Its so hard to say goodbye

in more ways than one.

Yesterday was Joey's last day at home. Possibly forever (this home at least). We went to church where we bore rather incoherent testimonies. This ward has helped us in more ways then we can describe. The people of Edgewood Ward are amazing and that is why I decided to stay here instead of move with Joey.

After sacrament meeting, Joey and I found a ride for the kids then came home with the intention of finishing the last few things around the house Joey had on his "to do" list. Instead, we ended up sitting on the couch together not talking about anything in particular. The boys came home and Joey put them to work doing the things we had come home early to do.

Before we left for the hotel, Joey gave each of the boys blessings. Each time the kids receive blessings from Joey our family grows closer together. I am so thankful for the Priesthood. I already miss having it in my home. Joey and I were able to have blessings also. It is amazing how much they have helped. Normally when Joey is gone I am terrified at night, but I haven't been this time.

We got to the hotel about 5ish. The Hyatt is a very fancy, child unfriendly place. I was stressed out the whole time we were there. We brought the kids in their swimsuits so they could swim with Joey for the last time. Of course the pool was too deep for Kenny and I was paranoid about him jumping in. That kid is so fearless. He did try to jump several times.

Finally I couldn't take the pool any more. The Army gave Joey a meal ticket so the kids and I stayed to eat with him. The kids crawled all over, under, and around the tables making conversation with who ever happened to be sitting at them. We decided the kids and the hotel needed some time a part and headed to the airplane viewing area near the airport. That was fun. We watched the planes taxi in and out, then take off and land. One plane was so close we were blasted by the exhaust.

Eventually we had to head back to the hotel. Saying good bye was hard. Joey doesn't cry often, but had several times already yesterday. I hated watching him walk in the doors by himself.

On the way home Lilly started to cry...hard. She cried all the way from the airport to Zuzax where I realized I had Joey's wallet and had to turn around and go back. I had to let her cry all the way back to the hotel because military "quite time" was about to start. I had to get his wallet to him first or he wouldn't be able to get it. Back at the hotel I was able to hold her and calm her down. We said another tearful good bye and I headed home again. It wasn't five minutes into the drive that Lilly started to cry again. She cried all the way to Zuzax one more time. I felt so awful. Every once in a while Kenny just couldn't handle the noise any more and started to wail himself.

Finally I got the kids home and in bed. Sigh of relief. And I wasn't even scared to go to bed myself.

This morning Joey called to tell us he was allowed to have visitors to send him off at the airport. Again with out much time to spare we headed to the airport. Lilly was quite this time. YEAH! Joey met us at the gate and we spent another hour or so together. For the third time we said good bye and watched Joey go through doors where we couldn't follow him.

The boys wanted to look at the model airplane displays. Then going down the escalator Larry lost a flip flop. He sat down to put it back on. Kenny followed suit and sat down. Before I could use my free hand to get him back up, his shirt got stuck at the bottom where the stairs go back under. Nice. My 3 year old was stuck at the bottom of a crowded escalator. People started piling up behind him, being thrown into each other. It didn't take me long to realize his shirt was not going to unhook so I tore him free.

Joey called to say his plane would be the next down the runway. We hurried to get back to the car and over to the viewing area. We waited and waited and waited for the plane. Finally after 30 minutes we watched him fly away.

Last time I talked to him he was on a bus 45 minutes outside of Fort Sill where he will spend the next 9-10 weeks. We won't be able to talk for 2-3 of those weeks. We ARE going to make it through this. I'm just not sure how.

Miss Lillyann

Lillyann was born smiling. She was only two days old when she smiled her first real smile. She loves to listen to the boys playing and the noise actually calms her down sometimes. Going outside for a short walk instantly calms her too. We may have a little nature lover!




We were able to bless Lilly last Sunday. Here are a few lovely (I'm not bias) pictures.

Lillyann Lucielle DeBuck

Here are some pictures of our new baby girl! We are both doing really well. Labor and delivery went quickly. I'll spare you the details (unless you really want them). She was born at 1:39 am, May 15, 2009. Weighed 5 lbs 10.4 oz, 19 inches long.
Mom, put the camera down! I'm freezing!
Seriously? Is that what you think?
Look at how my Daddy glows when he looks at me!

Posting should get more regular at least for a little while. I just uploaded a bunch of pictures, so writing the commentary should be pretty easy (when I get around to it).

Bowling

For Joey's birthday we went bowling and then out for ice cream. It was the first time the boys had been bowling. They loved it!
Larry is trying to smile...
Taylor didn't want to use the aim rack. He actually did a pretty good job. The lane only has a few more dents in it. I'm thinking he must have taken bowling lessons from Travis!

Kenny had so much fun watching the ball roll down the lane. Sometimes he won't use the aim rack and the ball would roll super slow down lane. It was too funny.
Joey of course won our game, but I got a few strikes!


Not sure whats going on here. Haha, my silly boy.

PS anyone know why I can't take the underline off my first sentence?

kenny's red boots

Boots, those boots, those RED boots!

Kenny got these boots from Rachel. He loves them and wears them everywhere. To the swimming pool, the grocery store, sometimes even with out anything else on. I think he looks like some kinda super hero in these pictures. So cute with his red undies and red boots. All he needs now is a cape. Dunt duh duh dum! "Super Potty Trained Boy! Banishing diapers where ever he goes!"

We also call them his galoshes. Which leads in to this...

paint water

"Kenny were you drinking the paint water?"

"No"

"What's on your mouth?"

"I'm painting"

"Um hum"

Elephant Butte

In April we took a little family trip to Elephant butte. We had so. much. fun! Joey had invited several other guys to go, but they all canceled at the last minute. He had promised the kids he would take them and didn't want to go back on his word. He didn't want to take them alone though so I told him I would go (even though it was the end of April and technically I could have gone into labor at any minute.) I thought the water would be too cold and didn't bring swimsuits. Turns out all the kids wanted to do was play on the beach and in the water.

Taylor tore it up every time he got a chance to drive. In this picture he is driving 50-60 mile per hour. Crazy kid. The boat worked perfectly. We explored all over. I liked to see how many different kinds of birds there were. It was also fun to watch the fish finder and see what was floating under and around the boat.

Da Boys.
Larry is hiding behind the cooler in the boat trying to keep out of the wind.

I'm not sure what they were looking at but it must have beeen important.

We had a pretty secluded area of beach. The sand was wonderful. The lake was smooth as glass. The tent kept us toasty warm. I slept surprisingly well for as pregnant as I was.

We went to one bait shop that had fish heads hanging all over the fence. They fascinated the kids. Mostly because of this. I didn't take a picture. They were nasty.

When I look down

This is what I see. Its ok. I don't mind. You can look away. Or say, "eewww". Or wretch. I understand. I can only guarantee that in a few days (or less) it will look infinitely worse.

But I am so excited to have this little girl in my arms. It would all be worth it even if my belly never looks like my pre-pregnant one again.

Thanks for all the support

I feel much better today. I just needed some time to process. I'm grateful for supportive friends and family. Now that this is a reality the only thing left I can do is prepare the best I can. Its hard for me not to be in control. I'm not spontaneous. Not being able to plan more than a month or so in advance, I've decided to take it one day at a time and prepare as if we were going with Joey. Then if not, at least I'll have a renovated home and a whole lot of clutter out of the way. Not going would save us a lot of money. I'm not sure if that is worth being a part for at least a year.

Last Sunday in testimony meeting, a young woman (who's father works in another country and is rarely home) bore her testimony that she knows families can be together forever. She said Heavenly Father wouldn't expect her family to be a part now if there wasn't eternity to be enjoyed together. That really touched me. I know she had no idea what our situation was.

Conference today seemed to be catered to me. I'm in awe at the inspiration of our church leaders. There can be peace and happiness in times of trial. I know that, I just needed a little time for a break down. Things aren't going to be easy, but they will be doable.

Its Official

Joey is now property of the US Government...

I'm still not sure exactly how I feel about it. I do know that every time I think about him in the Army I get sick to my stomach and start to cry.

There are so many benefits that I look forward to: sign on bonuses, free health care, paid schooling, paid housing, etc. This is just a huge change to how we thought we'd be spending the rest of our lives three weeks ago. I'm having a hard time making the mental shift. I honestly thought Joey would retire from Sandia and that we would live in Edgewood forever. Now we'll be moving at least every three years... The adventure part is exciting. I can adapt to new things rather quickly, but I worry about the kids. How is it going to affect them to move to new schools so often? Are they going to withdraw or become more social and make friends easier? How is it going to affect them to have Joey gone so much? Right now I'm just trying to have faith that there is a plan and that everything will work out in the end. This might end up being the best thing that has ever happened to us...

Joey leaves for basic training August 3. He'll be in Oklahoma for that. Then he'll go to Alabama for the next 48 weeks. We are going to try and see if the kids and I can move there with him. Some captains say its ok, some don't. I'm not used to our living situation being up in the air like that. I might be here, or there, or somewhere completely different. I hate not being able to plan. At least he'll be here for a few months after the baby is born. I insisted on that.

Now we wait and see.

Get Your Kicks...

Here are a few pictures I took for our Blue and Gold Banquet. The theme was Route 66. I was in charge of the decorations. I thought taking my own pictures and having them developed would be a cheap way to decorate. 8x10s are much more expensive than I thought they were.


I had so much fun taking (and altering) these pictures. Except for the Route 66 Diner, all of these places are found on my own little stretch of Route 66. I started at Mountain Valley Road and drove through Moriarty. Who knew there were so many great things to see?


Anything look familiar?



We ate sloppy joes, thinking it would be easier than hamburgers. For dessert we set up an ice cream bar. The kids loved that!


The Blue and Gold ended up being a wonderful night. I also made a poster that said "Get Your Kicks and Route 66." I decorated with old records that I bought at Bethel. For the center pieces, I put a record in the middle of each table. Then I put an old fashioned popcorn bag on each record and filled them to over flowing. I wish I had other pictures of the night so you could see the room decorated.


A guest speaker from the New Mexico Route 66 Association came and handed out t-shirts to the kids. Taylor loves his! He's worn it at least 3 times a week since he got it.


The Indian is one of my favorite pictures. The mural has been here as long as I can remember. I used to look for it specifically EVERY time we drove past. I had a hard time deciding whether to highlight the Indian or the star. I'm glad I chose the Indian.



I also love this one. It didn't turn out so light when printed.





Anyway, hope you enjoyed looking at them as much as I enjoyed taking them. Photography is a completely new thing for me.