Camp Pendleton Corpsmen Moms

Hello, I'm new to the group.  My got his orders today.  He'll be FMF in Okanogan.  He's sooooo excited.  He'll be home for the holidays (havent' seen him since he left for boot June 14th.)  He finishes A school at the end of Janurary.  Then off the Pendleton for FMTB.

my group (6 of us) here at home will head to Cali. Monday evening.  About a 29 hour drive, so we will not push ourselves.  We should arrive in Oceanside later on Wednesday.  This is, of course, assuming that J doesn't call saying he gets to come home!  If that's the case, we'll turn around and come home, then pick him up at the airport!!  I've been going insane the past 2 weeks with everything going on!  Mixed feelings on the trip, but we'll make the best out of it, which ever way it ends up.

Becky, That says a lot of you and your group of friend's to drive 29 hours in the winter, your son is going to be so happy to see all of you and so proud of You his Mom for trekking all those miles!!  You go girl!! lol  Just be very careful and watch out for the others on the road...in other words be safe!! I hope I get to meet you at the ceremony on the 16th! 

proudascanbe, Great news on your corpsmans orders!! So he starts fmtb in CP in January?!

Jacqueline & Cheryl, ROTFL because I can imagine that scene between the 2 of you. Thanks for the 411 on how CP runs it's...We had the same greeting when fmtb just started!

Yes, please friend me and I will provide my cell #.

The boys are back in town!  Camping is over and done with!

Chief - Are you sure it's not wireless?  Most new laptops come wireless automatically.  Mine is two years old and it came that way.  If so, I'd take it back.  You might only be allowed an exchange, but you really need wireless now.

T called me an hour but I couldn't find my phone to answer the darn thing! lol  I just talked to him and he said that all there is for the first 3 days of next week is folden up and putting things away and handing in issued gear. He said that he is pretty happy with his assessment test for the week!!  I'm a happy Moma right now cause my Corpsman is coming home!! yeah!

I heard the same out of T...nights were freezing with frozen dew left behind from the night... but the days were pretty mild low to mid 70's.  It was nice to hear that they didn't have to walk around all day soaked with muddy water camo's , lol

Pam, so if C is staying on at CP what is his next step?!

How funny T announced that he came to know another Central Coaster in his own platoon!  Yes, this corpsman hales from San Luis obispo...7 miles from Shell Beach where I live!!  He even is the same age as T and went to the same junior college as T did...small world.huh! 

Chief, If you haven't the computer from UPS, Fedx, or USPS you can deny the parcel it will go back to the company from which it came, and they will credit back your method of payment...it beats receiving the parcel then repackaging and then a charge to send it back and maybe a restocking Fee!!   Just a thought!

My group consists of me, my husband, our 2 other sons (11 and 15), our daughter and her best friend (both 19).  It will be an "entertaining" trip to say the least!  J has said he doesn't want his sister to come because he doesn't want the other guys to meet her!!  Protective big brother!  I have started packing plans, bought all kinds of snacks for the ride (along with homebaked goods), and have the kids getting movies, books, and cd's together.  I just hope we have room in the car!!  We are staying at the Oceanside Marina Suits--anyone else??  I hope to meet some of you there!

Briefly chatted with J on FB last night.  He still doesn't know anything, so I guess we'll head out tomorrow.  I have mixed feelings about the whole deal--going to California in Dec. will be great (we got our first snow happening right now!), and seeing his graduation will be priceless, but it means he won't see the rest of the family before leaving and that breaks my heart.  As one of my teacher friends says "suck it up, buttercup!" and deal with it I guess!  It will be nice to have him all to myself, though!  Hope everyone has a great Sunday and stays warm!

Good Morning Moms.  I had the best time at Christmas beach dinner party last night with some new neighbors  ! The weather here on the Central Coast of Cali was magically warm last night!! It's morning and again a beautiful clear sunny day and I have some errands to run today..So I will check in later!

Becky, I thought J's immediate family was traveling to CA. with you?!  I must be missing something? You're about to embark on a family holiday adventure traveling through a number of states in your car which is going to be awesome sights...take it all in as a Christmas present you're giving to yourself and your children and live in the moment...As Moms we tend to over think things and if it doesn't go exactly the way our minds eye sees it then we've done something wrong...You're a wonderful Mom and I just know that the warm CA. weather will help you to enjoy the ceremony and give you a great time at CP ...and you will get to meet up with Chief and myself if time permits...can't wait to meet you in person!!

Becky - be safe!  That's on my bucket list.  Go cross country either by car, rv or train.  We drove from El Paso TX to Chicago when my husband was in the Army.  We were young and I was a few months along with Jamie, but it was wonderful.  And yes, being in the military makes you appreciate the time you do get with your family.  Looking back, the year that we spent in Texas was just a blink of an eye and I don't know why all I wanted to do was go back home!!! 

We are currently trying to kill ourselves getting ready for J to come home!  He's like a visitor now, the bathrooms have to be spotless!!  My husband is even painting his room (which we've converted to an office) and shampooed all the carpets!  And after two weeks of working on Christmas lights, we're still not done!  But we have the vision in our heads of picking him up from the airport (very late) and having all the lights on for him when we drive up!  I know, overboard!! 

Thanks for your comment Carol!  No matter what that son of mine does, he's always got a smile on his face.  We are so proud of him.

 Chief - glad you were able to return the computer.  Hopefully it will all work out.  I know your probably spending the last few days just anxious to get to Cali!!!

Judy - Christmas on the beach is my kind of Christmas!!  I'm planning a cruise for next Christmas!

JudyB- by saying J won't see the rest of the family, I was meaning his grandparents, aunts and uncles.  My mom in law is having surgery the 21st, so there was no chance of them going along.  J is the oldest grand- and great-grandchild on my husbands side, so everyone is having a hard time letting him go.  He is also the oldest grandson on my side. (bunch of girls in my family!)  My mother is gone, and my father is in a nursing home after a stroke.  My dad cries everytime I talk about J.  My fear is that something will happen to my dad or one of J's great-grandparents before he gets to see them again.  Guess it's a possibility for everyone, but not something I care to think about.         Better get more laundry going- tomorrow's the big day!  If we are "signalling" somehow at graduation, please let me know before tomorrow afternoon!  Not sure I'll be able to check internet before Wed. night after that.  Someone flag me down- I'm planning on wearing a wine-ish colored sweater and I'll have a pretty brown haired girl and a pretty redhead with me (as well as my 2 boys and husband!)  And I'll probably be crying the whole time!

sounds like a plan!  I'll have to see if I can find a blue bow somewhere.  Can always stop at a craft store on the way!  What can we expect from the weather during graduation?  Should we dress warm or cool?  The midwest is down to 10 right now, wind chill below 0.

Thanks!  Guess what I'm packing will work. 

I just threw together a small ribbon- royal blue with a slender light blue one down the middle......not a very creative person.   I hope someone looks me up!

Okay, Blue ribbons it is!!  It's funny cause it looks like our FMF Corpsman will be in their marine camos which are not blue! I'm wondering if Ruth VH can tell us if they will be in formation at graduations the same as they were in their platoon?!  That would be very helpful cause then we can inform each other as to were we will be sitting in our blue ribbons!

Jacqueline, I remember you posting before about where to sit, so I took a mental note!  T tells me that on Monday they will practice for graduation so we should know where they will be in line!

How exciting!!  And I'm not even going!!  But our J will be home for the holiday so I'll have to accept that.  I'd love to see a picture if anyone can post one here.  J said there were nearly 300 of them in this class so to spot your kid is going to be hard! 

Carol - I have the address and bulding number.  I just don't know if it's the same building number since J is in Platoon 2 and if I'm not mistaken your C is in Platoon 1.  I'll e-mail it to you (we got it last month when it was J's birthday).  He did get the box on a Friday and what Jacqueline said about them getting liberty is true.  It's usually after the mailroom closes.  He just happened to get out early that Friday.

Congrats on all who are graduating and all you moms, how exciting! I can't believe my son will be starting this next month.

Hi Jacqueline, Thanks...I sure we will with all the excitement and buzz in the air!!  I was wondering if you could give me that Nature's Way, medicine to stay healthy you posted a couple of weeks ago. I wrote it down and put it into my purse but when I went to find it ...it was not there!

Well, Ladies, we are about ready to start our long trek - 8 states counting hometown Illinois and California!  It will be a beautiful drive, I've been told.  Can't wait to meet some of you there, and we'll miss the others.  I will try to post pictures when I can.  Safe travels to all!  And congratulations to all our guys!  I am happy for those of you who get your guys home for the holidays, though I am also jealous!

Becky, Safe travels to you and your family; and I cannot wait to meet you and your family also I wonder if your cub knows mine...

Safe travels to you Linda!!  Enjoy the time you have with your son, give him a big hug, and tell him thank you from all of us!!

Thanks Chief, it is nice to have a place where you have people who know what you are going through.  Woo hoo my son started an IV!!! He is still learning but working in the hospital there at CP should help.

Joan, That is just super!!  Starting an IV is a big deal!!  I know you're cub will do Great at CP!! Hang in there it goes fast!!

Jacqueline, What memories you have of your cubs 1st year! Did you keep a scrap book?!

mixed emotions here......J called while we were eating supper in New Mexico...he has a few days before he leaves so he wants to go home!  It's wonderful that he will be able to be home, but we've spent 14 hours driving almost 900 miles, and now we will turn around and go home.  We wouldn't be able to fit him in our car to bring him home, plus it would take too long-by the time we got home he'd have to leave!  So we will spend the next 2 days on the road back home, but he will be there shortly after that!  I know that he will spend most of his time with friends, not family (he's already told me this)....one reason I was hoping to get to spend time with him in California.  Oh well, that's the way the cookie crumbles~  sorry I'll miss you all at graduation!

Becky - I can totally understand those mixed emotions.  Goodness, it is the way of the military though to make you hurry up and wait.  I always try to look at the good in every situation and I can tell that you are too.  In the words of my son yesterday "One more day and a wake-up!!"  Enjoy the time you have with him.  I'm already starting to tear up just thinking about my J leaving for two years at the end of the month.  And I have to be the one to take him to the airport.  And then go to work.  LOL - I'm going to be a wreck!

Pam, RuthVh and Becky, Were sure going to miss you sweet moms at the FMF ceremony tomorrow at Camp Pendleton!!  But we'll be thinking of you as we watch All our Corpsman get pinned...I'm so excited, don't think I will get to much sleep tonight! lol