Today is a Good day!

And after the past 2 week's I 've endured I needed one!  I had my bi-annual (is that right?) Kidney Doc Appointment, things are going great!  But anytime I go see him and they don't use the word transplant is a good visit for me, LOL but this was even better because my Doc downgraded my Renal Disease from Stage 3 (booo) to Stage 2 (yaya!!!!)  Very excited about that, and my labs look fantastic.  But why wouldn't they?  I'm sure I have the most fabulous blood of anyone around?  RIGHT???  So ya  for me and my "hanging in there" Kidney's. 

Now onto some somber stuff, as many of you may know my Squadron 1-61 CAV lost 6 amazing Soldiers on November 29th.  It was a hard smack in the face and seeing and hearing what these surviving families are going through just breaks my heart.  But it also lifts me up so see how us as Spouses can come together to provide support.  And to see how "big Army" as well and the Currahee (that is 4 brigade combat team) come together to take on the task of taking care of everyone.  There was a great article in our Post news paper today in regards to how our AMAZING Rear D is handling these tasks LINK

What are YOU Thankful for?

• chocolate
• pepsi
• great amazing friends
• my rotten, patience trying, loving, snuggling kiddos
• phone calls from far away places
• supportive leadership
• facebook
• christmas music
• musicals
• kareoke
• beer pong

there are many more things to be Thankful for but these are just a small amount of items that I can think of.  I hope after the busy day of preparing a feast and then a day of crazy shopping we all take time out to think, I mean REALLY think about what we are thankful for.  Wayne and I were interviewed earlier this week about spending the Holiday's apart.  And I am Thankful that he is in the Army, allowing us to live this proud life that not to many people will ever get to experience.  Our sacrifice is also a blessing.  In what other lifestyle would you be able to travel around and meet people from all walks of life.  And the pride and patriotism swelling in our hearts is unimaginable.  In closing I'd like to THANK all of you that have come into my life.  

Rusty Old Poket Knife...

do you ever get that "not so fresh feeling"  ha ha nah just kidding!  This is one of my favorite times of the year!  I love the leaves changing color and the cool, crisp air rolling in.  I have said many times how much I love my house and my neighborhood I live in.  The tress all around and my awesome back porch where I often sit and just think.  We are almost 3 months into our deployment and I think we are doing well.  It was a rocky start but we are finally setting into a routine and doing well.  I was sad and happy to have Football and Cheer leading end but I  love not having to rush off to practice and think of a quick dinner for the kids.  We have been spending lots of time outside playing with neighbors, there is nothing I like more than hearing the kiddos running around and playing.  It makes me think back to when I was a kid and would run the neighborhood playing games and climbing trees.  If I tried to climb a tree now I would probably get stuck and they would have to call out the fire department to get me down, hmmm that might be almost worth it to see some "eye candy" ha ha.  With my luck they would send out a dusty ole retired fireman, ha. 

Pumpkin Patches and Dairy Barns!

these 5 days off started with a BANG!  But it was a long weekend full of fun outings, good friends and GREAT times!  Thursday after my kids teacher conferences we jumped in the van with some friends and hit up Cheny's Dairy Barn in Bowling Green.  What a great time!  We did a corn maze, played on a play ground, got some free ice cream, and as an added bonus, as I was chatting up the manager he told us to drive down the road to where the cows are and see the baby calves that were just born.  So we did, and one of the farmhands came out and let the kids bottle feed the calves!  It was truly an amazing experience for them.  The the next day we went to a local pumpkin patch and got our pumpkins and had some more run petting animals and watching a pig race.  Then Friday afternoon I got some surprise visitors at my front door!  My good friend from Fort Jackson, SC came to say hello and spend the weekend here! 

Pink eye, smink eye

UGH.  I have PINK EYE!  it's horrible and I wouldn't wish it on my worse enemy.  Ok maybe that is not true but still it sucks.  I feel like a social periaha, ha!  I try to stay away from public best I can, but c'mon I can only be a hermite for so long.  don't worry I have my handy dandy purel with me at all times to make sure I do not pass on my illness.  When I first thought I had pink eye I thought to myself... "who farted on my pillow"?  but alas a couple people I asked this question to thought I was CRAZY.  But after further research, YES you can get pink eye from fecal matter, so great.  I have poop in my eye.  Seriously?  At this point I am not surprised, ha!  It actually makes sense with the direction my life has headed over this past month, at least I can laugh about it.  so yah.  Pink eye is gross, nasty and painful.  I hope if you've never had it you never get it.

Sometimes you gotta laugh.

One day I will sit down and write all the drama we have been living through this past month. 


But sometimes you just have to step back and laugh.  Laugh at the silliness of even the most dramatic circumstances.  A couple of my friends and I  have adopted a new "battle cry"  BAYONETS ATTACK!  At first the story behind this battle cry is silly, but actually when I sit down and think about it, it's SPEAKS volumes.  bayonets are old skool.  the Army has phased them out and many of the new Soldiers and Spouses aren't quite sure what they are, only us "old battle axes" are familiar with them.  And ATTACK reminds me of the spirit of a New Fresh Army Spouse, ready to ATTACK the Army life and jump in and "do her thing" taking no prisoners!  In my last post I talked about becoming numb to deployments and the ways of the Army and the best thing was to befriend a newbie/first timer.  It really puts things into perspective.  So that battle cry is more significant than originally though.   Speaking of battle cries, lets talk about Battle Buddies.  When Wayne was on the trail (drsgt) that was one of the MOST important factor of Basic Combat Training (BCT)  if a soldier did not have their battle buddy it would equal major trouble.  As an Army Wife we have our own Battle Buddies.  These are friends that stand by when times get rough and no matter what try and see the best of each other.  These battle buddies are amazing people and I you encounter many throughout your Military life.  The best advise I can give is hold these buddies close but also make sure you pay it forward and be someone elses Battle Buddy. 

sometimes you just have a down day

and that is me today.  i feel "out of the loop" with many people in my life.  and i know and hope its just because we are all busy, but as I sit here tonight I couldn't help but feel a tad bit lonely.  I know its just a phase b/c i could not be like this all the time, id go insane, ha ha.  but for me i'm usually up beat and happy go lucky, but sometimes i have a down day.  it did not help that my g-lo had a rough day today and tested every ounce of my patience today.  i know we are still adjusting to wayne being gone, but hmm do we ever really adjust?  ok now i'm on a tangent.

this is our 5th deployment.  yes that's right #5.  and when people hear that they look at me like i'm crazy.  maybe i am?  but it's ok.  it works for me.  at the start of this deployment it felt different.  not like the others.  its hard to explain but i'll do my best.  in the past there was lots of anxiety and last min planning and emotions.  but for some reason that was not here.  maybe because a week before he left our world was turned upside down by some "friends" but i'll save that for another night...  anywho.  D day came and went and i barely batted an eye.  Then a week into our deployment we had our first incident.  it was one of the worst days of my life this far.  and it about knocked me on my ass.  but i've picked myself up and carried on trying ot be strong for my spouses in the troop and my kids.  but now that things have "calmed" down on my end, i cannot help but wonder, how do we do this?  over and over and over?  man we are amazing people.  i used to get asked, "does it get easier"  and at first i said no.  but you know what, it does.  you learn and grown and understand yourself and your spouse more over the years and over time you can become "numb" to the drama of deployments.  but when that happens i suggest you get yourself a "first timer" friend and REMEMBER how hard it was.  it really puts you on the spot.  remembering how your heart hurt everyday you were away from your soldier.  before you were busy with all your "time filling" commitments when it was just YOU and YOUR SOLDIER.  When you were a newlywed fresh out of school moved to a new place with no friends feeling.  I just love this life so much, and love all the people i've met in this wonderful crazy world.  but wow I've really rambled on tonight... thanks for getting this far if you have.  I will wrap it up with this....
We are a rare breed of human, strong, loving, and just plain amazing.  embrace it and embrace each other.

HOOAH!

I must be doing something right?

recently I've come to learn what an impact I've made on other Army Wives.  WOW.  just WOW!  I love what I do and I sometimes think I can be pushy and set in my way (I'm and old skool army wife, it's sad that I just said that)  Anywho.... It just took me by surprise over the years the people I've met and spread the HOOAH to.  I can with out a doubt say that everyone good and bad I've had the pleasure to meet has given me a piece of them as well and I will carry it with me forever. 

Sisterhood

by Debbie Giusti

I am an Army Wife - a member of that sisterhood of woman who have had the courage to watch their men march into battle and the strength to survive until their return. Our sorority knows no rank for we earn our membership with a marriage license, traveling over miles or over nations to begin a new life with our soldier husbands.
Within days we turn a barren echoing building into a home, and though our quarters are inevitably white walled and un-papered, we decorate with the treasures of our travels for we shop the markets of the globe.
Using hammer and nail, we tack our pictures to the wall and our roots to the floor as firmly as if we had lived there a lifetime. We hold our family together by the bootstraps and raise the best of "brats," instilling into them the motto, "Home is togetherness," whether motel, or guesthouse, apartment or duplex.
As Army wives, we soon realize that the only good in "good-bye" is the "hello again." For as salesmen for freedom, our husbands are often on the road, leaving us behind for a week, a month, an assignment. During the separation we guard the home front existing till the homecoming.
Unlike our civilian counterparts, we measure time, not by age, but by tours ~ married at Knox, a baby born at Bliss, a promotion in Missouri. We plant trees and never see them grow tall, work on projects completed long after our departure, and enhance our community for the betterment of those who come after us. We leave a part of ourselves at every stop.
Through experience we have learned to pack a suitcase, a car, or hold baggage and live indefinitely from the contents within; and though our fingers are sore from the patches we have sewn and the silver we have shined, our hearts are always ready to help those around us.
Women of peace, we pray for a world in harmony, for the flag that leads our men into battle will also blanket them in death. Yet we are an optimistic group, thinking of the good and forgetting the bad, cherishing yesterday while anticipating tomorrow.
Never rich by monetary standards, our hearts are overflowing with a wealth of experiences common only to those united by the special tradition of military life. We pass on this legacy to every Army bride, welcoming her with outstretched arms, with love and friendship, from one sister to another sharing in the beauty of our unique, fulfilling Army way of life.

A great weekend!

With these insane couple of days I've had we had an amazing weekend reuniting and catching up with old friends.  Something I love to do!  It was a great weekend with great people.  And just for a moment.  One brief moment I forgot what we will have to do in a couple days.  One of the hardest thing an Army family ever has to do.  But we will get through it and "soldier on" just like we've always done.  I have a great support group here and it's growing every time I meet an amazing Army Sister.  So as I try to make these next few days last forever I want to take time out to remember good times, great friends and look forward to Many Many Many more!
Household 6 OUT!

What do you need it for?

That's a common question, but when I was asked that question today it caught me by surprise....

I went to housing to get an air filter and asked about a weed whacker and if I could borrow one, the guy said yes you can borrow it, what do you need it for? HUH? I stopped for a bit and thought this might be a trick question, but I answered "uh to cut my fence line?" hoping that was the right answer, LOL The maintenance guy asked "you're not gonna cut your whole yard are you?" WHAT? with a weed whacker? WOAH! That is just nuts. I answered again "uh no?" And that was that. Makes you think though, what people will do when they do not have brains in their heads, ha!

Letting Go

life is not fair. I have learned that all to well in these past months. I had to let go of some people who, up until recently, I thought were great friends. People I could count on to give and receive support. Unfortunately that was not the case. And I'm not gonna lie, it hurt like hell. But I guess that's life, and it makes me a stronger person because of it? At least I'm hoping. In my previous post I called myself a person that tries to make the best of every situation, so here I go, trying like mad to do that. I am thankful I still have my true friends that will stand by me and not cower and jump to conclusion. That will talk things through and that will give me the benefit of the doubt rather than blast me, that will KEEP THEIR WORD. And not run scared with things get tough. I guess the moral of this blog is to be thankful for you friends. Because true friends are hard to come by.

I don't get it.

In the wonderful world of the Army Spouse you have 2 groups. First is the HOOAH in your face support our Soldiers and other spouses. They usually try to find the good in this life and help out in anyway you can. Then there is a 2nd group, where they think they are helping but would rather sit and bitch about whatever they can. Now don't get me wrong, everyone complains, but instead of sitting there whining why not try and come up with a solution? That is the HUGE difference between the 2 groups.
I am proud to say I belong to the first of the 2. Where do you find yourself?

orientations, meetings and school supplies... OH MY!

that is what has been the past 3 days of my week. Both kids are in bed, back packs are stuffed with supplies, outfit is set out and we are READY! at least I hope, ha ha

I was "killed" with meetings this week. But that is fine with me. There is many things that need to be talked about and planned. And I feel our wonderful Squadron is up for the task! CURRAHEE CAV!!

Angelo had his Kindergarten Orientation and I am very pleased with his teacher this year. Ariana did not get to meet her teacher just yet but she knows her from last year and seems at ease with it.

As I sit here watching So You Think You Can Dance and eating a bowl of Schwans ice cream I cannot help but smile and love where my life is right now. awww mushy. and with that I will end for tonight.

And there went the Summer

In 4 days the kids go back to school.

The summer was quick and exciting! With days of boring laziness, Just the way I like it. Both kids survived and are excited about going back to school. Our summer was spent with days cooling off indoors evening spent on the waterslide and lots of time spent with our amazing friends! I am truely blessed to have a great group of friends here, it will make the next year go back much faster.

And yes that leads me to my next statement. D day is drawing near, and it hurts my heart. I knew it was coming when we left the Trail, after all this is the Army and we are a country at War. I am sad he is leaving our family for a year but I am so proud that he is doing his job and defending our great country. I have stepped up to help co-lead our FRG (family readiness group) and I think things are moving in the right direction. We have a lot of ground to cover with making our group for the families. But we are getting there.

Ariana will be in 3rd grade this year and she is nervous. She was behind on her reading skills but we got a tutor for her this summer and she seems to be more confident. I am excited for her to learn many things and meet lot of GREAT new friends. She will start gymnastics this fall and maybe cheerleading.... EKKK

Angelo will be going to Kindergarten this year, wow! My baby is going to school all day!!! I will miss my partner in crime. He is ready to get back to school and see his friends. This boy is so social it's scary. If he isn't playing his video games he wants to go to a friends house. He will play football this fall, Daddy is super excited and sad he will miss it, but there will be lots of pictures and video to share with him.

Summer has begun.

and can I just say when does school start again?? It has been a rough start but I have high hopes it will get better, it HAS too. We don't have much planned for the summer, just a short trip to VA and enjoying time together as a family. I have jumped right in to the community here and learning the ropes. I cannot believe how much the Army has changed in 2 years, at least its for the better!! so here's to hoping I survive the summer.......

Home is where the Army sends us...

We have made it to Fort Campbell and I love it! We had a pretty easy transition and the kids have already made great friends here. I jumped right in to the community and have started getting to know the ropes here. We have a nice house on post but recently found out we will be moving probably in the next year.... ugh such is the life of a Military family. We are staying here just moving to a new housing area.

New Ink

after 9 years it was finally my turn to get some new ink! I got to meet the famous Shane from Animated Canvas, he has done a lot of work on DH. He was awesome!! I got 2 tattoos last night, first an owl on my lower right leg, and 2nd Dog Tags on my right shoulder. They both turned out amazing and I couldn't be happier!

RIP Lower Mills

This weekend our very good friends and neighbors moved to their new house up the road. And now I'm all alone on our "street" over the past year people have moved out and the houses all remained empty. They will be tearing them down this year. We are the last to move on our "block". So I am all alone. I'm sad about this. Even though we are moving in 3 weeks to our new home it's still sad. Oh well, this too shall pass. RIP LMFSC ;)

farewell Drill Sergant.

Well the hubby took off his Drill Sergeant Hat, and donned his Berret. It was weird at first since I've got so used to the Brown Round, he's back to the little black Barret. HEHEH. But I am so proud of him! It's been a loooong 2 years and he's changed the lives of countless soldiers! The Army is a better place because of him.

Changes are Coming....

we are in the home stretch of our upcoming move to Fort Campbell, KY. Our neighbors and good friends left last week to move there, and now it's our turn. I am excited and anxious to move. I hope this will be a smooth move with minimal drama. I hope the kids transition easy too. As we move to a new home I will be sad to leave behind the great family I have made for myself here at Fort Jackson. I grew bonds here at this post as a Military Spouse and it will forever hold a special place in my heart.

T minus 19 days

And DH is done being a Drill Sergeant! WOW! 2 years ago our family moved to Fort Jackson, on Jan 1st to be exact. It's been a great time and I made many great friends. But it's time for us to move on. Soon we will be packing up and headed to our new home in the hills of Tennessee. I am trying to enjoy my last 2 months here at Fort Jackson and try not to be too sad to leave. I truly love it here, I am in the minority on that but I don't mind. There is plenty to do and it's close to home. Being an Army wife you don't stationed near malls or activies often. Usually you are in the middle of no where!