I have waited 363 days to make this post.
First off, let me assure you that the end of this deployment was nothing but horrendous. We encountered 100 bazillion delays including DH contracting Malaria 24 hours before he was supposed to fly to Germany.
After 2 weeks of delays and giving up hope that I would ever see DH again, he came home. He arrived *on time* on Sunday at 6:45pm. I saw his plane flying towards us in the distance from the hangar. It was… surreal. Knowing that my husband, who I hadn't seen in 9 consecutive months and had traveled 7,000 miles to make it home, was mere yards away was the most exciting experience.
He was one of the first people off the plane and we saw each other right away. After seeing him, I ran inside the hangar, stood by the stage, and waited as they marched in. He was right in front of me after they marched in. I was so excited I was literally shaking.
When they were released for 15 min, I ran to him and was embraced in the biggest/ most emotional hug of my life. It couldn't have been better.
Reintegration (which consists of the past 4 days) has gone very well. We're not suffocating each other with 24/7 contact, nor are we distancing ourselves from each other. Everything just seems… normal.
In 2 weeks we'll head to NJ and Vegas for block leave :). Can't wait!
