Laugh Box

During an attack from the tickle monster, Sophie was given a break long enough for her to gasp out a conversation.

Sophie: Mom! Stop! If I laugh too much, I'll break my square.
Mom : What's that?
Sophie: You know, the square in my blood.
Mom: In your blood? I don't know what that is.
Sophie: You know, my laugh box. You'll break my laugh box if you tickle me too much.

When I Grow Up

Sophie: I know what I want to do when I growed up.
Me: Oh, yeah? What is that?
Sophie: I can't wait to be growed up so I can use SCISSORS and KNIVES and SHARPIES! I'm SO excited!

Only grown ups can be SO privileged.

My Condition

How does she do it? Sophie Kinsella penned "Confessions of a Shopaholic" with me in mind, and I have never even met the woman.

It was a spontaneous purchase. I devoured the Sookie Stackhouse series in a little more than a week, and my to-read bookshelf didn't quite intrigue me as the preview of the new movie of a young woman in complete denial of her condition. As a habit (although most would disapprove) I decided to absorb the novel before watching the movie (dinner and a movie girl's night out, Jill?). I tell you, the first chapter captivated me, not necessarily for the writing (although it is very good, in my humble opinion), but because of my similarities to this girl! I am a shopaholic!!!

Sure, I would never get caught dead in a Denny and George franchise forking over the arm and leg for a scarf. The labels and price tags need not apply. My Denny and George is Target...pronounced tar-zhay if it makes you feel more sophisticated. My 200 quid is the thirty US dollars I so begrudgingly swiped off my debit card for this deep magenta long-sleeved shirt I didn't need. But, nevertheless, the theory and practice are identical!

There are many a time my spirits sink and settle into a funk, and it seems, the only way to alleviate this momentary depression is through a long leisurely bout of therapy...retail, that is. Hey, they didn't coin that expression for nothin'. There is absolutely nothing in the world that can raise me up like some shiny new gadget and the crisp sound the plastic wrapping makes when I tear it off the bad boy...or the solid snap of the tag as I pull it apart (no, I don't use scissors...too lazy) from the soft new sweater I'll definitely wear before washing since I'm way too excited to wait the time it takes for it to go through a laundry cycle...you get the picture, right? Yep, that is moi in a material nutshell.

I love new things. I love researching product reviews for them, looking for the best bargain for them, and finally experiencing that bliss of dropping it into the conveyor belt knowing with utter excitement in just a few moments it will be truly and solely MINE! Greed, greed, greed, greed, greed. It seems I am one of the seven deadly sins during my bouts of depression.

Let me interrupt this tangent firstly by attempting to redeem myself in your now-lessened opinion of me. (ha!) I have cut down. My lifestyle does not allow me the luxury of spending on a whim (although at times my dad with his hard-earned dough likes to indulge me from time to time). I have been conscious of my actions for the most part. I'm proud to say, I have wheedled and dealed with all of our service providers to nitpick and cut down on monthly bills. (Although, of course, I have only done that so I can have more spending money. So, I guess that doesn't count, does it?) But anyway, yeah, so, it's not that bad.

...And on with my never ending soliloquy...gotta love it. Anyway, I accomplish my zen through this activity...identical to Rebecca (the book's heroine)...who goes to the store to buy one thing...(in my case, a gallon of milk)...and gets distracted way too many times, and goes home with more shopping bags than originally planned with matching justifications as to why those items were necessary.

A gallon of milk. An hour later: a gallon of milk (hey, at least I didn't forget), a bag of chips, a new box of cookies, a pack of hair ties, a bundle of lip gloss(Sophie's), a couple new books, the new Real Simple, US Weekly, People, and Rachel Ray magazines, and $70 buckaroos later, I am astounded to the number of plastic shopping bags I had to carry in from the garage. But I was only going to spend $2.64!

So is my life. Anybody else share this addiction to the material world?

Missing Me Yet?

I know I have been AAWWWFUUUL at posting this past week. As you can see, it doesn't mean I haven't been on the blog itself, but have taken the time to figure the mysteries of CSS and HTML codes, as evidenced in the new look of this page. I still have a laundry list of little tweaks I need to learn and perform, but at least now it is readable and a bit attractive.


Anyway, what is new?
Despite the many times my subconscious attempted to push the self-destruct button due to my loathing of higher education, I got my associate's degree in accounting, ya'll! It's nice to know I can tack up a piece of paper on my wall proving once and for all I DO have a capacity for intellect. Ha ha. Now it is on to bigger and greener pastures in the pursuit (gag!) of a bachelor's degree. This time, I will not willingly torture myself by attempting to learn some random subject I have no interest in. Nope! With the urging of my ever supportive father dearest and loving hubby, and my great friend Ms. B who has urged me not to press the button yet once again by going for a diploma in I.T., I have....drumroll, pls., enrolled in an English with concentration in professional writing program! Bam! I actually look forward to school now. Yeay me!

Also, I have embarked on a small business venture with a friend. It is still in its very very early stages...but it is promising. Once the ball is rolling more quickly, I will elaborate. Time without my L is hard, but not impossible. SO SO much support from all directions. I'm also glad to report, the hub also feels the time slipping by real fast due to his full schedule...12 hour days, 7 days a week...there's not much down time in between that. During that short "free" time, my love manages to work out and volunteer at the hospital and the chaplain's office. Super Soldier!

My mutha is coming for a visit this weekend!!! The kids are uber excited, they're bouncing off walls. I, for one, am extremely proud of how OCD I have become about the cleanliness of my house...I don't have to stress at all about the ever discerning eye of my mother dear.

Well, that's about it. Besides, I am so past my bedtime, I'm about to lap it. Cheers!

Outnumbered

Three to one. The odds aren't in my favor and they most assuredly worked against me tonight. Have any of you moms out there been bombarded with "urgent" requests, complaints,questions, demands from your children all at one time? OMG!
As I rushed to get dinner defrosted and cooked, fam fed and readied before my gym date with Ms. B, the attack began. I swear it was a conspiracy cooked up between the brats, it was so perfectly executed. Liv had sounded the battle cry when she refused to surrender the koala bear embrace from around my neck once she awoke from her nap. I should have seen it coming. It seems whenever I move with a purpose, it is the resounding signal to my spawn to do whatever it takes to distract, frustrate, and infuriate. And so they did, quite successfully, in a matter of mere minutes.
Liv screamed and cried from the depths of her little soul and insisted on swinging from the oven handle while the chicken sizzled and splattered inches away from those tiny hands. Soph, with her lovely lovely whiny voice, insisted repeatedly that she is allergic to chicken and would rather have pancakes with lots of syrup for dinner instead. Dyl, always meaning well, commenced scolding and yelling at the two to the point his actions only instigated the chaos even more. Soph stuck to her guns and refused nourishment.

I, deciding on tough love to scare the little ungrateful runt, proclaimed that she either eat her dinner or go straight to bed.

What happens? She calls my bluff! She marched into her bedroom, unzipped herself from her dino costume, and promptly fell asleep!

Dinner was consumed by the remainder of the fam in tense silence. Of course, the guilt of a mother with a starving child won out and the mutineer was awoken and served mini pancakes with lots and lots of syrup. She gladly devoured the plate as her crestfallen mother observed in bewildered defeat.

Grab My Button!

So, I'm whoring out this nifty new link button I managed to make tonight. Please grab the code and paste it onto your blogs!

<a href="http://teamochoa.blogspot.com/" target="new"><img alt="Team Och" src="http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv173/wdsloch/buttonnew.jpg" title="Team Och"/></a>

Quote of the Day

Since I've been way way busy today making an unexpected trip to AutoZone, purchasing a new battery for the Ford after it FAILED to start up this morning, and sweet talking ultra-nice Autozone dude Paul into installing it for me after sweet talking ultra-nice neighbor friend Jason into jump starting the dumb vehicle, and then running the planned errands of the day...my brain is shot and cannot entice anything remotely creative. BUT, I read a quote from lovely blogger Stay At Home Something (click on the link on my blog list since I'm too lazy to insert a hyperlink) that I absolutely love and just have to share with you all:

"Do you want me to tell you something really subversive? Love is everything it’s cracked up to be. That’s why people are so cynical about it. . . . It really is worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for. And the trouble is, if you don’t risk everything, you risk even more."-Erica Jong

So so true. It's the biggest risk anyone can take, but the most rewarding, isn't it?

Blog Makeover

Well, that didn't last long. The laptop is semi-working...at least enough for me to tinker around and figure out how to do my own blog makeover. The vector girl is the closest I could find to me, and I'm not quite pleased with the sig...but it was 2am then...and I needed some shut eye.
It's a cold rainy day, and so I'm more likely to coop up inside instead of the planned trip to my fave red bullseye store, and I'll be playing around more with the look of this blog.

I need opinions and comments. What do you think of the new look?

Blogcation

Not a bonafide one...I could never resist the call of the internet....BUT the laptop has been subjected to some serious damage and has refused to function and allow the blogger of the fam to do what she normally does. So, it is with my deepest regrets I must significantly cut down on my posts for the meantime. At least until my daddy dearest feels gracious and generous enough to help his first-born (and mind you, his favorite (sorry, abs)) out with a brand spankin' new one. Hint Hint Father Dear! I know, I'm a spoiled brat.

Hopefully, this hiatus will be short-lived! Until next time!

Speeding Things Up

This morning, alarmed by the sudden stillness of the Och household, I peeked down the hallway to catch Miss Sophie standing on her potty stool, frantically shoving two handfuls of M&M's from the Daddy Comes Home Countdown Jar into her face. I am so bummed I didn't sneak a quick picture before yelling out her name. Eyes wide with guilt, her head turns slowly to look at me, both hands still held against her face, holding the mounds of chocolate nuggets in her gaping mouth...it was priceless!

After managing to hold down the gag reflex while she deposited the drool-soaked M&M's into my hands, I asked her...

Me: Why were you trying to eat all of the chocolates all at once? You could have choked!
Sophie: But, Mom! You said when the chocolates are all gone, Dad will come home!

Poor child. She misses her Daddy so much.

This Dream Will Self-Destruct in Three...Two...One

Much to my family's disappointment, I am notorious for harboring a basket of unfinished projects. Up until now, I credited this disposition to fickleness and a short attention span. I quickly lost interest in whatever skill or task I learned to master and moved on seamlessly to another new endeavor. I once had a friend who even attributed this to my astrological assignment. A Gemini, as a pair of twins, quickly loses focus and requires varied stimulation.

Recently, however, with all this empty time at night without the hubster, I have been afforded ample opportunity at introspection. Through this, I have discovered my subconscious self-destruct button.

Apparently, I am a victim of my own self-sabotage.

Tucked away in the recesses of my brain, comfortable in its niche between aspirations and fears, therein lies that blazing red knob my mental finger automatically switches whenever I come close to what most people consider as "achievement."

There are the minor things like Thomas Kincade cross-stitch projects (lame, huh?), half-pieced jigsaw puzzles, summer employment opportunities in high school, incomplete scrapbooks, and oh so much more. But there are larger issues affected also.

I was fully aware that I was in contention for capturing the valedictorian title in high school. I was a whole grade point ahead of my closest competition. What did I do? Pushed the button! I refused to submit homewok for an advanced placement calculus class for a whole three months. Salutatorian, it is.

An exciting acceptance at the Stern Business School of Business' Honor Program at New York University held limitless potential. What did I do? Pushed the button! I passed it up to study in the Philippines.

Even that prestigious school (also in the Honors program) couldn't satisfy me. What did I do? Pushed the button! I let myself get knocked up during the first semester. Yep, I let it happen knowingly. Talk about screwed up.

Then here's this novel I am writing. I had an agent so uncharacteristically enthusiastic about the piece that she offered me an advance after reading the first three chapters. What did I do? Pushed the button! Turned away from her and my family's dreams of having a published author as kin.

And most recent, I am one class...ONE class that is so EASY...away from my Associate's Degree in accounting. What did I do? PUSHED THE DAMN BUTTON! Last night, at 11:59 was the deadline for my final project. I waited and waited and goofed off ALL day until about 9:45 P.M. at which time, I opened the syllabus to see what was required of me. Can you believe this?!?!?!? Needless to say, I was able to submit my work at 11:58:30. 30 seconds to spare. But only because of this bout of self-realization.

What can be the root of this? Am I afraid of success? Does the pressure associated with such achievements intimidate me? Or am I just plainly satisfied with being second best? Who knows? I haven't been able to mull this over enough. But then again, I may just lose interest right before I get my answer.

We Heart Cranium

Frankly, I am tired of the same ole Chutes and Ladders, Candyland...and those darn Memory Game cards that end up everywhere but the box it came in. Thank the Lord for Cranium and its genius developers, I have been able to provide some educational and captivating activities for Sophia and her buddies with these two games that beckoned from the clearance shelves:

Balloon Lagoon is half price at Toys R Us and Cariboo is at Walmart at the same discount. These are the only board games worthy of my hyperactive child's attention. Worth checking it out!

Mr. Moon

Phone conversation between Sophie and her dad.

Sophie: Dad, I miss you.

L: I miss you SO much.

Sophie: Your doll makes me think of you all the time.

L: I'm glad it does.

Sophie: I'll be saying hi to the moon tonight.

L: I'll say hi at the same time, ok?

L had assured his little doppleganger that even though he will be far away, they both will be seeing the same moon every night...and if she would make a request to Mr. Moon, he would relay her messages to Daddy. Aaaaw.

Absence and the Heart

During a two hour heart-to-heart with one of my fave cousins in the PI last night, it was mentioned how this blog provided a refreshing insight to my life and the person that I am. Apparently, according to Ms. Liza, this has been the first time I have opened myself up as far as my feelings, inner demons, and such. I guess I have presented myself as more guarded in the past? Hmmm. The more I pondered this thought, the more I have come to realize that this particular development of my persona did not reveal itself until after I met the hub. This realization has then led to an epiphany enumerating the other changes that have arisen from this relationship.
Pre-Och, I had a reputation as a crass, un-filtered, and outspoken cynic. I had my share of early heartaches and road bumps, much of which had contributed to that identity. I could pick and win a fight before the other knew it was coming. Faith in love, destiny, and the like just belonged in fairy tales. Now, it seems the boy had the power to turn me into a big glob of mush. Winnie...mush?...uh-yeah, I guess so. Now, all I do is wax eloquent on my gooey feelings and dreams and hopes.
And, much to the old W's chagrin, my current pulpy and softened personality has only been amplified by this separation. And I am only about to add on to the ick factor. (Talk about an intro, huh?)
Everyone is familiar with the old adage "absence makes the heart grow fonder." I prefer to believe in "absence only magnifies the true nature of a relationship." Why? Well, for one, I had a relationship pre-Och that came under fire from my own doubts and resentments once a physical distance became established. It wasn't difficult at all to pull the plug on that. Now, in this case, with this enormous distance yawning between us, my feelings for my soldier remain constant.
And so although I have dreaded this, and I am still struggling to put myself to sleep at night, I am THANKFUL. That's right, folks...thankful. I am GLAD for this time when L and I are apart. (Okay, so don't you guys start putting in bets for how long we have until divorce papers are drafted...lemme 'splain.)
I see this now as a re-affirmation of what our marriage stands for. With him gone, I am able to note all the little things I have taken for granted while he was here. I am able to tally how much I want that man in my life. I am able to look past the grievances and complaints I had prior to his departure and see instead all of his redeeming traits. I am able to look forward to the promise of our future together. And I am THANKFUL for that opportunity to see my partner in this light.
Y'all may think I'm nuts, but I highly recommend this. Ship your hub over to a place in which his life is constantly in peril, leave him there for half a year, and see how you'd do without him. If you don't come out closer and stronger than ever afterwards, no amount of counseling will save you. Amen.

The Last Word

I suppose I am the root of the problem, as I have relied on devoted L to tuck the girls into bed every night. With his just-recent absence from the household, I, naturally, must perform all his duly-assigned tasks. Maybe it's because I don't have that deep booming voice L manages to project, or that "Ochoa look" all blood members of the clan seem to possess, but I'd like to think I can conjure a mighty frightening image myself. At least enough so that my children would automatically tuck their tiny little tails between their legs in fright.
My boy, at ten years, is the wiser of the three since he's had enough years under his belt to learn to the many caustic looks of mom and their respective translations. Liv, the baby, is wholly reliant on the cuteness factor, and is all too aware of the effectiveness of the chosen method. Soph, however, is at that age in which her knowledge of right and wrong are concrete, although the character perched on her shoulder with horns on its head almost always seems to win out. This is never more evident than bedtime...

Me: Sophie, you need to stop wriggling around and talking. When you talk and make noise, Liv won't go to sleep.
Sophie: But, Mom, I need to tell you one more thing.
Me: What is it?
Sophie: I want to be a lion. I don't want to be human.
Me: I'm sorry you feel that way, I love you just the way you are. If you become a lion, you won't be my little girl anymore.
Sophie: I like to ROAR!
Me: That's enough. You need to go to sleep. Close your eyes, be quiet, and stop fidgeting.
Sophie: But, MOM-
Me: Nope, that's enough. Shush.
Sophie: But-
Me: Nope, quiet time.
Sophie: I'll whis-
Me: Nope! Quit it, Sophie!
Sophie: Mom!
Me: I'll stick you in the garage where little lions sleep, Sophie! Shush up!

This struggle continues until I blow up and yell, to which the angel demands an apology for hurting her feelings. Eventually, they do fall asleep, but not ever until I am frazzled beyond words and exhausted.

What are your struggles with the kiddies at bedtime?

Busy?

S.M.A.R.T.

Specific..Measurable...Attainable...Realistic...Timely

Apparently there is a system, aptly named S.M.A.R.T., for setting and achieving goals. In my efforts to remain busy and productive sans husband, I have set several goals we, as the home team, would like to accomplish.

1. Get in SHAPE! I've made several attempts at this in the past year...but, by golly, this has just GOT to happen before the hubster comes home. I mean, wouldn't that just be the coolest present for the both of us when he comes home? Bow-chicka-bow-wow! Hehehehehe.

2. Get Ms. Liv bottle-weaned. Yep, the little monster is still on the bottle. She takes it three times a day: morning, noon, night. This process is already underway...having the middle bottle cut out for the first time yesterday. Little girl just has to figure to eat more during solid meals.

3. Get Ms. Liv potty-trained. I hate to compare the kids to each other, considering the "every other child is different" adage and all. But the other two have been without diapers before the turned the big DOS. This fact just proves this is possible. I'd really really LUV it if I don't have to pack diapers and wipes for the vaca in the summer.

4. Finish the floor. Yep...all by myself. With all the hoopla going on, L never had enough time to complete the project. I will do this!

I have 5 months to do this! Let's see how this goes. Right now, a more immediate goal is to keep from murdering my middle child who is riding my last nerve!!!

What are your goals for this year?

This Time Around...

I have previously raved about the super fun activities the local MyGym offers the young ones...but even I never got around to signing my own kiddies up. The reg fees were a bit steep at the time, and well, you know how things go. Anyway, I have just been alerted to their January sign-up special: registration fee is waived plus $25 off the first month's membership fee. It's too great a deal to pass up, so count on me to finally signing Sophie into a class.
Sophie isn't registered in a regular preschool because 1--Studies show preschool is not necessary for children...2--There are way too many glorified home "preschools" that just plop your kids down in front of TV anyway (I can do that for free at home)...3--I know my kid, and therefore, know best how to teach the basics to her anyway... You get the picture? Anyway, despite the fact that my little preschooler and I have worked dilligently on the alphabet, writing, numbers, phonics, etcetera, Soph is still missing out on the social interaction she would get if she did attend a school...especially during the winter months. I suppose I feel I owe her that, and so she will be the privileged one to attend the MyGym class.
You mommas should check it out! The open house is on January 30-31st, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m.

REM

I guess I reach REM sleep around 5:30 in the morning. Why? Because I SLEPT RIGHT THROUGH L's phone call!!!! I had stayed up until 1:30 when he initially arrived in Germany, and we chatted for a bit. I didn't realize he called a second time until Liv was playing with the phone this morning. Worse, he didn't leave a message. So now, I'm pissed at myself that I missed it, and even more pissed at him for not leaving a message.

happy thoughts, happy thoughts, happy thoughts

***UPDATE***

Phone conversation at 9:00 this morning:

Me: I'm SO SO sorry I missed your call!

L: You didn't miss my calls.

Me: Huh? Even the one at five this morning?

L: We talked for ten minutes at five this morning. (you can hear a chuckle threatening to break through)

I guess I talked to him in my sleep. And here I was boiling mad that he didn't leave a message for me. Oh boy.

One Down, at LEAST 120 More to Go!

And the countdown has commenced. Dylan was pretty shook up about L's departure, and has been granted permission to skip out on school today. It was a bit strange how this day has been passing. I've finally washed the stinky dishes in the sink, swept and mopped the floors, but just stared at the five (count them five!) laundry baskets full of "to-folds." Just another day, right? It still feels like the phone will ring and his voice will say, "On my way home." BUT, he's not. He's currently flying to Germany and I should be receiving the "I'm safe" call early early morning.
It's okay. I've received phone calls yesterday checking up on us, making sure I haven't gone ballistic. Thank you for your concern! Thank you for your comments! You guys have made my plight so much bearable.
And, lest I forget, since he was very very adamant on the phone about this: L wants the neighborhood to know how much all of your kindness has touched him. (Really, y'all made him cry.)
Things are looking on the up and up.

Fears

It's not the actual separation that gets me. Really. This is our fourth time being apart for more than four months. Routines can be made, schedules filled up to take time, and then there's that anticipation for the reunion. I miss him. I'm a touchy feely type person, and it is quite different not having my snuggle buddy around. BUT, it's all good for the most part.

It's that fear of losing him. It's bad enough during the every days. I'm a worrier when it comes to him and the kids. As a mother, I am cursed with "worst-case-scenario-thinking" in which I actually conjure images in my mind of anything and everything that can go wrong that could hurt or kill them. Usually, I don't torment myself with this type of paranoia when it concerns the hub when he's nearby.

It just doesn't help matters much when I am handed updated general and special powers of attorney along with his last will and testament before he leaves. It's the smart thing to do, of course. But that particular stack of documents make the danger SO real for me. Along with the dicussions of how we'll communicate throughout this time, and the vacation we'll go on when he gets back, we also have to talk about other morbid details should he not come home breathing. It's the most difficult thing accepting although it is just a slight possibility.

During the goodbye today, I tried to just memorize every little feature of his face and his smile and his wonderful laugh...fighting to keep that frightening thought off that it could be the last time I held him.

Okay, I got that out of my system! I HATE thinking that! AAAGGGHHHH! Now that's outta the way...Time to start drafting my task lists and thoroughly cleaning the house. Off to work!

Feeling the LOVE

There is nobody in this world who can convince me otherwise! My neighborhood is the BEST darn neighborhood EVER. Last Friday, we were "tricked" into stopping by the Hep's to give them a chance to say goodbye to L, only to find it was another surprise neighborhood get-together held in his honor. Everyone shook his hand and wished him well and assured him the fam here at home will be in good hands. It was a great night.

THEN, the next morning, while turning into our street from a last minute errand, we were greeted with this sight:

Every house in the circle had several US flags posted on their sidewalk, ours being the most flag-saturated, with banners lining our sidewalk AND driveway.

That night was a nice quiet night for the fam. The mood was subdued as we stuffed L's life for the next five months into three bags. We tinkered around with the new Wii Fit for a bit, and we all snuggled up for a Fam Och sleepover.

A king bed is nowhere close enough to providing a comfortable night's sleep for all of us, not that I got more than an hour anyway.

Day of departure: L was totally bowled over when he saw all the neighbors standing outside to wave a last goodbye. So, of course, I about fell apart right then and there.

Saying goodbye before stepping onto the bus.

After smiling through tears and savoring that last embrace, it was time for him to go. In a way, it came as a relief. There would be no more of dreading the farewell and counting down how much time we have left. Now, there's this feeling of the need to kick into high gear and shoulder through until June. There's an end goal, something to look forward to. And with such an obvious outpouring of kindness from this community, I feel secure I am amongst friends--and with that, I can't go wrong.

I Think I'm OK

I've made peace with that avalanche of hostile emotions from yesterday. Today being the second day before L's departure, and him being stuck at work still , it's a wonder that I have...but I have. In this state our world is in, I suppose it would be naive of me to expect others to treat you as you treat them. But instead of wallowing in all those ugly feelings, L and I have pledged to make the time we have left (what little we have) the best it can be.

Here's something to make you smile...

Sophie has a bad habit of biting her fingernails AND toenails. The other day, she bit her index TOEnail so far down, it bled.

Me: Do you want all your other toes to bleed, too?
Sophie: No
Me: I can bite all your other toenails down so they'll bleed, too, if you don't quit munching on your toes!
Sophie: If you do that, I'll tell JESUS on you!

Talk about skipping the chain of command! She's gonna pick up that direct line and go straight to the head honcho. I'm in trouble!

Irate

Ugggh!!!! You would think this being L's last week here at home, the folks at work (all of whom could relate to this situation) would give him every chance to jet out of work and spend some quality time with his fam, right? WRONG! It seems apparent every last one of those co-workers of his are incompetent idiots if not worse. Not only did L get all his deployment stuff done for himself and the rest of the shop, but he also took care of other issues outside of his responsibility to help the rest of the squadron out...all well ahead of schedule. All that was required was for those dumbasses to just turn all the paperwork in. So what happens? An officer has to take charge and the shiznit just rolls on down the hill! All the required documentation was loaded wrong and completely erased, calling for L to spend all day at work re-inputting data line by line.
I remember every time another group was set out to deploy, L always worked the extra hours to take care of their stuff for them. Why? Well, according to L, it's the only decent thing to do, that way those guys can spend as much time with their families as possible. You would think they would afford him the same courtesy! Nope, guess not, those ungrateful louts. (I know I'm being really ugly right now, and I may feel horrible about what I type later, but right now, I am so darn pissed, I can't help it, hence, this run-on sentence!)
Tomorrow is another unnecessary day at work for my poor hub. We're crossing our fingers he can at least get home early.
Sophie is beginning to display signs of anxiety...refusing to go to sleep, crying earnestly whenever L has to leave for work afraid he won't come back, and simply not being her usual spunky self.
I, on the other hand, am feeling helpless to the minutes ticking by on fast forward, wishing in vain to freeze time for just a couple days more...heck, I'll take a couple hours if it's given to me. But it won't even slow down for my sake, and goodbye is right around the corner once again.

Writing Prompt - 6 Degrees of Marriage

Searching for inspiration for a new post today, I found this from a fellow blogger. It calls for a loved one to describe you in six adjectives. Trapped on the loo, I stared down the hub and demanded my six responses before he could escape...

Impatient--I suppose I could claim this response stems from my vivid annoyance at L for not being able to spit out my six adjectives right then and there. But, as a matter of fact, this is a very prominent trait of Misuss Och. Waiting, for anything, is just NOT an option. So there.
Demanding--Again, stemming from my "urgent" "request." I like to think I give the best of me in every possible aspect, therefore resulting in the justification I can expect the same from everyone else. (L is chuckling as he reads this, btw.)
Loving (Very)--What can I say? My fam BETTER feel loved! Dangit, my whole life is devoted to them,
Selfless--This, I have to disagree with, I don't see it. But in L's words, "You would rather have everybody in the family get or buy something before you buy or get something for yourself." Hmmmm. There is a bit of truth to that. But it's all material matters. I demand (wow, doesn't this just emphasize L's accuracy in this adjective or I'm off on my writing skills today and have to resort to redundancy of my words) more of a grand commitment...i.e., L's soul. BAHAHAHAHA!
Devoted--This term always always reminds me of Olivia Newton-John in her pale yellow dress singing outside Frenchy's house, "Hopelessly Devoted To You." Cheesy. L says I've dedicated everything I have to the welfare of this family, to include relinquishing a promising career in the Air Force. Okay, I can go with that.
Fun--Yeay! I was hoping L would deem me as a fun gal! I'd hate to be the boring stay-at-home wifey. I doubt the kids see me the same way...I'm not the tackle me to the ground and wrestle type of mom. But with L, we manage to have fun wherever, whenever, no matter what. So yeah, I'm FUN!

I won't elaborate too much on his, but, to be fair, these are six words for my one and only:

solid
calm
mischievous
romantic
cocky
caring

What do you think your loved one will say about you?

Prep Time

As L's departure looms even closer, we have been working on preparing ourselves for the separation. Never mind the state of the house--I'll be in need of something to keep me busy during the first week or so anyway.

The countdown M&M jars for each child was a hit last time around. We fill a jar with a number of M&M's to equal the number of days L will be gone. Each day, each child will eat one from his or her jar as a countdown to his return. Since we only have a ballpark figure of when L will be back, I adjust the numbers accordingly following more concrete news.

The base provides free DVD's produced by Sesame Street in which Elmo must deal with his father's long business trips. This really helped Sophie come to terms with her dad's absence the first time around, and she was really excited to receive the new edition with an extra DVD explaining about changes in the family. This is such a terrific tool for the children. It deals with their emotions and does a great deal to reassure them it is OK to have mixed feelings about dad being gone.

The base volunteers make mommy/daddy deployment dolls also. They are good sized stuffed dolls with their dad's picture in uniform on it. They're great for hugging and kissing goodnight, giving the kids something material to hold to remind them of daddy.

Dylan received a kid journal to fill in while dad is away. We're also getting a calendar to mark off each day that has passed.

As for husband and wife matters, we're planning a bit better this time around. During the previous deployment, we wrote individual letters to each other, and when he came home, we had a motherload of loose letters, all of which the girls treated like confetti or frisbees or secret treats to hide in any random spot in the house. This time, we purchased a journal that we will take turns keeping and writing in for a week, and then mailing it off to the other to keep and write in for another week. This way, we'll have a record of our correspondence neatly tucked in one book. In addition to that, we each have a copy of the two inspiration journals Book of Me and What I Love About You. Sometimes, we find it difficult to decide what to write about; these are perfect tools for that dilemma since they are filled with numerous prompts that have blanks to fill in your responses. We've also armed ourselves with a stack of to-read books for those sleepless nights.

Fam Och is armed to the ears with every resource the base can offer. We have a great support system in the form of family, friends, and neighbors. I was absolutely terrified the first time around. This time, as much as it hurts to have a missing puzzle piece of the family, it seems more doable.

Goodbye Part1

It is dark o'clock...and I am up feeling lonely already. For the past two weeks, I have awoken and joined shortly by the rambunctious twins and our niece Katie horsing around with the kids. There was always a video game of wrestling or Guitar Hero world tour blaring in the background, a sinkful of dirty dishes (although we've bought mountains of plastic cups and paper plates), plates of half eaten food laying on the counter, keeping the half empty cans of soda company. There was never a quiet room in the house, with the girls being chased down and tickled to death throughout its entirety. And, as younger sisters go, I was subjected to some pretty awesome short jokes and more not so awesome "I'm not touching you!" finger-in-the-face invasions of space.
I would half-joke with them, exclaiming I couldn't wait to be rid of the chaos, but now that it's gone, I am sad. Guests provide an excuse to drop and forget the everyday life and focus more on time spent together doing fun and exciting things that would otherwise be put off for a later date. Having the twins here also gave me a closer glimpse into my hubby's childhood as they sat around and reminisced about the older days. There was never a dull moment (unless football was on, but all I had to do was escape with Katie for some shopping). Friends would come over for crazy late night card games and some homemade authentic Mexican food.
They left just a mere fifteen minutes ago and the house is silent for the first time in two weeks. This quiet, I so cherish most days, makes me grateful for the chaos and fun family bring when they're around.

Hope you guys had as great a time as we did. Let's do this again soon!

Winter Play

We drove over to the Park City area Friday for some fun in the snow. Gorgoza Park, the tubing park, was filled with an army of people. The two hour pass we bought seemed a bit short since we had to wait in line for most of the time.

The line for the tow to the top of the hill at Gorgoza.
Children under 3 years old weren't allowed to sled down the hills (duh!), but there was a kid friendly "Fort Frosty" at the base where they had a mini slope and tube "carousel" for the little ones. Note**It might be best to leave rugrats under three at home with a babysitter. Lou and I had to take turns supervising Liv while the other ran the hill.

Sophie giving her little sister moral support on the carousel.

This is Sophie and I sliding down the kiddie hill.

Putting herself to sleep.

The admission prices were worth it, considering I am WAY too lazy to lug the tube and my fat a$$ up the hill. I would definitely recommend coming mid-week during the non-holidays to make the most use of your pass.
The junior hills are enough to make the faint at heart satisfied with the rush. If you're looking for more excitement, take the extra tow to the very top and careen down with two gargantuan Mexican men and two others to contribute to your veocity. I would have screamed more than I did, but the speed and cold and sheer fright rendered me silent.

Afterwards, we took Katie to the Olympic Park and purchased her very own trip down the bobsled track. A total once in a lifetime experience...only three locations in North America provide this service, with the Utah site the only one worldwide that will let you ride the entire length of the track. After an hour of briefings, she went down as part of a bobsled team led by a professional athlete, and traversed a little under a mile of track in 56 seconds, top speed 71.4 miles per hour.

The evening drive home was horrifying, the snow coating our head and fog lights so much that we had to tailgate a semi and go off his rear lights to give us a hint of the lanes. Thank goodness we arrived home safely.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year, folks! What better way to start the new year than to look back at the past one?

1. What was the most difficult part of 2008?

This has got to be the early morning (4am) phone call with Lou's strained voice uttering his first words of the conversation: "Honey, I'm going into surgery," one week before he was supposed to come home from Iraq.

2. What was the happiest moment of 2008?

Seeing my uniformed hubby semi-limp his way to baggage claim and us, looking a bit pale, but happy to be home. And even better...even if it was just for a couple hours that night...I had everyone I hold dear here in town: FamOch, my sister's fam, and my mom and dad.

3. Name your favorite event of the year.

Not so much an "event," but the trip to Colorado and all the great fun things we did as a family takes the cake in this category.

4. What was something you have never done, but accomplished for the first time in 2008?

Hmmm. Blogging! I've discovered it pretty late on in the year. But I've quickly caught the blogging fever and haven't looked back since.

5. What was something you had planned to do but failed to accomplish?

Lose weight! I have lost some, but since the twins have been here, I've consumed a horrrrrrendous amount of soda to gain it all back and then some.

6. What was your proudest moment?

I don't have one singular thing. The kids have accomplished so much this year. But this has to be it: Dylan saying quietly to Sophie, "I know I yell at you a lot, but I love you." and Sophie yelling at the top of her lungs as Dylan leaves for school in the morning, "I love you, Dylan! I'll miss you. I can't wait for you to come home!!!" and Olivia the baby giving her older siblings those full face hugs and saying, "Aaaaw. Uh-laaahv-u!!!!!" All priceless and my proudest moments of being a mommy. I'm doing something right.

7. Name an unexpected surprise of 2008.

The gift of friendship. I'm not a social person and tend to gravitate towards privacy. But this year, I have been blessed with a hilarious and lovingly caring friend who has been there as an outstanding gym and chit chat partner. I'll always be thankful for that.

8. What are you looking forward to in 2009?

Lou coming home and this year's vacation to Virginia and New York City.

Not Ready for Goodbye

Our holiday visitors will be leaving in four days. The last time we've seen them was in 2006. I don't want to say goodbye just yet. Yes, the house is in a perpetual state of mess. (I gave up cleaning after the first two days.) Yes, it has gotten quite expensive feeding the fam plus two gigantic twins and an energetic teenager. But I will miss them nonetheless.
And the most important reason, once we bid our adieu's to them, it means we have a mere 6 days with Lou before he gets shipped off again. We are nowhere near being ready. There are so many things that need to be done. But right now, I could care less if the house falls to pieces around us, I just want to spend some quality time with my husband.
Sophie is comfortable with the idea of dad being gone again to "irax" and has already dug out her daddy doll in preparation. Liv, at her age, is oblivious to the anticipated absence of her father. Dylan, is a little more worried, especially since Lou came home last time recovering from surgery. I, myself, am a bit more comfortable with the issue of his safety. However, the issue concerning his luck (as in bad) still continues to nag.
This blog will more than likely be my outlet for the next six months. So I'm enlisting your help in the form of encouraging comments and your own entertaining blog posts to keep my mind off other morbid concerns. (I swear this isn't a shameless blog plug)