Memorial Day

18 Months & 8 years

Our Lil Bit is 18 months old today!! How did that happen? She makes me laugh and smile every single day! When she's happy, she's happy and when her teeth are hurting her...she's mad! Ha! I think we have 3 left to break through. She's just a cute Lil Bit mess! She insists that she do everything that she possibly can by herself. Insists! She is very independent but at the same time, as soon as I turn out the lights in her room at bedtime, she rests her head right on my shoulder and it is the best feeling for me! I hope it is to her too.

She's not really talking a whole lot in terms of the number of words she has. She has a few words and sounds, but that doesn't keep her from communicating her wants and needs at all. She's quite efficient at that despite the number of words she uses.
She is such a little mama too. She follows me around and tries to do everything that I do. She also likes to take care of her babies. She's still a fashionista, oftentimes demanding to put on certain clothes and hitting the runway (hallway).

18 moths later, we are still head over heels for our Lil Bit!

Where is Lil Bit?

I see her!!

There she is!

Today is also our little Murr Murr's bday! He is eight years old today. He's still a puppy to us! Happy Birthday Murray!

Then...

...and now!

The Latest from B-man

Before I get to B-man's update let me answer your questions about the allergy post. My new med regime is Astepro and Flonase together. Per the doc, they are 40% more effective when used together than when used alone. I'm also taking Singulair at night (hope to drop that one at my next appointment). I also have Zyrtec for outbreaks of sneezing, etc. Oh, and Pataday eye drops. I should use the drops BEFORE being exposed. I've always kind of used eye drops after my eyes start itching. So, I hope this change will really help.

As for Murray and Sandy...they stay with us! I was the least allergic to dogs out of all of the things I was allergic to and I personally can't tell that I'm allergic to them. The medications should help with any response I have. They are sweet pups and I need to love on them more. Poor pups are on the bottom of the totem pole.
Ok, now on to B-man's update.

We've reached our R&R phase. Our Master Sergeant just returned from his leave yesterday. The other MAJ on the team departed today. This is a good sign! It's great to see these milestones passing. I'll be the last on our team to go on leave.

Things have been picking up around here a little bit. We've been hit a few times over the past few weeks. Everything has been inaccurate/random, but still causes disruption. About two weeks ago we took several rounds. I was working at my computer and one hit close enough to spray shrapnel on my building. I heard that one coming in. In another hit, Friday, I was running (PT) and the sirens started sounding ... I wanted to ignore them, but everyone started heading to the bunkers so I knew that I had to go too. I tell you all of this not to cause concern, but because there's a funny ending. (At least we think it's funny). Today we heard a rather loud explosion and everyone scattered to the bunkers ... usually once we're in the bunkers we hear more detonations ... today we didn't ... curious, I asked the TOC to find out what happened ... Vehicle Borne IED ??? No, it turns out that some of the Afghan Askars (Soldiers) were cooking on a propane tank. The tank had a leak. The hose ignited. The tank took off like a balloon - at least 60 feet in the air, then straight down ... and BOOM!!! Funny.

Oh, one more thing ... don't worry, we always shoot back! We're quick to respond with mortars, or the big guns, and air support. One of the things that I'm very impressed with the Squadron that we support is that they have an active defense. By this I mean that we don't just sit and wait for an attack. We are very proactive in engaging designated targets and even just shooting "test volleys," which act to send the message that we are ready for whatever might come.

Oh, by the way ... we're shooting the big guns as I write. Boom ... wait a bit ... Boom ... wait a bit ... Boom ... There's no missing them when they fire. They really shake the whole place.

Patrol:  While our Master Sergeant was on leave, we covered down on his responsibilities. He is charged with Advising the Afghan Police. Earlier this week I decided to go out on patrol to one of the District Centers. It was a place with two names. Why two names? No one really knows. It's an Afghan thing. This place was a dump. Literally. They have their latrine situated on the side of a steep cliff. When people use the latrine (plywood with three wholes, really) everything just rolls downhill. Needless to say, this place stinks!

Anyway, when we got there and spoke with the police and they told us that they had a report of an IED up the road. When we asked why they hadn't gone to secure the site, they told us because they were scared and were waiting on the American's to do it. So, we got to the sight and confirmed the IED. Then we left the Afghans to secure/block the road so we could go pick up the EOD team so they could dispose of the IED. As we left - BOOM - then about two minutes of small arms fire (AK-47s), which is really harmless to us in our vehicles. We never identified the bad guys. They were too far away and hidden. An Afghan Policeman got hit by rifle fire (not a serious wound) so we escorted them back to the Docs, picked up the EOD team and returned about an hour later. When we returned to the site ... guess what ... no Afghans were there. So we had to go back to round up the policemen. Then we went back to the site (a third time) and cleared it of any secondary devices. A day in the life.

IN AN EMAIL FROM A FEW WEEKS LATER:

I just wanted to send a quick message to let you know that I made it back safe from my last trip. My return was an adventure, for sure...

I got on the bird (UH-60) at 2145 (9:45PM). We thought we were only going to take a short trip, but we arrived at our destination after flying for FIVE HOURS, at 0245! This is a VERY long time to fly on a chopper. Chopper flights are normally less than an hour.

We took the ultimate tour of eastern Afghanistan. We had to refuel our bird THREE times. We landed in just about every FOB/CAMP/COP in our region. At each location we picked up / dropped off personnel. (Personnel movement is one of the main tasks for the chopper units over here). We even flew up past Kabul to Bagram. This was way out of the ordinary.

The good thing about us stopping three times for fuel was that we were able to get out, stretch our legs, and go potty! It was funny, everyone on board would jump off the bird (we all have to exit the aircraft during refueling), run about 50 feet away from the bird and relieve ourselves. This included the pilots and aircrew.

It was eerie flying like that at night. We could see the mountains beneath us, but our depth perception was altered, so it was very difficult to determine our altitude. I sat in the right rear seat, so I was able to see forward out the window the entire time. Whenever I fly over here I always mark the time of take off and try to keep track of the direction of travel, so that I can estimate the closest "safe place" ... just in case. And usually I'm tracking the planned route ... not last night ... it was very difficult to figure out where we were.

I believe, this was a "check ride" for the pilot. Meaning that (in my opinion) the pilot was being evaluated for proficiency. I say this because of the duration, the number of landings / take offs, the number of "holding patterns" we flew, and because we hovered just above several of the mountain peaks ... (mock air assaults / air insertions???).

Anyway, we are back, safe and sound.

  

The Operations Sergeant Major (also the Operations Officers son (nepotism anyone?), me and my “tajiman” (interpreter) in my Afghan unit's HQ building.

 Shooting at the long distance range out at COP WILD.

   Dinner with the interpreters. Their food was the best Afghan food that I've had here.

   Somewhere in Khowst Province, returning to my camp in a Blackhawk.

 Afghan Basic Trainees (identifiable by shaved heads) waiting for chow outside the ANA mess hall.

 My counterparts (six of them) and I flew in a Blackhawk up to another CAMP so they could make an assessment. Beside me is the DPW Commander, he is the best ANA Officer that I've met so far … takes responsibility, has initiative, is motivated, is intelligent … all around good guy.

Proof!

It's official! I'm allergic to dust, weeds, trees, grass, and (sniff sniff) dogs.

For years now, I've struggled every spring and fall with "seasonal allergies". I think it started when I was in college. When I would come back to the Lowcountry on breaks from school, I started having allergic reactions. By far my worst symptom is ITCHY eyes! I mean, like you'd feel better if you could literally scratch your eyeballs out of your head. That itchy. I also have the sneezing, runny nose, cough, etc that go with the territory. I've tried numerous medications over the years, but nothing REALLY worked. So, finally my doctor recommended that I see an allergy specialist. I went for my skin testing this week and well, the proof is in the pictures! Allergic?? I think yes!!! I spared you the photo of my back, but it looked like my arm below. It didn't hurt...it just ITCHED LIKE CRAZY! And I wasn't allowed to scratch!

I'm an excellent candidate for allergy shots! BUT...because I'm only in this region for a few more months, it doesn't make sense to start them because it can take 6-12 months to regulate the injections. Bummer. I was really looking forward to the shots. Seriously. So, we've changed my medications a little and I'm hopeful that the next big season (midsummer weeds per the doc) will be much more bearable.

And the best feeling comes from knowing that I really do have these allergies; not because I want allergies. I certainly do NOT want them.  But because it validates what I've been feeling for all of these years.

Mother's Day

I had the pleasure to go with Boo to school earlier this week for a little Mother's Day celebration. He made me a necklace (which I'm to wear day and night for ever and ever and ever), they sang some songs and we had a little snack together. It was a lot of fun. 

I was able to celebrate Mother's Day this year with our Mothers! We joined Granny and family out for dinner on Saturday for Mother's Eve. And we were able to spend time with BeBe, Mama Love and family today.

We are blessed to have these great ladies in our lives. They love on us and support and nurture us through every step we make. Still.  And we're in our thirties. The job is never done, is it?

Thank you!!! We love and admire and you all so much.

I leave you with some video clips of Boo singing at school.

One more thing...I might "complain" a lot about the daily grind. But make no mistake, I love these little ones with all of my heart!

Blogkeeping: Boo Says the Darndest Things

Okay, this should get me caught up for the most part.

I'm glad I told you all that I was going to do it, because it's holding me accountable. I've been writing these down as we go along, I just needed to take the time to consolidate them. For your reading pleasure, I present to you some of the things Boo has come up with lately.

1.  One night after I finished putting Bit to bed, I came into the den and Boo was standing there beside the coffee table. He was saying, "Mama, the coffee table just did this all by itself."
Hmmm. Really, Boo? Really?? Lol.

He just looks guilty, doesn't he?

2.We've all been suffering from allergies and as a result we've all been suffering from runny noses. Boo has been frustrated by this at night when trying to sleep. I totally understand. I was telling him that it will eventually go away. And he said, "But how is my runny nose going to go away if it doesn't have feet?"  Well...

3.  After a long and trying day with Boo, I asked him why he had acted the way he had that day. His response was, "Um, I think it was because it was foggy outside."
Oh boy, let the excuses begin! Lol. And let the record show that it was NOT foggy that day.

4. A few days after Easter, this transpired:

BOO: I'll be Jesus and you can be the dead.

ME: The dead?

BOO: Yes, the dead.

ME: okay?

BOO: Have you been making bad choices?

ME: Yes (wondering where this was going).

BOO: Well, I am Jesus and I will help you make good choices.

ME: Oh, okay, thank you.

BOO: (an aside) No, mama...you have to put me in jail (remember...he's Jesus).

ME: oh, okay...yes...Jesus, you are not who you say you are!

BOO: Yes, I am. God sent me to visit you.

ME: No, you must go to jail...

BOO: (arms splayed and pretending to be on the cross )...Can I go to earth now?

ME: Uh, yeah?

BOO: (falls to the ground)...I'm Jesus and I'm here to visit you.

Me: Thank you!

BOO: Do you want to come to heaven to visit me? I will go to heaven and one day you and Bit can come. Daddy is working, so he can't come yet. Don't worry, God and Jesus have really long arms to reach down from heaven to get you.

ME: Oh, that sounds interesting.

BOO: You can come visit if you want and look around.

ME: okay.

NOW WE'RE IN HEAVEN...

BOO: You can look around. There are lots of things in heaven.

ME: Tell me what is here, please.

BOO: Look at all of the flowers!

ME: Oh, yes the flowers are beautiful

BOO: Yes, it's beautiful in heaven.

BOO: Um...there are no bees in heaven. So  they won't pinch you.

ME: Do you have a house? Where do you live?

BOO: My house is on earth. My house is the church. Everyone can come to church to learn about God.

Me: Oh.

Boo: I have a Mom...her name is Mary.

BOO: I have a sister...her name is Violet (pointing to Bit's toy dog). Violet likes to pretend to be an astronaut and likes to fly into space and be an alien.

ME: Oh, so Jesus has a sister named Violet?

Boo: Yes, and I take swimming lessons with God.

THE END.

5.  Some not so cute things he's come up with lately is lying. He learned how to lie. I guess learning to pretend means you learn there are alternatives to the truth. After I watched him climb over the back of the couch and fall and almost get hurt, he bold face lied about what he had done 4 times! FOUR! After I repeatedly told him that the most important thing was to tell the truth. I wasn't yelling or being mean. I really wanted him to understand that he needed to tell me what happened. Even if it was a result of a bad choice. And he continued to lie!! Is this normal??? What am I to do???!!!

Oh yeah, I think he was lying about the coffee table too. I don't think it really did that by itself. Ha!