Does Size Matter????

So, does size really matter?? According to pediatricians it does. I took the boys to the doctor yesterday and my little runt Elijah has fallen off of the growth chart. Not in the 1%, I mean 0%. At his 4 month check up he was 25.25 inches in length and 12lbs 12oz in weight. Well yesterday at his 6 month he was 26in and 13lbs 3 1/2 oz hmmmmm. My poor runt. So, since he can't eat more than 4 ounces at a time without you wearing it, Dr Sneed put us on double strength formula. She thinks he is so active that he is burning off everything he is eating. So we will try that and go back for a weight check in a few weeks. We also checked his thyroid function, because I didn't want it to go unlooked at like Kale's did thanks to ACH, and since we were getting blood any how we went ahead and did a full blood work up on Elijah. I know you are thinking we are stressing too much over the weight, but last time I had a child fall off the growth chart, that is when all hell broke loose. So we want to make sure we cover our basis here.
Kale on the other hand is a picture of health. He had grown and couple inches and lost 3 pounds. I thought he had and this confirms it. All of that walking around and the nutritionist suggestions are paying off. A nutritionist that works at the hospital with mom was nice enough to draw us up a meal plan of sorts for Kale. She even put it into English so that I can understand it, because nutritionist talk is like a whole different language than regular medical jargon. Kale showed off his walking skills to Dr Sneed, and she about cried. Everyone's hard work, most of all Kale's, is starting to pay off.......now if we could just get him to talk. We also did blood work on Kale just to make sure none of his meds need adjusting and got referrals for the dentist and eye doctor.
Thats about all that has been going on around here. Oh yeah. Mom and dad had a new air unit put in. So we are thinking cool sailing....um not so much. They didn't have a part to finish it so we had no air last night. Every single time we come down to mom and dad's their air messes up, maybe I am cursed. It got cool in here about midnight or so, but I hope they come to finish it today. Well that is about all from here. Blake is on his way to a different FOB in Iraq and should be there tomorrow morning his time, late tonight our time. He was suppose to already be there but they had a sand storm so that put them back a day or so. I guess that is about it. I will feed my runt again and try to get him fat. Peace out homies!

Sad Face

Dear Deployment,
I HATE YOU!!!!!

Insomnia Bites!!!!

So why am I not sleeping?? I haven't slept more than 2 or 3 hours a night in weeks!!!! Crazy thing is I don't feel tired. I know at some point I will burn out, because I am getting too old for this. Today was a very productive day for me. I actually got caught up on school work, made eye appointments for Kale and I, dentist appointment for me, registered with a Pharmacy, did laundry, and just got done cleaning the kitchen. Yes that is how exciting my life is, doing dishes at midnight! I like to keep the excitement to a minimum wouldn't want anyone to have heart palpitations on me. :) Other than that nothing else has been happening around the Brietz household. While in seminar tonight I did learn about STD's. Bottom line: wear a hat when traveling!!! And we also learned how they put in penile extensions. Why I have to know that to type up medical records I don't know, but hey I could have me a job on the side......I could call it Lindsey's Slice Shop. Kinda catchy I think! OK this blog is going absolutely nowhere so I guess I will stop there. Blake stay safe! Miss you and love you!!!

143

Getting In a Groove

Well it has been a little over a month now since Blake left for Iraq. Slowly, but surely, the boys and I are getting in a groove. Yes some days I want to pull my hair out!!! Some days I wish I could just go shopping and come home when I want to. That being said I wouldn't change anything! In a weird kind of way I think this deployment will not only strengthen our marriage, but our family in general. When you only get to talk for a short time it forces you to have communication. And since I can't give Blake go to hell looks I have to use my words haha. Its true that you don't know what you've got until its gone. I keep myself busy so as to not break down, but there are days when the boys are in bed and the house is quiet I sit down and just cry a little bit. Instead of it getting easier to sleep, its getting harder. I have tried putting pillows on Blake's side of the bed, but its just not working. I make sure to talk about him daily to the boys and show them pictures of him, its the best I can do for now. It gets lonely, very lonely. A HUGE part of me is kicking myself in the ass for moving back to Arkansas. Yes, it took me forever to get adjusted to Oklahoma life, that place is like a different country haha. It's just weird, I don't know how to explain it.
In other Blake news.....he found out today that he will be moving to a different FOB. So, if I gave you his address don't send anything until you get a new address from me. He should be leaving for his new FOB in the next week or so. He is doing fine, just missing home. But have you seen me lately?? Sexy as hell I am, I mean who wouldn't miss me haha Just kidding there and everyone knows it.
The boys are both doing fine. Kale is getting ready to start another school year and I don't think he is too excited about it. Elijah is growing like a weed!! He is so flippin funny!! He and Kale had their first "discussion" over a toy the other day, I must admit I just sat back and laughed.
I must apologize to everyone. I know this past month I have been in a "funk". Its just been really hard, but it is getting a little better. I keep telling myself 1 month down only 11-14 more to go! Blake and I are looking into taking a trip, just for us, when he gets back. Right now my fav is St. Lucia!!! SO if anyone has any ideas on a nice, romantic place please let me know. I said we could just go to Hot Springs and stay at a B & B or something. To which my husband replied, "I be damned if I spend a year in this hell hole to go to Hot Springs." So, he twisted my arm, and I am looking at other places. Well I guess that is about all for now. Blake the boys and I love you and miss you!! Please stay safe!! 143

Finally here! How it's been. Part 3 of 3

Well, after all of us left ali al-salem; each with our own section. we were divided up into 2 major sections, each having a HQ and 3-4 force protection units a piece. It is no secret what we are here for, but I will not always be going into specifics. Lets just say our guys work long shifts and help protect the base. After leaving Camp V, we went to Ali to depart our separate ways.

the first day in country, we had a bad dust storm. Little did i know that weather would play a big role in my upcoming job. I went in to get linins and a room when I was told that I would be the armorer and mail handler, on top of whatever it was I was going to do. My job...my MOS, well, i don't even mess with it here. It isn't needed.

So, for now, with one month in country and a paycheck or two under my belt, things are fine. I saved up and got a TV and a small fridge. I have my lappy-top and enough legit and black market DVD's to last me a while. I managed to find something better than a expensive ass calling card, called SPAWAR. I have also recieved 2 boxes from Lin. I love all the mail I get, though I dont get alot. We all do. send more please..:-)

I don't work out as much as i should, and a smoke more than i should. I dream of my wife and kids, and of seeing the world. I have managed to get in trouble a time or two for silly things, but I am getting better at my job and at life. I miss some of the guys i hung out with alot, and I enjoy some of the others.

My level of respect and admiration has went down for quite a few of our batteries important people, while it has went up for a few of some of the joes like myself. All in all, I am here to get paid and get promoted. Just like any other guy. I dont care about Iraq, or anything like that. I care about my guys, and anyone else in uniform. They are all that matters for now. The medic in me cares for peoples well-being.

I am finding I need to be more of a man: more confrontational, more vocal, more of a leader, ect.
I am not alot of those things. I suck at speaking....I tend to be low key. basicly, I need to change alot of myself and quit being afraid.

If any of you have questions about what all I do, what it is like over here...I mean anything!
Send Lin an email or just post them here. She will make sure I see them and answer them.
In the mean, when things happen (excluding opsec stuff and deaths), I'll post them here.
laters!