Ranger School, Illness, and More

So, so sorry that we haven't updated in a while...it has been a crazy couple of weeks! I am finally posting thanks to Robin's encouragement (thanks for thinking about us, Robin!). So, for those of you that don't know, Josh is home. We have had such mixed emotions about him being home. Of course we are ecstatically happy to have him home, but we hate to see how disappointed he is about not making it through Ranger School this time. He has absolutely no reason to be disappointed in himself because he actually did fantastic down there! It was his body that failed him. He actually got "medically dropped" for a heat injury. Basically his body over-heated, and his entire body cramped up on him. Once they got his core temperature down, he thought maybe they would send him back to his class since he had passed everything during the first week, but since he was a heat-related injury, they wouldn't let him join back in and risk it happening again, as it will only get hotter down in the GA sun. They gave him a "golden ticket" so he can go back to any class he wants, the only restriction being he has to wait until the winter months (October-April). So now we're not sure if Josh will get to go back and try again or not, since his brigade is set to deploy in the November-January time frame. Since he has to wait until October, that would mean an added 2 months to an already 12-month-long deployment, and we don't want to make that separation time any longer than it already is....so, we'll see! We prayed the Lord's Will be done, and we know that we don't always understand His perfect plan for us, but this obviously happened for a reason! We just trust in Him, and know that this was part of His plan for us.

So, since Josh has been home, he was able to take some leave and we went back to Cincinnati for a bit to visit our families. While we were home our brand new niece, Ellie Grace, made her debut into the world! Congratulations Brandi, Chris, and Gabrielle! She is a beautiful addition to their wonderful family!

And speaking of babies, our friends, Teresa and Matt, also welcomed a baby (#4) into their family! The beautiful Emma Michelle entered the world on Saturday, May 29th! Congratulations! We can't wait to meet her!

While we were in Cincy, poor Ty got sick with a double ear infection and a chest infection! When we got back home he also somehow ended up with pink eye, in both eyes, on top of it all! He has been miserable for about a week and a half now, and we are ready for the little guy to be healthy again! Poor Caellum somehow caught pink eye from his brother too! So, it has been a crazy couple of weeks full of doctors visits and lots of medicine! Thankfully Josh was home to help me through all the illness...don't know how I would have dealt with it all without him!

Despite Ty getting sick, we had a great visit in Cincy. Now we are trying to get back into the swing of things at home. We are glad to have Josh home with us, and will cherish our time together until he has to leave again (most likely in August for NTC...National Training Center, to gear up for their upcoming deployment).

Here are some pics of our time in Cincy and more:

Gabrielle and Caellum (she just can't get enough of holding him!)


Ty riding the John Deere with Papaw

Josh pulling Ty and Gabrielle

This hat describes Ty perfectly!

Mommy taking Caellum swimming for the first time! He didn't like the freezing cold water much, can you tell?

Look at those baby blues!

"Mr. Hollywood" in his shades!

Caellum napping with Pawpaw

Gabrielle and her new baby sister, Ellie!

Welcome to the world, Ellie! Isn't she gorgeous?

Ty and Gabrielle singing

Caellum rolling over