Deployment

Living in Indiana the past three years has really removed me from the concept that there is still a war going on. Unlike when Dave was in Iraq, I am not on the iCasualties website hourly making sure someone from 3/6 did not pop up. Instead, I rarely watch anything to do with the war simply because its nice to not have to think about it like I did 4 years ago. However; this morning I receive an early morning call from Dave that sounds like he won the lottery. He found out his deployment schedule. Ugh. I knew it was coming, and I was hopeful it was over the summer so I could travel around with the kids a bit to break up the time. But I also know this means I am going to single parent it for 7 months. I know to a lot of you are thinking really Kandi, join the freaking club. And you will never hear me verbally complain about this. My dear friend Katie and I have a mutual understanding since she is getting ready to embrace deployment #5 - I do not complain to her about deployments, and she does not complain to me about mother in laws. But at any rate, it is still a large pill to swallow after living in my fantasy for the past three years of no war.

Knowing myself, I now know that my months will be marked off with x amount of time until Dave leaves. Currently, I was just focusing on x amount of time until we move. Now the picture has just gotten a lot larger.

We have been talking to M about this deployment for the past 3-4 months just because I know it is going to be the absolute hardest on her than anyone else. So, today I told her the dates. She immediately points out he is going to miss her birthday and B's. Already this deployment is costing me money because I got weak and said we would have two bday parties. One in Sept., and then one in Oct. when he returns to celebrate his, hers, and B's. I guess I never would have thought that at the age of 6 the first thing she would have thought about was her birthday. Clearly, the Hart kids need to toughen up a bit to the military way of life.

I suppose now I am off to look for an iPhone application for my phone of iCasualities as I know that I am going to be addicted to it yet again. I can't wait until Dave checks in so I can check in with his new boss as well and explain that I would like him behind a desk and stapler at all times. The only injuries I want to worry about are paper cuts.