A picture says a thousands words!

Softball

Growing up my favorite thing to do was play softball! I love the sport, and I have so many amazing memories surrounding the softball season. I am coaching this year now!!! I would love to play, but honestly, I think coaching will be more fun. I have no experience coaching, so this will be something new for me! Back when I played softball, I was ok, I wasn't the best. I could hit and catch, and I was pretty good, but still not great. I am hoping the old saying "those who can't do, teach". It's not that I can't do, I just was never good enough to keep up with the competition. I excepted that a long time ago, and figured, that I would coach one day, and I hope to coach my kids one day! Anyway, I am the coach for the 10-12 year old girls and I couldn't be happier! They all have little to no experience, and for most that would suck, but for me, this is an opportunity to make sure they learn how to play the right way, the way that won't cause injuries, and the way to have fun for years to come! We'll be starting from the basics, and building on that. I just couldn't be any happier, and I am glad to be getting out there, and doing something I love.

Spring Cleaning!

It's the end of March, and the weather here in Germany, has been surprisingly nice. It has been in the 60's and sunny, which is a real treat, since Germany is a lot like Washington state. We, as a family, have definitely been taking advantage of the warm weather. We have gone on bike rides, to the beach (not for swimming), and just been taking walks. Another thing that I like to do in the spring, is go through my entire house, and get rid of anything we don't need, I don't want, or the crap we have accumulated in the last year. I cleaned out the garage, and almost have it to wear I want it. I have piles of stuff that we are keeping, like holiday decorations and what not, then a pile of Army crap that needs to be sorted, and then put in tuft boxes, yard sale stuff, and stuff I am giving to my BFF, who's pregnant. I am going to drive all my stuff to post and have a yard sale in the housing area. I haven't decided when, but probably in a couple weeks. Then I will have another sale for when we PCS! I can't wait! Then we tackled our spare bedroom/computer room/mancave/everyday storage room. It's kind of the catch all room. Brandon has a TV, his XBOX 360, and a chair in there for him, then the computer desk is in there, along with stuff that we don't want in the garage because of the spiders, ie: Christmas Tree, and then we keep the vacuum cleaner, carpet shampooer, and mops in there too. The only thing left to do really is take the recycling from the spare bedroom and the garage, and drop it off at the recycling center tomorrow, when it opens. I am going to be going through Makenna's room soon too. I want to box up the babier toys that she don't really play with anymore. Then on to my bedroom. There isn't much to go through in there, but I want to get rid of clothes that Brandon and I don't wear anymore. The living room and bathrooms do not need to be gone through bc there isn't much in there, besides what goes in there. Spring cleaning is the best! I love being able to open the windows, and door to the balcony, and let the spring breeze in the house, after a long winter!

Reflecting

 
     11 months ago, almost to the exact day, I said good-bye to my husband and our friends so they could go to Afghanistan. I remember the anxiety building for months. My daughter had just turned 6 months old, and she had to be strong for a year, without her Daddy! I too, was faced with the reality of wondering not if I could do it on my own, but why do I have to do it on my own? My daughter and son deserve their Daddy! But, then I had to remember, that I am not married to just an ordinary man, I am married to a hero, one of the few, our nation counts on to protect our rights and freedoms we enjoy so much. After taking that into consideration, I didn't feel any better. All I could think about was our 6 month old baby girl, who couldn't walk, talk, or even crawl yet, was going to be completely different when Daddy comes home. She was going to be 18 months old! He missed her 1st real Christmas, where she could actually open gifts, he missed her first 4th of July, her 1st birthday, a Thanksgiving where she could actually eat turkey, and so much more! He missed the first time she crawled, the first time she walked, and the first time she said "Daddy". Even though he is home, this still makes me cry.

     In November, after a year of seeing specialist after specialist, I was diagnosed with muscle deterioration in my back, lets, and arms. I also was diagnosed with a neurological disorder, that pretty much prevents my brain from communicating with the nerves in my spine, causing obscene amount of pain, and random paralysis of the spine. After dealing with all of that, and getting my many medical questions answered, I had to figure out what I was going to do with my daughter, who couldn't walk at the time, when I can't move. After a very scary emergency trip to the hospital, and having to have the MP's break into my house, to get me in an ambulance, I realized that at 21 years old, my body was quitting on me, and I didn't know what I was going to do if I couldn't be 100% for my daughter. I was alone in a foreign country without relatives back in the states to help me, so ERODing wasn't an option. After more tests and confirmation, we found that the only medicine that is going to help me be "normal" made me sleep, so taking that wasn't an option.

     Three days before Christmas I was told that my husband was being released from theatre, so that he can come home and help me with my many appointments, and to help me, if I get to the point where I can't move again, I won't have to worry about our daughter. Being a mother, it was the hardest thing in the world, excepting that, for the time being, I am broken and I need help, which is something I never ask for! After the Army got all the paperwork done, I was reunited with my husband and our daughter with her father, on January 19, 2012.

     I am doing better, and trying new things to control the issue. My Dr. even cleared me to start doing some light physical training.

     Today, 22 MAR 12, the rest of my husband's company came back! Unfortunately 4 Soldiers were watching from heaven, but I know they were protecting them for their journey home. It was the most emotional thing ever! These Soldiers were my friends, they use to be my co-workers, and they are a part of my family. They were there from the beginning of Brandon and I, and were there when Makenna was born. Anyways, they are home safe, and I was honored to be able to photograph the Ansbach Soldier's and be apart of their homecoming, though my true love was already home.

Picture Day

     Today, we finally got to get pictures done. Makenna got her Easter pictures done this morning. She wore her Easter dress and had her Easter basket, and then she wore her raincoat and rain boots with a little skirt, it was adorable. She wore her hair down, and man, it is getting super long and it's thicker than crazy!! I love her hair though, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Then after lunch we took her to daycare, and Brandon and I got to do couples shots. I have a preview of those. We used a new photographer for Makenna's pictures, and then a photographer that I have gone to 3 times, in the past, for our couples shots. I am super excited for both! I defiantly suggests getting couples pictures done with your husband/wife because it made your relationship #1 for a little bit, when the kids, and family life, usually are the center of attention. It really got us to stop, and really look into one another's eyes without worrying about what Makenna's getting into, or if the cat is scratching something, for example. It was so nice to be just husband and wife for a couple of hours. 

Really!!!????

I write in my blog, because I like to write, I always have. If you do not like what I write, even though I do not use anyone's real names, then don't read it! I am using my 1st amendment rights! I stick by what I write, and that will never change. I have not broken any law or military regulation.

Have a nice day.

Bars and CHEATING!

After the zoo on Friday we planned to go out with a couple of friends of ours. A friend of mine watched Makenna so that we could go to dinner and then the bar. We went to Pepe's, which is a Mexican Restaurant downtown, for dinner. It was really good as usual. After eating we headed to the Irish Pub, which is a local bar. We get there, and found out that it was stripper night. About once a month, they have a couple strippers come and dance and well strip. I wasn't impressed, but whatever. We sat at the other end of the bar, and seen the "show" on a TV screen that was close to our table. Then we seen an Army Wife, who's husband is in Afghanistan, came in with man, that was not her husband. We'll call her Jenny (not her actual name). Jenny then proceeded to go by where the stripper pole is, when the strippers were taking a break, and sit down and get a lap dance by 2 other men, and make out with them. We seen the whole action on the TV, by our table. Then I decided that I needed to go to the bathroom, which is located by the stripper area. One of Jenny's friends came up to me, out of know where, and said, "I understand why your jealous, you'll lose that extra weight eventually." I did not say or do anything to them. So I went up to Jenny and said "Your husband is going to enjoy that video." We got pictures of the action. Then she wanted to walk outside, for whatever reason, and she waited to get past me to say that I was a "cunt ass bitch". I said "what are you going to do" just to get her riled up. It was so funny. I don't give to shits if she is cheating. She was busted for a DUI and had another man, that was not her husband, in the car with her. I also walked in on her husband having sex with someone in the barracks back in December 2009, so maybe they don't believe in monogamy. It's not my relationship. But this is the same woman who puts her kids in daycare for 10 hours a day, and then has them with a babysitter all weekend, so that she can party and drink. She doesn't hide it though. Her Facebook is blown up with pictures of her partying, and not too many of her kids (she has 2). She has also been warned by the Military Police, and her husband's unit, for neglecting her kids. She's that amazing! LOL! I just thought the whole thing was hilarious. Glad I am not friends with someone like that.