This is easily the most exciting Ohnheiser family update since the birth of our sweet Emma almost one year ago. After a very long, seven month "Short" tour in Afghanistan, I am happy to announce that Daddy is FINALLY back home, safe and sound. He has now been home for about a week and a half and the three of us could not possibly be any happier. Though I had a pretty good idea as to when he was going to return home (give or take a few days), I did not receive word of the final date until about about 48 hours prior to his plane landing. Upon finding out his approximate arrival date I was elated and wanted to tell everyone. However, due to Air Force regulation and heightened security I was unable to say a word to anyone. This was rather difficult but I managed. The day he arrived home is a blur to me. I was filled with so many emotions and for the first time since he joined five years ago, was actually nervous about his homecoming. This deployment was so much different from any other deployment or TDY that we have ever experienced. Not only did it last for more than half a year but I underwent so many changes and grew so much as an individual. For more than half a year (The very first year none the less) I was a single parent. I began this journey with a three month old child who was completely helpless and was still waking 3-4 times a night. Not once during this time did I receive a break much less a night off. I was exhausted, terrified, and more stressed than I had ever been in the entirety of my life. Thankfully Emma began sleeping through the night and I adjusted to being a single parent and to doing every single solitary thing by myself. Having a child this time around obviously made this deployment much different than previous periods of separation between the two of us. Though it was no cake walk, I was not really sad for myself but rather for my husband and daughter. I knew that no matter what I did, they were each going to miss out on so many things that could never be recapped. Emma is our world and though I know things were difficult on my end, it is hard for me to imagine just how bad things were on Issac's end. After all, at least I was able to be with our daughter everyday without missing a step. Issac on the other hand was forced to miss out on a huge and very important portion of Emma's life. When he left she was an infant and when he came home she was bordering on the transition between baby and toddler. The thought that he may never really know what his daughter was like as a baby broke my heart... It would have been easy to dwell on this bur I refused to, knowing that I had to remain strong for our family. One thing that definitely made this deployment far more difficult than the last was the minimal amount of communication between Issac and myself. When he was deployed to Afghanistan in 07-08 he had wireless internet in his bee hut from day one and we were able to chat online just about everyday for at least an hour. On top of our daily internet communication I was also able to receive 3-4 phone calls per week each lasting 15-20 minutes. This time around we were not nearly as fortunate when it came to communication... It took him about a month to even get to Afghanistan. During this month the only contact we had were a few 10-15 minute phone calls per week. Once arriving in Afghanistan internet communication was very minimal. Though he did have internet access on his government computer at work, we were unable to do any online chatting or Skype due to the fact that the Air Force blocks out those capabilities on all government computers. We were able to send emails back and forth but since he was so incredibly busy he typically only had just enough time to read my email and then send me a one paragraph response letting me know that he missed me and was okay. As far as wireless in the dormitories was concerned... There was none. We actually went for the first three months of his time in Afghanistan without a single video chat. For these first three months our communication consisted only of a few short emails here and there and about 4-5 short phone calls each week. A handful of 15 minute phone calls per week might sound pretty good but let me tell you... 15 minutes is in no way enough time to actually "Talk" to your spouse. It gives you enough time to say hello, let one another know that you are safe, share a brief overview of plans for the day, and then say goodbye. That is it. After months and months this really begins to drag your moral down. Issac and I have an incredibly close and very good relationship. One that I believe is truly rare even among married couples. While he and I were apart we were each in complete agony because we missed one another so much. Not being able to talk, share, support, and communicate with one another just added to the already difficult situation. Those three months were definitely the slowest of the deployment. There were often moments when I thought the time was never going to pass and for some reason I just could not picture this deployment actually coming to an end and him being home safe with the two of us. Thankfully I did have Emma to distract and keep my incredibly busy. I will say this about those first few months... They were both the best and worst of my life. The worst for obvious reasons and the best because I was really coming into my new role as a mother and was loving waking up and spending all day everyday watching my daughter grow, learn, and prosper. It was these months that I know truly changed me forever. It was a huge turning point in my life. At the age of 24 I had more responsibility and was going through something more difficult than most people could even comprehend. There were no breaks, no sick days, and definitely no "Me" time. Every diaper, feeding, long night, boo boo, bath, and early morning... It was all on me. I did not have a job to go to during the day allowing me to get out of the house and to get some much needed adult time even if it was work. It was just Emma and I, all day every day, 24/7, with no breaks what so ever. The first few months were a huge period of adjustment and adaptation. I had to cope with missing the love of my life more than I had even imagined to be possible while also staying strong and pushing forward to ensure that I gave my daughter nothing but the best. The holidays came at about the mid-point of the deployment and were a pretty big hurtle for both Issac and myself. We still had little communication and having to celebrate all of Emma's first holidays apart was something that was very difficult and weighed heavily on the both of us. Since I wanted to ensure a sense of normality and did not want Emma's holiday season to be hindered in any way I did my best not to think about things. Seeing as holidays are centered around family, these times were pretty depressing for me. Though her first holiday season was such a precious time, I will admit that I was pretty enthralled when it was finally over. Once we had gotten over the hurtle of the holidays I think everyone just went on auto pilot as a means of survival. This may or may not have been a good thing, but either way we managed to get through the next months and were able to remain as close as possible considering the situation we were in. The weeks and even days leading up to his return seemed surreal to me. When the day finally arrived I still do not think it had hit me that this nightmare of a deployment was finally over. We were finally going to be able to live as a family just as we had been dreaming of since becoming pregnant with Emma in 2009. It was a long time coming but it was finally here and we were finally going to be able to reap the benefits of all of our hard work. The day he came home was possibly the longest day EVER! His flight did not land until nearly 11:30pm so I had the entire day to anticipate his arrival. Finally at about 10:00pm Emma and I headed out to the flight line where we would watch Issac's plane land and finally have "Our moment." I had been dreaming about that first hug every single day and it was finally almost time. When we first arrived to the homecoming we waited in a hanger. It was filled with about 100 families and children of all ages. I saw one woman who had a little girl that appeared to be around 4 months of age. This of course means that her Daddy missed the birth and was going to be meeting his daughter for the first time that very night. It brought tears to my eyes and made me thankful for the three months that we did have before Issac deployed. It reminded me that things can always be worse and that I should always be thankful for everything in my life. After all, when going into this deployment we were not guaranteed anything. Not everyone that left with Issac was fortunate enough to make it home and not every relationship/family was able to make it through the seven months apart. Another reminder of just how much God has blessed us. Not only did Issac return home safe to us but we were also able to come out of this deployment with a closer relationship, stronger marriage, and a family that was intact. Having him home for the past week and a half makes me wonder how I ever survived for so many months without him. I am on cloud nine and Emma is in heaven now that she and her Daddy are finally back together. The first few days were a little rough as she was quite unsure about him, but with each day I have seen measurable improvement in her overall acceptance and comfortability with him. I do think that she remembers him, I am just not sure if she really knows why she remembers him. She definitely loves spending time with him and it seems like they cannot get enough of one another. The biggest issue we have had has actually not been between she and him but between she and myself. She often gets jealous of the fact that Mommy is paying attention to someone other than her. Thankfully this issue seems to be resolving itself as she becomes more and more adjusted to functioning as a family of three. Issac was given about three weeks of post deployment leave which means we have been able to spend just about every waking moment together since his return. It has been wonderful! I had forgotten how nice it is being able to share everything with my best friend. I had also forgotten how big of a difference it makes having help with Emma. Whew has this ever been a much needed break! Since returning home he has been taking on the brunt of the work as far as Emma is concerned and I have finally been able to put my feet up, relax, and get in some much needed "Me" time. I do not think I realized just how much in need of a break I truly was until I finally got it. Aside from all of this not too much else is really going on in the Ohnheiser household. We have been getting out just about everyday and have finally been able to partake in the numerous family activities that we have been looking forward to for a few years now. Life is good and God is great! This was not our first deployment and I know it will not be our last. However, rather than dwelling on the next deployment that will I am sure be here before we know it, I am going to enjoy the time I have with my husband and soak up each and every second we have together as a family. As far as I am concerned, I have it all! Below are a handful of photos from homecoming day. I hope everyone enjoys them!
Finally holding his precious baby girl for the first time in more than half of a year.
When he left she was just three months old and had just learned how to roll over. When he returned home she was almost a year old, totally mobile, and learning how to talk. Big difference!
Issac's plane right after it landed.
One thing I have loved about the month of March is the numerous "Welcome Home" signs I have seen all over the base and even throughout our neighborhood on peoples garages and front porches. This was a banner that greeted the troops as they set foot on American soil for the first time.
Emma and I anxiously awaiting Daddy's arrival.
Michelle and I were pretty excited!
Our little patriot waving her flag around while waiting in the hanger.
We were all deployment buddies. I am not sure what I would have done without Melissa.
Families arriving and waiting inside the hanger. A beautiful sight!
Emma and Alex wondering why on earth they were woken in the middle of the night and then drug out into the cold.
Emma's welcome home outfit. The tutu was bought at Target and the onesie was hand made by me. They cannot be seen in this picture but the outfit is paired up with an adorable pair of hot pink converse all stars.
The kids hanging out together at our house before we left for the flight line.
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