Our LAST Weekend as "Mommy and Me"

This week has been the L-O-N-G-E-S-T week of my life.

my life.

I had no desire to focus on anything but my family being together again this entire week.

I'm pretty sure all I did this week was daydream about Nick.

I started doing last minute things....

I got Nick's truck maintenance up to date and washed.

I got his truck AND motorcycle registered at the DMV (where I wanted to stab my eye out waiting).

and most importantly....

Nick's favorite beer in a mini keg...all cold and ready for him in our fridge....now we just need him to come home to drink it!

I caught Dannika this morning in the pantry...she figured it out...

Addicted to Excercise?

Never. 

I do believe there is such thing as an unhealthy exercise habit.

I used to be one of those people.

I used to live in the gym or on the pavement running miles and miles and miles and miles....

I ran to the point where I now have chronic knee, hip, and groin pain when I run.

Although it has gotten a LOT better, it's still something that I just have to live with.

I used to have serious anxiety and would lose sleep at night when I didn't feel like I had an good 2 hour cardio "sesh".

Most of it was fear of becoming overweight.

It's still my fear, but I'm not obsessed with weight like I used to be. 

Being pregnant made me appreciate the human body in ways that a man will never understand. 

Our bodies are an awesome creation of God...it craves attention from you to exercise it...push it to its' limits...our muscles are made to work FOR YOU...our bodies do amazing things like nurture a child inside of it until he or she is ready to come out (can I get an "amen" from all my mothers out there!)..it tells you when to slow down...it hurts when something is wrong...it feels good when you're taking care of it and you're keeping it in shape....

Our bodies have the power to heal itself...

How amazing is that?!

During my pregnancy with Dannika, I gained roughly 55lbs. Healthy weight gain for pregnancy is 25-35lbs. I gained 5-5.

After she was born, it was hard for me to find the motivation to exercise and get back into shape. 

6 months after giving birth, I was 147lbs....that is 27 pounds more than what I used to weigh.

Nick leaving on deployment was a blessing in itself.

It got me remotivated to start being healthy again.

I started running again...but this time....

I added resistance training and cross training.

My diet completely changed.

The result?

I've lost 32 lbs since Nick has left....I've never felt better in my entire LIFE!

I guess you'll just have to wait and see the pictures when Nick comes home...

Breathe, Relax...

We are less than a week away from being a family of THREE again.

I have been a wreck the last two weeks!

My face has been breaking out like crazy...

I have been having crazy, crazy, crazy insomnia.

 I'm exhausted in the evenings, but I just toss and turn in my bed thinking about being reunited with Nick again.

I feel like the house is a mess still.

I want to make sure Nick's truck is all in order.

I feel like I don't have time to do ANYTHING with work and Dannika.

This last week has been dragging by...S---O........S---L---O---W.

Nick is now on a different part of Camp Leatherneck, so he has access to a really crappy wifi connection that we skype on...sorta....it disconnects like every 10 seconds, but I'll take anything!

I went on a major shopping spree last weekend.

I bought an outfit to wear to the homecoming...amongst just a FEW other things...oops

and splurged on some Kate Spade slingbacks...(pictures to come later).

With all this anxiety and anticipation...I'm going absolutely crazy. 

Today, I finally decided to just breathe...relax...and let the time go...

"Time to shave my legs!"

Don't let this face fool you...cause behind this smile...is an anxiety attack waiting to happen!

We both have to put up with eachother's craziness...I'm dealing with her teething...and she's dealing with my stress...we're both a hot mess

SKYPING WITH DADDY!

Last week...

I love my friends. 

This weekend is possibly my last free weekend before Nick gets home. 

Him and his LT in Afghanistan have become "BFF's".

I became facebook friends with his wife, Sarah a few months ago.

We FINALLY got together today...she invited a few of the other wives from Tango Battery.

We have one week before our boys are supposed to get home!!!!

My friend Taryn, whom I haven't seen since my BABY SHOWER came out with her two little boys too! 

I've known her since we were both privates in the Marine Corps...how crazy is that?!?!

We were roomies in MOS school.

She is a SUPER MOM to her two boys (3 and 5)!

I thought it was rough with one baby alone while working full time, but she does it with TWO going through their terrible...3's and 5's.

Of course my badass chicka T-Stahr came out to play as well! I hardly ever to get to see her, but I've been blessed with her presence TWICE in the last month. That rarely ever happens.

Today was fun...

But I am ready for my man to be home!

Sorry for the quality of the pics...they were all taken on my blackberry. Silly me forgot to bring my camera...

Jackson and Dannika...and my prego Danni in the background...hehe.

Taryn and Austin

Little Ryan

And lastly...my friend T-stahr

Dannika after our evening run on the beach.

6 months and 2 weeks down....2 WEEKS TO GO!

I was pleasantly surprised today with my FAVORITE flowers (gerbera daisies) and this wonderful note from my husband. I LOVE getting "just because" flowers. 

Sorry I've been slacking on this blog lately, but my internet has been C-R-A-Z-Y this last week. Cox Communications had to come out 3 TIMES to finally fix it. As frustrated as I was with everything, it still does not change the fact that my better half will be here with me in just TWO SHORT WEEKS....actually...it'll be the two longest weeks of my life!! I have so much anxiety about him coming home that I've been stressing myself out. I should be SO happy and excited that the deployment is finally coming to an end, but the anxiousness of just "waiting" is getting to me! My face is breaking out like I'm 15 again! Thank you Dr. Faraz (my "girl" doc) for prescribing me some Yaz to control my crazy face by the time Nick gets home...............amongst other things....hahaha.

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I got an email a few days ago from Dore Gilbert (Dr. Gilbert) saying that the Army FINALLY approved his commission. 

Most of you would think..."woo hoo...what's the big deal? People join the Army every day." BUT...Successful doctors with their own practice with decades of work experience, a long list of loyal patients, and a blessed life with 5 wonderful children and a beautiful wife who's been with you since you were in your 20's don't just wake up one day and say..."I think I'll join the military because I have a valuable skill that they need right now."

With the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, the military is short on doctors. With so many servicemembers getting injured, it's tough on the military to give all these guys the attention they need because of the lack of medical personnel....when it's them...of all people that deserve all the best healthcare treatment and care that they need so that they can either return to serving their country  or be able to maximize their abilities despite their injuries to live a normal life again.

I truly admire Dr. Gilbert. I've never met anyone in my life who is so compassionate about our country and the freedoms that we have. 

I met him through his son, Kevin who was recruited out of my office. The Gilbert family has become an extended family to me. When Nick deployed, they took Dannika and I into their family with open arms. I've spent a good portion of my Sunday evenings since Nick's been gone having a good homecooked family meal with their entire family. That, and I can't say no to Gloria's cooking. 

I consider myself blessed to have 3 sets of parents...Nick's parents...my parents...and the Gilbert's. 

So today was Dore's unofficial swearing in...as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army. I was privileged and honored to be able to attend. It was so inspiring!

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LASTLY...

Dannika had a playdate today with Kanoa :-) She got to go swimming!

Kanoa has a foot fetish....

Don't they make a cute couple?