Keeping with the old analogies

So, I was just thinking, last year's "roller coaster" really turned out to be more of a log plume, ya know? One where you keep thinking there will be a big drop and a splash, but then you get to the end and go, "oh, that was it?" Except that in this case, I'm glad that Michael never did leave. I'm happy for this ride to have be a relaxing (though sometimes frustrating) one.
Seems wrong to go into this next part talking about roller coasters.
Lately, I reflect on how very lucky we were. Too many times this year, I've gotten emails from our FRG (Family Readiness Group). For me, knowing that my husband is nearby, maybe even in the house when I get the messages, I don't have that momentary panic that I'm sure the other wives get. The first line always says, "If you're reading this email, your loved one is okay!" Then it goes on to share the bad news. The first two were just a couple weeks apart, early in the summer. Then four, all in one day. Ever since that day, when I see the FRG email address in my inbox, my heart sinks. Afghanistan is a scary scary place right now, and I'm so thankful that Michael has spent this year here at home. And so sad and angry for the families who weren't so lucky.
I'm "facebook friends" with the wife of one of our fallen soldiers, and so I'm reminded daily.
I can't wait for our guys to get home. They'll be back in a couple months, and there will be a big sigh of relief among the engineer families of Bragg.
Except that we're actually no longer a part of this battalion. It seems so strange to me. Two weeks ago, Michael started a new position. His platoon leader days are over, and he moved up to a brigade staff job. "His guys" aren't his any more. Their wives are just ladies that I know now. Most of them are hoping to move to new places by spring. All the officer engineer wives that I know are anxiously waiting for their husbands to go home.
Meanwhile, I'm back on the other side of things again. Counting down to a deployment. This time though, I'm not nearly as fazed. At least not yet. Partly because of this past year. I figure I went through all the emotional drama of preparing for a deployment this time last year, I have no need to go through it again. I just took a rain check, basically. Plus, I'm now cynical enough that no matter how "sure" we are that he's going, I figure there's still a decent chance that he'll stay home. The odds really are much slimmer now, though. Apparently, from the Army's perspective, it's some great tragedy that he "missed out" on multiple opportunities to deploy this year. That's experience that they want him to have.
So that's where we are right now. Waiting in line again. Thankful for this past year he had at home. Thankful that even though he's going, he's heading to Iraq which is (theoretically) much safer than Afghanistan at this point. Praying that it is indeed an uneventful year ahead of us. No incident reports from down range. No kids pulling dressers down onto their heads. I'm hoping for a reasonably peaceful year with no emergencies of any kind.
As we near late fall/early winter, the tension is rising. It's starting to feel real. I've realized that I'll be here alone with both a 2 year old, AND a preteen. Plus 2 more in the middle. That should be fun. We're starting to get things lined up. Making lists of things to do, things to buy, things to discuss while we can still do it face to face. Brainstorming ways to cope this upcoming year. Trying not to get too frustrated that there are lots of things that I want to plan for the next year, but can't until we know his R&R dates, and that's a ways off still.
Mostly, just taking it one day at a time and really, ignoring the dates that I jotted in pencil on my calendar.

Also, to update on the post about medical drama:
Mikayla is fine and can eat gluten.
Aaric had the MRI and we go back in 3 weeks to have another hearing test. The ENT is on the opposite side of town, so I haven't dropped off the MRI results yet, but I'll be over that way later this week and will stop by then. So no news on that front. He has a cold and keeps freaking that his ears are buzzing, or that his hearing is a tiny bit weak due to congestion.
If Xander doesn't start routinely pooping in the potty I think I'll scream.
Dear sweet healthy Gabriel, is so far still the normal one of the bunch. But Xander as his role model, I know that will change soon enough. And with the daredevil genes he has pumping through his body, I have no doubt he'll get his turn at the ER. But for now, he's good.