And with that she said, "I am a genius."

Yes, I did in fact just refer to myself in the 3rd person because I am feeling THAT awesome right now. So about 3 days ago I began to feel a tickle in my throat. In all honesty, I had read part of a book to a student for most of one of the periods at school that day and I had rocked out pretty hard to Taylor Swift in my car that afternoon. I thought maybe I had strained my voice. Then the next morning I woke up with a little worse of a sore throat accompanied by a tad bit of mucous. Yuck! I knew what was happening...this was the workings of a cold or really terrible allergies. I never am quite sure. So, I immediately went to my medicine stash to see what I had. The first day I took loads of Vitamin C, allergy medicine, and sinus medicine. I was trying to cover all of my bases. I even resorted to drinking a hot toddy!! Normally, when a bug like this comes along I just accept and enjoy the fact that I can be lazy, relax, and curl up in a blanket watching movies and sipping on hot tea and soup. But, no go this time!! I'm leaving in less than a week. There was too much to do. I could not let this cold defeat me. So, I went to my personal nurse and asked for advice. By personal nurse I mean my good friend Anna. ;) I had pretty much been doing what I needed to be doing for a cold. But, she told me to take Zinc, so I got a bottle of that too. I also immediately started "googling" home remedies. Pinterest was another source for me, as well. I found this one remedy for a sore throat. You mix 1/4 cup of honey and 1/4 cup of vinegar together and take a tablespoon 6 times a day. I did this yesterday and let me tell you my sore throat is still gone today! Coincidence or did it actually work? I don't know, but I will choose to think it was this home remedy. Now, at this point I was also starting to get the foggy feeling in my head. It's that feeling like your ears are clogged and you can't really breathe. I resorted at this point to drinking hot water mixed with cayenne pepper. I continued taking tons of Vitamin C, Zinc, cold medicine, and sinus medicine. I did not want this thing defeating me or worse, turn into a sinus infection (which usually happens). Now, we are at Day 3 (today). The day where I become a genius and refer to myself in the 3rd person. Again, I woke up with some congestion, mucous, etc. Knock on wood...still no cough though. I went to Pinterest this morning looking for more remedies. I have made my own humidifier by having warm water simmer on the stove with vanilla and cinnamon (a pinterest idea). A lot of other ideas tell me I need essential oils. I also need to soak in a bath in these essential oils so I can inhale the warm vapors. I have no bathtub. So, I don't have any essential oils or bubble baths with essential oils in my home. What's the point if I have no tub? But, I noticed I did have an unopened bottle of hand soap that contained...essential oils, as well as Jasmine and Vanilla. Hmmm, the wheels starting turning. I would turn my shower and bathroom into a sauna. I would also attempt to make my shower serve as a tub. I squirted globs of the essential oil hand soap into the bottom  of the shower and cranked the heat all the way up. Then I stood in the shower, letting the hot water run over me as I inhaled the warm Jasmine and Vanilla essential oil vapors. I took a seat in my shower and let the water run over me while I laid a hot washcloth over my face and I continued to breathe in all the warm goodness. My head began to clear up and so did my nose!! When I got out of the shower I blew my nose and my ear popped and part of my head opened up!! I am still a little stuffy feeling, but all in all a lot more clear!! It was at this point that I said to myself (but out loud for no one to hear)..."I AM A GENIUS." So, I have decided I will do this 3 times a day till I leave for the states. I cannot let this cold get the best of me. I have too much to do and lots of traveling ahead. I'll let you know how it works out for me. Hopefully, I'll still think I am genius by Thursday.

17 Weeks

As I near the 17 week mark of deployment, I find myself curious about when exactly time will slow down this time. Last deployment it was when we had about 3 more months left of a 12 month deployment. Time was suddenly at a complete standstill. I discovered during the first deployment that the first part and last part of the deployment were the worst parts. The first part your trying to figure out who you are without them. You are trying to figure out what you will do with all that time alone. You figure out quickly that something has to be done or you will end up eating a bag of Cheetos and drinking wine on the couch every night. Not exactly the best habit to have. I have found that it is okay to have a day or two after they leave to wallow. You sit and watch annoyingly unhappy, sappy movies...whether it be a romantic drama or depressing tear-jerker. And that's OK! But, then after that you have to pick yourself back up, set goals, and move on with life. Now, the last part of deployment is a bit like the days leading up to Christmas. You are nervous and excited about what Santa will bring to you this year. You can't wait for Christmas morning so you can dig into the presents. So, that's the last couple months of the deployment. Then the night/day before they come home is so much like Christmas Eve. Your sitting in your bed at 300 in the morning trying not to open your eyes for fear that Santa may in fact see you and then you will not receive your present. That's also what I like to call the waiting part. Waiting for a phone call as to what time they are coming home the next day or that night. You sit and wait, you can't sleep...you are just too excited. After that its Christmas morning, the day you get your present (or in this case your husband). You arrive at the designated location to greet them. Then you see them. The plane pulls up and they all start marching towards you. Then they STAND there and you have to listen to a speech, all the while you are going insane inside. Oh and if you have already made eye contact with your solider, then forget it. It's the best torture ever. This is just like Christmas morning because it feels like the anticipation of sitting on the top of the stairs waiting for permission to come down to see your loot. Anyways, those are the best moments. Homecoming is unlike anything you have ever experienced, which is probably why the last few months drive you nuts. So, again, I say..when will time begin to slow down. This deployment is shorter than his first one, so I anticipate that it could happen at any moment. It's like the worst and best thing at the same time. Time may be at a standstill, but at the moment it happens it's good because you know that your soldier coming home is right around the corner. Just breathe and know that he will be in your arms once again and life will be good. Tick tock, tick tock..when will the clock stop for you?