Military Moms: May-June 2011

[~Katie~]

I realized I hadn't started new thread for May.

Congratulations on expecting a new addition, Rachel! 

As far as the job situation, we're still waiting to hear back from IBM about his background check. Funny enough, he got an email today offering him an AGR captain slot in Phoenix, AZ. I think we're strongly considering it but we need more details about the unit's future plans and what the conditions of the orders are. It mostly has to do with finances at this point, Arizona is a lot more realistic financially than DC. They want an answer by Friday.

I'm almost 32 weeks now and physically I feel good but I'm tired and going into hibernation mode. I just want to move on to the next stage of things and focus on meeting our newest addition without having to worry about everything else. We aren't moving until the beginning of August, I'm technically due July 2nd but I don't anticipate making it that far, somewhere between 20-29th sounds about right.

[~Adorkable~]

Hi folks welcome to may!

Haven't done an intro in a while....
I'm a army wife currently stationed in DC, dh is in the medical core and is neck deep in the BRAC that is merging Walter Reed with National Naval Medical Center. We moved here in Sept when I was 20 weeks preggo and now have 4 month old twins. Life as a mom has been treating me very good, I feel like I'm turning out to better at this than I had thought I would be. I have even toyed with the idea of having more, but I think in the end I will come to understand that's a bit crazy.

I'm feeling pretty disconnected to the military as a whole right now, medical units that are hospitals or clinics tend to be pretty scattered, and since they do not deploy together (usually are loaned out provost one at a time) there is not really any FRG or unit function. Between that and not living on or near a real base, it feels far away. Some would like that, I kinda find it a bummer, there is something I like about being around on a base, even to just go to the px and the gym, I feel like I'm not alone then. I could use a bit more of that right now.

If I was not up to my eyebrows in babies, I would go look for some army volunteer roles, but I'm in no spot for any of that.

We did get an invite to a tribute dinner to combat medics, Gen. Odierno was the keynote speaker and that was pretty powerful, he is a very charismatic powerful speaker.


anyway, happy May everyone, great news about Osama, sad more had to die, but at least it was the guilty this time. Hope this gives focus and an end game to all the missions. I've never known the military in a time of peace, it is a far away dream that seems a tiny bit closer this week.


On a lighter note, today is one year from when I ovulated in that blissful cycle my twins came into this world. It seems like a wonderful thing to celebrate! So happy LifeDay babies, you are truly one year old today!!!!

[MaerynPearl]

I celebrated the cycle I got pregnant with Mae. A lot of people celebrated with me (not realizing they were, it was Christmas! lol)

We have passed our mail cutoff... I've started making signs... I HAD bought a gorgeous dress to wear but the gosh darn post office didn't deliver it until 20 days later and by then I was gone on vacation... they attempted to deliver it twice, on the 27th and 28th and then returned it on the 2nd because I wasn't able to get into the post office... I hadn't gotten home until the 30th! Their policy is supposed to be first delivery... final attempt 3 days later) NOT the freaking NEXT day) and then return to sender 5 postal days after the first notice (which would be today) I even did their online form but they gave me the wrong number on my cards so it did me no good. I am SO grumpy right now.

Oh well, guess it means I need to reorder it and hope THIS time it gets here in time for homecoming!

oh and my introduction:

I used to be Army, my husband is a Marine, my brother is Army, sister is joining the Navy, one brother-in-law is a Marine, the other is joining the Navy, my step-dad is retired Navy... not to mention various cousins that are every branch but Air Force (not sure why none there) so I am unfortunately very much in a military family. Which is crazy because 5 years ago the only connection I had was myself former Army and my father Navy and not a sign of any other military.

My husband is currently deployed through some pretty big issues... in Japan during the earthquake/tsunami and while tornadoes hit us here... I can NOT wait until this deployment is over and I get him home.

And because I'm a geek: May the Fourth be with you!

[SierraBella]

Hi Mamas, I hope I can join your thread :)

My DF is a Reserves Marine, and we are expecting our baby in Dec (I have 2 children from a previous marriage). He is leaving in 5 days to go to Africa for his annual training for a month. I've never dealt with him being gone on deployment, I met him after he got back from Iraq last year.

But, I am still nervous about him being gone for a month. I'm having some pregnancy complications (SCH) and I don't have anyone else close to me where I live.

Looking forward to getting to know you all.

[Mommyofalmost6]

Adorkable, we were stationed at NNMC before we PCSed to Hampton Roads. I had my right now youngest at the hospital. It is a different feeling. Very civillian being there. I understand your being disconnected and wanting more of that military feeling. I admit I didnt understand that till we moved here and got our first shore duty though! I am a Navy wife but understand what you mean very well! And btw your twins are adorable!
 

Originally Posted by ~Adorkable~ 

Hi folks welcome to may!

Haven't done an intro in a while....
I'm a army wife currently stationed in DC, dh is in the medical core and is neck deep in the BRAC that is merging Walter Reed with National Naval Medical Center. We moved here in Sept when I was 20 weeks preggo and now have 4 month old twins. Life as a mom has been treating me very good, I feel like I'm turning out to better at this than I had thought I would be. I have even toyed with the idea of having more, but I think in the end I will come to understand that's a bit crazy.

I'm feeling pretty disconnected to the military as a whole right now, medical units that are hospitals or clinics tend to be pretty scattered, and since they do not deploy together (usually are loaned out provost one at a time) there is not really any FRG or unit function. Between that and not living on or near a real base, it feels far away. Some would like that, I kinda find it a bummer, there is something I like about being around on a base, even to just go to the px and the gym, I feel like I'm not alone then. I could use a bit more of that right now.

If I was not up to my eyebrows in babies, I would go look for some army volunteer roles, but I'm in no spot for any of that.

We did get an invite to a tribute dinner to combat medics, Gen. Odierno was the keynote speaker and that was pretty powerful, he is a very charismatic powerful speaker.


anyway, happy May everyone, great news about Osama, sad more had to die, but at least it was the guilty this time. Hope this gives focus and an end game to all the missions. I've never known the military in a time of peace, it is a far away dream that seems a tiny bit closer this week.


On a lighter note, today is one year from when I ovulated in that blissful cycle my twins came into this world. It seems like a wonderful thing to celebrate! So happy LifeDay babies, you are truly one year old today!!!!

[~Katie~]

Adorkable - I'm sorry you're feeling disconnected. I would suggest mom groups but I know that isn't the same thing.

We're heading to Phoenix. DH will finish out his last three years with a Army Reserve MI unit there. He's getting promoted and he's working with a small staff, but it sounds like it will be really flexible. And no anticipated deployments for the next three years, even then they only deploy as a company so if they don't need someone they don't take them. I was looking forward to having the job with IBM work out and being closer to family but they didn't offer him enough money, at least this way he can gain more experience and the cost of living will be much less. Oh and they drill in Hawaii. I think mama is going to get a beach vacation

His start date is August, 8th so we'll probably start the trip out of here on the 1st. It should take us about 5 days. I'm sad to leave my friends and neighborhood here but I'm looking forward to new beginnings, and I'm under far less stress now so I can concentrate on finishing out my pregnancy.

[catholic74]

Hi everyone. I've been an Army wife for 10 years. We're in Georgia now. I've got three little ones with another one on the way.   Just thought I'd stop in and meet with other Army wives who are more natural minded.  We just moved to our new post and I haven't met anyone yet who "thinks like me" in terms of birthing and parenting and while that doesn't mean I can't be friends with those wives I meet, I must admit, it makes me feel a little lonely at times.  It's just nice when you meet someone that feels the way you do about things.  

[MaerynPearl]

I've been blessed to meet a couple ladies who feel the same way... but I know how you feel... back home no one did. My own mother thought it was crazy to homebirth and only backed off from arguing with me over it because my husband would be there.

[catholic74]

Army wives come from a varied background so there's all types around a military post, that's for sure and I often think there must be natural minded mamas out there, but they, like me, don't tend to advertise their alternative way of thinking for so many reasons.....people looking at you strangely, not understanding no matter how much you explain or simply not wanting to be the "strange one" in the group!    Sometimes, we're easy to spot though.  I remember at my last post, I was at story time at the post library and my almost 2 year old wanted to nurse.  I was a bit self concious, thinking most  if not all of the moms would think it's weird to be nursing an older toddler, but I did it anyway because my toddler was getting cranky and insistent and I didn't want to leave becuase my older daughter was enjoying the story time. So, I said a little prayer, took a deep breath and just nursed my toddler, hoping no one would stare.  After storytime was over, one of the wives approached me and said something like "It's so nice to see someone else who nurses their older baby too!!!  It turns out we has do much in common.....homebirthing, cloth diapering, extended breastfeeding, co-sleeping, attatchment parenting habits, etc.....we were good friends for years and I cried when I moved away.   You just never know when you'll meet someone or where! 

[MaerynPearl]

I've found that finding them starts with something little and then we slowly open up about more and more that we do. One of them and I started opening up over baby wearing. She's a bit crunchier than I am, but I admire her for that and she most definitely doesn't look down on me for being "soggy"

One neighbor though I sort of did it backwards, only because we moved here when I was 7 months pregnant with Mae and the automatic first things you ask a lady who just moved to an area with a huge old tummy are "How far along are you?" "Which hospital will you be having her at?" and I had to explain we were homebirthing. Luckily she didnt think I was crazy... she had had 2 c-sections but said she wished she had been able to home birth. And from there we started to share that we breastfeed, cloth diaper, etc. I've rubbed off on her and made her a bit crunchier too... plus she's been my "getting healthy" buddy.

Speaking of getting healthy!

I am down 30 pounds since January, I am down almost 10 from where I was when I got pregnant with Mae. My son told me, the other day, "I'm glad to see you getting back to yourself" (aww, the tears!)

AND! Our FRO emailed us our homecoming window and its a couple weeks sooner than I thought and coming up quickly and I am just so excited to have my husband coming home!!!!

[chely7425]

Well, we made it to Louisiana :)  This is the first time I have moved without DH but it went SO well.  My friend came with me and the kids did so well.  We drove 2500 miles in 5 days... I am definitely glad to be done with it!!  Now we are just working on getting settled and cleaning and stuff.  Hopefully the next 4-6 months fly by so DH will be home!

[justKate]

Rachel, glad you made it!  Hopefully getting settled in to the new place will help the time fly by.

MP, way to go on the weight loss!  Are you doing anything specific?  I really need to drop 10 lbs just to make myself feel better, but I'm lazy and DH likes ice cream.  I tend to hide my crunchiness for some reason.  I guess I just don't want to "get in to it" with people--and honestly I don't want to hear how people make their babies CIO and think cloth is "gross."  And hooray for homecomings!  Has your DH seen you since you lost the weight?  He's not going to know what to do with you!

catholic74 and Sierra Bella, welcome!

Katie, I'm glad you at least know where you're going, and you can put all of this stress behind you.  It's hard to believe that your new baby will be here so soon!

Adorkable, your twins are getting so big.  They look so serious, they're adoreable.  IKWYM about the DC area.  We were there when we met--even though there's a lot of military, it's sort of scattered and doesn't feel like a community the way it does elsewhere.

Mommytoalmost6, we'll be neighbors soon!  Well, sort of.  We're going to be living in Gloucester and DH will work at TRACEN Yorktown.  Do you happen to know what medical we'll be assigned to?  I'm thinking possibly Langley AFB, Ft. Eustice, or Yorktown NWS....   Also, I've heard that if the MTFs are full, they'll send you out to a civilian.  Anyone have any experience with this?  I'd rather see civilians but since I'm going to be a SAH we'll be on Prime until we get the finances straight....

Other than that, we have 6 days left in Texas before the big road trip to Virginia begins!  I'm ready, mostly, the house is leased, I have 2 days of work left, and the movers are coming on the 23rd.  On to the next adventure!

[MaerynPearl]

DH has no clue how much I've lost. I've used sparkpeople.com to track my calories in and out, walk 2 miles a day minimum, do some Zumba on my XBox and some weight training. It doesnt take up much of my day, maybe an hour total, but it has made all the difference in the world.

Yesterday, I measured my waist and I am down from a 51 inch waist (which hurts to even think about) to a 39 inch waist and still dropping!

[justKate]

Congrats!  That really is something to be proud of, because it's all YOU. 

[SierraBella]

So, my DF left for Morocco 3 days ago, and I haven't heard from him :( How long does it usually take for your DH's to be able to contact you after they leave? He'll only be gone for one month, but I was really hoping he'd be able to call me or email me by now.

[Sarah W]

Originally Posted by SierraBella 

So, my DF left for Morocco 3 days ago, and I haven't heard from him :( How long does it usually take for your DH's to be able to contact you after they leave? He'll only be gone for one month, but I was really hoping he'd be able to call me or email me by now.

It depends...it can take anywhere from a day to a week. It depends on where he stopped over, if he's waiting for a flight, the availability of phones and the lines. When I was in Kuwait, I got in and out within 24 hours, but some people can be there for up to a week.

[Sarah W]

Oh, we had our baby! Harper Jay was born on 3 May, she was 7lb 15oz. I was 41 weeks and ended up being induced, since our visiting childcare had to go back to CA. LOL  She's super cute and has almost the same temperament as DD#1.

[MaerynPearl]

When my husband went to Kuwait and Iraq he got ahold of me same day. Japan it took him a week and even then communication was spotty for about 2 months. The past couple months we have been able to talk nearly daily though... and before too long he will finally be home yay!

And weighed myself today. I am down 31 pounds... but more importantly... I am a weight I have not been since I was pregnant with my daughter. And I don't mean Mae. I mean the one who will be 6 next month. Hoping I can drop 9 pounds now before hubby is home... and then 30 by November so I can be the smallest I've been in 9 years for our first Marine Corps ball! I already have my dress picked out, just can't buy it until I know what size I will be!

[SierraBella]

Congrats Sarah!! I love the name Harper!

Maeryn- 31 pounds, that's amazing! I will be 8 months pregnant for the Marine Ball! I've been looking at formal maternity dresses already! hehe

DF sent me a text-email today to tell me he made it and is alright (and he loves and misses me too, of course!), and that he won't have real communication for another week. So, I'm sooo glad he found a way to contact me, and I'll just look forward to when he can call me :)

[justKate]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarah W 

Oh, we had our baby! Harper Jay was born on 3 May, she was 7lb 15oz. I was 41 weeks and ended up being induced, since our visiting childcare had to go back to CA. LOL  She's super cute and has almost the same temperament as DD#1.

  Congratulations!