The Tricks of the Trade

It has only been a short while since he has been deployed, I am slowly learning all my tricks to keeping my mind off the distance and that we have the whole time still to pass.

My trade tools : 

Sleeping pills.

I have Always had problems sleeping, but more so when He is gone. The first week I only got about 2 hours of sleep. A person can not function on that! And I refuse to take a prescription sleep aid, they are dangerous for me. Two 3mg Melatonin a night for about a week help me get back on a decent sleep schedule. This way I can work, and take care of the kids instead of being sleep deprived. Please consult your doctor before taking ANY sort of sleeping medications.  I put this at the top of MY list because I find it absolutely impossible to sleep when he is gone.

Stationary!
No Wife's trade bag would be complete with out a full set of stationary!
Now I am just using regular old white envelopes and legal sized paper, but writing not only helps me get things off my chest, but lets him know our day to day. I know there are TONS of blogs that tell you never tell your deployed spouse anything negative.. But not every deployment is the same, and not every spouse is the same. I tell him EVERYTHING, I tell him what we had for dinner, that the kids are driving me insane. I tell him how well my workouts went (or didn't), about my day at work, even scolded him a little bit for leaving all his tools outside before he left.. So far I have written twice a day except for one day. Work days are hard to get two letters in. I know my husband can handle good or bad news, and I know he would be very very upset with me if I withheld anything from him. If something goes wrong, I tell him. He may not be able to fix it, but he can give advice on how to or even moral support. They are not the only ones who need support.
This keeps me sane, this keeps him in the loop of day to day events and gives him something to do in down time. A bit of home, in a foreign land. I think I may go get some fancy stationary when I run out of envelopes, something wild and crazy maybe. Just to fun it up a bit =).

                                                                                 

Folding laundry is a distraction. With 4 people left in the house.. 

Alex, one of my cats lends his paws to fold the laundry
My boys go through a lot of it. lol
Plus on top of the laundry, I have rearranged my dresser drawers, and room. 
I plan on the kids room and office next. 

                                                                     

I am working on what I call a "waiting necklace". It will have a couple charms and a yellow ribbon, has a watch face, and a picture of him. waiting for the other charms to come in.

Tablet and Phone:

The times have changed! It is truly amazing how easy many of us can communicate with our loved ones across the world. You will see this in many of the pictures I take because they are always near by. You never know when he will get the chance to call! You never know if he is going to wake up in the middle of the night and need you to be there. Most wives I know sleep with both of these next to their pillows. I am included in that. Skype (or face-time for you apple peeps) is a wonderful program! I couldn't even imagine living in a time, I cant see is face. I don't know how women did it.... They are stronger than I. I don't leave a room without these tools. They are always within arms reach when I am at home.

On my cellphone I recorded all of our conversations before deployment. When I need to hear that I Love You he said in everyone of them, its only a play button away. This helps me keep him just a little closer.
I also plan on isolating the I Love you sound wave and getting it as a tattoo.

His Stuff: 

Some people feel the need to put away their spouse things, Ya know, just put it in the usual place. But I feel the need to keep some of his things out in full view. Normally his motorcycle gear would be up, I put it on a hook in our room.
Which it will probably stay there even after he gets back, I like the look of it lol. I am going to put my gear right next to it. I guess I just feel a little better with it out. Helps flow the good memories instead of dwelling on the wait. Instead of laying awake at night thinking about the distance I can lay awake at night thinking about the last ride we took together, Or how sexy he is on his bike hehe.