Time to Play Catch Up!!

what was left of my cake.....
RK....poor girl looks more like her daddy every day
loves.....but i have to wonder why stacy lets her daughter tan....

surprise to me!!!
Good eating...l to r: steph, aunt kevin, tracy, me, amber, and stacy
Elijah having his first bitter biscuit....he loves those things!!
Kale playing in the sprinkler....
using it as a water fountain

So the last time I left you on the Brietz saga it was about to be my birthday. My sis in law and my bff Tracy arranged a dinner for me. I was lured there under false pretenses and forced to have a good time, charges are pending. We all ate til we popped and had a great time visiting. We listened to the convo going on at the next table and learned those guys took every cheerleader at their school to prom, think revenge of the nerds....it was funny guess you just had to be there. OK all of that was on Tuesday night. Wednesday nothing much happened just a typical day. Thursday was my 27th birthday......I know what you are thinking you don't look a day over 25-I know I look good and without Botox :) We hippos are just good like that, I'm quite sure its all of the mud baths. As many of you may or may not know my birthday is a bittersweet day. My best friend Jane passed away 7/24/99, yes that is right my 18th brithday. Not a day goes by that I don't think of her and on this day it just doubles. As usual her mom called to wish me a happy birthday and we talked about Jane and cried as we normally do. In a way I think she feels guilty for Jane passing on my birthday, but its something that was out of their control. I look at it like this, I think it is a way that we will always be connected. I know there are days that I don't get through the day without her pushing me......I know you are thinking psycho, but I feel her presence all of the time. Like when I smell her perfume, or hear a certain song.........I miss her so much!!! I wish she were here. I know I will see her again some day. Today the boys and I hung out at the house. Stacy and the kids came by for a visit and we watched as RK and Elijah checked each other out. They are so funny, not to mention the fact they look like ebony and ivory-the picture will explain it all. This evening the boys and I loaded up and went to mama shelia and papa joey's house. They always have a great time out there and I tell you I needed this visit with them. They are so awesome to me!!! They are second parents when I need a kick in the ass and best friends when I need to talk-I am very blessed to have them and their family in my life. We ate and ate and then talked and then ate. I tell you next week I am going back to good eating habits and to tae-bo......I dread it but I have gained 3 pounds since Blake left and it stops here!!!!! Anywho that is what has been going on with me.....oh wait back to my birthday. OK all night we had been telling Kale to come eat some cake. So I was getting Elijah ready for his bath when I hear a crash in the kitchen. I run to see what is going on and Kale had thrown the white cake in the floor :( I didn't know whether to laugh or cry so I just laughed......he came and got some cake alright. Ok so now for some pics. Blake I miss you and love you!!! Come home soon!!!

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Pictures from today!!

elijah showing off his spidey pj's
keelee jo.....adorable
this is such a good picture........if mom would only learn to keep her eyes open!
don't know what i am saying but steph is looking at me like i am stupid
kale and granny's self portrait

Back from my little hiatus.........

Well the boys and I haven't been doing too much since my last blog. Long story short, we are staying in Arkansas for now :( I am trying to take it in stride and tell myself everything fell apart for a reason. I find myself repeating, I am where God wants me to be.....some days it works and some days not so much. Blake is doing ok. Just real tired from being spread so thin at work. Gosh I miss him!!! Yesterday Mom came up to stay the night and visit with us. While she was here I took advantage and went to town for my weekly trip. I got my nails did and also stopped and got some goodies to send to Iraq to Blake, his roomie, and our adopt a soldier. If you haven't adopted one yet please visit adoptaussoldier.org and get one. All you do is register and then in a couple of days they send you a soldiers name and address. I mean come on it is the least we can do, plus if you go to the post office and let them know you are sending it to a soldier in Iraq they will cut you a deal.....you think you are hot in Arkansas heat, Blake told me it has been 115 during the day there. Anywho.......I got back from my weekly excursion and packed boxes and played with the boys. Daddy got here shortly after that and we just all kind of sat around and chilled. Today we all went to Memaw's house for Little Granny's 98th, yes that's right I said 98th, birthday. We all had a good time getting caught up on everyone's lives, cause we know mine is EXCITING and everyone wants to know about it. Aunt Mary, Memaw's sister, and her daughter Beth got to come up from Alabama. They haven't been here in a good long while. We all sat around talking and doing what we do best, eating. I finally got to meet Steph's baby girl Keelee Jo, I hope I spelled it right. I must say she told me that I am her very favorite, can you blame her. So while there we took advantage of the oportunity and took some 5 generation pictures. Granted mom either looks drunk or high in ours, but we took them anyway. While we were there Kale showed off his walking and Elijah did the whole cute baby thing. I must say I am a little worried about my oldest bro. He hasn't been feeling too well and I hope he takes mom's advice and just takes it easy for a few days, he deserves it. I mean health first, no matter what. I know that when Blake is sick I take the kids and close him up in the room so that he can rest.....rest can do a sickly person alot of good. I cancel all plans, like I ever have any, and just tend to him and the boys. True some people may say I baby him, but he returns the favor. I can't tell you how many times he has taken care of me. When I was pregnant with Elijah and would be ordered to rest he did everything in his power to make me rest, even got up with Kale and let me sleep. We take care of each other like that and that is one of the things I love most about our marriage. Anyhow hopefully Christopher will get to feeling better soon and hopefully all he needs is some good relaxing rest. Anywho I will get to posting pictures from today and all that jazz. Blake stay safe and get some rest. The boys and I miss you so very very much!!!!

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Short and Sweet

I only got 2 hours of sleep last night and my eyes hurt from studying so this is going to be short and sweet. Today sucked ass. I got my feelings hurt and said that I did and then it went to shit from there. It's like it is an unspoken rule that I have to be the strong one. Its days like today that I am left thinking what if I need holding up every once in a while.......that doesn't mean that it is woe is me that is me saying I am human. I know I am super hippo and all but even I need help sometimes. I am going to bed early tonight, I know sad that 2300 is early, but it is, and I will hope and pray that tomorrow is better. Stay safe Blake!!! 143

The journey continues...

part 2
so, last I left you, I was in the Nova Scotia wanna-be land of NEWFOUNDLAND. (yes, they all speak in ALLCAPS over there. it's for dramatic "army wives" effect, you know.)

an aside if you will - every FRG's favorite show, "army wives" is often close to army reality, yet often strays away from it and does things for dramatic effect that I think are hilarious. Yes, my wife makes me watch, but she'll deny it.

So, we fly from there to Iceland of all places. I slept through that whole ordeal, but i remember people bitching because it is, get this, illegal to smoke ciggarettes there! WTF?
I ain't sure, but who cares, right?

Now the long leg of the flight. Next stop, Hungary's Buddapest Int. Airport. All the guys agreed after seeing the local women the name should be changed to bootyfest. That freaking place was some kind of expensive! For a apple dessert looking thing and a ginger ale, it was $10.00!
The exchange rate was $1 for 140 (whatever hungarian monopoly money is called).
THEN add the city mall like inflation. How do they buy anything in that place?

After the short layover, we head for "hot-ass" Kuwait. We touch down in Ali Al-Salem and move our bags from bus to bus to bus to truck to bus to bus with no rest, food, anything. (never mind the long-ass bus ride in which I was an armed escort) I throw my back out in the process of all of this. We get there, get a lame-ass brief that doesnt apply to us, then we think we are gonna get our beds. WRONG. We get shiped to Camp Virginia, AKA The Sandbox that sucks! Everything is a good 5 minutes of walking away, except the porta-johns and the showers. Thank God! While I think this place sucks, I will be proven wrong by BALAD, which doesnt have half the facilities of Virginia OR Ali Al-Salem. I paid 5 bucks an hour (!) for internet and didn't bitch like I did once I seen the free lines in JBB (for short)

I am gonna stop this part of the journey leaving you in Camp Virginia, awaiting the orders for Ali Al-salem and the next stop of JBB.

Thats all for now!
love,
Blake

Happy Anniversary to Me and Blake!!!

So today was our 1 year anniversary. I was an emotional wreck all day long. It sucks being so far apart, and it adds to it to think that you won't be able to celebrate together until your 3rd. BUT I didn't let that keep me down for long, after all my boys need me! So today the boys and I went to see Memaw and Little Granny. Elijah talked up a storm, while Kale walked all over the house. So when I get home Heather calls and said that the ladies at the FRG meeting were saying that I didn't need to move into the house we were offered because it was small....tuna can small. So Heather, being the AWESOME person she is, drives over to check it out for me. She gets there to find the house empty and unlocked so she being the rebel she is let herself in. Well lets just say that I am calling the housing people on Monday and telling them I don't want it. I am going to stick to my guns that I want in patriot estates and that is that. If I have to wait a little longer so be it. SGT Mims knows what is going on and how much trouble I have had and he is going to help me out. HOPEFULLY it will work out. Other than that I just wrote out some bills and played with the boys. I put off cleaning yet again, but I will finish it up tomorrow. Well I guess that is about it. Blake if you are reading this HAPPY ANNIVERSARY once again!! I miss you!!! Stay safe!!! 143

So, how have I been? The other half speaks!

part 1
I'll try to fill in the blanks from that fateful day of 1 July 08 until now. It has been a long journey until now. I flew from Lawton, OK to some Podunk town in Illinois. We landed there and the layover was about 2 hours. all I remember was that the can cokes in the machine cost 50 cents. SWEET! From there, we went to NEWFOUNDLAND?! (did i spell it right?) It is pronounced "new fin lind" i think, and it is really pretty! They have alot duck hunting inspired town names like Goose Bay (where we were) and Labrador. There wasn't crap at the landing strip but a small office, but i remember the grey overcast sky, the long rows of trees on the horizon, and the greenest grass I have ever seen. I want to take Lin there for a second honeymoon or vacation. The might not be alot there, but I think i could come up with things to do (and places to do them).
More Later.
My time is up :-(

My Brain Hurts

Well today was full of imformation and its all stuffed into my head...making it hurt. Bright and early this morning I called the housing office once again, ready to give them a piece of my mind. To my shock we got an offer on a house!!! I about had a heart attack right then and there!!! We move in on or before August 1st. Get ready Heather I'm coming back to you!!!! haha So now that the housing situation is settled all I have to do is get the boys, me, our clothes, and their toys out there. It will be hard and stressfull, but I fully believe it will be worth it. Kale will start school on August 15th and I am so excited. They did such an awesome job with him the past school year I can't wait to see what this year has in store for him. I am on my way to achieving my goal of having the housing set up and running smoothly for Blake when he returns. That is the one thing I want to do for him. I know you think it sounds small, but when you come back from over there it takes you a little bit to get into the swing of things. So, I am thinking, if all he has to do it walk through the door and sit on the couch that will make the transition on him easier. Honestly, its the least that I can do. I am excited to go back. I have started making friends out there!! The once absent from my life FRG has come through big time. They really are showing me that it truly is a support system.....afterall we are all going through the same thing. I will be honest I am a little scared about going back there, but I am going to take this leap of faith. I am going to trust my gut, trust myself, and most of all trust the Lord. I know I can do this. I still have those days where I think I won't make it, but I know I can......I'm a fighter!! Anyone who knows the story of me and Blake knows I am a fighter. So now that the housing seems to be straightened out I am allowing myself to be cautiously optimistic. After all I know how the Army can be, things can change at the last minute. Having Blake's support in all of this helps more than I can say. He keeps telling me I trust whatever decision you make. I can't help but feel if I do this and fall flat on my ass he will still love me. I'm not so sure that Fort Sill is ready for both Heather and I, but they better get ready cause here we come :) That out of they way.....Can someone please tell me why we have 5 million dollars worth of toys and my kids want to play with pringle cans??? I swear I didn't do crack while I was pregnant with any of them haha I say they got it from their daddys. I have learned that my Medical Terminology class is going to be HARD!! My teacher grades HARD!! I hope I can do it!! Well other than that things were pretty normal today.....I didn't get to talk to Blake for very long which makes me sad, but at least I know he is ok! On a sadder note...My friend Elida, she was my very first Army Wife friend, had her baby 3 months ago and he wasn't due until this month. He came home about 3 weeks ago I guess and was doing great! She returned home from work this morning and went to check on him and we had passed away in his sleep. They don't really know what happened. I am guessing with as small and premature as he was that maybe it was SIDS.....But that is just me guessing. So when you say your prayers tonight please send up a special one for Elida and Gene Martiny. They live in Ft. Gordon, Georgia right now. She has been so good to me and helped me through my crazy pregnant days. I can't even imagine loosing a child and I don't know how to help her other than to be here to listen and to pray for her. Well I guess that is about it. I'm going to fold clothes and then off to bed. Blake stay safe!!! The boys miss you and love you!!! 143

Just Another Ordinary Day

Today was just another ordiary day. Another day of calling housing at Fort Sill only to have them not call me back. Seems like we will never get a house on post. I just want to get a house on post before Blake returns. Kale is walking more and more every day and is even trying to go from a sitting position on the floor to standing up. YAY!!! Go Kale!!! Elijah is just babbling away and rolling over more. People have told me that he is starting to look like me more, but honestly I just don't see it. It has rained almost all day today which made me want to sleep in, but the boys had other plans. A clap of thunder around 0600 woke them both. Sleeping in is just not what life has in store for me....oh well. Seems that a couple of my blogs have ruffeled a few feathers and that is not what I am trying to do. I am just trying to get my thoughts out so that my mind isn't racing when I try to lay down and rest. Actually it seems to be helping a little. I got to chat with Blake for a little bit today and he is doing ok. They changed his job, which we both knew could happen. It is a job with more responsibilty and a potential to advance him in ranks. I know he will do a wonderfull job. I know I am biased, but he is so detail orientented that I think this suits him. He's not like me with fly by the seat of your pants, he pays very close attention to detail. We balance each other out nicely. While the boys napped today I looked through some of our chat logs from his last deployment. Hard to believe it has been 2 years since we started on our journey. Reading through those made me fall for him all over again in a sense. I realized yet again how far we have come and how many obstacles we have faced, but we have made it this far and will continue to make it. Yes before you ask I should have been studying, but oh well it was fun none the less. I keep trying to think of a creative anniversary present for him. I know the first anniversary is suppose to be paper, traditionaly, but I just don't know what to do. I am thinking about making a scrapbook of things that are going on with the kids while he is gone, but that won't be finished for some time. I thought about sending him Charmin, but I didn't know if he would see the humor.....I don't know that men know that the 1st anniversary is suppose to be paper. I will just be happy that he remembers :) If anyone has any creative ideas let me know. I got down today when I was thinking about our anniversary. I realized that we won't be together for our 1st or 2nd.....but then I thought maybe for our 3rd we could take a trip-just us. It makes me laugh when I think about anniversary presents. In the past I always said I would never get married. I never thought I would meet someone that I would actually want to spend the rest of my life with. I thought that would be boring. Man was I wrong. I was blessed enough to find my better half. He balances me out in so many ways. Yes, we have our "discussions" but who doesn't. I will admit I tend to remind him that I have admitted I was wrong twice, so far, since we have been together.....hey ya gotta start somewhere right?? I truly believe that I am one of the luckiest, most blessed people on Earth. I have 2 handsome boys and a beautiful step-daughter and a wonderful husband...not to mention a great family all the way around. Yes, they get on my nerves at times, but I love them anyway. My friends, they aren't too shabby either haha Seriously my friends are AWESOME! Well I guess I will stop blabbing and go get my butt in the shower. Hope everyone had a good day. Blake, if you read this I miss you and stay safe......143

Exhaustion

Well today was ok I guess-just a normal day. I played with the boys, did a little cleaning, and the went to Aunt Jamie's for dinner. I learned a couple of days ago from Blake that I have a reputation with the Army guys. I'm the mean Army Wife. I will admitt I can be a bitch, but only when provoked. I can be your best friend or worst enemy; the choice is yours. So far he has been asked why he married me and is he going to cheat on me while he is over there. hhhmmmmmm All I have to say is that I do trust him, but I hate that he is surrounded by guys that put that garbage in his head. I mean for once I have done nothing to them. Hell I took up for one of the guys that has said this stuff, see if I take up for him again. Stupid me I thought they had better things to do in Iraq than this stupid High School crap!!! And about the cheating, all I have to say is-Power of Attorney :) I just don't appreciate people saying shit about me when they don't even know me. Normally I wouldn't care, but these are the guys that are suppose to have my husband's back. A few weeks ago Blake and I were talking about a similar situation when I told him something along the lines of I want to meet just one Army person that isn't the stereotype drama filled, shit starter. Lo and behold I did.......Nik and Heather aren't like that. But they are the only ones that I know of, so far......uuugggghhhhh and I thought getting out of the ER would stop the stupid drama-silly me. Well that is my rant for the day. I am going to try and get some rest while I have the chance-the boys will be up soon cause they can't be letting mom get too much sleep...........143

I Can't Think of a Catchy Title

Well nothing much happened today. The boys and I got up this morning and got packed and came up to the house in Cherokee Village, our home until further notice. On the way up here Blake called, which was AWESOME!!!! That is only the second time I have heard his voice since he left. He said one of the guys asked him why he married me. Blake puzzled said why do you ask that and the guy said she is mean isn't she. haha Me??? Mean??? I am the nicest person you will ever meet until you piss me off. That's how good I am, I have a reputation half way around the world haha Blake said he thought he had me mixed up with another wife. Oh well, let them think what they want, doesn't bother me. The way I look at it is if they are saying that about me then they are giving someone else a break haha Even though we are here in Cherokee and getting settled in I still have some unpacking to do. I have been living out of a suitcase for almost 4 weeks and it feels good to be able to put my clothes in drawers again. Well that is about all for now.....I'm exhausted, the boys didn't let me sleep much last night only about 3 hours. More later..........I miss you Blakeapotamus 143 Stay safe!!!

Scedule....WTF is That??

So today was a lonely day for me for some reason. The day started early as usual for me. And around mom and dads house that usually means with a good bickering. I wake up to tell mom happy birthday to which she replies with a yell about something not being done right......I look at dad and say well this is going to be a fun day and he just laughed. So we get ready to go out to Chris and Stacy's for a get together to celebrate mom's birthday...........I got the boys ready and sat down at the computer, where much to my delite Blake was online!!! YAY!!!! Of course all of the fussing that was going on was making me miss him even more!!! We just had our normal talk and of course as we were saying our goodbyes I started to tear up. I started crying for no reason at all. I was missing him, Oklahoma, stressed out, and tired of being told how to live my life.....so of course mom walks in and sees me crying and asked me what was wrong. I told her nothing and of course she pressed and pressed on and I said nothing I was just missing Blake and worried about him......for some reason this set her off. She went on about how I just needed to get over it...............I understand I need to get the kids in a routine, but last time I checked my husband was in a war zone. Excuse the hell out of me for being a little emotional......so needless to say that pissed me off. That is one of the main reasons I want to move back to OK, people there know what you are going through they don't here, and plus I feel closer to Blake there. I know its noone's fault that they can't relate to me, but hells bells let me be emotional if I need to be. I thought we would be in the house in Cherokee Village by now, but things keep getting in the way. I am so ready to get the kids settled and get in a routine, after all the have been drug around enough. Hopefully tomorrow morning we will head up there and see what we can do about a routine. Today was just a pissy day all around and Elijah is becoming impossible to get to sleep at night. He is use to his daddy putting him to bed, he has been screaming for 2 hours straight and now he is in his bed screaming......I'm about to pull my hair out I don't know what to do for him. Well I guess that is about it.....hopefully tomorrow will be a better day than today.......I will try not to cry so I don't offend anybody......143

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!

So not much happened today.....I agree with Stacy. This is the first time in my life that I have done nothing for the fourth of july. With Blake being gone I think it would have been too emotional for me. Plus mom worked and with Little Granny being in the hospital this week, I didn't think they would be up for company. I tried to get Kale and Elijah to do some sparkelers but they weren't interested.......hhhmmmm maybe they would have preferred bottle rockets. I got to chat with Blake online twice today, and Elijah even got to see him on web cam. I am going to have to try harder to get both he and Kale on a schedule and stick to it or I will end up pulling my hair out. I am starting to work through my daze and see the light at the end of the tunnel.....I know there will be hard days ahead, but I must keep on trucking for my boys' sake. Well that is about all......I think I am going to go flip tv stations and relax and then try to get some rest. Blake I love you honey-stay safe!!

Pictures

Here are some pictures from the deployment. I'm not smart enough to know how to move them around for them to be in order but hey at least I posted pictures.

Our last hug!!! I want just one more!!!

Heather, Wyatt, and Nik

Nik holding Wyatt and Blake holding Elijah

Aren't we just cute :)

Just us!

Look at him trying to be all romantic.

There we are after first formation.....it was damn early!!

The Phone Call I've Been Waiting For!!!

So I was tossing and turning around 1am when my phone went off with a text. It was Heather saying that Nik just called her.....YAY!!! So of course I waited and waited and nothing at all for me :( So around 1030 my phone rang with a funky number, I knew it had to be Blake, and it was!!!!! I can't describe how it felt to finally hear his voice. True it has only been 2 days, but its not like he is on vacation or something. So we talked 10 or 15 minutes and it was great. It made me feel better to hear his voice and know that he is ok......so tonight I was sitting there and I get a text that says get on yahoo messenger......so bit and I walk to them computer and not only did I get to talk to him I got to see him on webcam!!!! So I put Elijah up on the desk and he started cooeing and swatting at Blake on the screen. Talk about a bittersweet moment. Poor thing is going to think his daddy lives in the computer. So we talked for a few minutes and then he was off to have breakfast......today has been a good day. I am starting to see that I can do this!! It will be hard and will come with alot of sleepless nights, but I can do this!! So tomorrow when everyone is gathered with their families and shooting fireworks, just stop for a moment and send up some good thoughts and prayers for those who are separated from their families.....whether they are in the military or are separated for other reasons. I miss Blake so much, but I know I can do this!!! One more day without him here means one more day closer to him coming home....I miss you baby!! Stay safe!!!! 143

In a Daze........

Well well well.....what can I say. Yesterday(July 1st) sucked big time!! Blake left for Iraq and I just stood there frozen, in a daze. The morning began early as we had to be on post for 0550 formation. After that they ate breakfast. As we are standing in line Blake realizes he doesn't have an IR flag. Infra red flag patch that glows under night vision glasses. So he looks at me and I know that I am about to go search the town for an IR Flag. He asked Nik if he had one and he didn't, so off Heather and I go.......the places that had them were either sold out or didn't open until 10 which didn't help us because they were leaving at 10. So we get back in time to talk to the guys for a bit until they had to go draw their weapons. After that time flew....before I knew it they were lined up for another formation and then prayer....them the last second goodbyes...then another formation. As their name was called they had to board the bus, no kiss, no hug, no nothing............This was probably the single most emotional moment of the day.......I can't explain it. It was like I wanted to scream no don't go, but what good would that have done. I stood there clinging to Elijah and when Nik and Blake got their names called Heather and I just clung to one another................Poor Elijah's head was wet from my tears. He doesn't understand. And the worst thing is Blake won't be here to see him take his first steps, say his first word, he will miss all of the first things. So after the goodbyes it was time for Elijah and I to make the trip back to Arkansas.......
Elijah was so good for the trip i only had to stop twice to feed him. When we got to mom and dad's I saw Kale. I missed him so very much. He got up out of his recliner and gave me the biggest, longest hug I think he has ever given me.......its like he was saying mommy everything will be ok. So I have been walking around in a daze with my phone glued to me, waiting for the first call from Blake........I don't know when that will be, but I hope it is soon.....I need to hear his voice and know he is ok. I think I got a big 2 hours of sleep last night and I can't eat, if I do it just comes right back up. The night time is the worst. Elijah was screaming out of control and I knew he wanted daddy, but I was all he had and he eventually calmed down. I just want this time to go by smoothly and fast. I want all of the guys home and safe............I really am disappointed in myself. I thought I was better prepared for this. I know I have to start getting out of my daze, my boys need me, but I just don't know what to do.....it will come to me and I will get through this. I know I can. I have to. And when Blake comes home I will be waiting for him. So, Blake, if you are reading this please stay safe and know that I love you. I am so proud of you and proud to be your wife..........143