I knew it was coming. It was only a matter of time. The novelty of being at grandma and grandpa's had worn off and reality set in at a rapid rate.
Hannah had a pretty good meltdown at bedtime the other night. Tears, the likes of which I've never seen before, were pouring down her little face. She sobbed "I want my Poppy! I miss him so much". Josiah tried to be tough, and for a bit he pulled it off, but in the end her tears and wailing were too much for him. He broke down and cried too. Jonah just sat there looking at them like they'd gone nuts! It took me 2 hours of praying with them and talking to them to get them calmed enough to go to sleep.
And then came the search for some way to help them through this phase.
The solution? Laminated pictures of Kevin that they can carry around and pillows with iron-on-transfers of that picture that they can sleep with! Hannah loved the laminated picture. She talks to it, kisses it(a LOT), and tucks it in next to her at night. Bedtime is MUCH smoother now...unless we can't find our picture. Oh, the ruckous that takes place if "The Picture" goes missing! We went on a search tonight that lasted well over 1/2 hour and ended only after we realized that the picture we were looking for had been attached to the bedroom wall with sticky tack! Oh yeah, Hannah forgot to mention that she did that! Crazy girl!
So, we've weathered our first bump in the road. This was the kids bump. I'm waiting for my very own bump. I feel like a ticking bomb! Tick-tick-tick-tick...
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Friday, August 22, 2008
He's off.
Well, we offically start our countdown. 2 days down, 120 days until he comes home! But really, who's couning!
It's been a real blessing to be able to talk to Kevin for the past two days. Yesterday he was able to use his cell phone while on the planes and on the bus to the fort. Today he had it in his bag and managed a really quick call while hiding out in the bathroom! Gotta do what ya gotta do to talk to the family! We don't know when the phone will be put in storage, but it should be withing the next few days. After that the calls will be sparse, at best. He's been told it could be 2 times a week or it could be only 3 times in the next 4 months. He was not allowed to sleep last night at all. They arrived at base around 11pm yesterday and he when I talked to him at 6pm tonight he had been standing in line the whole time. He sat for a few quick minutes to eat dinner and that was it. So, he's tired, tired, TIRED! Hopefully he'll be allowed to sleep tonight!
It's been interesting since we've been up here. We arrived last Wednesday and Jonah was in the Urgent care Thursday with Strep. By Sunday night we had found out Kevin would need to go back to Louisville to ship out. So, we decided to go the extra 2 hours and go back "home" to Evansville since Kevin, Hannah, and I were all sick now too. Hannah had bronchitis and was given an antibiotic, Kevin had a "cold" but was given and strong antibiotic for 3 days just to make sure, since he was leaving in 3 days. I was given a steroid shot and Prednisone so I could breath. Today I made a trip back across the border to see another doctor as I was not getting better. He's started me on an antibiotic, more Prednisone, and a different inhalor. Hopefully ONE of those will do the trick and I'll be on the mend soon!
The kids are doing okay. Right now they're having fun being at grandpa and grandma's. The novelty will wear off all too soon and then we'll have to deal with reality. Pray for them and for me as I figure out how to help them through this. Josiah is feeling the "pressure" a bit, I think. He insisted on coming to the doctor with me today. Because we had to cross the border and it's also over an hours drive each way, it took us 7 hours to go to the doctor. I couldn't figure out why he wanted to go because he HATES being in the car and we were just in all day yesterday. He comes to tell me later that he had to come to take care of me because "Papa's not here to do it and I told him I would". Awww, what a sweetie! I love my kids!
It's been a real blessing to be able to talk to Kevin for the past two days. Yesterday he was able to use his cell phone while on the planes and on the bus to the fort. Today he had it in his bag and managed a really quick call while hiding out in the bathroom! Gotta do what ya gotta do to talk to the family! We don't know when the phone will be put in storage, but it should be withing the next few days. After that the calls will be sparse, at best. He's been told it could be 2 times a week or it could be only 3 times in the next 4 months. He was not allowed to sleep last night at all. They arrived at base around 11pm yesterday and he when I talked to him at 6pm tonight he had been standing in line the whole time. He sat for a few quick minutes to eat dinner and that was it. So, he's tired, tired, TIRED! Hopefully he'll be allowed to sleep tonight!
It's been interesting since we've been up here. We arrived last Wednesday and Jonah was in the Urgent care Thursday with Strep. By Sunday night we had found out Kevin would need to go back to Louisville to ship out. So, we decided to go the extra 2 hours and go back "home" to Evansville since Kevin, Hannah, and I were all sick now too. Hannah had bronchitis and was given an antibiotic, Kevin had a "cold" but was given and strong antibiotic for 3 days just to make sure, since he was leaving in 3 days. I was given a steroid shot and Prednisone so I could breath. Today I made a trip back across the border to see another doctor as I was not getting better. He's started me on an antibiotic, more Prednisone, and a different inhalor. Hopefully ONE of those will do the trick and I'll be on the mend soon!
The kids are doing okay. Right now they're having fun being at grandpa and grandma's. The novelty will wear off all too soon and then we'll have to deal with reality. Pray for them and for me as I figure out how to help them through this. Josiah is feeling the "pressure" a bit, I think. He insisted on coming to the doctor with me today. Because we had to cross the border and it's also over an hours drive each way, it took us 7 hours to go to the doctor. I couldn't figure out why he wanted to go because he HATES being in the car and we were just in all day yesterday. He comes to tell me later that he had to come to take care of me because "Papa's not here to do it and I told him I would". Awww, what a sweetie! I love my kids!
Friday, August 15, 2008
I love the army...I love the Army...I love the Army
Do you think if I say that enough times that I may acually believe it?! Nah, I didn't think so either.
We did manage to make it into Canada with no problems at all. We pulled a big trailer loaded with boxes of clothes and toys and such. They were calling for rain so we wrapped the trailer in a ridiculous amount of tarps and tied it with an equally ridiculous amount of tie down straps. When we got to the border the guard asked us for our birth certificates, where we were going, and told us to have a nice time. That was it!!!! He didn't even ask what we had under the tarp or look under it or anything!!! Not that I'm complaining! I had visions of a 3 hour detainment at the border while we took off all the tarps and they searched the boxes. It was a very pleasant suprise!
And today we got our not-so-pleasant suprise. Kevin was supposed to ship out from Detroit. His recruiter in Evansville said everything was set and we were good to come up to Canada. Kevin double checked and asked a few more times. We were assured everything was a go. Well, they were wrong. You're shocked, you say?? Why? This is the US Army we're dealing with. Kevin's recruiter called today and said there is a problem. The office in Port Huron refuses to take him to MEPS in Detroit so he has to travel back to Louisville, KY to ship out. Suprisingly I wasn't even the slightest bit shocked by this. What are you gonna do? Roll with the punches.
We did manage to make it into Canada with no problems at all. We pulled a big trailer loaded with boxes of clothes and toys and such. They were calling for rain so we wrapped the trailer in a ridiculous amount of tarps and tied it with an equally ridiculous amount of tie down straps. When we got to the border the guard asked us for our birth certificates, where we were going, and told us to have a nice time. That was it!!!! He didn't even ask what we had under the tarp or look under it or anything!!! Not that I'm complaining! I had visions of a 3 hour detainment at the border while we took off all the tarps and they searched the boxes. It was a very pleasant suprise!
And today we got our not-so-pleasant suprise. Kevin was supposed to ship out from Detroit. His recruiter in Evansville said everything was set and we were good to come up to Canada. Kevin double checked and asked a few more times. We were assured everything was a go. Well, they were wrong. You're shocked, you say?? Why? This is the US Army we're dealing with. Kevin's recruiter called today and said there is a problem. The office in Port Huron refuses to take him to MEPS in Detroit so he has to travel back to Louisville, KY to ship out. Suprisingly I wasn't even the slightest bit shocked by this. What are you gonna do? Roll with the punches.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Welcome to the Military!
We were all set to leave for Canada tomorrow morning. "Were" is the key word. Kevin went in to see his recruiter one last time this morning. He was supposed to go through some testing on some basic tasks and if he could pass then he would be promoted one rank before he even ships out. He passed! And that was where any good news came to an abrupt end.
The recruiters computer crashed. All Kevin's information has to get put into that computer. All his documents...birth certificates, naturalization papers, marriage certificate, etc,...have to be scanned in. Kevin has to have those papers to cross the border when he takes us to Canada and then when he crosses back into the USA . He can not leave without them and his recruiter has to have them. I found it quite funny that the recruiter suggested that he could mail them to us. Ummm, have you seen the way things have gone for us so far???? If you think I'm going to trust the US Postal Service and/or the US Army with documents that important, think again!
So we wait...again. The Military slogan, "Hurry up and wait" takes on a WHOLE new meaning!
SUPPOSEDLY the computer is going to be in on Wednesday. And the recruiter "guarantees" that we'll be out of Evansville and on our way to Canada by the end of the week. Do you know what a recruiters guarantee or promise is worth?!?! Yeah, you guessed it. NOTHING! :)
On the brighter side, something very sweet and touching happened as a result of our move being delayed. As some of you know, we live in a relatively tough neighborhood. We fondly refer to it as "The Ghetto". The trailers and homes on one street adjoining church property are especially tough. I feed children from these homes on a regular basis because their families do not have food. The parents allow us to take them to church and at times we take up 2 rows!!! I'm constantly putting band-aids on "owies",(should have bought stock in Band-Aid!!), pulling out splinters, pulling glass out of tiny feet because they refuse to wear shoes. They come to me when their older siblings are picking on them, when they're sad about anything, and just when they want to talk and have someone listen to them. One sibling pair inparticular practically live here. They knock on the door every morning no later than 7:30. If you don't answer, no matter what time of day, they will proceed to knock on ALL the doors (we have 3) until you open up. They've knock for almost 2 hours straight before because I had told them our kids couldn't come out and "Please, don't knock any more!". They simply refuse to go home if our kids can't come out to play! Our house is their playland. I've developed a special bond with all of these kids though. And I will miss then, door knocking and all! Oops, got side tracked. Back to my story.
This morning I cleaned out the fridge. I threw away any odds and ends that we had not eaten this past week. We're leaving in the morning, right?! No need to keep it around. I might as well clean it out now rather than waiting until the last minute. Well, when Kevin told us we weren't leaving I said, "Oh great! We don't have any food! I threw it all out!". Now in my mind this was a simple enough problem to fix. Run to Walmart. No big deal. To our kids, who have never had to go without snacks, much less a meal, the thought of no food evidently freaked them out. Unbeknownst to me they went outside and told all their friends that we had no food. Next thing I know there's a knock at my door. The mother of one of the kids had brought us a bucket with buns, hot dogs, chips, cookies and some juice. She said that the kids had told her we didn't have any food because we were supposed to move and now we weren't. She told me that it wasn't much, just junk food really. She had just been down to the food pantry that morning because they didn't have any food or money to get food, and these were some of the things they had given her. She wanted to share them with us because we had been so kind to her and her kids. She said she really appreciated things like taking their kids to church, even though they didn't have nice clothes...we gave them books,(which were just "extras" from books someone had given us, but that was what actually got them asking about coming to church in the first place!), and she appreciated the fact that we didn't act like we were better than them because they were poor. I was really touched by her gesture. Here is a woman who has to go to the food pantry because she isn't able to feed her own family and yet she's willing to share her meager food supply with us because she thought we were in need. Brought tears to my eyes.
It's funny how people with less are often the ones to give the most.
The recruiters computer crashed. All Kevin's information has to get put into that computer. All his documents...birth certificates, naturalization papers, marriage certificate, etc,...have to be scanned in. Kevin has to have those papers to cross the border when he takes us to Canada and then when he crosses back into the USA . He can not leave without them and his recruiter has to have them. I found it quite funny that the recruiter suggested that he could mail them to us. Ummm, have you seen the way things have gone for us so far???? If you think I'm going to trust the US Postal Service and/or the US Army with documents that important, think again!
So we wait...again. The Military slogan, "Hurry up and wait" takes on a WHOLE new meaning!
SUPPOSEDLY the computer is going to be in on Wednesday. And the recruiter "guarantees" that we'll be out of Evansville and on our way to Canada by the end of the week. Do you know what a recruiters guarantee or promise is worth?!?! Yeah, you guessed it. NOTHING! :)
On the brighter side, something very sweet and touching happened as a result of our move being delayed. As some of you know, we live in a relatively tough neighborhood. We fondly refer to it as "The Ghetto". The trailers and homes on one street adjoining church property are especially tough. I feed children from these homes on a regular basis because their families do not have food. The parents allow us to take them to church and at times we take up 2 rows!!! I'm constantly putting band-aids on "owies",(should have bought stock in Band-Aid!!), pulling out splinters, pulling glass out of tiny feet because they refuse to wear shoes. They come to me when their older siblings are picking on them, when they're sad about anything, and just when they want to talk and have someone listen to them. One sibling pair inparticular practically live here. They knock on the door every morning no later than 7:30. If you don't answer, no matter what time of day, they will proceed to knock on ALL the doors (we have 3) until you open up. They've knock for almost 2 hours straight before because I had told them our kids couldn't come out and "Please, don't knock any more!". They simply refuse to go home if our kids can't come out to play! Our house is their playland. I've developed a special bond with all of these kids though. And I will miss then, door knocking and all! Oops, got side tracked. Back to my story.
This morning I cleaned out the fridge. I threw away any odds and ends that we had not eaten this past week. We're leaving in the morning, right?! No need to keep it around. I might as well clean it out now rather than waiting until the last minute. Well, when Kevin told us we weren't leaving I said, "Oh great! We don't have any food! I threw it all out!". Now in my mind this was a simple enough problem to fix. Run to Walmart. No big deal. To our kids, who have never had to go without snacks, much less a meal, the thought of no food evidently freaked them out. Unbeknownst to me they went outside and told all their friends that we had no food. Next thing I know there's a knock at my door. The mother of one of the kids had brought us a bucket with buns, hot dogs, chips, cookies and some juice. She said that the kids had told her we didn't have any food because we were supposed to move and now we weren't. She told me that it wasn't much, just junk food really. She had just been down to the food pantry that morning because they didn't have any food or money to get food, and these were some of the things they had given her. She wanted to share them with us because we had been so kind to her and her kids. She said she really appreciated things like taking their kids to church, even though they didn't have nice clothes...we gave them books,(which were just "extras" from books someone had given us, but that was what actually got them asking about coming to church in the first place!), and she appreciated the fact that we didn't act like we were better than them because they were poor. I was really touched by her gesture. Here is a woman who has to go to the food pantry because she isn't able to feed her own family and yet she's willing to share her meager food supply with us because she thought we were in need. Brought tears to my eyes.
It's funny how people with less are often the ones to give the most.
Friday, August 8, 2008
It's official!
Kevin's papers are all signed. As of today he is officially "government property". It will be an easy day to remember...8/8/08. Kind of neat, actually!
So, the papers are signed and, in typical Kevin fashion, he doesn't want to leave for Canada on Wednesday or Thursday anymore. He wants to leave Monday! I keep telling him he can't do this to me and he keeps telling me that the Army changes things up all the time...get used to it!
So I'm off to pack. I have to hit the grocery stores tomorrow for more boxes. Then we can begin the joyous task of sorting through the kids toys, trying to decide what stays in Indiana and what comes to grandmas with us.
Did I mention that we're living with Kevin's family for the next 5 months or so? Living in their home will be me, Josiah, Hannah, Jonah, Kevin's mom, Kevin's dad, his foster brother, his grandma and grandpa, 2 cats, 2 dogs...and a partridge in a pear tree! I'm pretty sure some, if not all, of us will be certifiably insane by the time we move out!
Will and Judy have reloccated their bedroom to the "back room" of the basement. There basement is divided into living space that they use as a family room and the "back room". Basically, it's the utility room! Now, is that love or what?! I guess they really want the grandkids for a bit! The kids and I will take over there bedroom. The boys will share a set of bunkbeds and Hannah and I will have another set. Hannah and Josiah were quick to stake their claim on the top bunks! I was just as quick to claim the bottom! We have to squeeze in all our clothes and the kids toys into this room. It's not a tiny room, but when you're using it as living space for 4 people, well...it's tiny! We are super excited though!
So, the papers are signed and, in typical Kevin fashion, he doesn't want to leave for Canada on Wednesday or Thursday anymore. He wants to leave Monday! I keep telling him he can't do this to me and he keeps telling me that the Army changes things up all the time...get used to it!
So I'm off to pack. I have to hit the grocery stores tomorrow for more boxes. Then we can begin the joyous task of sorting through the kids toys, trying to decide what stays in Indiana and what comes to grandmas with us.
Did I mention that we're living with Kevin's family for the next 5 months or so? Living in their home will be me, Josiah, Hannah, Jonah, Kevin's mom, Kevin's dad, his foster brother, his grandma and grandpa, 2 cats, 2 dogs...and a partridge in a pear tree! I'm pretty sure some, if not all, of us will be certifiably insane by the time we move out!
Will and Judy have reloccated their bedroom to the "back room" of the basement. There basement is divided into living space that they use as a family room and the "back room". Basically, it's the utility room! Now, is that love or what?! I guess they really want the grandkids for a bit! The kids and I will take over there bedroom. The boys will share a set of bunkbeds and Hannah and I will have another set. Hannah and Josiah were quick to stake their claim on the top bunks! I was just as quick to claim the bottom! We have to squeeze in all our clothes and the kids toys into this room. It's not a tiny room, but when you're using it as living space for 4 people, well...it's tiny! We are super excited though!
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Almost ready!
Well, we're almost ready to leave for Canada. Grandpa Will and Grandma Judy are almost as excited as the kids...almost! Jonah has started asking "how many more days???" so often that I'm about ready to go crazy! Smile! We hope to leave early next week. Kevin will be able to come with us, help us get settled in, and then he will ship out from Detroit. He will be back mid-December for Christmas Exodus and then back to Georgia just after the New Year until sometime in late January. It all depends on wether or not he gets a slot in Airborne School.
We've packed up all our clothes, both summer and winter, school books, and tons of toys. We're going to load it onto our trailer and haul it up there. Everything will be covered and wrapped in tarps just incase it rains. I can't wait to get to the border. Without a doubt they'll want us to unwrap everything and open up boxes. Fun times!
We've packed up all our clothes, both summer and winter, school books, and tons of toys. We're going to load it onto our trailer and haul it up there. Everything will be covered and wrapped in tarps just incase it rains. I can't wait to get to the border. Without a doubt they'll want us to unwrap everything and open up boxes. Fun times!
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