Sean's First Week

Sean sounded really good when I talked to him yesterday. He has been busy! From unarmed combat training, repelling, and team building exercises. Plus the daily PT and also a sexual harassment class. He says a lot of the younger guys don't understand why all of the sexual harassment stuff is an issue, they all just want to "get some."

Sean is doing very well and sounds like he is enjoying his training. He says that the PT is difficult, but not as much as he thought it would be. He has a really good attitude and outlook, which is helping him a lot. Every time I talk to him I am more sure that this is who Sean is, he is definitely in the right place. Today is his first PT test. Sean is not worried about the run, but says that the DSs have been having them do lots of push-ups all week so he doesn't know if he'll be too worn out to do well on that part.

Buying iPhones was a great investment. Sean is able to use Skype on his phone so we can see him. It helps so much! As Sean talks to us, other SITs (Sodiers in Training) walk by and comment on how unfair it is. Some guys didn't bring their phones so they have to rely on payphones when the DS says they can use it. Others may have phones but not have video calling capability. Sean gets his phone for about an hour on Sundays, which isn't very much, but it is enough that the kids and I get to see and talk to him. I think that seeing Daddy and knowing he is on the phone helps them know that Daddy is still "around" even if he isn't here at home and it makes it easier for them.

Sean really enjoys the opportunity to attend church on Sunday. He has been called to be a teacher in the Elders Quorum. I asked him how that works since he doesn't exactly have time to prepare a lesson. He says he has a Gospel Principals manual and he uses that and just "wings it."

On the facebook page for his unit it says that today is CBR

N Traing (Chemical Biological radiological Nuclear). THis w

ill get them ready for the gas chamber tomorrow. This is the pa

rt of training Sean has been most worried about, so it will be ni

ce for him to be done with it. Hopefully next week I'll

have updates on how it went!

This pic is Sean (and other SITs) getting ready for the repelling at Treadwell Tower.

Basic Training

Wednesday evening, Sean was able to call and tell me that he was shipping out to Basic Thursday morning. Which means they move from the reception battalion over to a different part of the base for basic training. I didn't get a call Thursday or Friday so I assumed that Sean had to turn in his phone. Saturday evening Sean was allowed to call to let us know he was doing well. He said they have been doing PT and getting gear issued. It is hot in OK right now, unlike here. Temperatures are easily reaching 100 degrees + every day. Sean said he is drinking 4 gallons of water a day!

Sunday afternoon when he called, he told me that they got smoked that morning (worked out until nobody can go any more) because one of the guys walked into the women's bathroom. I would probably have been slightly upset to have to work out like that on a Sunday morning just because another guy did something he shouldn't. All Sean said was, "It's about time! They're too easy on us!" He said there are a lot of the guys (mostly the younger guys right out of high school) who just don't get that when you stand in formation at attention that you're supposed to be quiet. Sean feels like they should be getting smoked more often due to lack of discipline. I'm sure they'll get plenty in time, but it is really good to hear him say that! What an amazing guy! Sean is going to be an excellent soldier.

Last Sunday, Sean was able to attend a Christian church service. Yesterday he was able to attend an LDS service. He said it made all the difference in the world, he was very grateful to be able to go. In his battalion there are 250 or so guys and Sean is the only member. He says there is one guy who is Jewish, several Baptists and Presbyterians, and a lot of guys that attend the Wikin service.

We are on count down now that we have a graduation date (contact me if you want the date). I also have an address for anyone who would like to write to him. He will be super busy and not able to respond many letters, but would appreciate receiving them.

Poem

I'm a wife not a girlfriend but I really like this poem.

A Military Girlfriends Prayer
Author: Unknown

Give me the greatness of heart to see,
The difference between duty and his love for me.
Give me the understanding so that I may know.
When duty calls him, he must go.
Give me a task to do each day,
To fill the time when he's away.
When he's in a foreign land,
Keep him safe in your loving hand.
And Lord, when duty is in the field,
Please protect him and be his shield.
And Lord, When deployment is so long,
Please stay with me and keep me strong.

Sean Update

Sean was notified today that he will be able to ship to basic in the morning. Yea! This means he moves from the area of the base he has been in for reception over to where he will be for basic training. This also means that we are closer to having an actual date to be able to count down to for when we will see him for his graduation!!!

He was able to take a pic with his battle buddy from reception tonight.

I do not know if he will be able to call me tomorrow or if it will be a while before he will get phone privileges.

Sean Update

Many people have asked me over the past few days how Sean is doing and if he is tired. So, for this week's update, I'll let you all know that yes, Sean is tired, but it is only because sitting around doing nothing for 5 days straight is tiring. Sean is still in reception at this time. This is where they do inprocessing, paperwork, vaccinations, financial info, enroll family in DEERS, etc. On Friday, Sean was in line to get us all enrolled in DEERS (the program that lets you be recognized by the government so we can be on the healthcare etc.) but there were too many guys to get through before end of day. They don't do anything on Saturdays (it IS a government organization) or Sundays, so Monday will be his next opportunity to finish processing. This means that his start of BCT (Basic Combat Training) will be pushed back by a day, or even a week. Sean said he doesn't mind so much to get pushed back just a little bit because that will increase the chances that he will be back here in Utah when his brother comes home from his mission.

I have been able to talk to Sean every day so far. This will change once BCT starts. He is doing well, but is bored and misses the kids (and me). Once he starts BCT that part will be easier because he won't have time to think about it much, he'll be busy all of the time.

I have also been asked many times over how I am doing. Just so you all know, I am just fine. It is actually harder when I constantly have people coming up to me with strained puppy dog faces asking how I'm doing, like they expect me to be utterly falling apart. Really? It has only been 6 days! I have 5 months or so to go. Lets save the tears and dramatics for at least a month or two, k? I do miss Sean, a lot, and this will be a difficult time. But I have so many good people around me, so many good family and friends I can call on. I'm really not worried. This decision for Sean to join the Army was not one we made lightly, and we knew that the only way to do this was with spiritual confirmation that what we were doing was right. Knowing that this is right makes this easier, and I know I can turn to the Lord when I need extra strength to get through the trying times. I have been given peace, a calm, knowing that even though I will miss Sean terribly, I will be absolutely fine. And we will be extremely excited to see him at his graduation!! (more info to come when I get it myself).

The hardest part about all of this so far, is the not knowing. Anyone who knows me knows that I'm slightly a control freak and like to know all the details of what is going on, I have to have to be able to plan things out. With this, there is so much unknown. When will Sean start BCT? When will graduation be? When can he call home? When will I know his address to write to him? We don't know exactly when AIT will start after BCT graduation. I dont' know when he'll find out what his first duty station will be or where. Some of it is aggravating to not know, some of it is like waiting for Christmas. I will be very excited to find out where we will be moving after Sean is all done with training!! Until then, any bets on where we'll go???

It's Official

Yesterday afternoon I dropped Sean off at the recruiter's office. From there he was taken to a hotel where he had dinner and attended a meeting with other recruits. This morning, they were all up at 4:30am and off to Meps to start processing. Last night Sean called to tell me to be at Meps by 9:00am to be ready for his swearing in ceremony. My mom, dad, Logan, and I waited for 2 1/2 hours until they were finally ready for his group. While we were waiting, though, Sean was able to come sit with us for a few minutes a couple different times while he was waiting for papers and things to be processed. Logan tried very hard to entertain himself while we waited.

There were 6 recruits total in Sean's group.

Most of the others seemed pretty passive as they were sworn in. Sean, I know, took his oath to heart, truly believing in the promises he was making. He fully understands that this is more than just a job to support his family. He now stands for something much greater and we are very proud of him for taking this on himself.

7 Months Old!!

Lewis is on the move! He has a great army crawl down and is sooo close to crawling up on all fours. He is still our smiley, happy little guy and brings such joy to our home.One day after 7-months-old, he cut his first tooth. About time, too. I has been so close for days! Luckily, he only had a couple of fussy nights, and even those weren't bad.

Staples

We have felt very fortunate that in almost 5 years of having kids, we hadn't had a trip to the ER. Unfortunately, our streak came to an end.

Friday night, as Logan was getting ready to brush his teeth, he stepped off his stool (why, I don't know, he was supposed to be at the sink brushing!). He had brought a toy truck into the bathroom with him and he stepped on it, slipped, and fell backward right into the edge of the door. Crying, he held his hand to the back of his head. When he discovered he was bleeding, he cried to me, "Mommy, my head is broken!" Fortunately, the wound did not actually bleed very much which I was grateful for, especially with everything I've heard about how much head wounds bleed. But, it did split the skin open pretty wide for such a little wound so Sean took him to the ER where they watched Toy Story on Sean's phone in the waiting room for an hour and watched all the high school kids come in with all of their end-of-the-year party calamities. Finally, they got to go back. The Dr. put some Novocain on the wound, then gave him an option to get shots for more pain killer before they put in the staples. Sean asked Logan if he could be tough and Logan said yes, so they opted out of the shots and just went straight for the staples. What a brave little guy!! He'll sport those staples for 10 days or so, then we can get them taken out.

No More Training Wheels!

Logan has been asking to have his training wheels taken off his bike so he can ride with his friends that don't have training wheels and be able to keep up with them. So, Sunday Sean took the training wheels off. Then, he held onto the back of Logan's seat and told him to start pedaling. Logan pedaled, Sean let go, and off Logan went. Down the driveway, down the street, around the circle, and back. He pushed back on the pedals to stop and hopped off. He was beaming! We were quite surprised, we thought it would take him a few tries. I guess when you're ready, you're ready! Logan has wanted to do nothing but ride his bike since Sunday. Too bad this is the rainiest year ever and it's sopping wet outside!
The rest of Daddy's evening went something like this...

6 Months Old!

Our little guy is 6 months old! I can't believe it has gone by so fast! Lewis is such a happy baby. He loves rolling around on the floor and playing with his toys (or trying to eat them). He's not crawling yet, but working on it! He's such a joy and his brother and sister love him so much.
His hair is growing in about the same color as Lyla's. I hope it stays that color, it's beautiful!