Does the waiting part ever get any easier? I've done possibly everything under the sun to occupy my mind, but nothing helps.

It only gets easier once you resign yourself to the fact that you don't have any choice about it and that obsessing about it isn't going to make time go faster. Once you cross that hurdle, then it does get easier and you adapt to waiting. Once you accept it, then you find other things to occupy your time and your mind. It can actually be an enriching experience because you get to know yourself better, you discover new interests and hobbies, and you gain the satisfaction of knowing that you really can get through a tough situation. The new hobbies and interests are a bonus for your loved one, too, because you have so much of interest to write to them to take their mind off the fact that they can't do a lot of things. It helps keep them involved and helps them to enjoy your activities vicariously.

Honestly, I can't take on any new hobbies at this time. I work a zillion hours a week, cheerleading practice 3 nights a week, games 2 nights a week, Volunteer on the weekends to who ever needs me. 2 kids, one 10, the other 3 and supper everynight. I've got a large load, maybe I just need to lighten it and actually sit down and come to terms with all of this stuff?

MJ - I don't know if being idle would help. At first when my husband went in, i wouldn't sleep at night. I felt like i needed to DO SOMETHING to help, or to get him home. I felt like going to sleep was resigning myself to the fact that there was nothing I could do - and like i was letting him down. Logically I knew, but my mind just wouldn't let me STOP! I spend like every idle second writing my husband, and it's like being with him. Other than those downtimes, I stay as busy as possible, write til i go to sleep, write when i wake up. It's only been 4 months - it hit me the other day that i'm "used to it." I didn't WANT to get used to it, i wanted him home! Is it easier? No, and it still sucks, but you do accept it after a while.
*hugs*

My fiance has only been in there for 2 months. The first month was definitely the worst. Now, I have gotten kind of used to him being in there, but I still feel the pain that I have 2 years and 8 months of him not being right here with me left. I just have to keep telling myself that it's not always going to be like this. There will be a happy ending.