazaar" in Afghanistan. Of course the watch was a knock-0ff (they sell Rolex brand too so if anyone wants a Rolex, let me know) but still very nice. The necklace was very nice too.

The big kids practiced piano without complaints. Erin emptied the dishwasher and the boys helped me with the laundry. The twins helped me pull weeds in the front yard and the only complaint came from Nathan when he told me that "We are supposed to do fun things on your birthday."

So now I am off to take the boys to school and pick up Eric so he can take me to Subway for lunch. I was teasing him this morning and asked him if I could get a soda and chips with my sub too since he always asks me for those things when I take him to lunch. What begins as a $5 lunch turns into an $8 or $9 lunch.

Mario has sent me at least a half dozen emails with different titles trying to trick me. Then when I open them, they all say Happy Birthday all over them. Very sweet and I fall for them every time.

I guess I am glad I didn't cancel my birthday. I will post later if the kids keep up the sweetness this afternoon and evening.

Update...The kids and I enjoyed a delicious (and cheap) meal at Texas Roadhouse. I had a coupons for 2 free kids meals and a free appetizer. Plus if you eat before 6 pm, the adult meals are only $7.99. The waitress brought out a saddle and made me sit on it while they sang a birthday song. After dinner, we came home and ate Erin's very yummy chocolate cake. I am so full now that I don't want to move. Someone will have to roll me up the stairs to bed.

It was a great day and I look forward to Mother's Day.

Acupuncture Appointment

I wondered the whole time I was driving to my appointment if acupuncture could really work. I read reviews on the internet. I found a lot of believers as well as many skeptics. But I already know that you can't believe everything you read. So I tried to go in with an open mind. I figured worse case scenario...I was out $60. But could that really be the worst case scenario? I found myself thinking back to the time that I had Erin. All my friends wanted me to get the epidural. They told me how they each had several and no complications. I reluctantly agreed to one and then had the needle hit the wrong spot and pain shoot through my leg. Then I had to lay down for a week and pray I didn't get the spinal headache. It took a couple weeks for me to walk normal again. Needless to say, I am a little nervous when having medical procedures.

I went in, answered several questions and the dr wrote down my answers in Chinese. So I have no idea what she wrote. Then she told me to lay on the table. That is when I informed her that in the past, I had been terrified of needles. I think after four kids, I am a bit more brave...at least I hope so. She told me to take a deep breath and then she stuck a needle in my hand. Then after more deep breaths, she stuck me in each foot, the right knee, and then about 6 needles in my left knee. I was really wishing I could reach my phone to take a picture. I could barely feel the needle go in. It felt more like someone had just touched me. The dr then attached some wires to the needles in my knee. She called it "electric steam." Then she put a lamp of some sort of my knee. The dr then asked me to close my eyes and relax. I could feel some pressure in my knee, but it wasn't too uncomfortable. I could have taken a nap if I was laying on my stomach. The treatment lasted about 45 minutes and then when she was done, she removed the needles, checked my knee for inflammation, and then rubbed some kind of oil on it. She told me that my knee was pretty swollen and that I should take a vitamin supplement to help lubricate the joints, I shouldn't lift anything heavy, and to get plenty of rest...don't walk on it more than necessary.

So, being the absolute worse patient, I took my kids to the zoo today. My knee is feeling about 80% better than it was on Wednesday when I could barely walk. But I'll see how it feels tomorrow after not following directions. I did buy the vitamin supplement and began taking those. So that should count for something.

I have no idea if acupuncture will work. I have to see her once a week for the next 4 weeks, so maybe I will know more after those 4 treatments. I am a little more optimistic after reading that the military has started using acupuncture to treat injured soldiers. Maybe it is becoming a little more mainstream.

Birthday Care Package

Mario told me that he sent me a care package for my birthday but that I couldn't open it until my birthday. Mario and I both hate surprises so we often give each other our gifts early. But since he is not here, I didn't think that I could talk him into opening it early. Today when it arrived I was very curious what could be in the box and wondered if I could possibly wait until next Wednesday to open. But upon further inspection, I noticed a US Customs form. Listed on the form are the contents of the package...candy, dvd's, and watch. Then under the total value, it says $10. I didn't know they had a Dollar Store in Afghanistan.

Acupuncture

I guess you know I am desperate for a solution to my knee problems when I resort to needles. My walking partner is from Taiwan and she recommended that I give acupuncture a try. She said that it helped with problems she was having with her ankle. If you would have asked me 15 years ago if I would try acupuncture, I would have laughed. But now after giving birth to four kids, how bad could it be? I have an appointment tomorrow so I will update you on how it went.

Immobile Again

I re-injured my knee (same knee-third time) last night. I am not sure how since I haven't done anything strenuous recently. But today I am able to move around the house with about the same amount of ease as when I was 9 months pregnant with my twins. Ugh! Last year when I injured my knee for the second time, I had Mario around to bring me breakfast in bed and take care of all the household chores and kids. Now that he is gone, I have Zachary to take his place. Nathan doesn't believe a knee injury should keep me from making him cinnamon toast for breakfast. Zachary gladly said he would do it for me. Zach has been my little assistant this morning and I am very grateful for such a compassionate son. I just wish he could drive and take care of all my errands today. Mario thinks I should just cancel everything including take the boys to school today. I have to make dinner for someone that just had twins last week. Thank goodness Erin will be able to cook for me.

I called the doctor and because several doctors are deployed, I can't be seen on base. They wanted to send me to urgent care which is pointless because urgent care will tell me to take Motrin, rest, and see my regular doctor as soon as possible. I told the apt line that it was a waste of my time to go to urgent care. So they said they would send me a referral in about 4 days so I can call a doctor off-base when I receive my referral. So maybe sometime in May I will get to see a doctor. If this is any indication of what life is going to be like under Obama, than I can only pray for a change in government soon. I am going to push hard for the surgery this time so I can have this torn meniscus taken care of once and for all. I am just not sure how to have knee surgery while Mario is deployed. Recovery would be impossible.

I did get some good news today. An NCO in Mario's office told him today that Air Force can't keep them in Afghanistan for longer than 193 days. So Mario should be leaving a few days earlier than I thought. I think he has to depart by August 26. So if flights are quick, he may make it home by last day of August. I won't hold my breath. At any time these regulations could change.

Mario's New Employment

Terri,

At the same time the US has been telling me my service might not be needed and the AF is threatening to cut me from the service, I've been feeling like I can do much more here for Afghanistan. I keep looking for a way to get more involved in the fight against the insurgency. I
finally found a way to stay employed. I joined the Afghan National Security Forces. The first picture is me in the ranks. I'm now ready to kill Taliban!

Well, as you know, fate dictates my path. After the Afghan generals noticed my commitment and eagerness, they immediately promoted me to Brigade Commander. The second picture is me giving the troops a motivational speech before we deployed to the front line. I'm not sure
how much they understood since I only know a few Dari words and they only speak a few English words.

Salam Malekum,
MARIO "Mohammed" PEREZ, Colonel, ANSF
Commander, 4th Mountain Brigade

Graffiti in Afghanistan

I had the opportunity to teach my boys about graffiti as we watched the maintenance man clean the skate park yesterday. I told them that it was wrong to write all over something like that. Then today, these are the pictures Mario sends me.

Here's the message with the pictures.

"Isn't that romantisy (Erin's made-up word) of me to write a love note to you for the world to see?"