RIP my dear friend....

You know, it's amazing how one phone call can change the out look of not only a day but the rest of your life. My friend, Shana, was found dead yesterday morning by her parents. When her sister called to tell me yesterday morning, I was in complete shock. I had just talked to her the night before. I'm still in shock. It hasn't really set in yet but it's starting to. The cause of death was complications due to her Sleep Apnea. She had a severe case of it. I am not able to travel 10 hrs to go to her services and it hurts me. I'm pretty close to Shana's sister as well and I told her I felt horrible that I couldn't come. She assures me that even though I won't be there, I will be. (if that makes any sense).

For those of you that don't know, Shana, is a little person, along with her mom and sister. They have opened my eyes so much more and I have a greater respect for them. The challenges they have to face daily are just amazing and yet they keep trucking along. They are so strong spirited and don't let the little things in life get to them.

I meet Shana while I was working at clothing and sales. She was always able to make people laugh and has helped me greatly through this deployment. She was always there when I was having a hard day. I'm really going to miss her.

Chicken Fried

Chicken Fried is a newer country song that I have come to love. I've heard the song several times on the radio but never really listened to the words. I was sitting here just now reading the lyrics to it while listening to it and got a whole new appreciation for the song. I don't know if it's just my hormones lately but every time anyone mentions our freedom or something about our soldiers, I get a little teary eyed. It just means so much to me that there are still people out there that care about what our soldiers are doing. And coming to the end of our first deployment, I have a HIGHER respect for any service member.

When I was home in July, I was at the carnival with my mom, sister, her kids and grandma. I was going to get some water for us and I saw a Staff Sergeant (SSG), former Drill Sergeant (SGT) and I walked up to him without hesitation and thanked him for his services and then his beautiful wife walked up and I thanked her too for her services and sacrifices cause I know exactly how it feels to be away from the one you love for so long.

Then just last week I was talking to my mom and she shared a similar experience with me. She was in Kmart and had the little bag that Matt had brought home for her (it has Winne the Pooh on it- she love Pooh Bear) and a young girl, probably still in High School, asked her if her brother or someone she knew was over seas. My mom said Yes, my son-in-law and the girl asked my mom to tell Matt thank you for his services. Needless to say, I had to hold back the tears. It's so rare for kids to even think about thanking a Soldier, Marine, Sailor, Airman, or anyone else in the Military. Now don't get me wrong, I have NO idea what is going on over there as far as the Iraqis but from what I get from listening to Matt and other soldiers that have been over there, this war isn't for nothing.

Any ways. Just thought I would share those with everyone. We are on the home stretch of Matt coming home. He was kicked out of his living quarters yesterday and is staying in "Tent City" (that's what he called it) They have their final customs inspection today and then it just the waiting game. They will have absolutely nothing to do.

You all have a great day! Love you!


This is a nice link. My Uncle Bill sent it to me. I sent out an email with it as well..

http://www.cpmsglife.org/tg/2006tdm1.html

Another update and vent blog

OK so a quick update about the housing thing. I have a new house. I will find out hopefully tomorrow if Matt's Unit is going to move me or not but I'm pretty sure they will. I don't know the exact date I will be moving in but the new address will be posted on the side for you all. I will also be letting Uncle Dee know of the update for the new Family Roster. I will let you know when I will be moving into it...

So, as you can see, I've been pretty stressed about the entire housing issue, trying to move, the holidays, Matt coming home and then being pregnant all add up. Yeah, I'm stressed. This past week has really been a big tole on me physically, mentally and emotionally. There is about 3 weeks (give or take) until Matt gets home and I can't wait but at the same time I'm scared just because it's going to be a huge adjustment. I've been living on my own for 14 months and it's going to be hard on both of us. Then pretty much anytime after Christmas, we will be welcoming our daughter into this world. Can you say STRESS GALORE!! Don't get me wrong I'm besides myself with happiness and excitement but at the same time, I'm scared just cause everything is changing and it's all a first for me. I've always had a hard time with change. I don't like it but I do realize it's a part of life and I do my best to adjust with it.
Then to add to my stress, my friend who is 33 weeks along (3 further along than I am) started having severe complications last night and the hospital ended up sending her home after 4-5 hrs of observation and getting the contractions and bleeding stopped only for her to end up right back there this morning with the same problems. They have now transferred her to a hospital in Columbia, 2 hrs away, where there is a NICU in case they had to go ahead and deliver her little boy. They will have to take him by C-section because she has a didelphic uterus (2 uterus'), 2 cervixes and endometreosis. On top of that, Dylan is breach and can't be turned. I am the one that got stuck taking care of her 3 dogs. Which I really don't have a problem with but then I do cause I have my own dogs and I have to concentrate on packing up and moving. I'm just frustrated and I'm doing my best to take it easy and just trying to tell my self everything will be OK.
I'm just ready for Matt to get home. These past few weeks have been kinda tough on me. I see my friends with their husbands and I'm just ready to be done being the 3rd wheel. It's getting hard for me to watch any kind of show that has any kind of lovey dovey stuff in it just cause I'm jealous and the anxiety and suspense is starting to get to me. The sad thing is, Matt is going back to training in May and will be gone for 2 and a half months again. Then we will be moving to our new duty station. *SIGH* I am just so overwhelmed with life at the moment. I need a break but I don't for see it in my future anytime soon. To much to do, so little time.

Thanks for letting me vent. I feel better just to have it written down. I promise I am just fine I just had to get that all off my chest. Well, I best be going. I have LOTS of packing to try to get done. Happy Thanksgiving. I love you all.

Update

Ok so the past week has been (to put it bluntly) Hell on wheels. To make a really long story short, I have gotten the housing company here on base to move me cause of all the construction going on in the 3 houses surrounding me. I don't know exactly where I'm being moved to (it will still be here on base) or when but I should hopefully find out on Monday. From my understanding, some of the soldiers in the Rear Detachment will be moving me, but I still don't know everything that is going on. I will let you all know more when I know...

On a lighter note- I was reading the post newspaper just now and they are talking a lot about Matt's unit coming home. Here are the links of the 2 stories in the paper mentioning it.

http://myguidon.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9521&Itemid=39


http://myguidon.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9512&Itemid=39