ALS

Anthony is currently in ALS.  I have read and heard many women who talk about how they hated when their husband was in ALS and was sure this wouldn't be the case for us.  I was just thrilled with the idea of Anthony being home every night, since he usually works 24 hour shifts.  But, now that we are 4 weeks into this, I'm not thinking it is so great.  In fact, I'm kind of thinking I'd rather my husband be TDY than in ALS.

First of all, there's the homework.  And LOTS of homework.  He goes to class until 3 or 4, then has organized PT, followed by his own gym time.  When he finally gets home at 6, he has atleast 2 hours of homework nightly.  That means, no conversations.  No watching my TV shows.  And no one else to take the dogs out or do chores, even though he's home.  Atleast when he is TDY, I can talk have real conversations over the phone and have the TV all to myself.

Then, there's all the cooking I have to do.  We only eat out once ever two weeks, so that leaves me cooking the other 13 nights (he eats leftovers for lunch).  When he is TDY, someone else cooks for him and he gets per diem and I can eat leftovers.

And finally, there is the graduation.  Don't get me wrong, I am very proud of him.  It's just the whole thought of this dinner has really stresses me out.  Mainly, there is the dilema of figuring out what to wear.  I don't like to be cold, but how dress semi-formal and still stay warm?  And where do I find a dress in this small town?  I found a cute 1/2 sleeve sweater dress with a cowl neck, tights and pumps.  Hopefully it will all go well together and I will be dressy enough!  Oh, the dilemas of being a woman!

Even though ALS has been a challenge for us both, I would gladly have my husband here with me than in another state or country.  Having him close by certainly outweighs all the negatives of ALS.

Luau

Yesterday, one of the guys from the fire station and his wife hosted a BBQ Luau.  Unfortunately, every camera in the house has a dead batter.  Fail!

There were lots of wives there.  Most of them are friends I hang out with, and some were new friends.  We enjoyed hanging out and visiting.  They rented a giant water slide for all of the kids.  It was so funny watching all the kids go around and around.  As soon as they'd get to the bottom of the slide they'd jump out of the water and run around to the ladder.  They grilled burgers and kabobs.  Everyone brought sides and desserts.  There were pina coladas and strawberry margaritas for the women.  The guys spent most of their time in the garage with the beer.  Later in the evening, the kids all roasted marshmallows on the firepit and were covered in chocolate and marshmallow by the time they were done.  Everyone had a great time!

I love nights like these with good friends.  It's nice to just hang out and have fun.

Military Life from Alpha To Zulu

Last Monday, Wife on a Roller Coaster came up with this great idea.  It looked like fun and I had some free time, so I got started on it.  Unfortunately, no matter how hard I thought (which there's not a lot of brain energy left in the evening)  some are an extreme stretch.  But anyway, here it goes...Military Life from Alpha To Zulu!

(A)lpha-Air Force
(B)ravo-Brave
(C)harlie-Change
(D)elta-Deployments
(E)cho-Exercises
(F)oxtrot-Friendship
(G)olf-Goodbyes
(H)otel-Housing allowance
(I)ndia-Independent
(J)uliet-Jargon
(K)ilo-Kiss (as in alwasys kiss goodbye)
(L)ima-Life-changing
(M)ike-Moving
(N)ovember-New
(O)scar-Opportunities
(P)apa-Pride
(Q)uebec-Questions
(R)omeo-Reunions
(S)ierra-Stars and Stripes
(T)ango-Travel
(U)niform-Uniforms, and lots of them!
(V)ictor-Very different
(W)hiskey-Wild
(X)-Ray-X-citement (that's a stretch, I know)
(Y)ankee-Your life (as in military becomes your life)
(Z)ulu-Zeal

Realizations

Yesterday, in attempt to be a good wife, I told Anthony that if he would wash his ABUs I would iron them tonight.  I'm not sure what got into me as I had NEVER ironed his ABUs.  While ironing, I had a few realizations.

1.  I will never volunteer to iron ABUs again.  Ever.  Even if it means he cooks dinner.  It still wasn't worth it.
2.  I will gladly pay to have his ABUs professionally laundered. 
3. Those things have a lot of pockets!  There would be no need for me to carry a purse!
4.  We need a new iron.  Bad.  I don't know how he has managed to iron his uniforms for the past two years!

Do you iron your husband's uniform or does he?

Murphy's Law

I absolutely, positively HATE Murphy.  Whoever he is.  And yes, I used the H word.  I don't say hate much, but I have had it!!!!

Anthony is away for a TDY.  It's very nice, he's not very far and is able to come home on weekends.  However, Murphy has taken this opportunity to make my life miserable!  It started last week, Wednesday to be exact.  I came home to NO heat.  It took the poor maintenance man 3 trips to my house to sort of get it working so I could make it through the night.  I survived, I was moving on.

Until this morning, when I went to get in my car.  I wasn't moving at all.  The car wasn't even starting.  Anthony had just said that I should take the car to get the battery checked sometime this week.  Perhaps we should have done it then.  Anyway, I had to call around and after 3 tries found a friend who sent her husband to pick me up while she covered my morning duty.  I hitched a ride home and currently waiting on the apartment maintenance staff to come jump start my car so I can take it to the dealer. 

So, you got me Murphy.  I have been completely flustered all day.  Please leave me alone!

Blessed

As a military wife, I often get frustrated with the life that we have.  I hate that my husband works on the weekends and holidays, we don't get to see our family frequently, and we can never really make plans.  But lately I've been thinking about how the military life has actually blessed us and our marriage.  As a military family, we have learned to cherish things that most people take for granted.

I cherish every day I spend with my husband, for I don't get to spend every day with him.  I am perfectly content sitting beside him on the couch while he watches football.

I cherish every kiss hello, goodbye, and goodnight, for some times I only kiss him goodbye and there is no hello.  There is no goodnight.

I cherish my friends because while away from my biological family, they are my family.  I can count on them for anything at anytime.

I cherish the opportunity to do his laundry and to cook dinner for two because it means that he is actually home and not deployed.

I cherish the holidays we have together, because some years he might have to work on Thanksgiving or Christmas.

I cherish my family and the chances I have to visit them.  I don't dread going to visit our families like so many people.  I actually look forward to every minute with them.

What has the military made you cherish more?

Packing

One advice to military wives whose husbands have never deployed:  Make your husband start packing 2 weeks before you are set to deploy.  My husband definately didn't!  Oh my goodness, we've ran around like crazy people!  There are so many little things that you don't even think about.  We had to wash a bunch of stuff.  We had to buy random things like a wallet for his arm and a bathroom baag.  We had to go back and buy batteries and a sunglass case.  We had to buy space saver bags.  And all of these things were bought in different trips to the store.

In addition to the bazillion trips to the store was the packing, unpacking and repacking.  In all of that, he decided to demonstrate his gas mask.  I noticed while he had it on that the dog seemed to run from it.  So, I thought it'd be funny for him to chase Sam and see what he did.  Well, he made a puddle.  We laughed and laughed about it.  It was just what we needed!

One Year

It has been exactly one year ago (yesterday) since I said goodbye to family and friends and started my new life as a military wife.  I left the middle of DFW to leave in the middle of the desert.  And while I do miss my friends back home, I have truely been blessed with the many changes that God has brought my way.

Good bye dinner with my great friend Caren.

I have been able to spend a full year living with my husband.  We've learned so much about each other and about being married.  Being away from family and friends has truely brought us closer.

I have made lots of new friends who are also military wives.  Friends that know what I am going through and that I know I can call on.

I have found a wonderful job teaching kindergarten at a school I absolutely love.  I know exactly why God made me wait until after school started to find a position.  The school I am at is filled with some amazing Godly women who I am blessed to be able to call my friends.

While I'm not so excited about the deployment looming over our heads, I am excited about the things the deployment will bring.  I will get to spend 2 full months with my parents.  I haven't done this since I graduated high school.  I will be able to go visit San Antonio and California and maybe even DC.  I will get to spend time with friends I've missed.  And I won't have to feel guilty about being away to do all of these things. 

I guess change isn't so bad after all.

Thoughts on Deployment

It's been a while since I've blogged.  I was busy the first half of the week.  Then, after reading about Rachel's loss, I really didn't know what to say.  My heart just breaks for her and her daughter every time I think about it.  At the same time, I'm amazed at how all the military spouses have came together through a tough time. 

If you keep up with my blog, you know that Anthony will have his first deployment in May.  I try to keep it in the back of my mind and enjoy the time that I have with him now.  I'm kind of scared of what I will be like when the time gets closer.  I remember how I felt before he left for basic (which was only 6 1/2 weeks).  I cried for days leading up to it and I cried pretty much the whole time he was gone.  I cry as I think about it. 

So, I ask, how do you cope with it and what do you recommend doing to make it easier?

Change

Things always seem to change with the military.  As a firefighter, Anthony works 24 on 24 off, with 72 off in a row every two weeks.  Basically, he works 72 hours a week.  I've adapted to being home by myself 3 days and nights out of the week though and I think he's got used to working it.  But it really stinks for holidays.  Since fires don't take vacations, neither does he.  And because he's only off 7:30am to 7:30am, we don't get to go home and visit families. 

Well, that being said, I was real excited when they got an extra day off for Christmas.  That meant, he had 72 hours off before Christmas (22-24th to be exact) and 72 hours off after Christmas.  We could spend time with both families.  And celebrate with my family during our tradition Christmas Eve dinner.  I have been looking forward to it for so long.  Well guess what....

Yup, that changed.  Some guys got in trouble and they took away their extra day that they got.  So, I'm kind of really bummed.  I know it's military, and that's how it goes, but ugh!  I was fine when I thought I was going to miss it BEFORE you gave us an extra day.  But then you got me so excited.  Now, I'm so bummed.  I don't get how punishing everyone is going to make a difference.  It's always the same guys that make the bad choices.  Everyone lost their time off.  Except the higher up guys, those that are in charge and responsible for other guys!  How is my husband supposed to keep these guys from drinking and driving?  They already have a number to call to get a ride if you can't drive. 

We're going to make the best of it.  Atleast we're trying to.  What are some things you and your husband do when you can't go be with your family for Christmas?

Thank you!

Thank you all for your kind words, support and prayers.  I honestly can feel the prayers working.  I feel much more at peace about the situation and trust that God will get me through it.  I am so glad that I have found so many military wife bloggers that can help me along the way.

I'm very lucky that he will only be gone 4 months.  Two and a half of those months will be my summer vacation.  I plan to spend most of that time at my parents and do some traveling and catching up with friends. I've decided to try not to think aboout it over the next few months.  We have until May together so we can start worrying about things and figuring things out in the spring.

A Big Thank You

A huge THANK YOU to all of those who have and are serving our country.  You deserve way more than Veteran's Day and Memorial Day. 

Stunned

My prayers and thoughts are with those at Fort Hood and their families near and far.  May God comfort you and give you peace during this difficult time.  May heal wounds and hearts.

My husband called me this afternoon while I was at Target.  He asked if I heard what had happened.  I assumed he was talking about something the guys at work did.  They are always doing dumb things.  I couldn't believe what he said next.

The men and women that serve our country have enough to worry about with deployments.  It saddens me that now there will be the additional fear of a military brother or sister opening fire while on US soil. 

Moving

The movers came and took away all our stuff today. It was really hard to decide what to keep with us and what to send with them. You see, we're not so sure when we will get to see our stuff again, because we're not sure where we are going to live. (Sigh.) Being a new military wife, I'm beginning to realize, I don't get to have much control. I think God's trying to teach me something. So now, I'm in an empty apartment with an air mattress, my computer, and a small portion of my clothes. And we have food. I couldn't let them take my food.