Heath is Home

Team Westcott

Daddy arrives

You'll have to excuse my amateur video shooting abilities.......and watch this video sideways. It was so fun to watch to kids spot Heath as he came out of the baggage claim at the airport. After 36 hours of flying Heath was holding up remarkably well. He spent his first day or two getting reacquainted with jet lag and enjoying things he was not able to have for the past 7 months IE. beer (Kuwait is a dry country). He says he is experiencing some unexpected "Culture Shock". He is surprised that there are dishes to do, someone else doesn't do your laundry and you have to pay for your meals verses scanning his ID as payment at the galley. Additionally, Okinawa looks very green, there are kids around all the time that are attached to his hip and he is used to sleeping in a bunk bed in open bay barracks.....On the plus side he says that the humidity in Okinawa is actually easier to tolerate than the average daily temperature of 120F in Arifjan. All in all the adjustment has been very smooth and he is enjoying being back home.

The Man is coming home.....

Yes, yes....it is official. After serving his country for the past 7 months my sweetie, The Man of the House, and father /husband extraordinaire is headed back to Okinawa. Just to make his trip home interesting he will fly west (instead of east which would be faster) through Dulles, Chicago, Narita and then back to this little speck in the ocean we call home. We are so excited to have him home. It will be great to have my partner back. I was talking with some good friends I have met since Heath left about our life in general. It's funny because they have never met Heath and only know me and the kids. Thankfully Heath presents well and I am able to take him out in public so. I am sure what these friends are really curious about is what kind of man is married to their "crazy friend Salley" (Ha ha ha ha). I digress.......anyway, I am proud of Heath and I know that he did a great job for the Navy. It will be awesome to be a family again.

PS- Check out Heath getting Lieutenant Dan's (Gary Sinise's) autograph.........

Our baby cats.........

Aren't they the sweetest cats you have EVER seen? Sushi (siamese) sleeps on top of the fax/copier while I work or when she is hiding from something. Sukoshi has taken to spending his nights outside and sleeping during the day. The cats love to groom each other, wrestle and play hide and seek. We said we'd never have to cats again.......Oh well

Sweet Sweet Harwood

I am fairly sure that anyone that knows the Westcott Family (circa January 1996) knows Harwood. We got Harwood when we were stationed in 29 Palms at the pound. We had another dog at the time named Diva who needed a companion. Heath decided to choose Harwood because he was very mellow and didn't freak out when he was walking through looking at dogs. Heath changed his name from Wyatt to Harwood in honorof a particularly "Bad Ass" Navy Seal named Pat Harwood. As it turns out Harwood couldn't have been more of a teddy bear though this is not to say that 75 lbs. of growling, teeth bearing dog is not intimidating. Harwood has been the pinnacle of what we think "Mans best Friend" should be. Loyal, sweet and easy to be around.

Lately Harwood's health has been failing him. He has had a slow growing tumor on his left hip since about mid 2006. We had it removed in 2/07 and it is now back and it's much larger. Last Friday I had a big scare. Harwood was vomiting blood and I took him to the vet. The Vet thought that perhaps he had eaten something poisonous due to his very abnormal blood tests. The Vet also thought that many of his problems are related to his cancer which has most likely metastasized (abdomen and liver). Gracie and I sat in the Vet's room and boo-hooed for awhile and decided that we would talk to Heath before we proceeded. I really didn't want to have to put Harwood to sleep before Heath could give him another hug.

I don't know what got into this dog, however, over the weekend he began to rally. No more vomiting, he wants to go on his walks, and he is eating and drinking. He is bright eyed and he looks happy. I am hoping he stays this way until Heath gets home next week. I know that Harwood in not long for this world, but I am sure grateful at the turn of events.

Due to the size of the Harwood Wyatt Westcott Fan Club I will keep you all updated on his progress. Any and all good vibes, prayers and spiritual doggy offerings are much appreciated.

Oh my.....

There must be something in the water here on Okinawa.....Garth informed me that he had armpit hair and Grace has miraculously grown a mustache.........