VALOUR-IT TEAM ARMY

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN...

Project Valour-IT, in memory of SFC William V. Ziegenfuss, helps provide voice-controlled/adaptive laptop computers and other technology to support Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines recovering from hand wounds and other severe injuries.

GO TEAM ARMY

TAKING A BREAK...

It's much needed and I'm not sure when I will be back, but I am sure I will be at some point. It's been one crazy year for me, and I feel like this is a much needed break...

Michael will be on special assignment with the Army for about 6 months here in the states, so hopefully my sleepless nights are over with for a long time.

I'll still be on Facebook for all that are on there. Don't think I could give that up.

Alexis at 6-weeks

CHRISTMAS DAY WITH VETERANS

A day that I will cherish and never forget. Spend several hours at the local VA Nursing Home with some of our Veterans.

CHRISTMAS IN BUDE

Merry Christmas to all. Christmas in Bude is always the absolute best...

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Hoping that this is a wonderful Christmas. It should be since Michael is home is Alexis is here. Just does not seem like Christmas for some reason this year. We will head to Bude to spend the evening, so I will post pictures of Christmas in Bude when I return tonight.

GOING DARK FOR THE DAY

CJ is someone everyone should know. Over the last few months, C.J. has seen an issue with a local school taken to his command who failed to back him, and has even seen his effort to deal with PTSD, and lead his men in same by example, used against him as a part of this. C.J. has had to sell his blog to help raise funds for his defense in this matter.

The milblogging world - this blog included - will be "going dark" for the day in support of fellow milblogger, CJ Grisham.

Milblogs have been a vital link in getting accurate news and information about the military, and military operations, to the public. They have provided vital context and analysis on issues critical to operations and to the informed electorate critical to the Republic.

On Wednesday 16 December, readers will have the chance to imagine a world without milblogs, and to do something about it. Those participating are urging their readers to contact their elected representatives in Congress, and to let their opinions be known to them and to other leaders in Washington.

Some milblogs will remain silent for several days; some just for the day. All have agreed to keep the post about the silence and C.J. at the top of their blogs until Friday 18 December.

DADDY AND ALEXIS

One proud Dad. He sure loves his little princess.

SNOW IN MISSISSIPPI

It's very rare to see snow in Mississippi. It is actually sticking. So far about an inch I think.

A GREAT DAY INDEED...

This was not everyone. I think the final count was 43.

My Monk showing out for the kids.

Kristy feeding Alexis.


P.S. The stores open at 2200 tonight and yes I will be out fighting the crowd finishing up my christmas shopping.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL...

Hope everyone has a wonder Thanksgiving as I know I will since our Soldier and his new baby girl and wife will be joining us this year. We won't have to leave an empty chair as he is home and if all goes as planned he won't be returning to Iraq EVER...

I am again hosting my Dad's whole side of the family at my house. It will be close to 50 here this year and my new house is almost 1/2 the size of my previous one, but I promised my grandmother before she passed away years ago that I would carry on the tradition and have Thanksgiving at my house. I'm a glutton for punishment I do believe. Actually I love having it at my house, just hate the clean up afterwards.

I'm off work until Monday of next week, and I plan on enjoying every single minute of my time off by spending it with the ones I love.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all. Please keep our TROOPS that are in harms way in your thoughts and prayers on this day.

Pictures of Alexis

Daddy checking her out to make sure all toes and fingers are there.

One proud Daddy.

Thursday when I picked him up from the airport and we surprised Kristy at the Hospital.

Leann holding Alexis.
Alexis's first kiss from her MiTa.

JoJo (Kristy's Mom) showing off our little princess just moments after she was born.

Her Daddy is spoiling her every second he gets the chance. They were at the house last night visiting and showing her off to my sister and her family.

Daddy meeting Alexis for the first time

Priceless

Promise to post more pictures later. Alexis was born November 17, 2009 via an emergency C-section @ 1146 am, weighing in at 5 lbs 2 ounces and 18 inches long. 6 weeks early. Mom and baby are doing fine now. It's been a long 2 days trying to get Alexis's daddy home from Iraq.

Sorry for not posting any sooner, just wanted Daddy to meet her first before we let everyone else.

HAPPY VETERANS DAY!!!

Thanks to all our Vets, past and present for all your sacrifices that you have made for our Country.

Our veteran is serving his second tour in Iraq on this Veterans Day. Thank you son for making me one proud Mom. I love and miss you very much. Counting the days down until you are home for R&R.

9 year old singing The Star Spangled Banner

Our England Friends

It's been a very busy weekend. Friday evening Dad, Mom, Owen and Dawn (friends from England) came to the house for the weekend. We shopped, shopped some more, went to see my baby sister and her family (which is also in the photo) and then we ended up at a Japanese Steak House for supper last night with Kristy. I don't think they have ever seen a show put on like our chef put on last night. It was great. They left earlier this morning headed to meet Dee and her family for lunch then they were going to head back home.

It was great spending time with family and wonderful friends.

We were all able to chat with Michael for a little while online. He is counting the days down now until he arrives home for R&R/Baby's birth.

Alexis's new outfit

I just could not resist yesterday when I passed by the Army Surplus store at Camp Shelby on my way to the Coast. Thought this would make a great Daddy/daughter photo when he gets home.

Stacy Lee's iPhone

BABY SHOWER

Alexis's first diamond necklace and earings. Yes she is already spoiled rotten.

Kristy and one proud Paw Paw.


It was a great baby shower. The baby is set to go, except for diapers. I think she only got one package of diapers.

BABY SHOWER

The first baby shower was great. Kristy got so many nice things.

Pictures to follow.

4 LONG MONTHS

So, I've been thinking, and yes that can get really scary. If Michael were in the the Air Force, he would be coming home right now, as they only do 4-month tours most of the time.

Just a thought and I will share it with him the next time we talk/chat/text. Thinking he might agree with me right about now, as he is really missing home.

Can't a Mom dream or wish at least once during a year long deployment that something like that could happen.

JUST SAYING...

HURRY UP PLEASE...

It's been 116 days since his BOOTS HIT THE GROUND and only 71 DAYS UNTIL ALEXIS IS DUE.

I think we are all ready for this baby to get here.

Michael text me Thursday night and then called me Friday night and we talked for almost an hour. It had been almost two weeks since I had heard from him. He must know after about 12-14 days he must call so I can just hear his voice. Lots going on with him. He is give out. Working 12 hour shifts, 7 days a week is getting the best of him I do believe. He is exhausted. I can hear it in his voice.

I did tell him that we can start our countdown now for his R&R.

We all think that the baby will arrive before he gets here. Just a feeling we all have. For Michael's sake, I really want her to wait on her Daddy though.

Yesterday I was also able to text with him off and one while I was out and about enjoying my day off. Nothing better than hearing from him.

I'm missing him really bad right now. Sure could use one of his big hugs that is knows how to give at just the right times.

That's all for now I guess.

SHE'S READY FOR ALEXIS TO GET HERE...

She is just too cute with her little belly. The photographer took lots of pictures of Kristy with a flag draped around her and then put them on a CD for her to mail to Michael. He should have them by now hopefully. I don't think he has time to check the blog, so I think I am safe to go ahead and post these.

The doctor said she could go back to work, but to take it easy and no standing on her feet a lot.

HOSPITALS

I sure do hate them. Spent Saturday night and up into the wee hours Sunday morning there with Kristy. She has been put on strict bed rest by her doctor. She has a UTI, and he gave her some antibiotics and put her on a low sodium diet for all the swelling. He also put her on strict bed rest until he figures out why she is swelling up so bad. I did not know until we were told by the nurse that a UTI can cause you to go into labor. She had several contractions while they were monitoring her and the baby. It's way too early for Alexis to make her grand entrance at 6 months, so lets hope the bed rest and antibiotic will work.

Michael had come online about the time we were headed to the emergency room with Kristy, so he was very worried about her and would not get off the computer until we had gotten all the test results in. He was exhausted by the time we finally figured out what was wrong with Kristy. I was able to record the baby's heart beat and emailed it to him. He thought that was pretty cool. Thank goodness for iphones and an application called voice memos that I was able to download. He feels helpless being 7000 miles away, but he knew that Kristy's Mom and I, along with her best friend were taking excellent care of her.

She will now go to the doctor once a week until Alexis is born.

Will update when we know something else.

GOLD STAR MOTHER'S DAY

Today is a day that we are to honor our Gold Star Mothers. Words can't express the thanks that I have for these Mothers who have given so much.

THANK YOU TO ALL THE GOLD STAR MOTHERS.

3 LONG MONTHS

It sure seems like longer than 3 months since his boots hit the ground in Kuwait. Melinda can probably tell you right off the top of her head how much time our guys have left. Me, I don't even want to think about it.

Sure miss his smile. He called again Tuesday night and everything is good with him. He's excited about the baby girl that will be here around Christmas time. He's got lots going on, and will be able to share once everything is final and he gives me to go ahead to tell what all is going on with him. It's all good, I promise.

REMEMBERING 9/11

Jackson's local Channel 12 interviewed me today. She caught me off guard, which I guess is a good thing as it did not give me any time whatsoever to think about it.

PROJECT 2996

Remembering the victims of 9/11

A day that changed the world.

Jose R. Nunez of New York, NY was 42 years young when he lost his life on September 11, 2001. Jose left behind a wife and three daughters, Mirelys, Marelnys and Melissa.

Jose was a food runner with Windows on the World.

I have struggled for days now trying to figure out what I would write on this day about Jose R. Nunez. Very little can be found on Jose. I have searched and searched trying to find any information on Jose so that I could write this tribute.

I know that my struggles of trying to figure out what to write are nothing compared to Jose's wife and three girls that were left behind after 9/11. I am hoping that Jose's family has found peace in knowing that their loved one is now in a better place. My heart aches for this family and all the other 2,995 victims of 9/11.

It's been eight long years that Jose's family have missed and mourned him.

Jose, I remember you on this 8th anniversary and I only wish that I could have learned more about you and your life.

Rest in Peace Jose...

FINALLY

IT'S GOING TO BE A GIRL.

Sonogram this morning told us what we already thought, but we just needed it to be confirmed.

Seems as though it's time to start shopping now.

Michael called last night and he and I talked for an hour and a half. The delay was terrible, but so worth getting to hear his voice. The excitement in his voice about finding out today if the baby was a girl or a boy was overwhelming him I do believe.

He is working night right now. Says he prefers nights over the days and said that it was much cooler at night. Other than that, he is good. He's so ready for this deployment to be over with. We are keeping our fingers crossed that he can come home for the baby's birth.

4TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF KATRINA

It seems as if it were only yesterday when Katrina hit. It will be a memory that I will never forget. Oh how I would like too, but not gonna happen. Mississippi has learned so much over the last 4 years. We are still trying to put our state back together. Too many emotions to try to rehash that awful day.

Michael had just left going back to Iraq after his 16 days of R&R. 4 years later he is back in Iraq for his second tour.

August 28, 2005.

August 29, 2005.

August 30, 2005.

Where were you one year ago today.

Two year anniversary.

Three year anniversary.

PEARL, MS SOLDIER KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN

Pearl soldier killed in Afghanistan

A soldier from Pearl was killed Friday during combat in Kunar Province, Afghanistan.

Sgt. Matthew Ingram, 25, died of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. The blast occurred while his unit was under small-arms fire from enemy forces, according to a news release Sunday evening from the Department of Defense.

Ingram was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

Ingram was serving his second tour of duty and had been in Afghanistan since May. His first tour was in Iraq from August 2004 to July 2005.

He enlisted in the Army in 2003.

At least three other service members with connections to Mississippi have died overseas in the last month.

On Aug. 1, two Mississippi National Guard soldiers were killed in Afghanistan.

Sgt. 1st Class Severin Summers, 43, who recently had been living in Bentonia and Natchez, and Sgt. 1st Class Alejandro Granado, 42, of Longview, Texas, were killed by an improvised explosive device in Qole Gerdsar, Afghanistan.

Summers and Granado were assigned to the Mississippi Army National Guard's 2nd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group, based in Jackson.

Summers left for Afghanistan on July 2 - a repeat trip for the Special Forces soldier and Ranger who has served nearly 20 years in the military.

Army Staff Sgt. Johnny Roosevelt Polk died July 25 from wounds he suffered when his vehicle was struck by an anti-tank grenade July 23 in Iraq. The 39-year-old was a Gulfport native.

ANOTHER CALL

It's been a very hectic week around here. Michael called again on Tuesday, which was very unexpected. He sounded great, but said he was tired. I received a card from him yesterday and yes it made me cry. He's missing home terrible.

I ordered these two shirts for Kristy and I and they came in yesterday. I also ordered Kristy's Mom one as well.

I'm anticipating that it's going to be another crazy week.

FINALLY

He finally called yesterday afternoon around 1500 and we were able to talk for about 19 minutes. He is good, sounded great and was headed to bed to try to get some rest.

NOTHING

It's been since Monday of this week since Kristy or I have heard from Michael on IM, and its been since August 4th since we have received a phone call from him.

He's sick again, and not sure if they have put him back in isolation or not.

This waiting game is getting the best of the both of us. My phone rings daily or I either get an IM from family members asking if we have heard from him, and I have to say those dreaded words "NO NOT TODAY"...

Not sure how many more days of silence either of us can handle, and just think, it's only been 56 long days since his boots hit the ground.