An extra pair of hands...

Travis has been home since the 4th of February and sadly, he leaves on the 15th...I absolutely love having him home...I rarely change a poopie diaper and that is just the beginning. Since he has been home, we have managed to get Isaiah's room put together. He stripped all of the wallpaper in our master bath so we can paint. He cleaned the yards. Cleaned up the garage so we can park BOTH cars inside of it. Helped organize our spare room to make it "visitor" ready, hint hint. But above all...HE'S HOME!!

I had no idea what he signed up for last spring when he called me and said,"hey, there is a slot available, we'd be able to go back to NM." Well, OKAY...closer to home should be good, right? Little did I know we'd be closer to my family but he would be miles away for whats going on almost a year. Each day I try to wake up and be strong. I always keep in mind every military spouse that has their significant other deployed to various parts of the world. I also think about my friends who have triplets, yes TRIPLETS, who's husband works overseas for six weeks at a time. There are days I get down, but I try to remember that he is so happy doing what he is doing but in no way does he want to be doing it away from us. He would much rather be home with us but for the time being he cannot. So I just have to keep on keeping on.

I have a deep respect for single parents, how do they do it alone? Well, I guess if thats the only way you've ever known then it makes sense and you do what you need to do. Sometimes when he returns we have a day or two of "adjustment" time, I know thats the way I do it, but daddy is home now, so let him do it his way...do you know how hard that is for a LEO. I'm still amazed what an extra pair of hands can help me accomplish and I appreciate him each and every second we are together...sappy I know but thats just how it is.

Whats ahead for 2009

We are already five days into it...Can you believe Isaiah will be 10 months old tomorrow...YIKES!!! Still no teeth, but I feel something in there...not walking but can stand alone but hasn't ventured to take a step.

This year Travis will be getting into serious shape, as if he is out of shape, but serious, Ironman shape...Ironman Arizona, November 22, 2009, Tempe, Arizona. Yes, another Ironman! As crazy as I think he may be, he is also very inspiring. He is a prime example of if you put your mind to it YOU CAN DO IT! So, I have also decided to compete in a few triathlons but not an Ironman. IF, and only IF i ever actually do one, I will wait until my 40th birthday...why?...because turning 40 will be huge and completing an Ironman will be just as huge. But who knows, it was fun jumping out of a plane for my 30th birthday, its definitely not as painful as an Ironman would be but I have a few years to decide that.

So my thoughts are, if I blog about a goal I have and make it public then I really don't have a way of backing out...Not that anyone would ask me about it but it as goals go for 2009 I do have the yearly recurring goal of weight but someone made a good point, I don't want to lose weight because if its lost does that mean I will have to find it again? So I'm just looking into getting into great, healthly, all around shape. If I lose some inches here and/or there I won't look for them, I just won't miss them at all.

More importantly getting into triathlons has been an adventure and it is something Travis and I can do together. I know I'm not going to a pro at it, but the key is actually doing them. I had a great time in Arizona and I am looking forward to what this year may bring. I can now look at improving my times...it should be a good time and if i'm not having fun, then i'm not doing it anymore...so guess we'll just have to see whats in store for 2009.

Good Bye 2008, Hello 2009

WOW...it's already 2009? Where does the time go? Looking back on 2008 it was a great year for us and we are looking forward to 2009.
Last New Years Eve, we were in Minot, I was pregnant and we stayed up till midnight to ring in the New Year with sparkling cider. This year we are betting on whether or not we actually can stay up that long but we did buy Champagne just in case.

March 6, 2008 our lives changed forever and it was no longer just about Travis and I but Isaiah too. And they weren't kidding when we were told, time flies, and he'll grow up so fast. I still cannot believe that he is almost 10 months old. The boy has been to about 20 states and 18 flights...oh yes, we have earned our 16th flight credit with Southwest Airlines so the next one is a freebie...but we can't forget his first flight with Northwest when he was just 3 months old.

Then sometime in April I got a call from Travis saying there is a slot open to for his new airplane and it would move us from Minot to Clovis, NM. He asked my input but how could I say no, his voice had such a fire and inspiration to it that I could not say no. So end of June, they packed us up and we moved. Little did we know that Travis would be changed to a different plane and he would end up being in Vegas a lot longer than we anticipated. But in that time we bought a house in Clovis and as of writing this, we are ALMOST settled.

Of course we cannot forget Election Day 2008. I never really expressed my opinion one way or the other, out loud. But I was happy with the outcome. Now I just hope that people will give Obama a chance and not be so quick to judge when CHANGE does not happen as quickly as they want. But I do have to thank Sarah Palin for some great Saturday Night material and the great phrase of "I can see Russia from my house". Well, Sarah, I can do ya one better "I can see Texas from MY house".


As 2008 comes to a close we have had a great year and thanks to Facebook, we have reconnected with those we lost track of over the years. We are excited for 2009 and what it may have in store for this Hinkle Family.

He's home!!! Well, almost

So Isaiah and I get to venture to the "big city" of Lubbock to pick up Travis at the airport. I'm so excited to have him HOME!! He'll finally get to see his very own house. He's only made three house payments already without seeing it? He will have a long day of travels. He leaves Las Vegas at 6am pacific time and doesn't get into Lubbock till 2pm central time. Good ol' AF making those flight arrangements. He will have a two hour layover in Dallas, then on to Lubbock. I just hope it's on time. I also hope I can get some sleep...But its kind of like Christmas morning or the first day of school. I'm nervous/excited for a couple reasons, 1. I don't want to over sleep. If I did that, I'll be racing around in the morning, getting Isaiah dressed and fed. I also have to take the dogs to their house (I'm pet sitting) 2. I just want him HOME!!! So i'm super excited!! I want him to walk in and breathe a sigh of relief, HOME...no longer having to live out of a suitcase! Let's get our renovation ON! Beware old school wallpaper, carpet in the bathroom, etc...The "honey do" list is being compiled! Welcome HOME my love!!

The mind can play tricks...

One thing I truly hate about Travis being in Las Vegas...is that Travis is in Las Vegas. Does your mind ever play tricks on you when you sleep by yourself? Do you hear noises that you haven't heard before? What was that? OMG, someone is coming into the house...no, no they are not, your mind is playing evil tricks and it's not nice.

I am recently having issues sleeping. I never had issues before but when we moved into this house, a new house, new noises, new neighborhood, new town, etc...When the heater kicks on there are strange sounds that I hear. I should be used to it, but I'm not. Yes, everything is locked up but having been a Probation-Parole Officer in my previous life ;O) I always tend to think the worst of people. And of course this is also the girl that when she was little a tree branch used to rub against my wall at home and I was convinced someone was trying to get in my window. After many nights sleeping in my parents room, my dad cut the branch and the noise disappeared.

I live in a small town, no one is going to bother us? Yea and i'm sure no one thought 6 inmates would escape from the jail in this small town, but they did, of course they were caught, at least I believe 5 were caught possibly 4, but even though its a small town, bad things can happen. So whats the cure?

How do I just go to bed? How can I quit thinking that in the middle of the night what if someone gets in and tries to hurt Isaiah, or take him? My mind is racing and I want it to stop. I want to get a good nights sleep. Yes, I know I have a 9 month old and thats not always possible, but for us it kind of is. He sleeps pretty good and I am missing sleep.

I know I should be tough and I should be use to this by now, but I'm not and I have to admit, I hate it!

The results are in...

November 27, 2008 I competed in my first sprint triathlon. I trained for it but I didn't think I really TRAINED for it. It had rained all night and we were anticipating it raining during the race. It stopped raining just in time for the race but it made part of the course so muddy that the course was shortened to a mile and a half run instead of two miles. I was nervous.

Travis was there taking care of Isaiah and Lukas my nephew. Also, my nephew Levi brought his boys, Evan and Gino to cheer us on as well. The youth division started first and my nephew Mateo started in that group. He is so fast. I just watched in wonder as he ran, biked and swam. I was able to take pictures but the swim, he was so fast by the time I got to the pool he was done. Then the men started, my brother Matt was in that group. I saw him transition to the bike and then the women started.

Cindy and I lined up, wished eachother luck and before I knew she was off and running. No way was I going to catch her but I wasn't doing it to race her, I was doing it to see if I could even do it. So I found a pace and stuck with it. I transitioned to the bike and was off on a twelve mile journey, just hoping that I wouldn't crash. During one of the legs, my brother passed me on his last loop. By the the third lap on the bike I was really into it, I felt really good, I was so surprised. As I finished up the bike, I got ready for the swim.

As I made my way to the pool, my legs were like lead, but I still felt good. I hit the water and immediately my legs still worked, just add water? My arms were a different story. I thought it was kinda funny that my legs worked after running and biking but my arms just didn't want to work the way I wanted them too. But somehow I still managed to pass people and I knew if I stopped I would have a hard time starting up again. So I just went for it and before I knew it I was passing more people and then, I was done.

I got out of the pool, crossed the finish line and now I'm a triathlete! 1 1/2 mile run, 12 mile bike, 400 m swim all in 1 hour 11 minutes 57 seconds...having your Ironman husband hug you at the end, PRICELESS!!

The latest...

I cannot believe that it is already November and its half way over. Where has the time gone? Well, we have been pretty busy and I'm not even sure where we left off. We moved into our house but I'm still trying to get organized. I watched Oprah today, why can't they come to my house and organize...doubt they even know where Clovis New Mexico is.

The week of Halloween we went to see Travis in Las Vegas. He and Isaiah carved a pumpkin and Isaiah just loved the piece of pumpkin he was able to gnaw on. Then while we are at dinner one night we were able to meet Tony Schumacher, he is a top fuel drag racer. He drives the Army car...http://www.nhra.com/drivers/driver.asp?driverid=17&CatCd=1 Travis noticed him when he walked into the resturant and of course, I had NO clue who he was but he asked an Army Captain that was walking by if we could go meet him. He was so nice. We asked to take a picture and he asked if he could hold Isaiah. Travis was super excited about meeting him and getting a picture with him holding Isaiah.

Isaiah and I then returned back to New Mexico. Before leaving for Las Vegas I was rear ended in Santa Fe. We were okay but my car had a slight dent. I think the truck that hit me had more damage then my tough Subaru. I yielded for a bicyclist and the truck behind me, well, he wasn't paying attention. But we got it fixed and returned to Clovis.

Since our return to Clovis I've been training for the triathlon that I am supposed to do in Arizona for Thanksgiving. I know now that I can run 2 miles, I can bike 13 miles, and I can swim 400 yards but can I do them one right after the other, ON THE SAME DAY?? So on November 27th, 2008, I will race in the Southwest Valley Regional YMCA Youth, Adult & Relay Sprint Triathlon/Duathlon along with my brother Matt, my sister-in-law Cindy and their 9 year old Mateo will be competing in the Youth TRI...Yes, you read that right, a YOUTH TRI, he is awesome!

I'm just hoping to finish, not looking to win but survive!! It's my first one and I figured I would have A LOT to be thankful for if I just finished. And of course I think that would give me permission to have as much as I would like to eat later that day.