Coping

A peek at how we're doing -- how we're coping and getting through the days (and now nearly two weeks) since Christopher's been gone.  But there's no way this "just getting by" stuff happens at all without the unbelievable blessings we've received from our family, friends and neighbors.  Maybe soon I can document the ways that we have been simply showered with the love from our little community.  We are so fortunate.

So, before he left we asked fellow military parents for tips and advice on some practical ideas for helping the kids cope with this business.  One of our favorites was the hershey kiss trick.  We loaded up two containers with enough hershey kisses to mark each day of the deployment.  Every night after dinner the kids get to eat their "Daddy Kiss".  As the pile grows smaller, we know we're getting closer to his return.

Around here, Bed Time is Daddy Time.  I'm just about fried by the time bedtime rolls around, so Christopher has always handled the books and snuggles with Mils and Si while I'm managing Hannah.  In a stroke of pure genius, Christopher recorded himself reading all of their favorite bedtime books on the iPad.  This is the most awesome thing ever.  The kids get all ready and snuggle up together in the bottom bunk and watch and listen to Christopher every single night.  What brought me to tears, however, was the night that Millie carried the iPad into Hannah's room where I was rocking her before bed.  Hannah heard her Dad's voice and just sat up and spun around trying to find him.  Gulp.  She misses him too.

The kids are forming their own little gang.  Mils and Si are constant playmates and both of them are just amazing with Hannah.  She's the most serious baby, but Mils and Si never fail to get a big smile out of her.  And the moment above just melted me.  I walked into the living room to find that Si had climbed down on the floor to hang with Hannah.  He's still watching Monkey George, he's just doing it closer to his sister.

Impromptu playdates.  We're spending lots and lots of time with our friends:  at parks, here at home, in their front yards, at the ice cream shop...wherever a get-together breaks out.  My introverted nature is getting a true test, and I find that I'm loving the new and deepening friendships that are being formed.

Personally, I like to think about what an amazing job Christopher has.  It blows my mind that this is his workplace.  It's important to me that he really loves what he's doing, and so far it seems like he does.  It helps me to hold on in the hard times when I know that his work is meaningful.  This is one crazy life we've got going!