In the Air

Less than 4 days!!! According to David he should be on a plane to Kuwait now or soon. He said I could expect a call sometime after 3 AM, so hopefully he'll be able to get to a phone relatively quickly after arriving and I'll post on here when he's safely in Kuwait. Then from there he's on a flight directly to New York, from which he'll fly to Hunter Army Air Field in Savannah, and then they'll take buses to Fort Stewart. As of last night everything is still on track for him to arrive on time on the 4th. Weather is going to be in the 50s and 60s with potential rain, so not too incredibly bad, maybe having the ceremony outside won't be as painful as I thought it would be, but I think I'm still rooting for it being inside.

It occurred to me as I was driving home from Jennie's that in about a day and a half I'll be in the car on my way to Georgia, and then once I get there it'll be less than a day until David is physically in my presence. That's really the way I want it, because once I'm there I'm going to be in excruciating anticipation. Better to have as little time as possible sitting in a hotel room with Mom and Jessie twiddling my thumbs wishing it was time to leave. Heaven forbid they show up late, I think I'd eat someone.

Well that's the update, I'll let everyone know when I've heard from him!

Phase 1

Phase 1 out "Get David Out of Iraq" is over. Right now I am currently sitting in a cot that will be my bed for the next few days till we can move on to Phase 2. Like I was telling JL and JB, carrying around 226 lbs of gear left me sore as hell. I woke up this morning after an actual 10-hour sleep (thats after having been up for 20 hours) and I could barely move. Arms and chest are sore, shoulders are shot, have jell-o for walking legs(if stumbling around aimlessly is walking). Neck doesnt feel too bad, but is definitely stiff. Right now we are just kind of relaxed waiting for others to get up so we can go to chow. I do have internet in the tent so I can easily talk to people when they are online. Anywho, I think people are ready to go to chow so I need to get going. Talk to everyone later

Happy Thanksgiving 2008!

The turkey is in the oven. The potatoes are peeled. The sweet potato and apple casserole is ready as is the green bean casserole to go in the oven along with the extra stuffing when the turkey comes out!! Jess will be making carrot puff when she gets here and she is bringing a corn dish! No one should go away hungry today!!

Again this year I am tempted to call the Butterball Turkey Hotline and complain!! Why the #%*! do they have to put the extra turkey stuff in plastic bags INSIDE to turkey and then freeze it harder than a rock??? Every year I feel as though I should be on World Wrestling as I am trying to get the turkey to give up it's giblets, etc. again! Why couldn't the wizards at Butterball put the bag of stuff on the OUTSIDE????
I'm convinced that the genius who came up with this idea has never had to fight with a frozen turkey Thanksgiving or Christmas morning!! 'nuf said.

Today we will be celebrating out first Thanksgiving with our precious granddaughter/niece! I can hardly wait to welcome her to Grandma and Grandpa's house!
Today will be the first of many happy celebrations with her. How blessed we are!!

Last night, DA called. He wanted to wish us all a very Happy Thanksgiving! He is packed and ready for the flights that will bring him back to the good old USA.
We are ready to welcome him back and celebrate with him at Ft Stewart on Thursday - one week from today!!

So, to family and friends, Happy Thanksgiving and safe travels!

mom

Happy Birthday, DA

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, UNCLE DAVID!

Hope you have a very special day. Congratulations on being a brand new uncle, too.

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving as well. Will they be serving you a huge turkey dinner this week - with all the fixings?

Have a safe flight back to the States, and in the meantime - KYHD!

Love,
"Great" Aunt Sher

Phone Calls

I've heard from DA more in the last month than I heard from him all year long! It's been nice though to talk with him. I'm so excited to see him when he gets back stateside. I know I won't get to see him until sometime in the new year, but by then his niece will be almost 3 months old, so she'll be a lot more fun to be around.

I've been doing more around the house today. Now that my doctor is back in town, I'm not afraid to put myself into labor by doing laundry and cleaning things up a little.

In fact, I'm now ready for her to come anytime. I'm so excited to see what she looks like and to not have her kicking under my ribs anytime I make the mistake of leaning too far forward. Being pregnant has been an adventure, but I'm ready for the next phase, mommyhood!

Happy Anniversary!

Today would have been G'ma and G'pa's 62nd anniversary! Though they are not with us today, we can learn alot from them by remembering how they spent 59 wonderful years together! Dad and I are well on our way to that milestone: our 34th anniversary will be here soon! I hope and pray that each of our children has found (or will find)the love of their life and that they will have many happy years together!

DA - It was good to talk with you again last night. It is less than 2 weeks now and you will be making your way back to the good old USA and we couldn't be happier! We all wish you and your buddies safe travels and look forward to seeing you in early December.

Love you lots & KYHD!!
mom

Two calls in three days!!

Wow - I've talked with DA twice in 3 days. He called while I was at work on Friday and we talked for about an hour and then he called this morning to wish me a Happy Birthday. Needless to say I was surprised and very happy. He sounds well on the phone; upbeat and looking forward to getting back to the states. He has started packing and going through his "stuff". Deciding what to bring back and what to leave there or sell to someone staying there.

Today will be a quiet one. Dave is working and I will watch some football, do laundry and read until it is time to go to Jess and Craig's house for dinner. I think we are having chili, corn bread and apple pie...yum-mo! I know it will be delicious and I don't have to cook!! YEAH! I may even have some wine....

The nursery here is just about done. Ben and Craig came over yesterday and put the crib and changing table together and I washed sheets and blankets, etc. I still have some things to wash and some decorations to put on the walls and then we will be ready for baby Becca! I'll take some pics and see if I can get them on the blog perhaps tomorrow or Tuesday.

Thanks for the calls DA - it was GREAT to talk with you.

See you soon....KYHD

Love you,
mom

Redeployment Part 1

So, I know a lot of you have been wondering about when I am coming home, what the plans are for the holidays, how the deployment has been overall through my experiences, and just how things are. While I cannot unfortunately say here when I am leaving or when to expect to see me at stewart, know that I will be at Stewart within 4 days of leaving my FOB. The plan is to leave from here to BIAP, then take a plane to Kuwait. Once there, I will be processed as coming out of deployment status, and will then fly to Hunter AAF. Once the hugging grandmas and war veterans get done hugging us and thanking us for our service and welcoming us home, we will then bus to stewart in which we will have a Welcome home ceremony that will last approximately 10-20 minutes. Now mind you that the ceremony WILL commence the moment we get to stewart. So it could be at 1400 (2pm for the civilians), or 2am(just a heads up). Once the Commanding General (CG) is done with his speech welcoming us home and how we did an outstanding job accomplishing our mission, we will then be released to the more important hugs and kisses and tears from the families and friends and general loved ones. We will then receive sometime between a 24-48 hour pass to spend with the family. We will then go through a grueling, long and boring re-integration phase. Unfortunately, the Division has felt that in order for everyone to get get equal time, they will not be allowing people to go on block leave until after the first of the new year. This not only allows for everyone to get home, but to also get the re-integration training that they (the powers the be) feel is necessary for soldiers to receive since we are considered a high-risk after this drawn-out deployment (prone to drinking, reckless behavior, marital/relationships problems, and coping with post-deployment issues that arise). So unfortunately for us, you will not be able to see me after the welcome home ceremony and the time there until after news years day (they are preventing people from leaving new years day so that soldiers are not out on the road when people in the area have been drinking and driving (nothing good happens outside the house after 10pm, right?) So, that is that part.

Will tell more in my part II about my experiences (good and bad) in my next blog which will be closer to the end of the month.

"Great" News, Part II

I just got off the phone with Aunt Janet. She got home from China last night. She's got a thousand stories to tell - and only about 3 of them make me want to go there for a visit. But, she is thrilled that she went. The best part was that her "roommate" didn't show up so she had a private room to herself during the whole trip. ...and she lost 5 lbs!

I laughed when she called because of your blog and when I told her about it saying she is going to be a great, great aunt, she laughed and told me that I keep reminding her of that! So, she's thrilled about the new baby as well. Be on the lookout for a package from Wallingford.

She couldn't talk any longer - she was going out to play cards!

Please tell JJ not to plan on blogging during labor - I'll think she'll have more on her mind than punctuation.

New Blog

Hey everyone! I thought it might be a good idea to set up a blog so Ben, Jessi, Mom and I can keep people up-to-date during the labor and delivery.

birthofabelli(dot)blogspot(dot)com

The hospital where I will deliver has wireless internet in the room, so we'll be able to let everyone know the progress of labor and delivery. Don't worry, I won't include the gross stuff.

"GREAT" news!

Hey - I was just thinking about all of Becca's aunts and uncles, etc...Aunt Janet is going to be a great,great aunt when Becca is born! She is my aunt, so she is Jennie's great aunt, so she will be Becca's great, great, aunt! I hope they get to meet soon...what a wonderful picture that would make!!

Good Morning!

DA - Sorry I missed your phone call Saturday night, but we were in St Louis at the Bellinger family baby shower. My phone was in my purse in another room. It would have been great to talk with you while at the shower, though. I didn't see that you had called until Sun morning when I checked my phone.

Well - it looks like I will have the nursery ready for Becca by Nov 1. That was my goal when I started working on the room. Today they install the new carpeting, then I head to Babies R Us to get a crib and changing table. Then all that is left is putting up some decorative pictures and hanging the valance. Did you see the latest pictures of Jennie & Becca? Jennie looks like she swallowed a basketball!!!! I think Jess has some pics on her blog. The nursery at J&B's is pretty much all done. They have the dresser/changing table, crib and shelves all put together and organized. I think they are still looking for a rocker/recliner for the room. Becca is due 3 weeks from today!!

Hope all is well with you. Are you "getting short"? When do you start packing up all the equipment for the trip back to the states? Any new news about your return??

Please call again when you have a chance. It is always good to hear from you.

Love you lots & KYHD!

mom

Sleep, per chance to dream...

Well, as you've probably heard by now the Red Sox will not be heading on to the World Series with Philadelphia. The Rays won that game. We just couldn't seem to bring our runners home - we've been stranding too many guys on base.

But, we've won two of the past four World Series, so I think we can let another team enjoy the spotlight. As much as I never have been or probably never will be a fan of Tampa Bay, I do have to recognize them for their climb from worst to first in the AL this year. Good job, guys. Now go away.

The one advantage of all this, I don't have to stay up any more watching games. I can go to bed at my normal hour. Ah, sleep!

As us Red Sox fans have been known to say, "Wait until next year!".

G O P H I L I E S!!!!!

Red Sox

Red Sox Nation is on a major high today. We were down 3 games to 1 the other day against Tampa Bay and we are now tied 3 - 3. Tonight is the deciding game. Whoever wins, goes on to the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. I went to bed the other night thinking that I would not be going through sleep-deprived nights; after all, we were losing 5 - 0 in the 5th. I woke up to the wonderful news that we had come back and beat the Rays 8 - 7!!! How sweet is that. Last night I stayed up to the last out and we won - again - 4 - 2. The Red Sox don't make it easy for us fans, but we're used to it. After all, it was 86 years between World Series wins.

So tonight at 8:07 we begin game #7. Hopefully we will win again tonight. I just may have to be "sick" tomorrow.

Shennie

Care Packages and Other Stuff

This morning, amongst the other things I had to do, I spent a couple hours at the care packages event packing for you and other troops. I managed to get 75 pocket prayer shawls finished with more in the works. I'll take them up tomorrow morning. Everything has to go into ziplock bags, so I packed some bags with coffees and teas and other bags with snacks: Oreos, doritos, peanut butter and cheese crackers, trail mix, peanut packages, 100-calorie packs, etc. It was much more organized this time than last but it was also a lot colder today than last May. But, it was good. Be on the look out, Scoots. You should be getting a couple of boxes. Please let me know when they arrive. I have no idea what will be in them, it's all random but packed with love.

There were folks from church, the private school in town, and some high school kids packing and hauling alongside soccer moms and dads and the likes of me and my friends. I had also requested pictures from the early childhood ed group on campus and the kids all drew pictures and put stars on them. I hope the troops realize that these are 3 and 4 year olds offering their best to them.

When I was leaving I had to pull out on to a major road and make a left hand turn. As I got to the end of the driveway I thought, "Great, one of S'boro's finest right here - I should have no problem pulling out." WRONG! He stood there with radar gun in hand aiming at all the folks coming down the road - out in broad daylight and never even took one step to go out and stop traffic so that I could pull out. I had to wait almost 5 minutes. What a bozo! When his raise comes up at the next town meeting, I may have to rethink things! The reason I had to go left was I had an appt. for my flu shot. Here's hoping it works.

I had a good checkup at Lahey yesterday. Numbers are all good and no one has called me in a panic after getting the results of my renal ultrasound. I guess Lefty is doing its thing quite well. Thanx, JJ! Oh, Marti sends her love.

The great surprise was when I stopped to get gas yesterday afternoon on my way home, it was $2.69/gallon! It hasn't been that low in AGES. It's usually more expensive at the place I went to, but that's the lowest I've seen it anywhere around here. It's also the same place where I get my heating oil. They sent me a "renewal" contract yesterday lowering my monthly budget payment by $162.00! I must be doing something right.

Last weekend I surprised JJ and the Mom and flew out for JJ's baby shower. Donut, Ben & Craig knew I was coming. I have NEVER seen the Mom so surprised ~ JJ as well. Of course, I spent the afternoon staying one step ahead of the Mom - dodging her all around O'F. It was worth it. We had a great time. It reminded me of an old 'I Love Lucy' episode.

I talked to Uncle Nick yesterday. He was between trips. He had just gotten back from a week in Arizona and was getting ready to head to the Berkshires for the weekend. Food for thought: Uncle Nick's full name is Hayden Albert Nichols, Jr. His suggestion for JJ's baby's name is either Nicolina or Alberta!!!! Don't laugh too hard.

Well, better get stuff cleaned up and think about supper. I need to be ready to sit down and watch the Red Sox. I NEVER thought I'd be doing that tonight after watching the first 5 innings of Thursday night's game. I went to bed then ~ we were down 5 - 0 and I had to get up early to go to Lahey. When I ever woke up Friday morning and heard that we had won 8 - 7, I almost fell out of bed! Can we win again? Here's hoping.

Here's JJ after the shower last weekend.

The Mom and Dad to Be. Chances are Becca will be tall. I'll call Gene Auriaumo (UCONN women's coach) and put her name in.

Proof of where Donut get's her napping trait.

The picture really doesn't do the color justice, but I wanted to include it anyway. This is taken at the reservoir here in town.

Same reservoir, different view.

Hope you're doing well. Can't wait for you to be on US soil. Until then, Scoots, I love you and KYHD!

Shennie

I'm dreaming...

Of a white Christmas... Just like the ones I used to know...

Fall in New England

I have to tell you that this is the best time to live in New England. The colors are beginning to pop and there are Kodak moments everywhere. By this time next week it will be picturesque here in Massachusetts. It's probably at its peak in Maine and northern NH and VT this weekend. The leaf peepers will be out in full force. This is the one time when it pays to stay home. The tourons (as we used to call them when I lived in VA) will be out in force.

I will probably be out and about on Monday - it's Heritage Day in town - so I'll bring my camera with me and will post them later on. The best shots are over by the reservoirs - the reflections in the waters are spectacular.

They say CO has color too - but not the variety we have here in NE. CO is mostly yellow due to the aspens. They used to tell me that there was a lot of color down in Virginia - if you wanted to drive 2 hours to the mountains! No thank you. I'm used to looking out my kitchen window at the myriad of colors.

Autumn in New England - You can't beat it!

KYHD!

Shennie

I kid you not!

I don't know if you kids will remember, but whenever you would ask G'pa Carew what he wanted for dinner, or what he wanted to eat, he would ALWAYS reply, "fried bananas". Well...at The Dragon Palace here in town they have a lunch buffet that Dad and I go to frequently and they serve fried bananas! So now whenever you eat there from now on you can think of G'pa...I do! I chuckle every time I go through the buffet line! (I have yet to try them!)

How's everyone doing out there?? DA - haven't heard from you in a while. How's it going? Any more news about returning to the states?? I did get your e-mail about the deployment trophy. To be honest, I'm not sure I feel comfortable donating money for a gun. I'm still considering your request. I would prefer donating to a "cruise fund" for you and Chelsey for when you return. How about that??

Things in O'Fallon are fine. Not too much excitement here. They closed the pool last week so I guess summer is over. The hot tub is cleaned and ready to go if we would just remember to use it!!

Hope all is well with you. It would be good to hear from you sometime...

Love you lots and KYHD!

mom

Good bye Paul

Today we have lost a great man: Paul Newman. He was a great American, husband, father, grandfather, actor and director. Although he worked in Hollywood, he was not "of" Hollywood. He was classy and sassy. I did not always agree with his political views, but he was a "liberal" I could respect - he was a leader not a follower. He was not "all about him" as evidenced by his generosity to those less fortunate, but he did not make a big deal out of it.

I enjoyed watching him on the big screen because not only was he "easy on the eyes", but he was believable in each character he portayed. He made acting look easy even though he worked hard at it. The last work I saw him in was the movie Message in a Bottle and he was superb.

My prayers go out to his wife, actress Joanne Woodward, and his daughters and grandchildren.

IF THEY NEED ME, CALL ME!!!

How arrogant can you get? I can't believe he actually said that!! He wants to be the President of the United States!!! Tell me DA - how far would you get in the USA if you told your boss, call me if you need me???

If I'm not mistaken, he is still collecting his salary as a United States senator and he tells is colleagues to call him if they need him??? I am so angry I could spit. First he says that we are in the most serious financial crisis since the Great Depression and in the next breath he tells "them" to call him if they need him!! His FIRST job is as a US Senator - THEN he can campaign for the presidency!!!! At the moment I am from IL and if he walked into my house right now I would kick him out! How dare he say that to the people who are paying his salary!! NO WAY is he ready to be the leader of the free world.

He wants to be Commander-in-Chief, yet he has never worn the uniform of any branch of the military. He wants to be CEO of the United States of America, yet he has never "run" anything.

If anyone reading this had any doubts as to whether John McCain could be the president, THIS ONE STATEMENT BY BARACK OBAMA should take care of those doubts. John McCain puts his COUNTRY FIRST. His campaign slogan is accurate: COUNTRY FIRST and he is leading by example.

Thank you, John McCain, for your service to your country. Keep up the GREAT WORK!