PCU New Hampshire (SSN 778)

Eye on the Fleet:

The fifth Virginia class submarine, PCU New Hampshire (SSN 778), was formally christened Saturday, June 21, 2008 at Electric Boat in Groton, Conn. The ships sponsor Cheryl McGuinness, a resident of Portsmouth, lost her husband, Tom, on 9/11. He was a co-pilot on American Airlines Flight 11.

If you could spare a thought…

This past April, Jessica told us the story of a little boy named Dillon who badly needs our prayers. Dillon is the son of a Staff Sergeant in the Air Force. Like Dillon’s mother, there is another military spouse out there (and probably many more) who has dreaded the scans and medical news of her child.

You see, a young Coastie kid on the West Coast by the name of Hadley Fox has been battling cancer for four years now. Little Hadley has undergone so much in her young life and it’s truly heartbreaking, but she has the most beautiful spirit and keeps smiling despite it all. Recently, the Fox Family was informed by the doctors that Hadley’s condition is now terminal.

Hadley’s father serves in the US Coast Guard and the family is currently wrapping up a PCS. Can you believe it? Just going about your daily routine and dealing with a PCS can be unnerving, but you smack something horrific on top of this lifestyle like pediatric cancer and it’s unimaginable.

A good friend of mine recently posted about Hadley and her strength and that of her family on a Coast Guard blog. If you’d like to read it, please do. Folks have put together a fund for Hadley’s Magic Days, which I think is just wonderful. The post is called: Do you believe in Magic? Also, if you want to read about Hadley’s diagnosis and her treatment to date, you can visit her family’s Caring Bridge site at: http://www.caringbridge.org/ca/hadleyfox/

Please keep Hadley and the Fox family in your prayers if you can. Thanks for reading.

 

Some Positive News for IA Families

The Navy has been listening to it’s Sailor’s requests and concerns about having a specific command that heads off and deals Solely with IA Deployments.

Read the details here about what the Navy is doing in regard to it’s Sailor’s concerns: Navy.mil

Futons, kittens and mothers, oh my!

Well we are coming up on two months! We invested in our first piece of furnature - a futon. Did you know that futons take more ingenuity to put together than the great wall of China? And I bet they didn’t have a brand new kitten kicking the nuts and bolts away from them. They don’t come with a screwdriver. You’d think if you need a screwdriver it would either come with a crappy version of one or say on the box - Warning: Screwdriver required. My husband must have tried every type of tiny object in our still baron house to screw in that screw.. “Honey why don’t you just go get a screwdriver?” “No! I don’t need one.” Thirty minutes later we also picked up some more trashbags.

I touched a little bit on how I lived with my parents until I got married in my first post. We had a civil-ceremony. I flew out here on the premise that we would go back home and have a wedding when we could. So now we are just trying to accumulate leave time and pick a weekend that works with his schedule. Its so difficult. And my parents aren’t making it any easier. Being newlyweds with so much going on, getting a house put together, him back and forth here and there, and trying to carve some sort of life out of this fresh block of possibilities we have just been handed.. and my mom calling every day to ask, “Do we have a date yet?” And when I say “No, we still don’t have a date,” she is offended and mad. I don’t expect my parents to fully understand the obstacles that being in the military presents when it comes to planning anything since no one in my family is in any branch. But I DO expect them to honor my word that I am trying and at least be understanding that I have no control over the matter! She isn’t here to hear us talk about it, she doesn’t know when he comes home with an “update” that just extends the process.  And I just got an angry email asking me why I am so “distant” on the phone.. I don’t know, the 2500 miles between us might have something to do with it. I love my parents. My husband and I are both excited about flying home and seeing family. Him probably more than me. Since joining the military his chances to spend time with family have been slim to none. I know we are all still new at this situation.  My parents are no longer a part of the daily decisions I make. I know its hard for them. To myself, I am 20 years old and married. To my mom, I’m her just 20 year old baby girl that is living without her for the first time. I haven’t figured out how to bring these two views together.

Meanwhile our adorable kitten is driving us crazy. We love him when he curls up in our laps, sleeps at the foot of our bed and follows us around the house. But he chews on the electrical cords and jumps on our plates. The internet says spray him with water when he is bad. My house would be flooded. I’ve settled on one piece of rolled up paper and popping him on his butt when his mouth is full of electricity. He is so shocked every time I give him anything less than praise and adoration. But I am glad to have him here when my husband is at work. He keeps me on my toes. I’ve also started noticing this invisible force that lurks in my kitchen. I clean it up every night but when I return to it the next day it looks like it has been hit by a Storm..

My Story

Since this is my first post, I figured I would just tell you about me.  Hopefully this will help you feel like you know me a little better when reading my future posts.

I grew up in a small town in Georgia.  I went to the same school my whole life and met my husband, B, when he transferred there our freshman year.  We began dating our sophomore year and upon graduating attended two different colleges.  I went to the University of Georgia, while he went to North Georgia College and State University.   During the summer between our junior and senior years of college, B and I were engaged.  The following May I graduated from college and we were married in July.  B graduated and also commissioned in August. 

B, myself, and my dog Misha lived in our hometown for one month before we made our first move for B to work as a Gold Bar Recruiter at his college.  That was his first active duty assignment and it was a wonderful way for us to slowly transition into being an Army family. 

A few months later, in January of 2004, we moved to Ft Sill, OK for B to attend a course.  He graduated from the course in June and received orders to Baumholder, Germany.  We were nervous but so excited to move overseas.  We jumped in with both feet and tried to experience as much of Europe as we could.  We loved the small military community that we were a part of.  However, we did not love our first deployment!  B spent a year in Iraq and returned in late 2006.  While B was deployed I had the opportunity to pursue one of my passions.  I have always loved sports and fitness and was able to obtain my certification in group fitness and personal training. 

That December we found out that I was pregnant.  The beginning of the pregnancy was very difficult but when it came time for us to PCS back to the states in May of 2007, everything was going well.   We moved back to Ft Sill for B to attend yet another field artillery course, and at the end of August we welcomed our baby girl, M, into the world.       

B is currently deployed to Afghanistan and will hopefully get his R&R around M’s birthday.  M and I are living back in Georgia where I’m a full-time stay at home mom.  I  also teach a fitness class a couple of nights a week and hope to soon start doing some training.  My dog, Misha, has been very sick lately and unfortunately she passed away this weekend.  It was very hard to cope with trying to care for her special needs and a baby.  I wish B could have been here during this time but he is doing important work elsewhere.  Many difficult situations are made a little bit harder when you’re a military wife.  However, each time I’ve found a little more strength that I didn’t have before.  I hate to end my post on a sad note, but that is my crazy, amazing military life - at the moment!

I appreciate being invited to participate in this blog, and am really excited to be a part of it!

In the still of the night

The other night my dear dash-1 would not go to bed. Bedtime is sacred in our house, I think it has to be in a house where mom is usually flying solo.  Usually the little ones know that they will not win a battle of wills after 7:15 pm and really, there is no point in trying. Dash-2 went right off to sleep, curled up with his monkey and his favorite fish quilt from grandma in his new big boy bed. The other one… well the other one had other plans.

Dash-1 kept checking on the ground hogs out of his window, counted the number of birds on the telephone poll, watched an ant crawl across the window pane, went to the bathroom 5 times for no show pee, and requested a nighttime snack twice. By 9:30 I should have been torqued but for some reason it just didn’t bother me.

I saw the humor in it. I found his excuses to get out of bed funny (just had to make sure flyboy turned the bath tub off correctly 2 1/2 hours prior), I saw the twinkle in his eye as he thought he might get one over on me and thought it was just amusing. Life is short, let the little one win one every now and again. So we checked the water. And then I strayed from my usual modus operandi.

We curled into the comfy chair (my beloved armchair glider) got a blanket and watched us some Top Chef in the dark. There we sat, slightly rocking, next to the open windows, getting a nice cool breeze, smelling the sweet farm smells of freshly bailed hay and had cuddle time. We looked at some stars, watched the clouds move across the moon and made icky faces at some of the weird concoctions they created on Top Chef (really who would eat some of that stuff).

This is in no way going to be an everyday thing. Bedtime is still sacred, very sacred in this house. But I also need to learn to slow down. Enjoy the moments that life puts before me instead of rushing to stay to some schedule. I find myself moving so quickly sometimes, trying to balance everything, to not crack under pressure and in doing so putting more pressure on my shoulders that inevitably I crack.

I am trying my best to Stop. Slow down. Enjoy the moments. Enjoy my children. And let them feel the love that I have for them.

This is cross posted over at my site but I thought a lot of you other military moms who often fly solo too could appreciate it.  Here’s to all the parents trying to do it all and remembering to slow down a bit.

ARMY WIVES Brigid Brannagh to visit NWR Jun 24 9pmET

Catch Brigid Brannagh who plays the character Pamela Moran on the hit Lifetime TV series ARMY WIVES this Tuesday 24 Jun 08 on Navy Wife Radio, 9pm ET. Show Link

If you haven’t yet seen the TV show Army Wives, then you might want to give it a try Sunday nights at 10pmET on Lifetime. It has a mix of drama, humor and insight into the military spouse experience. Even though it is TV and some things are not very realistic, the show does make for a good way to snuggle up in your PJs and induldge in an hour of “me time”. In the past two episodes I have laughed and cried….both shows! I’m hoping I’ll get through an episode without a box of tissues needed.

Last season had a couple shocking racy Lifetime scenes where I thought I must be watching a rated R movie, but I have to say so far the good is out weighing the bad.

Last week on Navy Wife Radio we welcomed actress Sally Pressman, who plays the spunky fan favorite Roxy LeBlanc. This Tuesday we welcome actress Brigid Brannagh, who plays the outspoken, tough, Pamela Moran, another fan favorite who hosts her own radio show, which is… I have to say kinda cool. Meet and get to know more about Brigid this Tuesday 24 Jun, at 9pmET on Navy Wife Radio!

If you love Army Wives be sure to catch the LIVE blog / chat party over at Jan Wesner’s Standing By blog during the show.

Hope you join us this Tuesday at 9pmET on NWR - Put the show on your calendar and join the conversation! (ps. Help us spread the word by sending this post to all your friends!)

Show Link: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/navywiferadio/2008/06/25/Navy-Wife-Radio

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BRIGID BRANNAGH
Pamela Moran in “Army Wives”

Brigid Brannagh had experience playing a soldier’s spouse long before “Army Wives;” she starred in the critically acclaimed TV series “Over There,” about the war in Iraq. This actress has done numerous other TV roles, in shows including “CSI,” “Cold Case,” “ER,” “NCIS,” “Without a Trace,” “24” and “Angel.” But Brannagh’s acting hasn’t been limited to TV. She’s been on the silver screen too, including a stint with Sarah Jessica Parker and Harry Connick Jr. in the independent film “Life Without Dick,” about an accidental murder.

New Blogger headed our way - Welcome Cristin

I am thrilled to welcome another new author to the blog!

Her name is Cristin and I believe is one of the “original” milspouse bloggers (since 2005).

Many of you might already be familiar with her blog. It was about a year and half ago when I started reading RedLegWife. I was so impressed, it quickly became one of my favorites, I even interviewed her for milblogging.com. Her blog along with Sarah Smiley and Blackfive inspired me to start my own blog / small sphere of influence. It is a thrill for me to welcome her to our little corner of the blogsphere. She recently started a fitness blog that you’ll have to check out too.

I’m confident you will enjoy Cristin’s perspective, passion for life, and candor like I have, so please join me in welcoming her to the blog!

Oh and here’s the best part…
She’s an Army wife.

Still Adjusting

Well, as many know the hubs is back from his deployment. This one was a little over 4 months and just before that one he was gone for a 6 month deployment. Whew…back to back deployments can take it’s toll on a family that is for sure. 

I have to admit I was a little nervous as to how well we would adjust. Would the awkwardness wear off? Would we argue a lot or be overly passive? Questions and more questions just built up within my mind. Fortunately, it has been a relatively smooth process. We have been home from a 2 week “Vacation High” and this week has been partially “normal” because he hasn’t started back to work yet. 

It seems so strange having him back. This past deployment I wasn’t anything like the one before it. The one before it I seemed to have more support and I made time for myself and even made time to cry and let out emotions, if need be. This recent deployment I didn’t seem to cry at all. It seemed as though I became “stronger” and I really wasn’t sure if I liked this new found “Strength”. It seemed as though I went into survival mode and all that mattered was getting through the days. Emotions were something I had little time for which I know cannot be healthy but it wasn’t something I did by choice it just seemed to happen on its own as the daily stresses built upon each other. I had to deal with so much alone this time around and it seemed as though I was just that…ALONE!

I was so thankful to have Wendy to talk to, my mom and my childhood best friend. Wendy especially so patiently allowed me to “Vent” to her about things that were ailing me or some stressful event that was all important at the time. I felt like she just “Knew” how I felt and understood what I was going though so much better than say, a civilian confidant. It is so unique, that special understanding and unspoken bond that we share as Military Spouses. It is something that I have found no where else in the world when it comes down to support amongst military families. 

Well, I will be on here more often now that the long break is over. It seems as though since my husband’s return I have had a(n) pouring AVALANCHE of emotions about the past deployment and my writer’s block is clearing itself of the “Haze”. For me this is a good thing. Being an emotional person by birth the mysterious loss of emotion due to stress has been difficult on me. I cry when I am happy (happy tears) and I cry when I am sad (sad tears).  I am HAPPY to have my tears back and to feel my family back together in one place again!

Now that I am able to share my tasks with my husband and he with me the emotional release feels so refreshing and my tears like the dew on the break of a new day. Time to close one chapter and begin another. In this case I couldn’t be more happy to do so.

HIS first.

My husband’s first time on the ship is over and he didn’t hate it. He said he can understand why there are people who like it. He came home with a few letters he wrote me while he was there. They meant so much to me. Because of how little communication we had it was hard to feel missed. They let me know he really did miss me as much as I missed him. It really suprised me how many habits he brought home. Like looking for a “metals” bag to put a soda can in for instance. He is hungry at weird times and not hungry at normal times. The first night he couldn’t sleep because it was too quiet. I didn’t think those habits would become habits so soon. Which got me to thinking about the day he is home from his first cruise. This cartoon instantly came to my mind. But I’m sure he will re-adjust just fine and I know it wont be the last time either of us do any re-adjusting.

We were both so excited for him to see the house for the first time. He instantly felt the sense of pride that comes from having your own place. We cooked our first meal together and it wasn’t bad at all. He even enjoyed taking the garbage out because he didn’t have to walk down three flights of stairs to get to the trashcan and then back up them. The second night I couldn’t sleep because he was re-bonding with his xbox until 4:30 in the morning. I understand though, they have a very special relationship and it takes time together to keep a good thing going……………………………

Tomorrow we are going to get a kitty and I am so excited!! I can’t wait to have a little furball following us around the house, and of course keep me company when he’s away. We both have always had pets and I don’t think we will feel complete here until we have one in our new home. I’ll have to post our first family portrait.