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Comment by mama bear on February 17, 2012 at 12:45pm

hello, I am also having trouble with this first deployment for my daughter, last night she tried to skype me but I couldn't figure out to even sign in let alone skype.  I come from a very small community made up of mostly elderly people and I am 10 miles away from a town so having some one help me is almost impossible.  She was trying to help me through facebook but I just couldn't get the hang of it.  I feel like my whole world has been turned upside down since this whole journey has started.  I know she is doing what she wanted and I will support her anyway that I can but it doesn't take the worry away any.  I am confuse on what I can send and what I can't in these packages any help would be appreciated.  Have a Great Weekend.

 

Comment by Much Trouble on February 17, 2012 at 7:02am

Inga...I know your daughter is very busy, but she isn't dealing with just war injuries.  Remember...these guys are showing up on her doorstep with everything from a sore throat to athletes foot.  Plus, being a bit older and experienced, she probably has many administrative duties.  Her busyness doesn't mean heavy action. Hellish weather???  My son said it was 10 degrees hotter than hell.  When he got there (beginning of April) they had no coolers, refrigerators, or anything, and he said that the bottled water kept in the shade could actually brew tea.  Luckily, he found an army group with an extra cooler they weren't using, and he did some wheeling and dealing.

MM...My son was not a talker (I had to read between the lines) so I can't tell you how to deal with it...except to let him talk.  When the newness wears off, you may need your list, so keep it updated and handy.  I am STILL finding out things about what it was like...I hadn't a clue when he was actually there.  (I also didn't have a clue about where he was and what he was doing.  I THOUGHT I knew, but they were moved around all the time.)

ktssong...You did your best...try not to worry.  MOST of them get their mail sooner or later...you just hear the horror stories.  My son got everything (usually within a week) except for one care package sent after he had left.  He said that will be shared by the group that replaced him, so no harm was done.  The only thing about the address is that it might take a bit longer to reach him.  Then again, he may have been moved to some other place and it will be better.  (APO means Army or Air force post office...there is probably one in his area that is faster or more convenient for him.) 

TDM...I would like to reinforce all you say about OPSEC.  My son is a bit of a rebel and has no use for "silly" rules, but whenever I mention my vagueness on this site or your reminders, he is 100% behind them.  He also has a problem with the stuff that gets posted on Facebook...According to him, TOO MUCH stuff is being shared.  So...Please keep reminding us to be general...it is easy to get caught up in what we are saying and we forget.

Comment by Barbara C on February 17, 2012 at 2:12am

My son's deployment addresses have always been a FPO. It stands for Fleet Post Office but it means the navy people on bases all around the world as well as those on ships. My son just sent me the FPO address also.

Comment by ktssong on February 17, 2012 at 1:18am

I'm a little down today.  I had gotten an email telling us to send packages to a different address than we were given and so I did.  I sent his guitar.  Then today when I went to send another package the post office told me that the address was a ship.  So I came home and emailed the place that sent me the address and they said send to the first one.  Which I will but I'm really worried that guitar.  The one thing he asked for...may not get to him.  It put my emotions on a crying spree.  Most changes I've taken pretty well and just go with the flow but when it caused me to make a huge mistake with something he wanted I'm just kinda down tonight.  I don't even want to tell him he might not get it.  Of course we both knew it was a risk we were willing to take but sad because up until now he had gotten everything I sent right away.  I wish I had been slow to follow.  So my original address they gave us was an APO address and then they told us to send it to this FPO address.  Does FPO mean a ship?  I can't quit worrying about this. 

Comment by TexasDocMom on February 16, 2012 at 10:38pm

and MM, you are not "a bug"!!

Comment by TexasDocMom on February 16, 2012 at 10:37pm

Let him talk...just wish it wasn't in a chat, but on the phone...

Comment by TexasDocMom on February 16, 2012 at 11:26am

MT....look at you!! look at YOU!! I remember your fear at the beginning and us telling you that you'd be back paying it forward with other new moms some day, and look at you!! Thank you for your words and for that photo!! That strong young man with that endless sand behind him, that sure says it all....

MalaMama ( can we call you MM??), glad to hear your son is excited and focused, that's a great thing to hear in his voice. He may have some down days on his calls, but great that now he's seeing it as learning, and adventure,. that saves their sanity I think...that youth!  and the looking forward they do....

Geez, Inga....you and V and D and A and so many others literally held me together during my son's deployment....and now here you are in this group. Ladies, even tho Inga was not active in this group, over the years she has given tons of good advice and words to share here to me. Her daughter was an instructor at the Corps school in Great Lakes and a wonderful source of info for all of us with corpsmen. And without  more, I'm just going to say that her daughter is a hell of a woman doing a hard job 12 hours a day 7 days a week with no down time.  Prayers, the good thought, positive energy to her and her team...and to all of those serving across this world.

So today I slept late (never start a jig saw puzzle at 11 pm)....and saying my mornig prayers, I got to the "please watch over and protect all our military serving around this world and be with those who love and miss them today ...." part  instead I said "please watch over and protect all our moms serving around this world"  somehow, I think that's more accurate....

Do something for yourself today....

Comment by Much Trouble on February 16, 2012 at 8:28am

Once again, you are right on!  I found a picture of my baby boy taken over there ...that MAN is not the little boy who wore footie pjs  and a size 2 He-Man bathrobe.  Nor is he the little boy with 4 older sisters, who wore pink blanket sleepers when at home.  He is obviously on the job getting things done.  As you say, he is a professional! 

[IMG]http://i40.tinypic.com/hs8js0.jpg[/IMG]

I just want to add that he came home with a lot of maturity...but his sense of humor is still there...and I still can see that naughty little grin he would get when caught raiding the cookie jar.  Problems CAN happen, but deal with them then...there is no sense in going though the feelings and worry ahead of time.

Comment by TexasDocMom on February 16, 2012 at 2:17am

When my son caught the plane to go back to Lajuene to leave for Iraq..first of all, his dad just lost it, bless him...so he went to the car and when I turned to my son, with no tears flowing, his eyes were twinkling at me...and he said "I love you, mom. I'm coming home.Got it? I'm coming home" and I said yes. And I got in the van and drove around the corner and broke down....but I remembered those words when I was awake all night long. "I'm coming home.". You remember them, too. You do not know any different. Your kids are well trained, in the best shape of their lives,part of a team that cannot be beat....and they are professionals. That kid that used to whine, cry about not getting his way, pitch a hissy fit when he was a teenager....he's not in Afghanistan, this is a full grown man...this man is a pro doing a pro's job. And those commanders are determined to bring them all home safely

Get busy...paint a bedroom, plan your garden, hit the gym, call a neighbor who needs some help, walk the dog....take care of yourselves....be a strong voice when that phone rings, keep that list by the phone so you have topics to talk about, keep the sports page handy so you can give him the latest scores, make him remember home when he calls. Send letters, not just packages. Letters get there sooner, put photos of the dog in them. "They might say they miss their girlfriends, their moms, their wives...we miss our DOGS!!"...from my son as well. Take care of you. Do not let secondary PTS be part of your life...and keep praying. Much love to you ladies....just remember, as a Marine once told me...an FMF corpsman is the toughest mofo around....and you raised one...you can do this. (and if you're kid isn't a corpmen, just fill in the blank...)

You are not alone..

Comment by Barbara C on February 16, 2012 at 12:45am

I understand what you mean. I worry about my son who says he will be perfectly safe over there. Tears are close to the surface and may appear at anytime. Today a veteran noticed my service flag necklace and asked about my son. He told me to wear it with pride. When he left my eyes were full of tears.

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