Chicago Mom's

I love you guys. Thank you all! You made yesterday easier. I am better today...moving on. I forgot bowling...we went bowling, too.

Michelle - Wow...Japan...WoW...where is Whidby Island? Japan is where my son wanted to be stationed had he made it in nuke.

Mary...what a great surprise...gotta love and treasure those moments. Maybe he could just stop by so we can meet him.

Paula - very cool...maybe she can give us some insider tips on Navy life.

Thanks for being such a great group...can't wait to see all of you and finally meet some of you.

Michelle,

No you didn't miss anything...He orginally was set to go into Nuke but did not get one of his waivers which his nuke recruiter told him he didn't need. He got to boot camp and was disqualified because of it. Very frustrating because he could have gotten the waiver had he known. Now he is a Corpsman and really enjoying it so I guess everything works out in the end.

I was in Italy in June, not the first time. Where in Italy is he headed?

My son is in Naples, Italy and has been there for a year and a half, he is not looking for his next base he will be out of the in April, he will be in the Navy two years in November. He loves it there and has been all of Europe. We just can back, we went to Paris and then to Naples and travel around there and then we went off to Rome, I have a whole 10 days with my son it does not get any better then that.

I hear Japan is wonderful, he will love it, yes it is far but skype is wonderful, he will do just fine. I also know that if you are station on land someone comes in to clean your room, how great is that. LOL

Coco, yes I do believe things do work out for the best, when Stephen went in he want to be a corpsman and we told him no, he was a firemen before he went in the Navy, at that time they were sending them to bad places and we did not want him to go, so now he is an IT and is loving it.

Who is going to Italy I must of missed that. Oh Ruth we will have to compare notes I was in Italy in the end of May and in the beginning of June, I am bring lots of pictures.

7 days. :)

Going out the door to meet Mark Kirk in the Quad-Cities today. I'm on facebook if you want to see pics of Italy. Message me and I'll send my name to you.

LOL party in 7 days!!!!

Well Ruth now we are friends on fb, you can see my pictures also, I would love to see your pictures, I have 400. lOL

you can find me on fb under dcollins@cajetan.org, ok!

Sally, it's me! There are a couple others in the Iowa and Illinois moms, too. I know exactly where W. 37th is. The new Davenport American Legion is on W. 35th across from the park off of Harrison. Sadly, the Villa is gone. Did you know that? About 8-10 years ago the Mullane Irish Dance Academy had a satelite school there on weekends. I was the QC registrar, so I knew the building well. In disrepair at the time except for the chapel (used for weddings) and some other rooms. Great spaces for dancing on wooden floors though. They had a tea/luncheon room that we rented for our daughter's HS graduation party. I loved that building--it reminded me so much of Mount St. Clare in Clinton. People thought it was spooky, but I thought I could feel the nuns go floating by. LOL I was in Ireland when we got word it was burning to the ground. A few days ago a brand new public elem school opened on the site.

Yes that is my e-mail address Mary!

LOL what a small world, you just never know who you are going to meet! Ruth and Sally you will have a lot to talk about, the old days!

Boy Michelle I wish I knew someone but I don't. Cannot wait until Sat., I am ready to PARTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Navy Ball is October 16 in Davenport, Iowa, in case anyone is interested. It's fun to go.

Great pictures Annie.

Hi momof drew. How long has he been in the Navy? I know what you mean about missing him. Is this his first time on a ship? My son has only been on land and he is in Italy, but a long of these moms have sailors that have been on a ship. Don't worry he is going love it.

Sorry Michelle no food will be left, well for sure no drink will be left. LOL

No whining on here, no way!!!

Cannot wait Diana!

LOL Jill, join the club! Wow, he has been to several places already, my sailor has been in Italy since he left P-Cola, but they do like to keep them in one place it is cheaper and he is single so that is even cheaper for the Navy to keep him in Italy.

Welcome gigi65-the chicago mom's are a great group...lots of good advice, good listeners and from what I can tell, a group that likes to have fun!

I've been on two Honor Flights, one with my dad. Both are unforgettable experiences.

My husband went on the Honor Flight Chicago last year with his dad. His dad was to have been on the first Honor Flight out of Chicago but got seriously ill and was hospitalized. They had a wonderful experience and my husband and I have gone to Midway as greeters on otherr flights. We've also pushed Honor Flight vets in the Memorial Day parades. My husband is so involved in the organization that he uploads alot of the honor flight pictures. The co-founder of the Chicago Honor Flight, Jean Marie Kapp goes to my church.

Oh my...the word is out ladies...we are the group to hang with...lol. Two new members in just 24 hours. Welcome Jill and Gigi!

The Honor Flight sounds amazing. What a great group and awesome honor. Jill my son has been in San Diego for 7 days...and I really miss him already...not the same as a ship but still missing him. Michelle...I am glad to see you are practicing..."my son lives in..." I keep saying it and it gets easier every day but I really got spoiled with him at Great Lakes and the thought of having to buy a ticket to see him...stinks.

How do you get over the fact that you can not call then when you want too? My so is in Main helping with laoding all the supplies on the ship he is assigned too as it is new in a shipyard. He was staying at an abandoned Air Force base and I called he when ever I wanted but now he is on ship. He calls me once a week and said he has to has to have his phone off before he goes onboard. THEN to make it worse he called from a friends phone and said his broke and there is not a Sprint store near him. OMG ok do you think if I over night a phone he will get it? Is it safe? It is a shipyard not a base.

I started a new cancer drug last month and it is putting it's wrath on my I am in pain (it causes joint pain like you could not imagine) and making me very down I miss him so much I tear up when ever I see his pic! So if I am quiet (sp) Saturday Ladies please know it is not you it is this dam drug which I tried to stop today but my husband said he would leave if I stop taking it!!!

Sorry for the rant I needed to get this out,
PaulaG

Ladies-I am so bummed. My daughter bought tickets for me to go with her and my 3 year old grandson to see Thomas the Tank in Union IL on Saturday! Normally I'd be thrilled to be spending the time with my grandson, but I don't want to miss the group's party. Should be back from the Illinos Railway Museum by 3PM and will try and make it down by 6:00PM. Got my trusty Mapquest and the phone # so I should be fine. Save a drink for me!!!

Mary and all, my son is still an instructor at GL RTC. He achieved Master Training Specialist last week. It was really hard--worth 9 college credits, I've been told. I've been told it's a big deal. Now he's studying for the advancement test.

Last night we got the call that both he and I are on the list for Honor Flight out of Moline as guardians. I said no to September because I know that he has to take leave, and I didn't know if he could do it so soon. We're going in November. Because I've gone twice before (once with my dad), I've been "promoted" (LOL) to bus captain. I'm so excited to be able to go with my son! My husband was a guardian on the first flight we went on, too. It's a wonderful experience!

Hi all, Today is a new day sorry for the rant last night but it did feel good to get it out even by typing.
I am so excited just a few days and most of us get to meet. I hear people coming arounf 5 or 6 how many are arriving around 2? I should be there by 2:30 and even though the weather man says rain I know it will be sun shine and a great party.

My son has not called me with the address to mail his phone, do you think it is ok if I call his friends phone (the one he uses to call me) to leave a message to please remind my son I need the address? I worry about other people's privacy but he is a friend and let's him use phone? Advise please..... PaulaG

Congrat's Ruth on your son and what an honor to be a part of Honor Flight!

Call your son's friend. I would!

Definately call your son's friend! Paula 2 - rant away you have alot going on right now and if we can be an outlet let us.

I will be there some time between 2 and 3. On a funny phone note my son called for the first time last night. 7 days on base in San Diego with a phone...and really no excuse other than "I need time to adjust" for not calling. Funny was that I was at the White Sox game and couldn't hear him because the crowd was so into the game...lol...I think he was mad I didn't drop everything and take his call cause he did not return my texts after that...hopefully we talk tonight. He got ahold of my parents and talked to them instead. lol

I watched part of a pbs documentary called "Carrier" the day he left (just happened to be on). Although part was sad cause they lost a sailor the rest was very enlightening including showing the side of the sailors being frustrated about the lack of communication they have with the outside world and how hard it is for them to keep relationships going.

Paula, that's so true! But we also sadly find out that we aren't their world, too! LOL It's good for them to grow up and be independent.

I admit I've been too busy to follow all this, but now I'm wondering about this get together. Where? When? Is there an event page or something with all the info?

Coco-I've been watching the PBS series "Carrier" as well. Really an eye-opener and a good look into what life on a carrier is like. It is also a great overview of what Navy life is all about,though I can't believe some of the things that the Navy is willing to share on that program.

Yeah for for Diane! You are the best to host us all!

Michelle...lol...he needed a ride home...lol...he still needs his mom.

I was just straightening up and found the index cards from last time. For those of you who are new we brought index cards (either filled out or completed a event) with our contact info. I'm going to bring them plus a bunch of index cards and we can do it again for the new moms and maybe just update if anything has changed for rest.

For those of you who are new...last time was my first time meeting everyone. It was such a relief for me(he was in bootcamp at the time) to meet such a great group of women and know that we all had support of moms who could understand what having a child in the military was like. See you tomorrow!

I would have loved to come tomorrow. I should have paid attention earlier, but then things happened this afternoon anyway. My ex d-i-l called to find out when I was coming to get the granddaughters. Hadn't planned on it, but we love having them. I bought all their school supplies that they take to unpack your backpack night on Monday, so they needed to come see what they have. They were with me for some of the shopping, but not all. I wish I could be there! My sailor is in Zion if you need a lifeguard!

Michelle I am so glad you son is coming home, enjoy your time with him. See you tomorrow.

Yes Diana tell that policeman if he gets a 911 call just don't pay attention, it is just N4M. LOL

We have a military channel and yes sometimes I watch it, it is just amazing to me those ship and all those sailors. God Bless them!

Oh, Diana do wed need a suit????? Someone for sure would call 911! LOL

Diana do you need us to bring chairs for outside???

LOL you are so right about the suit!!!!!

Ok Sally I sent you a friend request!

Thanks we will miss you, but next time for sure!

Yeh just a few hours and we all get to meet!!!!!!! I will bring the Decaf!!!

Sally I just sent you the address and phone number. See you soon!!!

Yikes ladies-just got back from Union IL and the Railway Museum with my grandson. Running so late. Don't think I can make it down to Tinley Park in time. I can't drive at night due to my poor eye sight. I sound like an old lady...really am not! I'll catch everyone at the next get together because I can't wait to meet this awesome group of women! Hve several margarittas for me!!!

Hi Ladies, I have to tell you all never in my life have I gone to a party where I knew no one and be greeted by such a great hostess and Host and feel so comfortable with you all and part of a family. I had a great time my Duckie is in the driver corner of my dash which is cool because it cracks me up (thanks Coco) I am looking forward to the next time we meet!!! Paula2

Hi, just got home. Diana you are the best thanks for having us.

Paula it was so nice to meet and talk with you.

It was so nice to meet Holly! Paula you made my day you are the best! Thank you so much!!!!

As for the rest of you, it is always nice to meet up and eat and drink with you.

Love Debbie

Michelle I am sooooo happy for you! You are just so nice, you should have someone nice in your life.

Oh yea, Diana your daughter is just a delight!

Oh yes Holly!!! I am so glad you came too!!! You are great and I enjoyed all your stories, I hope you come to the next get together. Paula2

Well ladies just want to let you know that someone posted those pictures on fb. LOL I will not say who right Annie! LOLOLOLOL I told my son to look when he has time. I have my duck right here ont he computer, he is staring at me.

Hey all...so much fun. Paula 2 you summed up exactly how I felt last time when I was the new mom...and I still find it amazing how wonderful everyone is and how we can just hang out for hours and hours and hours. It was so great to catch up with everyone! I always feel so rejuvinated after our get togethers!

Thank you Diane, Paul and Lauren...you were outstanding hosts. The pool was perfect and so was the Sangria.

Everyone looks like they are having a blast...I'm sorry that I got hung up with Thomas the Tank Engine! Can't wait to make the next outing...great pics!!

That is a really good picture Coco, thanks for posting it!

Well talked to Stephen today and he is putting in for three new bases, well really he will be on a distoryer. Two jobs in Washington, Everett or San Diego, this is his second choice. He can go to Japan, I don't want him too and I don't think he wants too that would a shore job and he can go to HA but that is also a shore job, I think he wants to be out at sea. They (Navy) gave him a sheet he could pick from. So Monday he is puttng in 3 jobs. So keep your figures crossed that he gets what he want. Oh boy here we go again. Oh, if he gets sea duty he will not be out in 4 years, it would extent after six months or another year and a half would he would be in 6 years.

Everett is in Washington and two jobs are posted there, after what I read it did not make sence. The one in San Diego is a Mine sweeper ship (what is up with that). LOL

i had a great time yesterday! Diane thank you for having all of us!! I am still going to kidnap your daughter she was wonderful...made a delicious drink for me. I loved meeting Holly Paula and all the new moms! I can't wait for the nex get together.