My Brother is Home

My brother is home from Iraq. Not for good (yet) but just for a visit. He has to go back August 1, 2007.

Anthony and I went to pick him up on Friday, July 6th at JFK. Joseph stayed home from his summer program and we had LilyRose with us also. My brother only met LilyRose for a few hours when we got home because he left the day after we got home from China. I really didn't sleep the night before, I was so excited. Ralph and I are the typical brother and sister. We get along but we also don't get along, but I couldn't wait to see him. We got to the airport way to early and then we were in the wrong terminal and had to walk to the other side of the airport. LilyRose got carriage sickness. lol Up the hill, down the hill. We finally find where we are suppose to be and wouldn't you know it, the flight is delayed. So we got coffee and Joseph got his Wrestling magazine and LilyRose got crackers and we were good to wait. We really didn't have to wait that long and it gave me time to calm down. When he walked through the doors, I started to scream. Couldn't help myself, didn't realize I missed him that much. He looked up at me and just smiled and laughed. Now of course everyone is looking at us and I'm crying like an ass and trying to take pictures and the stupid camera froze up on me. Boy was I pissed. I didn't know it at the time but Anthony was suppose to be video taping and he got the floor and Ralph's shoes and the back of my head. I was so mad. But I did manage to get some very good video of him and my mother. Anyway, my son was so happy to have his uncle/godfather home. Joseph adores Ralph. It was really funny seeing LilyRose looking up at him. Ralph was loving her. So we get on our way to go home and I think my brother was nervous seeing my mother. I called her to let her know we were close and when we pulled up I jumped out first so I could video tape it and my mother just kept saying his name over and over. She was crying so hard that I don't think she really saw him the first 15 minutes. My brother was all choked up just like the rest of us. After she calmed down she asked him to take out the garbage. Thank god I still had the camera on, because no one would believe it. We were hysterical. So there's Ralph, home one hour from Iraq and he's taking out the trash. PRICELESS

Then we took Ralph home to see his kids. Now, I haven't seen my oldest niece in almost 3 years. My younger niece I saw a handful of times in 3 years. That's a whole other story. So i have my camera ready to catch the homecoming but my younger niece flew out of the house so fast that I missed it. But I have to say I will never forget her face. She cried and was holding onto him so tight that you could see my brother trying to catch his breath. Then my older niece came out and it was very touching. No one said anything to me at all and that was ok. The girls had never seen LilyRose so I told Joseph to take her out of the truck so that they could meet her. We left Ralph at his house and went home. I took a nap because I was so tired and about an hour later I hear my brother telling me to get up. I came out of my room and the girls were here. I was shocked. Ralph is staying here for his time home. He is divorced and his ex and the girls live in the house. My younger niece Daniella has been here everyday. She even slept here a few times. Joseph is having a ball. Daniella and Joseph always got along great. They are very much alike. Christina is 17 now and has a boyfriend and she does her own thing.
I am just surprised that she has been here so much. I didn't know that it bothered me so much not having them in my life. I am just hoping that when Ralph goes back, that Daniella can still come here to hang out. LilyRose loves her like crazy. I saw my ex-sister-in-law for the first time in 3 years the other day and I took LilyRose over to the car to introduce her. We will never be friends, but I want to be civil so that my nieces can come here whenever they want. It's great having everyone together again. My mother is happy to have all of her grandchildren together.

BTW, LilyRose is doing great. She is picking up lots of words now that the tubes are in and she's loving life. My cousin's baby girl turned 1 years old and they had the pony rides and petting zoo. LilyRose was up close and personal with all the animals. She really loved the pony ride though. Wouldn't you know it, my carmera battery died right when it was her turn. I got 1 pic of her on the pony.