Chicago Mom's

WOW some of you ladies are very busy!!! I would not be able to go until after June 14th. Going to someones house would be fun, we all can bring something or even order pizza make it ez for everyone. Just a thought!!! I picked up Euro yesterday from the bank that we ordered so we would have some money in Paris, we get in very early in the morning, I will need COFFEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Where in Nebraska? I have lots of family on Omaha. Hey ladies since we got together for st pats day maybe we should skip june n do a fouth of July weekend get together?

July sounds good to me, May and June seem to be very busy for all of us, summer is hard, I miss you ladies, can't wait to get together again.

Hi

Paula, I am so glad your daughter is coming home, please thank her and welcome her home from me. I love your granddog, LOL I bet he is great company.

Also I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Mother's Day! I am going to MI this weekend no kids around butI did get flowers from Stephen today at work and yes I did cry, LOL I was so surprised. Everyone enjoy!

A surprise I love surprises, keep working. LOL Dogs are great and he comes with the daughter so you have not other choice. LOL Have a great weekend. Mums they are so pretty.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY LADIES!

Paula #2 - my wedding on the 19th is at White Pines in Dixon I think.
Paula #1 - congrats on the new family member - I sure he will bring you much joy and many laughs or a least a few good stories you can post online to entertain us.

Annie & Debbie - so exciting your trips are almost here!

My son phased up this weekend and LOL very apoligetically explained to me that he really wanted to spend his first free weekend with his girlfriend and not his mom. Then he told me that every time we are together is like Mother's Day because we have sooo much fun together. Good thing I saw him last weekend. They may stop by tomorrow evening on the way back to base. Plus as long he is not working on base he agreed to walk with me and the USO group in the Chicago Memorial Day Parade. Now that would make a great Mother's Day present this year.

I will be at Navy Pier next Saturday for Armed Forces Day should anyone be in the area. And send me an email if you want to go with me to the Navy Sox Game on June 2 - we need to order tickets by May 12. We can each fax and then I will call and make sure we get tickets together.

Diane,
No such luck with my other son...sigh...guess he had other things to do. :( So...I had my first empty nester Mother's Day. I went to church and had brunch with my mom, then I went by myself and got a pedicure and went on a self guided tour of Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House and took the child that still loves me (LOL) "my doggy" to the beach. Wasn't a half bad day for my first Mother's Day without kids. Sigh.

Diane - I am sooooo happy for you!

Hey everybody there is another N4M group Molly's Adopt A Sailor. I don't know if you have seen one of their postings recently but they are up for the Pepsi Challenge and a grant because they ship out care packages to our sailors. They/we (yep I'm hooked on that group too- the thankyou letters tear me up every time) need your vote for the next 23 days (everyday)

If they win all the money will go to cover shipping expenses for the care packages(maybe one day to our kids)...please vote everyday at http://www.refresheverything.com/mollysadoptasailor

Okay - water works for Annie. Just when you start to wonder they go and say something like that and life is good again!

Michelle - Too funny! I will keep my fingers crossed for you son and say a prayer too!

Hope all had a great mothers day! I am crying as read everyones posts. Won't be long for some you guys to visit your sailors. YAY! I am off to airport to pick up my son right now. He is excitied to be coming home after 14 months...not as excited as the dogs are they are waiting by the door!! LOL Michelle your son is in my prayers.

How exciting Becky! The day has finally arrived. My dog cries/whines in the boys arms for at least 15 minutes when one of them come after being gone for a long time. Animals are funny. Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Michelle he is going to do great, don't worry, I wonder where he will go after school?

Becky I am so happy for you, your sailor is coming home, how great is that, we need to see pictures, lots of pictures.

Annie, you are the leaving the 27th, that is right around the cornor, how long will you be gone? Well I have 8 days of work left and 14 days before we leave, I cannot believe it is here.

Hi all,
My son did not forget me on Mothers Day!!!!!!!!!
I got a call from him yesterday he sai he loved me and thought of me on Mothers Day but he is out on a practice run getting his Qual's and they just got cell signals so they were allowed a 2 minutes call to their mothers.....
I knew he was out so I was not hurt just missed him, knowing he was thinking of me and a call yesterday not when he returned was special to me. I am a smiling still!!!

I read here every day and I feel like we are such a great group again thanks for having me.
To those having Sailors coming home have a great visit with your kids it goes by too fast.

Take care all,

Congrats Michelle!

Ladies...we are all soooo quiet! Don't know about any of you but I'm so on overload! Tried Salsa dancing this week. I am seriously considering dance lessons.

Yesterday was Armed Forces Day at Navy Pier and I volunteered with the USO...so much fun to see all of the new navy grads and then families with kids from all of the services! The USO gave every kid two free DVDs - there little faces lit up every time!

Plus on Friday/Saturday my PR friend and I got navy mom Molly from the other N4M group an interview with the Portland NBC station. She did sooo good! It was her first TV interview! Check it out and vote vote vote for the next two weeks....please! $50,000 is up in the air and that could ship soooo many packages to our kids overseas!

http://www.kgw.com/news/Portland-woman-creates-huge-morale-support-...

VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.refresheverything.com/mollysadoptasailor

THANK YOU!

Yes LOL if you haven't figured it out yet...I was crazy school mom who was PTA president...When Lewis went in four months ago I never would have dreamed I would be at it again. LOL - it keeps me busy for the moment. Now if I could just meet a guy...during all this...LOL again.

Michelle I knew he would do great, you should be proud of him.

Annie, have a wonderful time, we will have to talk when we both get back from our trips.

I leave on the 25th, I only have 5 more days of work YEA. Well I iron all of my clothes and they are all ready to go.

Lewismom I have voted many times already, that would be so wonderful.

Hey Pauls, getting ready for your daughter to come home, I cannot wait, how exciting for you.

LOL Paula, I have Stephen's dog join the club and I will have her for 4 yeas. LOL Good for your daughter, how exciting for her. I know you are busy, when we get together you will need lots of drinks.

Mary, your little boy is all grown up now. LOL You are going to see him that is wonderful, we are getting to see our sailors, nothing better then that.

Good I would love to see pictures. Ok, lovemysailor I will tell you everything I know about Paris, I bet she is going to love it. Diane how is your son doing?

LOL I will be thinking of everyone while I am with my son, LOL Just wait until I bore you with all of my pictures and I will talk and talk and talk about my trip, you will say enough all ready. LOL

Hey Michelle, how is your son doing?????? Where does he go next?

Well Michelle keep us updated, I hope he gets his first choice also.

Everyone have a great weekend! I am leaving Tue. LOL Can't wait!

Thanks Ladies, I will have a wonderful time, I cannot wait to get on that plane and then get off that plane. LOL Long flight! I will have lots to share when I get home.

Annie have a great time and give your sailor a big hug from me. Take lots of pictures.

Laura cannot wait to see you pictures.

Diane, hope things work out, I did not know they were having problems, it has to be hard to be separated for such a long time. I will keep them in my prays and thoughts.

Hi Michelle and Paula!!!

I have been mia for almost a week. Sometimes my head spins trying to keep track of everyone. LOL
Annie & Debbie - have soooo much fun! and somewhere along the way have a drink for all us back in Chicago
Paula - Everytime I think I have to much going on I look at your posts and am in awe of your next couple of months and so excited for your daughter
Annie - will check with Liz who heads up the volunteers and see what the story is.
Diane - I am proud of your son for trying to work things out. Mine is still going back and forth with his wife too.
Michelle - my fingers are still crossed.
My sailor came home from Great Lakes this weekend with his girlfriend and I was so busy with my new single emptynester life I barely had time to see him. I think that kinda surprised him (and it really surprised me). He is back next weekend and marching in the Memorial Day parade with me so I didn't feel too bad about this weekend.

Thanks to everyone for voting!

Hi all, I am here reading every day you all are so busy busy but then some times that can be fun. I have a graduation party every weekend 2 on some weekends and a fundraiser at the race track which is always fun. It is for a for a football team in Chicago I don't bet on horses but the auction for the fundraiser has great prizes.
Lewismom I am so excited for you and your son to be in the parade such an honor.
I wish you all safe travels and hope to meet this summer.
Take care, MissMySailor AKA Paula2

'Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Amen..'

Prayer Request: When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our troops around the world.

There is nothing attached. Just send this to people in your address book. Do not let it stop with you. Of all the gifts you could give a Marine, Soldier, Sailor, Airman, & others deployed in harm's way, prayer is the very best one.

GOD BLESS YOU!!!
Hard for me to say goodby to my son on this weekend but, I am truly proud he is traveling on the weekend also!!! May God protect all of our sailors this weekend.

I need help--- My son is being sent to Main to from Norfolk to board his ship as they bring it back to Norfolk. My son is trying to tell me he has to pay 150.00 of the ticket and I find that hard to beleive considering they are sending him and all the other Sailors to the ship. He is not stopping at home or anything.
I am asking because I have this feeling he is waisting his money on tattoos and then wanting me to send him money. I just don't like to be lied to and he has done if before I have this same sick feeling. Thanks for any help. Paula2

Hi, just wanted to say hi, we are in Italy now with Stephen, things couldnot be better. Paris was fun but so glad to be with my son. Hope everyone is well and talk to you soon. BonJour Debbie

Thanks Paula S and all the replies I have gotten. I am just disapointed in him that he can still be such a child as to fib to get money from us when all he has to do is ask. I called him on Memorial day and he and another 5 guys had gotten a suite in Vagina beach and this is the second time this month, so I said to him money must have gottten better for you to be on vacation AGAIN! he said in a studder yeh everything is fine mom...
Thanks for all your help this is a great group. Paula2

Mine is just the opposite I say I'll send you some money and he says mine I'm fine. I still am waiting for that call mom I need some money. Hope all are enjoying their trips. Can't wait for things to calm down so we can get together. Mary You ok???

Hi Lovemysailor I can do August and thank you for offering your house for a get together. Take care, Paula2

I haven't been on in awhile have I missed somrthing who is gone??? Aug would also probably work for me. Can't wait to the pics from everyones trips. Collette can you repost info for the USO please.

Welcome back Paula S glad you had a safe trip.

Michelle Chicago Mom thanks for asking--I am getting through this but it has gotten me way down. I don't work which can be good because I need alot of rest but I miss friends and cancer to much time worring when I will feel better. Souds weird but I joined a club thinking going to the pool might help and signed up for a Zumba class sounds like latin dancing and exsercise mixed. The instructor had breast cancer too so she was real supportive. I am about 1/3 the way through radiation now then I have 5 yrs of pills at home. I just need to get out of this funk of feeling down which venting (sorry for the long vent here) and getting together with friends ( Navy 4 Chicago Mom meet) helps alot.

So I look forward to meeting you all soon!

Take care, Paula2

Hola to everyone,

I didn't realize how long its been since I checked till I started reading all the messages. Life just got crazy this past month.
Updates from me....
- Earlier this week I ordered 20 navy sailor rubber duckies - found them super cheap online...so now we have to get together so you all can have one!
- Make sure you friend me and I will send you the uso info with the coordinators email
- what's new - didn't do the parade :( - my son could not make it at the last minute (story for when we see eachother), love the USO volunteering - I have met some really cool people (also stories for when we see eachother), my son has 5 weeks left of corpseman training, then two weeks of clinicals and off to San Diego for 8 weeks of training with Marines, then stationed in WA at a hopsital/clinic.
Paula S - congratulations on making it home and having your daughter back!
Paula #2: - hang in there!
Michelle - what a great story!
Money issues and sons...oh the stories to tell. Tough love is usually best but hard. Says me who just gave my other son money for...I probably don't want to know what for...Navy son is doing good with his money after an initial couple of setbacks...Recently spent some time with a Marine who explained to me that their is a part of the male brain that does not fully develop (the rational choices part) until after age 25. LOL I think that explains alot about some or our sons choices. The military sets up some of their training and how they manage troops under 25 based on this fact. Now every time my son(not navy) does something I can't believe or understand - I just think 25 - there is hope after 25. LOL

Hey just wanted to let you all know I changed my username from lewismom to Coco which is what all my friends call me. Decided it was time to take his name out of it.

Guess Who! I am back and had a wonderful time. I have posted tons of pictures on fb if you are on there. It was so great to see my son we had a wonderful time. Sad I had to leave him but glad to be home. So how is everyone doing? Also Stephen went back to work on Monday he got a promotion he is the supervisor of his department and was put in for the Blue Jacket award, keep your fingers crossed that he gets it.

Michelle did you go to see your son?

Annie how are you? It seems like I have not seen you in a long time.

Paula is your daughter home? How has the weddings been are you all done with weddings?

Hey those are great pictures of Holly!

Barbara I am back! I am glad I was missed. LOL How are you?

How was the baseball game, did you ladies have a nice time. Who went?

If I missed anything let me know, I don't like to be left out of the group. LOL

I am on Facebook too

Paula - Holly looks so grown-up! You should be very proud! I have seen changes in my son already just these past couple of months so I can't wait to see what he is like in 4 years! Congratulations!

Debbie congrats on the promotion and so glad you enjoyed your trip and son! My cousin will be ordained at the vatican next year so I may need lots of tips soon.

I don't think any of us made it to the sox game...my life became a tad bit to complicated recenlty and I know I missed it. I was pretty bummed but sometimes life is what it is.

I am on facebook too!

You can find me on fb either under my e-mail dcollins@cajetan.org or name Debra Collins, if you have any problems let me know, I would love for you to see the pictures.

Paul do I need your last name to friend you, I will try Paula S and see what happens.

Michelle, no orders yet, don't worry he will get orders before he knows it. Paula is right nothing the Navy does makes sense. LOL

Paula, so it is great having your daughter home. Good for her I knew she would do great she is your daughter isn't she!!!!

Coco, just ask and I will tell you everything I know, you will love Rome.

I got the ducks today! They are small but cute. So now I have twenty navy ducks sitting in my house wondering when they are going to get a new home. Can we please work on setting an August date ladies? The third weekend is out for me - family reunion.

Annie, the Navy Pier coordinator said you should call the Midway contact person since you have heard anything back. His number is on the registration link below.

For anyone else interested here is the registration link.

http://affiliates.uso.org/illinois/default.cfm?contentid=429

Hey girls August 14th is great for me!!!! I finish radiation the 12th so I will be in a celerating mood too!!! I can not wait to see the faces behind the names. Thank you Lovemysailor and Barb

So here's irony ladies...I didn't see either my navy son or other son for Mother's Day this year...but on Father's Day weekend I had an amazing time with both of them at a wedding and then hanging out doing miniature golf and go carts all day yesterday. The wedding was the first time I saw son my son in his dress whites...he looked so handsome! And the family loved it! Will post photos later.

The 14th works for me. I actually have a grade school reunion on the 13th so it will be a fun weekend. The ducks for those you don't remember - I found an adorable navy rubber duck in a bar soap while I was in Nashville a couple months ago and a bunch of you wanted one. So I finally found them online for much cheaper. I will post the picture again later today.

Hang in the there Michele...the orders will come sooner or later.

Hi, don't worry Michelle he will get orders soon.

Are we looking going out in August? Where are we meeting?

Barb you don't need to go to any wedding. LOL You will be missed.

How is everyone? Oh the storms were really bad but we did ok, no damage and we did not lose electric but Evergreen did.

Michelle has your son checked to make sure his file is in order? My son was waiting a long time and his friends were all getting their orders yet he had the best grade. He talked to his A school teacher and when he looked into it my sons file was on hold because there were things not signed off from previous instructors in bootcamp. Once those men were notified they corrected it within 2 days and he got his 2nd choice, his first was San Diago where every one wanted to go but he did get the type of ship he wanted and he likes Norfolk Va so he is doind very well. Take care Paula2

OMG are those boys crazy! They are in big trouble now.

Hi Michelle, well keep us updated as soon as you find out where your son is going.

Diane either one of those days work for me, just let me know.

Hi all, What is masted?

Heck yeh especially for not showing interest in a class, he must have gotten several warnings.

Paula I did not post any pictures but I will post a few just for you. LOL