Army Wife's Journal

10:44:36 PM EDT
Feeling Hopeful

After spending some time at Walter Reed Medical Center, Curt is finally home and healing.  He is currently on Convalescent leave and is planning on returning to Iraq when he is all healed up. 

I know he wants to go back, cause he feels he has a duty, but I know that his injuries will prevent him from doing so.  He suffered a lacerated liver, diaphragm and a spleen removal.  He also injured his lungs and broke some ribs.  His recovery has been long but the outlook is good. 

His spirits are hopeful, but dealing with what happened seems to have taken a bigger toll then even I could have imagined. 

He received a purple heart at bedside while In Iraq still but will have a ceremony when his unit arrives back.  My prayers are with all the brave men and women still over there, and also with those still wounded and recovering at Walter Reed.

Being there was a real Eye opener, all the casualties of this war were forced on me.  I haven't seen anything in the media and I was unaware of the extent of the injuries.  All these brave soldiers none, hostile, all grateful for their service.  This true heroes make a sacrifice, although they didn't pay the price with their life, they still paid a price.

The injuries I saw, were life changing, and If it were me, I would just want to give up and waste away.  But these men, were fighting the fight and making the most of it.  I am proud of you!  Lets not forget these soldiers and this Veteran's day, send them a thank you!

 

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4:17:10 AM EST
Feeling Worried

I am saddened to report that my Hero suffered a gun shot wound to the chest that resulted in a lacerated spleen that was repaired by the great surgeons of the 10th mountain combat surgical team in Iraq.  He is in critical but stable condition as of yesterday.  I expect him home hopefully by next week.  We don't know if he is going to Walter Reed or back to FT. Campbell.  But I am praying for a quick recovery and I am thankful to the Lord that he was watching over him. 

My husband's company has lost 10 soldiers since arriving in Iraq in October and I feel for those families.  I can't help but feel I was speared that agony,  but I assure you this situation is gut wrenching and not easy to deal with.  I just want him home!  I will continue to pray for those still left fighting and I will pray for the strength to cope with what's ahead.

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11:43:22 PM EST
Feeling Worried

Christmas time is coming around the corner and instead of being worried about last minute shopping and mall traffic, Here I sit worried about my man.  I worry every day and even though I try to tell others to not worry, I find my self doing the same thing. 

Seems like a lot like last year!  I can't believe I am spending another Christmas worried and alone.  The sacrifice Curt made last year seemed noble; this year it seems ludicrous.  But still i stand in support of his decisions and his chosen profession.  I am after all a loyal army wife.  I intend to honor my commitment and I intend to keep my soldiers sprints up in this season of giving.  After all this is the celebration of our Lord's birth and his sacrifice.  So I stand in support of our troops their sacrifice and i honor them. 

Seems like this week was one of those weeks, i didn't hear from Curt for 8 days and man was it a week from you know where.  I just couldnt focus, I am glad I didn't have any important decisions to make this week, casue man was my head messed up. I had a hard time deciding if i wanted surgar in my cup o joe.  I can't imaigine making any life changing moves this week.

I think I have been bummed casue I'll be spending my thrid birthday in a row alone.  No Curt.  This one is the big 35 and man do i need a drink from the fountain of youth.  I think these deployments are taking a toll on my youthful appearance, although I am sure that would have happened anyways and I am just using it as an excuse!  But boo hoo cry me a river!  ill just have to deal!  Well over and out time for bedy bye

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6:42:02 PM EST
Feeling Hopeful

Missing my soldier is got to be the hardest thing I have ever experienced.  When Curt left for Iraq last year, I didn't know how I was going to make it thru, but somehow I did.  When he came home I was so happy, but then things suddenly took a turn for the worse, when he decided that he was going to pre sue this Army thing full time.

Months of frustration dealing with Army green tape and months of wait and see about where our life would take us, finally materialized to the move to Kentucky and the 101st.  Just as the stress of the move, waiting for our stuff for three weeks and settling in.  We contended with long hours, overnight training and weekend duty to prepare for the unit's deployment to Iraq in October.

Just when things started to feel like everyday life, Curt leaves and here I am alone and writing to myself.  Funny how things work out!  Well, I find that not working is not helping,  seems to add 8 hours of unoccupied time to my day to feel alone and sad.  So I have decided to go back to work and stop feeling so alone. 

I think that by working it will give me more joy and less time feeling lonely and worried about Curt and his situation.  Since we lost four great soldiers this month and I had to attend my 3rd funeral in a year, it seems only right to appreciate life and make the most of it!

Well I am going to be a trooper and a real Gator's wife and stand tall and proud and just be grateful that I am his wife and not his widow!

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12:45:38 AM EDT
Feeling Hopeful

Well it's been two weeks now since Curt left for his second deployment to Iraq.  Seems like only yesterday since we he came home.  The six months we had together were stressful and kaotic.  I wish we had it to do all over again.  No looking back now. 

He called this morning seems in good sprits and we are already counting down the days and months till he comes home for a two week leave.  He's proud to be a screaming eagle and I am proud to be here at Ft. Campbell!

I will start updating this journal and in the days and weeks to come, share with me, cry with me and laugh with me!

priscilla

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3:39:43 PM EDT
Feeling Hopeful

Well we seem to be all moved into our home here in Kentucky.  I haven't seen much of Curt in the past weeks, seems this deployment coming up is taking up alot of his time.  From training to SRP he is getting home late and leaving before the sun rises on the East Coast.  I have occupied my time with cleaning and reading.  I have regestered for college and I am detirmed to get my degree this year. 

I seem to be feeling better from my car accident.  I am still sore and I am starting phyiscal therpy tommorow.  Hopefully our car will be repaired soon, they almost totaled it! 

The children are adjusting well and love their schools.  Seems they are making friends and keeping busy!  I think that they want to start some sports so I hope the car gets fixed so that I can start taking them to football practice. 

Well I seem to have alot of free time lately so I guess I'll be updating my jounal pretty much daily!  So stay tunned!

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12:13:07 PM EDT
Feeling Happy

Well it's been a long time since I updated this thing.  Feels like forever!  Alot has changed since the begaining of the year.  Once Curt got home he almost immdeditly started missing the Army life.  He decided to leave the National Guard and go Active duty Army.  It was a long process full of goverment red tape but fiannly in July he recieved his orders that sent him to Ft. Campbell KY, home of the Screaming Eagles and the 101st airborne! We arrived in Late July and just the other day recieved our stuff from California.  Main the those goverment moves are a bitch.  We are all seattled in now and Curt is having a blast.

We found out days after arriving here at Campbell that the 101st is leaving for Iraq in Sept-November.  Funny how things work out.  So Curt is on his way to his second tour in Iraq this September.  I have hardly seen him since we got here due to thier training schudle. 

Last Saturday we were in a car accident.  I was picking him up early Saturday morning at 0600 and we were struck head on a buy a drunk driver.  I am banged up pretty bad, but Curt seems fine.  I start phyiscal therpy next week and hope to fully recover soon, so that I may go back to work.

Well I keep posting as I seem to have alot of time on my hands lately!

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6:03:55 PM EST
Feeling Happy

Well as you can guess, Curt is back home safe and sound.  It was a long journey and we are glad that it has had a happy ending.  He arrived Tuesday as planned and we welcomed him home Crawford style.  We celberated by going to dinner at the Old Speggitti Factory and of course couldn't wait to get home.

Well I am exusted and worn out.  This week has been long and I think we have offically caught up!  Curt came home to find a new bird and a new lizzard, the dog had a surprise too, she didnt remember him!  She seems to be kissing up nicely and is well on her way to winning his heart..

The children are are adusting to having the "dad" around and it will be some time before he gets used to our routines.  But all and all, things are going well, no big fights yet and we are still in that honeymoon stage.

Thanks for all the support and I hope to keep my journal up to date, as we are headed to Ft. Bragg soon.  Seems Miltary life wasnt all that bad, as the crazy fool wants to go active duty army!  So guess i Need to start a new journal!

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2:01:01 AM EST
Feeling Frustrated

 

Curt landed safely at Ft. Lewis on Tuesday and has been busy with breifings and heath screenings since that time.  I have only talked to him breifly since, but he sounds tired, he is jet lagged, wants a hot shower to himself, wants to lay in a bed not a cot and wants something to eat besides junk cafiteria style food and taco hell or burger king. I know the Army thinks the guys need to have time to decompress but I can tell that what he really wants is to come home!  He told me today that guys are getting edgy and he thought that things were going to get worse pretty soon, if they didn't get home soon.  The final stretch seems to be the hardest of all.  It seems that these final days are not just filled with unknows and windy roads that we have never traveled, but they are filled with the typical goverenment red tape that many of us Red Blooded Americans have become accostome too.  Being a civlian first and becoming a military family second, I almost feel like sometimes I am in a forgien country, where no one speaks my language and all the signs are in a greek!  The way they do things is different then I am used too.  I want answers and all I ever get is more questions.

I considered myself a deployment survior and with the 100's of emails I have gotten asking me for advice and insight, I often felt I should write a book about it.  This final test is really just to make me crazy, I am convienced.  It's the perverbaly carrot and the jackass! Which one am I do you think?

So here I wait for news as to when he can come home, 12 hours away by car, 2 by plane and yet I feel he still is thousands of miles away;  So close but so far.  I hope the next couple of days goes by fast and furious casue before long you may see me parking my car in the short term parking lot and heading to Washington state to see my man.  I have never been a patient person when it comes to the things I want, so I  say, why spoil a good track record now!

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8:47:27 PM EST
Feeling Happy

 

The one thing this deployment has taught me that will stand out most of all; is that I can truly only count of one person!  My self. In reflection I started out a weak, whining and always finding the glass half empty kind of person and have matured into a person who is strong and resourcefull.  I have become less critcal of my self and others, less judgemental and more forgiving.  People are funny creatures they don't always do or say the right thing, they are often hurtful, spiteful, or vendictive, they can be petty and hypacritical, and often amuzing.  With all these faults I find one quality in people that has surprised me!  The willingness of strangers to come to ones aid.  With my own personal endevours I have counted on the generousity of complete strangers and neighbors to help me with my welcome home project.  The funds are coming in slowly, but are in fact coming in.  I then relize that there are 150 thousand troops still serving in Iraq and many more in Afganistan.  These soldiers still fighting the fight will still need a voice and need the same support that I bestowed on my husband and his fellow soldiers.

Therefore I have decided to continue my support to soldiers still serving and somehow help in any way possiable.  Just becasue my husband landed safely today in Washington state and is awaiting his turn to come home, dose not mean my job is over.  I am and always will be a loyalarmywife, but now we are a loyal american family!

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