Is it too late to come up with a new resolution to post at least once a week?! I didn't think I would slack on this, as it is my emotion escape at times, but man have I been horrible!! So...resolution starts today!!
Well, lot's of things have been going on since my last post..lots and lots of things:
1. The verdict is in....we are moving to Japan!! We got the email early Monday morning on January 30th. I have been bracing myself for this result, so instead of breaking down and crying (like I did when the hubby told me it was a possibility back in November) I breathed a huge sigh of release that finally we knew what to start preparing for! We immediately starting booking appointments for our medical overseas clearance screenings and also to have Petrie's blood test to show he has the rabies vaccine in his system. Over all, we are very excited for the move! I have talked with many people who have been stationed in Okinawa and had nothing but great things to say about it. There are beaches everywhere (hello, we are on a sub-tropical island!), the culture is very interesting and I am excited to learn about it, so many activities available, and I'm anxious to see what base living will be like. :) Of course, I am nervous about a few things: the move itself, starting a family so far away from home, and missing my family and friends. Who knows when I will see everyone again :(
Our move date is the very end of June/1st days of July. Our belongings are getting packed up and shipped at the end of April! That means we are living off of the bare essentials for a good two months (seriously?!). I guess we will have to invest in a cheap air mattress and sheets, borrow a couple pots from friends, and buy lots of books (as our TV will be gone!). Oh boy....
2. The medical screening has been a pain in the ass. Matt was able to get all his stuff done in one day. For me? Well, I had to go back to Travis Air Force Base (an hour drive) about three or four times for dental screening, two eye appointments, hearing test, full physical, etc. Glad it is finally all taken care of and we are officially okay'd to travel. :)
3. The very same day we got the news I had a meeting with the supervisor of the juvenile probation department I applied at for an internship. It went very well and I started the following day! I have been working Tuesday through Thursday every week since then. It's going pretty well, I think. I feel a little awkward not knowing anyone, and everyone seems very busy and on the go so I feel my chances for developing relationships with anyone will take longer than usual. Lately, I have been helping out with going to court and sitting in on the case hearings. I love court. I love studying the interpersonal relationships between the attorneys and probation officer and judge...I find the whole system fascinating.
4. I forgot to mention that during my physical, I spoke with my doctor about preparing my body for pregnancy, when the time is to come. Scary stuff!! Nothing big, thought. Just was prescribed prenatals, since it doesn't hurt to start taking vitamins with folic acid. I also was prescribed folic acid to take a month before we decide to start trying. There is history of spina bifida (spelling?) in the family, my sister has it, which means I should be taking about 4 pills/day vs 1/day. Whatever I gotta do to make sure my future baby is healthy! So, with all that being done, and actually talking about this out loud, the reality is starting to set in for Matt and I that within the next 7 months we could be expecting! Ahhh!! Scary and exciting!!
Well that's about it for now! We have a few other things going on, but seeing as how the afternoon is gorgeous and sunny, my pale booty is going to the pool to catch up on some reading and relaxation :) Until next time... XO
A princess throws herself into the world of the United States Marine Corps...
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Feelin' Antsy!
Remember, in August, I posted a blog about receiving a list of the locations for Mr. Devil Dog and I can request to move to? In there, I mentioned we were most likely going to find out in December what the big answer is. --Nope....still waiting! And I gotta say, it is driving me up the wall!!! I can't stop fidgeting or thinking about it because the more time that passes means the less time we have to prepare our move. The hubster spoke with his monitor (the gentleman who decides our fate, pretty much!) a couple days ago and he was told we will find out in two weeks. Now, me being the over-analyzer, does that mean that since this conversation took place at the beginning of the week that this week counts as one? Or does that mean we wait next week, the week after, then out? (I told hubby last night that I hope the monitor's answer is like Victoria's Secret saying shipping will be anywhere between 7-10 business days...and then I see the package on my front porch at the 3 or 4 day mark...a girl can hope, right???)
What are our location options? Good question. Originally we put in for San Diego because, well it's San Diego (God's Country) and who wouldn't want to live there?! There was also a great position The Mr. had his eye on, but the guy he hoped to replace didn't leave after all. So, while San Diego is an amazing option, at this point in Matt's career we have to go with the best job versus the best location. After his promotion is due to make Major in a few years, then I think we can make our decisions based on where we want to live versus what the best career move is (a Marine cannot retire as a Captain but he can as a Major. So this future promotion is very important). Okay, back to making this short story long (lol) our two best career-smart options are between North Carolina (Camp L) and Japan. Yes, Japan (Okinawa).
I have to say, when Matt told me this information a month or so ago, I was so so torn as to what we should do. The job he really wants is in Japan. So, what kind of wife would I be if I didn't support that? He told me the six or so positions he could potentially get (between NC and Japan) he would be happy with any of those. All of those are a great move..but if he really wants this one, then I feel he should get it. So, I start preparing myself on the possible move across the world. Scary stuff!! I know we could easily get NC and that move will be a piece of cake. Obviously the pro's to that would be:
1) closer to family, 2) closer to childhood friends, 3) still a warmer climate than where we grew up, 4) next to a beach, and 5) very close to where 2 very very dear friends of mine live, a husband and wife, and I would jump for joy to be able to see them more often.
Cons? : it's not taking advantage of an opportunity to see the world.
Japan, well, I have a mixture of emotions with that. I start with cons so I can get those sad/scared feelings out in the open, then finish with the pros to pump me back up for it.
Cons: 1) we would be moving away (across the world) from all the family and friends we know, 2) when we get pregnant, I will feel very alone. Who wouldn't want their mom and dad and siblings and friends around?, 3) finding great girlfriends are like finding great boyfriends/husbands..very hard to come by and it could be a long process...sure, I will make friends..but are friends being made because it's a necessity for all of us to feel connected and we are going through the same thing? I don't like to force friendships. 4) throw in the no friends and family into being preg or having a baby and Matt deploys.... All these are things I think of, I am trying to prepare myself for, but it does not mean it is easy. Marrying Matt and signing that marriage certificate signed me up for the military life. If that's what it takes to be with Matt, I'll do anything. But I really hope I never hear from anyone "well you knew what you were signing up for, why is this coming as a shock to you?"...because that is not supportive and that is obviously being said by someone who does not get it.
pros: 1) Petrie's quarantine is only up to 12 hours (yay!), 2) it's Japan, it's exploring the world. What better than now to experience it?! 3) on top of seeing Japan, The Mr. told me he would take me to see Thailand, Australia, and more. Sign me up, please! 4) I'm hopeful it will be easier for me to find a job there than here in horrible-economy-California (I'm allowed to say that since it has taken me almost 9 months and counting to find an internship...that's free work, people!) 5) I'm excited for base living, 6) it's only 2 years, give or take.
I am digging the pros! So, our fingers are crossed for Japan. It'd be a hard move, but I know we would kick ourselves if we didn't at least try for it.
So now the waiting continues. And it is killing me. If we get Japan, we move sometime in June (that's what we know as of now). There are a few things I want to do before making that big leap. I want to go to Disney World one more time (our wedding planners gave us annual passes...we'd be idiots not to make good use of them!) and I want to go to Vegas. We would have to plan a trip back home (hopefully we can afford it!) to see family and friends and so I can sort out the final stuff of mine left at my parent's house. Say we find out Feb., that doesn't give me a lot of time to plan all these things!! On the other hand, if we get NC then obviously I won't be in so much of a rush to do and see so many things before summer.
Alrighty, that was probably more like a short novel than a blog, but hey, I had to get it out. I'll keep you posted!
What are our location options? Good question. Originally we put in for San Diego because, well it's San Diego (God's Country) and who wouldn't want to live there?! There was also a great position The Mr. had his eye on, but the guy he hoped to replace didn't leave after all. So, while San Diego is an amazing option, at this point in Matt's career we have to go with the best job versus the best location. After his promotion is due to make Major in a few years, then I think we can make our decisions based on where we want to live versus what the best career move is (a Marine cannot retire as a Captain but he can as a Major. So this future promotion is very important). Okay, back to making this short story long (lol) our two best career-smart options are between North Carolina (Camp L) and Japan. Yes, Japan (Okinawa).
I have to say, when Matt told me this information a month or so ago, I was so so torn as to what we should do. The job he really wants is in Japan. So, what kind of wife would I be if I didn't support that? He told me the six or so positions he could potentially get (between NC and Japan) he would be happy with any of those. All of those are a great move..but if he really wants this one, then I feel he should get it. So, I start preparing myself on the possible move across the world. Scary stuff!! I know we could easily get NC and that move will be a piece of cake. Obviously the pro's to that would be:
1) closer to family, 2) closer to childhood friends, 3) still a warmer climate than where we grew up, 4) next to a beach, and 5) very close to where 2 very very dear friends of mine live, a husband and wife, and I would jump for joy to be able to see them more often.
Cons? : it's not taking advantage of an opportunity to see the world.
Japan, well, I have a mixture of emotions with that. I start with cons so I can get those sad/scared feelings out in the open, then finish with the pros to pump me back up for it.
Cons: 1) we would be moving away (across the world) from all the family and friends we know, 2) when we get pregnant, I will feel very alone. Who wouldn't want their mom and dad and siblings and friends around?, 3) finding great girlfriends are like finding great boyfriends/husbands..very hard to come by and it could be a long process...sure, I will make friends..but are friends being made because it's a necessity for all of us to feel connected and we are going through the same thing? I don't like to force friendships. 4) throw in the no friends and family into being preg or having a baby and Matt deploys.... All these are things I think of, I am trying to prepare myself for, but it does not mean it is easy. Marrying Matt and signing that marriage certificate signed me up for the military life. If that's what it takes to be with Matt, I'll do anything. But I really hope I never hear from anyone "well you knew what you were signing up for, why is this coming as a shock to you?"...because that is not supportive and that is obviously being said by someone who does not get it.
pros: 1) Petrie's quarantine is only up to 12 hours (yay!), 2) it's Japan, it's exploring the world. What better than now to experience it?! 3) on top of seeing Japan, The Mr. told me he would take me to see Thailand, Australia, and more. Sign me up, please! 4) I'm hopeful it will be easier for me to find a job there than here in horrible-economy-California (I'm allowed to say that since it has taken me almost 9 months and counting to find an internship...that's free work, people!) 5) I'm excited for base living, 6) it's only 2 years, give or take.
I am digging the pros! So, our fingers are crossed for Japan. It'd be a hard move, but I know we would kick ourselves if we didn't at least try for it.
So now the waiting continues. And it is killing me. If we get Japan, we move sometime in June (that's what we know as of now). There are a few things I want to do before making that big leap. I want to go to Disney World one more time (our wedding planners gave us annual passes...we'd be idiots not to make good use of them!) and I want to go to Vegas. We would have to plan a trip back home (hopefully we can afford it!) to see family and friends and so I can sort out the final stuff of mine left at my parent's house. Say we find out Feb., that doesn't give me a lot of time to plan all these things!! On the other hand, if we get NC then obviously I won't be in so much of a rush to do and see so many things before summer.
Alrighty, that was probably more like a short novel than a blog, but hey, I had to get it out. I'll keep you posted!
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