RWW-Austin, TX July 2011

RWW: Returning Warrior Workshop - Returning Warrior Workshops (RWWs) are a key component of the Department of Defense Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program. Designed to honor Sailors who have completed an Individual Augmentee (IA) assignment in combat zones or those Sailors exposed to highly stressful situations during deployment, the RWW addresses personal stress generated by deployment activities. Although a Reserve Component event, Active Components are strongly encouraged to participate.

My husband is a big advocate for family workshops when it comes to dealing with deployments. A representative came to my husbands unit and he jumped all over it. We really did not know what to expect but boy were we impressed and highly recommend it to those who are ever presented the opportunity. All expense paid trip for the Sailor and a guest (whether it be a significant other or a friend that truly supported them through this hard time). We applied to the the one in Austin, TX. In the midst of summer, July is not a time to visit the East side of Texas. With temps in the 100's, 75% humidity you can imagine that staying in doors is all we wanted to do. But we did get out. We were able to visit the Capitol, 6th Street, and other parts of town. Luckily, the hubs had family in town so we were able to site see in the 3 days that we were there.

In the 3 day that we were there, they provided a lot of presentations from various speakers that were also sent to a combat zone. In terms of being the supporter of my sailor, with these presentation, it gave me a better insight on how my husband was feeling and ways to deal with it as a supporter of what they called my "warrior" It also gave an assurance that my husband was not the only one feeling they way he felt when returning back to the "civilian life". I really enjoyed it and got to meet other really good people from all walks of life. It made me and my husband that much closer and I would do another one if we were given the opportunity.

Its not easy having a loved one shipped over seas. But with this workshop, we were given tools and technique as a starter to getting back to where we wanted to be not only as a couple but as a family. I am proud of my Sailor and thank all those who sacrifice the ultimate most to serve their county. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your service.

Why I love thee? #11 and #10

So I missed yesterday. BOOO, shame on me but I promise I am Trying to keep it up. So its Super Bowl Sunday and we are here watching the Packers and Steelers fight it out for the Football champions. Its pretty much a divided house. Im personally going for the PACKERS,Im always the one to go for the underdog. Even though we are a ride n die San Diego Chargers Fan! Its also my baby sisters 24th birthday so we doing it big for her with a big cook out to celebrate her big day. Happy Birthday Nique~ I hope you enjoy your day.

Now to my reasons of Loving my dear husband

Reason #11: Im lucky to say that I am happy to have a COOK or chef in my household.My husband can throw down. It always nice to take a break from cooking during the week. Especially when my husband grills. It could be in the dead of winter and freezing cold outside he will still be out making sure we have some good ol summer plates in hand.

Reason #10: He also tries to ROMANCE me whenever he gets a chance. A way where he tries to make me fall in love with him all over again. He still opens the door for me like a pure gentlemen he is. When we get a chance he tries to surprise me with last minute babysitters and take me on spur of the moment date nights. These nights I love cause its like as though we are in our dating days when kids werent born yet. He makes sure to tell me that he loves and kiss me goodbye anytime he leaves anywhere. Its all about finding time for each other. I must admit the spark gets bigger and bigger every year.

WHY I LOVE THEE:#12

So we are on our 2nd snow day. Not bad but Im a bit over it. Mama needs to keep busy. Just like yesterday daddy wasnt able to stay home with us. Luckily, considering that my inlaws electricity is connected to a hospital feeder we have been staying here since all this ultilites fiasco has been going on.

So on to my whoo whoo of my husband. Reason #12. I love my husband because he is such a GIVING person. He is the shirt of his back type of person. He will be the first to offer those in need help. He reminds me that helping others who are unable to help themselves is our duty as good citizen in this world. Thank you baby for always reminding me that to put others before yourself when time fits right.

WHY I LOVE THEE: #13

Due to inclement weather that has been bestowed lovely El Paso, work was called off and school was cancelled for my oldest. So I was fortunate enough to stay home with my lil divas. Since we live in the desert, apparently our city cant handle cold weather. Power outages out the wazhoo that all the power generators are all out of order. To pipes freezing over so some are unable to get water or even gas. The weather gods are surely messing with us. But hey so is the rest of the nation the east of us. Anyhooo, onto the most important subject matter: MY DEAR HUSBAND.

Though we got to stay home, due to my husbands profession he had to go into work and fight the cold weather and black ice. Which brings me to reason #13. I love him for being such a HARD WORKING MAN! He is our sole provider and works for every penny. He can be sick as a dog and still report into work. He is the one that you have to force to go home. Besides his day to day work, he also serves in our military and does an exceptional job at that. Those who really know him really know how he gets down when it comes to his work ethics. Thank you papi for showing me and our girls what it takes to make every cent count!

Why I love thee Countdown.

In lieu that Valentines Day is upon us, I decided to give 14 reasons a day until Valentines on why I love my husband so dearly. I guess a way to WHOO my husband. lol. Plus to get me back on the blogging track.

WHY I LOVE THEE....

#14 His humor! Since day one, he has always had me laughing. Those who know him always get a trip out on how much of a clown he is. I can be so mad at him at times but he somehow makes me laugh minutes later. I read somewhere you live a litter longer everytime you bring laughter into your life. So it tickles me inside to know that everytime that he makes me laugh, its one more second, minute,hour,day, months,and years I have to spend with him by my side. Thanks for making me laugh honey.

Here is to 3 and more to come!

“I don't pretend to know what love is for everyone, but I can tell you what it is for me; love is knowing all about someone, and still wanting to be with them more than any other person, love is trusting them enough to tell them everything about yourself, including the things you might be ashamed of, love is feeling comfortable and safe with someone, but still getting weak knees when they walk into a room and smile at you.”

THEN

This was the night we said the I do's. One day we will get around that big celebration that we have been yearning

NOW



At lake tahoe celebrating everything we missed since he has been on deployment.

Happy Anniversary to us and many more to come! I love you mi amor. Alofa tele atu!

Our 2010 Rough Start

Every year I try to make a resolution on how I can make myself a better person. You know the typical, loose weight, go to church every Sunday without skipping a beat, etc...it goes on and on. But this year was a different story due to different circumstances. Our year started off a bit bumpy, but its slowly smoothing out.

Our youngest gave us quite a scare. Right before Mike arrived, I notice that my kids were getting the sniffles. Its was around that time that kids get the common cold. I opted out the flu becuase they recieved the Flu and H1N1 already. We did the usual and took her to her pedi and was relieved that it was just a common cold. We were hoping that with just the help of a humidifier and shots of saline up her nose. It would do the trick. WRONG. We went 2 weeks and nothing was subsiding. Now she had a cough and was seriously having hard time sleeping and it seem that breathing seemed like a chore as well. It just didnt seem right so we took her back to her pedi. There was nothing they could do for her and her doc advise that to keep giving her Saline and it will go away. I confided in this Pedi in hopes that she was right and I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt. We did what she told us too for 2 more days and finally she wasnt eating. So I had to take her to the ER room. It was rough getting her in cause apparently they dropped the ball and left us hanging without even taking her vitals for 30 mins. Way to long, so after bickering my husband to go complain they finally saw us. Once they evaluated her they noticed her oxygen saturation was way low and that she was using too much of her stomach muscle to breath and took her straight to the back. It was happening all way to fast. One prick of needles after the other. One more machine to hook her up too. Come to find out she was positive for RSV and was dehydrated and had bronchitis. We were at a military facilitiy and apparently they did not have the means to care for my child there so they had to medivac her to the nearest Childrens hospital. I was in shock and didnt know how to react. Didnt cry. Stayed strong for my baby girl. She looked so helpless with all those strings attached to her. They admitted her to PICU. It was that severe. If I would of waited another day or even weeks what would her condition been then. I was relieved that we caught it time. She was so exhausted having to fight the nurses on all the pricks that were being administered to her. Luckily after all the breathing treatments and steriods were given to expand her airways we were sent down to the pedi for another night of evaluation. She was doing great and we were discharged 2 days later.

All the while this was going on, my husband was packing his bag to leave us for the next 7 months. It was finally kicking in that he was really leaving and that our form of communication will be stricken to only days at a time. I was hoping that we would be released in time to see him off, but that wasnt the case. I broke down to him telling him that this wasnt how I pictured his send off to be. But he assured me that I was in good hands becuase of our family but also that Ily was getting better. The day he was supposed to leave we said our goodbyes that morning. I was just crying and couldnt stop. My husband going to war. Not me. But it was me and many other women were out there doing the same as me , sending their loved ones out to war.Since then, my baby girl has gotten better. We changed pediatricians and we are staying busy.

Thanks to God for helping us thru this one and many of our family and friends that prayed for us.

Husband in training!

Falling in love all over again

So its been a month and a couple days since hubs been gone. Its been getting easier as the days go by. To my suprise, on Friday my hubs surprised me with roses delivered to my work. My heart melted and made me fall in love with him all over again. It was a total moral booster. It made me miss him even more.

The ROSES!!!



Saturday was even better day cause I went to go out and see New Moon with my girl liz. Ahh...what a wonderful movie. Yes, I was sucked into the twilight addiction and must say that vampires are not my thing. So im totally on TEAM JACOB! Taylor Laurent did an awesome job but some of his lines were kind of quirky and made us giggle here and there. His character should of been a bit more fierce. But all in all his body was BANGING as well as the other wolf packs! Husband was pulling jealousy walls on me when I was ranting and raving about the movie. It was Hilarious.

Thanksgiving is in a couple days. Hopefully I can pull some pictures. Havent been in the picture taking mode. But cant wait for all the good food and family. The joy of the holidays being in season!