20 and a wake up - Part II - Swollen Flower Chili Sause Advise?

Honey, I hope that you are feeling better and that your feet and ankles are smaller and feeling better. I have worried about you so much today. Please take care of yourself. You don't want to come back home unhealthy. The kids and myself are depending on you. Honey, I wish that I could have talked to you today. I really needed some advise. Do you remember the kid from Asheville High that I have been tutoring that his mom kept him coming 2 times a week because his grades went up so much. Well he has been begging me to meet with him one more time before his final exam next week. I have been telling him that I can't because of the kids, and not having anyone to watch them. My mom said she would but for me to take them to Brevard and back and back and back again would use half of the money I made just in gas. So he called me again tonight and said his Mother wanted him to call and tell me that if I would just come in meet with him for an hour tomorrow after school, that I could bring the kids with me and she would play with them in the Lobby while I work with him. It put me on the spot. I didn't know what to say, and I couldn't ask you. The thing is if I do not, and she calls Judi and tells her that I didn't follow through until the end of the semester, it could cost us a lot of money in the future in lost tutoring opportunities for me. I had no choice but to say ok. I hope that given the same situation and I wasn't around that you would do the same. I had to make a judgment call on it, which I hate doing when you are not around. I had no choice but to say ok. It is only for one hour and I can keep checking on them. It is immediately after school tomorrow, so it will not be at night. I will take a little bag with some paper for them to draw on. I hope you will understand.

I have been watering your flowers every other day like you said. They are still alive and blooming, can't say the same for the grass. Your red flower looks a little sick though. Is there any medicine I should put on it. What if I crush up a nexium and mix it with the water..LOL. I fixed spaghetti for supper (RAGU). Kimmy hated it. Kevin loved it. Go figure. I was notified tonight by Kimberly that they hate me, and that I am mean, and selfish. LOL. I really wish I had the recipe for CHILI. I hope that when you write again, you will have more time to answer some of these questions.

Honey what is your favorite color car in the world. Not type, just color. I was curious. I love you with all my heart and soul, and I need you back so bad that I can't stand it sometimes. I sometimes wish we would have made a different decision. However, I know that is important for you and your future. That makes it important for us too. We are proud of you. I showed the kids on the map where you are. They thought it was very far away. It is isn't. I will await your response and your words that I wake up to read everyday. I know tomorrow will be busy for you but I hope that you are able to write back.

Love,

Chris

Hi Ally
I am writing to let you know that i cheked with the pharmacy and found out that if you can get either Lasix or Hydrochlorothiazide Both of these are perscription drugs if you cant get either one then try over the counter .. caffine pills uusually found in the diet section of a store. Hope you can get something and feel better soon We got the yard mowed . It was sure hot out there . Be careful love you much
Love Moma

Hope you Feel better

Hi Ally
We were so sorry to hear you are not feeling well I know what swollen feet and legs are like. I talked to our Doctor about it when Sissy had it so bad the other day He said to elevate your legs as high as possible as much as possible . Limit your fluid intake and watch your salt Not just table salt but and salty foods as well I sure hope this works for you . We are both fine I think we are mowing grass today and then praying it will rain soon . Please take care and be vey careful Write ag ain soon We love you very much
Love Moma

20 and a wake up - Part I - Worried

Honey, I was so happy to wake up and check the blog to see that you had posted. I check it when I wake up everyday. I am so sorry that your feet are swollen. You need to try to rest them. If possible you need to lay down and put them elevated on some pillows. Avoid foods that contain sodium, and DO NOT increase your fluid intake. If anything cut back on it as much as possible. If they are swollen from fluid, then eventually they will go down and you will have to go to the bathroom more often. If they are swollen for any other reason than resting them is the only option. If it is not fluid and they are over worked, then take some of the medicine that you took with you. I will be so worried about you until I hear from you that they are better (AND DON'T LIE ) You know I have connections in the intelligence community. I will have see if I can get them to send an agent out to spy on you...LOL. I miss you terribly. It sounds like you miss us too. I am glad that you do, but I don't want it to interfere with why you are there. You have to get your research done and make it worth your (our) trouble and pain. I hope you get to update me later today on how you feel.

Love,

Chris

Home sick and missing you all

Hello babies and honey
I am sooo home sick I cant stand it. I miss you all so much you have no idea. I also miss my bed, my home, the food and eveything that comprehends our lives together (the wonderful life we have) I am also feeling sick, my ankle have swallen out of proportion, so walking hurts like a mojo. We got to lesvos last night. The hotel room we're staying has no phone, so I dont think I will be able to call. I'm gonna try later today. I need to get my research done about Sappho, I was suppose to go with dr. Mills to Eressos where she was born, but my feet are in such a bad shape that we decided I would stay behind and she is going by herself. I will instead try to interview some of the local people. The place is beautiful, but i am in so much pain that i cannot really enjoy it.
I was wanting to call my sister for few minutes yesterday for her bday but no phone in the room made it difficult. We visited a ton of places yesterday, it was pretty cool. I wish you guys could be here with me so we could learn about this place together. I definately would like for all of us to have a little vacation in the future in Europe.
The bathroom showers are really small and they dont seem to use shower courtains, so showering last night was a learning experienced. I have to tell you all about it when i get home
I miss you guys so much, and I love you all. Please keep on posting, it makes me look foward to my return. I am definately counting the days 'til I go back to you guys.
Honey, take care of my babies and take care of yourself. I cant wait to see you all again soon. I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU
Mommy

21 and a wake-up - Part II - too sad to think of a funny title day

Hey Honey. I guess that you didn't get to write today. I was reading the itinerary (which I do everyday, as well as look at the websites for your hotels), and noticed that you were taking an evening ferry over to Lesbos. I guess that means that you got to your hotel late. I really hope to hear from you tomorrow. I know, at least for me, it is excruciating not knowing if you are ok, or if God forbid you forgot about us. At least I hope you didn't. Today was a difficult day for me. I debated all afternoon whether to even tell you or not. I don't want my desperation to be with you or see you to interfere with your trip. I know I owe you that much, if not more. I had no idea that it would be this hard. It is not that hard from the workload standpoint, or having to do everything for the kids. That is by far the easy part, it is the not seeing you or talking to you that is the hardest. I don't know if it has been the same for you. I imagine though that you have been really busy and seeing cool places that you have wanted to see. I miss you honey, more than you will ever know. I have loved you since September 28, 1993, but I can honestly say with all my heart that I don't know that I have ever, and I mean ever realized it as much as in this moment. It seems like you have been gone forever, yet it is has only been 1/4 of the time you will be gone. I have even counted the hours until you get back but I wont share that large number with you. I don't want to tire you with my sappy whining. I will give you the news of the day.
The kids are better from their colds. We called Carolina for her birthday. The kids sang happy birthday to her. She seemed happy that they called her. Her interview is this coming Monday. I tutored today for a few hours, but not as many as I had planned. I have tutoring tomorrow too. But not until 11:30 (6:30 pm your time). I got your PIN number in the mail today. Kevin has his field day Thursday,and Kimberly has hers Friday. She has a cookout on Thursday. She has to take a beach towel. Kristen has a field trip on Friday to the Montreat Park. I don't know where that is. No food news today because we ate leftovers from yesterday. Its ok, they ate it. Kristen is eating her salad but not without argument of course. I will go for now. I love you Honey, and will be awaiting word from you and how you are enjoying the island of Lesvos.

Love 4 ever

Chris

21 and a wake-up - Part I - A Problem

Hey Honey. It is 7:00 a.m. I am waiting here with Kristen until time to take her to school. Don't forget that I will be tutoring most of the day until time to get Kristen. We will call Carolina today for her Birthday. Honey I know you are thousands of miles away, but I need to feel like that I am close to you. My heart feels so empty. When I wake up in morning, I am filled with joy that it means it is one less day that I have to wake up when you are not here. That joy is quickly filled with a void. A feeling of emptiness. Of nothing. Kind of like a black hole of sorts. That is what space must feel like...emptiness. It's the uneasy feeling that something is wrong, but your not quite sure what it is. Then you realize that you know what it is, its your moving, breathing, seeing, thinking, yet your in a void of silence....a silence that is normally filled with one's own heartbeat....except it can't be filled because your heart is somewhere else. In my case my heart is with you, and the rest of me mindlessly tries to maintain an order to our lives. I long for the day that my heart can be reunited with the rest of me so that I may be whole again.

Love,

Chris

we all miss you

Hi Ally
It was so good to hear from you We both are so glad that you are ok and getting to see so many amazing things that most people will never see only read about. We are both doing ok We have mostly stayed inside the past few days It has been so hot here and the air has been bad I didnt want daddy to get to hot out there working We are hoping for rain this weekend. I am sure glad you are taking lots of pictures You are so good at that. I went down to Sissys today and just happened to look down and saw a tick on her fuzzy bedroom shoe It was trying to bury up on the shoe when i tryed to get it off They are terrible this year. Ally you be careful and continue to have a safe trip. We are counting the days until you return Write when you have a chance. We LOVE you very much.
Love Moma

22 and a wake-up - Part III - Unburned Chicken Flavored Ice Cream

Hey honey, we didn't get the paper to catch on fire. I fixed chicken today, had enough left over for tomorrow too. We later went out and got ice cream at McDonalds, but Kevin wouldn't eat it because it is made of milk and since was sick this weekend.....blah blah blah....normal Kevin stuff. I will to tell Carolina that you saw Brad Pitt's horse. I am glad that you made it ok on the ferry. I know how you hate boats. I had a hard afternoon today of missing you. I don't know why. I was listening to some music on the tv as I was "fixin" to fold some clothes, and a song played and it made me cry. The song goes like this:

If you leave me now, youll take away the biggest part of me
No baby please dont go
If you leave me now, youll take away the very heart of me
No baby please dont go....

Do you remember that song. I bet you do. I miss you so much that sometimes it hurts inside like a muscle spasm or something. Like the pain of getting hit in the chest or stomach, except that it doesn't seem to fade with time. I am happy for you though that you are getting to see so much of history before your eyes, and that you seem to be having a good time. We are proud of you, I just wish that you were here so that I could tell you things that come to my mind. Like when I always walked in the bedroom at night to tell you something that probably made you say, "What is wrong with this guy?" Anyway, make sure you get your work done, and if you have time write to us or call us. We love you with all of our hearts. Today was the first time that Cuddles ate since you left. I hope to see some pics soon.

Love,

Chris

I saw Brad Pıtts horse

Hello to all of you babıes and honey!!! Today was such an exhaustıng day. We left Istanbul and we are now ın a town by the beach called Carakkale. It ıs a really nıce small town and the hotel ıs much better than the one we had ın Istanbul. The trıp was pretty long, ıt took us about 6 hours to get here by bus. We rode on the ferry for about half an hour. The weather ıs so nıce, ıt almost feels lıke Calıfornıa weather. We vısıted the ancıent sıte of Troy. It ıs amazıng to actually see a place that I have only been readıng about ın books. I took a bunch of pıctures, me beıng the classıcs geek that I am.
Enough of me now....how are you all doıng? I hope kıkı and bebo got over theır colds. I was feelıng pretty home sıck last nıght. I wanted to jump ın the ocean and swım back to you guys. I mıss you all, ıncludıng cuddles. I even mess my uncomfortable bed. It ıs so hard to lıve out of a small suıtcase and havıng to move everyday.
Tomorrow we are leavıng at 6:30 ın the mornıng agaın. We are travelıng to Lesvos ı thınk. I am so lost ın tıme.
Well I have to close for now I am very tıred. I hope I can fınd a place to wrıte to you guys tomorrw agaın. I love you all and ı mıss you more than you can possıbly ımagıne.
I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU
Mommy

22 and a wake-up - Part II - All the ways to say.......

λεξικό δεν βρήκε καμία λέξη (Greek)
EGO diligo vos (latin) or te amo (latin)
Seni seviyorum (Turkish)
Ti amo (Italian)
Te amo (Spanish)
t'a gr'a agam dhuit (Gaelic)
Anee ohev otakh (Hebrew)
Je vous aime (French)
Wo ai ni (Chinese)
Ana behibek (Arabic)
I love you (English)
Love ya (Southern)

22 and a wake-up - Part I - The Clean-Up Fire

Good Morning Honey,
I hope you are ok this morning/afternoon where you are. The kids are not in school today. It is a workday for the teachers. I am trying to get the kids to agree to help me clean the house today and get rid of some old stuff in their rooms and garages. I had to agree to take Kevin outside with the magnifying glass at lunch time and try to set a piece of paper on fire. I hope we don't set the neighborhood on fire...lol. Everyone seems to be over their illness and feeling better. I guess by now you are finishing your tour of Troy. I bet that was amazing. Did you see the big horse. (That is not the original one is it?) I wouldn't think so. I tried to check out the hotel you are staying in tonight but they don't have a website. I miss you honey. Our Nut campaign is approaching 25,000 lbs. I feel lost without you here. What are you going to be doing Wednesday on your free day. I hope you will be working on your research. After all you will be in Lesvos (Lesbos). I just now figured out that the spelling is different because of the Greek. It cost $10 for you to call yesterday, but it was worth it for us to hear your voice. It will be much cheaper next time because it is half the price from Greece. So in Greece it would have only cost $5. You still have $20 or so on your calling card. I love you and I gotta go get busy with the kids. We love you and miss you very much. Post as soon as you can.

Love,

Chris

23 and a wake-up - The hard day

Hey honey. I was glad to talk to you today. I am sorry today was not as good of a day for you. I am sure that tomorrow will be better for you since I think that you are going to Troy tomorrow. I told Carolina that you were going to that place from that Brad Pitt movie. LOL. Sometimes I sit in the garage and think about what you might be doing right now. I hope you are adjusting ok, and are enjoying washing your clothes in a sink. I know that must be hard. As soon as you get settled and can get to a computer please let us know that you survived the ferry ride. Don't be nervous about that, I have done it many many times, except I have done it in the middle of the ocean. Just dont look over the side, you will be fine. I love you very much honey, and I am counting the days until you come back home again. The kids were happy to get to talk to you today on the phone. They miss you very much. We support you though, and are proud of you. I gotta get Kevin in bed. Kristen fell asleep early. There is no school tomorrow. It is a teacher's work day. They only have 1 week left. I love you honey, and can't wait to hear from you again soon.

Love,

Chris

We all miss you - From Moma

Hi Ally
Daddy and I sure hope you are well and having a safe trip. Are you getting to see alot of interesting things? Is it cold weather there? Kikki was telling me on the phone all about how when its day time here its night where Mommy is. She was so cute. I am beginning to think that ticks are attracted to kimmy for some reason. Chris is doing a great job with the kids but its not the same without you there. we are all counting the days untill you return. We still havent had any rain here so everything is so dry and the air is poor quality. Daddy now has a treadmill and a exersize bicycle he bought at yard sells He got both for $45 So now he is really working out. Its good for him . We are looking forword to the kids coming for sleepover. Please take care of yourself and be very careful. We LOVE you very much.
Love Moma

The Tick

Hey Honey, I hope you are ok and that you know now the bank card is working. In a flurry of challenges this evening, Kristen's fever went back up Kevin's fever went up and Kimmy had a tick on her arm trying to suck her blood. Well super dad finally solved it all....except I had to be mean to Kevin to get him to take some medicine for the fever. You know how he is. God I miss you, but I am managing the best I can. I talked to Carolina today on the phone. Just wanted to touch base with her about her interview. I hope to talk to you soon. I think I am going to watch Wrestling now. I hope to see some pics somewhere soon. Honey, what is a Turkish Bath?

Love,

Chris

Bank Problem Fixed with a Pizza

Honey, it is a long story why the card wouldn't work, lets just say that the woman we spoke to last week at the credit union is an idiot. But after speaking for 2 hours with George W. Bush, and St. Peter, I was able to get them to lift the block on it so it should work now, all while fixing a pizza for the kids today. Today is my cheating day you know. The only way to beat it would be if you would have been here to do it for me.....LOL......The credit union doesn't allow transactions in Turkey, they just failed to tell us that the other day. Anyway it is fixed and you you can use it NOW. There will be no problem in Greece either. I hope you call soon. There is $30 on your calling card for you to use. Kristen is feeling a little better. What did you buy at the bazaar today. A Persian rug? You know, I think that plate that I gave Tia Sary was from that same bazaar you went to.

Until Next Time.....

Love,

Chris

Important

Honey
what ıs wrong wıth Kıkı? I am worrıed about her. I hope her fever ıs doıng better. Please keep me posted. I am sorry you are havıng such a hard tıme wıth the babıes. I am ready to head back. I mean dont get me wrong. I really have enjoyed seeıng places that I have only read about ın books but beıng away from you guys ıs much harder than I had antıcıpated. If Kıkıs fever doesnt go down you have to call the doctor. Theır number should be on my cell phone under Pedıatrıcs.
Also sınce I got here I have not been able to wıthdrawl any money. The ATMs are declınıng me for some odd reason. I really need you to call the bank today and see ıf they can fıx that for me. Today I went to the Grand Bazaar and I had to borrow some money to shop cause I had only lıke 10 dollars left. I am gettıng freakıng paranoıd about that. Unfortunately the computer ın the hotel has not worked all day long so I was not able to let you know anythıng about thıs before. I am ın a cyber cafe wıth some of the people ın the trıp.
I love you and I mıss you so much. Please hang ın there for me.
I LOVE YOU
Dona

24 and a wake up - Part 1 - Please Read

Hey honey. I am so sleepy. I was up with Kristen almost all night. I slept from about 4:45 until 8:00. Her fever seems to be going down some. We had to all go together to CVS early this morning to get some Motrin and Tylenol. I just gave her some Motrin and I hope she will get some sleep. I don't know what happened, just all of the sudden last night she started saying her eyes were burning and before you know it she had a full blown fever. I let her sleep in our bed, so I could keep an eye on her. She is back in bed now, hopefully falling asleep if she can get her eyes off of Spongebob Squarepants. I hope you have been reading these posts on here, I have been putting important information on here. I miss you so much honey. I hope you take a few dollars and get you a souvenir at the bazaar today. This so much harder than I thought. I am lost without you. I didn't mow yesterday. I still don't know what to do about tutoring that boy for his HS final. What do you think. Please read these as they are my thoughts as I go through this temporary seperation from you, and I test my parenting skills and the things that I have learned from you.

Love,

Chris

Up late with Kristen

Honey, Kristen is sick and up running a fever. I am nervous because you usually help me in these things. She is not sleeping since you left, I am not sure why. The worst part is its 12:30 at night and there is no more Motrin or Tylenol. I wish you were here.

Chris

25 and a wake up - Part 3 - Kimmy, questions, a chicken sandwich, and a cray fish.

Hey honey, I guess you are sleeping now. Here is an email that Kimberly wanted to send to you.

dear,mommy I'm glad you emailed us I miss you too nothing is better here 
without you I'm always crying about  you we've been doing good jobs daddy 
always cry too  when you come back we will throw you a welcome home party we 
hope you come back home soon when I look at the first star it seems you're  
not so far away  it seems it's you're coming.

I fixed chicken sandwiches for supper. I also got rid of the crayfish. Kevin and I took it down to the creek and let it go. I had to do something. I witnessed it try to attack the little orange fish.
Honey I really need the recipe for chili. Honey I need to ask you something about a phone call we got today. Remind me when you call. I am going to go rest a little. I am tired. Get Dr. Hartsfield to help you post some pics. I love you more than yesterday, but less than tomorrow.

Love,

Chris

I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU

hı honey and bogga booggers. Gosh I mıss you all so much. I have been tryıng all day to get thıs ınternet to work. Everythıng ıs soooo dıfferent from the states. We fortunately have a computer ın the hotel, but ıt took us 2 days to fıgure out how to make ıt work. Today we toured all around the cıty, ıt really ıs gourgeous, much more than ı expected ıt to be....ıt was a good day, but ıt would have been better ıf you guys would have been here wıth me. I am countıng the days tıl I can go back to you guys. I hope you guys are doıng good jobs for daddy, remember that you have to help hım wıth the house, so everythıng ıs ready for calu to come and see you. We are gonna have such a good summer thıs year, I am plannıng on doıng a ton of thıngs for fun when ı come back.
Honey I mıss talkıng to you so bad, thıs whole thıng has been a lot harder than I expected. I cant waıt tıl ı can talk to you. I mıss our talks and you makıng me laugh all the tıme.
Unfortunately I have to go for now, everybody ıs wantıng to use the one and only computer they have ın thıs place. Please dont forget about me, and thınk about the day we ll see each other agaın. Honey please take care of my babıes, I know I dont have to tell you thıs, cause ı know you are very capable cause you are a good daddy.
I love you all and mıss you a bunch.
Love
Mommy

25 and a wake up - Part 2 - Recharge

Oh, I forgot to tell you that I put $20 on that phone card. When I did it gave you a $10 bonus. So now you have $30 on there. Also in Greece the rate is half of what it is in Turkey. I love you.

25 and a wake up - Part 1 - Grocery Store

Hey Honey. Good Morning or afternoon for you I guess. I just got back from the grocery store. I went there after I took Kristen to school. I went today to see Kimberly do her final jump rope practice this morning. She seemed happy that I went. I made a list of everything that I was going to cook between now and the day the kids go to my parents' house. I then went through the house and seen what we were missing. The good news is I only scheduled hot dogs 1 time during that time. The bad news is that I have to fix chili, so I need the recipe....please. I have to fix spaghetti 1 time too so I had to buy Ragu sauce. I know it is not as good as yours but I hope it will do ok. I miss you so much honey. I find myself talking to cuddles, just to have someone to talk to you. And you know he and I are not the best of friends. He misses you badly, he seems to be depressed, just laying around like he is waiting for you. Are you going to the Blue Mosque today. When are you going to the Grand Bazaar? I will write more later.

Love,
Chris

26 And A Wakeup - Part 3 - Bedtime

Hey Honey again. God I miss you so much. I was so sad this evening after the kids went to bed I just went to the garage and banged my head on the desk because I don't know what to do without you. I guess you are sleeping now. It is 9:30 p.m. and so it is 4:30 a.m. where you are. Manny called me to give the good news that they are coming in next weekend. I told him that our water sucks. He is so smart, he suggested that our well might be running dry.....Cuddles is barking. Again. For the 470 millionth time. Every sound I guess he thinks is you coming home. I wish I was a dog. They have no sense of time. When you get here, to him it will be like you just left. Anyway we are up to 17,000 lbs of nuts. I love you honey. Take a lot of pictures. I called your Dad this morning to let him know you arrived safely. I guess he will tell everyone else. Take of yourself, and please don't call the cell phone from over there, it will eat up all of your minutes.

Love always,

Chris

26 And A Wakeup - Part 2 - 5:36 p.m.

Hey Honey. I hope you are ok and you were able to get some rest. I know it is hard for you right now not getting to see the children. I know that feeling and it sucks. You have to stay strong. Focus on what you are there for. Are you doubting yourself yet, or have you made it past that point already. I hope I don't overload you with writing. I just miss talking to you so much. I just came back inside with the kids. I took them outside to play, but it wasn't the same without you sitting on the big deck.....anyway. I think there are wasps building a nest behind the wall on the porch. I wish you would have given me the recipe for chili. I will go for now, shower time. God only knows how much pain I have inside for not seeing you. A day without talking to you is like being stranded in the hot sun, and no water in sight. Until next time. Shoot boooouy, dont tempt it.......go for the McDonalds....


Love,

Chris

26 And A Wakeup - Part 1 - 6:45 a.m.

Good Morning Honey. Or for you I guess it is afternoon. I hope you got there ok. For some reason I can't find a way to track your flight into Istanbul. By now you should already be there and finished with customs. It is 6:47 a.m. here. I just but the big kids on the bus and Kristen is already ready to go. I woke up with the clock at 5:33 a.m. and hit snooze about 3 times. Kevin came to our room last night....big surprise...lol. Kristen said to tell you "Tell her I love her, and that she misses you so so so much, and she wants you to have a good day and be very very careful and come home very very soon." I see so much pain in their eyes honey, it is saddening, but I know that they are proud of what you are doing, and we long to see you return soon. I will write to you later in the day. I hope that if you call later and I am not here that you remember that I have to go tutor at UNCA today, and I am going to the gym. I write more later.

Love more today than yesterday, but less than tomorrow,

Chris

27 and a wake up.

Well today was D day. Departure Day. Felt more like Death Day. Honey, I don't want you to worry, but this is much harder than I thought it would be. It is night time now. Very lonely. I constantly walk by the bedroom to see if I am dreaming and you are in there. I even turned the TV on to HGTV. I know you normally watch Court TV but you know I can't stand that scary music. Today for supper I fixed the kids hot dogs with seasoned French fries....one of my specialties. It is 9:21 P.M. I have been tracking your flight over the Atlantic Ocean on some website I found. It seems like you are already so far away that that I cannot get to you. I hope you read my letter I wrote to you. I hope it didn't make you cry. I know the kids and myself have done enough of that. They will be fine though. It will take a few days you know. As for me, I am trying to stay strong for them. I know that most people would think we are stupid. I say not stupid, just close and those that would say we are stupid would only be jealous anyway. Jealous they don't have someone. I gave Kevin his medicine tonight. Kristen fell asleep fast tonight because she did not take a nap at head start today. I talked to Mrs. Karen and they are trying to change Leicester to the same as West Buncombe but it is not certain yet. Cuddles keeps barking thinking that you are pulling into the driveway with every car that passes by. Well I guess I bored you enough for the first day. Oh by the way, Judi in the Math dept called me today with another referrel. I will keep you updated. Also we are up to almost 12,000 pounds of nuts for CBS. Its all over the news now. NUTS!!! Anyway, honey I love you so much and we are proud of you and support you and will be counting the days. See you in 27 days plus one wake up.

Love Always,

Chris

1 day

I am so scared of leaving everyone behind. This trip would be so much better if I could take my babies and my husband with me. I know it is an important step for me, and it will help me (I hope) in my future career. I want to start the trip and thus, begin the countdown. I'm gonna miss my family so much.
Ally

2 days

I only have two more days until I leave and I am feeling pretty nervous. I am scared of leaving my babies and Chris behind. I am having second thoughts about the whole thing....For the past two nights I have been having nightmares about the trip (I usually end up dead....not good) I pray and hope that neither Chris or the babies will hold this whole thing against me. At this point I just want to get this whole thing over with, so I can put it behind. Kristen has been acting up a lot these last few days, and that concerns me a lot. None of the babies have been away from me for that long, so this is new to all of us.

I LOVE CHRIS, KIMMY, BEBO AND KIKI.

love

Mommy

3 Days Before D Day

Today is Sunday, and I felt like crap today. Alejandra had to make another trip to the store (2 today) to get more things for her trip. Suntan lotion, batteries, and some tools for her classes. I continue to get nervous about her leaving. The kids are acting up again. I hope that they will settle down after D day. Otherwise, it will be a long month. Tomorrow will be busy. Numerous doctor visits and I have to go to the gym. I tutored today at UNCA. Only an hour on sequences and series. My least favorite part of Mathematics.

4 days before D day.

Well today is Saturday. My day to eat whatever I want to eat. Alejandra is leaving in only 4 more days. I am getting very nervous about her trip. We are going to miss her so much. I did get to help her with getting a card for her camera so she can take lots of pictures while she is gone.
We had the coolest meal today. One of my favorites. She fixed cubed steak, mashed potatoes, corn, and green beans. It was awesome. I ate a ton of it. She was nice enough to take the kids to a friend of theirs' birthday party and let me have some rest time before I take over the household for a month. Anyways, I am getting nervous and sad.