Chapter Three "Surviving Deployment for Dummies" 2/9/12

I am obviously not so good with keeping up with a blog.  Today I went back and re-read my previous entries thinking that perhaps there was the answer to a mystery that I find myself in.  I could find no such answer, not that I am surprised.

My family is currently five months into deployment.  Looking back on how it began I can honestly say I was pretty dead on with my predictions.  My new favorite quote or thought is that "those who mind don't matter, those who matter don't mind".  There have been quite a few changes in the relationships in my life since September.  I could be a big fat liar and say that I don't care but that would be a big fat lie.  Funny thing is when I try to determine why it matters I cannot come up with solid answers.  Sometimes it is just best to accept you will not have an answer.  Many relationships have floundered but then renewed with a burst of energy and at just the right time.  Again, yet another lesson learned (again and again) that things happen in their own time, not mine, how vain of me.

So, you may be wondering how the last few months have gone, slowly, quickly, slower than slow, "what?  five months down!", yes, that about sums it up. 

I was laid off during my maternity leave with Cooper 4 years ago.  I have had four years of no schedule, thus Cooper has dictated the who, the what, the why and most importantly, the when.  Lesson number one for me is that I must have some form of a schedule, I must plan or else fail miserably.  Planning and scheduling do not have to be the devil, in fact, they can be things to embrace and look forward to.  Take for instance, bedtime, bedtime is 8pm every night.  Cooper was and still is suffering from night terrors.  They are reduced when he is not over tired.  8pm bedtime gives me "free time" to look forward to every day, not that I don't thoroughly enjoy my time with Cooper or Paige (when she is home, I often forget she lives here) but I am a person that REQUIRES "me" time.  8pm has saved my sanity, of course so has that box of wine that always resides in the fridge.  I do try to plan little trips or excursions here and there and we do  have some good great family and friends that have been integral in assuring our current levels of sanity.

So, there you have it.  So far, so good we are surviving persevering and excelling, one day at a time.