A Military Wife

My Key Volunteer forwarded this to me and I thought it was very sweet....

What is a MILITARY Wife?
They may look different and each is wonderfully unique
But this they have in common.

Lots of moving, moving, moving
Moving far from home
Moving two cars, three kids and one dog....all riding with HER of course
Moving sofas to basements because they won't go in THIS house
Moving curtains that won't fit
Moving jobs and certifications and professional development hours
Moving away from friends moving toward new friends
Moving her most important luggage; her trunk full of memories

Often waiting,waiting, waiting
Waiting for housing
Waiting for orders
Waiting for deployment
Waiting for reunion
Waiting for phones calls
Waiting for the new curtains to arrive
Waiting for him to come home for dinner----AGAIN!

They call her 'military dependent', but she knows better
She can balance a checkbook
Handle the yard work
Fix a noisy toilet.

She is intimately familiar with drywall, anchors, and toggle bolts.
She can file the taxes, sell a house, buy a car, or set up a move....all with ONE Power of Attorney.
She welcomes neighbors that don't welcome her.
Reinvents her career with every PCS.
Locates a house in the desert, the arctic, or the deep south and learns to call them all 'home'.
She MAKES them all home.
She is fiercely IN-dependent.

Military Wives are somewhat hasty.
They leap into decorating, leadership, volunteering, career alternatives, churches and friendships.
They don't have 15 years to get to know people.
Their roots are short but flexible.
They plant annuals for themselves and perennials for those who come after them.

Military Wives quickly learn to value each other.
They connect over coffee, rely on the spouse-network and accept offers of friendship and favors and record addresses in pencil.

Military Wives have a common bond.
The Military Wife has a husband unlike other husbands.
His commitment is unique. He doesn't have a job, he has a 'mission' he can't just decide to quit. He's on-call for his country 24/7 but for you, he's the most Unreliable guy in town!.

His language is foreign: TDY, PCS, OPR, ACC, BDU
And so, a Military Wife is a translator for her family and his.
She is the long-distance link to keep them informed; the glue that holds them together.

Military Wife has her moments....She wants to wring his neck, dye his uniform pink, and refuse to move to Siberia.

But she pulls herself together.
Give her a few days, a travel brochure, a long hot bath, a pledge to the flag, and a wedding picture.

And she goes.
She packs.
She moves.
She follows.
Why?
What for?
How come?
You may think it is because she has lost her mind.
But actually it is because she has lost her heart.
It was stolen from her by a man who puts duty first, who longs to deploy, who salutes the flag, and whose boots in the doorway remind her that as long as he is her Military husband...

She will remain his Military wife.

It's a GIRL!!

Hopefully everyone knows, but Stuart and I are having a girl. If you know Stuart, I think he was expecting a boy, so was very surprised with a girl! But happy of course! He had his mom send me some flowers and a doll (the first of many, Im sure). As soon as I can get the ultrasound pic scanned, Ill post more about how the visit went.

Additional Articles about 1/2

You can click on the below links to read two articles about 1/2 and the work that they are doing. Charlie Company is not mentioned, but this is part of Stuart's battalion.

http://www.mnfwest.usmc.mil/MNF/mnfw_IM.nsf/(ArticlesRead)/FB297AA5833795E5432574AE004A0862

http://www.mnfwest.usmc.mil/MNF/mnfw_IM.nsf/(ArticlesRead)/A680B60EAE450EB7432574AE004C7AEC

Doctor Visit - Everything great!

Just got back from my check-up. Everything is good! All lab work has come back normal, the baby is in the correct area and appears to be the correct size.

As the doctor was counting the heartbeats to get the rate, it took her three tries since apparently I have a gymnast in my belly! He/she constantly moved around, but the doctor was finally able to get it and it sounded perfectly normal.

And apparently I have been eating for two instead of 1 and a baby that weighs 10 ounces! I was told to slow down on the eating and starting walking/exercising more as eventually the weight will catch up to me. So I guess my days of eating off the dessert menu are over for now.

My next appointment will be the end of September, so I will be in TN until then. Look forward to seeing most of you.

I get the anatomy ultrasound on Monday, and as soon as I find out the sex, Ill post it. Make your bets now!

What to Send Stuart

I have received questions about what types of things to send Stuart. Here are a few suggestions:

• Cotton socks - that way he can just toss the old ones
• Small Toys - pass out to the children there
• School Supplies - pass out to the children there
• Snack food - beef jerky, peanuts
• Magazines

He hasnt asked for much since he has been gone, so this may change, but those are a few ideas if you are putting a box together. I know that he also appreciates the cards and letters that he receives. Most of the time what he needs or wants is available to him on the base there. And whatever you send him, he has to keep up with! I will post more items if he has any requests.

20 week bump

1/2 In the News

http://www.marines.mil/units/marforpac/imef/1stmardiv/1stregiment/rct1/Pages/Knowledge,skill,will12Marineshitgroundrunning.aspx

SNAKE!!!!

This morning I got up with the intent to do some yard work and fence mending. As soon as I set foot outside, the first thing I see is a snake!! I immediately called my deployment husband (my friend Julie's husband) to come and kill the snake. Even though it was 9 AM on a Saturday morning, he came right over with gloves, snake killer, and a rake. After some prodding, this picture is what he found and butchered. It was a water moccasin (poisonous) that had taken up home on the side of my house. Thank goodness for Mike!!

Seeing it even in the picture still gives me the creeps!!!

A Sharp Pain??

I am driving home from VA today (where I went for work) and I got this sharp pain in my side. After a few minutes, it dulled and I really just forgot about it. A few hours later while in Blockbuster, it came again. This time I grabbed my side to try and ease the pain and felt the first kicks....Apparently that is what it was!!

Last time I was at the doctor's office, they had asked me if I had felt kicks yet, but I hadn't. They said it would be soon.

So, even though we still dont know the sex (although if you ask Stuart, it is a boy), we know he/she kicks pretty hard! May have a soccer player on our hands!!

Article About Charlie Company

Here is an article on the Internet about the work that Stuart and his company are doing in Iraq.

http://www.marines.mil/units/marforpac/imef/1stmardiv/1stregiment/rct1/Pages/Fromonehandtoanother.aspx

My Key Volunteer coordinator has been in contact with the company commander and the guys are doing well!

Charlie's Trip to the Beach

Charlie had her first adventure at the beach today! My first thought was to let her off the leash, but after she ran about a mile and was merely a dot on the beach, I had to chase her down with the car. So she stayed on the leash the rest of the morning. But as you can see, she loves the beach!!!