needing a hug

It was a very emotional reunion needless to say. Dan dropped me off so I could have the first huggs & tears. I'm so glad he drove the 'pick up circle' at the airport!! As soon as I saw her the tears started to come. Dang it, I was trying really hard to not be all teary eyed but I just couldn't help it. She pretty much dropped that bag and ran to me for the most precious hug! I won't mention how she just about broke herself in half as she TRIPPED over it first! It felt so good to hug her, feel her and smell her...you smeller's out there get this! All I could do is breathe her in and hold her. Then the sweetest words came from her mouth, the most genuine and gentle "Mama, I've missed you so much". Those are the best words every Mother wants to hear from their gone away college student. I tell you, all my girls are so different...Jessica is just so loving and tender. She's the one who always knows when I'm down with "Mama you need a hug"...I LOVE that!!

Once we finished up all the hugging we headed out to the car where she practically tore the door off the suburban to hug Dad. So sweet. This has been some of the very best therapy for him, you know, having his oldest baby girl home to love on. We took her to the usual pick someone up at the airport place for lunch (Marie Calendar's), then headed home to greet the kids afterschool. Lyndsie had made it very clear she did not want Jessica to pick her up from school because she had imagined this very dramatic reunion. And that it was!

Kyle was the first one home. He had the biggest SMILE on his face when he saw Jessica! Oh my gosh...she always calls him 'baby', like "hi baby" and he soaks it all up. They hugged for sometime. The look on his face is priceless. This is the sister he best gets along with. She pays the most attention to, hangs out with, loves on and tells him how it is if he's misbehaving. They truly have a special bond.

Lyndsie ran in the door next. I would never have imagined that these two would ever look so angelic together. That look on Lyndsie's face is well, so pure. Jess and Lyndsie have really bonded the last few months and have discovered they are so much more alike than they ever thought. They talk on the phone constantly! Lyndsie really looks up to her big sister and has found a lasting bond.

Then the silly girl came in with her high pitched voice calling out and trying to get in on all the loving. They pretty much tackled Jess down on the couch to form a sister pile. I didn't think they were ever gonna let go! Krystina and Jess have always had a close bond, but Krystina has missed Jess so much that I think it hurts her. She finds it hard to talk to her a lot on the phone-almost like it hurts more because she misses her so much. I get that. Luckily, they can pick up where they left off as close sisters do. There is so much giggling and love in the house right now. After all the hugs, the girls started to compare their sizes...oh my! ALL my girls are the same size, almost to a tee, except Lyndsie is long duck dong (tall). Jess lost some weight (she looks great) due to lack of eating and being busy at school. It's funny to me that they are all sharing clothes again and that hasn't happened since they were wee bits!!

Today, you know we've got a lot of mess going on in the house due to renovations...two weeks and counting. You know when you get to the point that you're just ready to be done with it all? I pretty much reached that today. The tile saw was going, the tv was blaring and there was just 'STUFF' everywhere! As I started to pick up the messy kid stuff which most of was Jessica's, she gently reminded me that next week she will be back at school and that I will miss seeing her stuff laying around. You know, she's right. As much as I don't want to admit it, I truly miss seeing her things where ever they lay, or pile up. At that moment, all I could do is just sit down, relax and try again to soak her up while she's home. That's when my sweet girl asked "Mama, do you need a hug"?