Well, I guess the cat is out of the bag...

As some of you may know, but a lot (including my employer), may not yet know, there are some huge changes on the horizon for the Russell/Wilson clan. The biggest change TO ME is the fact that I have decided to resign my position as a Deputy Sheriff. This has been a decision that has been a very long time coming. For those of you who may think that Brent has somehow talked me in to giving up my career, I assure you that I practically begged him to let me quit. The long and the short of it is this: When I started in this job I couldn't believe that I actually got paid to do this. Now you just can't pay me enough. I am very excited at the thought of going back to school and my oppurtunities seem limitless right now. I have gathered experiences in my almost 9 year career that could take me in so many different directions. I say that giving up my career is the biggest change to me because this is not a typical J-O-B, as much as we would sometimes like it to be. Imagine being introduced in some form or fashion as Micca-she's-a-cop for 9 years. Or strapping on a gun, no matter where you are going, without any thought of whether or not it's permissable to carry. Of being in plain clothes with your kids at the playground and seeing someone getting beaten up and stepping up like you're Batman, defending someone's honor, then realizing you no longer have the authority to back it up. I never lived for that kind of thing, but when it's no longer there? It takes some getting used to.

Of course, the biggest change is EVERYONE ELSE is the fact that we are moving back into the Prairie City house and that Dade is starting in a new school district after the first of the year. He has been very resistant to that and, I suppose, most of that is my fault. We always want to create a sense of security and belonging in our children and I have helped Dade's fondness for Dee-Mack Primary grow. After about a week of discussing the possibility of moving, he asked me, "I thought you said my school was the smartest?" My own words came back to haunt me. I had told him that we had moved to Deer Creek for the school district, because I thought that it was the best in the area. The teachers are wonderful. In fact, we've never had a bad experience there.

I told him how Grandpa Steve was a Principal for years at B-PC, how smart everyone there was, too. We all worked for weeks on him. Aunt Bridget, Grandma & Grandpa, Brent, Jax, Johnny, all of my family. Everything we could think of, still the quivering lip and but, I love MY school. He would tell me before the trips to Bushnell that he knew his school was the best, but he wouldn't tell Jax, because he didn't want to hurt his feelings. Gradually, he came around and started to like the idea of getting to paint his room Army green. But, the clincher came when he found out that the bus picked him up at the house. That was it, the deal was done, good bye Dee-Mack Primary. Kids!

Drake & Ashtyn were thrilled with the idea! I was so excited to see them so happy. Drake even asked if "we get to do 50/50 custody," like it was actually the kids who share custody of the parents and not the other way around. I'm just thrilled at the idea of having us all under one roof more often & closer together. Having the kids at the same school events. Being part of a community, the way it was when I was growing up.

Brent's deployment has definately brought a lot of things into perspective for us. Believe me, last year, the idea of giving up my paycheck would have made both of us shriek with laughter. But, we've both found out that whoever said that if money fixes it, it's not a problem is right. When I didn't have any, I didn't believe them. We don't have a lot now, either. But, I see the point. My family is what I need. Once my husband gets home, I'm not letting go. Ever. Hold onto what you have. Don't complain about the little things. That's what you will miss the most. When I came home from the airport that first day, I didn't want to ever throw away the empty Diet Pepsi can or wipe the whiskers from the sink. The day I started missing him popping his toes, I knew I was a nutcase.

Anyway, with Brent in transit over the next month, I promise to be more diligent about posting. Please keep us all in your thoughts during his travels.

Starting Over

My intent after the first long break in my blogging was to catch everyone up on what has gone on in our lives, such as the end of the school year, starting of summer lessons, and other such activities. Well, I've pretty much given up on that, what with school starting in less than a month. Or, FOREVER, as Dade says. He just can't wait until the school year starts (school clothes are purchased, as well as school supplies, with his bag packed and ready to go). July is never ending for him, and I must say, I really do agree.

For some reason this month has seemed to drag on in our house. Now, I know this is not the case for most. As is typical, most everyone I speak to has said that the summer has flown by. I guess when I look back, I do tend to agree. But, the days seem to drag on for me. I would love to be the bubbly, upbeat military spouse who puts on a good front for her husband, but that's just not me. Brent & I are too close for that. Not only would I feel incredibly guilty for lying to him, but he would see right through me. That's not to say things are terrible for me. Just really hard at times.

I work, sleep, spend as much time as I can with the kids, and consider it a victory to keep laundry clean and the kids and myself fed somewhat healthily. And, I guess, for a minimum, that's not too bad. Stress has gotten to me physically and I haven't been able to keep myself healthy, which is why the gloomy tone today, LOL. I really am happy and cheerful most of the time, I just miss Brent more than words can convey. It's hard to explain how the little things, like sitting on the couch, with his arm around my shoulders on a bad day, make me ache so. On the plus side, I don't think that I will ever take for granted the special relationship that we have. I look forward to the rest of our life together and I do realize that this is just a small bump in the road.

Another week and a half and we are headed to Six Flags and a Cubs game. Go Cubbies!!!! My family's enthusiasm for the Cubs has officially rubbed off on the kids and they seem to be as excited as I am to get to see them play.

Well, that's enough for today. I can't promise I'll get any better about the regular posts, only that I will try.

Home of the Free, Because of the Brave

Happy Independance Day!!!

Steve and Jean have the title of this post on a sign in their sun room. Every time I read those words I swell with pride for my husband and all the men and women who have made those words come to life.

I thought this poem was very fitting for today. I made sure that I sat down with Drake, Ashtyn, and Dade and talked about what the true meaning of the Fourth of July is, not just the carnivals, parades, and fireworks. We talked about how 232 years ago our brave soldiers fought to give us our freedoms, just as Brent and all his comrades are doing today. Thank you, everyone, for your support of him and of our family. It means to very much!

And Brent...You know how incredibly proud I am of you! Thank you and make sure you tell everyone there how much what you guys do truly means to us here at home. I love you more every day!

Servicemen

I watched the flag pass by one day,

It fluttered in the breeze.

A young Man saluted it,

And then he stood at ease...

I looked at him in uniform

So young, so tall, so proud,

With hair cut square and eyes alert

He'd stand out in any crowd.

I thought how many men like him

Had fallen through the years.

How many died on foreign soil

How many mothers' tears?

How many pilots' planes shot down?

How many died at sea

How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?

No, freedom isn't free.

I heard the sound of Taps one night,

When everything was still,

I listened to the bugler play

And felt a sudden chill.

I wondered just how many times

That Taps had meant "Amen,"

When a flag had draped a coffin.

Of a brother or a friend.

I thought of all the children,

Of the mothers and the wives,

Of fathers, sons and husbands

With interrupted lives.

I thought about a graveyard

At the bottom of the sea

Of unmarked graves in Arlington.

No, freedom isn't free.

Enjoy Your Freedom & God Bless Our Troops

Numb

Well, obviously, a lot has happened since my last post. I have had a rough time even gathering my thoughts, so a detailed updating will have to be done at another time. I really just want to thank everyone for their kind words, thoughts, prayers, and offers of help to my family. Bridget has been wonderful, helping to transport Drake & Ashtyn for me, so I could spend time with my family. The Peace Lilly sent by the Russell family is huge and beautiful! I will try to take a picture and post it to the blog. As for now, we are all coping. I wanted to share the words that my wonderful husband sent to be read at the funeral in his absence. This helps to describe what a profound sense of loss my whole family is feeling at this time. I will try to update a little more later on in the week.

“Granny”


Granny is leaving us today but she will never really leave us, for I can look around the family and see her in all of us. I look at those that are closest to her and see her, not necessarily in the physical sense, there is plenty of that, but more in the value and virtues that she tried hard to instill in those that were around her.

When I think of “Granny” several words come to mind, strong willed, opinionated, caring, and devoted are just a few. To know her daughters, granddaughters, sons and grandsons you don’t have to look too hard to see the impact that she has made on them. In them and others Granny will live on, and we will continue to see her and know she is with us everyday.

Granny was many things to many different people. I couldn’t even begin to list everything she was to everyone, but what I can tell you is she was that staunch guardian of her Granddaughters, later I learned that extended to the entire family. This is how I know her best, and how I came to respect and admire her.

I can still remember the first time I met Granny and Pa. Pa was of course his usual sociable self and just wanted to talk about the news of the day and the Cubs. Granny was sociable as well, but our topic of conversations let me know that I was going to soon be deemed worthy or unworthy for her Granddaughter Micca, for this I was forewarned and well prepared. I was told I passed the test later, but there was still some scrutiny simply because I seemed to have all of the right answers, that’s only because someone gave me the cheat sheet. Granny wanted only the best for everyone in her family and she would tell you about it whether you wanted to hear it or not.

When people talk about someone living on in someone else, I don’t think the phrase would be better used than when talking about Granny. She always gave you something, whether it was an opinion or something to think about. She has had such a profound impact on so many people I truly believe that she lives on in all of us.

First T-Ball practice

Today was like any other, except it was Dade's first T-ball practice-ever! He didn't get to play last year because we had just recently moved to Deer Creek and registration was over.

Dade has always been the type of child that likes to use his imagination. I will post a couple pictures of him that I took this afternoon as an example-scroll down to the bottom to see. When all else fails punishment-wise, I have to ground him from using his imagination and playing pretend. It sounds harsh, but it's the only thing that really affects him. He has never really been into anything athletic. He's just never shown an interest. This is no surprise, as my extent of sports after the 1st few years of softball, was Color Guard in the marching band. His dad is more of a weight lifter/boxing type of guy. And neither of us are very coordinated, so Dade comes by it honestly.

Dade decided this year that he wanted to play t-ball. I was so excited that he was showing an interest! On the way to practice I realized how much trouble I was in.

"Mommy, after I catch the ball, what do I do with it."
"You throw it to the base that the runner is running to, to try to get them out."
"Out of where?"

O, boy! We have a lot of learning to do. LOL Practice went well. Dade was shy and clingy at first. He did not want to pair up and play catch, so I played with him. The problem is, when he was in preschool we thought he was left handed and I hadn't gotten him a new right hand glove. I had forgotten all about it. So, it was a little awkward for him. I will go tomorrow and get us both some gloves. Dade thinks we need to add practicing catch to our daily routine. I told you he was BO. LOL He loosened up a little and played catch with Coach Roger for a while. He told me later that this was his favorite part of practice.

I really wish I could figure out how to post a video on the blog. At one time, Dade was turning in circles, a boy at second base is writing in the dirt, an outfielder is holding his "pee-pee" and a boy walks up to Coach Roger and asked to go play on the playground. LMAO Typical kindergarten behavior.

I also got video of them practicing running bases. The first time around, they all did well. But, the second time, they cut second really short. It should be a fun season.

So, who IS FlyLady?

Both Brent & I have made reference to FlyLady here and there throughout our posts. And a lot of people are asking the question, who exactly IS the FlyLady and what has she done that could possibly have changed my life?



Well, FlyLady's name is Marla Cilley (pronounced Silly). Her husband is a District Court Judge in North Carolina, so I'm sure he's heard a bunch of comments about that name. Basically, FlyLady is a mentor to almost 500,00 people, mostly women, through a Yahoo group. Her followers are called FlyBabies. Her goal is to get people to the point of Finally Loving Yourself. According to FlyLady, there are two types of people in this world, BOs (Born Organized) and SHEs (Side Tracked Home Executives). SHEs are the biggest portion of her followers. These are the people who are generally very creative, but live in chaos. People like my sister, LOL. Growing up, you couldn't see the floor of her bedroom.



FlyLady helps people learn how to keep their homes clean, peaceful, decluttered, and organized by instituting routines. Now, anyone who knows me, knows that I am BO. Everything has its place and belongs in it. I used to be like this to the EXTREME! Jane loves to tell the story as to how I had this stuffed turtle on my nightstand when I was a teenager. She would sneak into my room and turn the turtle onto its back. Whenever I would enter the room, I would make a beeline for the turtle to turn it back over. For some reason, this was a source of great amusement for her. I have mellowed out-I sort of had to, having kids in the house. But, not before I totally ingrained these things into Dade, unfortunately. At the age of 2 he was already completely stressing out when someone put his toys into the wrong bin. It is one of the traits of mine that I wish was not so prominent.



So, people who know me well, also know that I have always been a NEAT freak, not a CLEAN freak. Everything was in its place, and usually covered in a thick layer of dust. I hated vacuuming and dusting, with a passion! I never had time to do it "right," so why do it at all? Well, that's where FlyLady has come in. She teaches us that housework, even done incorrectly, still blesses our families. If we make housework fun and ingrain it into our routines, we never see dirt again. For example, I do the swish and swipe. While in the shower, I spend about thirty seconds wiping down the tub (swiping). Then, I wipe of the countertops and swish the toilet in another thirty seconds, and I have a clean bathroom. Every day! No letting the gunk and grime build up until you can't stand your dirty bathroom any more and spend three hours cleaning it "right" and choking on harsh cleaning fumes. Brilliant! I generally dust almost daily now, with my FlyLady feather duster. Doing it every day, I never see dust, but if I skip it for a week, there it appears. I can dust my entire 3 bedroom townhouse in 8 minutes-I timed it! I never knew you could actually dust without a rag, Pledge, and about 3 hours to spare as you painstakingly wipe down every item you own. Like Granny always taught us. And for those who say feather dusters only swirl dust around, obviously you have never used a true ostrich feather duster. They are the BOMB! Brent even wanted one to combat the dust in Iraq.



Basically, FlyLady has changed my whole attitude-about almost everything. She has taught me to look at housekeeping as not a "chore," but a way of "Blessing" my family. I show my family how much I care by making sure that the laundry is clean, a nutritious, healthy dinner is on the table, and "nothing says I love you like a clean toilet when you are sick." I have settled down and have much more time to enjoy my family, and treat them like loved ones, instead of a screaming banshee wanting everything to be perfect.

An example, Jane and I have been planning on having a girlfriend of hers and her 2 kids over for dinner tonight for about a week. The kids are all BFF. I got home this morning and said to Jane-maybe I should have cleaned the house. I looked around and saw all that really needed to be done was the routine I already have implemented. Everything else was done. What a relief! No more crisis cleaning.

Anyway, that is FlyLady in a nutshell. For those of you interested in learning more, check out her website under my links. For those of you that think I'm a little odd, that's nothing unusual either.

Okay, Okay...

Yet again, it has been over a week since I posted. I got some beautiful flowers on the Friday before Mother's Day from my awesome kids. (I'm almost positive they didn't know they were coming, but I said thank you anyway.) LOL Dade was so proud, you'd have thought he made the arrangement himself. I tell you what, there is nothing quite like the joy in a 5 year old's eyes as they hand you their home made card. & of course, the ever-proud mother posts it on her blog for the world to see.

Drake got an award for his participation in Scholastic Bowl tonight. I was unable to attend, since it was at 7:00, but I'm hoping to get pictures from his mom. I'm very proud of him. He took over as the Captain part way through the season and did very well.

Unfortunately it has been awhile since Dade & I have seen any of the Russels. We are heading over for dinner at the VFW Thursday, so it will be great to catch up. I was very surprised and pleased to get a phone call from Grandma Russell. She was thanking us for her Mother's Day flowers. It's hard to keep her on the phone for any length of time, but we had a nice little chat. I can't wait until we can take all the kids up to visit again sometime. Maybe new summer. Actually, almost certainly next summer.

We just completed our shift bid at the Sheriff's Office. We do this once every six months. And the old guys like to make us "new guys" (remember my 8 year anniversary not too long ago) sweat. So, I just found out my days off two days ago. It takes effect on the 24 th of the month. Talk about short notice. Luckily, only my days off changed. One of the guys from 3rds got bumped to 2nds with only 10 days notice. I will now have Tues/Wed off. Which means I don't go to work Mon night or Tues night. It's very confusing and I will just get used to it and it will be time to change it again. Basically, when I go in at 10pm, it counts as the next day for us. Right now it actually makes a little more sense to me because Brent and I are actually working at the same times. 10pm is 6am for him, the following day also.

The past weekend was spent at a graduation reception for a second cousin and Mother's Day at Granny's house. She is well mentally, but is very swollen. Most of the time to the point where she can't put shoes on at all. They can not give her anything for the swelling, which is just fluid that has built up, because it will cause her kidneys to shut down. Dialysis will probably come along in the near future. My uncle and cousins have been in from Ohio doing some remodeling on the house. The bathroom was tiny-didn't even have a bath tub-and Granny can not shower herself. So, they moved the Gs (Granny & PaPa) bedroom to the front room and built them a closet there. They expanded the bathroom into their old room and added a tub that is easier to manuver Granny in. What's left of their old bedroom is just big enough to put a hospital bed in, for when that time comes. Our Mother's Day present of having the carpets cleaned is going to wait until after the construction is done.

So, to give you a slight idea of how packed the schedule is this month, I counted up the events. 8 graduations w/parties, 3 birthdays, 2 award ceremonys, a Spring program, Field Day, Kindergarten class picnic, Mother's day...and I really don't want to think about June yet. Of course, Dade won't let my forget...it's his SIXTH BIRTHDAY! I'm exhausted thinking about it, LOL. But, I have a large family. My Pa has 6 brothers, Granny had 7 siblings, I think. A couple were lost in childhood. So, you can imagine the extended tree.

Well, that's all for now. Hope this keeps DH off my back for a few days! Geez! Just Kidding, Baby!

A Stern Talking To by DH

I was informed by my DH (Dear Husband-Sorry, I do tend to slip into FlyLady speak at times; I've truely been FlyWashed) several times over the last 3 or 4 days that I have not been keeping up on my blogging. I guess I just haven't seen the need to do so, since we have been able to speak via the phone and webcam so much lately. However, I was also informed that he is not the only one who reads and enjoys my point of view. Now, I'm not so sure about that all the time. I do tend to get on my soap box now and again, but I guess it's my blog and I can write what I want to, huh? LOL Anyway, to appease my sweetheart I thought I would check in today.

Let's see-Last Thursday I went to Bushnell to have dinner with Drake & Ashtyn and the rest of the clan. Ashtyn had come home from school early with a fever and a sore throat, so she spent the day at Steve and Jean's. She still was not feeling good and went home instead of having dinner with us. Steve had some emergencies in town that day and wasn't able to join us right away, but we still had a good visit. The town sure has made Dade and I feel right at home. :D I was supposed to pick the kids up for the weekend on Friday, but Ashtyn was still not feeling good, so we had to cancel.

I took Dade to the Prismatic Laser Light Show at his school Friday night. He came home very excited, telling me all about the performance that he had seen at school that day. I do have to say that it was quite impressive. I was expecting to see just a bunch of lasers whirling around and a smoke show. It was very well done. Not the type where you see the laser beam, just the pictures that the beam makes from moving around so fast. Dade's favorite from the school day was a song from Shrek. Tonight, however, he decided that the Army one was his favorite. The end of the night they played God Bless the USA and had pictures of all the hardworking people in the US and some of our military. Dade said, you know what my favorite was, Mommy, when the Army man raised his hand up. He was talking about the salute. Sometimes the simple thought that comes from a 5 year old can really make your heart swell. I was very proud of him.

Speaking of that, after over a month of trying, Dade has finally started talking to Brent on the computer. I think he always felt a little awkward talking to a computer, but he actually has had a few conversations with him lately. I know Brent has been happy about that. Dade still has a hard time sometimes understanding that Brent really is gone for a long time. He asks a lot of questions like whether Iraq is another country, what language they speak there, how come the time there is different than at home, and why they wear those robes (from the picture on Brent's blog). We bought a globe and Brent gave me the idea to shine a flashlight on it so Dade would understand the time difference. Just when I think he is starting to comprehend a little more he will ask another question. Like the other day, Dade wanted me to point out Iraq. We've put a star where Camp Echo is and I showed it to him. He says well, at least he can go swimming. I started laughing and said no, he's in the desert, there's nowhere to swim. Yes, there is, Mom. There's water right there. So, next time Brent wants to take a dip he just has to travel all the way through Saudi Arabia to the Red Sea. Shouldn't take long at all, LOL.

I know I have a bunch of anecdotes about Dade, but honestly, I don't have a lot of time with Drake & Ashtyn lately. Plus, it's just so fun to look at the world through the wonderous, knowledge thirsty eyes of a child in kindergarten. One other little story that had me ROFL was when I asked Dade about his day one afternoon last week. We talk every night about the school day and I don't accept answers like "Fine" or "Nothing." I'm preparing for the teenage years, lol. He goes into this long explanation....Boys don't chase boys and boys don't chase girls. Girls don't chase boys and girls don't chase girls. It's not good to chase someone, unless you are playing tag. Three first grade boys were chasing me at recess. His eyes are wide and he just doesn't believe that kids would do this-it's breaking the rules!!! (I've raised a true rule follower, that's for sure). Well, why were they chasing you? To get the gold. Now I'm confused. What gold, I ask? He bows his head and sticks his lip out...They think I'm a leprechaun. His heart is about broken. I felt like a terrible mom, but I started laughing. Here he is traumatized and I'm laughing at him. So, I sucked it up and we had the conversation about how some kids can be mean and that what they did was not very nice....

So, that's pretty much things on my end for now. I'm usually sleeping, working, talking on the computer with Brent, or thinking about doing one of those 3 things. Not real exciting. My free time now has been occupied by chatting on the new forums that FlyLady has set up. It's allowed me to make friends all over the world in similar situations to mine. Third shifters, military wives, etc. Who is FlyLady? Well, that's a whole other post.

Deputy Sheriff v. "Real" Police

Hmmmm-It's been a few days since I posted & honestly there is not a lot new. No exciting stories of IEDs, armed escorts, road rage in an armored vehicle & definately not any pictures of me with a machine gun in a turret, LOL.I guess I do have some interesting stories, but to me they are just normal occurences. Just another day at work.

For example, I got a call the other night. (Forgive me for speaking in somewhat cryptic terms, as is similar to Brent, there is only so much detail that I can give.) A male subject called in to report his "Baby Mama"-his words, not mine- was en route to her residence & her new boyfriend was in the car & was wanted on a warrant. No big deal. Just knock on the door, ask for him, arrest him, go on about my night.

A little explanation here-my job is to do police work, which most of you know. But, you wouldn't believe the people who ask if I ever get to use my hand cuffs. OF COURSE I do; It's my JOB. I arrest people on a daily basis, especially in the spring & summer months. I realize some people are just trying to make conversation (and some are hitting on me-not very originally, I might add ROFL)but, that's like asking a mailman if he delivered mail today.

Anyway, back to the story. I get to the house & it's pretty obvious I woke "Baby Mama" up. She says the male is not there. So, my next question is, Do you mind if I come in & check?" Now, she does not have to allow this. And from other information I had gathered on the way to the call she has been around the block a few times by the age of 19 & I figured she knew this. Imagine my surprise when she says sure & let's me in. Now's the time for a game of hide & seek. :D

I start checking the house, which is very small & packed full of clutter. There are very few places to hide. A brand new baby is sleeping in the corner in a bouncy seat & I can't help but feel sorry for it. As I'm searching I'm thinking, "I'm gonna be arresting that kid before I retire." A dim view, I know, but realistic.

My last stop is Baby Mama's bedroom. There's a bed, with rubbermaid totes stacked all around it, a dresser, & clothes at least a foot deep on every inch of the floor. Really no where to hide. I peek my head in a little further & see off to the right a tiny closet, jam packed full. My eyes adjust a bit & I see a male perched on top of an aerobic rxercise ball, like a Gargoyle. In only boxers. Which are gaping open. With his "junk" hanging out. I pull my taser, tell him to get out of the closet, & inform Dispatch that I have 1 male in the closet at taser point.

The laser on my taser apparently was making the subject a little anxious, & he fumbled trying to get dressed, all the while asking why I was there. I explain the warrant & can't help but ask him why he was hiding in the closet if he didn't know why I was there. I know he knows why I was there, but I can be a smartass at times. His answer: "Cuz the cops was here." LMAO That's what I always do when I see a cop-run for the closet.

Baby Mama didn't go to jail, though she could have for obstructing. Sometimes its not worth the hassle-waiting around for someone to pick up the baby, writing the report-because the State's Attorney would probably not file charges anyway. Another dim view, but also realistic. I can see why a lot of people don't have faith in the justice system. I work in it & believe in it, but still get disenchanted at times.

So, for anyone wondering what this has to do with the title of this entry, I just celebrated my 8 year anniversary with the Sheriff's Office this last week. Inevitably when I tell people my title, "Deputy Sheriff, " instead of saying I'm a police officer, I get the question, "So, what do you actually DO?" My short answer is I'm a cop who just has a bigger jurisdiction than a city police officer. We patrol the county. 653 sq miles of it, sometimes with only 3 of us on duty at a time. We do the "normal" cop stuff, but also serve papers for the court & provide courthouse security.

The public's perception sometimes is very funny-anyone who has had to deal with the SO (Sheriff's Office), at least around here, knows that we are pretty hard core & don't want to mess with us. Now, there are people who are going to jack with you no matter what, but the majority don't want to be messing with the Deputies. Which is funny, since most people don't consider that we do much, lol.
The perfect example is a story my Sgt tells about one time when he was fairly new on the department he responded to back up Pekin officers on a fight. There were several Pekin officers there & the drunk suspect was giving them a ration of crap & refusing to comply with the officer's commands to turn around & put his hands behind his back. Until he saw the Deputy standing there. The suspect says he'd comply 'cuz he doesn't mess with the county. The Pekin officers were dumb founded, ROFL. So, I guess we have a pretty good rep.

One other quick example. Our juridictional lines are funny sometimes & we have several areas in the county that are completely surrounded by a city. But, they have never been annexed in, so we still have to provide the polce coverage. My same Sgt & I were on a call one day, I can't really remember the specifics, but there was a drunk lady at the residence who had just move in. She asked us why the county had responded to her address instead of the Pekin Police. We explained that she was now living in the county's jurisdiction, so she would have to deal with us now. "Well, S@#T, I didn't know that or I wouldn't have moved here. You guys are like REAL cops, I don't wanna mess with you!"

This was kind of brought on by the picture at the top of my blog. A few people have asked if that was me. The answer is No, but we Deputies are all alike-the good ones anyway, LOL.

Busy, Busy

The last few days have been pretty busy. Between working and spending time with family I haven't done much else. Brent has finally been able to chat via instant messenger and we have been able to see each other on webcam also. The only draw back is the time difference. I sleep until 2:00 pm, which is 10 pm Brent's time. By the time I shower and get Dade from the bus it is almost midnight for Brent. So, our time is very limited. But, it has still been wonderful to actually see him.

My cousin and her children have been in town from Ohio to visit. The kids love spending time together, so we've been out in Hopedale every evening so they can see each other. It really cuts into bedtime, but only happens once a year, so I tend to let it slide a bit.

Jane and I are taking the kids to a circus tomorrow night, which should be a good time. Then, Thursday I will be spending the day in Bushnell. Dade & I get to eat lunch with Ashtyn, then we will have dinner at the VFW with the family. Ashtyn has a choir performance that night also, so it will be a full day.

Other than the daily life stuff, I don't have much to report. Thanks again to everyone for your support of all of us. You have no idea how much the kind words mean to all of us.

Busy Friday

Today was a big day for the Kindergarten classes at Dee-Mack/Primary Junior High. They had a field trip to the Gamma Phi Circus at Illinois State University & the Children's Discovery Museum. I went as a chaperone. Anyone who knows me knows that me & 80 kindergarten students do not do so well. But, Dade was so happy & proud that I went. He's still at that age where it is cool to bring mom & one that is a police officer is pretty neat. I was surprised at how well I did, actually. I didn't get in an uproar once, which is awesome for me. One of the things I've been working on is not getting uptight when there's chaos with kids around. I've always said that I'm a better mother because I work. I'm not the stay at home mom type & I have all the respect in the world for the women who can do that. Spending the day with the teachers today made me marvel at their patience & creativity. Just the choices of words that they made & the context they put things in amazes me. There I go getting WAY off topic, lol. Anyway, we had a great time. Dade & I both fell asleep on the bus. I did forget how much "fun" riding all the way on the back of the bus was. Yea, right! LOL

Ashtyn went on a field trip yesterday as well. She went to the 4-H farm safety day. She had fun & it sounds as if they had a lot of activities.

Dinner at the VFW was great, as always. The kids all love to get together & it gives me time to catch up with Steve and Jean & Bridget. We always have a nice chat & they do so well at including me in the family that it feels as if I have been for years.

Brent, obviously, knows that I have been down lately. So, he emails me & tells me to pamper myself over my weekend, which is Wed night & Thur night. He suggested a pedicure & massage. Have I mentioned that I have THE MOST awesome husband ever? Well, I have a friend who sells Mary Kay & I was due for a facial, so she came over tonight. Jane & I got facials & makeup tips. I got all gussied up & now I'm on my way into work. I'm really going to impress the drunks tonight, lol.

I exchanged a few emails with Brent today, but I don't have any new info to share. It must have been a busy day for him. I'm hoping to hear more from him tomorrow.

Time for work. Friday night & raining. Should be fun.

Harder than I thought

Well, Brent kind of stole my blog topic today. I got a phone call from him around 7:45 this morning. Since he had the phone installed in his office we were able to talk for about 45 minutes. We mainly just chatted about the normal things. I'm still trying to get things straightened around with insurance & the like since our marriage. I've also been working on the financial end of things. We get reduced interest rates & some bonuses & grants since Brent is in a war zone. Some places bend over backwards to help us out, while others do whatever they can to squeeze as much out of us as they can-Much like the climate in every day life. Mostly great support, but a few ignorant people who have no clue! I've spent some time lately working out our budget to pay off as much as possible while Brent is gone so we can start the process of building our dream home right away when he gets back.We've already picked out our floor plans & I occupy my free time with planning & decorating the house we don't have yet. LOL
Brent said in his blog today that I've been having a rough time & he's right in the fact that I would share that with anyone who cared to ask. I honestly didn't think things would be so hard. I mean, I've been a single parent before. Even when I was married before I ran the household. I didn't want or need help. I knew I would miss Brent. I just was not expecting this horrible hollow feeling or the sense that I've completely lost my way. I guess that the reason I'm feeling this so deeply is that I was taught from an early age not to acknowledge my feelings. Add to that the expectation in my line of work to be "tough" (more so for a female trying to prove herself) & you have a time bomb.Over the last 2 years I have slowly begun learning that ignoring the feelings only puts them off so they all crash down at once. I've had that happen before & it nearly cost me everything. So, yes, I'm having a very rough time. And yes, I miss my husband & best friend terribly. But, I also know that this is temporary & we have a whole lot of ups & downs on this roller coaster. As long as I have Brent to cling to I know it will be a blast!

Ben & Jerry's Not So Sweet

The other day I was going about my business, cleaning up the kitchen. I went to throw something in the garbage & there it was........an empty Ben & Jerry's ice cream container. In MY garbage can! My stomach clenched up & I felt a flash of heat creep up my neck. Now, I thought, jane probably just doesn't know any better. I'll just have to talk to her about it when she gets home.When I explained to her the reason that I DO NOT allow Ben & Jerry's in my home and saw the shock on her face it occurred to me that there are a lot of people out there who don't know what their money is supporting when they purchase a Ben & Jerry's product. Now, I believe in making informed decisions. I will tell what I know & show you where to get more information. If you still feel that there is no reason to boycott Ben & Jerry's, then by all means, eat up. I just can not allow my brother in blue to be disrespected due to a lack of knowledge.

Here's a link to the website telling Daniel Faulkner's story, if you want to hear the whole thing:

http://www.danielfaulkner.com/

In a nutshell, part of the profits for Ben & Jerry's sales goes to the legal defense fund for Mumia Abu-Jamal, the convicted killer of Officer Daniel Faulkner in 1982. By all official accounts, the murder of Officer Danny Faulkner was a clear cut case. The murderer was caught at the scene and readily identified by witnesses to the whole incident. The only reason Abu-Jamal was not sentenced to death was because of the wording of the jury instructions. Abu-Jamal has taken on a cult celebrity following due to his charismatic nature.

"Truth has been damned and fantasy has become fact. It is the weight of this coalition, built by the supporters of this killer, that demands that organizations such the Grand Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police also weigh into this fight in an effective and substantial way. It is our responsibility to Danny, and all the fallen officers he represents, to assure that the public knows the truth about this incident and that substance will prevail over celebrity. Maureen Faulkner, Danny's widow, cannot do it alone. The Philadelphia and Pennsylvania FOP Lodges cannot do it alone. The financial and public relations resources that have come together to render aid to this common killer with the uncommon knack for propaganda, are too much for any one group to face alone. It will take the effort of all the members of the FOP from across our country. We must all become aware of the facts of this case. We must speak out so that the truth is heard. Danny Faulkner was a good and decent man and an honorable police officer. He was brutally murdered and his killer is Mumia Abul-Jamal. This is a time when justice demands that no honest man sit silent." Excerpt from danielfaulkner.com


It is completely unacceptable that the person who gets the most attention in this case is the cold-blooded murderer and not the hero, a police officer who put his life on the line every day. So, this is why Ben & Jerry's ice cream puts a bitter taste in my mouth. The website also lists other supporters of Abu-Jamal that I ask you to reconsider supporting. I hope others join me in supporting the memory of Daniel Faulkner instead.

Scrapping Friend'z & Micca: The Sequel

Ashtyn & I just got home from a Crop for a Cause for Easter Seals at Scrapbook Friend'z in Bloomington. It was a little bit of an eye opener for Ashtyn, because a little boy, age 2, who is an Easter Seals child was at the crop with his mom. She was the one in charge of the festivities. It don't think that the charity seemed that important to her until I explained that it was for kids like Noah. It seems Ashtyn was pleasantly surprised with the crop. She confided to me about 10 hours in that she hadn't really wanted to go, but didn't want to hurt my feelings. LOL She insisted on staying until midnight, but by 1100 she was ready to call it a night.

We had a great time working on our scrapbooks and chatting. There were a whole bunch of giveaways and we both came away with a bunch of freebies. Ashtyn was thrilled when we "won" two silent auctions, like we didn't have to pay for the privelege. It was for a good cause and Ashtyn is so worth it.

On Thursday she had told me that her friends were asking why she couldn't spend the night this weekend. She told them that she didn't want to because she wanted to spend time with her stepmom. She told them what we were going to do and they all wanted a stepmom as cool as me. :D Now that melted my heart! She spent most of her time and effort today on daddy pages. I worked on our 2007 Cruise. LOL.....So, I never made it to the cruise, but I ALMOST have Miami done.

Drake had to get glasses yesterday. I haven't seen him in them yet, but Carrie said he's as blind as a bat. Like Father, Like Son, I guess.


Ok, so here's the rest of my story....Ever since second grade I've wanted to be a police officer. Before that was an astronaut, but when the space shuttle blew up that year I decided that was too dangerous. So, in the infinite wisdom of an 8 year old I decided on an life path that was far more likely to get me killed. People ask me all the time why I want to be a cop. My simple, but mostly frustrating answer is, because that's what I've always wanted to do. One thing I know for sure is that it takes a special kind of person to do that work. I'm that type of person & if I don't do it, then I'm not doing anyone any favors.

Lt. Col. Grossman explains "warriors" like this: Most people on 9/11 saw the tragedy on television & thought "Damn, I'm glad I wasn't on one of those planes." People like me & my brothers & sisters in blue saw it unfolding & thought "Damn, if only I had been on one of those planes, maybe I could've done something." Now those passengers were heroes, I would never say they weren't, but the point is that we would've been there to help in the fight & maybe could've turned the tides. True warriors are ones that go running towards the gunfire, instead of running away from it. I'm sure I will touch more on this topic in another post.

Back on topic....during my high school years I was planning on joining the Army. In truth, when it came time to sign the papers I chickened out. I was scared to death that the drill instructors would yell at me & make me cry. You see, my grand plan to become a police officer was to fake it til I made it. & that's what I did. I had no confidence in myself & was scared out of my mind to talk to strangers. To this day I hate calling people on the telephone. But I wanted this so bad I made it happen.

My mom was disappointed in my choice. I was too smart to become "just a cop." She had visions of me becoming an award winning author (I came in 3rd in Young Author's in 2nd Grade) or a lawyer. She still does not understand me or my choice to a certain degree, but she is very proud of me. I went to Illinois Central College and got my Associate's degree in Law Enforcement. I worked my way through school by working retail security at Kmart. I was actually very good at catching shoplifters. I did an internship with the Peoria Police Department & the Tazewell County Sheriff's Department. That's when I decided that working for the county was the right speed for me. There's a much larger area to work in & just the right amount of excitement. Plus, even at that point I was showing signs of becoming a "shit magnet." That's cop speak for if something was gonna happen, it was gonna happen to me.

Around this time I met & married Dade's father. I also tested to become a Tazewell County Correctional Officer and was hired. I never wanted to work in the jail, but I felt that I needed to get my foot in the door. I was the first female correctional officer in the history of Tazewell County. At the time we were on the verge of being shut down by the courts because of the condition of the jail. We did not house females, but once we built the new jail we would and, therefore, would need to hire females. This was my in. Fifteen months later, still with the new jail no where in sight, I was hired as a Deputy Sheriff.

I had gotten hired the first two places I tested. I don't think most people realize how amazing that is. Getting hired as a police officer is a long process, and for many it takes years.

I went to the Police Training Institute in Champaign, Illinois in June 2001. On Sep 11, 2001 I was two days from graduation. I was never so proud of myself as I was at that point. It cemented my belief that this was my true calling. When I returned home after graduation I found out that I was pregnant with Dade. I gave birth 9 months to the day from Sep 11. There was a boom of baby boys born at that time. I had an unconventional first year on the job, but made it off probation.

When Dade was two, I filed from divorce from his father. We were married for five years, but were not good for each other. We still get along and Brent & I are both friends with his mother, Judy, even inviting her over for dinner and to our wedding reception.

Well, we're pretty much up to the point where I met the love of my life. That's a story for another time. I've been up for 36 hours at this point, so I better crash.

A Little About Me

Brent called me this afternoon! I was so excited to talk to him that when he started to list off some things for me to send him I decided I better start taking some notes....and promptly hung up on him less than 2 minutes into the call! I burst into tears & Dade asked me why I was "all sniffly." I explained my mistake, which had him tearing up also.

Turns out I had no reason to cry. Brent called his parents (which I am SO glad he did) and then called me right back. :D We talked for about 30 minutes about nothing & everything. I'm still at the point where just hearing his voice makes my eyes start "leaking." But, I am so grateful & realize how lucky I am to get to hear it so often. So, people may ask what he had to say, and honestly, other than the few things he asked me to do for him, I'm not quite sure. His random thoughts blog today is much like a transcript of our conversations. Brent has often said that one of the main reasons he knew we'd make it is because we are just like his parents-best friends who can stay up til the wee hours of the morning just chatting, even after 30+ years of marriage. I do know that he sounds well & is really enjoying his job. He's learning to enjoy the small things in life & has found that some of the things he really thought he'd miss (like driving our new Infiniti) are really things he hasn't thought much about. He's found a longer route to run & is enjoying this physical activity.

One thing that we discussed was how widespread our blogs have become. We really thought nobody besides our immediate family would be interested in our musings. We are very happy to hear that so many people enjoy them. Having said that, we realize that a lot of people really do not know "us" or our history. To many I am "Brent's wife" & Brent is "Steve & Jean's son." So we are each going to write a little bio of ourselves.

I was born & raised in a town of 900 people. Hopedale is in Tazewell County, so I'm still close to home. I was very shy & always had my nose in a book. ALWAYS! My mom loves to tell the story of when I was reading at recess & had to get stiches because of a runaway matchbox car that ramped & hit me in my hairline. I always quipped that if I hadn't been looking down it would've hit me in the eye. I definately would not initiate a conversation & more than likely would ignore someone trying to start one with me. I guess merely shy isn't the right word. I was PETRIFIED of people & their opinions of me. That's why most people who knew me way back when can not believe that I work as a Deputy Sheriff.

Until my preteen years I lived with both my parents, my sister, Jane (3 years younger), & brother, Rafe (6 years younger). Then my parents, thankfully, got a divorce. This was the very slow start of me learning that it was ok to be me. My father was a practicing alcoholic & abuser. Though he is now in recovery, for many years, I choose not to have him in my life. It is a conscious choice on my part to not have my children exposed to such a negative person. Reconciliations have been tried over the years, but I finally made the decision that life is too short to surround myself with anything but the most loving & caring people.

After the divorce mom & us kids moved in with my Granny & Pa. Mom still lives there & all of us have been back at least once, with our children. The Gs, as they were dubbed while I was in high school, may as well have been my parents, too. My mom is wonderful, but they helped to make a home for us. I currently have 7 cousins ranging from 35 to 3. Obviously, a few of us have children ourselves. I tell you this because, unlike a lot of families, we have always been very close. A few of my younger cousins are more like nieces & nephews to me. I grew up in a time where every Sunday was a family dinner for at least 13. I still have a tough time not cooking for an army because you never knew who was going to stop by the Gs for dinner on any given night.

Whew, well there's way too much information about me! Don't want to put you to sleep, so I'll finish up another time. I have to warn you in advance though, Micca: The Sequel isn't much more exciting. LOL

Dinner with the Russells

Dade & I picked up Drake & Ashtyn and went to the VFW to have tacos with the family. Bridget and the boys stopped in, but had to get take out because Jax was not feeling well. Everyone was happy to be together and we had a nice visit. Our blogs were a hot topic of conversation. The gecko especially was a hit. Drake thinks Brent should get glow in the dark marker to stripe their backs, so we know which one is which. Jeri has dubbed the gecko "Gotcha Gecko." I'm glad everyone enjoys reading what we have to say. I got some peaches and cream corn from Jean to send to Brent. Drake thinks the crops will do so well over there, that the base will be over run with corn, lol. I'd have to see that to believe it.

I met a friend of the family tonight, Judy Myers, who was home visiting from Arizona. Denny & Jeri were there, too. It's always nice seeing everyone. It sure seems like we don't have long to visit, but I have to get Dade home to start his bedtime routine. He completes a checklist every night before he goes to bed in order to make the mornings easier. He IS NOT a morning person.

Ashtyn was doing well. She had a stomachache last Thursday, she said. I don't know if that is true or she was left out with everyone else being sick, lol. She's been doing testing this week. She's starting up dance again for the Spring & Summer. She & I are going to a "Crop for a Cause" at a scrapbooking store on Saturday. All proceeds go to benefit Easter Seals. For those who don't know, a crop is where a group of scrapbookers get together to work on their scrapbooks.....well, and buy a few things, too. :)

Drake still says he's doing well in school. He started explaining his current grades away, but Grandma Jean called him on it. I think he forgot she was once a teacher, lol. We're trying to stay on top of him anyway. He's back in Tae Kwon Do on a limited basis and is helping to teach the other kids. He's even learned to run a little with his brace on. Dade & I are going to his Scholastic Bowl meet in Avon next Tuesday. He has a tournament Saturday, but I'm spending the day with Ashtyn.

Dade has been in a little of a funk. He has been pushing the limits of Mommy's patience lately. He seems to have forgotten the rules of the house since Brent left. He came home today with worksheets on counting money. Then he read me two books on the way to Bushnell. I can't believe what they are teaching in kindergarten! He woke up while I was writing this with a pain in his knee. I gave him some motrin & explained growing pains to him. Heaven knows he could use a little growing.

I found a solution to "Are we there yet" in the Infiniti. Dade has that habit, along with what town are we in and are we in the middle of nowhere? This can get rather old with as much time as we spend in the car. I showed him the arrow and mapped route on the navigation system. The arrow is the car and the route is in a different color. That way, as long as there is yellow still left on the screen, he knows we still have a ways to go. He is beginning reading, so often times he can sound out the names of the towns either on the system or the sign. He know how to spell Farmington all on his own now. (He went to preschool in a town called Armington, so that helped it stick in his head). He loves that there is a checkered flag at the finish line and a picture of a home. If I could only teach him to read and understand the scale of the map now, lol.

When we first bought the Infiniti, the dvd for the navigation was not included. It took several weeks for the dealership to send us a copy. So, we had been in it awhile before we got to start using the system. The first time the woman on the system began talking to us, Dade was soooo shocked! Who is that lady? Brent, ever the jokester, said that it was Kim and she was a woman that the car place shrunk down and put in the dash of our car. Dade, the wide eyed five year old, was trying hard not to believe it, you could tell. But he really wanted to, lol. Then, fast forward about two weeks. We really hadn't mentioned the navigation any more. Dade walks in from school and wants to know who the lady in our car was. I have to think a little on it before I realize what he's talking about. Kim, I say. Well, in centers today we read a book by Kim Wilson, I bet that's her. ROFLOL It's important to have another Wilson around, I guess. He did have a terrible time with my name change.

Good news about Granny! The doctors in Iowa City said everything is pretty much status quo and they don't need to see her for 3 months. This is a day after we were told, yet again, that she was at the beginning of the end. I still don't understand exactly how opinions can differ so greatly from day to day, but I'm glad to keep her a while longer. Pa and her celebrate their 56gh anniversary on the 13th. I'm looking forward to spending AT LEAST the next fifty six years with my handsome husband! :D

So, 10 days down....but who's counting?

I made the realization that we were only 10 days in when an intern that rode with me at work tonight asked how long Brent had been gone. Has it really only been 10 days? And here I thought I had been a trooper about the whole thing, lol. As much as I hated to hear Brent not-quite-motivated today, it made me feel better to know I'm not the only one having a rough time with this. Over the weekend was my really hard time & Brent got me through it via email. I'm sure the fever and the vicodin did not help the matters either.The doctor seems to think that stress is wrecking my immune system, making me susceptible to every bug that comes around. And you'd think I was a freshman in high school, living on candy bars and pizza if you saw my complexion.

Just when I thought we may be out of the woods with the illness thing Randi & Alaina both were diagnosed with strep throat. I'm wondering how long before Dade & I come down with that. For those who don't know who I'm talking about, or who the cute superheroes with Dade are, Randi & Alaina are my 4 & 3 year old nieces. My sister, Jane, and the girls moved in with me to help with Dade on 3rd shift. Jane is a single mom & is starting ISU in the fall in accounting. She's working on her CPA. She's been working steadily as ICC and will be taking summer classes there, as well. Deer Creek is actually a pretty good location for her commute-wise & the girls will be in the Dee-Mack school district with Dade. I honestly don't know what I would do without Jane at the house! She's been wonderful and her moral support is more than I could ask for. I've got a great sisiter! One good thing about the strep-the Dr told Alaina all her "Nukies" (pacifiers) had gotten sick as well, so they all had to be thrown away. Which wasn't all a lie, since the strep virus is on them, but it seems to be working.

My granny is back in the hospital again. She had severe vomiting spells for 3 days and could not keep any food down. The doctor had been concerned that her kidneys were shutting down, but luckily, tonight they found out that they are functioning normally again. The family began somewhat of a panic with the shutdown comment, but if we can figure out how to keep that from starting, it won't be much of a problem. The thing is, this is another illness in a looooong string of illnesses that has the doctors completely puzzled. She goes again to Iowa City on Thursday to see a liver specialist and hopefully get to the bottom of the cirrhosis issue. Or just end up with more questions, which is more than likely the case. Her "unknown causes" medical condition goes back more than a decade now. I'm ready to call in the famous tv Dr House on her case.

Again, I know there are people reading this who have no idea what I'm talking about. I will post an entry on her history at some point. And, while you may not finish reading all about her, the thing that I have found about this blogging thing is that it really helps me to vent. Although, you all should be thanking your stars that most of my soapbox talks are reserved for Brent in an email. When we first began talking, before we even met, we fell in love listening to each other as we each climbed on our own personal soap boxes.

A cute little story about Dade, especially after being so down on myself this weekend. Sometimes all you really need is to listen to the wisdom of a child to make the world seem right. I made a comment about "Mommy's fat bottom" to him, not thinking much of it. Dade got all serious and said that it is not nice to call someone fat. I explained that I was just talking about myself. He told me that it's still not nice to talk to yourself like that. I guess I do deserve better. :)

Our First "Weekend"

Today Drake had an appointment in Chicago to have his leg checked and got his brace off. He said the Dr was optimistic because he has a little more range of motion on his other foot. If he keeps stretching, there's a 30% chance he may not have to get the other leg done. After the appointment Carrie dropped Drake and Ashtyn off to me for our first weekend together since Brent has been gone. Well, overnight will do.

Dade has really been missing his brother and sister and I feel like I'm not quite all there without Brent and the kids around. Dade and I went to Prompt Care and were diagnosed with severe sinus infections. We've both been sick to our stomachs from drainage, plus the vicodin for my headache is doing a number on mine, too. That and the fevers and we are a couple of cranky, tired people, LOL.

Brent happened to call about 5 minutes before the kids got here, so he was able to talk to them for the first time since he left Fort Benning. Dade's not much of a phone person, but gets weepy whenever I'm on the phone with him. He has a Hero camoflauge beanie baby and an I Love My Soldier bracelet from when his Uncle Jimmy was deployed in 2004-2004. He sleeps with the bear every night and said he's going to wear his bracelet every day until Brent gets home.

Drake and Ashtyn spent the afternoon on my new laptop with computer games & Dade, of course, tagged along. Then we ran to Walmart to pick up a few things to send. The kids picked out a few snacks to send & I got a couple razors and a BMI scale that graphs your progress, so Brent will know when the cheesecake is outweighing the workouts.

Speaking of that, I've been tasked to tell the story of the heart rate monitor. I've been listening to a virtual personal trainer on BlogTalkRadio named Jonathan Roche. His philosophy is that it doesn't matter if you can only do half a push up, at least you are doing SOMEthing. Now, that's my kind of trainer, LOL. Anyway, I spent months listening and logging onto his website to do his free workouts and then finally broke down and bought his Momentum system, which includes workouts, a heartrate monitor, and a watch that syncs up with the monitor, so that you can really tell the effectiveness of your workout. You also can log on to the website and it will track your progress as well. Brent had been checking it out for a while before he left and I thought that I would like to send one to him, since he was planning on using his free time to work out. (Obviously, he thought he'd have more than he actually does.) Anyway, the system was going up in price (from $70 to $140) and I emailed Jonathan to explain what I was planning and to see if I could get a discount, since I already owned the system. This was less than a week before Brent left. I sent the email at 1140pm and got this response in 20 minutes from Jonathan himself:

Hi Micca,This is Jonathan Roche writing - I am BCCed on all our member support e-mails.I am going to send your husband a system tomorrow that will arrive on Thursday. It is my gift to him for serving for our country - it is the least I can do. Because of your husband and his fellow soldier's bravery, I am able to enjoy a simple and beautiful life with my wife and young son. Because of your husband by biggest worry is getting thousands of Momentum Systems to our valued members each month.To say that my family and I appreciate your husband and his fellow troops (and you and all the family members of the soldiers) would be a huge understatement. Please tell him I said thanks.Also, he will be happy to hear that one soldier in Iraq lost 31 pounds (a female) and one lost 17 pounds (a male) on Momentum. A friend of mine who was serving over their e-mailed me and asked if some of his squad mates could e-mail me with weight loss questions. I sent them Momentum Systems in Iraq and they kicked butt.Anyway, I hope your workouts are going well and I am excited to have your husband on board as one of our newest valued members.

So, Brent was able to take the system with him when he left. Now, I tell everyone how wonderful this man is. He has my endorsement on all his ventures, not only for the excellent service he provides, but for his outlook. I will gladly spend extra on anything he offers, just knowing that he supports our troops the way he does. Brent & I are blessed to have an Officer's salary and to be AGR. I know many of the National Guard troops are taking a major pay cut, and do so willingly to serve their country. People like Jonathan help us to see that all that is not in vain.

Back to our family time. Dade decided he needed new camoflauge pjs and Ashtyn needed a shirt, apparently that is how they show their support :) So, I will take a picture of them and post it to the blog. Drake, of course, did not want new clothes, he'll just be so "camoflauged" in the picture that you won't see him, LOL. Leave it to Drake.

Well, time to get dinner on the table. I'm so glad that everyone takes the time to keep updated on our family. This has been such a great way to communicate with Brent. Honestly, his blog is really how I keep informed, too. His communication has been few and far between. Hopefully as he gets settled we'll hear more from him. Until then, this is a blessing.

Plans Changed

So, all the plans for Thursday changed. Dade has been burning up with fever and I've kept him home from school for the last two days. I think we'll go to the Doctor tomorrow. Dr Jane has diagnosed me with strep throat, so I may be making a trip there, too. You know Dade is sick when he's sleeping all day with me. I can't seem to make myself get up off the couch. So, I had to cancel Thursday night dinner at the VFW. I felt horrible doing it. I really miss the kids and, of course, Dade was crying, still wanting to go even though he was so sick. Hope this weekend still comes together okay. I really cherish our family time much more now that it's so far in between.

Life on the Homefront....to my sweet, brave husband & anyone who cares to read

Don't worry....nothing inappropriate here ;)

Granny was in the hospital again for a few days. She was so swollen you couldn't see her ankles and could hardly see her knees. I went over to mom's on Sunday to go to some kind of home decorating party. I got a few cute things for our dream house that can still be displayed now. I had heard that Granny was being stubborn about going to the hospital, but when I saw her I decided that someone had to take charge. I gave her the option of getting dressed and going to the hospital or I was going to call the ambulance and she was going in her nightgown. She went and, of course, they admitted her. She came home today, after losing around 13 lbs of fluid in the last two days. They doubled her meds, so I hope that helps.

Today I got to attend this AMAZING class at Heartland Community College, Bulletproof Mind. The speaker was Lt. Col. Dave Grossman. I got you a copy of On Combat, signed by the Col. He said that you for your service and HOOAHH!!! I'll send it to you, to read in your down time. If you have any. I also got the seminar on audio CD and the book Stop Teaching Our Kids to Kill. He really makes you think. So much so, that I'm not waiting to be able to purchase a new gun to carry off duty. I got a shoulder holster and I've got myself all ready to go. I guess what really got me was a story he told of a paratrooper right after 9/11. He went up to the Col. and said, "We're going to Afghanistan. You go back and tell all those cops that you teach, don't let them kill my kids." Well, that's the least and the most important thing I can do. There is too much so called random violence in the world and I don't want to go to war unarmed.

Tonight was Chili Supper/Family Reading night at the Primary Junior High School. Dade and I had a very good time. We ate dinner with his friend Annabelle and her mother. Then, we went to the gym and Clifford and Curious George were there!!!! We got to hear to Clifford books and Curious George Gets a Bicycle. After that, we watched some people act out the Three Little Hawaiian Pigs. It was a cute spin on the classic, with a Magic Shark as the "Bad Guy." Dade and Annabelle both loved the shark. We returned to the cafeteria, where Dade was given a book, Curious George Goes to the Libary, which really fit the occasion. After oreos and milk we headed home to start getting ready for bed and work.

Dade, Randi, and Alaina are going on a playdate to Hunter's tomorrow night. Then, Thursday a professional story teller will be at Dade's school. We also have a Labor Council Meeting on Thursday with the FOP. They are starting to pay attention to us now that we are ready to vote on going with another union, LOL. I also have to get a filling. It'll be a busy day.

I get Drake and Ashtyn Saturday afternoon. I'm not sure what we're going to do, but Drake bought the Transformers PS2 game, so I'm sure there will be plenty of that. Sunday we are going to the matinee of Jesse's play, which was written by his teacher. I'll try to send some video of it. He has the lead.

I guess that's all for now, I've got to get ready for work. Drake's report card came. I'll scan it and send it to you in an email as soon as I can.

I love you,

Micca

Settling In

Brent made it to the base today around noon our time. He is 8 hours ahead there. Everyone made getting their computers and internet hooked up a high priority. I was able to speak to him via the webcam and Skype, which is internet phone. He was in good spirits and eager to absorb as much intel from the people he is relieving before they go home in a few days. The next few days will be very busy as he gets accustomed to the routine on the base.

He has a trailer of his own, with a few amenities. And the guy who lived there before him has left him a bunch of stuff to use-pillow, comforter, and the like. The internet in the trailer is pretty slow and we had to choose whether we wanted to see each other or talk to each other. I was just so happy to have contact with him. :) His trailer is one away from the bunker, so if something goes down he won't have far to go to take cover. I told him that my phone calls really paid off in that respect ;) Like I really have Any pull whatsoever, LOL.

Brent is in charge of the maintenance and has two offices and his own Gator to get around the base. He has internet in his office, which we hope will allow us to use both the phones and the webcams.

Anyway, he seems a little tired, but anxious and excited to start his duties. I will update when I know more.

Almost There!

Hello!

I got a phone call from Brent at 1100 this morning. I apoligize for taking a couple hours to get this out, but, being on 3rd shift, 1100 is the middle of the night for me. It was 7:00 pm in Iraq, today's date.They left Kuwait several hours later than planned. They were about halfway to their destination & had stopped for the night. The Polish troops do not like to travel at night.

They are staying at a base that is pretty built up. It was quite a hike to the comm center to use the phones, but he wanted to let us know he was doing okay. They are putting them up in some pretty nice trailers for the night and then headed out in the morning again.Brent thinks he may still enter into another time zone, but as of now he is 8 hours ahead of us. He sends his love to everyone & will let me know asap when he is safely on base.

And we wait some more...

I got an email from the Family Readiness Group Coordinator this evening. She said that she had heard from the command and that our soldiers had gotten into Kuwait safely. They were going to brief for about 3 hours, then head on to their final destination. I excitedly sent off emails telling everyone. Then, called my mom, who is still behind times and does not have email. While I was talking to mom I got a call from a strange number and almost didn't answer, but I gave it a shot.

It was Brent!!!!! I felt a rush of relief. It was 6:15 pm our time, 2:15 am Kuwait time. He said that they had been in the air for a total of 17 hours between Georgia and Kuwait, with a 3 hour layover to fuel up in Germany. They were leaving at 5:15 am go on to their destination. Silly me, all excited and chatty, started discussing our cell phones and whether we should keep his on when I lost the call. Of all things to talk about!! I can be such an airhead sometimes. Anyway, I didn't get a call back, and didn't expect one. I know there is a lot of people wanting to talk to their families.

So, I am hoping that we hear from the FRG once they hit the Camp as fast as we did this time. I know we are all ready to just get into a routine, so we can get this time done.

The Waiting Game

Well, as I write this, Brent should be close to arriving in Germany or may already be there. I got a message from him at around 6:40 pm saying that he had to shut his phone off for take off and that this would be his last message to me. (What a horrible thought!!!) Intellectually, I know what he meant, but I am so very scared, too!

He said that I shouldn't worry, even if I don't hear from him until Tuesday or Wednesday. Yea, right! I can't imagine doing much but worry. I know that if he is given half a chance he will come home to us safe & sound. I really understand what he goes through when I'm out on a dangerous call now. I guess it never really hit me until now.

Of course, with all that said, I couldn't be more proud of my wonderful husband! Since we have met we have gotten into a wonderful habit of embracing all the people and past experiences we have had. Although we wish we had met and fell in love years ago, we both realize that it is our pasts that have allowed us to become who we are today. I hope everyone who is reading this has some idea of the appreciation that I have for you, for helping to make Brent the sweet, caring, brave man that I am blessed to share a life with! He is truely my best friend---& that is the hardest part of being away from him.

Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers!

He's off

Well, Brent's off serving our country. The last couple weeks have flown by. We have been running around doing a ton of small errands that, in total, seemed to take up an awful lot of our time together.

The last three days he was home I had a stomach bug and he got to watch his new wife sleep and run to the bathroom. That's about all I could manage. Talk about feeling guilty. But, he was so understanding and more worried about me than anything. Another reason to love him.

On the homefront, Drake was recently made Captain of the Scholastic Bowl team. We had Easter morning with the kids on Good Friday. It was a nice family day together. We just spent it hanging out (me sleeping) and enjoying each other.

We saw Brent off at the airport. His flight was at 0600, so the kids were extremely tired, but over all, handled it pretty well. I was the basket case. But, we made it through.

Brent made it to Fort Benning in Georgia by noon on Saturday, the 22nd. He'll be there this week and then fly to Germany. He'll move into Iraq via Kuwait sometime after that. I can't wait to just hear he made it to the base safely. I'm sure that a whole bunch of us will be breathing easier then.

Whirlwind

Wow, things have truely been like a whirlwind. The new Mrs Brent Russell is posting this message :D We were married on Feb 29, 2008 at the Tazewell County Courthouse and had an open house at our place to celebrate.

The kids were so cute and it really seemed as if our family was getting married, not just Brent & me. Drake & Ashtyn were our official witnesses and Dade did a great job as ringbearer. The Judge even gave him "knuckles" after the ceremony for doing such an excellent job.

The night before our wedding we headed to Machesney Park. We got up early and headed to Brent's change of command ceremony. It was very touching and I think the kids really got an understanding of exactly how important their dad really is. Brent was presented with a print of the Gas Attack of 1918 and I received flowers. I wish he would have told me how slippery the floors would be though---I really thought I was going to wipe out in front of everyone in my high heels.

The new commander and his fiancee were very nice and offered their support while Brent was gone, as did many of his soldiers. Brent presented each of his soldiers with a 135 th Chemical Company coin that he had made just for them. They all seemed very touched and werre sorry to see him go.

We had a wonderful weekend with the kids after the wedding, just hanging and being a family. Brent had to go out of town Monday and as I am typing this Friday afternoon I am anxiously awaiting his arrival home. I'm just happy to call myself his wife :D

Checking In

I knew when I started this that is was going to be something hard for me to keep up on. Although, once Brent leaves I'm sure it'll be easier since I'll have to keep him up to date.

We went to the Batallion Ball last Saturday. It's nice to get all dressed up sometimes, and of course, I had the most handsome date there! The empty table sure brought a lump to my throat though. It makes me appreciate every moment that I get to spend with all of my loved ones, not just Brent. You never know when something is going to happen to any one of us. Heck, his hour and a half commute daily is probably more dangerous. Well, maybe not quite, but it makes me feel better to think that.

Tonight, Saturday, (third shift always has my days screwed up) is the Daddy/Daughter Ball in Bushnell. Ashtyn, Brent, and I had a great time picking out a dress and accessories for Ashtyn last Sunday. Yes, I made Brent go shopping on Super Bowl Sunday, but it was early and I think, whether he wants to admit it or not, he had a good time. Any day with a fresh cinnamon pretzel and cookies for lunch is a good day by me.

I also found a dress to wear for the wedding. Nothing fancy, but I guess everyone deserves to feel like a million bucks on their wedding day, even if it is at the courthouse. As I've said before, it's not the wedding that matters, but what you do with all the time afterwards that counts. And I'm looking forward to every second of it!!!

"Girly Toughness"

So, a few minutes ago I get a message from Brent on my Blackberry that he had checked my blog and it made him lol. He said that the title and picture were great. I'm sure glad he thought so. I was a little apprehensive. I had chosen what I thought was a "girly" layout and then there I went putting a picture like that on it.

When we first discussed the blogging thing Brent wenr with his title of "A Soldier's Story," which to me sounds deep and poetic. It gives me goosebumps just typing it. He had suggested that I join to keep him informed of life at home and could use something to the effect of "Life of a Soldier's Wife." This was actually the title of my blog for the first few days. But, other than the fact that I giggle at getting to call myself his wife, the title didn't work for me. It took me a few days to figure out that it was just too simplistic for me. I was so much more than that.

Now, I'm not saying there is anything wrong with "just" being an Army wife. There is no "just" to it. But, I am so NOT that way. And maybe it's me looking at the all too perfect movie type military officer's wife, dutifully taking care of the other wives, raising perfect children, and just being so brave and stoic. I know that this version of person only exists in movies. Because the reality is that real life happens to mess that all up.

But, other than the fact that I do not live on a base and have no other wives to take care of, I also live such a non-traditional life. While we were on the cruise we met a couple and were discussing Brent's pending deployment. (It came up a lot, mainly because I am so proud of him. You'd think I'd know better since I hate being introduced as Micca, the cop.) At one point the conversation turned to my occupation. I explained what I do. The woman looked at me and said, "And you're worried about him?" That really got me thinking.

Every night Brent gives me a kiss good bye and sends me out into the night not knowing if I'll make it back. Now, we don't live in Chicago or New York City, but things DO happen, even in Tazewell county. And, generally, the most dangerous part of Brent's work right now is the hour and a half commute every day. (I've taken the "drive careful" speech to a new level, just ask him.) I guess I just never paid that much attention to how what I've chosen to do for a career affects my love interests.

My position has always been, this is what I do. If you can't handle it, too bad. And that's why Brent and I have gotten along so well. I understand that he loves the military. Maybe not every little thing that goes on, but over all, it's what he Needs to do to make him happy. And he understands the same about me. So, while I'm not happy about him leaving, I understand that this is the oppurtunity to do the 1% that keeps us going in our professions.

All right, back to the "girly toughness." I guess it's to prove that I'm just that. Complicated. And I don't think Brent would have it any other way.

Starting out

Well, everyone says that this blog thing is the way to go, especially when there are thoughts crowding your head. So, here's my deal...

I'm helping my five year old son do his bedtime routine and am dreading the thought of leaving for work in 2.5 hours. I really enjoy the extra time that 3rd shift allows me with my family, but I dread walking out into the cold, lol.

I guess maybe this sharing of my thoughts will get easier as the time goes on. Right now my time is occupied with getting to spend time with my soon-to-be stepchildren, dreading Brent's deployment and trying to get everything straightened out so his absence will go as smoothly as possible. I've never had to deal with this issue before, so it's a little overwhelming. I never thought that 5 days after my wedding I would have to say goodbye to my husband for over a year.

But, I knew the possibility going in. He supports my law enforcement career and I know he loves the career he chose as well. I guess I just hoped we could make it to his retirement without him leaving. Wishful thinking, I know.