Merry Christmas!
We have now gotten through holiday #2 and are all doing very well I think. I am visiting family right now and my sister has gone above and beyond to help make this a happy time for me and the kids. She has made her home so warm and welcoming and I could never thank her enough for that. She has made sure I'm very busy,too, which is the best gift of all.
We were able to video-chat with our soldier last night and it was really great. He got to see my sister's family and talk to them a little and he got to talk to our boys and I for quite awhile. He waited to open presents from us so that we could see him on the web-cam and I think the kids really liked that. He looked really good and was so upbeat and positive for the kids.
We finally had a chance to chat alone and we talked and daydreamed about his homecoming. It won't be too much longer. I was proud of myself for not crying in front of the kids but I just couldn't keep it together for my soldier. I tried so hard but the hardest part was saying good-bye when he had to go to breakfast. I promised him I wasn't sad like this all the time and that I would be just fine in a few minutes. I don't think he believed me! I hated to do that in front of him on the web-cam. I kept from completely falling apart until the computer was turned off and then I sobbed like a fool. I thought I might just get away with a few tears but no such luck. It was good though. I need to release that stuff so that I'm not holding on to it and making it worse.
We are all getting through our day so far. We don't have much longer to go. Only one more holiday left and then we can start focusing on making his homecoming a great one. Man, I really miss him so very much. This is so hard, I knew it would be - no matter how many people told me it would be fine. I appreciate that but I also wish that friends would just let me be ok with the fact that sometimes it really is just too hard to take but that it's ok to feel that way. I know we will survive, we always do.
Thank you for all of your positive thoughts and prayers and for all of you that sent my soldier a care package. You will never know how much that means to those guys who are so far away from home.
Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year!

Weekly Weigh- In With the Sisters

Ok so I am down a whole pound and that is after falling off the low-carb bandwagon yesterday and picking up fast food for the kids and I. I know, that's like a sin or something but unfortunately I have yet another final and I've been doing nothing but studying and breathing for the past 4 days!

I feel like I am on a roller coaster with weight gain. I lose it for awhile and then I think I'm fine and what's one little donut.....or 2 or 6? Then it slowly creeps back up until the ol' jeans aren't feeling too good right out of the dryer. I have to confess that food is my stress reliever. Although when I think about it, it only lasts for a few minutes and the stress is still there. I've always known that I'm a much better exerciser than a 'dieter' but right now I'm just trying to find enough hours to sleep, take care of 3 kids, study, clean, study.......you get the idea, right?

Enough excuses! I do want to be healthy and have more energy and I used to counsel people on weight loss a long time ago when we lived in Louisiana so I know all the rules on how to do it right. I just need to make that commitment. That seems to be the hardest part for me.
I have to add that I am proud of myself for losing that one pound and for not putting on the usual 20 that I do when my soldier deploys. BTW, for those of you who read me often, we are now at the 6 month point with only 2 left to go!!!!! WOOHOO!!!!
Hopefully by following the 'Sisterhood' I will be encouraged to stick with this and it will make me accountable. I used to work out with my SIL when we were all stationed together a year ago and having a partner made all the difference in the world. The Sisterhood is my partner now and I am excited already by the posts I've read and the weight loss that's been documented!
Keep it up, Sisters!