Week 6

 

We just finished up week 6. As you all are reading this Joe is making a 14.5 hour plane ride overseas. He will get into Al Udeid air base in Qatar at 4pm Monday (my time) then he will wait 1-3 days there until they are ready to fly them into their destination.  His IPad is loaded with shows and movies to help the time pass quicker.  Normally when they fly overseas they are packed into the plane like sardines sitting shoulder to shoulder but this go around they got lucky and are taking a Boeing 767.  It will make for a better trip and hopefully the guys and gals will be able to rest. 

 

You all don't know this but I had the opportunity to fly to New Jersey and spend 3 days with Joe BUT that didn't happen.  What happened instead?  Sandy!  Oh Sandy.  Sandy tore up the East Coast, shut down airports and Joe was in the middle of it.  He makes a joke of it saying mother nature hates him because back in August of 2005 he was in/around the area that Katrina hit while trying to make it home for his own WEDDING.  In October of 2006 he was in Hawaii when a 6.7 and a 5.8 magnitude earthquake hit.  Moral of the story: Don't travel with Joe because natural disasters follow him. The end.

 

 

We have had a busy couple of weeks.  Halloween, trick or treating, fall festivals. Big thank you to the girls Grandma and Grandpa for keeping them overnight so I could enjoy an evening to myself.  It was a very productive day as I got 85% of my Christmas shopping completed. 

 

 

Thank you everyone for your continued thoughts and prayers. We have only scratched the surface of this deployment.  There is still a long time to go.  Even with the busy holidays approaching please don't forget about our military men and woman.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy your family~

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                       

Week 4

One month has come and gone.  For the most part this month has flown by.  I blinked and 4 weeks passed by.  I really really hope the remaining months pass just as quickly.  For all those wondering, Joe is doing well. He is still in the states completing a combat skills training course (CST) before he heads overseas.  He does not enjoy the food selections seeing as most nights they serve fish with rice.  He text's me nightly dinner pictures and 5 out of the 7 nights it's fish and rice.  Luckily he has a pretty awesome wife who has mailed him several goodie boxes.

 

While at CST they practice anything from rifle and pistol marksmanship (he was the number 3 shooter in the rifle category and the number 2 shooter in the pistol category out of 89), Combat Life Saver training where he learns how to treat casualties by starting IV's, treating leg, arm, head lacerations, inserting NPA's (Nasopharyngeal Airway's), administering chest decompression needles and applying tourniquets for arm and leg amputations, learning how to maintain conduct after capture and how to survive in a POW (Prisoner of War) situation, training with MRAP vehicles and how to survive and escape vehicle rollovers.  

  

He has also had training on how to use the radio's in the vehicles along with a cool system that allows others to see his vehicle locations and status'. He said it's pretty neat stuff that the Air Force never gets to do.  He starts Counter-IED (Improvised Explosive Device) training along with Land Navigation training. He'll finish the 30 day training up with a 3 day "pack out" to a practice FOB (Forward Operating Base) where they will combine all the training that they have received into the last 3 days.

Enjoy your family~

Week 3

Three weeks.  Holy cow.  I have made it 21 days. The girls are adjusting well.  They talk with Joe every night and most nights they are too busy for him.  They run in to say their hello's and I love you's then run off to resume playing fighting. This week has flown by.  It has been the fastest week yet which is good because this has also been the week that I have really started missing Joe.  I was trying to make it a full month before I started badly missing him but I fell a little short.  Before he left he told me that the YMCA offers free membership to the spouses of deployed members.  Even though my relationship with working out is a loathe/loathe relationship, I decided to sign up at the gym. Mom called frequently to tell me to sign up.  She knew I wouldn't do it otherwise.  Motivation.  That's my middle name.  Maybe I'll even lose a pound or 20.


Highlights of my week:

EVERYONE WAS HEALTHY!  I didn't have to pry any mouths open this week in order for anyone to take their antibiotics.  There was no bribing going on, no asking over and over to please open their mouth to take the disgusting tasting medicine.  Nothing, and it was nice. 

Back in May, for Mothers Day the girls bought be a facial GC and I finally used it this week.  It was just what I needed. 

Sunday, my mom and I took the girls to the pumpkin patch.  The girls rode their first ever camel, fed goats (or doggies as Emma called them) and rode on a hay ride.  They had a great time walking around the mazes and a not so great time posing for pictures.  I got a few good shots. 

                                                                      


Lows of my week:  My girls have been bickering and arguing a lot.  Both of them are guilty of egging the other one and just doing things that they KNOW irritates the other.  They bicker over silly things.  Ava is singing and Emma yells at her and tells her to stop over and over. Ava yells at Emma when Emma is not playing pretend the correct way or when she wants to stop playing pretend. 

Some idiot in my neighborhood must have the wrong dates on his calendar because last I heard the 4th of July was on the FOURTH OF JULY and not on October 12 and 13th. 10pm and BOOM BOOM POP POP and then BOOM BOOM Emma is awake.  And scared.  Thank you idiot neighbor.
 I dont know, maybe I'm wrong, maybe I missed the "We're moving the celebration of America's freedom" memo? 





Here's to a great week # 4






Enjoy your family~

Week 1

One week down and let me tell you that I'm surviving.  We have been able to talk to daddy each night and he even took part in the girls bedtime reading one evening via video chat.  Looking at my girls I see strong beautiful little ladies.  I notice that they are trying harder to obey me, play nicer and have patience with one another.  It's amazing how I need them around.  I don't want to be away from them.  I need their noise.  I need their hugs.  I need their constant chattering.  They give me strength and I don't see myself being away from them any time soon.  We are a package deal.  The three musketeers.  Sure, there will be days that I will need a break but for right now they are sticking with me.  They are my constant and I am theirs.  

The highlights of my week:  Being supported by my amazing parents, aunt and uncle and my sister and brother-in-law.  I got many many texts from extended family and it meant the world to me.  Friends called and extended their offer to help in any way that I may need. 

Talking to Joe each evening was also a highlight.  It was nice to see him and talk about his day. 

Ordering and receiving our "Elf on the Shelf" and seeing my girls reaction when they opened the box.  We are looking forward to the holidays to see just where Si the elf will show up.  Yes, his name is Si as in Uncle Si off of duck dynasty.  (side note: that is the funniest show ever... guilty pleasure for sure)

Watching the OSU game.  It was somewhat comforting and left me with a sense of normalcy that I'm used to.  It made me feel closer to Joe in a weird way.  I was able to text him updates and believe it or not it was a good game that kept my attention even though I know nothing about football. 


The lows of my week:  The obvious: Leaving Joe.

Listening to Ava cry after going to bed Sunday night because she missed her dad.

Taking Ava to the doctor Friday only to find out that she has Strep throat.  (Poor A has had a bad week)


Here's to week # 2.  I know it will be a good week. 







Enjoy your family~

I think I can.... I think I can.... I think I can...

 

The beginning stages of deployment packing has started

One of those weeks

When I married Joe I knew what I was getting into.  I knew that because of his job there would be deployments.  I have a few under my belt now but it never gets any easier.  Up until now he has been lucky enough to not have to go on a LONG deployment.  6-8 week deployments I am used to.  Been there, done that.  Ava and Emma were young enough to not really understand why he was gone.  Now they are old enough and on top of that this will be his longest deployment he has been on.  If I think about it too much my brain starts racing and that is never good.  As the days keep coming and going I am getting more and more sad.  It's hard to believe that this deployment is THAT close.  I want the days to stop moving.  I want to keep my family all under one roof.  I am thankful for what he does and I am honored to be his military wife but again, it still doesn't make this any easier. 


I am dreading the night when he grabs his bags and starts packing.
I am dreading seeing the piles and piles of clothes laying on the bed waiting to be packed away.
I am dreading watching him pack the car.
I am dreading the drive there and back from dropping him off.
I am dreading that one last lingering hug and kiss.
Him kissing A & E goodbye.
Once the girls truly understand and realize how long it will be until they see him again. 
Laying in bed at night and missing just reaching over and being able to touch him.
Not seeing him at Thanksgiving.
Not seeing him at Christmas. 
Just not having him home in general.


 I'm having one of those weeks..... and that's ok.  I cant be strong 100% of the time.  Please just do me a favor.  Hug your husband tonight.  Hug your wife tonight.  Be thankful for them.  Be thankful that they don't have to be away for 2-6-8-12 months at a time (or more) Kiss them.  Love them.  Enjoy them.  Enjoy your family ~

Going Crazy: Party of one.

My girls have been driving me batty for a couple weeks now.  Their constant fighting, arguing, yelling and crying is honestly starting to due me in.  Girls, such drama.  Friday they were grounded from their baby dolls, barbies and playing pretend/make-believe.  They were not allowed to even touch a baby doll or barbie. 

School starts this week.  Hallelujah.  Oh, I mean I'm really sad about that. 

Hopefully the girls will figure out how to stop bickering and getting under each others skin soon because my back-up is leaving and it will be just me.  Me.  Right now, that seems daunting. 

August 1, 2012

Its August 1.

I just wish the days would stop moving forward.  With each passing day this deployment is getting closer and closer and I'm not sure how I feel about it.  I have started the "things to get done before he leaves list" and that is making it more real.

Brought to you courtesy of the red white and blue

Yesterday I took a few hours out of my day to bake some cookies for a gentleman who is overseas.  He specifically asked for cookies and I enjoyed making him 5 dozen. Also in his goodie box that he requested and needed: Door-knob because there is not one on his room door, Frisbee and two containers of Mio liquid to flavor his water bottles. My total for shipping the box was $33 and my total for the entire box was $45.  

Goodie boxes are important to the troops.  They lift their spirits and it's a little reminder of "back home."  If you have never shipped anything overseas I urge you to please do it at least once.  Even if all you do is write them a Thank you card or have your kids draw them pictures.  The men and woman over there appreciate anything. Items to consider for your goodie box are chapstick, baby wipes, beef jerky, packaged or homemade cookies,  phone cards, Itunes gift cards, razors, toothpaste, eye drops, drink mix singles to place inside their water bottles, popcorn, nuts, shoe insole's, cotton balls, feminine hygiene products, cough drops, vitamins, board games, hand held games, batteries, Nerf football... the list is endless.  If you need any names of people to send your box too I know some names or you could go through Blue Star Mothers.


Enjoy your families~ Support our troops~