Solo-Ops Military Wives Survival Forums - Blogs

Babysitting rates?

Lhunt212 — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 22:21:20 GMT

I was a nanny a couple years ago and they paid me $10 per hour and I worked 40+ hours a week. I watched a 2 year old and a 2 year old.

First week weigh in...

Trina — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 04:20:17 GMT

First week down, and I am happy to report... 7.5lbs down! WOO HOO!!!

Incredibly depressed

Dito! — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 11:57:32 GMT

I hate to make my first post so negative but I am depressed and need to vent. My husband just got back from an 11 month Iraq deployment in November and after his new squadron assures him he will not be deploying for another 18 months they tell us 2 weeks after moving to Hawaii that he is being sent to Japan for almost 5 months! His own chief had written him an email explaining how he wouldn't be going, otherwise I would of stayed home in Orlando with my family until he got back. Well to make things worst after they tell him he will be leaving on Jan 15 yesterday they tell him it's been moved up to today! I'm sorry but regardless of being in the military or not this isn't right. Now not only are we not settled in here but I have to settle myself in on my own in a place where I don't know a single soul and can't even figure out how to get around half the time.

Sorry about my rant... I'm usually not negative when it comes to the military but I can't help but feel let down in a big way. I mean where is the organization... how is this justified? How is this showing any care for his well being... he's already showing depression and anxiety since getting back from Iraq and now this too? :angry

Jan. 6

Veronica — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:35:04 GMT

Keirnan decided he didn't want to sleep last night so we saw every hour starting at 2! I am pooped! But this morning he finally got rolling down!! Its about time! lol He rolled around the living room this morning chasing after Cocco. Well, not really chasing her, but everytime she would lay down, he would roll towards her. When he reached her, she would move and he would slowly follow! It was super cute!

The Mr. Electric guy came today to fix the light in our kitchen! I cannot say enough good things about them! He was very nice, quick and even gave me some tips for the rest of the house! After living here for 2 years, we finally have light in our kitchen just in time to leave! Go figure! Oh, and there was a 10% military discount! woot!!

I think I am going to be banished to the bedroom when Will gets home. He says I need a nap! I agree but we'll see if it happens. It didn't yesterday! There is just way too much to get done!

Thats about it for today!

Starting late

Veronica — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 19:09:12 GMT

I am starting late, but I am thinking of doing this on a daily basis. I was never good at keeping a diary as a kid, so I don't know that I'll be any good at keeping a blog as an adult! But I have stuff I want to vent or celebrate every day and need somewhere to put it without clogging up the boards! (And oh boy could I! lol)

So, here it goes!!!

Background:
In the upcoming months we'll be moving to Ft. Riley, KS! I am so excited. Have you ever heard of anyone being excited about going to KS!? I look at every move as a new adventure, and am ready for this one. I have never been to the midwest, so it will be a new part of the country for me too!

Will will be deploying sometime in the Fall and I'm not looking forward to that! BUT, we have been so blessed in not having a deployment since the beginning of our marriage! Will's last deployment was to Iraq in 2003-2004 for 14 months. It was hard but we made it, so I know we can do it again!

Right now we have to survive getting rid of this house! I am waiting to hear back from the guy at the DOD Homeowners Asst. Program. We have been playing phone tag throughout the past few weeks! Keep your fingers crossed that he has good news!!

On the kiddo front, Keirnan is almost 8 months old!!! Man, time has flown! A year ago we had just found out that we were having a boy, and now we have this amazing little person! He is very smart, but very lazy! He sits up on his own and rolls from his front to back but has been doing it for only a month!

This week he has been trying to figure out back to front! Its so funny because he just can't figure out how to get that arm out of the way! He gets it sometimes, like this morning. Today he was going after Cocco's dogtags. For whatever reason he really loves them! Anyway, Cocco kept moving to keep them just out of reach. Keirnan was working on scootching towrad her but hasn't figured out lifting his butt either. So, his schootching ends up being some weird looking was of kicking! :P After a while he decided to try extending his legs and kicking them. I see a really good swimmer in our future! He would have reached Cocco easy if he'd been in the water!

Well, naptime is almost over. Hopefully, I'll make it to day 2!! :woot

Yay!!

Alison — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 23:23:28 GMT

So, I guess this is my first blog. And I went overboard setting colors and whatnot, so I need to fix that ASAP. Don't want anyone to have a seizure or something.

Day three...

Trina — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 19:58:59 GMT

I am on day 3 of the "diet". I hate to call it a diet because diet always feels so temporary. I am working towards making this my lifestyle, but saying "Day three of the new lifestyle" sounds weird, too. :giggle

Anyway, day three and still going strong. I am asking the husband to move the exercise bike into the family room so that I can ride it in front of the TV today, and I have my Wii Fit (which he bought me on Jan 1st), plus I can always take walks around the neighborhood since it is SO nice outside in the winter here. Lots of variety to help me from getting burnt out exercising right away.

I have done really well the last two days with my food, and so far today doing well, too. I made a delicious salad that I have a feeling I will be making again and again, I made a really yummy healthy omelet for dinner last night, I have veggie and meatless healthy options galore in my fridge right now... I am even getting extra smiley faces on MyFoodDiary for eating so much fiber.

The starting out always feel great though. It's the keeping it up that's a problem. :blink

2010 here I come!

Trina — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 16:25:00 GMT

Today is a new day. A day for new beginnings, new motivation, and a brand spanking new year. A day to wipe all of the dirt from my past off of my shoes and start again. There are many things in my life I am not happy with. My marriage could be stronger, my house could be cleaner, the number on the scale could be lower... All things which are within my own control to change. So, now I will change them. A new day, a new year, a new decade (yes, for all of you geeks, I get it... the new decade doesn't officially start until 2011 =P)... What better time for a new me?

New years resolutions have never been something I kept, or even made, in the past. It seemed pointless because I would think "it's just another day, like yesterday, what's the point?", or I would fail miserably and end up disappointed and think "what's the point?", or I would forget about them completely in which case, "what's the point?". Making resolutions, and subsequently breaking them, is cliche. I know. Everyone does it, over and over again.

I am not everyone.

This year I feel more resolve to change my life than ever before. I have so much to be thankful for, so much to experience and enjoy, and so many reasons to take care of myself so that I can have many more new years in my future. I have an amazing husband, who despite the numerous hairs that have been pulled out over his behavior, is the best thing for me. He keeps me accountable, and motivated, and responsible. His shortcomings push me to find my own strengths. His strengths push me to examine my shortcomings. Most of all, he loves me. Strengths AND shortcomings alike. I have five furry little monsters that bring me more joy than I thought pets ever could. They make me stop and appreciate the small things in life... the way they tilt their heads to the side when they hear a strange noise, the way they stalk each other and jump out from behind corners just to surprise one another, the way they whine when they can't quite reach what they want. They remind me that money and possessions shouldn't matter as much as they do. They are perfectly happy without a new purse, a giant TV, or the newest video game. They are ecstatic just to be loved.

What more motivation do I need besides what I already have. <3

Riding the emotional rollercoaster of deployment....

dianaprince25 — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 08:09:25 GMT

So today I'm feeling kind of up and down. Up because there is a very short time left before my babe, my best friend, my husband gets to come home (well, at least stateside) from a year long deployment!!! YAY!!!:goodvibes
While I know it could have been longer I'm extremely grateful that it wasn't and I have to give BIG KUDOS to you wives that have dealt with 15 or even 18 month deployments!!! I have learned that what they first tell you at the FRG meetings is true---NOONE will understand what you're going through better than another military wife! After a year without him, rushing to try to finish my last year of college (I'm finally in the home stretch---it's taken 6 years, but 3 of them don't really count as time it took to get through school since the kids and I moved with him and there was no transfer credits that would apply---just one more semester to go now!), a kidney stone (mine), countless colds (both the kids and I), one car accident (sliding on black ice), several stomach bugs (kids), saddened holidays without him (for everyone), seemingly endless run-ins with my in-laws (including the one tonight where my sister in law, who is a young teenager herself, attempted to thwart my authority with my oldest kiddo)*this happens with regularity in this house since most of my in-laws still live here, a mortgage that almost was (but we decided that house wasn't right for us), paying over half the mortgage for my in-laws to keep a roof over their ungrateful heads, paying bills and scraping together savings, restless sleep (over a year thanks to my youngest), temper tantrums (both kiddos), a stalker, a crazy ex who refuses to move on even though it's been at least a decade since we dated, taxes, and a number of emails from some random woman to my husband (who has not responded thankfully), and endless questions about my husband later...we're finally making it into the home stretch and I can't wait!!! I have so much that I want to do with him (mostly involving hugging and kissing and matrimonial stuff, but also spending family time with him and our munchkins and our "adopted sons" aka our puppies). And now that this deployment is almost over I am getting nervous and excited and I'll be crazy busy but I'm just so happy that he will be safe---FINALLY! After knowing all the missions he's been on, and how likely it was that he could have been blown up...it eases my mind to know that the man that I have the highest esteem, and the utmost respect for will be returning in just a few short weeks! Praise the Lord that he's been kept safe! (and that I have so far managed to maintain some semblance of sanity, thanks to our Heavenly Father---even though some days I feel like a horrible Christian (here's the down part...) because I say or do things that are not very becoming of a daughter of God. Take tonight---this girl or woman, who happens to be the sister of a soldier that my husband was in charge of [before the soldier switched companies] emailed my husband for the third time, and I have not read the emails, even though I was sorely tempted to, but I did get jealous and I wanted to put on a pair of boxing gloves and go a round or two with her!!! I know my husband would never cheat on me, he is too much in love with me, and too honest of a man to do something like that, but I do not know what her intentions are and that bothers me.:unsure Maybe it's just because of the separation or maybe it's because of my childhood, or maybe it's because of the emotional roller coaster I've been riding since this deployment began, or a combination of all three, but I broke down tonight because of it and I'm not sure how to explain to him that I would appreciate it if he would let her know to stop trying to contact him, as he does have a loving, respectful wife who adores him and two sweet children who look up to him as their hero, and their daddy, and who love him with all of their little hearts. If I do this the wrong way, it will cause an unneccessary problem between my husband and I. I know I need to talk with him about it, but I don't want to come across as a crazy-with-jealousy wife that doesn't trust her husband, especially because I trust my husband wholeheartedly. But I do want her to stop emailing him, so how do I deal with such a delicate situation?) If anyone is out there tonight, please pray for me to be able to find the words, the right ones to appeal to my hubby's logic and reason, while staying calm and not flying off the handle unneccessarily....Thanks for letting me vent!!!

Deployment with a fresh marriage and a new baby

spchaywardswifey — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 08:00:57 GMT

So im new to this site.. i just need to write about my situation maybe if i write it and read it i can stop feeling sorry for myself.

I met my husband last november we fell in love pretty much instantly 1 month and 1 day after we met in person we were pregnant.. we didnt find out until january 15. it was not planned but we were already planning on getting married so why not put some icing on the cake right? we were married january 24th and he left for a month 10 days later for some trainging in california. i took it pretty well.. well, compared to the military wives and girlfriends i was friends with at the time. i didnt see any point in crying over him being gone for a month when i knew he was safe and training to be a better soldier. during that month one of my friends who i have known since i was 10 whos man just happened to be my husbands roommate in the barracks was constantly wining and crying about her man being gone.. i just couldnt take her crap i was pregnant and a newly wed..trying to get my license and get stuff done before my husband got home so i told her if it bothers her that much to be away from her man for a couple weeks when he is completely safe how are you going to handle deployment? and i said maybe you shouldnt be with a military man because she obviously cant handle it. then we stopped talking.. it didnt bother me because i felt like she wasnt true to herself about her feelings for her man, it seemed shady and i think she was using him for financial security. anyway my hubby came home and we got our first cute little apartment in april. i so happy to cook and clean for my hubby, the plan was i would get a job after the baby was born. but in early may i started feeling really sluggish and i had a feeling something was wrong with my pregnancy but i never made a big deal out of it. even though the ob should have done something when my blood pressure was high instead of re-taking it until they got a lower number. anyway late may we found out we were having a boy! just what we were wanting:)then june my hubby leaves for a month again for more training in louisiana and in that month i was helping a family member get back on their feet and even they noticed something wasnt right with me. you could see my pulse in my wrists and neck from 10 feet away and anytime i got stressed out i would swell so bad my clothes couldnt fit me. when my hubby came home in july i had a appointment and told my ob about it and they were telling me it was normal. WHAT!? how it it normal? i dont see your pulse beating from 10 feet away.. so anyway my husband and i took a looong car ride about 16 hours the last day of july and the next morning we did the naughty and omg! blood! so we rush to the hospital i was 32 weeks pregnant and they were telling me the baby was going to come, NO! they gave me medication to stop the labor and they were successful, thank god. so 3 days later they release me and tell me i have cronic hypertension.. well finally something to explain my bp and swelling! from then on i had to do non stress testing 2 times a week and an ultrasound every week aswell until i had the baby. well 3 weeks later when i was 35 weeks pregnant and barely mobile i go into pre term labor again it stopped on its own and i was 4cm dialated and 90%effaced. from then on it was just waiting.. knowing at any moment my water can break. finally at 37 weeks water breaks at 230am and the baby is out at 430 am all natural birth the most proud moment of my life! and i was soo glad my husband was put on rear-d because he would have had to leave the weekend after our son was born. instead he deployed september 24th when our son was 3 weeks old. so now i live about 45 minutes away from my family and i dont really have any friends anymore. im doing the mommy thing all by myself and it is nothing like i was expecting! i have good days and bad..my bad days are REALLY bad. when you dont have anyone to talk to and your inside with a baby and puppy(oh btw i have a 7 month old puppy) all day everyday with no help it drives you insane. i get to talk to my hubby on msn and skype everyday but it itsnt a break i still have to handle everything on my own. i am 100% greatful for my hubby time though he is my best friend and our relationship and love is so stong and i am so blessed. at the end of the day i just dont know how i am going to make it through the next without a break though.. i feel like im losing myself and i have no time to even take a shower or make a phone call. how do i escape? how do i find time for me when i have 2 needy babies to take care of? i just dont know:wacko

HOUSING FOR FORT LEWIS

crystal1979 — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 02:55:07 GMT

Does anybody know what to do if you are having problems with the area manager on post. my husband is in afghanistan and we are trying to command sponsor my sister which his unit has done all that they are now saying untill the papper work is done my sister cant come on post and vist me... and i have tried to move to another area on post and they said i cant do that either what are my rights.... i have never lived on post andhave no clue what to do....:bleep

My emotions and anxiety

sgitchel — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:51:58 GMT

*Note: the facts

~Hubs leaves Jan 20th for boot camp @ Jackson.
~This is the only means to secure a future for our girls.
~I have been completely encouraging and supporting.
~My hubs is a mature, amazing man & father.
~Trust only goes so far with me. For 1, you have to earn it from the get-go. 2 a man is a man.. and as much as he may love someone there are two different sides to a relationship (the partnership and the intimate) If one is not %100 available, the worst CAN happen.
~It's when we're in our bubble we've created that we live in this fairytale. But outside of it... the connection is not as strong and it tension most felt.
~He's a reformed womanizer (who's been there, DONE that), whom usually are best to settle down with because they KNOW exactly what they want.

THE BATTLE IN MY HEAD
Haven't been able to sleep all night.
The doubts are coming over me like a title wave. My head is assuring me & my heart is screaming at me. My children are the only reason i see through this. The acts of unselfishness we will endure for them.
To sacrifice our relationship or don't for the unhealthy reasons... living in regret of a better future for not sacrificing.
I don't trust temptation. What makes me any different than the other others... other than the superficial layers? It's in a heated argument over and over again that the hurtful truth and resentment comes out.
How far is too far? When is enough enough?
My head is telling me to do any means possible. Go with the flow. You have the opportunity to raise your children and have a roof over your head. Without him you have nothing and constant struggles.
It's only been when my gut and intuition give the strongest anxiety that the worst has yet to come. I have no piece of mind. Not enough reassurance can comfort my heart.
Here and now... do I let go completely in the arms of fate? Be the best that I can be? Trusting in my self to do the right thing?
I don't know if I support this decision but i must stand by him as I have vowed to god and witnesses.
For the love of my children.
What doesn't kill me will only make me stronger.
However... this is NOT fair for him. He is sacrificing the time away from me and the girls to make things better for us. He gives and gives %101 each day in efforts to show his love for me. I should not add to the stress and roller coaster emotions he's dealing with as the time approaches.
I just don't know how I'm supposed to deal with this?

AFTER WRITING THIS I HAD TO SHARE MY EMOTIONS I HAD NOT DEALT WITH BECAUSE I WAS SO FOCUSED ON HIM INSTEAD OF MY SELF.

His response <3

Well if it means anything. I thought moving back to MI would end us. Almost did for a bit but we got through it. I feel no matter what happens we will always end back together. We were paired before this life on earth. I can't say we wont have any separation at all. But I can say it will always be us in the end. I'm not going to do anything that will end us. It will be the miss communication and stress that pull us apart. All we can do is remind ourselves of why we are doing this and not to throw it away over something so small when the time comes. We are both human with strong emotions. Things will get rough at times but I like to believe we are strong enough to get through it one way or another. All you can do is your best on your part. And I can do the best on my part. Doing that will make us work. If you have your half covered and I do the same there will be no cracks for us to fall through. Even if you did your half and I didn't... at least you know it was not your fault. Know what I mean? So always do your best and you will be ok. This is something I lived with for a while now. It will work out.

Hmmm... something to think about.

Newbie

sgitchel — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:50:04 GMT

Hello ladies!!!
Hubs is leaving for Army BCT Jan 20th! Then to Ft Sam Houston for AIT (68W). Me and the girls are going to go alll out and move there temporarily seeing him when we can see him for the 4 months he's in school. As of today I'm finally dealing with my own emotions of this whole thing after encouraging and supporting him since June 09. What doesn't kill me will make me stronger right! :D I'm looking SO forward to reading up on the site and getting to know you! In advance, thank you for having me!!!:bearhug

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Solo-Ops — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 10:42:07 GMT

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