Chicago Mom's

almost forgot thanks coco for my adorable duck!! :)

You're all such involved, caring Navy moms that I thought you'd be interested in this:
You can go to the USO website and write a note of support to a wounded warrior that will be hand delivered.

http://action.uso.org/action/warrior-W108OEC105?sc=W108OEC105

Road trip, I would love a road trip.

Michelle, he talked with his Dad about Japan and I think he decided against it. He has been away to long and I think he would love to come closer to home. That was one of his first choices out of bootcamp, Italy, Japan and HA, I am glad he got what he wanted. He can stay in Italy but he doesn't not want to.

Hi Ruth! I will have to watch the video.

I think those dates are good for me, it would not be a party without me. LOL Only kidding!!!!!

Road trip...here is my road trip schedule...San Diego before end of the year (this is a must! and he liked the other mom idea...then he won't have to spend every minute with me...lol) and Washington in 2011...My son leaves San Diego and heads to WA at somepoint towards the end of the year...lol so either location works for me...lol.

Talked to my son at great length yesterday...he is working in the ER and getting lots of awesome experience...even surgeries.

Any of those dates work!

Barb that is music to my ears that my son can come home more often. Southwest is a good airline they don't charge for bags yet so that is good. Well he put in for his bases today so now we sit and wait. Glad I got you ladies.

Coco, wow you have your travel plans all set. Good for your son, I bet he is loving his work.

Oh Barb if he is in for 6 years they did mention a bonus so we will see.

Ladies, Double check about baggage on most airlines, I've found that if your sailor flies in uniform they don't have to pay for baggage. Also, most airlines will bump up military to first class if a seat is available.

As yet my son has never gone through military reservations but through reservations made by me on all of his flights home to Chicago and back to Charleston. I paid for baggage and when he got to the gate the clerk told him that military doesn't pay for baggage and they gave me a number which I called and was able to have the amount credited to my credit card. We have had him on Southwest to Florida, US Air and Air Tran and he has never had a problem. Also, when my son's orders changed and I had to change his flight date and was not charged a penalty or the extra flight cost. Maybe we were just lucky.

I just saw this video about the inside and outside of a destroyer and enjoyed it so I wanted to pass it on.
http://www.navyformoms.com/video/navy-racks-uss-sampson

All dates to get together are cool with me!!!

Michelle-What airlines did your son use and did you or he make the reservations privately...not through military reservations?

They are not suppos to fly in their uniforms. Stephen did from P-Cola home but he could not from here to Italy, so make sure what the rules are.

MIssmysailor, thank you so much, I think I don't want my so on a ship. I don't think I ever thought much of it and I saw that video and it worries me, he has been on land for such a long time it is hard for me to see him on a ship. thank you, I am going t try to send this to Stephen. He has spent a weekend on the ship before but not 6 months.

When Stephen flew home from P-Cola they put him in first class how about that.

when mine came he did not fly in uniform either. I made the reservations myself and when he got to the ticket counter he showed his military ID and was moved to first class also . That was on US air. Debbie mine has been on land and went on the uss carl vinson for 8 days in july to earn part of his air warfare. He said he didn't like or hate it. He said it was a good experience and glad that he was able to do it.

Just wanted to comment on how well Disney World in Florida treated our Navy family. We arranged a family reunion last Oct. so that my son who was in nuke school in Charleston could fly down and meet us in Disney World to see his 2 year old nephew. Couldn't get in Shades of Green the military resort but ws able to get a 2 room villa for 40% off and that also included a dinng plan for the 6 in our family. Also, my son's 5 day ticket into the park was free and the other 5 of us were able to get a 5 day pass for only $99. They asked at several places what we were celebrating and when we told them a family reunion with our Navy son, they went out of their way to shower us with little perks and just a genuine show of thanks. It trully was a magical tme to be able to have all of us spend time with him and was a good break for him before he had to go back and complete Power School. Now he is in Washington and we hope to make a trip out there in the Fall.

Hi all. I need advice, my sons commissioning is in November. Will he be able to spend time with me? How many days should I stay? How involved do the families get to be?

Here is another one, when my son was in Norfolk he was in class and an officer from the Truxton came in and asked for a volunteer as he was short a BM and going out to do maneuvers for 2 weeks. My son jumped at the chance he went he loved it got everything on some list he had checked off and got along great with everyone. Well he is in Main helping get his ship the Jason Dunham (very touching story how this was named after a Marine killed a few yrs ago, his parents donated his uniform and personal belongings like a bat and ball a things like that which hang in glass cases all over the ship) so he is helping load furniture and food stuff like that because they are behind schedule. So the Truxton contact his ship and asks if they can have my son for 2 month deployment and my sons superior said it was his choice. He wants to go so he can do his real job instead of what his is doing now, I say stay put either way they say he will be back in time for commissioning but what if they are not? Do they always keep a schedule and come back when they are suppose to?

Did I tell you guys I "Friended" a woman on the ships group we began talking and that night she asked her boyfriend to look up my son and tell him to call me and guess what he said????????? He said he is my buddy I am meeting him now to play video games! My son called me laughed his but off and said that N4M group really gets you around he said he thought is was so cool she and I became friends. How cool, I love this place!

I got a call from the ships IT department yesterday because my password was not working for the family website this man was so nice and he gave me the direct address to the ship and how to address it to my son then he noticed my son never got a military e-mail address so he was going to correct that too so he could start using the ships computer to contact me. This man was on the phone with me for 30 min I was so shocked how much he cared. He said it is important that the families are involved and feel part of the ship. It gave me a warm feeling for where my son is and who he is with.

So grandma is baking cookies and I charged my husbands old IPhone 3 as we got the 4's when they came out I loaded it with all the family numbers and addresses. I got him a 16g Ipod with 2760 songs already loaded on EBay all charged for him it will be like X-Mass.

So much at once let me know your thoughts on my questions please.

wow was that long....... Sorry just so excited.

Luv you gals

The ship is new and it is being commissioned.

LOL that was long but I love to read. Maybe Paula can answer that. My son had been on land so I don't know much about the sea. How cool is that a new ship. Do they take a bottle and hit it with it. LOL

Mary thanks for asking that question, I was going to have to look that one up.

Well I can tell you this no they are not always back on time, the Nimitz was suppose to be back before Thanksgiving and they were still there at Christmas, that is why we sent Christmas items to them. Remember it is the Navy and they do what they want, you just never know.

That is so cool about finding someone who is friends with your son, you will have a lot to talk about to this women. I have a women on my Naples site I talk to, her daughter knows Stephen, we took her to dinner when we were there.

OMG that is so awesome about getting your son an e-mail address, as we all know it is very important to talk to our sailors.

Ok, I think I have answer all of your questions and statements. LOL

Mine is going on a short det. and I'm hoping he will be back in time to take the advancement test in Sept. keep your fingers crossed everyone!!

ok so how did you get Stacie in the pool?? :)

How cool...the Chicago Moms connection just keeps growing!

Hi gigi65 there is a very nice lady on this group her name is Sally Guenther I think she was talking about having a packing party.

Hi, how is everyone doing? We (all of us moms) do amazing things to help our own sailors and other sailors. I am going to help my son come home this Christmas if he can. Airfare will be around $1,400 if not more. Maybe we should take up a collection for me. LOL Only kidding, I know there are sailors that really need help.

Michelle how is lover boy doing?

Ladies I saw a movie the other day about life on a destoryer. It was amazing a little scary. My son had been on land since he joined and I liked that, I just hope since he is putting in for a ship he likes it. NO BEER! How is he going to make it. LOL He is so use to his freedom to go see amazing places. Maybe if you are on a ship first and then land that would work better. Well I guess he will be just fine, you know us moms we worry too much.

OMG Paula it will be wonderful. Last year at school we took up a collection and sent two or three veterans there, I know a lot about it. Love the picture.

Hi Everyone, Met Sally Guenther through Molly's Adopt A Sailor and we would like to organize a packing party. We would like to have it at my house in the western suburb of Carol Stream. We were thinking about October. Anyone interested? Pat

Hi all, dum me, can you explain what we do at a packing party?

MissMySailor, Every month we adopt a group at "Molly's Adopt A Sailor". Usually they give us a wish list of things they can use. So we get a bunch of moms together and pack boxes to be sent to the group. We have a contact person in the group that distributes the 'goodies' to everyone in the group. The 'packing party' is a chance to get together, meet, have fun, and send things to the troops. We would love to have you join us. Pat

Pat, So do I bring stuff on the list to the party then we pack it? Or should I get boxes from USPS pack and ring with? I do belong to Molly's group and I would love to come to the packing party so please add me to the invite list.

MissMySailor, Just bring stuff from the list! I'll have the boxes here. When Sally and I nail down a date, we'll send you the details. Look forward to meeting you!!

Count me in for the packing party!

Debbie-What a great idea(Honor Flight) for a chapel project. I am a principal at a Lutheran school and this would be a great way to designate our chapel offerings. We could do it in conjunction with our Veteran's Day celebrations!

Thanks Chitown Pat!!

Chitown, that is a great plan, that is what we did. We had mass and invited the vets to come and they we told them they were going. You should of seen their faces, there was not a dry eye in the place. One of the vets just passed away around a month ago, his family was so happy he got to go. A principal, boy I would not want that job. I work in the office with the principal, not ez working with the parents.

Paula, how cool is that. I will look on fb. I am so glad you dad got to go.

I'm probably repeating myself, but I've been on two honor flights out of the quad-cities. What an honor! If you're a teacher, have your students write letters--there's mail call on the way home for our heroes. I'm excited that I've been asked to be a "bus captain" in November for my third flight. But an even bigger excitement--my sailor has been asked to be a guardian, so he'll be with me, too.

Oh Ruth that is so great. Take pictures if you can, I would love to see them.

There are some pictures of my other honor flights on my page. The first one I was my dad's guardian. Priceless! The second time, I was guardian to a retired doctor in his 90's that was a Navy veteran. It was wonderful, too.

Sally-I am at Bethesda Lutheran in Rogers Park Chicago. I was formerly principal at St. Luke Academy in Chicago. I am very familiar with Immanuel Des Plaines. My 3 kids went to Luther North and then 2, including my Navy son, went on to Augustana College in Rock Island, IL (shout out to Ruth from the Quad cities). I am a product of Lutheran schools as well. Small world!

Chitown, my daughter goes to Carthage in WI, that is a Lutheran school.

Hey Debbie, My nephew graduated from Carthage a few years back. The grounds are so pretty and he got an excellent education and got a job as an accountant right out of school. I know so many graduates that can't find jobs. I hope the economy gets better for our kids.

I'm going to drive by Augustana this morning! Last spring their football field was the site of a Guinness World Book of Records event. Whitey's Ice Cream, with the help of contest entries, invented a new flavor--Augustana Viking Pride. The community turned out--I took my granddaughters and the Brownie troop. Over 3,000 were all given little cups of the ice cream and had to lick it for a minute. It was harder than it sounds, as I (we) had to lick the ice cream being held by the person next to me as I held my cup for the person on the other side of me. It was video taped; there were Guinness verifiers there. The record was broken, so it will be in the next book. Everytime the girls and I drive by the football stadium (frequently), one of the girls will say, "That's where we licked the ice cream!" My best friend here is from Skokie and graduated from Augie. Yes, she was a Swedish Lutheran in Skokie!

MisMy Sailor, yes the ground are beauiful, Samantha had a room facing Lake Michigan for two years, but now she lives off campus. Gets very cold in the winter tho. You nephew is very luck to find a job. I do feel bad for the kids getting out of school not jobs to be found.

Pat - Oh what a small world. My sailor graduated from Bethesda Luthern School. How long have you been there?

Paula - So very very cool! What an amazing experience!

Paula, that is such a cool picture.

Mary, I know the feeling, but I am glad he was home for a little while.

Talk to Stephen today, he is on medical leave he has kidney stones, so he is in a lot of pain. They gave him something to try to desolve it and lots of pain medicine, he is sleeping alot. I will call him again tomorrow.

Hope all is well!

Dear Coco-I've only been there for 4 years, but several of the staff have been there 15 plus years. What's the name of your son or at least what is your last name so I can look him up! This is so amazing! Was Kathy Slupik the principal or Glen?