T-209hrs.

Erik and I will be leaving the country in 209 hours. I can't decide if 8.5 days or 209 hours sounds like more time, but I am wishing for just that, more time.

I love my life. I love my job (most days). I love my family. I love my friends. I love our little house. I love my friends' babies. I just love the way things are and I am so content... it feels like the wrong time to up-and-leave. But that's good, right? I have all these things to look forward to when we return.

I am excited about our trip. So very excited as it will be awesome! I'm interested to see how Erik and I work together on our travels and curious to see how we handle the stresses we encounter. I'm looking forward to the uncertainty of endless possibilities.

We don't have too much to do... Well, we have plenty to do, but things are coming along. The house is slowly being packed up. We are figuring out what we still need to purchase for our travels. We're organizing our things for easy accessibility in our packs. Some days I feel I can breathe. I'm a little less certain on other days. But we're surviving and enjoying our time left here as much as possible.

I'm squeezing in as many newborn baby snuggles as I can manage, reveling in the joy and hilarity of my 4-month-old nieces, enjoying a very serious Gus Gus, and eating up the love and attention of my favourite two-year-olds.

I'm sick too. Missed both my day shifts... I won't have to work another of those for six months. Being sick has greatly cut into my small-children time -- we went to Lindsey's for pizza last night and I didn't even get to hold or smooch the girls.

Hoping I get better because I realllllyyy don't want to miss work tomorrow. I love my girls there and need to (need to) say goodbye! Also, the income doesn't hurt.

209 hours folks. That's all!