Post PCS Funk

If you've ever moved (whether you are military or not), you know how stressful it can be. And I'm not talking about the actual physical moving part of it...

I'm talking about things like [prepare for personal tangent]:

• my new home doesn't feel like home
• there's no children's salon here to cut my munchkin's hair, and the girl in the barber shop was annoyed with my baby boy (even though he was good and held still)
• the thrift store here isn't as good as the one where I used to live
• I get nervous just thinking about meeting with new friends, because... well... they are new and that's scary.
• the fact that I'm nervous about friends annoys me

And that's just the beginning of my "pity me" party. Oy, I'm in a funk. Maybe being 8 months pregnant and the weather being 95 degrees and humid daily has something to do with it.. but I sure I hope I can bounce back soon.

Sorry to be so negative today. I guess I just wanted you all know that if you have PCSed/moved recently, or are getting ready to... it's okay to be "this way" about it, and completely normal. Just keep swimming... swimming... swimming...

We made it to Campbell

Just wanted to pop in and let everyone know we made it! 

We spent 5 days driving, and got in late Friday night. We stopped to see Yellowstone, Mount Rushmore, and the Omaha zoo. And my wonderful husband found a Bob Evans to treat me on my birthday! :)

The trip wasn't too bad. Jack was actually very good. His nana got him a DVD player for the car for Easter, and he LOVED it during this trip. He got cranky a couple times, but hey... he's 1 and riding in the car for 5 days straight is not his idea of fun.

We headed out yesterday (Saturday) to explore Fort Campbell, Clarksville and the surrounding area and we're slowly learning more and more about it. Trying to find a rental house here is already proving to be exhausting and its only day 2! Oy. We're hoping to have better luck tomorrow though, since all the rental angencies will be open (They have been closed all weekend). Wish us luck!

Anyways, here are some pictures from our trip.

Jeff and I

You know you're bored when...

 

Yellowstone was covered in snow and it was about 35 degrees and windy, YIKES! We didn't stay there for long. Silly me forgot to pack warm clothes. Isn't it pretty though?

 

This is where Luna was most of the trip. Relaxin' at Jack's feet with her blankie.

 

Lots of Buffalo in Montana and Wyoming. They pretty much do as they please...

 

Jeff was happy to finally see Mount Rushmore (he's a history buff). All Jack said was "OH WOW!" haha

 

And don't let this picture fool you, it was actually hailing while we were at the memorial. By this time, Jack and I were so ready for some warm weather!

 

At the Omaha zoo, they just let this guy (and his mate) roam around! Not something you see every day, but very pretty... err... handsome.

 

Jack's favorite stop was defiintely the zoo. This is in the butterfly house, he was amazed. (And everyone loved his hat almost as much as he does).

And lastly, a picture of me and my boy in the aquarium. I'm almost 30 weeks pregnant, and you can definitely tell!

Moving with JPPSO 101

Jeff and I attended the briefing for JPPSO (Joint Personal Property Shipping Office) this morning. Put simply, if you choose to have the Army move your household goods, JPPSO is the office that will handle all the paperwork and help arrange everything.

We've all heard the nightmares about JPPSO moves. Broken/stolen electronics and furniture, falsified item descriptions not discovered until after delivery, and movers that just plain don't care. Here's a few tips compiled from veteran PCSers and information I got at the briefing this morning.

BEFORE MOVING DAY

• Put remotes in a ziplock bag and tape them to your televisions
• Have ziplock bags already marked beside all furniture items that will be taken apart (for the nuts and bolts).
• Items that you are taking with you need to be in a closed off room that the movers are not allowed in, in your car, or completely out of the house.
• Empty your trash cans and wash them out to keep unwanted pests away during the move. The packers will pack your trash if its left out.
• Wash all of your sheets, towels and some blankets and seal them in airtight bags. Pack them in a special box so when you get to your destination, they can come out of the sealed bag, ready to go straight onto the beds.
• Get rid of items (or make arrangements for them) that the movers are prohibited to move (Ex: Alcohol, antifreeze, fluid cleaners, ammunition, flammables, propane tanks, etc.) The JPPSO office will give you a full list, don't worry.
• Disconnect and/or defrost all appliances and electronics.
• Drain oil and gas from ALL motorized equipment (lawn mowers, weed eaters, etc.)
• Dispose all food items, the movers won't pack them.
• Have dishes and laundry dry and clean.
• Take pictures of all (or as much of) your belongings as you can, especially expensive items and their serial numbers.
• Take a pre-inventory of all your household goods and their conditions. This will help you when you have to review the movers' inventory, you can just compare it to your list and you will be less likely to miss something that way.

MOVING DAY

• Have snacks and beverages ready for your packers/movers and/or provide lunch. Full tummies make everyone happier
• Keep children and pets out of their way. It could make them nervous
• As the movers take apart your beds and other furniture, have ziplock bags already marked ready to go & place all nuts and bolts in those baggies. Tape them to the piece of furniture they belong to. Otherwise, if you are searching for nuts and bolts when you arrive and can't find them, they can't put the bed and furniture together.
• Have all of thethings you specifically want packed together sorted in the same area. Example: you want all pictures and frames go in a specific box, so it's easier ot just have them all together in the same place.
• Make sure items are listed correctly and specifically on the movers' inventory. Example: If you have a Dyson vaccum cleaner, ask them to write "Dyson Vacuum Cleaner" rather than just "Vacuum".
• Ensure all serial numbers are correct for all electronics on your inventory. (Movers are required to write down serial numbers for every electronic, big or small. Make sure they do so).
• Make sure items' conditions are listed accurately on the movers' inventory. If you are skeptical about something, ask them to explain it and show you. Example: Your love seat is listed as having a tear in the side and you don't remember there being one, make them show you the tear and if there isn't one, ensure they correct their mistake.
• If you have items of high value, there is a separate inventory sheet for these. The high value inventory is completed and reviewed by you AND the movers. Don't let them leave with your stuff without doing this inventory (if you have items you consider high value).
• If you have major problems with your packers/movers, CALL JPPSO! This may be the most important thing to remember. You have every right to call JPPSO, report them, and request alternate movers. Don't accept behavior you are not comfortable with.

AFTER THE MOVE 

• When the deliver your goods, inspect all items for damage.
• Mark off box numbers as they come off the truck.
• Don't hesitate to point the movers in the right direction when it comes to where you want your things placed.
• If your household goods come off the truck damaged (or some stuff doesn't come at all), you need to file a claim.
• All claim notices need to be filed within 75 days of your delivery date. Keep in mind, your claim doesn't need to be filed by then, just a notice that will be filing a claim.
• All claims notices are filed online at http://www.move.mil/
• DO NOT throw away or get rid of your damaged goods. When you file a claim, the movers will want to send someone to look at the damaged goods to ensure you are not lying. But even after they've come to look at it, keep it. Technically, when they pay you a settlement to replace the item, they own the damaged one. Now of course they don't want your damaged items, but you can bet if you don't have them... they will do what they can to keep from paying you.

Wow, thats a lot of information! But it's not anywhere close to all of it. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to leave a comment or email me, and I'll do my best to find the answer. Happy PCSing!

Davis Moving Book

Warning: You are about to enter the OCD world of Katelyn Davis, enter at your own risk. (And no making fun of me)

If you've ever done a long distance move, you know how much work and coordinating go into it. Add the Army into the mix, and there's a lot of paperwork, planning, and particulars to be considered. So, being the freak that I am... I decided we needed a book. It may be overkill, but I already feel better with all our moving information in one place.

Introducing the...

(Isn't my little house drawing awesome? I'm not gonna lie, I put the word "Book" too far to the right and it was bothering me so I had to balance it out)

This is the "go to" place for our move. Our very own PCS bible, if you will. Otherwise known as a 1/2 inch three-ring binder I got at walmart for 2 bucks.

Inside are my categories.

1. Moving Truck Information

Well that's pretty self-explanitory. In here, I have estimates from Uhaul, Budget, and Penske. I have a list of all the particulars we need for our move (i.e. a car dolly, 24 furniture pads, 3000 miles, 10 days, etc.). And when we actually reserve the truck our reciept and insurance information from the truck company will go in there.

2. Helpful Information

All the research I've done on PCSing and DITY moves is in this category. As well as anything that doesn't fit in with any of the other categories. A list of PCS pay entitlements is in here, all the papers we get from our DITY briefing will most likely go in here as well.

3. On the Road

The tentative itinerary for our road trip is the only thing in this section so far. But I am going to add other stuff too as I get it done. Lists of 4 hotels (with phone numbers and addresses) for each city we are planning on stopping in. Information about Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone National Park, and Blank Park Zoo (the attractions we are stopping to see). A list of hospitals along our route (just in case!). And most importantly this will be the section I will store all of our reciepts in. We have to save food and hotel reciepts for the Army, and gas reciepts we will keep for when we file taxes next year.

4. Box Inventories

Inventory lists for each and every box. Like I've done with each move I've made, I take inventory of each box I pack and label each one. Labeling is done with a letter (standing for which room the contents belong to) and a number. L - Living Room, M - Master Bedroom, K - Kitchen, etc. Example: Box "L-1" contains things from the living room and will correspond with the list in my book titled "L-1".

(I would highly recommend doing a box inventory if you are having the Army and JPPSO move you. And include pictures of each box packed but open, so the contents are visible. Would prove very helpful if you have to file a "you broke/stole my stuff" claim after you move)

5. After we arrive

List of property managers and companies in the Clarksville/Fort Campbell area. Profiles of houses we are interested in (printed from the internet, and will be updated up until we leave). Reciepts from hotels & food after our arrival (during route and after arriving are two different categories of reimbursement when dealing with Army finance so they have to be kept separate). Also a list of stuff we need to do after moving... submit change of address to post office, banks, family, etc., update car insurance, call Tricare for new doctors...

(This last category is just so I don't to go searching for a "Stuff to do with Jonah" folder after we get to Fort Campbell)

6. Stuff to do with Jonah

This is pretty self-explantory as well. Reciepts and warranty informations for baby gear we buy. A "things you need for baby" list I printed off Babies'R Us. Registry information. Pictures of the nursery that is the inspiration for Jonah's :) 

I'm so happy to have this mess cleaned up and organized! The pink notepad is still in the inside pouch and a pen, as I'm still packing and writing box inventories.

And I have to say thanks to my hubby for keeping Jack and our "visitor" occupied while I was doing this. We watched Jaelin tonight for some fellow Army friends so they could go out for their anniversary! I think Jeff is enjoying Open Season: 2 just as must as the little boys are though ;)

What we've been up to

I've been posting lots of random things lately so here's what we've really been up lately...

Jeff went snowboarding with some friends from work and had a blast.

(He is going to miss these guys so much when we PCS to Campbell)

The boys' awesome Aunt Kaylee made them matching onesies with adorable little owls on them! Thanks Kaylee!

(And she sent them from Hawaii, paid like 2 bucks to ship them, and they got here in 4-5 days... how awesome is that?)

We decided to use Penske and rent one of their moving trucks for our move. They offer unlimited miles, and this baby runs on diesel (bettering our gas mileage and saving us money). The only thing we're concerned about is driving this monster with the Equinox attached to the back!

We took Jack to Northwest Trek (a wildlife park near Eatonville, WA that we love)

It poured down rain, so we enjoyed the tram through the 435-acre free roaming area.

(notice how they're making the same funny face? that happens a lot and it makes me happy)

But I guess I make some funny faces too...

We had Jonah's 24 week checkup. He is growing right on schedule and his heart rate was in the 140's. He kicked the monitor thingy while the doctor was trying to find his his heartbeat, taking after his big bro' already!

I just asked Jeff "Do I really look THIS pregnant in real life?" I had no idea I was showing so much. I mean, don't get me wrong.. I feel huge. But I kind of thought I was still in that "I wonder if she's pregnant or just fat?" stage...

And I have to brag about Jack before I can close today. He's been extremely lovey-dovey on his mama this morning. I think he can tell I've been a little stressed out about PCS stuff. He's such a blessing (:

What have y'all been into? Anything interesting?

(Come on... anything is more interesting than us deciding on a moving truck...) 

a DITY move.. my brain hurts

We were originally planning on letting JPPSO (The Army's relocation department) move us to Campbell. Which means they would pack up our whole house, they would move all of it, and they would move it in when we arrived at our new house. Sounds great, huh?

Well, because "confusion" between Jeff's unit and people at Waller Hall (the people that give him his orders) we are past the deadline for doing a JPPSO move. The average wait time right now for a move date is 60 days wait from when you do your JPPSO briefing. And Jeff can't do the briefing until he gets his orders. We are scheduled to leave here May 10th, Making March 10th the deadline for him to do the briefing, and we're clearly past that.

So, what does this mean? We will be packing our own house, moving our own stuff, and unpacking everything ourselves upon our arrival to Fort Campbell.

I'm trying hard not to stress, military families do this all the time. But the truth is, I'm going to be 8 months pregnant. And so packing wise, I'm going to be virtually useless. We were planning on driving our vehicle anyways, so nothing changes as far as that. But there are a lot of "what if" and "what should we do about this" questions.

Should we sell our cavalier? (that we JUST paid off) because how are we going to drive a moving truck and my equinox and Jeff's cavalier

Should we rent a U-haul or use a service like PODS (where you pack, they move)

How can we be sure about picking a house without being there? (because we are going to have all our stuff with us, we can't be in a hotel forever)

Should we stop in Ohio or not? We have stuff in Ohio we need to move to Campbell as well, so it'd be perfect if we could just load it in the moving truck on the way BUT...

the moving truck is $60 plus mileage (75cents a mile). So we'd have to pay for the extra miles to Ohio, and pay for each day we spent in Ohio. Needless to say, we'd have to stop, load all our stuff, sleep, and then leave. And that would make us sad, not to spend any time with family :(

AND who will help us unpack at Campbell? I mean, we have friends here to help (men to move heavy stuff). But we don't know many people at Campbell. (Amber- I know Mark would help, but it's right around Trent's due date and we don't wanna take Mark away from you two!)

Sorry, I know this is a confusing and big blob of a blog. But I just needed to vent. I feel a little better just getting it out. Off to start packing (I like to get a head start so I don't HAVE to pack every day)

Kitchen/Dining Area- Check, well kinda.

That's right folks, I actually made some progress today! About time right? I've only been here ohhhhh about 18 days. Since June marks the last full month of deployment, I motivated my butt into gear today. I was up before Jack today (that rarely happens, anyone who knows me knows I'm not a morning person, in fact I loathe morning). Anywho, Jack and I took Ty (Marcy's son) to school today since she had some stuff to do with her other munchkin. After that, I finally got some tea in me and proceeded to sit my bum on the couch for a while and enjoy Sesame Street for the 23095723059th time with Jack. (I really need to get him another DVD, for my own sanity). My boxes from that my dad (God Bless him) shipped to me came today via UPS. And I think that was the turning point for me today. When I opened them, I instantly felt more "at home" in my house. It's our stuff. Our things. Our memories, It's Jack's stuffed animals and books from all the people that love him so much, our Welsh love spoon Meg and Cynog gave to us at our wedding, the bible from Nanny and Granddad that we cherish so much, my plaque from my mom that reminds me she'll love me (us) "forever for always and no matter what", all the letters we've exchanged over the years, the medical ID band and the hospital beanie that our baby boy wore in his first hours of life, and the scrapbook full of memories that displays the first months of Jeff and I's relationship that started it all. Between my mom and dad's divorce and my adult military life, it's been hard for me to feel at home in any place. These things, they mean home for me. They tell me that I'm in my home, not just a home. The boxes aren't fully unpacked, but I soon will start spreading "home" throughout my house and let it fill my heart in the process.

I know, I know. Enough sentimental stuff. So without further to do, here's the progress I've made in my kitchen/dining area! Theme.... BEACH!

The Davis family calendar! It's basically a sticker with a dry erase marker. But oh how I love it. I'm a planning freak. To have my schedule and to do list right here handy is awesome!

Dining area. Table is from ikea, it has a hidden leaf below the main tabletop that can be put in to allow for room for guests. I still need curtains for the sliding door, CHAIRS, and a rug for underneath the table. Also going to find more things for the wall, it's just so darn big.

The sole piece of decor I have on the wall right now

Kitchen Sink Area, don't mind the kettle in the sink

Other side of the kitchen. Love my new lighthouse! I have a quietly growing "thing" for lighthouses. I also can't wait to pop open that bottle of wine when Jeff gets home (Thanks aunt Chris!). Let's hope he doesn't make slushie out of this bottle ;) Love you babe

Not finished, but at least I got something done, right? Now the living room? It might be a while before you get pictures of that! Jack's room is next on my list. He's got some really cute stuff for his room, but I wont tell! You'll just have to wait for the pictures! Tomorrow Kellee and I are going to Romancing the Spouse in Dupont tomorrow. It's an event held to help the spouses of deployed soldiers get ready for their hunnies to come home. Lots of freebies and coupons! And who doesn't love freebies and coupons? Needless to say, Jack is doomed for yet another girly day. Daddy will have to do man dates with him when he gets home to make up for all this girly stuff I put him through.

Long Overdue Update

Holy moley, where do I even start...

Apologizing for being absent so long sounds like a good beginning. Business has been wholey surrounding the Davis family lately. Jeff is doing convoys almost every day, so we aren't getting as much communication as we're used to. But we know that this deployment will soon be over. Redeployment is on the horizon and it's so close, it almost doesn't feel real. But the truth is, Jeff will be home in less than two months!

Jack, Luna, and I made it safely to Washington on Saturday May 15. We traveled the 2500 miles in 3 days! I can't say enough about how amazing both my babies behaved.

After a trip as well as the one we had, I had a feeling something was going to go wrong, and boy was I right. As we pulled into the parking lot of Harbor Oaks Apartments, I started to get a bad feeling. I just told myself I was being paranoid and parked the car to get out and look around. In my 20 years of life, I've never witnessed a drug deal... until that day. Right there in plain sight in the honda accord next to me a very shady guy (around thirty) sold pot to a teenager. I jumped back in my car and made the decision to get us the heck out of there. I saw three cop cruisers pulling in as I was pulling out onto the street. It was not a good neighborhood, that was evident. And in all honesty, the pictures of the place were very misleading, it was a dump. Needless to say, I did not sign the lease.

I called my (AWE-SOME) friends Jeremy and Marcy in tears and they housed Jack, Luna, and I for a few days and helped tremendously in the house hunt. We ended up signing a lease for the house that is the other half of the duplex they live in! Jeremy and Marcy - I don't know what I would do without you! Thanks doen't seem like enough of a word but I don't think any other word would do either.

It's in Yelm, which is the city we lived in before. It's a little further from post than we ideally wanted to be but you can't beat a safe neighborhood, 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, a fenced backyard, and great neighbors :) It feels very ... like home, here (for lack of a better way to explain it).

We have been striving to settle in and it's definitely a slow process. There are many things we still need but we are purchasing the big (expensive) items one thing at a time. We want to avoid financing at all costs (no pun intended). We still need a mower, a convertible crib for Jack, a dining table/chairs set, a guest bed,  and possible new living room furniture. Then of course, all the decor items need to be found as well. So it'll be a while until we are fully settled and not adding things to our house. But we have the essentials and that's all we really need. P.S. BIG thanks to Kellee from You + Me = Wiiiiii for helping me move all the stuff from my storage unit. Kellee's husband is deployed with Jeff and she drove from North Carolina to Washington around the same time made made our trek, so she and I have been doing our best to support each other since we're going through the same thing! She's an awesome blogger as well :)

Last and the most exciting news for today, Jack is CRAWLING! He started really going while we were staying with Jeremy and Marcy. He is quick! And nothing is safe. He really likes cords. So we've had to be extra careful about keeping track of where he is and what he's got his hands on. I only have a short clip right now, but I promise I'll have a better video soon.

Until daddy gets home, we are going to keep busy and hopefully as the weather gets warmer, we can get out and explore the Pacific Northwest a little more too. We can't wait to see aunt Erin in June and then the rest of our Ohio family in July/August! Love you all, keep us in your hearts and keep looking for updates.

Tornado, please come again.

Random title, I know. I'm just looking at this mess (okay so mess is an understatement)... I'm looking at this disaster that is my stuff strewn throughout the apartment, and thinking it looks like a tornado came through this place. I've got boxed packed and sealed ready to go to Washington, I've got stuff that I haven't even touched, yard sale stuff that I didn't sell everywhere. My suitcase full of clean clothes from where I washed them all at mom's after coming back from Texas, my tv is sitting in the middle of the room unplugged, ahhhhhh and the list goes on and on. I wish the tornado that I'm blaming for this would make a second visit and just carry all this stuff away.

Despite the fact that I have a week and a half to get all of this stuff out of here and deep clean the place, I'm sitting on my bum. *Proceeds with list of useless excuses*... 1) I don't feel good, my allergies/asthma are at an all-time SUCK level. 2) Jack is napping and so I feel I have the right to do the same, because we had a hard morning of playing (okay, I lied we got up at 11am). 3) It's raining, so today wouldn't be a good day to venture out to take the stuff to goodwill? right? 4) I can't put my dirty laundry in the baskets until I get the goodwill stuff OUT of the baskets. 5) I consider myself a pretty experienced packer, and one that's able to get it done in a couple days if need be. 6) My dad has yet to tell me when he is available to help me move the big stuff. 7) I'm hungry so I should probably eat lunch. 8) Some stuff I am still using, so why try to pack it now? 8) I haven't figured out what to do with some stuff. 9) I can't clean until I move until the stuff out. 10) I don't wanna..

Is ten stupid, useless reasons enough for you? Because I could go on. I've got many floating around in my head up here. But no motivating thoughts? Why is that? Of course the "I need to pack, so I can move, so Jeff can come home" thought is there but it's not doing much for me. He's been gone for so long it seems normal, I haven't let myself get overly excited about it yet because of all the yes and no, changing dates, stop and go teasing that the Army is so famous for.

Sigh... getting off my bum now, wish me luck.

We're a team, you and I

Today at my mom's house, I had my first deployment-related breakdown since quite a while ago. And it wasn't because of the reason you would expect. I simply am sad to be leaving Ohio again. I'm ecstatic that Jeff will be redeploying soon, but it's so hard to have to say goodbye again. To cry and mourn our my separation from loved ones again. To see my mother's hurt in her eyes and know that it's because of me. I know that this is all a part of life, and more specifically the life Jeff and I chose. But it doesn't make it any easier, nor does the fact that I'm experienced at goodbyes make this one any less devastating.

With tears flowing from my eyes, I look across the room and see my lovely mother holding my precious baby boy. I see him look at me, and then I see his eyes start to fill with heartbreak. He frowns and his lips turn down into the saddest expression I've ever witnessed. Those big baby blues overflow and the heartbreak spills onto his cheeks. He reaches for me. I pick up this angel disguised in osh kosh b'gosh overalls and a blue striped tee shirt and he continues to cry. And then, this little 17 pound person finds the strength to reach through his sorrow and give me the biggest, most loving, baby kiss... And I start to smile. He does it again, and I smile and look at his beautiful face. The third time he gets me right on the lips, and I laugh. He smiles at me. And we both have stopped crying.

What a miracle this little boy is for me! What a healing power he has! I need him just as much as he needs me. I care for him and he cares for me. I make him smile, and he brings that same smile to my face. I can't explain it, but his heart calms mine. He lets me know that everything is going to be okay, because I have him. Because we are a team. And together, we will get by, together we will get through it all.

  

Fun Facts

Because I've been away so long, I will be listing things about our life that have become noteworthy in the past few weeks. To write a blog that flowed properly among paragraphs would just be too difficult at this point.

1. We have recieved a Mail Stop Date for Jeff. DO NOT send any mail through the U.S. Postal Service after May 15, 2010. You may still send emails and communicate via Facebook, but just no post mail.

2. Easter Bunny was good to Jack, he got sunglasses, baby food, a stuffed ducky, bowls and spoons, a stuffed bunny and outfit from Grandpa Kevin, and a few outfits from Grandma Laura & Papaw John. Luna also got an Easter basket with chew bones, a new squeaky toy, and some gourmet meals.

3. April 7th-10th Jack and I made the trip to Fort Jackson, South Carolina to see our very much missed Ashley! She graduated on April 9th from Basic Combat Training and is now on to Fort Lee, Virginia for her AIT training. Congratulations Ashley!

4. Jack had a check up on April 14th, he weighed 16 pounds 4 ounces and was 27 inches long. He is in the 10th percentile for his weight, and 50th percintile for his heigth. The pediatrician was not worried at all about his weight and neither am I. I just have to stick to my guns when his medical care is turned over to Madigan Army Medical Center. I have heard they are picky about their babies' weights.

5. Next week, Jack and I will be leaving Tuesday for San Antonio, Texas!! We are meeting our friends Kaylee and Parker there for vacation. Parker is just about Jack's age so they will have a blast, and Kaylee and I are great friends and I can't wait to see her! Kaylee's mama is also coming along to help with the boys, so it will be a great trip. Look for updates next week!

6...

This is the news I have been anxiously avoiding revealing to my readers (who are mostly friends and family from Ohio). We have been approved for our apartment in Washington! The date is much earlier than expected, but we are happy to have the stress of finding our home out of the way...

Jack, Luna, and I will be driving to Washington. We will be leaving on the morning of May 13th.

To our Ohio families- We love you and will miss you all.
To our Washington families (Jeremy, Marcy & the boys... Emma, Shirley, Haley, Trevor, Katie and Erik & the rest of your family)- We can't wait to see you!
To Daddy- This is a step closer to you! :)

Lots of Stuff Today

I think we'll start today with some photos. Jack and I ventured to grandpa Kevin's house today, to do some laundry and visit with him. It had been way too long since they had seen each other and they played until they tuckered out! The funniest thing was that they were both snoring!

Last Thursday included a trip to Aunt Kelly and Unlce Tom's house to pick up some stuff. Ethan and Jack are almost always happy to see each other and finally have someone their own size to play with. But in this particular stretch of time, Ethan was very hungry and his mama was not moving fast enough. He started crying. Jack stared at him for a second, and then reached over and stuck his hand in Ethan's mouth. I guess he was tired of hearing that crying! haha

Now that we're all caught up on some cuteness, on with some news. A deployment update made it's way into my inbox today. The weather there is back up into the 90s on the FOB, and their only expecting it to get hotter. But being in theater for 8 months as opposed to just arriving has allowed them to prepare for the heat a little more efficently this summer. They have ice readily available and refridgerators stocked with water waiting for our boys, should they need it, and I'm sure they will. Like with every deployment, there have been rumors about redeployment circulating back at Fort Lewis, but the update concurs with the original orders 365 days. Please be aware, that this timeline is an estimate for homecoming, and does not reflect the exact date that Jeff will be returning stateside. CPT is recommending that no plans be made just yet and reassures us that he will let us know about any information he can, as soon as possible. I won't quote the rest of the email, because in my opinion it's written in quite a negative tone. It says we should focus on the last 25% of deployment, and not our soldiers' homecoming. I'm not usually ignore advice from an FRG update... but I'm for damn sure going to be focusing on Jeff's homecoming for the next couple months.

For those of you that ordered from my mom's Silpada jewelry party, she closed it today! So we should be recieving our goodies within a short time. I'm so excited to see my jewelry. I ordered some very cute two-toned earrings. I lost my favorite pair last month. I also ordered a two-toned ring with a cross on it and a 3 pack set of smaller more simple earrings. Hopefully they are as beautiful as they were in the catalog. I consider my order my early Happy Easter present from Jeff :) hehe. Thanks, dear. You're soooo thoughtful! ;)

Dinner was a gift from my dad today. Bob Evans, very yummy. Man, I'm going to miss that place when I go back to Washington. Speaking of moving, I will be calling the Fort Lewis housing office tomorrow morning and speaking with them about a move in date. So I should be able to give everyone an exact date Jack, Luna, and I will be departing Ohio after that phone call.

Closing the blog with some good grades sounds like a good idea, too bad I don't have any... Just kidding! I got a B on my Nutrition final today! I was not expecting a grade higher than a C, so I was pleasantly surprised with the results. My Sociology final is on the schedule for the coming week and then I will be done with Spring Session A! I'm still undecided in my attendence for next session. As soon as the decision is made, you all will be the first to know! Well second to know, after Jeff of course. Love to all and goodnight!

Ipod in Singin' T.Swift

That's how Avery walked in my house this morning. Blarin' out her little lungs. If there was a cuter word than cute, that would be her. She spent the next half hour singing to Jack and booy dancing all over my living room. Next on the playlist were, "Flat Top Box", that song that plays while the vampires are playing baseball in Twilight (in her words), and Veggie Tales. She has quite a taste for music, just like her sister! Thanks mama, for passing on the gene!

Jack is finally back to his normal sleeping pattern 2030-0700. It's wonderful. For about a month, he was waking up around 1am to eat. So mommy is relieved to be able to enjoy some sleep. However, my sleeping has been quite a mess. Hopefully I can get back on track soon as well.

The best news I have recieved recently is that my grant for college has been RESTORED! I will be able to continue my education! Phew, it's a big relief for sure. I've been so busy this quarter, my classes have required much more work than the ones I took in the first quarter. I think I will try to schedule some easier classes for next quarter, as I will be making the big move across the country towards the end of it.

There's just over 100 days left of Jeff's "vacation." Just kidding hunny! But really I can't explain how excited I am to see those numbers going down. I've yet to find a house in Washington that I feel good about but it's a work-in-progress. I'm sure everything will work out, I just have to calm done and focus on one thing at a time. Breath in. Breathe Out. Simple as that.

So much to do so little time

I have been avoiding writing lately because I have so much on my mind, but so little that it blog-worthy. Let the rambling begin!

Jeff was finally able to get me the Power of Attorney that I need to apply for on-post housing at Fort Lewis. We are looking forward to less of a commute for him and more room and a yard for our family. He emailed me the P.O.A., and now I've just got to start the long (and confusing I'm sure) process of applying for housing without him here. Only for it to be even more complicated by the fact that I'm currently in Ohio. Oh, how I love jumping through the Army's hoops!

Unsure if all of you have heard or not, I recently found out that the grant I was recieving to fund my schooling has been halted. They are taking two months to review the program and decide whether to continue it. I have been very unmotivated when it comes to my classes lately because of this. I'm just devestated. I'm thinking of taking next semester off. To see if they will continue the program and also because I will be very busy with moving.  We will see, but that's what's going on with that.

Jack and I are getting over the little bug that we had last week. We both went to the doctor and they determined it was just a routine cold, mine was just associated more with my asthma allergies. Jack weighed 14 pounds and 9 ounces at his appointment. Big thank you to my mama, Rick, Avery, and Mackie, for letting us stay at their house and taking care of us. I don't know what I would do without Jeff and I's wonderful families. They are such a big part of our life and such a great support system for us. We love you, all!

Lastly, I have some pictures to share! Here's our favorite American soldier during one of their recent missions:

Quick Update

Okay I've been a VERY busy woman lately, so here's whatcha get.

Kate:
-has been sick lately, but is feeling much better now. Went to the doctor and got some medicines for the dizzies that have continued since pregnancy. It seem to be working so far. An echocardiogram was run on Monday Dec. 21st and the results came back normal.
-is on winter break from college. Also I'm trying to decide what classes to take in Spring quarter. Any suggestions?
-is depressed because of her failing weight loss mission. All my fault. No one else's. I really need to buckle down.
-is exahausted. Six Christmas celebrations down. Two to go.

Jack:
-is smiling like you wouldn't believe. He is a very happy boy these days.
-laughed out loud for the first time on Christmas Eve. At grandpa Kevin!
-is officially spoiled rotten. The amount of toys this kid has is seriously ridiculous.

Jeff:
-is staying put at his FOB. As far as we know he is NOT moving anymore. So MAIL IS A GO! Send as much as you want and often.
-is absolutely loving all the boxes he has recieved. Thank you to everyone that has helped make this holiday season a little bit more bearable for him.
-has been told that he will have orders by February 5th at the latest. Everyone in the Brigade is supposed to have orders by then. This means that by this date, we will know if we are staying at Fort Lewis, Washington for the next 3 years or if we will be PCSing (moving) to a new post.
-is AMAZING. And his wife loves him very much :)



The end.

MOVED!

I've (once again) been MIA for quite a few days now. Good reason ahead I promise! I first want to say just how happy I am to be a mommy right now. Jack is asleep on my chest right now and he's just so peaceful. His hand wrapped tightly around his daddy's dogtags like they always are make this is bitterly sweet sight for mommy. Today we have 8 months and 10 days left of this deployment. While most days it seems it's going by fast, today it is lagging. I wish so badly that Jeff were here to share Jack's special moments. Every time he smiles I get tears in my eyes because I know how badly his daddy wishes he was here to witness it. I wish I could stop time for Jeff. I wish I could fix this for him. But I can't and I'm having a really hard time dealing with that today.

In other news, I have moved! Jack and I are now residing in our own apartment. I must say that I did not realize how much I missed having my own place until I got into my own place again. It's so nice to just relax and not feel like a guest. My mama and I love each other until the very end and it's not that I was unhappy living in her house. I just prefer my own space, especially with the new arrival of little man. I look forward to having many dinners and get togethers here with family and friends. I'm in the process of decorating now. When I it mostly finished I will post pictures. In the meantime, call and let's arrange a time for you to come visit Jack and I in our new home.

Jack news:

I am a very proud mama these past few days. My baby boy is sleeping through the night, in his own crib, in his own room for 3 nights running now. He loves the mobile that Grandma Beth bought for him before he arrived and it usually assists in his falling to sleep. He is also (not surprisingly I'm sure) growing like a weed! Eating 6 ounces per feeding now, sometimes more. He absolutely loves his swing, and will spend hours in it if I let him. And a new activity that has become part of our daily routine is kick time. He just loves to lay by himself on the floor and kick. Sometimes that's all he wants, is to be put down for a while and not cooped up in someone's arms. At six weeks old, I couldn't ask for a better little boy.

Daddy news:

From what I hear, Jeff has been able to call a lot of you lately! I'm so glad you've all been able to enjoy hearing his voice. I think it makes the distance a little more bearable to say the least. In our conversation tonight, Jeff told me that they have just opened up the new MWR facility on the FOB today. There are EIGHTEEN computers inside and he says it's set up very nicely with many more amenities. The gym is supposed to open very soon and he is quite excited about that as well. He also said that they are working on laying foundation for three more rows of CHU's (their living quarters). And when those are done, they will probably be living 1 person per CHU as opposed to the 2 per CHU they are living now. It will be very nice for the soldiers to be able to have that complete privacy that I'm sure they've been missing since July.

Overall today has been a pretty laid back day for Jack and I. We watched the Buckeyes kick some Aggie butt at Michelle's house today, picked up a few things on the way home, and have really just relaxed the rest of the day. Mommy probably should have been working on hanging some pictures or folding some laundry but oh well. A break every now and then doesn't hurt anyone. I'm about to lay this 10 pounds of sleeping baby down in his crib, have a cup of hot tea with some cookies, and then head to bed myself. Goodnight and love to all!

So hectic!

No I didn't die! I know everyone was worried since it's been... what four days? since I blogged last.

Anyways, I've just been living the life of a gypsy pretty much. Avery woke up Thursday morning with a temperature of 103, indicating that her flu (h1n1) had relapsed. Great. At this time, I pulled the mommy card and decided that Jack and I would make the trip to Londonderry to stay with my dad for a couple days until Avery was better a.k.a. fever free for 24 hours. Well, we're still waiting. Last I have heard, she is still running a fever. So here we are. And to top it off, my brother Maxwell started running a fever Friday! Just not nearly as high as Avery's. His hovers around 100-101. So Jack and I are staying put here at Grandpa Kevin's and just making sure to keep our distance from Max.

I've also made a big decision over the past 4 days. Yesterday I put in an application at North River Place Apartments for Jack and I. I'm so excited. My decesion is not influenced by any unhappiness at my mom's house. I'm just ready to be back in my own place. It's very hard to move out of your parents house and then go back later, especially with an infant. If everything works out right we will be living in unit d-9 very soon. I'm supposed to get a call sometime Monday or Tuesday. You all will be the first to know! Besides Jeff of course, I think he has a right to know first where his family is living. hehe.

BREAKING NEWS:

Jack just put his pacifier back in his mouth all by himself!!!!!

.........

TWICE!

Now I must go love on my little future honor student! :)