Derek's Deployment

When Derek first got word of his deployment, he was told to pack/prepare to be gone for anywhere from two weeks to four months, so we didn't really know what to expect. In all, he ended up only being gone for three weeks. Hallelujah! During residency, Derek would regularly go TDY for six weeks at a time, so we were certainly accustomed to being without him...but it's been a while, plus he'd never left on such short notice before + he's never been gone for a lengthy stretch of time since I've been working again. And of course, the girls' fall season of sports kicked off the week Derek left.  And I was starting this deployment after having been cooped up with the kids for a week at home due to our school quarantine. Oh! And, Shelby started a new little "mother's helper" job while Derek was gone, too. So we had all kinds of things going and making life a little extra interesting. It was an adventure to say the least, but we did it!

Derek was deployed to Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico to help with immunizations and medical care for the Afghan refugees that were brought there after their evacuation. Because this base is in a rather remote location, accommodations were sparse. All of the deployed troops + refugees were living in tents. The kids really enjoyed hearing Derek's stories from his trip. Derek was so thankful to be a small part of this mission, and it was definitely a reminder of all we have to be thankful for.

Our first full day without Derek fell on a Saturday, and we had planned to get birthday donuts for Shelby. We went ahead to get donuts and went to HEB afterward, and that became our little Saturday routine while he was gone. Donuts & groceries every Saturday morning!

Derek usually makes the kiddos pancakes every weekend, but I have never in my life made pancakes. I know, I know. But I learned! I took these pictures to send to Derek because I knew he'd be so proud! ;)

Another little weekend routine we started was eating out for dinner every Sunday evening! 

One of Derek's coworkers was so kind to check in on us periodically. Even though we assured them we were absolutely fine, his wife {who remembers the days of deployment with little kids at home even though their children are all grown and out of the house now} was so kind to bring us a meal and dessert once a week.

{I took this picture right after Shelby declared her love for research papers! Love her so much.}

{practicing their new sports together!}

{enjoying the cooler evening temperatures courtside while Shelby practiced with her team}

{Brady & I were sitting in the backyard together watching Shelby walk to our neighbors' house for her first new of her new job. She is watching/playing with twin five year old boys for three afternoons a week (3-5pm) while their mom is working from home.}

And then just like that..Derek was back home again, and our lives went back to normal. Keeping all of the refugees in our thoughts and prayers as they continue to transition and figure out their new normal. 

Shelby's 11th Birthday!

On September 17th, our Shelby-girl turned ELEVEN! Shelby's birthday fell on the Friday of our week of "quarantine," so the kids & I were all at home. We started the day with cinnamon muffins per the Birthday Girl's request. 

We had to wake up this sleepyhead so we could all sing to the Birthday Girl and eat our breakfast together.

Then we went to the park for Brady & Hadley to ride bikes while Shelby and I walked. When we got home, we made Shelby's birthday cupcakes! She of course picked chocolate cake & chocolate icing.

Shelby had originally picked to eat Chick-fil-a for lunch and then order Papa John's for dinner. Derek ended up surprising the kids when pizza showed up on our front porch at lunchtime, and then he  arrived home a few minutes afterward. We celebrated with pizza, cupcakes, and presents!

After lunch, we told the kids why Derek was unexpectedly home for lunch on a weekday--we had found out the afternoon before that there was a chance Derek would be deploying the next day {on Shelby's birthday}. It wasn't until Derek had gotten to work that morning that everything was official. So he came home around 1ish, we enjoyed our birthday lunch together, he scrambled to get everything packed and organized, and was on the road by 4 that afternoon.

The kids watched their usual Friday night movie after lunch as opposed to after dinner while Derek packed. By the time the movie was over, he was finished packing & we said our goodbyes to him. Once we got him on the road, then we enjoyed Chick-fil-a for Shelby's birthday dinner.

Shelby's birthday certainly didn't go as we had planned, but we still had SO much fun celebrating her! Her present from me & Derek was re-doing her bedroom {which had essentially been the exact same bedding/decor since she upgraded to a "big girl room" when she was two years old!!}, and we had planned on painting her bedroom that weekend. Obviously, since Derek had just left, the painting and redecorating got put on hold indefinitely, but Shelby was such a trooper about it! 

This was definitely a birthday we won't soon forget!