The End

Kyle is home safe and sound. He's been welcomed home by many, and we both feel truly blessed to have some really wonderful people in our lives.

This brings us to the end of the blog. Its been fun (writing this blog, not having my husband in Iraq). We've really enjoyed writing and sharing our experiences with you.

Kyle and I both learned a lot about about each other and ourselves through this ordeal. Perhaps the MOST important lesson I learned is that life without Kyle is possible, but it would be miserable at best.

Maybe our next blog will be Marley and Me-like. We could call it Simba and us - Chronicling world's most clever escape artist dog! For now, I'm just going to enjoy having my hubby home:) Its time for us to stop the commentary on our separate lives and start living it together again! On to the next chapter!

Thanks for reading.

The End.

CFO no more!

Its official. I have relinquished my CFO duties. I am no longer the stand-in CFO of the household. Thank goodness!

Each year our board (Kyle, Simba and I) set goals for our household. Like we are going to save this much, or we are going to purchase this item, or add this much to our retirement. These goals take planning and financial knowledge. Knowledge I don't have on my own. But I do have to say I learned more about it this year than any year before.

As the stand in CFO I set one goal and one goal only-- NOT to bounce a check. Sounds simple enough, but it's work. I am happy to report that I was successful in my goal! No bounced checks on my watch! It did come close a few times though.

Back to my CEO standing:)

FINALLY!!

ITS SATURDAY, JANUARY 16, 2010 - FINALLY!!! I have been counting down to this day since January 9, 2009 when I first dropped Kyle off to begin his preparation for his overseas experience. Kyle hasn't lived at home since Jan. 9, 2009 - that's so weird.

Its finally here! It feels so great:)

I want to thank everyone for all the help and kindness they have extended to both Kyle and I this past year. For all the care packages and letters you sent Kyle - THANK YOU! For all the extra, phone calls just to say hi, the extra 'I'm in the area' and stopping over, the extra invites out - don't think I didn't noticed. I did and its so appreciated. For listening to me when I needed it and for all the words of wisdom and kindness in helping us through this year, THANK YOU!

Now it's time to celebrate!

Is it Saturday yet?!

This week is taking FOREVER!!! I can't pick Kyle up from Fort McCoy until Saturday. And Its probably the slowest week ever. He so close and yet still not here with me.

At work, I am constantly watching the time, majorly distracted. At home, there is nothing left to clean...seriously. The house is the cleanest its been in a long time. When I go to sleep I am constantly up looking at the clock to see if its time to start the next day...being that much closer to Saturday. The car is packed and ready to go...so lets get this show on the road already.

I'm a fairly patient person but Uncle Sam is really testing me! Kyle on the other hand is admittedly pretty impatient and this week is dragging big time for him too! Hurry up Saturday!

Reintegration Process

Kyle is still up at Fort McCoy and it looks like he will have to be there until Saturday now. Ugh! Uncle Sam told us 4 days of debriefing. Maybe he counts differently than I do but 4 days from Monday is Friday...not Saturday. Fingers crossed that this gets changed!

On day one, Tuesday, Kyle went through the medical out processing. Checking his overall health. He was a little worried about some possible hearing loss but passed his hearing test. Which is good, Kyle doesn't handle not passing tests well! And then he took the eye exam. Most of these soldiers just want to get out of there and as a result are grumpy. So Kyle thought he'd have a little fun with the examiners. He was asked to read the bottom line of the eye chart and Kyle read, "M-A-D-E-I-N-C-H-I-N-A". Get it? Made in China. He got a little chuckle from some of the other guys in the room:) Overall, he was stamped with a good bill of health. On to the next step in this long reintegration process!

Is it Saturday yet?

Hot Socks!

My husband came home from war and all he brought me was hot socks!

I'm a girl. A girlie girl. Kyle knows this. He married an impractical girlie girl. Not a shocker. So when I went to meet his plane at the airbase I of course wanted to be dressed cute. I torn my closet apart putting together the perfect outfit. Other girlie girls out there know exactly what this is about.

For those of you who are not in the Midwest area, its cold here. Really cold! On the drive up I wore practical and warm boots. But when I got out of the car I changed into less practical but way cute shoes that really completed the outfit. Oh and I didn't wear socks with them. I didn't realize that we would be outside as long as we were...needless to say my little toesy were freezing.

As I had previously mentioned Kyle was one of the last people to get off the plane meaning I was standing in the cold longer than most. One of the first things he said to me after reuniting was, "What shoes are you wearing? Your feet must be freezing!" and me, "Yes, but don't they look cute?" Kyle, "No they look cold!"

Once we got into the warm tent for the welcome home ceremony Kyle reached into his bag and put his extra socks on my cold feet. They were not fashionable and did not go with my outfit at all but they certainly were warm.

Military issued socks, hot in temperature not for fashion!

All Smiles!

My Soldier returns safe and sound:) Kyle arrived into Camp Douglas yesterday after a long travel schedule. He left Iraq a few days earlier. Stopping in Kuwait and Ireland and Maine and then finally Wisconsin.

Arriving at Camp Douglas I apparently had a stamp on my forehand that said search me and my car (Kyle says it was probably the IL plates). No joke I got stopped at every possible check point on base. And all I wanted to do was get to Kyle. Finally getting to the air field just in time to watch flight Red Arrow 2 land. I felt a huge weight lift when I saw that plane. HUGE relief and feeling of euphoria.

Kyle of course was one of the last of the 500 soldiers off the plane...but finally he arrived to the officially family area. Where I gave him world's biggest hug:)

There was a welcome home ceremony with speeches from some of the head peeps. And then just as soon as we got to say hello we had to say goodbye...again...Kyle will be at Ft.McCoy debriefing for the next few days before I can pick him up and take him home.

Thank you for all the kind words and support! We both feel very loved and lucky to have our amazing family and friends!

Phones!

There are many things that I am looking forward to with having Kyle home. MANY! But one of the biggest things, next to not constantly worrying about my husbands safety and constantly watching the news, I am looking forward to is being able to CALL KYLE.

Its horrible, having to wait for him to call all the time. And revolving your daily activies around times he can call. Or the disappointment when you miss a call. Ugh! I am so not going to miss that!

I am looking forward to regular contact. And to phone calls that don't just randomly drop, or have weird delays.

I will be reinstating his cell phone plan this week! WOOT WOOT!! Same number as before.

Kyle has left Iraq and is now in Kuwait awaiting a flight back to the states:)

Upcoming Changes

With Kyle returning home soon we've begun talking about the things that will be different for him. Like, how he will no longer be permitted to carry his gun around everywhere he goes. Even though he might want to in some of these nearby neighborhoods! No need for a gun, we have Simba!

And showering. He will be required to shower on a regular basis here in the Hartman household. No more of this once every 10 days business. Yuck.

And changing his clothes. He will now have to change his clothes everyday. I know , I know, I am such a stickler for personal hygiene! But wearing the same clothes for multiple days in a row will end with his return home.

Its not only Kyle that will have to make changes, I will have some too. Like my horrible horrible habit of bed picnics. Kyle hates when I have bed picnics. And I have been having way too many in his absence. But I am willing to give up my bed picnics for Kyle:)

Kyle is starting his journey home today! He called from the Baghdad airport this morning. WOO HOO!!

Home Stretch!

FINALLY! The countdown in is the single digits! And we are in the home stretch. Kyle will be starting the journey home VERY SOON! And will hopefully be in the GREAT U.S of A by the end of next week or early the following week!! It can't get here soon enough.

With Kyle's replacement there and settled in, Kyle is getting a little antsy. He is playing poker almost every night to pass the time. He has won two nights in a row now and thinks maybe he should go pro when he gets home...don't worry he's not serious.

ALMOST there! The finish line is in sight!

Welcome 2010!

Happy New Year to you! 2010 is going to be a great year. With many special occasions already on the calendar and fun things planned I'm excited to get this year started. Kyle should be making his way back to the states in the next two weeks! Who's excited?!