An update from the other half

As you all may know, I made a few posts on here a while back talking about my trials in Balad. So much has changed. To get you up to speed, after my month or so in Balad, I was sent to Tikrit to finish out the rest of my tour. Little did I know that my tour would be cut short. We basically trained to come to Iraq to train some more. It wasn't much of a deployment when compared to others I have done. We had time to not only practice for football games, but to play them. Doing sports in your spare time is one thing and is a good stress reliever, but having time to practice for them? you have way too much time on your hands. I pulled a lot of duty, that's for sure.

I won't go into detail about everything I did...as it would be fairly boring. I came back to the states Jan. 25th mainly because of my new promotion put us over strength and overmanned. I understand why the BC did what he did. At the time, I was pissed, but later on I grew to understand it. Looking back, I don't regret a thing. While coming back closed one door, it opened many others. I got promoted finally! Now I look at the army as a possible long term career opportunity instead of feeling like I was in Specialist Limbo. Also, I can start learning how to lead and train other soldiers. Not only this, but I get to be with my boy Elijah. He is something else, lemme tell you. You can't put a price on being with the kids. For kale, I am finding that I am starting to know and understand him. Going through the tough things with him makes you want to love him and appreciate him more. He is usually the easier of the two to deal with unless he gets sick. Even though he doesn't talk and doesn't always show me affection, I can not see how someone could not love him once you have been through hell and back. He is a walking miracle.

While all this is great, coming back has shown me that it can be more difficult than I thought to adjust. Things haven't always been hunky dory between everyone in the house. I don't want to get into all kinds of details, but people who are in the know understand what I am talking about.
Along with this is my lazy, inconsiderate, pain in the butt (and that's being super nice) ex, D.
She fills Eva's (my daughter) head with lies and makes it difficult for me to see her. Now...lets see. what am I leaving out? My job. What I have noticed is that things are in full swing and haven't really slowed down any. I deal with a lot of stress and high expectations...some of which I put on myself.

So, for all of you out there who have any questions or concerns or what have you, just post them in the comments. You can email me via contacting Lindsey.
I don't plan on posting a lot on this blog, but every now and then I'll show up.
P.S. Fireproof the movie may have some bad acting, but it is a great movie. Go see it.
Peace out!

SGT Edwin B. Brietz
Medic
U.S. Army