An up and down week

Wow this has been a roller coaster of a week for me. Lots of ups and downs can take a toll on a person. I don't know how many people watch the news, even if you do it's possible you missed the story. On Monday 2 helicopters collided in Iraq killing the 4 soldiers on board (2 per chopper). These 4 brave men were all stationed here at Fort Drum. I don't personally know them or their families but as a wife of a deployed soldier hearing of incidents like this one have an effect on me. What makes it even harder is the fact that these soldiers were from Fort Drum, our home, our division, our family. The Army is a hard thing to explain to those who have never been closely involved. You get the privilege of meeting people you never would have outside of the military. Some of these people you like, some you hate and others become a second family. I love my Army family and I don't know what I would do without them. Over the past 6 years my Army family has changed. People move to other duty stations or simply get out all together and then other's move in. I am currently going through kind of a transition with my particular Army family. Those I have developed close relationships with have moved leaving me with a small group here at Drum. I wouldn't trade these girls for anything. I don't know how I would survive without them and their support. Like I said before, I LOVE MY ARMY FAMILY!!!! I want to ask everyone to please remember the families of those 4 soldiers in your prayers. They are going through something I can only imagine and something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.

On a happier note Adam was able to call on Thursday and talk to both Andrew and I. While it wasn't a long conversation it was the first one we've had since Adam left on the 12th. He seems to be doing well. His company made it to their final destination so hopefully once things get settled we will have more contact with him. I want to say thank you to everyone for your support during this time. I know this year will pass quickly and by this time next year we will be one big happy family again.

August 22, 2009

For those of you who don' know, this is the day baby #2 is due. That's right Adam and I are expecting another baby. We didn't find out until a few weeks ago when I was almost 8 weeks along. I'll spare you all of the details of how we found out and all of that. Just know that we were SHOCKED, happy, but SHOCKED. This pregnancy won't be very different from the last. Adam is deployed so I get to go through it all pretty much alone (with the exception of a few good friends). The only major difference is that last time Adam's deployment ended at the same time I was due so there was no problem with him making it home in time for delivery and he was here to help once we came home too. This time the baby is due in the middle of the deployment so there's lots of planning and luck involved. We are going to TRY and schedule his 2 week R&R around the due date so that Adam can be here for delivery and a week or so after, but no matter how well we plan in the end it all relies on this little baby cooperating. Please keep your fingers crossed that everything works out because I would hate for Adam to miss this event, not to mention I would rather not go through it without him. I am now just over 9 weeks along and feeling pretty good. I'm not sure when we will get the ultrasound to find out if it's a girl or a boy, but once I know I will definitely do a post.

The Big Day

Well yesterday was the big day. We took Adam up to his Battalion at 8am to drop him off for the deployment. Fortunately we were able to hang out for a couple of hours before we had to leave. In some ways this deployment is easier than the others, mainly because this is our 3rd deployment. However in many other ways this is harder than I expected. I know that Andrew and I will be fine. We have lots to keep us busy until Adam comes home on leave sometime in August or September. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers during this time, especially Andrew. This year will be difficult for him because he is most definitely a "Daddy's Boy".

before we left the house

just being silly boys

wearing Daddy's hat

getting to hold a "big shooter gun" (I think it's an M-4)

the last family picture for 8 months

walking to the parking lot.

It's getting closer

Well we are just about out of time. I am dropping Adam off at 9am Monday morning to leave for Afghanistan. I'm not sure where the past few months have gone. It seemed like earlier in 2008 that his deployment date would never get here and now all of a sudden I am staring it in the face. Part of me is glad it is finally here. Not because I want him to go but because I hate all of the waiting and preparing. The waiting/preparation part of deployments just drags the torture out. With this being our 3rd deployment it is safe to say that I have "been there and done that" with just about everything involved. Our first deployment we learned about just 1 week after finding out I was pregnant with Andrew and then Adam left 2 weeks later. That was our shortest deployment, only because Adam joined his unit late. He managed to make it home about 3 weeks before I delivered Andrew. We were very lucky after that. Adam was home for almost 2 years before deployment #2 came along. This deployment would end up being harder than anyone ever imagined. His unit left in Feb 06 for Afghanistan with the plans of being there for 12 months. Andrew and I moved to AR during that time to be closer to family and so I could have help with my then highly active 2yr old. In Jan 07, about 2 weeks before Adam was scheduled for a flight home, the phone call came. Due to the troop surge in Iraq our soldiers were being extended another 3 to 4 months. Talk about a shocker!! Here we were planning what to do next and in true Army fashion our plans were changed. But we made it through that 15 months and now 19 months later we are about to start another 12 months apart. Andrew and I will survive this deployment just like the others. It will be tough at times but I know we will be fine. So here's to making the most of our last 4 days together for a year.