We were on our way to the grocery store today, all bundled up ready to brave the -50 temperature that awaited us once the garage door was opened. The girls were safely strapped in their car seats ready to go. I turned the key, and nothing…the battery was dead. Apparently I had not closed one of the doors when we came in from running errands the other day and the light had been on ever since. I brought my girls back in the house and called Triple A, only to find out that my membership had expired, even though the card says it’s good for another year. I don’t really understand that, but OK, whatever. The man on the other end was very helpful and put me in touch with the Alaska Club, the lady that helped me was super nice, and I was able to renew my membership right then and there and get set up for someone to come jump the battery. Now I’m feeling all kinds of hopeful. Then I get a phone call that the station that services my area is out of service because they are over run with calls, so I can cancel my request for service and call back early tomorrow morning. I moved on to plan B. I contacted my friend to see if I could borrow her husband. While waiting for a response I called my FRG leader who of course wasn’t home, but did call me back a few minutes later. While talking to her she asked me how I was doing since my husband left, was I sad? Honestly, I miss him like crazy, but I really don’t have time to be sad, or even eat for that matter. Finally, my friends husband said he’s come by and jump the truck. Again, feeling very hopeful. So, he came over, pushed the truck out of the garage, put the cables on, and, yep, nothing. The battery was totally drained. He told me to call around and find a battery and he’d pick it up and install it after work. So I did and he did. I’m so grateful that he was willing to endure the frigid temperature to help me out. I have to laugh as I wonder why things like this always happen when my husband is gone? Needless to say, we will be celebrating New Year’s Day at the grocery store!
Happy 4th Birthday, Monkey
December 28, 2008 at 4:15 pm (Army Wife, Monkey)
My sweet Monkey turns 4 today! We celebrated on Friday with a Princess Party. We had pizza, a princess cake, and balloons, complete with a singing princess balloon! She had a good time and got the singing Sleeping Beauty doll she’d been aching for!
On a sad note, my sweet husband deployed today for his second tour in Iraq. Please keep him in your prayers.
Break Down
October 22, 2008 at 8:35 pm (Army Wife)
We went to an FRG meeting last night, actually an FRG deployment briefing. I’ve known since before moving here that Baby K would only be a couple of weeks old when my husband deployed. And, I’m incredibly grateful that his unit is letting him stay behind until she is born. But, on the way home my husband made this comment, “I was scared to death that I was going to see my name on the rear d list.” I looked at him and said “What? You’d rather go to combat than stay here for a year with me, Monkey, and the baby?” To which he replied “I see how you’re looking at it, but I’m looking at it in a whole other way.” So I have to ask “How are you looking at it?” He says “I came here to do a job, not sit around for a year.” I totally took it as a personal attack and stared blankly out the window. “Are you mad?” Tears are welling up in my eyes and all I think is My husband would rather be in a combat zone thousands of miles away from his family than at home with us. What is wrong with him? What is wrong with me? What is wrong with being with us? I managed to squeak out a “No” and I wasn’t mad, I was hurt, even though I know where he was coming from. I don’t think I said but two words to him the rest of the night. Even after he offered to go buy me Pop Tarts at 9:00 because I was hungry and that’s what I was craving. I hardly slept at all. Not just because of the conversation in the car, but every time I closed my eyes I saw myself sitting at the table with the casualty officer. I tossed and turned all night, almost happy that Monkey kept waking up for water or trips to the bathroom. I know that I have to get a grip, not just for me but for Monkey and soon for Baby K. It’s not like I haven’t done the deployment thing before, this time it just seems like it’s so much harder. I am hoping that it’s because I’m pregnant and hormonal and that it will be better once I get used to living here, meet some people, and get involved in things.
Slowly Going Crazy
October 16, 2008 at 2:40 pm (Army Wife, Monkey, Moving)
Monkey and I sit here in our house, snow covers everything, and the temperature is -4 with a high today of 13. Are we going outside? No way! She’s whiny because she has a nasty cough and she wants her toys. I’m on the verge of whiny because I want my stuff. I do feel bad for Monkey, she brought a handful of things in her carry on and we’ve bought her a couple of things at Wal-Mart so she has something to do during the day. We’re really working hard on our alphabet, numbers, and some pre writing skills with flash cards and workbooks bought at Wal-Mart. I usually loathe the big super center, but I actually look forward to our trips, probably because it means I’m getting out of here for a little bit. I’ve read two books in a little over a week, if you knew me you’d know that reading isn’t one of my favorite past times, but I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed the two books I read. I now have two more to read. We only have to survive until next Wednesday and our stuff should be here. I can’t wait to sleep in my bed, cook in my pots and pans, eat off my dishes, and get my clothes out of the suitcase on the bottom of the closet floor and into drawers in my dresser! I have mentally laid out Baby K’s and Monkey’s rooms and am doing craft projects in my head to decorate their new living spaces. I was even sad that I had done all of our laundry on Tuesday because it meant I had nothing to do yesterday. I’ve watched more Disney movies in the past three days than I think I’ve seen in my lifetime, although I am most grateful for the portable DVD player. I can’t wait to get my TV, we have cable and a DVR box that taunts me every time I walk into the living room, oh what a joyous day it will be when I can watch Dr. Phil and Reba again! Monkey and I have been listening to iTunes and doing some dancing which helps alleviate some of the boredom, sad as it is, I am so thankful for my computer, iTunes, and Monkey’s love of hair bands and southern rock. I didn’t realize how difficult it would be living without my stuff. I guess that about sums up this rambling post!
Home Sweet Military Home
October 11, 2008 at 6:20 pm (Army Wife, Moving)
We are no longer homeless! We got into a house quicker than we anticipated and we love it! It puts the house we left behind in Texas to shame. We have three bedrooms, two and a half baths, a mud room, a garage, a basement, and wonderful kitchen with an electric oven that actually works and lots of cabinet and counter space, a dining room, a laundry room, and a big living room. It has actual siding on the outside instead of cardboard like our old house. We have carpet, real carpet, not industrial grade stuff. It’s wonderful! I can’t wait for our stuff to get here so we can put Monkeys room together, get Baby K’s room started, and in general turn our house into our home!
Moving on Up??
September 29, 2008 at 8:57 am (Army Wife, Moving)
The last few days have been busy with preparations for our upcoming move. On Friday the moving company came and took some stuff that will get to Alaska about two weeks after we do. We sent things that will come in handy if by that time we have a house. We’ve cleaned out the fridge, taken all of the stuff off the walls, and finally finished packing our suitcases! Today the movers are coming to pack up everything in our house and tomorrow they will be back to put it on the truck and haul it away. We’ve made our hotel reservations, three nights at the post hotel and two nights at a hotel in Dallas. Living out of a suitcase for who knows how long! Isn’t that exciting! Wednesday we’re having our bedroom carpets cleaned and our final housing inspection. Thursday we’ll be on our way to Dallas, stopping at Outdoor World to find adult waterproof gloves, since we’ve been to every store in this town and not one pair to be found. We did succeed in finding a pair for Monkey, at least her little hands won’t get frostbit! Arriving in Alaska in 20 degree weather with no gloves just doesn’t seem like a very good idea. Friday we’ll turn in the truck for shipping, I’m so looking forward to being without a car for a month! And then Saturday, the big day, flying out from Dallas to our new home! We’ve made reservations at the hotel on our new base too so we’ll have a place to stay until we get a house, please pray that we get a house soon and we get one on post! So I guess that’s about it. I’ve been dreading this move for so long, worrying and anticipating every little detail, and now that it’s so close, I’m ready to go and start this new adventure in our lives!
Medical Records, Tricare, and More
September 18, 2008 at 11:43 am (Army Wife, Pregnancy)
I went yesterday to the doctor for my 28 week check up, done actually at 27 weeks. Everything with the baby and I are fine. The doctor told me that she would schedule my glucose test for three weeks from yesterday. I explained that we were pcsing and leaving on the first or second of October. She then asks where we are going, so as I have done for the past four or five visits told her we were moving to Alaska. She told me that I needed to get my records and I acknowledged that I did and then she asked me where I would be getting my pregnancy care. I told her that I assumed I would be getting it at the hospital on base. Then she explained that I had to call or go by the Tricare office and find out if the hospital on base actually did pregnancy care or if they sent women to an outside provider. If they provide care I will be able to pick up my records and carry them with me, if I’m being sent off base I will have to have my records photocopied. We came home and I called the Tricare office. I explained to the woman that answered the phone what I needed to know, and after about five minutes of being told the computer system was shutting down and that she couldn’t get that information for me, I asked if it would be easier for me just to call the hospital and ask them. She agreed and gave me the number. I called the hospital and explained to the person that answered the phone that my baby is due in December, we are pcsing to their base, and I needed to know if they provided pregnancy care or if they sent you to an off base provider. A moment of silence and then the question, “Ma’am, are you pregnant?” Hello…did I not say my baby was due in December???? Anyway, after a minute she says, well I don’t know if we provide that kind of care or not, let me connect you to the women’s clinic. I stayed on the line and the phone at the women’s clinic rang twenty times before I finally hung up. I decided that if they have a women’s clinic, they probably provide pregnancy care, hubby agreed, so now I just have to go to the hospital here and get my records so I can see a doctor in Alaska. Oh, and the doctor that I see here, told me two visits ago that the base we are going to has a brand new hospital, so our baby would be born in a brand new facility. Yesterday she told me she didn’t know anything about the base we are moving to so she didn’t know about the care provided. Can I just scream now??
Kellipalooza 2008
September 14, 2008 at 10:12 am (Army Wife)
Years ago my best friend started referring to my birthday as Kellipalooza and it’s just stuck. While on vacation with my dad and stepmom at the beach I turned 30. I didn’t have a meltdown or anything, it doesn’t bother me, age is just a number. This is a picture of my beach themed birthday cake that my dad and stepmom got for me. My best friend turns 30 today and she is not ok with it at all! 
Sweet Home Alabama
August 28, 2008 at 6:17 pm (Army Wife, Monkey)
Monkey and I made it home to visit with our families last Friday night after a four hour layover in San Antonio and a thunderstorm. Oh how I love a thunderstorm! We were so happy to arrive at the airport in Nashville and even happier to get to my moms house in Alabama. It has rained and its been glorious! We’ve been busy visiting with family and friends. Monkey has been running her uncle ragged, but he’s loving every minute of it and so is she. We’ve had a couple of “I miss my daddy” moments, but a quick phone call to hear daddy’s voice seems to help. We took Monkey to the park today to let her get out some of her endless energy. We’re looking forward to going to the beach next week and we’re hoping that the hurricane won’t disrupt our plans! Hopefully I’ll be able to post some pics at some point before we return to Texas.
Changes
August 13, 2008 at 10:02 am (Army Wife, Kendal, Monkey)
I will be the first to admit that I do not like change. At all. Even though I know that some changes are good, I still don’t care for them. So, this week, next week, and the following weeks will be very, very difficult for me as we make the changes for our impending move to Alaska. Am I excited about this move? Nope, not at all. Am I worried? Oh yes, very much so.
Yesterday we put my hubby’s truck on the you sell lot and now we are praying that someone buys it and buys it soon. Silly as it sounds, it’s sad to see that truck go. It was the first major purchase we made after we got married and it’s been so good to us. We turned in our notice to vacate our lovely military house yesterday too. The house, I won’t miss so much!
We are trying desperately to figure out what to do with our dog. It will cost us an arm and a leg to fly her to Alaska and then she would be miserable since it’s snowing and so cold and she needs time outside. Really it wouldn’t be fair to take her. I dread having to explain that to Monkey, so I have delegated that task to Hubby. I will be so sad to see her go, she is such a part of our little family.
It’s been nice being able to find an inexpensive flight home when hubby is deployed and I’m missing my family, now I’ll have to save for a year to go home. Especially since there will be three of us to fly and my mama makes me feel bad because it’s going to be a while before she gets to see her new grand baby. I’m sorry, I know it sucks, but we didn’t ask for this, it was dumped into our laps, please don’t make me feel guilty.
Then there’s the weather. Hello, we’re from Alabama. They say snow and the schools and roads get closed down. It doesn’t get that cold, ever. I mean, in the middle of winter a long sleeved shirt and jacket is all you need. Really, what do we know about driving in snow and ice much less how to keep our children and ourselves alive in negative 40 degree weather? I’ll tell you what we know. NOTHING.
My Hubby will deploy soon after we arrive (hopefully they will let him stay until after Baby K is born), but then I’m on my own, having to figure all of this stuff out. It happened when we moved here, but at least here it doesn’t freeze for six months out of the year and I didn’t have to worry about my child getting frostbite or being eaten by a polar bear or attacked by a moose. OK, I know the odds of the last two are slim, but I worry. I worry about everything!
I’m really trying to find positives here. I know that God has a plan and that there’s a reason we’re moving there, and I know we’re not supposed to question, but I can’t help but ask “Why? Why us? Why Alaska?” We’ve talked to people who’ve been stationed there and everything we here is positive, so maybe, just maybe it won’t be as bad as I think it will be. I do love sweaters and here I got to wear them for about a month or so, at least now I’ll get my moneys worth!
I guess this rant has been long enough. We are looking forward to next Friday, Hubby is going to school and Monkey and I are going home for three weeks! We are looking forward to seeing our family, friends, and getting to go to the beach! Thanks for listening!
