Ah blah blah blah!

OK! The past 5 days have been a tornado of craziness.
Friday night Ro came home and told me that there was a rumor that his company would deploy not in the planned March 2009 but in November 2008. His platoon sergeant called and confirmed.
Monday I got a call from the FRG (family readiness group) leader that the soldiers would be briefed Tuesday morning, and that we would have a meeting Tuesday night.
Tuesday night we were informed by the battalion commander that the unit was at a stand down and that the original date for March was back on the map. Exactly why all of this started in the first place is still not really clear, I am just glad that someone realized that the neither the unit or the spouses had been properly trained to this point and it would have a devastating outcome both home and abroad to deploy at this time.
As crazy frustrated as I was I am glad for the smack in the face! I know know how ready (or maybe NOT) I am for Ro to deploy. This really wakes me up and gives me the chance to really get things into order for March which is really right around the corner.
For all of you who knew about this before reading, thank you so much for your love and prayers. I know that with out this Tuesdays meeting might have gone in a different direction. Its not about Ro deploying it that his unit as a whole has not had ANY training and just came off the road (police patrol, usually a month or more long) early September.
I have also truly experienced how still and small the voice of the Lord can be. I immediately went to prayer but I found my body over run by the loud beating of my heart and the noisy thoughts in my head. I felt my soul struggle for peace. I have had a first hand lesson in what I pray for. I must first pray for a clam mind and heart. I must first pray for peace within myself.
I am happy today knowing I have more time with my Love, but more happy knowing that I can be spiritually stronger for the days to come.

Thank You Mema and Papa ;>

September 11th Lest We Forget

July or August 2001
Monica to Annie
Monica: What if there is a war?
Annie: There wont be a war!

September 11 2001
Army Basic Training, Ft. Jackson SC, in a fox hole on a M16 range
Drill Sergeant McNair to Drill Sergeant Rogers, very matter of factly, over hearing info on their radios.
DS McNair: Did you hear that DS?
DS Rogers: Yes I heard it. A plane crashed into the pentagon DS.
DS McNair: Nah DS that didn't happen! No plane crashed into the pentagon!
DS Rogers: I think so DS.
DS McNair: Did you hear that? Guess you guys better learn how to fire these weapons because you are going to war!

Pulled out of the Fox's holes into a shaded area, a vehicle drives up, out steps First Sergeant Anthony.
1sg to our Platoon
1sg Anthony: Privates, something has happened. Two planes have crashed into the world trade center. Some of you have been saying that it was something that we made up but, its not! A third plane has crashed into the pentagon. There is great damage to the twin towers and any one of you who are from NY or have family in NY will have the opportunity to call home to insure all is well. Things from here on out will not be the same. We will not be completing training today. Once we get back to the company all those from NY will be able to go inside my office and use the phones. I am sorry to have to tell you this. Please know that this is real, the things we are saying are true. We will keep you informed to the best of our ability.

I think we all know what happened after that for me. I was deployed November 27, 2002 to Kuwait and later moved across the border to Iraq (Nov 2002-Feb2004). I am proud of the time that I served as a deployed soldier. A piece of me will always be there! I gained a bit of myself there, and also left a bit of myself behind! I am now out of the Army but I will always be an American Soldier, and most of all I will always hold myself to the Army Values. I have never regretted my decision to join the military. The events on September 11, will never really manifest as a true event in my life. But the events that were brought about by the tragedy of that day will not only ring true, but they made me who I am today. We must always remember the victims of 9/11, the victims of war in Iraq, and our soldiers! My heart is full of respect and honor of those who have gone before me and those still yet to come! As for those who were deployed with me, words can not describe the love and admiration I have for them all! My hope is that it will not take a war or tragedy like 911 to have our nations flag waving in our front yard. Let us always remember our troops in every prayer that we say! Most of all let us remember that freedom is not free! It is marked with the blood and sacrifice of the soldiers willing to defend our nation! God be with them all!

Powerful Words That Must Be Shared!

Brothers and Sisters

I know that I already told you that Lany grows so much when Dom and Kayla are here. She has a chance to be exposed to 'Big Kid' stuff. When they all get together I find myself turning into my Mom, wanting to say things like 'Knock that off', 'dont say that', or 'dont hit him/her' lol. Most of the time both Dom and Kayla are so sweet with Lany, They absolutly love her and she has always loved them. Even that first summer after Lany was born it was like she knew who they were. She had been waiting all that time in heaven to join them. Dom is 10 1/2 years older, and Kayla is 5 years older than Lany. When we got pregnant with Lany Ro and I were worried about how Dom would handle it, especially if we would have had a boy! But Dom and Lany were a match made in heaven and have always been. After we had Lav I felt like he had such a grown spirit, I felt like he let Lany go before him so that Dom could be comforted. Lav treats Lany like his little sister lol. He has a very grown attitude. After Kayla went back for school, we put Lav's pack'n'play into the 'girls' room. Its the largest of the two and there is more than enough room for the two twin beds we have for the girls. Well I pulled the crib/toddler bed out of the garage and found that the movers did not place the hardware with the bed, so we cant put it together, thats why he is still in the play pin. Lany has been climbing in and out of that thing and I dont mind, just worried that it will fall apart. Last night Ro got up to check on them and Lany was laying in Lavs bed, rocking him to sleep. ;> I didn't want them in the play pin so I put them into Lany's bed. Lanycias bed is a top part of a bunk bed so it has railings on all sides, I had thought about putting Lav in bed with her before but last night was the first time. I later checked on them and Lav was asleep, Lany was watching her movie and rubbing Lav's hair. It was so sweet!

The Little Things

I often feel bad when I only post about Lany and Lav, or just one or the other. I wish I could post more pics more often of Dom and Kayla. I think I am still struggling with the fact that we had planned an over night weekend for Labor day, and at the very last minute our plans were dashed. With every ounce of enthusiasm for my growing children, I also desire the same for Dom and Kayla. When the chance comes for us to see them again, please know I will carry extra batteries for the camera and I might be mistaken for paparazzi.

We had Wendy yesterday for lunch. I like pickles but not on my burgers, so I asked for no pickles on mine but not on Lany's burger. When we got home and sat down to eat, Lany was so excited by the Pickles. She said, "Pickles, slurp (the yummy slurppy lick the lips sound lol)"!

I DIE if the house is not cool at night. During the day I can stand to not have the air on but at night... No way! Which is not the best thing for little ones who don't stayed covered. Lany now knows to cover herself but Lav is still to young. I have been putting him to bed with a t-shirt and shorts, but when he wakes his skin is cold. I bought him some PJ's yesterday. I thought they were so cute I wanted to share. By the way they are size 24months. I also finally got a good shot of him walking. He is yelling in the one pic because he was trying to go to Daddy.

Yo Gabba Gabba

There is a show on NOGGIN called Yo Gabba Gabba, both Lany and Lav LOVE this show. The videos didnt look that dark on the camera, but you can see Lav dancing. They both dance the entire time. Their fav. episode is 'Dance'. And my camera does not have sound!

Run, run, run. It's fun, fun, fun. Run, run, run. It's fun, fun, fun. Run in a circle. Run in a circle now. Run in a circle. Run in a circle... now FREEZE!

Dancin's easy, dancin's fun. Dancin's done by every one. Dancin's easy, dancin's fun. Dancin's done by every one. Let's dance. Let's dance. Move your body to the left, move your body to the right. Up and down now all around. Let's dance.

Itsy Bitsy Spider

The T-Tux