Deployment Day One

Well, he's gone. By now I'd say he's probably on the other side of the world. That's so weird to think about. Yesterday he was here. Today he's in the middle east. I haven't heard from him yet so I'm just guessing but it seems about right.

Yesterday was rough. You ever heard that Rascal Flatts song that's lyrics say "what he don't know is how hard it is to make it look so easy?" Yeah, that same line kept playing in my head ALL. DAY. LONG as I was trying to keep it together. It didn't help. I choked and teared up a couple times throughout the day, despite my best efforts to put on a straight face and think of all things happy and sunshines. Damn you Rascal Flatts. It doesn't even matter that that song is actually about a break up. Whatever- somehow those lyrics still applied and kept playing over and over.

By last night at 9pm we were on base checking him in at the departure center along with about 130 other members of the squadron and their families. It was loud and chaotic and had this overwhelming feeling of anticipation. The single guys were chatting it up, laughing and talking like they were just hanging out at a party having a good ol' time. Wives were holding on to their husbands and sneaking kisses every chance they could get. It was obvious who'd been down this road before and who hadn't (me). Daddies were smothering their laughing babies who were up way past bedtime with kisses while others were rocking their brand new sleeping little ones.

And my family, we were in the middle of it soaking it all in. Cheyanne was as awake as she could possibly be, oblivious to the fact that her Daddy and "uncles" were leaving, only wanting to run around with the bigger kids who all seemed like pros at this.

Some of our guys even came to see the my boys off.

We all took turns entertaining Cheyanne.  It was especially great they were all there because they were able to stroll Chey around allowing Hubs and I a few moments to ourselves amidst the chaos (which I have no pictures of because I was ABSOLUTELY not camera ready).

Here's Cheyanne with her Uncle Mahoney before he left.

After 3 hours of waiting around, finally the call came through the building announcing time to load up. At that moment, there was no more escaping it in my head. (I'm sure this sounds overdramatized, but until you're in these shoes, well, its not). It was by far the hardest thing to do- hugging them goodbye. I pray that people are right and it gets easier with each deployment. This wasn't easy. Not at all. All I could process to say was be safe and come back to me.

Lordy, I'll miss them all in this quiet house. He's been gone a day and I already miss my husband too much. Thankfully, though, today was much easier than I thought it would be. Since Chey and I slept most of the afternoon away with a very nice nap, I didn't have to think too much. I know from experience that this time away does actually get easier. Once she and I get into our groove, we'll be cruising to the end of deployment. The hard part is behind us- saying goodbye. Now, thankfully we're on the other side of the deployment- the countdown side to his return. I don't know when that will be since there is no actual "countdown" but we're told he'll be home March so let that countdown begin.

(Can you tell who was happy to take our family picture before deployment…and who wasn't?)

Day one of deployment- CHECK!.


Sweetheart, whenever you get to read this- I love you and am more than proud of you. We're doing fine. My love always.