Chicago Mom's

Hi all, crazy stuff going on with the packages, makes me worry a little. Debbie don't you love it when they ask how come you worry about your own child! How stupid people can be some tine. I love it when they say oh at least hes in the Navy they are not in Afgahan. Ha well my nephew who has been in the Navy 10 years arrived there on wed. Everyone please keep him in your pryaers for a safe retun home he will be there for 9 months. He actually said its a beautiful country. Hope all have a great weekend.

Hello all - thanks for the love and sharing the tears! It's nice to be reminded I am not alone in all this!

Have fun in Galena!
Becky - I will keep your nephew and family in my prayers!
Mary congrats on two more years!
Paula2- Congrats!
Debbie - did I miss an update on your sons stones?

Thanks again everyone it really helped!

I have been to the Louve it is wonderful, and yes the Mona Lisa is so beauiful, they have robes around her but you can get a nice picture. People stand around for hours looking at her. It is really something to see it in person. lovemysailor, sounds like eveything is going well with her. When does she come home?

That is so terrible about that girl at Northern. How about that poor boy at Notre Dame, that is so sad also. You have to be so careful we live in such a terrible world.

Hi all I just read this on the Rescue group and wanted to post it here for you all just breaks my heart that they are away from there families. I am going to see if I can go see them before I leave to see my son, but not sure if I can.

Comment by Lynne (S7/DIV357/PIR11/5) 11 hours ago This isn't exactly a rescue...but we have a few recruits in the VA Hospital near the RTC who have been injured while at boot camp. They are waiting to return to RCU where they will spend a few months recovering and hopefully return to a training division and PIR at some point. Are there any moms in here who live close to the RTC who might be willing to go and visit them? A friendly face just dropping by would do a lot to lift their spirits. They have a Navy liaison that stops by but you know that is not the same thing as a mom. One has family in Alaska and one has family on the West Coast. If you can help, please message me!! .

I would love to go visit...anyone else want to join me? I have to be out in the area next weekend either Saturday or Sunday to see my niece's play. I sent Lynne a friend request.

What is RTC????

I am guessing here but is RTC Recruit Training Center (Boot Camp)?

I sent Lynne as messege as well for info. I thought I would try and call them and or their parents, see if they need anything, like toiletries, Mags, what ever I could bring them and I wanted to let their parents know we are here for them and to maybe join this group. My visits will be limited because I go to see Drew next week then I will be having surgery for a test trial of a spinal cord stimulator to see if it reduces my pain so I will be house bound for a week but not sure when we are scheduling that will know more this Wenesday. I am excited though because it is my last chance for pain relief every other surgery failed. if the test trial works then we schedule a full implant by a neurosurgeon to be done by the end of the year. Pray that my insurance covers this ladies it is my last chance to get off these pain meds!!!

I leave the 11th if anyone wants to go visit these men before then let me know and we can carpool. Take care Paula

How would you get in there? I am sure you cannot just say you are visiting. Is it inside the base? I am going up that way tomorrow and a friend going to Gruree Mills.

They are in the VA hospital to the west of the boot camp. If I remember right there is no gate to the hospital.

ok, on the same street as the base? What are there names?

That is what I was thinking Paula.

I am hoping Lynne will e-mail me their info and I will call the VA first and ask these questions. If anything we can send cards.

ok, I am heading up that way tomorrow if you hear anything.

Ladies, I have gone up to the hospital to visit sick recruits 3 times. Make sure you have their names and go to the front desk ( inside the main entrance and to the left) and get their room numbers. It is pretty friendly and will help you find the room. I have taken books and cookies to them. Pretty cool experience. (I'm sorry but I could not go until Sun., if anyone wants to go together LMK.)

ok, thanks, now I need the names.

This is what I have so far waiting to get specific info from Amelia. Pat I can go Sunday. Let's connect when we have more info.

Wow ladies thank you so much for answering for call for help. I told you Amelia I would put out a call for help and these two great ladies responded immediately and said they would be happy to visit your daughter and the other two girls while they are in the VA hospital. Halee, Amelia's daughter is there with a broken tibia, Victoria is from Alaska and i am unsure of her injury and a third girl is being added to their room today. I am unsure at this point if there are other recruits at the hospital. These recruits are visited only by a liaison from the Navy. It is just not the same thing as a mom who can report to the real mom who lives elsewhere how there child is doing. i wil be visiting the girls on Thursday when I come in for PIR. I know Amelia will provide you with the information about where her daughter is, the room, the telephone number etc. The help you provide in the time while she can have visitors, while she is in the VA hospital, before she goes to RCU will be greatly appreciated. Amelia these ladies are from the Sailor Rescue Line. Be sure and sign up for it in case a sailor in your area ever needs help.

I would love to go Sunday have a brunch with my daughter at school. I am missing everything these days!

Depending on the time I can you join you on Sunday, too. I will bake some cookies if I go otherwise I will visit them later in the week next week. Keep me posted.

Michelle, how have you been, I know you are busy at work. Just wanted to say hi, so HI!!! How is the BOY TOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How is your son doing? What's going on with him?

Paula, whats going on with Holly?

Miss My Sailor Paula, Just drop me a line when we hear about the recruits and we'll figure out a plan to visit them.

BTW, Our 86 boxes were picked up by the post office today. So they are on the way. It was quite an ordeal figuring all this out to get the Pepsi postage, PO pick up, getting the correct addresses to match, etc.!!!! Diane and I will start a thread soon and will hopefully make it easier for the next moms who have a packing party. But the work was worth it when that post office truck pulled away from my house and I knew that our love was on the way to our "babies"!!!!!!!!!

Miss My Sailor Paula, Coco, And to all the other Chicago Moms out there!

My name is Tracy--but I go by AmeliaGrumma--My daughter is the one in the VA Medical Center with a fractured tibia! & her roommates mom--was sent an invite today as well to join. I'm hoping she signs on as well. I emailed her and told her all the details about what your wonderful moms are planning to do for our girls!

Visiting hours are from 11am to 8pm--I responded back to you both with room details, etc... they are in the nursing home section--in the rehab unit. No where to "check in" when you stop to visit--just let the nurses at the desk know your from N4M. I did tell my daughter visitors may be starting to arrive!

I did hop a train & go this past weekend to visit my daughter--and late that first day she got her roommate! With it being Halloween--I went and got pumpkins and filled them with goodies for both of them! I used to live in Wasilla--and I just felt I had to do something for her as well. So we also had a Pizza party within minutes of her arriving in the room!

Just knowing my daughter has someone else her age there will keep her from getting depressed--especially as this week would have been her PIR. She was only 3 days from BS21 when she was injured during her PFA.

I can't thank you ladies enough! You guys are the greatest ever! THANK YOU!
Tracy

Hi Amelia, Is there anything like magazines or food we can bring?

LOL--lets see--they found the delivery menus today--and had Chinese. The nursing home rehab unit food--they don't get an option--except during lunch--and when they put in for it--they didn't get it anyways! Were told they have to go with what is available. But it's not very appealing to the girls at all and it wasn't to me as well. I left them a good suppply of candy for Halloween.

One of my daughters favorite things is "Dirty Rice out of the box" -- not sure about Victoria. They both like Chicken nuggets with lots of Ranch, BBQ, & hot sauce! But microwave popcorn would be good--I know she went down to the vending machines to get some last night. Oh & Ramen noodles--chicken flavor! Mac/cheese--That way they can have it for a back up when the dinner trays come up and it's not appealing for them!

They both like Soduko--left them a book to share, as well as crochete hook & yarn to keep them busy!

You guys are God's Angels! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

I just can't say it enough!
Tracy

Ok here is the address, North Chicago VA Medical Center, 3001 Green Bay Road. You have the room #, names and time of visiting from Tracy. I am hoping to stop on my way home from Gunee Mills tomorrow, I am going with a friend so I have to see if that is ok with her. There is plenty of parking so that is good.

I am taking my camera then I can post some pictures for Amelia, can never have too many pictures of you kid. LOL

Debbie - you rock!
Tracy - how long do you expect them to be there and are you planning on coming back out again? I will be out that way either this or Saturday by myself or Sunday with several other moms...it kinda depends on how crazy my week is. I will let you know later in the week.

Paula2 - I am putting prayers out for your insurance and the success of the surgery!

Here is directions for you;

Yes--it's only a few minutes from the base! http://www.northchicago.va.gov/visitors/directions.asp

Building 134--3rd floor--B side! the main entrance is actually next to the ER entrance Blue awning area--but go to the right--elevators on the left to 3rd floor--walk straight out of the elevator ahead go through unit door--next to last door on the right!

Coco--I would love to travel back--but not sure when--it's almost 8 hours and my work is a little behind from going and now being sick (train air--ugh). It all depends on if we know for sure when she's going to RCU. I would do the train again if I had to--but if I can get my mom or hubby to go--it would restrict the time we get to spend there. But if I do--I'll post it for sure!

Okay so that makes four of us on Sunday. What time works for all of you?

CHICAGO MOMS! You guys totally ROCK!

Debbie (Stephen's Mom) is with the girls right NOW! Plus she's going to take new pictures & Post them for me! Even got the chance to chat with Deb as well!

I don't know if Victoria's mom has signed on to N4M yet--but I'll send her the photo's just to make sure she gets them--and the link to Chicago Moms as well!

THANK YOU Ladies!
Tracy

OMG the girls are so cute! I feel bad they are with a bunch of old people. LOL I am so glad they have one another. I spent around and hour and half with them, Victoria said he mom should be coming to see her in a few weeks. I did see some sailors from Great Lakes visiting them, the girls said they come everyday so I was happy to hear that. Both girls have a long haul but they are young and will do great. Tracy your daughter is darling, I just loved her. Victoria is going to be an IT so we had a lot to take about, being Stephen is an IT, she was very excited to hear about what she will be doing. Victoria has a long way to go with healing, she is a little worse then Halee. Tracy only a week and a few days and she would of been PIR this Friday, that SUCKS!!!!! Oh, I got in trouble for taking pictures from the Nurse. LOL But don't worry I did get a few. Tracy I gave the girls my e-mail address if they need anything and I was wondering can I post Halee's picture here? If you give me your e-mail address I can send them to you if you like. The Navy does give them a computer to use, they don't get skype but they get everything else plus they can watch movie on the computer.

The room number is 314-3B and the names of the girls are Halee she is 22 and Victoria is 19. 314 is the building number, it is back by the parking garage and the parking is free.

This is Halee

I do not want to post Victoria because I did not get to talk to her mom, so I will wait on her. I have one more of Halee but my computer it so slow.

wow everyone has been busy. I can't go to visit this weekend parents weekend at ISU but if anyone is going next thursday let me know i am oof work What a great pic Debbie I feel bad so close to PIR and that happened!. Mary sorry I missed the packing party...I will go to the next one.

Becky, I am having lunch with my daughter at school also on Sunday.

Shes at Marquette right??

No Carthage in WI

Marquette did not give her any money so she did not go there

I knew it was in Wisc. I was close lol...Marquettes loss!!

You are right about that. It is a pretty school and big, Carthage is much smaller and she likes it there. So that is all that matters

LOL you were close!!!! How can you remember everything about everyone, we have so many great people here.

Cathy they will love that. They are so bored, only two young people there. They will love a visit from all of you, we are really nice. LOL

No school cuz of Veterans day thats why I'm off. Debbie I try to remember sometimes its hard. Guess working at the school helps me to remember certain things about people. Its my job to do that lol. Cathy wiil try to see how the following week goes

You are off Veterans day, I am not. Well Becky you are very good to remember things. I try it does not always work. LOL

Debbie, I see that Coco has a group going to visit on Sun. Should I wait and try to go the next Sunday? (Paula2 wants to go if she is up to it) Very nice pictures BTW. She look like such a sweet young lady.

Pat L. that would be great, I know the both girls have at lease 5 weeks if not longer. And it is filled with old people. LOL If that works for you that would be wonderful.

Hey Annie, I have not seen you in a long time, how are you!

Oh the girls were so sweet! Just amazing!