Here comes 2006.

So much has happened in the past while, the holidays have come & gone. I knew that would go quickly, now comes the hard part; January & February. But this too shall pass, and I'm making plans to fill the gaping holes of time.

Mia's had a bad bout with ear infections these past 2 months. She's on Zithromax now after amoxicillin & another antibiotic didn't do the trick. Her cough is exponentially better, however not gone, and the 2nd time we saw a doctor he had me make an appointment for mid-January to check the fluid in her ears. If it isn't better, she has to see an ENT and maybe get tubes. Let's pray hard that this doesn't happen, I don't think I could take Mia having to get surgery. Espeically without Craig here. But that cough... oh goodness, it's horrendous. I'm so glad it's better now.

Mia has been enjoying the holiday season so much, I'm afraid that when it's over she's going to be depressed! Tomorrow we're going to Legoland for their "New Year's Celebricktion". From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. there's a live DJ spinning high-energy dance tunes, party favors and more. Then at "midnight" (which is 6pm) we'll ring in the New Year with a 22-foot-tall LEGO "Brick Drop" and a spectacular fireworks show complete with special fireworks viewing glasses. I'm so excited it's IMPOSSIBLE to keep this from her! But it must be a surprise because she's not going to sleep eat or go ANYWHERE besides Legoland once I tell her. She'll find out on the way there.

We had a lovely night tonight. I took Mia to Applebees. She was very very good. She must've been hungry because she ate all the applesauce & her whole grilled cheese, even after eating a bag of Goldfish! She charmed everyone at the restaurant. We sat at the table right next to the host desk at the front. The manager talked to Mia, and asked her name. She said, "My name is Mia."

The girl at the booth across from us said, "Good choice, that's my name too." There was another Mia there! Our Mia was quite tickled at this and talked to the other Mia for a little while.

Then a man came in and was asking if this one young host guy was in the Military. He said, "Yes, sir, I am." I knew not only by his haircut, but by his demeanor that he was a Marine, and he told the man that he was. He reminded me of my brother-in-law Jake a little bit, especially the way he talked.

I said, "My husband is a Marine as well, he's overseas at the moment... Where did you go to boot camp?"

"Oh, I have already been in for 4 years, boot camp was a while back. And I just got back from Iraq myself."

He looked 19! I felt so old. The man who had been talking to us there was a Navy reservist he said. I shared Craig's promotion selection with them, and they both congratulated him wholeheartedly and the Navy reservist guy said to be sure he knows he's thinking about all of them over there and thanks & respects them for what they're doing.

I asked where the younger guy was stationed in Iraq, and he said at Al Asad. (same base as Craig) He told me where he worked on Miramar, but I forgot what he said. He was so nice and so friendly. So while we ate dinner, I taught Mia to say, "Hoo rah, Devil Dog!" Ok, so now she LOVES saying that... The young Marine smiled & laughed when she said that to him as we left. It was so adorable, it's little moments like that which make me miss him even more.

Then we got home, and I found a package from Craig's mom in the mail. She sent a bag full of little toys & goodies for Mia. A puzzle, a sticker book with stickers (she loves that one), a kaleidoscope, a magnifying glass, a clear plastic wand with glittery stars inside, a compass inside of a wooden ladybug and a really cute red box with little puppet mice inside. And she sent me 3 pictures-one of Mia with Craig's dad that she took at the wedding, and two of my mom-in-law with a bunch of kids, probably some sort of retreat. She also sent me a framed picture of Mia sitting in Craig's Dad's lap. It's so sweet, and Mia
loved the toys too. She's very happy. We also got a card from Craig's grandparents. They said thank you to me for the pictures I sent to Craig's father (who lives on the farm with them), and that they're thinking of March when he'll be home. His mother's card said much the same, and said that this time next year we'll be celebrating the new year together. Amen.