Christmas 2010

So the week of leave went by way too fast!  It seems like we just went home and now I'm back in this darn room in Texas.  It took a lot to hold back tears as we took off from DIA and I looked out the window at the city.  God home never felt so good!  And it was so hard trying to fit everything into just a week, we wanted to do so much.   But a few of the highlites from the week are below....

*I finally got to go to the DMV to get my new license since I turned 21 back in OCT and my license expired, even though I just got a new one when I changed my name back in July.
*I got to drive my car again. Wahoo I missed being able to drive!
*I was reunited with my wolfpack (lol I love you two). We went to dinner at The Keg.
*I got to see Acasha and some of my kids from work. One of them gave me the biggest hug & wouldn't let go. I loved it.
*I got to see a handful of my favorite people and it was awesome!
*We got to video chat with my brother and his family, it was great! The kids were so funny :)
*The hubby and I had a date night at Texas de Brazil(finally used the gift card from way back in August)....OMG the most amazing food ever.  They had a salad bar that had everything, including amazing cheese choices and shrimp.  Then the meats were to die for.  There was a garlic tender loin, parmesan pork, and bacon wrapped filet mignon to name a few.  Then cinnamon coated bananas, delicious garlic mashed potatoes, a chocolate mouse cake, and one of the best glasses of Moscato wine ever.  Definitely a new favorite of mine! 
Christmas was great too.  I got my husband a very nice flag display with a shadow box attached for medals and coins.  It came with a slot for a photo of him in unirform and I got an engraved plate with his name.  He loved it.  Then I got him several other things like clothes and of course the Xbox 250gb hard drive.

My gifts included under armour, other clothes, Just Dance 2 (yes!) and the new Donkey Kong game for my Wii, cute black flats, and a silver/diamond necklace.  It has a heart with a ribbon wrapped around it.

And because I love it so much. I have to mention my new coach purse and wallet I got just before Christmas. I have always wanted one, but never bought one. Until now! Thank you Chris :)

Overall, it was a good Christmas and a good week. I can not wait to go back in a few months.  Until then I will be (not so) patiently waiting.

♥ Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas. ♥

Welcome Home!

On Monday morning Chris and I got to come home for a week. I have never been so excited in my life!  An organization called Miles for Heroes paid for our plane tickets.  We didn't have to pay to check our luggage with United because we are military.  Then we got bumped from row 18 in Coach to row 1 in First Class!  This was my very first time ever flying firstclass.  I was kind of excited.  They pay constant attention to you, give you hot towels before serving a full course breakfast. Best plane ride I have ever had that's for sure.  When we got to DIA, and got off the elevator by the fountain where people greet you, we were surprised by a group of 10 or so of our friends and family holding signs shouting "Welcome Home".  It made both of us cry instantly.  It was so heart warming and I loved it so much.

The other night, while we were still in TX I couldn't sleep very well.  There is a train track right next to where we stay, and a train goes by like every hour blowing its horn super loud.  Then we have rude neighbors who seem to think repeatedly slamming their door after 10pm is ok. Anyways, as I laid awake at 2am I sent a "newstip" to Denver's 9news about my husband and us coming home.  I didn't really think they would respond, but guess what?  First thing the next morning I was exchanging emails with 9news producers and they wanted to share our story!  So yesterday morning they came to my mom's house and interviewed us.  I swore I wasn't going to cry, but of course I did :)  So below is the video clip that aired on Denver's 9news during the 6 o'clock hour (the big show, as I was informed).  Enjoy.


♥ What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace. ♥

Old Folks Say The Darndess Things!

So today the husband and I had a few things to do over at the hospital.  In the midst of it all we stopped at the coffee stand for a little afternoon pick me up.  While I was in the process of ordering and waiting on our drinks, I looked over to notice an elderly man talking to Chris.  Turns out it was an old WWII veteran. For the most part by the time I got over there it seemed to me he was talking a whole lot about nothing in particular.  However, the main focus of his conversation  kept going back to his cane. After making both my husband and I hold it, he went on to explain how it was made from a bull's penis.  Hearing a man in his 80s-90s talk in depth about a wrickedy old cane made out of animal genitals is rather interesting I must say.  I couldn't help but laugh at this random and awkward conversation.  And he kept insisting we look him up, since he has been in films about WWII.  And most importantly that my husband buy one of these bull canes. Ahh only at BAMC....only in Texas!

On another note, we are supposed to be flying home next week for about 8 days. Can we say E-X-C-I-T-E-D much!!! I absolutely can't wait to go home to CO for a bit and get out of this little "BAMC Bubble" we are stuck in.  This place gets old real fast. It makes you feel like you are slowly losing your mind, and going insane.  Well at least that is how it makes me feel.  The other day we had an appointment with the behavioral health guy, where we talked about feelings and moods, etc.  Out of nowhere he turned to me and flat out asked "how do you feel about your husband being an amputie?"  I was taken aback kind of, and just stared and said "Uhhhh, I don't know..."  This is the first time since all this occured that question has been asked.  It is blunt and rather in your face.  How do you answer something like that?  And better yet, how do I feel about it?  After a minute of trying to spit out some kind of answer, I felt my face get hot and I started crying.  I mean how am I supposed to feel?!  How would anyone feel....crummy! I said that it was hard, but I typically don't think about it because when I do I end up crying.  I said that this is just what our life is now, and so I take it a day at a time and roll with the punches.  This is exactly how I feel about it.  But I also felt like saying "Well it freaking sucks! I am pissed at the world some days. I hate the Taliban! I hate Afghanistan! And some days I want to scream at the top of my lungs to the world."  I have said it before and I will say it again, no one is trained for something like this to happen.  Sure, you know it's a possibilty.  You know it could happen.  You hear about it, read about it, and if you're the soldier you probably have seen it.  But when it actually happens to you...yeah that's a different chapter in a different book.  One that you have never ventured in before. So for those wondering that same question, that's how I feel.  And if you think you may handle the situation differently or feel differently I want to say this.  You have no idea what it's like until you go through it first hand.

I am off my soap box for the day though :)  Just a few things to get off my chest. But on a lighter note, countdown to home has begun and I can't wait.

♥ Where we love is home. Home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts. ♥

Critters!!

Yesterday our friends Megan and Jamie came to see us one more time before they head back to CO for the remainder of Jamie's R&R.  We hung out down at the River Walk with them.  We got lunch at the Hard Rock, did some shopping, then got some dinner.  We walked for what felt like miles up and down and all around the River Walk area.  At least I got my cardio for the day!  And it was great because Megan and I can find anything and everything to laugh about as we strolled along apparently.  At one point Megan's arm rubbed against a bush, which made a rustling noise. I jumped for a second and then realized it was only her.  When she asked what was wrong I said "Oh nothing, I just thought there was a critter in the bush for a second." She laughed so hard, when Chris & Jamie heard the story they laughed at me too.  Apparently the word "critter" is not used by people often.  Another great discovery of the night was when we saw a sign that read as follows....

The reason it is so funny is because Megan, Heather, and myself have a little inside joke relating back to the Wolf Pack speech Alan gives on The Hangover. It was great!

Oh and speaking of "critters" I killed a cock roach in our room this morning, for the second time in the last week.  Up until being here, I have never seen a roach in my life!  In a week and a half I have seen a total of four big ones, and two little ones.  I for one can not take it!  They are such disgusting things and the stupid long, wiggily antenaes they have gives me the creeps! Oh Colorado, how I miss you!

On another note....as some of you may know I am a proud coffee enthusiast.  I enjoy a warm cup of coffee in the mornings to wake up.  A nice cup of iced coffee mid day can keep me going.  And sometimes a cup at night can end my day just right.  Now this does not mean I have coffee three times a day, every day.  My point is simply that I can enjoy it any time of day. As long as I have known my husband he has never touched a cup of coffee.  He would say it smelt good but didn't think it would taste good. Which to me is just plain crazy talk!  I can go into coffee withdrawals if it's too long since I have had a good cup of coffee.  Earlier this week though, I was had some morning brew when he said to me "Let me try it."  I was completely shocked at this request!  And then when he took that sip, his eyes widened and he exclaimed "Wow, that is really good!"  OMG could it be, I have introduced him to one of the greatest things on earth. So it is official, my husband likes coffee now :) I am proud. And to make the week even better, I finally got a Carmel Brulee Latte from Starbucks. Sucks it is only a seasonal drink cause it sure is good!

 

♥ Laughter rises out of tragedy, when you need it the most, and rewards you for your courage. ♥

Busy Bee's

So for the first time since coming down here, I feel like I have had an actual busy week.  Since Chris got discharged from the hospital we have done quite a bit. Like maniacs, we went shopping on Black Friday.  I for one have never done that before because I do not enjoy shopping in large crowds.  Any who, Chris wanted to get a bigger TV for our room and a new Xbox, so off to Best Buy we went.  Then we stopped by Target and had lunch at Red Robin.  Did pretty good for his first day leaving the BAMC area.

Then we had a nice long weekend.  Spent lots of time together, hanging out enjoying being out of the hospital finally.  Rented movies and snuggled up a lot.  Which is a good thing because Monday began a crazy week.  Being his first week as an outpatient we had appointment after appointment and inprocessing to do.  What a drag! At least I got a free one hour full body massage on Monday night after a long day of running around.  There are some perks around here and I have no problem taking full advantage of them.
Yesterday was a great day also, cause Chris stood up for the first time, and did so several times throughout the day for a few seconds.  It was awesome.  But then I remembered how much shorter I am then him.  Proud of him every day though.

Also, our good friends Megan and Jamie came to visit. We were so excited to see them!  Jamie is home on R&R, and they came down to Texas for a bit.  The boys got some needed time together, as did Megan and I.  We had lunch at Olive Garden.  Then the boys played Xbox while Megan and I went to the nail salon.  We sat in massage chairs that included a butt massage!  Not the cheeks but there was like a piece that went right up the middle of your booty....very interesting to say the least.  It was so funny.  That night we had PF Chang's for dinner, which was yummy.  Chris had never eaten there before and he really liked it!  The night ended with going to see Due Date which Megan and I had planned on seeing since September! Was totally worth the wait. I thought it was hilarious :)

Today, Chris's medic from Afghanistan came to visit.  He was the one who first treated Chris after the explosion.  It meant a lot to meet him, and he is such a nice guy.  I told him "I know I don't know you, but I am going to hug you anyway."  As I did I thanked him for what he did.  It means a lot to get to meet him, and I will forever be greatful for what he did, along with the doctors in Germany and here at BAMC.  So we got to spend the day with him today.   I just want all our Crazy Horse boys home safe and sound.

Time to relax for the night, and get some rest for tomorrow's adventures!

♥ There is an energy field between humans. And, when we reach out in passion, it is met with an answering passion and changes the relationship forever. ♥