Okay, so it's not a record I can keep up but I think I'll get 3 for 3 tonight. I read Don't Talk Back to Your Vampire on the 4th, Because Your Vampire Said So on the 5th and I'm about half way through Wait till Your Vampire Gets Home now, I'll probably finish it tonight after the girls go to bed.
These are all part of the Broken Heart Vampires series by Michele Bardsley. In Broken Heart, Oklahoma - a vampire goes on a biting spree. Before he's stopped, he bites 11 single parents changing not only their lives (or un-lives?) but the whole town. Suddenly Broken Heart is the catch-all town for all of parakind....assuming they can all get along of course. And how likely is that?! It's a good light series with an interesting twist on normal vamp books - how many vampires are parents after all?!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Personal Reading Challenge 2009
I love to read; it's a passion I've always had but don't always dedicate the time to do. Around the time Anya was born I picked up several new books to help with my hospital stay. In September I joined paperbackswap.com at the urging of my friend Kisha. Oh and I read the Twilight series in there two - I promise this is all significant. Reading Twilight put me on a vampire kick, which I turned to Kisha's suggestions which got me started reading the Sookie Stackhouse series, Queen Betsy and Anita Blake (among others but those were the first). I bought all of the Sookie series new before turning to and joining PBS. Through PBS I found tons and tons of new books and series to read and now have a whole bookshelf full of books to keep me entertained.
In 2008, I read 55 books I think (I wasn't keeping specific track so I'm not totally sure, might have missed one or two in there). I didn't start really reading a lot until June. So my personal reading challenge for 2009 is going to be 80 books. I think I can read even more than that but this is my goal. I've already finished two and started number three!
Why am I telling all my non-existent readers this? Because this blog will have a whole lot of different types of posts, including posts about books I've read occasionally. So I'm warning you in advance to expect them.
In 2008, I read 55 books I think (I wasn't keeping specific track so I'm not totally sure, might have missed one or two in there). I didn't start really reading a lot until June. So my personal reading challenge for 2009 is going to be 80 books. I think I can read even more than that but this is my goal. I've already finished two and started number three!
Why am I telling all my non-existent readers this? Because this blog will have a whole lot of different types of posts, including posts about books I've read occasionally. So I'm warning you in advance to expect them.
Monday, January 5, 2009
The Almost Breaking Point
I fell down the stairs. The more you read this blog, the more you'll discover that this clutzy behavior is not exactly out of the ordinary. I've fallen down the stairs a couple times since moving here - each time seemingly worse than before.
The first time was while I was pregnant with Stowaway - I was mildly sore for a day or two but otherwise unscathed. Robby was more upset that I didn't call him when it happened and waited until he got home to tell him it happened.
Then in the early hours on December 26th I fell down and slammed my back into the railing. I was carrying Anya at the time and instinctively turned so that I took all the damage and she just bounced in my arms. As a result I twisted my ankle or something. It hurt for a few days and now it's just a little sore occasionally.
Today I was carrying Inara (who is almost two) and my foot slipped and down I went - HARD. On my butt. Now I have decent cushion in that area but that didn't save me this time, I bounced down a couple steps and when I got up it HURT. I'm pretty sure I bruised my tailbone or something because it hurts to sit. Driving to the post office was just downright painful. That was not my almost breaking point - although it contributed to it. After the painful drive to the post office and after dragging the almost two year old kicking and screaming to a nap, I sat very uncomfortably on the couch to feed Anya. She fell asleep (yay!) and I gingerly took her upstairs to put her down. Halfway up her eyes popped open, that's not totally uncommon so I put her down and she started to fuss. Again, this isn't uncommon with her so I closed the door to give her a few moments. Soon the fuss became an all out cry and by that time I was about to break down. I was physically in pain and the idea of having to rock her back to sleep on my sore butt just made me want to cry. That's when all the "I wish Robby were here" thoughts peeped out and the need to cry was about more than the physical pain.
And then she stopped crying and got quiet - having fallen asleep. So I didn't QUITE break down today (well not mentally - I'm physically "broken" I think lol)
The first time was while I was pregnant with Stowaway - I was mildly sore for a day or two but otherwise unscathed. Robby was more upset that I didn't call him when it happened and waited until he got home to tell him it happened.
Then in the early hours on December 26th I fell down and slammed my back into the railing. I was carrying Anya at the time and instinctively turned so that I took all the damage and she just bounced in my arms. As a result I twisted my ankle or something. It hurt for a few days and now it's just a little sore occasionally.
Today I was carrying Inara (who is almost two) and my foot slipped and down I went - HARD. On my butt. Now I have decent cushion in that area but that didn't save me this time, I bounced down a couple steps and when I got up it HURT. I'm pretty sure I bruised my tailbone or something because it hurts to sit. Driving to the post office was just downright painful. That was not my almost breaking point - although it contributed to it. After the painful drive to the post office and after dragging the almost two year old kicking and screaming to a nap, I sat very uncomfortably on the couch to feed Anya. She fell asleep (yay!) and I gingerly took her upstairs to put her down. Halfway up her eyes popped open, that's not totally uncommon so I put her down and she started to fuss. Again, this isn't uncommon with her so I closed the door to give her a few moments. Soon the fuss became an all out cry and by that time I was about to break down. I was physically in pain and the idea of having to rock her back to sleep on my sore butt just made me want to cry. That's when all the "I wish Robby were here" thoughts peeped out and the need to cry was about more than the physical pain.
And then she stopped crying and got quiet - having fallen asleep. So I didn't QUITE break down today (well not mentally - I'm physically "broken" I think lol)
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Thing-That-Should-Not-Be-Named
I knew when we arrived in Hawaii roughly when Robby would be deployed. The dates and event he month bounced around a lot but I knew it would happen. I chose to not think about it - no I wasn't ignoring it; I simply refused to spend 10 months miserable waiting for it to happen when he WAS here. When we got here in February I had plenty of other things to think about like Stowaway's impending arrival, being in Hawaii, getting settled, being in Hawaii, being a family again, did I mention being in HAWAII?!
After Stowaway, AKA Anya, was born in June - well I had a newborn, a toddler and a preschooler. I had plenty to occupy my mind that didn't involve a year long deployment. It was there, buried deep in my head but I wouldn't give the idea sunlight. Even as Jadzia turned 4 and the holidays rushed towards us; as the FRG meetings cropped up and Robby got shot after stupid shot in prep for this Thing-That-Should-Not-Be-Named; I didn't think about it....well not much at least.
But come December 1st, it was there -staring me in the face. I didn't want to be sad for the holidays. He was home, I didn't want to spend what time we had him with us sad. I bought the kids way to much for Christmas; I think it was retail therapy as much for me as it was for them. In the back of my mind I wanted them to have an awesome Christmas this year given what 2009 held for all of us. And seeing them happy, made Robby and I happy. Robby told me yes every time I mentioned yet another gift for the girls - I don't think he could refuse them anything at that point if he wanted to.
So on Christmas morning, the North Pole descended on our house - it's a wonder Santa had anything left for the rest of the keiki (Hawaiian for children) on the island; I could have sworn it all came here. At that point, the end was near. They - WE - had a great Christmas but it was bittersweet to me.
I did better than I thought I would in the week leading up to D-day; I didn't start getting despondent until the day before. Then it all came crashing down on me. I cried on and off, I stared a lot, I grabbed Robby for random hugs often interrupting his packing (not that he minded really). Then the night of, I was staring at my dinner plate and just started sobbing - I couldn't help it. It had nothing to do with the dinner plate obviously - maybe it was the errant "this is last dinner together" thought or maybe the dam just broke but it was all over from there.
He had to be up to his company at 130AM, so we put the girls to bed for a few hours and woke them when it was time. I hated to wake them but I think it was better that way - closure and all. The plan was to take him, drop him off and then get the girls back to bed quickly. But when we got there, I didn't want to leave knowing he would still be on the island for a few more hours (even if he'd be busy doing other things). I felt like leaving was a bad idea - like I was giving up time we could possibly have together. Robby knew as well as I did that the longer I hung around, the crankier the kids would be either that night or in the morning so he sent me on my way. My sweet neighbor came over to help me get the girls back to bed and then I stayed awake until almost 330AM before sleep caught me and pulled me under.
I haven't cried since that night we left him at the company. Sometimes I feel it surfacing and I'm primed for a good cry if need be - I know it can theraputic - but it just stops and the day goes on. I'm still waiting for the OMG moment where it all hits me like a ton of bricks or something.
After Stowaway, AKA Anya, was born in June - well I had a newborn, a toddler and a preschooler. I had plenty to occupy my mind that didn't involve a year long deployment. It was there, buried deep in my head but I wouldn't give the idea sunlight. Even as Jadzia turned 4 and the holidays rushed towards us; as the FRG meetings cropped up and Robby got shot after stupid shot in prep for this Thing-That-Should-Not-Be-Named; I didn't think about it....well not much at least.
But come December 1st, it was there -staring me in the face. I didn't want to be sad for the holidays. He was home, I didn't want to spend what time we had him with us sad. I bought the kids way to much for Christmas; I think it was retail therapy as much for me as it was for them. In the back of my mind I wanted them to have an awesome Christmas this year given what 2009 held for all of us. And seeing them happy, made Robby and I happy. Robby told me yes every time I mentioned yet another gift for the girls - I don't think he could refuse them anything at that point if he wanted to.
So on Christmas morning, the North Pole descended on our house - it's a wonder Santa had anything left for the rest of the keiki (Hawaiian for children) on the island; I could have sworn it all came here. At that point, the end was near. They - WE - had a great Christmas but it was bittersweet to me.
I did better than I thought I would in the week leading up to D-day; I didn't start getting despondent until the day before. Then it all came crashing down on me. I cried on and off, I stared a lot, I grabbed Robby for random hugs often interrupting his packing (not that he minded really). Then the night of, I was staring at my dinner plate and just started sobbing - I couldn't help it. It had nothing to do with the dinner plate obviously - maybe it was the errant "this is last dinner together" thought or maybe the dam just broke but it was all over from there.
He had to be up to his company at 130AM, so we put the girls to bed for a few hours and woke them when it was time. I hated to wake them but I think it was better that way - closure and all. The plan was to take him, drop him off and then get the girls back to bed quickly. But when we got there, I didn't want to leave knowing he would still be on the island for a few more hours (even if he'd be busy doing other things). I felt like leaving was a bad idea - like I was giving up time we could possibly have together. Robby knew as well as I did that the longer I hung around, the crankier the kids would be either that night or in the morning so he sent me on my way. My sweet neighbor came over to help me get the girls back to bed and then I stayed awake until almost 330AM before sleep caught me and pulled me under.
I haven't cried since that night we left him at the company. Sometimes I feel it surfacing and I'm primed for a good cry if need be - I know it can theraputic - but it just stops and the day goes on. I'm still waiting for the OMG moment where it all hits me like a ton of bricks or something.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Me, myself and I
I am Cami. My husband joined the military in June of 2007 - at 29 years old. We already had two little girls at the time. It's not your "typical" start in the military but it's how it worked out for us. Girl number 3 came along after a 4 day weekend reunion and then we got our first duty station assignment - in Hawaii.
Living in "paradise" was great for the first few months - now it's just Hawaii. It's nice but I wouldn't say paradise exactly. I miss being near family, I miss Texas, I miss Sonic and Red Robin and Fry's Electronics.....oh yeah, and now I miss my husband seeing as he just left on our first deployment.
I originally started this blog when he was in Basic and AIT and then I did nothing with it. I suspect the first deployment will be a big Army challenge so it seems a good time to start back up.
So here I am, one day at a time. Thanks for reading
Living in "paradise" was great for the first few months - now it's just Hawaii. It's nice but I wouldn't say paradise exactly. I miss being near family, I miss Texas, I miss Sonic and Red Robin and Fry's Electronics.....oh yeah, and now I miss my husband seeing as he just left on our first deployment.
I originally started this blog when he was in Basic and AIT and then I did nothing with it. I suspect the first deployment will be a big Army challenge so it seems a good time to start back up.
So here I am, one day at a time. Thanks for reading
Friday, January 2, 2009
Family Pics
I wanted a current picture of all of us together and at least one with Daddy and his princesses like the one we took before he left for basic training.
And for giggles, here are the pictures from May 2007 of daddy and his girls (before Anya came along)
And for giggles, here are the pictures from May 2007 of daddy and his girls (before Anya came along)
Thursday, January 1, 2009
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