I feel like a sponge.....

Wow...I think my brain is approaching information overlood. What a busy weekend. Between my dad going into the hospital, my brother dealing with a death on his fiance's side of the family, to going to the big FRG meeting, I am pooped!!
My dad is ok...it was just a little scary because the same day they let him out, he had to go back. He is home now and doing fine. He is the last man I would picture in the hospital, he won't even take tylenol.
My brother and his fiance are doing well. It was a long illness for her aunt, so the family was as prepared as they could be, considering.
As for the FRG meeting, it was great! Meeting all the other wives, well a handful anyway, and becoming part of this deployment even more is comforting. I am an even bigger fan of Military Onesource. What a great source of information and help. From plumbing questions to financial problems, to childcare...it truly is a one source of information.
Jeff and I have communicated through the webcam finally. Its like we really get to visit, a little! We can talk to each other most of the time over the internet..so its really cool to do both.
I'm glad February is winding down..that means two months under our belts...only 7 or so to go.... maybe. I have learned my lesson with the military. You never know. But hey, what ya gonna do?

First FRG meeting....

Well, this morning we are on our way to the first FRG meeting. The first thing I plan to ask about is whether or not everyone else thinks Tricare stinks like I do. I have had the worst experience with this whole insurance change. Maybe it was just my bad luck, but the first primary care physician we were assigned turned out to be horrible so I requested a change. They approved the change right away, but now we have to start the whole process over. And that means waiting a month for the first appointment to get everthing set up so all the referrals can be made, again. So as of right now, I can't do anything. I can even see the doctor I have seen for five years because I don't have a referral. Everyone I have talked with about Tricare has not had great things to say about the coverage.
I understand that we are not close enough to a military post or base so things are a little different and there are a few more hoops to jump through. But, JEEZ, its hard enough for your spouse to be deployed, why does the insurance have to be difficult as well. I guess I just don't understand why your family is expected to make all these sacrifices and changes, and rightfully so because it comes with territory. So, why can the insurance be better and less confusing? The insurance is completely manageable, I guess I just thought that after almost five months of activation this would all be worked out. We will get it straight. Who knows? Maybe I will figure it all out before he gets home?? HA!!
Hopefully today I will receive some tips and advice from people who have been through this numerous times. I guess I am just a novice at the deployment. It is so much better now that we have settled into a routine. So far nothing has happened that I can't handle. I guess I shouldn't speak so soon. Some car trouble, garage roof leaking, and impending puberty.
Only thing about the car trouble is finding a ride when your car is being fixed. We live about 45 minutes outside of the city, so it can be a little tricky. Thankfully I have really good friends that don't mind driving out to the "boondocks." (Thanks Les) As for the garage, we have made our first insurance claim on our house, (thanks Hurricane Katrina) and after the deductible we have, oh, about $39 to fix the problem. Yeah, very helpful!
As for puberty, having a 12 year old in the house is quite interesting. Especially when you have had a crash course in parenting over the past two years. The little one is my stepdaughter, she lives with us full time. So, before Jeff left I had about a year and a half of being a new parent. I am so lucky to have her around. She is an amazing child that always teaches me something. We have had no problems adjusting to each other. In fact, I think she was craving some female guidance. Don't get me wrong, Jeff has done a wonderful job. It has just been the two of them for several years. She got a double whammie having a Dad that is a police officer and in the Army. But when it comes to learning to shave legs, crushes, and all the other girly stuff, I think I arrived just in time!! I fell in love with both of them. As I tell his Mom all the time, I needed them as much as they needed me. So, I look at this time with her as a great chance for us to get to know each other even more. This will be our chance to really get comfortable and become even better friends. So far so good! Thank goodness she is still into Care Bears and playing kickball with the neighborhood kids!

One month down...

I can't believe January is over. It seems like it went by fast, but it seems like Jeff has been gone forever. It gets better each day though. We sort of have a phone call schedule. We usually get to talk every other day and I get an email from him almost every day. Although I haven't heard from him in a few days now...but that's to be expected.
He has sent me close to 50 pictures. I've started arranging and labeling them in an album. He gets hairier and hairier in each new picture!! They have adopted a new kitty...ComoCat. Its a little orange kitty that showed up and never left. Jeff said that back home none of these guys probably even liked cats, but almost everyone takes care this kitty.
Its superbowl Sunday...I tried to get into the game, but I don't really like football, so there you go. College basketball I love, so I am really looking foward to March. Football always makes me think of Jeff anyway. He said they were going to try to watch it, but who knows.
I'm going to my first FRG meeting in a couple of weeks. I guess I am excited, if thats the right word. Mostly curious. Its hard to get excited about a five hour drive on my only day off that week. But I think it will be good to meet other families that are dealing with this deployment.
Jeff has finally gotten the mail I sent him. I sent a package of magazines, a local newspaper, and other stuff that I knew he would want to read. The mail goes to Bagram first and then to their location, but you never know when a plane can get to where he is. So this whole mail thing might not be that great.
Another thing is that he erased all the music on his ipod, accidently of course. So I am in the process of burning all the music we have and sending several, to say the least, cds his way. We had just talked about how he is so glad to have that music with him because he said it really helps him when he is missing home. We will get it straight somehow.
Just getting ready for another week. Planning a trip to Memphis this weekend, should be fun. Anything to make the time go by faster. You hear all your life to slow down and enjoy the moment, that time will fly by and then you will wonder where it all went....I don't really give a hoot about that right now. I just want my husband back.