I know the song is about missing an ex but so many of the lines fit with missing my husband while he was gone for a long time. It’s amazing to me that five years later the song can still make me cry. It’s not the only song either. Most of the songs on my deployment playlist still elicit that response from me. Missing and longing for your other half is nothing new to a Milspouse. It goes with the territory.
Showing posts with label Navy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Navy. Show all posts
March 25, 2014
Separation
I was listening to Pandora the other day and the song I Never Told You by Colbie Caillat came on. It’s been awhile since I heard it and all these feeling came rushing back. I listened to this song a lot during The Man’s deployment (it was on my deployment playlist.)
I know the song is about missing an ex but so many of the lines fit with missing my husband while he was gone for a long time. It’s amazing to me that five years later the song can still make me cry. It’s not the only song either. Most of the songs on my deployment playlist still elicit that response from me. Missing and longing for your other half is nothing new to a Milspouse. It goes with the territory.
I know the song is about missing an ex but so many of the lines fit with missing my husband while he was gone for a long time. It’s amazing to me that five years later the song can still make me cry. It’s not the only song either. Most of the songs on my deployment playlist still elicit that response from me. Missing and longing for your other half is nothing new to a Milspouse. It goes with the territory.
March 6, 2014
Welcoming Home A Hero
The Man, Munchkin & I were able to welcome a hero home recently. One of our church members spent the last nine months in Afghanistan on an IA (individual augmentation) orders. Nine months is a long time, especially when you leave a wife and four sons behind.
November 11, 2013
Thank You
To all those who have served in the
Navy, Marines, Army, Air Force and Coast Guard,
Thank you.
To my husband, I’m proud of you and your service.
Thank you.
August 12, 2013
PCS Adventures
Ashley over at Eights on the Move is hosting a newish link up for Military bloggers. The topic this week is on PCSing, or Permanent Change of (duty) Station. Most families move every 3-4 years. 
At the end of school he had orders for WA. Since we were not yet married, I was not on his orders. When we got married 10 months later we had to move me cross country ourselves. We had considered getting married before his orders were cut but due to promising my parents we wouldn’t, we didn’t. If we had they would have paid to move me.
After a lot of research we decided that the cheapest way to move me was for us to drive cross country pulling my stuff in a trailer. So the day after our wedding was spent finishing packing up my apartment and loading up the trailer. Mid-morning the next day we headed out. We took 90 cross country and we booked it to the western part of the country. We had a little time for sightseeing and had plans to stop at Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse & Yellowstone. We also spent one night with my brother in law in Montana. The Man also did ALL of the driving EVERYDAY because I wasn’t comfortable driving the Jeep pulling the trailer.
The trip was slightly crazy but fun. We had issues with the taillights working on the trailer, which we finally got working in Iowa. One night in South Dakota we got salads from Subway and ate them while we drove. The road was straight and had rolling hills. I ate my salad first and then while The Man ate I held the steering wheel (as long as there were no cars coming at us.) Then we took the scenic route into Yellowstone through the Big Horn Mountains. It was gorgeous but very hard on the brakes. We had to stop more than once because they kept smoking. Going up some of the mountains were nail biting as well. There were a few times I didn’t think we were going to make it!
To make the trip even more interesting we had my two cats with us. They didn’t love being in the car. We put them together in a soft sided dog carrier. Ig meowed the whole time, even on kitty Prozac and both kept clawing at the carrier. We spent two nights in Yellowstone (they slept in the tent in us) and while we were driving around the park we let them out of the carrier and let them roam around the car. They were much, much happier this way. So we continued to do it after we left. Ig would sit in my lap or up high so he could see where we were going. Al would do a lap of the car, get a scratch from me and then go back in the carrier to snooze. I did have to keep them from getting under The Man’s feet a few times but overall it wasn’t a problem. This worked for us and I know it wouldn’t work for everyone.
If we had to go back and do it again, this is how I would do it. I had been wanting to drive cross country and this fulfilled that wish! I’ve now driven cross country 3 times and am doing it again later this month. Even though it’s a long trip I enjoy it. I love seeing the different parts of the country. We are blessed to live is a beautiful country and I’m so thankful I get to drive & see it!
Linking up with:
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May 9, 2013
Milspouse Appreication Day
Happy Milspouse Appreciation Day!
In my short time as a milspouse, I’ve known some amazing spouses and some not so amazing spouses (you know the ones, the drama lllamas, dog tag chasers, the rank wears, the entitled ones.) Most of them are amazing, holding things together so their sailors/soldiers/airmen can do their jobs and not worry about the home front. You may complain because yes, it sucks, the constant moving and the work ups and deployments but at the end of the day you love your spouse. So you keep on keeping on, you hold everything together, sometimes one minute at a time. You hold back tears and shed them in private so no one will know how weak you feel. You’re not weak. You’re strong and you hold one knowing that at the end of it all, that person you married makes it all worth it.
Thank you for what you do.
If this is your first time visiting Many Waters, Welcome! If you’ve been here before, Welcome Back! I’m glad you stopped by.
I’m Poe and I’ve been married to The Man for almost 4 years. Our daughter was born last July. She’s amazing and I love being her Mama. The Man was a submariner in the Navy but he separated about a week after Munchkin was born. He’s in the IRR (Individual Ready Reserve.) I don’t really consider myself a milspouse anymore but I do have a military ID and we have base/NEX/commissary privileges so maybe I am? I understand the lifestyle and the difficulties that come with it. I 
I mostly blog about our life and being a mom. You’ll find posts on what Munchkin is up too, what I’m cooking in the kitchen, my random thoughts, and different things we’re doing in the lovely PNW.
I’d love to connect with you! Please let me know you stopped by, even if you only say hi. I’ll visit back but it might take me a little bit as the next few days are going to be a little crazy for us. I’m on Twitter a lot and that’s a great place to find me. I’m also on Facebook and Google+. If you’d like to read more on the blog, you can follow via Bloglovin’, You could follow via GFC but since it’s going away it really wouldn’t make sense too!
I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
July 30, 2012
A Wife’s View
I have a treat for you today. My guest post comes to you courtesy of Cat, a fellow sub wife. Sometimes I feel like sub wives are few and far between so I love finding them. I can relate to what she has written on so many levels! I hope you enjoy her guest post.
Cat is a Navy submariner’s wife and new mom to baby Cora. She spends her time breastfeeding, cloth diapering, singing, baking, volunteering, and blogging about these adventures and others at Cartwheels & Windmills. Her husband is separating from active military service very soon.
Hi everyone! I’m Cat, and I love reading Poe’s blog because of our many similarities. Just like Poe, my husband and I are not from the same state, so there is no mutual “home” to return to when he separates from this Navy lifestyle next month. And unlike Poe, we don’t plan on staying where the Navy has landed us. While our current home of Pensacola, Florida, may be touted as “the Cradle of Naval Aviation,” it certainly is not “the Cradle of High-paying Jobs
for Former Submarine Officers.” So instead of those options, we are treating this almost like another PCS, just with more control, more money spent out of our own pockets, and about the same amount of stress.
My husband’s job search has been a big adventure, but I, personally, have very little to do with it. So instead I want to focus on what his military separation means to me. For one, I can only call myself a Navy submariner’s wife for just a few more months. It all goes away August 31. For the past few years, I’ve let his military service define our relationship and also myself. I met him after he had already joined, so immediately I was a Navy girlfriend, then I “got promoted” to Navy wife, a milspouse, a subwife, etc. What will I be now? A veteran’s wife? (But wasn’t he already a veteran while on active duty??) A Reservist’s wife? (Actually, we flip-flop a lot about him going that route.) A former milspouse? (Doesn’t that sound like we got divorced?) I guess it’s not the best idea to define yourself in terms of someone else, but when your primary roles are wife and mother, it’s hard not to do precisely that. Since there are at least a billion other women with the “wife and mother” title in this world, it’s nice to find a niche. Many define themselves as a “crunchy momma” or a “Christian mother”—perhaps I will adopt a moniker along those lines.
Aside from a change in title, what else does this military separation mean for me? Well, for one, a slight loss of security. A lot of military spouses might say they feel insecure about certain things, like moving dates, deployments, and the like. But there is stability to this lifestyle. There are family support centers, financial assistance programs, and a community of people in the exact same situation as you. There are rules, standards, and reasons that make life easier. In my husband’s job, he generally doesn’t have to question someone’s motives, and dishonesty and corruption are reprimanded accordingly. My husband currently cannot get fired on a whim, leaving us without income or insurance at the drop of a hat. Wrongful termination, harassment, embezzlement--this kind of stuff happens in the civilian world, often being covered up or with a lot of finger-pointing. Other jobs normally don’t require each employee to take an oath before their first day, so that stability is now lost.
This separation also means a possible forever home. I know many who would love to stay in one place, but I’m not sure I’m one of those people. The Navy actually kind of put a damper on my nomadic lifestyle. I moved to Jacksonville, FL, on my own after finishing college in my home state of Georgia. I had originally planned on checking out life as a west coaster and perhaps even trying another country for a bit. However, I met my husband that year and decided to move to Norfolk, VA, to be near him. As much as we tried to make the west coast or another country happen, the Navy had other plans for us. I have officially spent my whole life living below the Mason-Dixon Line and east of the Mississippi. And now we’re trying to keep it that way, since our families are in that vicinity. To be honest, it kind of freaks me out. But at the same time, I’m excited to settle in somewhere for real and even buy a house after a bit. (Don’t pity us too much, as we have had the opportunity to travel both in and out of the country, and I hope for that to continue.)
As much as I’m looking forward to never having to deal with another underway, deployment, or duty night ever again, there are a few perks of this lifestyle that I will miss. My top three: a free gym, commissary shopping, and free healthcare. If you’re a milspouse, never ever take any of those for granted (especially that last one, just trust me). Even though I will miss these things, I am ready to move on and start our civilian life!
***
Cat is a Navy submariner’s wife and new mom to baby Cora. She spends her time breastfeeding, cloth diapering, singing, baking, volunteering, and blogging about these adventures and others at Cartwheels & Windmills. Her husband is separating from active military service very soon.
Hi everyone! I’m Cat, and I love reading Poe’s blog because of our many similarities. Just like Poe, my husband and I are not from the same state, so there is no mutual “home” to return to when he separates from this Navy lifestyle next month. And unlike Poe, we don’t plan on staying where the Navy has landed us. While our current home of Pensacola, Florida, may be touted as “the Cradle of Naval Aviation,” it certainly is not “the Cradle of High-paying Jobs
for Former Submarine Officers.” So instead of those options, we are treating this almost like another PCS, just with more control, more money spent out of our own pockets, and about the same amount of stress.My husband’s job search has been a big adventure, but I, personally, have very little to do with it. So instead I want to focus on what his military separation means to me. For one, I can only call myself a Navy submariner’s wife for just a few more months. It all goes away August 31. For the past few years, I’ve let his military service define our relationship and also myself. I met him after he had already joined, so immediately I was a Navy girlfriend, then I “got promoted” to Navy wife, a milspouse, a subwife, etc. What will I be now? A veteran’s wife? (But wasn’t he already a veteran while on active duty??) A Reservist’s wife? (Actually, we flip-flop a lot about him going that route.) A former milspouse? (Doesn’t that sound like we got divorced?) I guess it’s not the best idea to define yourself in terms of someone else, but when your primary roles are wife and mother, it’s hard not to do precisely that. Since there are at least a billion other women with the “wife and mother” title in this world, it’s nice to find a niche. Many define themselves as a “crunchy momma” or a “Christian mother”—perhaps I will adopt a moniker along those lines.
Aside from a change in title, what else does this military separation mean for me? Well, for one, a slight loss of security. A lot of military spouses might say they feel insecure about certain things, like moving dates, deployments, and the like. But there is stability to this lifestyle. There are family support centers, financial assistance programs, and a community of people in the exact same situation as you. There are rules, standards, and reasons that make life easier. In my husband’s job, he generally doesn’t have to question someone’s motives, and dishonesty and corruption are reprimanded accordingly. My husband currently cannot get fired on a whim, leaving us without income or insurance at the drop of a hat. Wrongful termination, harassment, embezzlement--this kind of stuff happens in the civilian world, often being covered up or with a lot of finger-pointing. Other jobs normally don’t require each employee to take an oath before their first day, so that stability is now lost.
This separation also means a possible forever home. I know many who would love to stay in one place, but I’m not sure I’m one of those people. The Navy actually kind of put a damper on my nomadic lifestyle. I moved to Jacksonville, FL, on my own after finishing college in my home state of Georgia. I had originally planned on checking out life as a west coaster and perhaps even trying another country for a bit. However, I met my husband that year and decided to move to Norfolk, VA, to be near him. As much as we tried to make the west coast or another country happen, the Navy had other plans for us. I have officially spent my whole life living below the Mason-Dixon Line and east of the Mississippi. And now we’re trying to keep it that way, since our families are in that vicinity. To be honest, it kind of freaks me out. But at the same time, I’m excited to settle in somewhere for real and even buy a house after a bit. (Don’t pity us too much, as we have had the opportunity to travel both in and out of the country, and I hope for that to continue.)
As much as I’m looking forward to never having to deal with another underway, deployment, or duty night ever again, there are a few perks of this lifestyle that I will miss. My top three: a free gym, commissary shopping, and free healthcare. If you’re a milspouse, never ever take any of those for granted (especially that last one, just trust me). Even though I will miss these things, I am ready to move on and start our civilian life!
What would you miss about military life?
July 27, 2012
Civilian Again
As of today, The Man is a civilian. He is no longer apart of the Active Duty Navy. He’s now a Veteran, one who proudly served his country. Thank you baby, for your service. I am so proud of you!
The Man served one enlistment, almost 5 years. We met about 6 months into his enlistment. I was there when he graduated sub 
Even though the last year and a half has been challenging for other reason, The Man’s time in the Navy has been good to us. Neither of us regret his time in. We were able to buy a house, The Man was able to get help through SARP, Munchkin got excellent care through out my pregnancy and delivery and The Man is going to be able to get a degree using his benefits.
We got married thinking he would make this a career. We didn’t come to this decision to get out lightly. We though about it for a long time and prayed hard. We talked and talked and talked some more about it. The idea of getting out made me nervous but over time I gained peace about it. Now I’m excited that he’s out. I would have been more than willing to hold down the fort for more underways and deployments and to move where ever they sent us. I’d be lying though if I said I’m glad I don’t have to do any of that now. We’re excited that he’s going to be home for the important days…and the everyday things too. He’s going to get to watch Munchkin grow up. We’re not going to have to plan her sibling around a deployment schedule.
The Man is excited to be a civilian again. He’s been a civilian longer than in the military. It’s going to be a transition but one that we are so excited for.
You did babe. You did a great job and finished strong. I’m so proud of you!
July 2, 2012
10 Things to Smile About June Edition
I can’t believe that June is over. It feels like it just started! I’d be lying if I said I was sad to see it go. There are a couple of great things happening in July that I’m super excited about!
So in no particular order:
-10.-
The Man & I finished our final separation for a LONG, LONG time. He completed his final underway in his naval career. I’m super excited that there will be no need for me to sleep alone for for a very long time.
The Man on the bridge of the sub for the last time.
-9.-
This one is kinda related to the above one but The Man started terminal leave at the end of June. He walked around with this big grin on his face for DAYS. I haven’t seen him so happy in ages. The stress of his job was taking a huge toll. I’m loving having a happy husband and having him around more. I’ve been loving the just us time!
One of his last days in uniform. Sorry it’s so blurry my cell phone wasn’t cooperating.
-8.-
Since The Man has been home we’ve been enjoying lots of “us time.” It’s going to be ending soon so we’re taking full advantage of it. We’ve watched some movies (If you haven’t seen Act of Valor, 
you should. It’s incredible!) I love just having him home. My new most comfortable position is to be leaning back into The Man. You know those pillows that have arms that are called a husband? It’s like I have a perfect pillow and amazingly he’s also called a husband! Seriously though, I’m thinking about trying to sleep like that since nothing else in comfortable. (picture source)
-7.-
Making it to 37 weeks made my month! It’s nice to be so close to the end. We’re so excited to meet our little girl!
-6.-
Finally going to the zoo with friends. We kept trying but the weather wasn’t cooperating. We finally got to go on a gorgeous PNW day. We had a great time and I’m looking forward to going again.
-5.-
Making all sorts of cute baby items for munchkin. I FINALLY got into my sewing groove and was able to turn out all sorts of cute things! I’m excited that I was able to make her some things.
-4.-
I’ve been very thankful that the NST’s (nonstress test) have been uneventful. Munchkin usually does very well…except for when she decides to sleep through them and we have to wake her up. She doesn’t like that but we gotta do what we gotta do to make sure she’s ok! I like having the weekly checkups and knowing that she is doing well. It calms this anxious mama’s heart.
-3.-
While DH was gone I was able to get all of Munchkin’s stuff washed. All her clothes up to 3 months, blankets, used plush toys were were given…anything cloth and it was washed. I did have some kitty help. It’s been interesting trying to keep them away!
-2.-
I know that most of this has been related to Munchkin but she’s hogging our thoughts and attention at the moment. It’s starting to really hit me that we’re having a baby! We finally have our cosleeper and have rearranged the bedroom so it will fit. The Man’s dresser has been hijacked to serve as a changing table for a few months. Now that the change has been made it makes it seem even more real!
-1.-
A college friend of mine who lives on the East Coast was visiting family in my general area so she came by to visit us with her family! It had been YEARS since I had last seen her and it was so fun to meet her kids and see her husband again. We had a great time chatting while the kids played with the pups. We also enjoyed the Naval Undersea Museum.
Proof we saw each other!
And that was June.
What was your favorite part of June?
A big thank you to Emmy for hosting this link up!
June 25, 2012
Budget For Baby
The military has many programs set up to a help to the service member and their family. The programs are called different things in different branches. I can only speak for what I know and that’s the Navy.
I decided to take advantage of a class called Budget For Baby that is offered by the Navy Marine Core Relief Society (NMCRS). If you are the spouse of a sailor or marine, you should have the NMCRS on your radar. They are a great resource. They will help you make a budget and can help with rent and utilites if you are having a hard time making payments. You can also receive a $300 no questions asked loan. They helped me get to my grandmother’s funeral in September 2010. They made airline reservation for me and paid for the ticket; we were able to pay in back through an allotment over 10 months. It was nice to not have to worry about it. Just know that they are available to help you in times of need. I don’t know what available for the Army/Air Force/Coast Guard but I would think there is something similiar.
I had been told that this is a great class and that for going I would get some free baby items. I thought that was great, I like free. The class lasted about a half an hour and we went over simple budgeting. I think it was supposed to be longer but we went through the material quickly. We were given a budget outline and even though we were told to bring a copy of our LES (our paystub for those nonmilitary folk) we didn’t use it.
At the end we were handed a reusable bag and were able to choose a color of a hand knitted blanket. I picked a green one. When I got home I was happily surprised to see what was inside. Everything is Gerber brand and I received:
1 white knit sheet, 1 cotton sheet with little lions, giraffes, elephants, monkeys and alligators on it, a 3 pack of burp cloths with cute animals, 3 bibs, 1 white thermal blanket, 2 pairs of mittens, 3 pack of sleep n’ plays (pj’s) size 3-6 months, 5 white onesies size 6-9 months, and a hooded towel and wash cloth. Everything matches and has the same little animals that are one the cotton crib sheet.
How great is that? These items are super cute. I don’t have any crib sheets yet so I was super excited about that! You can never have too many burp cloths, bibs, sleepers or onesies. I was wanting one or two more hooded towels. I also love the green blanket handmade blanket. It has hearts around the edges and an angel in the middle…how perfect for a little angel!
So I’m sharing this so that other people can take advantage of it! So please, make sure you check into what items are available to you and a military family and take advantage of them!
Oh, one more thing…I did have to preregister for the class. If you don’t know the information for the closest NMCRS near you, you can check it out in this link.
I decided to take advantage of a class called Budget For Baby that is offered by the Navy Marine Core Relief Society (NMCRS). If you are the spouse of a sailor or marine, you should have the NMCRS on your radar. They are a great resource. They will help you make a budget and can help with rent and utilites if you are having a hard time making payments. You can also receive a $300 no questions asked loan. They helped me get to my grandmother’s funeral in September 2010. They made airline reservation for me and paid for the ticket; we were able to pay in back through an allotment over 10 months. It was nice to not have to worry about it. Just know that they are available to help you in times of need. I don’t know what available for the Army/Air Force/Coast Guard but I would think there is something similiar.
I had been told that this is a great class and that for going I would get some free baby items. I thought that was great, I like free. The class lasted about a half an hour and we went over simple budgeting. I think it was supposed to be longer but we went through the material quickly. We were given a budget outline and even though we were told to bring a copy of our LES (our paystub for those nonmilitary folk) we didn’t use it.
At the end we were handed a reusable bag and were able to choose a color of a hand knitted blanket. I picked a green one. When I got home I was happily surprised to see what was inside. Everything is Gerber brand and I received:1 white knit sheet, 1 cotton sheet with little lions, giraffes, elephants, monkeys and alligators on it, a 3 pack of burp cloths with cute animals, 3 bibs, 1 white thermal blanket, 2 pairs of mittens, 3 pack of sleep n’ plays (pj’s) size 3-6 months, 5 white onesies size 6-9 months, and a hooded towel and wash cloth. Everything matches and has the same little animals that are one the cotton crib sheet.
How great is that? These items are super cute. I don’t have any crib sheets yet so I was super excited about that! You can never have too many burp cloths, bibs, sleepers or onesies. I was wanting one or two more hooded towels. I also love the green blanket handmade blanket. It has hearts around the edges and an angel in the middle…how perfect for a little angel!
So I’m sharing this so that other people can take advantage of it! So please, make sure you check into what items are available to you and a military family and take advantage of them!
Oh, one more thing…I did have to preregister for the class. If you don’t know the information for the closest NMCRS near you, you can check it out in this link.
For my Milspouse friends, what services/programs provided by the military are your favorite?
I'm linking up with:
June 12, 2012
On The Bright Side
The furbabies and I are on our own again since The Man is underwater at the moment. It should be the LAST TIME EVER in his military career. It’s a short underway (for you non navy folk, it’s not a deployment or a partrol that a boomer sub does but a shorter amount of time that the sub in out. It can last from a few days to a a couple of months.) I’m so excited that he will never have to go out on a sub again (unless he choses to for his civilian job, which is a whole other story.)
As was thinking of that though, I as realizing that there are a few things I’m going to miss about this time apart. Don’t get me wrong, I’d much rather be together than separated, but the time apart isn’t bad. So here’s my list of things I enjoy while The Man is gone:
1. I get the WHOLE Queen size bed to myself. This is more exciting to me now that I’m 35 weeks pregnant and I can allow my pillows to take over the bed. I’ve always enjoyed it but never as much as now!
2. I can plan the menu around what I like. There are certain foods 
3. I get to have plenty of ME time. I usually get more than he does but when he’s gone I get a ton! I have hermit like qualities and see nothing wrong with spending a few days holed up at home. I tend to do it while he’s gone and it’s wondrous. This time is a little more special because it’s the last time (for at least 18 years) that I won’t have to worry about anyone else while he’s gone. It’s the last time I can focus on me without worrying about kid coverage or wondering what munchkin is up too. It’s also nice to have the time so close to her arrival. I’m enjoying being able to take naps and sleep in late as much as I want!
4. This one goes along with the one above, but getting to decide when I want to go to bed and what I want to watch to fall asleep. Even after (almost) 3 years of marriage, we go to bed at the same time. We’ve gone to bed at different times maybe 4 times. Maybe. That might be pushing it. We have a routine and I enjoy the us time at the end of the day. But it’s nice to go to bed whenever I want. We also put a movie on to fall asleep and we take turns deciding (the other person has veto power.) With him gone I can watch whatever I want. So for the past week it’s been Top Gun. 
Mostly because we only have the Wii hooked up so it has to be on Netflix. Also because it’s easy and I know the movie so well that it’s easy to fall asleep to! (Picture Source)
5. I like how when we’re apart it forces us to communicate differently. Unlike some wives, I don’t get to talk to The Man every day while he’s gone. Skype and phone calls don’t happen unless they’re in port. I write him an email every day while he’s gone. I start it in the morning and write it all day and send it at night. I talk about what’s going on, how the furbabies are doing, what I’m eating/cooking. Boring stuff mostly but he loves it. It helps him stay connected to what’s going on at home. I know he likes them because he tells to me keep sending them. So send them I do! I get very few in return but that’s ok. I know that when I get one he’s had a chance to write on and that he’s thinking of me. A two line email can make my day.
6. I love getting surprise phone calls from The Man. Sometimes (ok, it seems like all the time with his sub) they have to make an unexpected port call cause the sub breaks. I love getting that surprise phone call from him. I usually get a few phone calls while they’re in. The man, who normally hates talking on the phone will call as often as he can and is willing to talk for awhile too.
7. I’m sure you’re wondering what the absolute best part of being apart is. It’s the homecoming. It’s feeling his arms around you, 
Those are all things that make the separation bearable. A teeny, tiny part of me will miss this part of military life once The Man is a civilian once again but only a teeny, tiny part. I’m looking forward to having a “normal” schedule and having The Man around for holidays…all of them.
What do you look forward to when your spouse is away?
June 8, 2012
Coming Into The Home Stretch
I’m at the end of 34 weeks today. I’m seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and I’m so excited about that. Nervous but excited at the same time. It’s a little unbelievable to me that very soon I will have a little girl in my arms.
Yesterday I had a centering appointment. My midwife took a look at my blood sugar levels. My fasting numbers were still higher than the 90 or less they wanted but were below 95. She consulted with an OB and they wanted to put me on medicine. So they started me on glyburide. It’s an oral medication and I’m only taking a 1/2 of a pill at night.
However along with the medication comes other things. I now get to go in twice a week for a nonstress test to make sure munchkin is ok. It could be worse and I’m ok with getting to listen to her heartbeat and make sure she’s ok. The part that I really dislike is that I will be induced by 39 weeks if she has not arrived on her own. It’s not longer abstract…it’s actually been scheduled and is in the system.
I’m actually taking this better than I expected. I was expecting this so I think that has helped. I almost started crying when I told my mom about the induction but other than that I’ve been ok. I can’t claim I’m going to be ok tonight but I’m ok for now. It sucks that The Man is under water but we’ve had email communication so I’m hoping this email will get through. You never know what they will and will not let through. Either way, as long as she stays put he’ll be here in time, as will my mom.
Actually…I got a surprise phone call from The Man last night after I wrote the above paragraph. It was great to be able to talk to him and tell him what happened. He’s amazing and supportive. He reminded me that we can still go for no pain meds and have a natural childbirth. So that’s our goal.
I love that I got to talk to him. God knew I needed it. He also knew that all of this was going to happen and he’s still in control. I’m trusting…it’s hard but I’m trusting.
I’d give you a picture but that would involve me putting on a bra and cleaning up our room so you’ll have to wait till next week. Instead I’ll leave you with super cute picture of Joey.
Yesterday I had a centering appointment. My midwife took a look at my blood sugar levels. My fasting numbers were still higher than the 90 or less they wanted but were below 95. She consulted with an OB and they wanted to put me on medicine. So they started me on glyburide. It’s an oral medication and I’m only taking a 1/2 of a pill at night.
However along with the medication comes other things. I now get to go in twice a week for a nonstress test to make sure munchkin is ok. It could be worse and I’m ok with getting to listen to her heartbeat and make sure she’s ok. The part that I really dislike is that I will be induced by 39 weeks if she has not arrived on her own. It’s not longer abstract…it’s actually been scheduled and is in the system.
I’m actually taking this better than I expected. I was expecting this so I think that has helped. I almost started crying when I told my mom about the induction but other than that I’ve been ok. I can’t claim I’m going to be ok tonight but I’m ok for now. It sucks that The Man is under water but we’ve had email communication so I’m hoping this email will get through. You never know what they will and will not let through. Either way, as long as she stays put he’ll be here in time, as will my mom.
Actually…I got a surprise phone call from The Man last night after I wrote the above paragraph. It was great to be able to talk to him and tell him what happened. He’s amazing and supportive. He reminded me that we can still go for no pain meds and have a natural childbirth. So that’s our goal.
I love that I got to talk to him. God knew I needed it. He also knew that all of this was going to happen and he’s still in control. I’m trusting…it’s hard but I’m trusting.
I’d give you a picture but that would involve me putting on a bra and cleaning up our room so you’ll have to wait till next week. Instead I’ll leave you with super cute picture of Joey.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
June 1, 2012
June Friday Fill In
YAY for June! I’m very excited because it means we’re that much closer to meeting Munchkin. Also, I’m kinda impressed that I managed to post everyday this week. I wouldn’t get used to it but it was nice. Anyway, on to the Friday Fill In. The lovely Wife of a Sailor hosts this meme on the first Friday of the month. You can head on over to check out other responses and don’t forget to say hi to Wifey!
1. What’s one thing in the past month you would have changed?
One thing I would have changed in May? Let’s see…I would change my fasting numbers. They’ve been all over the place and I’m trying to get them under control. I can try but it’s a little out of my control. I’m working on it though.
2. What was your favorite thing that happened in May?
3. June includes the first day of summer… what are your plans for the summer?
Have a baby! That’s the big plan but we’re also going to be transitioning to civilian life. Other plans include picking blackberries once they’re ripe and enjoying our daughter once she arrives.
4. Do you use the services on base (gym, financial planning, family services, daycare)? And if so, what’s your favorite one?
We don’t use a whole lot. Sometimes I shop at the commissary and the NEX. We’ve used ITT for tickets and we enjoy the discount. We also like the bowling alley even though we haven’t gone bowling for awhile. We’ve used the Navy Marine Core Relief Society a few times for and I’ll be taking the Budgeting for Baby class this month. So maybe the NMCRS is my favorite because I think they offer great services.
5. What are you looking forward to in June?
I am most looking forward to The Man going on terminal leave! We can’t wait for him to be done. The Man will be much happier and life will much less stressful (we hope!)
I hope you all have a wonderful June!
What are you looking forward to this month?
May 23, 2012
Submarine
Mom and I were on our way back to Kingston from Edmonds on the ferry last week and about 1/2 way there she says…”Is that a submarine? I think that’s a submarine!” I was like, “No, it’s not a sub!” but then I turned around and lo and behold, it WAS a submarine!
It’s not all that unusual to see a sub in Puget Sound. After all there are two bases on the sound that the subs go in and out of. I had just never see one before. I’ve been up close and personal with on while it is pier side and I’ve even been on one (not surprising since The Man is a submariner!) It was pretty cool to see one sailing free.
I was pretty fascinated with it. I just wanted to watch it while we sailed by each other. I don’t know if it was me being sentimental or just realizing that with The Man’s career ending soon I’ll be a sub wife no longer. It was just cool to see the sail sticking out of the water. To know that there were going to happy wives and kids that night, with their husbands/dads coming home. Knowing the joy, even if the sub had only been our for a short time. To me, it was more than just a sub. It’s about the men who serve on it and the families who wait for them.
To those that serve in the Silent Service, thank you.
May 11, 2012
Milspouse Blog Hop
Hi! I’m Poekitten. Welcome to Many Waters! I’ve been blogging for almost two years and I LOVE the milspouse community I've found online. You ladies rock and I’m honored to have a small place among you.
I’m the wife of a submariner and we’re stationed in the lovely
Pacific Northwest. We’ve been here since August of 2009 and we love it. We have two big events taking place this summer. The first is the birth of our first child, munchkin. I’m 30 weeks and very ready to meet my daughter. The second is that The Man is separating from The Navy. We’re in the midst of job hunting and trying to figure out what comes next. Our goal is to stay right where we are and we’re praying that God will work out all the details!I blog about our life so you’ll find a little bit of everything here.
You’ll find posts on our furbabies, my pregnancy, random thoughts and happenings, the occasional recipe and anything else I find to be entertaining. Oh, and sometimes there are posts having to do with the military. Just a light dusting here and there since I refuse to let The Navy take over my life. You can find me on Facebook and Twitter as well. My Twitter account is protected but don't be shy about following... I just hate all the spam.
I hope you’ll come back and visit me again. Please let me know you visited by leaving a comment and I’ll make sure to hop on over to your blog. You should come back next week as I’ll be having a great giveaway!
Thank you Wife on a Roller Coaster and Household6 Diva for hosting the party. If you're a milspouse and you haven't linked up yet, what are you waiting for? Join the fun!
March 7, 2012
 |
| Wife of a Sailor with her Huzzy |
I'm still having a great time in MA. I have another guest post for you today, this time from Wife of a Sailor. If you've never participated in the Milspouse (First) Friday Fill-In, you should check it out. You can read the questions and answers from last Friday. It's a great way to get to know other bloggers. She's another blogger that I've been able to meet in person. I love that I've met so many great people through bogging! Anyway, she's going to talk about the uncertainity of life with a submariner.
The military life is such an unknown. Sometimes the submarine life is even more so, I think.
Right now, we are in the middle of our last deployment (which is called a patrol due to the type of sub
Huzzy is on) and about to head into shore duty. It’s pretty much our first one. I say pretty much because
I met Huzzy on his last “shore” duty, which was recruiting. Let me tell ya, that’s no picnic and there’s a
reason they give recruiters an extra $400 a month of “hardship duty” pay.
So Huzzy will be nearly 13 ½ years in and going on only his second shore duty—and the first “real” one—
in May. I’m really excited, but also a bit hesitant. You never know what the next change is going to bring.
Huzzy was so excited to get off recruiting duty and go back to the subs. He chose an SSGN and when he
got there, it wasn’t exactly what he was expecting. So when they were looking for a volunteer to go back
to an SSBN (or “Boomer” as they are known), he jumped at the chance.
Now? He realized the grass isn’t always greener on the other side and really likes the GN platform.
But here we are ready for shore duty. He chose the duty he did because it has the best leadership
opportunities for him. They are way undermanned and apparently work really long hours. And Huzzy
has heard one of the divisions in need of someone is the “paper pushing” department and he and I both
know he’d absolutely hate it.
So I’m cautious to see if this shore duty is really all it’s cracked up to be. I hope it’s at least some sort
of break for him and that he’ll have the chance to really bang out his college education and get his
Associate’s and a good chunk of his Bachelor’s degree done.
As for some of the unknowns of being a sub wife? Well, I knew the target return date when Huzzy left
for his patrol. But until we are within 24 hours of the actual timeframe, we don’t know and aren’t really
told. We could meet our ombudsman in person and ask if it changed, but they don’t know for sure,
either, until they get the call.
Another unknown is email. We never know if our emails are getting to the boat and never know when
an email is going to be sent to us. When the boat is doing what it’s meant to do… there’s no email
coming off it. They can usually receive email because it’s a different system that doesn’t require them
to do transmissions. But we’ve had email show up months and even a patrol later! It’s definitely not a
reliable system in any stretch of the word. And of course, we don’t hear their voice until they return. No
cell phone towers 20,000 leagues under the sea!
The unknowns of military life really can get to a person. But the Navy is slowly beating the Type A
personality out of me. I don’t think I’ll ever completely be removed of my Type A, but maybe I’ll become
a Type AB!
February 9, 2012
Wives of the Military
WARNING: This is rant, fueled by pregnancy hormones, a headache and a desire to have The Man home. However, I’m a big girl and can take whatever comments you want to throw at me!
A post by a newbie blogger was brought to my attention by a friend on Facebook the other day. While I hate to give her the traffic, you going to read it in her own words is way better than me trying to summarize it. If you haven’t read it yet, you can click here to get to the blog post. I’m writing a response here on my blog because after 12 comments, most of which were negative, she turned them off. I’m guessing she couldn’t take the heat but I can’t be sure. Anyway, on with my thoughts…
If I had been able to comment, this is what I would have written:
I am very sad to see this post. As an active duty Navy sub wife, I think it's much better to be supportive of one another instead of tearing each other down, regardless of your branch of service. Each branch has different missions and purposes...and each are needed. I have reserve friends and the things they experience with a deployment are the same as what I and other wives experience. Also...it can be just has hard, if not harder, to go back to a civilian job after being in the sandbox for a year. They're juggling a lot and they deserve credit for that. Being in the National guard or Reserve DOES NOT make them less of a person or less valuable to our country.
I hope that once you experience a deployment, field training or just something MORE than recruiting duty you'll have more compassion for the men and women who serve with the other active duty branches, the Army National Guard, the different State Guards and the different Reserve branches. I hope it gets you off your high horse and helps you see that as wives, we're all in this together.
Also, isn't it a bit of a double standard to complain about wives wearing their SO's uniform and then do it yourself? You have no right to complain about something and then do it yourself.
Ok, ok, I pulled a bit of branch rank there in the beginning but I wanted her to know I was a fellow active duty wife. Plus, I’m wondering how much of “real” army life she has experienced. And by “real” I mean deployments, field trainings, duty nights, and times when she can’t get in touch with her husband. I’m going to go out on a limb and say….she hasn’t experienced much. So she’s basing her superiority on the fact that she’s a wife of six months who has only experienced recruiting. I HOPE that if she had experienced a deployment she would have more sympathy/compassion/empathy for those who who are/have been deployment. A deployment is a deployment is a deployment, from 3 months to 15 months or longer. No way around it deployments SUCKS, no matter what branch you are.
I think what bothered me the most was the level of disrespect to the soldiers and families in the National Guard, State Guards and Reserves. I know she doesn’t mention all those branches but I’ve included them since they aren’t active duty and I feel can be included in what she’s saying.
Now, as an active duty wife, I have NO IDEA what it’s like to be the wife of a guard or reserve member. I am however, friends with a few through the bloggy world. Bloggers like Chambanachik and Mowenackie (who had been on a blogging sabbatical) have helped to see into their world and understand what it’s like to be the wife of a guard/reserve member. They have helped me see that it can be hard to be the wife of a deployed guard/reserve member. Sometimes they don’t live near the unit so they don’t have an FRG or other support to help them through. They have the same fears/questions/concerns as the rest of us and often it’s harder for them to get the information they need. I could go on, but then I would have a short story instead of a blog post. I encourage you to read their blogs and find out more of what their lives are like.
I do have to say that there is one thing I do agree with her on. Shocking, right? It’s the wives taking photos in the SO’s (significant other’s) uniform. My biggest issue? YOU DON’T WEAR IT, YOUR SO DOES! Just like you don’t wear rank. So how about we admire our men (or women) in uniform and enjoy taking it off of them? And once you have them out of it, DON’T PUT IT ON. Leave it on the floor or draped over the foot of your bed. You haven’t earned the right to wear it. You haven’t earned that right until you swear the enlisted oath or are commissioned. Please show our men and women who have earned the right to wear the uniform that much respect. I don’t care if it’s your boobs, butt or a baby bump that’s hanging out, it’s not cute. And for the record, it’s not just National Guard wives who do it…I’ve seen plenty of active duty wives do it too! Gasp, the horror!
Imagine that, not all active duty wives are the same or think the same thing…
A post by a newbie blogger was brought to my attention by a friend on Facebook the other day. While I hate to give her the traffic, you going to read it in her own words is way better than me trying to summarize it. If you haven’t read it yet, you can click here to get to the blog post. I’m writing a response here on my blog because after 12 comments, most of which were negative, she turned them off. I’m guessing she couldn’t take the heat but I can’t be sure. Anyway, on with my thoughts…
If I had been able to comment, this is what I would have written:
I am very sad to see this post. As an active duty Navy sub wife, I think it's much better to be supportive of one another instead of tearing each other down, regardless of your branch of service. Each branch has different missions and purposes...and each are needed. I have reserve friends and the things they experience with a deployment are the same as what I and other wives experience. Also...it can be just has hard, if not harder, to go back to a civilian job after being in the sandbox for a year. They're juggling a lot and they deserve credit for that. Being in the National guard or Reserve DOES NOT make them less of a person or less valuable to our country.
I hope that once you experience a deployment, field training or just something MORE than recruiting duty you'll have more compassion for the men and women who serve with the other active duty branches, the Army National Guard, the different State Guards and the different Reserve branches. I hope it gets you off your high horse and helps you see that as wives, we're all in this together.
Also, isn't it a bit of a double standard to complain about wives wearing their SO's uniform and then do it yourself? You have no right to complain about something and then do it yourself.
Ok, ok, I pulled a bit of branch rank there in the beginning but I wanted her to know I was a fellow active duty wife. Plus, I’m wondering how much of “real” army life she has experienced. And by “real” I mean deployments, field trainings, duty nights, and times when she can’t get in touch with her husband. I’m going to go out on a limb and say….she hasn’t experienced much. So she’s basing her superiority on the fact that she’s a wife of six months who has only experienced recruiting. I HOPE that if she had experienced a deployment she would have more sympathy/compassion/empathy for those who who are/have been deployment. A deployment is a deployment is a deployment, from 3 months to 15 months or longer. No way around it deployments SUCKS, no matter what branch you are.
I think what bothered me the most was the level of disrespect to the soldiers and families in the National Guard, State Guards and Reserves. I know she doesn’t mention all those branches but I’ve included them since they aren’t active duty and I feel can be included in what she’s saying.
Now, as an active duty wife, I have NO IDEA what it’s like to be the wife of a guard or reserve member. I am however, friends with a few through the bloggy world. Bloggers like Chambanachik and Mowenackie (who had been on a blogging sabbatical) have helped to see into their world and understand what it’s like to be the wife of a guard/reserve member. They have helped me see that it can be hard to be the wife of a deployed guard/reserve member. Sometimes they don’t live near the unit so they don’t have an FRG or other support to help them through. They have the same fears/questions/concerns as the rest of us and often it’s harder for them to get the information they need. I could go on, but then I would have a short story instead of a blog post. I encourage you to read their blogs and find out more of what their lives are like.
I do have to say that there is one thing I do agree with her on. Shocking, right? It’s the wives taking photos in the SO’s (significant other’s) uniform. My biggest issue? YOU DON’T WEAR IT, YOUR SO DOES! Just like you don’t wear rank. So how about we admire our men (or women) in uniform and enjoy taking it off of them? And once you have them out of it, DON’T PUT IT ON. Leave it on the floor or draped over the foot of your bed. You haven’t earned the right to wear it. You haven’t earned that right until you swear the enlisted oath or are commissioned. Please show our men and women who have earned the right to wear the uniform that much respect. I don’t care if it’s your boobs, butt or a baby bump that’s hanging out, it’s not cute. And for the record, it’s not just National Guard wives who do it…I’ve seen plenty of active duty wives do it too! Gasp, the horror!
Imagine that, not all active duty wives are the same or think the same thing…
What do you think?
Edited: I orginally said she had been married 7 months. I counted wrong; she's been married 6 months.
Also, I would like to add the following as of 4:30, February 10, 2011:
the blog post that is currently up that I referenced in my post is very different from the one I read less than 24 hours ago. When I first read it, it was more harsh and included a part on PTSD that was quite offensive to many people. Also, there were pictures as well as information on the writer and her husband. This information included that they met in November of 2010, that they met while he was recruiting and that they are currently living in her hometown. It also included a few wedding pictures and the date they were married...August 2011 (which means they've been married 6 months, not 7. That's my mistake). She is also due this month with a little girl and had a maternity shot of herself in her husband's uniform. There were other posts as well, including a response from her husband. There has been an apology from the Army: you can see it here:http://spousebuzz.com/
January 17, 2012
Quiz Time
So, everybody's doing it, so I decided to do it too. The Milspouse quiz that it (get your mind out of the gutter!) Seriously, this thing is like wildfire on Milspouse blogs so just visit a few and I'm sure you'll run into it again (if you haven't already.) Don't worry, if you all decide to jump off a bridge I won't do that...promise!
1. How did you and your spouse meet?
We met online. You can read a little but about our first date here (it's about the 3rd or 4th paragraph down.) It moved quickly....we met, dated and were talking about getting married in about 2 months, we were officially engaged after three months and we would have been married sooner but there was a pesky deployment that we decided to get married after. Silly deployments!
2. How old were you when you met?
I was 28 and The Man was 27.
3. How long have you been together?
We've been together a little over 3 and a half years and we've been married a little under two and half years.
4. Where are you and your spouse originally from?
I'm from MA and The Man is from Oregon.
5. How did you feel about him joining the military?
He had already joined when we met so I never gave it any thought. I had never really thought about dating/marrying someone in the military. I fell in love with the man, not his job and he just happened to be in the Navy.
6. Where did your spouse go to basic training?
The same place that all Navy guys go. I didn't know him then so it never played much into my life.
7. Has your spouse ever been deployed?
Yes, he did a deployment before we were married. It was 6 long months but I got to plan the wedding while he was under water. It worked for us even with the little to no contact.
8. Ever been to his promotion ceremony?
Nope. Maybe someday!
9. How long have you been a military wife?
I've been a military wife our entire marriage...a little under two and a half years.
10. Did you marry him before or after he joined?
After. See #5.
11. How did your husband propose?
I knew it was coming but I was not expecting it this night. We went on a sunset cruise in Newport, RI. I didn't think he would do it then cause it was too obvious. He surprised me and it was amazing. He got down on one knee as the sun was setting and everyone on the boat was watching us. Everyone clapped and crew opened a bottle of champagne for us. We got to keep the cork and they wrote the date and the name of the boat on it. It was perfect.
12. Where did you get married?
We got married in MA at a country garden. It was small and perfect (even if it didn't go perfectly.) And a fun trivia fact: we were married on a Tuesday.
We got married in MA at a country garden. It was small and perfect (even if it didn't go perfectly.) And a fun trivia fact: we were married on a Tuesday.
13. How old were you when you got married?
I was 29 when we got married. I was older than I thought I would be but he was well worth the wait!
14. Did he wear his uniform on your wedding day?
Yup and he looked wonderful. I'm not a fan of enlisted dress whites so he wore his dress blues. In August. That man loves me a lot! Amazingly, he didn't melt! It wasn't that bad actually (he'll say that if you ask him, promise!)
15. Where are you and your spouse currently stationed?
We're in the beautiful PNW. The Man grew up in Oregon and he's made me a convert. I'd be perfectly happy to live here for the rest of our lives.
We're in the beautiful PNW. The Man grew up in Oregon and he's made me a convert. I'd be perfectly happy to live here for the rest of our lives.
16. Do you live on base?
Nope, not anymore. We lived on base when we were first married but then we bought a house cause we want to live here for the rest of our lives. We had a two bedroom townhouse and it was quite nice. I didn't enjoy the fishbowl feeling but that's just me.
17. How long were you married when you had to go through your first separation?
I'm a spoiled Navy wife. We were married 8 months when he left for a TDY for 3 weeks.
18. What is your favorite base so far?
The PNW since we want to live here forever. (Anyone noticing a trend?!?!) While we dated he was in Groton and while Groton isn't the prettiest I like it cause it's close to family.
The PNW since we want to live here forever. (Anyone noticing a trend?!?!) While we dated he was in Groton and while Groton isn't the prettiest I like it cause it's close to family.
19. Do you think your spouse looks good in his uniform?
Yup. He makes the uniform look good!
20. Do you think military life is more advanced than civilian life?
I have no idea what this question means or is asking. It's different. It's not better or worse...just different.
21. Do you like the benefits you receive as a military spouse?
Sure. They're nice. But they're benefits that come with the job, just like any job. I like the "perks" but they're extras and we're not entitled to them. I hate it when milspouses expect the discounts and extras.
22. Do you have a lot of military wife friends?
I have friends that are military wives. Most of them are in the bloggy world but I have several IRL ones from church.
23. What is the hardest part of military life?
The uncertainty drives me CRAZY. I can handle it but it's draining. I know he hates it as much as I do.
24. Do you own military wife stuff?
I just got a Navy Wife sweatshirt for Christmas. It's too big and I need to return it. Other than that....nope. I used to have a I love my Sailor magnet on my car but it was stolen.
25. Do you support your spouse being in the military?
I do. I super proud of him and the job he does. I'll still be proud of him when he gets out and goes reserve.
I do. I super proud of him and the job he does. I'll still be proud of him when he gets out and goes reserve.
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