The Redfords: Sorry it's been a while!!

Hi there family and friends!

Sorry it has been since January since I posted any updates. I feel like these last 10 weeks have been a total blur with multiple doctor and ER visits with the girls and absolutely crazy weather in Texas since we arrived!

We are holding up okay. Some days are harder than others, every day we miss Zach terribly but try to maintain a sense of positivity knowing that each hard day is still one day closer to being reunited.

Rewind to the day we said good-bye since I didn't have a chance to write about that.

After packing up and moving to Texas, in the middle of a snow storm, we got settled and had a week to spend soaking up as much time with Zach as we could. It was the perfect week, minus the ER visit and snow :) The day we took him to the airport was such a weird feeling. How are you supposed to feel or act when you know that is looming over your head. We just tried to enjoy the moment but I found myself tearing up at dinner and the restaurant looking at me probably wondering what in the world was going on!! We got to the airport around 5 for his 7pm flight, gave our last hug and took a deep breath and got in the car. I looked over at him walking away with his sea bag and he looked once more at us and just lost it. Putting the car in reverse and driving away from that moment knowing it would be almost 10 months before we saw him again was gut wrenching.

Then the real battle began! Payton woke up the next day very sick. We took her to several doctors, was rushed to the ER and ultimately found out she had strep throat. It was 8 days of only about an hour of sleep a night, all broken up in 10 minute increments. She was screaming in pain. It was heart breaking! I was trying to take care of her and also wrap my mind around the idea that Zach had just left. She finally got better but then not too long after that we got hit again with the FLU! Then, ear infection and finally an allergic reaction to penicillin. Needless to say, it has been a crazy 10 weeks!!

This deployment has exceeded my expectations though with communication. Zach has been in three ports so far ... Greece, Slovenia and Bahrain. We have gotten to Skype with him each port for a couple of days. He is able to email almost every day and I get 10 minute phone calls a couple times a week. This is already in two months far more than we talked during his last deployment!

Harper definitely misses her daddy. She doesn't quite understand what is going on but knows daddy is on a boat and IS coming home! She recognizes him on Skype and looks at pictures of him every day. I have no doubt that they will reconnect and be right back to normal immediately.

We have celebrated Payton's first Easter and Harper's second birthday so far! Thanks to everyone who came to her party or sent gifts! She had a blast celebrating!

We are so thankful for the family and friends that have been there for us so far. Being apart from your spouse is indescribable. It is lonely, painful, scary and plain hard! Being a mother of an almost 1 year old and a 2 year old in a new place without much space to play is another big challenge! We are still happier here near loved ones than we would be in VA!

We have some fun stuff planned for the summer and then we just have the fall to get through!! Thanks for joining us for this wild ride. We appreciate any support!!