Almost 8 Weeks Done, Happy Halloween! (Day 39 of 130)

I've been MIA for nearly three weeks.  It's been so hectic, even overwhelming in the past few weeks.  I've had my share of temper tantrums and meltdowns that I wonder, this is all going to be worth it?  I know it will be, but being the sole parent at home has taken its toll.  Working full-time, with swim class, and dinner, plus homework on top of that is exhausting.  By the time B. comes home on Friday nights, I'm pooped.  After we put the kids to bed, we take our places on the couch to catch up on the week and have B. catch up with his DVR.  I'm usually passed out within ten minutes.  B. will stay up for a few hours before waking me up to go to bed.  So much for our much needed conversation. 

At last count, the cadets who withdrew did so voluntarily.  In the last three weeks, the academy class has been losing cadets due to not passing tests.  They work so hard to get to this point.  A few have left for not passing a written exam on their second attempt.  The most recent ones are not passing skid pan.  This exam is no joke.  Just search CHP Skid Pan and see what it's all about.  B. could have been one of those cadets.  I was so stressed and anxious when he told me he had one last attempt at passing.  I couldn't sleep that night.  I couldn't eat.  Luckily, on his Wednesday restriction they did not make them write memos that night, they allowed a group to practice on the skid pan for three hours.  B. felt good about the practice session and said it all clicked.  Not knowing when he was going to take it again killed me.  As we were told at orientation, "No news is good news." Not hearing from him during the day was good.   The weekend rolled around and it seemed to weigh on me more than him. B. passed skid pan on his last and final attempt.  I can't tell you what a relief it was after he told me.

The Senior Class graduated 47 new officers yesterday.  B. said it was a great sight to see the new officers freshly badged with their families to share the moment together.  Today was the first day for the Junior Class to be the only ones at the Academy.  They usually call this "Hell Week."  With additional Academy Staff available, they just have that many more eyes to find things that are wrong.  So we will be missing out on Wednesday Liberty again.  We've only be able to visit B. once since the Academy started.  I'll sacrifice Wednesday Liberty for him to stay apart of this Academy class.  As B. has said, " You can't take away my Wednesdays if I don't expect them." 

This is the first Halloween without B.  I wish he was here with us tonight.   It was great seeing #1 and #2 enjoying themselves so much.  They are at such a perfect age.  Old enough to hold a conversation with me, yet still babies with such an innocent look on life.  It was definitely a crazy and tiring day.  #2 was sent home from school with a stomach bug, meaning that she can't go back until Monday.  Luckily my parents were able to watch her this afternoon, so I could run back to #1's Harvest Festival.  Drove back to my parents to meet up with them and #2 and head over to my sister's to Trick 'O Treat with my baby nephew and brother in law.  #2 is staying with my parents tonight as I have to go to work and #1 has school.  This is the first time in her life that #2 has been apart from me at night.  It didn't bother her one bit that I was leaving.  She said good night and see you tomorrow.  I was expecting more drama, but she loves her grandma and grandpa and wouldn't mind sleeping there more often.  After our short good byes, #1 and I were headed home.  #1 was asleep within five minutes of getting into the car.  Two rounds trips later, here I still am at 11:10PM on Halloween night.  Good night.  Happy Halloween.

Five Weeks Gone By (Day 25 of 130)

25 days of the Academy are in the bag.  The lack of sleep continues, but it seems like B. is in more of a routine now.  The weekends are still filled with running errands and attempting to catch up on sleep.  As much as B. wants to catch up with family and friends, there are really only 48 hours of him being home.  The weekends seem so rushed.  Sunday afternoons/evenings are the worse.  B. tries to soak in as much time with the girls as he can.  I'll leave to run errands and he'll take the girls to the park. 

B. was on restriction again this past Wednesday.  We've only been up there once since the Academy started.  He thinks he'll be losing a few more in the next few weeks.  He's really looking forward to not being on the Training Table.  B. has lost about 15 pounds so far.  He says he's usually starving by 9:00 at night.  The feeling of being hungry at night must suck.  You can't just run to a fridge.

#2 asked B. on Friday and Saturday, "Papa, no training tonight ok."  I've been telling her that her Papa is away at training and he will be home on Fridays.  She's only two, but she knows what's up.  People have told me, she's too young to understand where her Papa is.  B. came home with two Matchbox sized CHP cars for the girls.  They love them.  We told them, this is what Papa will be driving.  #1 sees the squad cars out on the freeways.  We are trying to help them understand why Papa is away so much.  They tend to act out a little more when B. is home.  I'm no longer the sole enforcer when B. is here.  They think they can get away with a little more.  

We have  dry erase calendar where I mark off the days B. has been away.  I think it will get a little harder as holidays roll around.  He won't be here for Halloween.  I know I'll have to take lots of pictures for him.  Hopefully, the connection is good, we may be able to FaceTime that night.  I was planning on staying local for Trick 'O Treating, but I can't handle both girls alone.  

The cadets are still a long way from filling out their Dream Sheets, but I wanted to make sure B. had our Deed of Trust ready to turn in.  I'm glad there is priority given to those who own a home.  B. mentioned that the Senior class was offered San Jose or Los Angeles.  What happens to those who live in the middle?  I'll worry about that in about twelve weeks.  

Hoping this week goes by fast.  I'm only working three days this week.  Thank you Columbus Day and doctors appointments.  Week Six here we come.  

Week 4 Done (Day 20 of 130)

It's hard to believe that Week 4 has come and gone.  Time has never moved so fast.  The girls and I definitely have a routine done during the week.  And when B. comes home on Fridays, it is the fastest 48 hours.   Hardly enough time to spend with each other.

B. says the yelling is still a daily, if not hourly occurrence.  The days are still super long.  PT days usually require a 0320 wake up time and they usually get back to their rooms past 2000 hours.  B.'s best friend is 5 Hour Energy drinks.  He usually has to drink one on PT days to get through the entire day.  I went to Business Costco to pick up two boxes for him.  It's definitely cheaper than paying $2.50 at the Academy vending machines. 

B. started EVOC on Friday and he loved it.  Who gets to drive 65 mph backwards? He is definitely looking forward to spending more time on EVOC and ready to hit the range in a few weeks. 

B. is restricted again this Wednesday, so we won't be heading up there yet.  He thinks it might be a few more weeks before we get to have dinner as a family on Wednesdays.

I wish I had more to share, I'm so happy and proud that B.has made it through the first four weeks.  It still get harder and tougher from here, but the first four weeks tests a lot of cadets.  I believe they have lost six cadets so far, one due to injury.  Onto Week 5.