When I was pregnant with Noelle, Ben was gone for 6 months of the pregnancy. He had gone off to basic training and tech school and managed to make it in just enough time for her delivery.
When I was pregnant with Ethan, Ben was gone for 3 months of the pregnancy. He was deployed to Afghanistan.
When I was pregnant with Jacob, Ben was gone for 3 weeks. He had a military training in Texas.
When I was pregnant with Sadie, Ben was gone for 4 1/2 months of the pregnancy. We had intermittent visits. He was in the White Mountains with his new job with the Pinetop Fire Department, hunting for a new home for us to move into.
Now I'm pregnant with #5 and he's gone for 2 weeks. It is only 2 weeks. I know that it is not long. He's on the Horseshoe 2 wildland fire in southern AZ. It's just kinda funny that because we're not in the military anymore and settled in our home that I thought this time would be different. I was thinking that for once he would be here for an entire pregnancy. I wonder if my belly will look bigger to him after only 2 weeks.
I miss him. The kids miss him.
I sure am not complaining though! I've got plenty of friends who are still in the military and I know firsthand the sacrifices that are made and it's nothing compared to this two weeks. Not only are they going without their loved ones for a longer period of time, but the psychological aspect of deployments is more distressing too. Thanks to all of you military families for all that you sacrifice each and every day.
