Last Update of 2008
One more day until we leave!! I can’t wait. Last night we went to look at Christmas decorations. As we walked around, E didn’t wear her shoes. I explained to her that we had to wear shoes in IN and why. She had the most bewildered look on her face. Obviously, she doesn’t remember cold weather!! She’s in for a shock as we walk the jetway in Minneapolis at 4 in the morning!! 
We arrive in on Monday at 10am and then we leave on Jan 13 in the morning. When I got the check-in e-mail from NWA, it gave the weather at the bottom. Friday (when it was sent) the high was to be 48…Monday 16!
I realized I never posted this site. Its a daily-picture site, of sorts.
Jim is doing well. He’s had a very busy week, so we’ve spoken for just a few minutes. The busyness definitely helps the time pass quickly for him. When we talked, he said he had just had his third unsuccessful attempt for the week of trying to take a shower. He was excited that he got as far as turning the water on this time! I know the feeling!!
Next update will be in 2009! Here’s wishing everyone a wonderful Christmas and peace in the New Year. And a special WOOHOOO! for Kim as she comes to the very end of the deployment.
Happy Birthday to Me
Today E had to get a tooth pulled (it was infected and she was in pain). I was telling her about the tooth fairy as we drove home.
E “How much money will the tooth fairy give me?”
Me: “I don’t know, sweetie. We’ll have to see in the morning.”
E “Will it be enough to buy something? I want to buy you a birt-day cake tomorrow so you don’t have to make one. A pretty pur-tle one. Ben and me would make you one but its not safe for us to use the oven, right Mama? But I’ll buy you one with my toof money.”
That’s one sweet daughter I have.
Belated Update
Elizabeth has talked in her sleep for a long time. But only recently have I been able to understand her much. Last week she said “Granny, you’re so funny! You make me laugh and laugh and laugh.” And then she proceeded to smile and half-laugh. Last night she was talking about not being able to find a match (she was playing a match game yesterday). And she asked if we could stop and get seeds from the front yard. She continues to enjoy her school and AWANAS. Up until last week, she refused to write her name. She’d write all of her letters, just not her name letters together. And, out of nowhere last week, she wrote her full name!
Jim seems to be doing well. I’m hearing from him about once a week or so. The other unit has gone home, so they are officially in control. He’s also into his own trailer now. Elizabeth is keeping him well-supplied with mail. 
Benjamin continues to keep me on my toes. He gets into SO much! And there is no distracting him once he’s focused on something (just like his father!). He has mastered climbing the big slide at the park now. He stands at the bottom of our stairs and shakes the gate, wanting me to open it so he can climb. He’s figured out how to push something to the couch so he can climb up on it. He’s trying to climb onto the dining room chairs/table but hasn’t figured that out yet, thankfully! He’s doing better being away from me. This week he was in the daycare at my bible study for 2.5 hours, at hourly care today for an hour and at our church’s child care for Military Mom’s Night Out for an hour and a half (started fussing at bedtime).
And he has his first deliberate word–M-M-M-A-A!! Makes my hear melt!
Last week Ben had a cold and E came down with a terrible stomach bug and sore throat. She slept SO much. And when she was awake, she mostly just laid on the couch. I also had to make my first ever call to the Poison Control Center for Mr. Benjamin. He found an Advil and ingested it. And, now, this week I’ve been sick. I felt pretty well yesterday evening and I think I did too much. Today I’m really tired. Nausea is gone but the sore throat is still here.
One goal I have for this deployment is to learn to take better pictures. I’m aiming to get one new picture up a day. Here’s the link. http://www.thislifeofours.net/thisside/
Yea!! Phone call!!
I missed Jim’s call Monday. He e-mailed to say that the phones were down. They finally were back up yesterday and he called last night!!!! It was so good to hear his voice. He sounded good. They will be in Kuwait for probably two more weeks. They have to wait for vehicles & equipment from another base before they can go to the one his company is assigned to. He said it was in the 90s. They aren’t doing much–they’ve been to a range to qualify on their new vehicles and done PT but mostly they’ve sat around, napped, played cards, etc. They are eager to get to their new base and get going.
I had considered setting up a separate blog for posting about Iraq but I’ve decided to keep them here. For posts that I don’t want public, I will be making them password-protected. I’ll use the same password each time. I will try to send that password out by e-mail this weekend to those of you I have e-mail addys for. If you don’t get the e-mail, please e-mail me and I’ll send it to you. E-mail addy is jtbrookover@gmail.com Jim’s e-mail address is brookove@hotmail.com When I have an address for him, I’ll post it.
Bowling
Elizabeth had SO much fun bowling! I was worried that she wouldn’t have much fun after having talked about it for two months. No worries there though!