New MilSpouse Blogger (Show Some Love)

During the Military Funeral Protest I met a girl on Facebook and we met up at the protest/funeral.  She is an Army Wife with a pending deployment. She is also currently going through nursing school. Very cool girl. Show her your love and support as a brand new MilSpouse Blogger.

Kayla @ 

Life of A Nursing Student

MilSpouse Friday Fill-In

(Click Image to join Wife Of A Sailor & Other MilSpouses)

1)If you were given $1,000 right now, how would you spend it?

The smart thing would be to put it into savings. But the question asks how I would spend it. I would buy the PSP that Kade wants for Christmas. I would go on a baby shopping spree at BabyGap for Kyson. I would buy a couple months worth of tanning for myself because I am WHITE as all get out! I would hire a personal trainer. Then I would buy myself a gift certificate for the Buckle so I can buy a new pair of jeans when I loose all the weight I want to!! Oh, and I would buy Bruce something too...but its hard to shop for someone overseas.

2)If you had to choose a movie title (a real one that already exists) for your life story, what would it be?

Oh jeeze, this is a hard one. I never have time to watch movies anymore. If I could choose how my life would be based on a movie I would say The Notebook or Ever After. I love old timey sappy love stories.

3) If you were a teacher, what subject would you like to teach?

Science!! I love science! (one of the reasons I'm a nurse!

4)Has being a MilSpouse changed how you view holidays or how your holidays are celebrated? If so, how? If not, what hasn’t changed?

I came from a traditional family Christmas. No presents before Christmas morning! Now with the military and being married, we end up having multiple Christmas'. We have our Christmas, the the "traditional" Christmas with my family, the two more in Arkansas with Bruce's family/Grandparents. (this is if we are back home for the holidays)

5)What is your favorite Christmas (or whatever holiday you celebrate) memory?

I love Christmas mornings. Because my family allowed presents ONLY on Christmas morning, the children are always so excited. I love seeing the looks of kids faces when they open their gifts from Santa. My youngest brother was still little when I had Kade, so I've always been able to enjoy the excitement of kids on Christmas morning. Therefore, EVERY Christmas morning is my favorite memory!!

30 Days of Truth (Day 02)

Day 2: Something you love about yourself.

I thought about this one for a while. I feel conceded verbalizing what I love about myself. But after some thought...

I love that I continue to push myself to make my dreams come true. I've learned over the past year that I cannot plan my whole life, though I would like to. I have learned that life is much less stressful if I allow things to fall into place on their own. Yet, I still strive to make the best of every situation. I love that despite all of the "Don't get married yet, your so young." and the "Your Pregnant? Didn't you just get married." stop me from being a young Army Wife, young Mom, a full-time student (now a nurse), and a sometimes single Mom (due to deployments). I love that I choose to get an early start and to not let any of that stop me from full-filling ALL of my dreams and those to come. What are your dreams in life?

Procrastilaxing

...The process in which you procrastinate for so much time that you actually take the time to relax and fully enjoy the matter of doing absolutely nothing at all.

WARNING! THIS IS A VERY LONG POST. (due to my "procrastilaxing")

I havent blogged in over a week. To be honest, I was completely speecless after I attended the funeral/protest. I was furious and heart broken. I tried and thought very hard about how I was going to blog/share my experience....and I am still speechless. It's hard to use words on something that hit so deep. 

I drove there alone. As I arrived at the church, I wasn't sure where the picketers where, so I followed the hundreds of American flags that I were flying through the mobs of supporters. I could hear the engines revving on the other side of the crowd. The Patriot Guard Riders were there to drown out the WBC.  I made my way to the front to see them, and the first thing that caught my mind was a very young child holding a sign that read "Pray For More Dead Soldiers". I was sick. I stood in the crowd...crying, supporting Sgt. McCluskey....yelling "USA, USA, USA" Someone was playing the National Anthem from their car speakers and everyone sang along. There was no possible way the family could hear them.  They left about 15 minutes before the service started...on two slashed tires. Not one tire business in town would sell them tires! After they left, the huge crowd stood outside the church with flags and supportive signs...we listened to the service over large speakers they had placed outside for us. I'll never forget the looks I saw on peoples faces as they walked out of that church, or the tears that flowed as they put his casket into the hearse.

Around 200 motorcycles lead SGT. McCluskey to his final resting place at Tannehill cemetery.

I am so proud to be an American and an Army Wife!!!!!

***

I said I was going to write a "Thankful Thursday" post every Thursday in November, so I had better catch up....

In regards to Thursday 11/11/10 Veterans Day...I am thankful to be an American, and Army Wife, and live in a country where our colors don't run!!

And for last Thursday, 11/18/2010..

I am thankful for my best friends...they never judge, they accept me and I LOVE THEM!

Lonni, I met in Nursing school...we do not go a day without seeing each other or at least talking on the phone  multiple times per day.

Amy, always a phone call away. I met her in Germany...and I LOVE this girl! She's always honest and would do anything for me no matter where our husbands are stationed. p.s. Check out her Blog The Daily Fiasco

*I absolutely love this picture of Amy, so I had to share!*

***

Whew! It feels so much better to be caught up...

Till Next Time,

The Versatile Blogger Award

I had such a busy weekend at work. For those of you that so not know, I work 32 hours on the weekend at a nursing home...(and get paid for 40hrs!). This allows me to be at home with my two boys Mon-Fri to home school Kade and experience all of Kyson's milestones. This weekend was a little different. I stayed the night at work, which means I SLEPT IN A NURSING HOME! This is something I never thought I would have to do...at least until  was at least 100 years old. Ha-Ha. Needless to say, I was exhausted when my weekend ended.  But what better way to start the new week, than with a Blog Award!?! A big THANK YOU to Rachel @ Flying High: Life of an Air Force Wife who has awarded me with The Versatile Blogger Award. Rachel is a a military spouse and SAHM of a toddler.  Be sure to visit her blog!

Here are the rules:
1. Thank and link back to who gave you the award.
 2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Pass it along to 7 blogs you've recently discovered and enjoy
4. Leave your recipients a note, telling them about the award.

1- I am someone who stresses way way way to much. I tend to love control, so when I start to realize I'm loosing that control over things I get anxious. I like to tell myself I'm am just a good leader! 

2- I recently dyed my hair red! Now, granted I am a natural strawberry blonde, I have not seen that color since I was in high school. I love being a blonde...and I thought the more blonde, the better. Until this whole "red hair" idea popped into my head. So one night I decided I would just go for it and dye my own hair...and leave big blonde chunks. AND WHY I DID MY OWN HAIR YOU ASK?!?...I have no idea. Especially with the fact that my mother-in-law does hair as well as one of my very good friends.  Needless to say, my once very blonde hair turned orange. So I had to have it "fixed". Now I have multiple shades of red (light to bright). I'm not sure if its "me" yet, or not.

3- I love to work. If I wasn't a mother, I would live at work as a nurse. I am still very surprised at how satisfied I am with the career I chose.

4- I think that I sub-consciously like moving so much. Every time we move/PCS, I get to buy new thinsgt o match the new home.

5- I HATE judgmental people. I never really understand why it is anyone else's business what someone else does/says...as long as you aren't harming yourself or anyone else...I believe we should do what ever floats our boats.

6- I met my Dad when I was 23. We talk all the time now. Now I realize that I wasn't the "different" sibling....I just take after my Dad. And now I understand my where my passion for music comes from. 

7- I am absolutely in love with my husband and two sons. I am very proud of myself and my outcome thus far. I like to believe that I make wise decisions in life....yet I am always wondering how I could do things better. I think that all falls back into my "control" issue.

Because I recently got back into blogging, I have discovered a ton of great blogs. So this is not exactly easy, but...

The Award Goes To...

An honest and humorous mommy, Tina @ Mommy Is Teething 

The life of a military wife while her husband is deployed, Chantal @ A Blog A Day While You're Away

God, Glam and a ton of Inspiration, Reyna @ Glamour Glory

An Army Girlfriend and fellow nurse, Julie @When Your Feet Don't Touch The Ground

Expressions of an Air Force Wife, Cheryl @ Boots In The Doorway

She cooks. She cleans. She even thinks for herself!, Sarah @ Army Housewifery

The SAHM's Action Adventure Guide, Neila @ Blog That Mommy!

Be sure to check out all of the awesome blogs!

MilSpouse Friday Fill-In

Join The Fill-In By Visiting Wife Of A Sailor

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1. A different twist on last week’s question. This week, the first question is: what’s the nicest thing a MILSPOUSE has ever done for you? (brought to you from navy_smurfette)

Hands down, the nicest thing was when my BFF  Amy, moved to Oklahoma just for ME! We were stationed at Ft. Riley, Kansas...and both of our husband were deployed.  She had moved back to Oregon and I moved back to Oklahoma. I was accepted into a full-time nursing program (40 hrs a week in the class plus study time). Knowing it wouldn't be easy, Kade and I flew to Portland, packed up Amy and her two kids...and drove all the way back to Oklahoma. I am still beyond appreciative for this. Amy cooked, cleaned, and took care of Kade while she was living with me! The best friend a MilSpouse could ask for!!

2. How often do you drive faster than the speed limit?
99.9% of the time! I drove as a Home Health Nurse for about 7 months. I now have absolutely NO patience when I drive. I want to get to where I am going FAST!

3. Did you have a nickname in school? If so, what was it?
The only nickname I can remember, was from my Sophomore year. My family had just moved to a very small town, with a VERY small school....I'm talking maybe 200 students from Pre-k thru 12th Grade. There was a couple of Seniors who hated me. They always gave me dirty looks and talked about me. One day, I had enough. I walked into the Computer Lab...and confronted her. I asked her if she had a problem with me. I cant remember now what her answer was. I do remember, acting like I was walking away, then POP!, I had swung back around and punched her right in the nose! From that day forward, I was called "Ali"...after Muhammad Ali. And nobody ever messed with me after that.

If your life was a book, what would the title be and how would it end? This is a hard one! I would have to give it the same title of my blog...These Talking Walls. My life is always changing. I can hope that it would end...  ...And she lived Happily Ever After.

Look back (in your planner if you have one) to September 14th… what did you do that day? I don't have anything recorded. Bruce was home on R&R, so we had no plans, except to be lazy and enjoy each other.

My First Blog Award...Heck Yes!

I received my first blog award!

My BFF Amy @ The Daily Fiasco sent me my first ever blog award! She is amazing so check out her blog too! She is straight forward, funny, and inspiring!

Part of accepting this award requires me to list 5 things about myself...in no particular order.

1) I am extremely lazy when I get the chance.

2) My biggest fear is forgetting. My memories are very important to me.

3) I love make-up, big hair, and music.

4) My boys are my world!

5) I am obsessed with my future. I try to plan EVERYTHING! I even had the due dates of my children planned before I was pregnant. Amy always tells me, "You cant plan EVERYTHING!" But I sure do try!

Next is to pass on the award to 5 blogs that I love:

1) The Most Valuable Things In Life Aren't Things

2) Forget The Dog Not The Baby

3) Scrap-E-Blog

4) Proud Cav. Wife

5) 30 Days Of Fun

Check Them Out...Everyone Enjoys A Follower!

Holy 36 Weeks Pregnant, Batman!

...or is that 38 weeks pregnant?

     I had my 36 week appointment with my midwife today. Kyson is measuring at 37 weeks and head down (way down).  I have gained (GASP!) 30lbs...5 of those pounds have to be in my new found cankles.

     But here is the thing...am I 36, 37, or 38 weeks?  My midwife gave me a copy of my records to take with me to Oklahoma just in case I go into labor there. When I got home and started reading it I was beyond pissed. I was frustrated and still am. I have been given 4 due dates. And they are sticking with the farthest one..."just to be safe".

     I am due Dec. 19th according to an early ultrasound done at 6wks. I know that is supposed to be the most accurate due date, but when you are this freaking HUGE...who cares what that ultrasound said 8 months ago!

    Dec 15th according to ovulation. I took ovulation tests, so I know that date.

    I am due Dec. 10th according to my LMP. This is the one date I absolutely do not agree with because I know when I ovulated.

     But get this!...at 20 weeks (thats 20 weeks if you go by the Dec.19th due date) I had an ultrasound and Kyson measured way big. That ultrasound says that my due date is (drum roll please) Dec. 6th!!!! Thats TWO...thats right, TWO weeks away!

     So am I 36, 37, or 38 weeks pregnant?!! I have been saying that I feel farther along and that I feel like I could have him sooner than my (Dec. 19th) due date...and now I feel like it even more, knowing that I may be due in 2 weeks.  At every appt Kyson has measured a little over 1 week bigger than what I am.  So who knows!  I am not dilated yet, but "starting to"...so yeah... that gives me a little hope.

     Im just hoping that one night, very very soon, these contractions keep going!