He's Back!

So, this has got to have been one of the most exciting days of my life thus far. It all started last night when I learned that Andrew was in Baltimore, MD and he was going to be in Portland today. I guess he was originally supposed to be home yesterday afternoon and he had it all worked out with my mom to surprise me. She would pick him up from the airport and then when I came over for Sunday dinner, he would just be there. Of course several thoughts ran through my mind as I heard this: 1) whatever happened to that whole "I won't be leaving until the 25th" email? My husband is such a liar! 2) How could my mom be in on this and not tell me he was coming home? She was in cahoots with a liar! 3) I guess I don't care that he lied to me about when he was coming home, I only had to worry and wait for him for one night instead of all 4 nights of travel, and 4) My husband is coming home tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!! Anyone who knows Andrew knows that one of his life's ambitions is to jump through these elaborate hoops to surprise me. As soon as I got off the phone with Andrew last night I immediately had to call my mom to yell at her for keeping this from me. She said that at least now I know she can keep secrets, and also that she thought that it was very romantic that he was planning this surprise. Whateva!
When I finally forced myself to go to bed last night it was after midnight and then I just tossed and turned. I felt like a little kid waiting for Santa and his reindeer coming to deliver presents on Christmas eve! I don't know how I eventually fell asleep, but I did. When I got to work this morning I informed them they needed to cancel my afternoon patients because Andrew was coming home. I guess maybe I should feel bad for my patients having to rearrange their schedules, but I don't. My husband is number one in my life, not my job. All day at work I had jittery butterflies in my stomach. I was so nervous and excited. I don't really understand the nervousness, it was like when you are getting ready to go on your first date with a guy you really like and you hope that it all goes really well. The only difference being that I was not going on a first date, I was going to pick up my husband. A man that I should know well enough to not be nervous around. However, the giddiness was overwhelming. When I left work I felt like I was in a dream, I could not possibly be going to the airport to pick up my husband, to be with my husband who I haven't been with since September 19, 2007. 4 months is a long time to be apart!
Fun fact: did you know that if you are going to the airport to pick someone up who has been deployed with the military you can get a special pass to get through security and meet them at the gate? I had heard that, but wasn't sure. I left with enough time hoping that I would be able to do this--and it worked! Can you believe they let me through security? Especially since I was all distracted and anxious, I had to have looked a little suspicious! When I got to the gate his arrival time had changed from 2:22 to 2:33. When 2:33 came and went with no plane I started to get antsy so I started pacing. Then the time changed to 2:37. When the plane finally arrived at the gate it was 2:45. I was beside myself with nerves! When he walked through the gate the look on his face was priceless. He didn't know that I was going to be at the gate. I asked him later if that was better than him having to wait to see me until he got to my parent's house like he had originally planned on doing. He didn't want to admit it, but my way was better! (As usual... :)
The thing that is so weird is that even now I have to keep checking to make sure he really is here. Since his body is still set 11 hours ahead, he is sound asleep which is a little annoying! You would think he could force himself to stay awake and hang out with me. Just kidding, I know he has to be tired. He left from Kuwait on Thursday, traveled to Cutter (? somewhere in the middle east... public school's geography class sure has failed me!), then was on to Germany, then Ireland, finally arriving in Maine to make his first stop in the US. From Maine he went to Maryland, then to Illinois and finally ended up here in good old Oregon. I am exhausted just thinking about all those hours sitting on an airplane. He said yesterday he ate 4 meals on airplanes, all I have to say is sick. I can't even handle one of those things. I just got done making a big old Thai food dinner for us, but he is out cold. Guess I will just have to eat all those delicious spring rolls myself! All I know is that my husband is home and I am the happiest I have been in 4 months! A big thank you to all of you who have helped me keep my mind off this and made this time alone a little easier--love ya!