MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich. -- A Madison Heights mother returned from a 10-month tour of duty with the Navy in Kuwait into the arms of her second grade son Wednesday.

Local 4 cameras captured the tearful reunion at Edmonson Elementary School between Kelly Hartbarger and her son, Hunter, when Hartbarger surprised Hunter's class.

Hartbarger said the trip back home was a long one.

"My flight left Dec. 5. I was stuck on the plane for approximately four hours before it even took off," she said. "Then a 15, 16 hour flight to Norfolk, Va., and I've spent the last three days in Norfolk doing out-processing and just anxiously waiting to get home to my babies."

Hunter said when he first saw his mom come into the classroom he didn't believe what he was seeing.

"I thought, 'this can't be happening, I'm in heaven," he said. "I said in my dream once that all I want for Christmas is my mom back home."

Hartbarger, a medic for the Navy, said leaving her family for duty 10 months ago was "the hardest thing" she's ever done.

"I wanted to surprise them when I got home, and it's worked," Hartbarger said.

The two said the talked as much as they could via e-mail and a Web camera during the 10-month long separation.

When asked what he had missed the most during his mother's absence, Hunter said, "I missed hugging her."

Hartbarger thanked the classroom for the letters they had sent her, telling the children she had put them up in her room and looked at them every day.

Hunter was allowed to leave school for the day to go Christmas tree shopping with his family.

Hartbarger's 16-year-old daughter, Briana, was surprised earlier in the day at her school.