As our troops return from Iraq, some don't get to stay.
About 50 soldiers arrived at the Killeen/Fort Hood Regional Airport today on rest and recuperation leave, but they'll soon head out again for Kuwait.
That's why two couples are making the most out of their short time together.
Kylene has been anxiously awaiting Sgt. Hunter McNamara's return from Iraq, and she's not the only one.
"I've been holding. I've been waiting. I've been waiting to go to the hospital until he got here," said Kylene.
She's been in labor with their first child for several hours but says she just couldn't have one arrival without the other.
"That's not something that he should miss, and I know that a lot of soldiers do miss the birth of their babies, but we're very, very blessed that he did make it in time," she said.
"I'm glad I finally made it. Glad to be home," Sgt. McNamara added.
But he'll only have a few weeks with his newborn son before R & R is over, and he deploys to Kuwait.
"Some wives don't have their husbands back, and we're on a post where almost everybody is home but ours aren't, and it's hard," said Kylene.
So while soldiers are here, they're making each moment count, like Staff Sgt. David Free and wife to be Erika Mattox.
"I came in, and she was going to meet me here at the gate, and I proposed to her," said Free.
"And we're getting married!" exclaimed Mattox.
As their life together starts, Kylene and Hunter are ready for a new life to begin.
"It's our first, so we're very, very excited, and we're just really blessed and lucky," said Kylene before rushing off to the hospital to bring brand new baby Thomas Parker into the world.
He's named after Sgt McNamara's full name, Thomas Hunter.
Video Journalist: Sophia Stamas sstamas@kcentv.com
