Chicago Mom's

Sorry, but the rugrats kept me busy today!

Sunday Feb. 12,for only $15 per person unlimited appetizers at Cheeseburger in Paradise in Downer's Grove. Event runs from 4-8PM with unlimited appetizers and soda from 5-7. If you bring something to donate to Molly's Adopt A Sailor, you get a free rafffle ticket. Phone #630-474-4037 for ticket info.

I have to share--my dad, an Army WWII veteran, died Saturday, the 14th, and the funeral was last Saturday. Even though our sailor is only three hours away at GL, I called the Red Cross on a Sunday night, and within an hour his command had let him know that his leave started on Tuesday for a week. The Red Cross made it very easy!
At the service, because of a miscommunication, there wasn't a flag (no casket), so at the end my mom had wanted the Legion to unfold and fold the flag to be presented to her before the rifle volley and taps. The PGR was in the back of the church--they'd done a flag line at the church entrance. My sailor quietly left the front pew (in his dress blues), walked to the back. The PGR ride captain  took a flag off one of their poles, and he and my son walked to the front and folded the flag. My son is on the official funeral detail at Great Lakes, so he turned and presented the flag to his grandmother with the entire speel, "On behalf of the president......." Not a dry eye in the church at that point.
It wasn't planned that way, but how we loved how it happened! My dad would have been 90 in March, he had a wonderful life, we had a lot of happy and laughable moments during the funeral, but it was so touching at the end. My dad, I'm sure is proud of his sailor grandson!

hello how is everyone doing?  What are the plans for going out?????

Thanks for the welcome...

My son is Jacob he has been in the Navy since Aug. 2010 and he is currently on the USS Enterprise with his squadron from Florida. He currently is in an undesignated position so he his doing a bit of everything.

We are not from Chicago but we live about 45 mins away in Indiana.  I thought I should join a group that I would more likely be able to get together with, as many of the people from the Indidna group seem to be 2+ hours away.  I look forward to getting to know the group and to meeting in person.    

I would love to join you guys... but I can't do it on the 25th.  I saw that some are going to Cheeseburgers in Paradise, when is that?

Cheeseburger in Paradise, Downer's Grove, Feb. 12 from 4PM to 8PM. Fundraiser for Welcome Home for the Troops but they are also collecting things for Molly's Adopt A Sailor!

Count me IN for the 25th!!

@Cathy, WOOHOO! Welcome Home!

@Linda, Yes, it is! Hope to see you there!

Hi everyone and welcome to all the new moms!!!

My son called today they told him yesterday that he reports to VBSS school!!! (Visit, board, search, and seizure) This is some thing he talked about before he joined the Navy and he tried for it last year and did not get it and this time he did not apply but he does drive the RIB boat for them and so he knows all the guys on the team but to be on the team has been a dream of his so I am so happy for him and so proud. I know it can be dangerous but if you knew my son if it is some thing he wants to do he will give it 110% so there is no mom saying no. This has been an exciting year for him he made Petty Officer 3rd class in November and now this.

I will now cross my finger and hope for the best when he goes to training.  

Paula #2 congrats to your son!!  Just wanted to give a Shout out to Pat......thanks for your dedication to Molly's your wonderful!!! Enjoyed Cheeseburger tonite......

BIG THANKS to Sally, Mary, Becky, Coco, Paula, and Michelle for coming out to Cheeseburger in Paradise to support Molly's Adopt A Sailor. We collected a lot of good things to send to our heroes!

I always have a great time with you wonderful moms!!!!

My son called yesterday to tell us that he's received his final checkout papers to leave Great Lakes.  He's headed back to the Norfolk area to work at Little Creek at the end of the month.  Let's hope he remembers how to be a GM after three years of being an instructor, some on the simulation range, some in the gym. 

I'm in Texas till Easter except for a short visit to New Orleans and a cruise the middle of March. 

Last comment for tonight--if your sons are single, go read some of the horror stories on my Navy Moms of Divorced Sailors.  What messes these boys have gotten themselves into.  (Not that this couldn't happen to our daughters, but the sons seem to have trouble thinking!)

I am going on the 25th so count me in.

Oh boy lots to read back, how everyone is good and hope you are coming on the 25th so we can catch up.

I want to know why when we collect for the sailors it always go out to ships?  Do we forget that we do have sailors on land and should not be forgotten.  So there I am on a soap box so there!!! lol

Debbie (Stephen's mom), We have mailed to land units in Djibouti, Qatar, Diego Garcia, Kuwait, Guam, and 12 land units in A-stan. Another thing to keep in mind is that they have to come to Molly's and request to be adopted. So spread the word!

Congrats Paula #2!

Yeah Mary!  So glad to hear the Straits have come and gone!

My son just received the Blue Jacket Award.  He got to have lunch with the Admiral and he says his picture is hanging up on base now.  Hard to believe, 2 years ago he was in bootcamp and I was a basket case.

Ruth congrats on your son too!  I am going to skip the divorced stories as my son just got married Janauary...so far so good. :)

Paula #1 - got room for me to car pool too?

Annie, What time Sat.?

Hi, who is going on Sat and what time???

Hi, I am going!  Cannot wait to catch up with everyone.  Coco I have not seen you in forever, glad you are going.

Sorry I can't join you all!!  It sounds like it will be a lot of fun.

While most of you, or all of you probably, are Navy moms in Chicago with a sailor, I am a Navy mom with a sailor in Chicago.  That changes March 1 when he moves to Little Creek.  It's been a quick and Navy eventful three years!  Have fun tomorrow!

Yeah Debbie - It has been forever!!!!

Ruth - I understand.  My son was stationed at Great Lakes for only 6 months or so, but it was a great six months.  His then girlfriend and I took him to the airport when we he left for San Diego.  We just sat - sad - in the airport and watched the plane pull away.  We definately got spoiled while he was at Great Lakes.

Did anybody see facebook - Julie is going to be a grandma!

Throw another shrimp on the barbie..........Sally's coming too!!!!!

good, everyone is coming.  I think That Diane is coming but she was going to call Annie to get a bigger table.

Ruth my son went to Italy right after P-Cola, so I would of taken any place besides overseas. 

It was really nice seeing everyone. Oh Mary sorry to hear that, where is the ship now? 

Diane I am glad that your decided to come, it was nice catching up. 

Coco I loved the pictures of the wedding, they look so happy.

Barbara, any luck finding a dress?

SAVE THE DATE!! July 21 is the Rockin for the Troops Gary Sinise concert at Cantigny!! Come on, let's get a big bunch of Navy Moms to go.

I just put the date on my calendar Pat!   Got to love Gary Sinise!

Hi every one. I am having a really hard time with this. My son leaves in 4 days. I cry alot and I feel empty inside. Any possitive feedback would be great.

Hi Kim,what Pat said on your page is so true...we have all been there and are here for you. This is a great bunch of moms for support!!  Hi everyone else I'm on the countdown 34 days.....Mary sorry bout Dans extension...:( I don't know about you  guys but I plan on getting on the stage with  Lt. Dan this year!! :)

Stupid question Kim what is an mmc?

Machinest Mate Chief. Thats not a stupid question.

It's alot of fun when Lt. Dan comes to Great Lakes.

Found out my son has to be at the recruit station at 10:00 am. Im so sad. Alex is excited which is wonderful. Off to bootcamp. I feel like I can't do this but I know I have to.

Kim, You CAN do this. It will be fine, but normal will be a new normal. Let yourself feel what you feel, then after a couple days, pull up your big girl panties and get on with it!!! Come on over to Molly's Adopt A Sailor and you can send some love to the sons and daughters that are deployed!

Hi Kim I am Paula2 I know how you feel when tomorrow comes it is a hard day. My son told me what he felt helps is Mail Call so maybe it would help if you started writing him when he leaves. You can't mail them right away but you can kind of write a journal of sorts telling him whats happening in the family and such. I also took pictures of our dogs and cats I printed them on paper so he got to see them in my letter but could throw them away if he needed to.

Just vent come here and talk and remember it is all worth it when he graduates you will feel so much pride and he will grow so much in boot camp it is incredible. Good Luck BIG HUGS Paula2

Hi all, I am sorry for my momory  Ladies but who has a sailor off Iran right now???

My son was suppose to go there late Aug but just found out they are going the begining of June to releive ships that have been there too long. I know it is not like tomorrow but I was on the phone with him last night crying like he was leaving right then! Making him promise to e-mail and call if he ever gets a chance, THEN I get the real reality check I got an email from his ship with a check list of signing over power of attourny and stuff like that OMG my heart is my my stomach. Then he is all excited to boot. He said this is what he has been training for and he needs to go he is ready. Not sure if I mentioned it but he became a coxwain a few months back, and they have been sending him to hand to hand combat classes and shooting classes at another base I think in NC and he has been training with the search and siezure team. He was driving the rhib boat first as the coxwain but they have a member leaving the team so that is why he is training to move into that position. So allot have been going on.

I will try and be here more and I have a goal to come see Lt Dan this summer with you girls but my neuro pain is out of wack again so I don't last more than 2 hours without needing to lay down I am telling you it sucks. 

So could the mom who has the son over near Iran can you please send me a message so we can chat I have questions and it is happening faster than I expected.

Love you all, Paula2 

Oh my.  I have not been on since got together. 

Kim - I cried my way through boot camp and I was the mom who was not going to cry.  Boy was I wrong.  Luckily I had my son's girlfriend - wife now - to cry with.  LOL.  We were both a mess.  The Navy sent his bootcamp address to his dad - who did not call me with it.  He was one of the last one's to get letters because of that.  I was so mad and all I think was that my poor baby would think no one cared.  LOL.  After I got his address I went to the main post office in Chicago almost every morning to send a letter.  Yep looking back, it was a bit ridiculous but it got me through. 

Not sure where you live - but we Chicago Moms travel and I know at least a few of us would go for out for drinks with you on a Friday or Saturday night if things get rough.  Just let us know. 

Paula #2 - Sigh.  We will be here for you!

Alex left today I feel like I can't take this. I can't  stop crying nothing helps.

Oh Kim I wish I lived close to you. It is really hard right now, try and think of the things everyone here has said. I was really busy when my son left because I had just found out I had breast cancer so the time went by fast but I do remember the thing about the phone I always had my phone with me and he called one day when I was in Chemo and he called I started crying so hard I gave everyone a scare..LOL but I was just so happy I got that call. I made special loud ringtones for his phone number so everyone knows to jump and get the phone when it rings. I also tried to read about what he was going to do when he was in the Navy and read this board and asked questions becuse the terminology in crazy to understan.

Just hang in there this week will be difficult but keep telling yourself he is safe and doing what he has dreamed of and you will be so proud the day he graduates it is an amazing feeling they mature into men.

One thing my son said helped him was that I always told him he could do it he could do it and that I had faith and was proud. I also told him not to let the teachers get to him they are going to yell and scream like on the movies and let it go in one ear out the other then once they pass battle stations the yelling stops. My son had so many men in his group that wanted to quit because of the yelling and name calling and my son gave them encouragement and told them to understand it is all part of procedure and to let it go and it helps.

Take care send me a message if you need to talk,

Paula2

Hello all.  We all need a meet and greet!

My sailor is finishing up "C" school, getting ready meet up with the USS Enterprise (already at sea) and dealing with his SUV being totaled by a friend.

Anyhow, the younger son makes his Confirmation on 4-14.

Can we schedule a Northern meet & greet for April 21st in the Schaumburg-ish area?  Who is interested?  Heaven knows I am!

I previously met up with a few Navy moms at the Olive Garden in Schaumburg and they were very accomodating.

I am open for suggesstions.  There is a lot going on which is why I really need a get together with the best type of support group ever! 

Took the dog for a walk were our sailors have there p days. They look tired although doing well. They should be able to get to bed by 8:00 pm tonight. I will feel better once they are in there racks getting some sleep.

hi all, lots to catch up on I see.  Michelle your slacking on the cliff notes..:) Everyones sailors are in my prayers.....Pat have a question for ya....I recieved an e-mail from a sailor thanking me for the  boxes we sent from Molly's. She was from the Vinson. How did our boxes get to the Vinson I thought we packed for the Makin?.. stay well evryone.

hi all, lots to catch up on I see.  Michelle your slacking on the cliff notes..:) Everyones sailors are in my prayers.....Pat have a question for ya....I recieved an e-mail from a sailor thanking me for the  boxes we sent from Molly's. She was from the Vinson. How did our boxes get to the Vinson I thought we packed for the Makin?.. stay well evryone.

hi all, lots to catch up on I see.  Michelle your slacking on the cliff notes..:) Everyones sailors are in my prayers.....Pat have a question for ya....I recieved an e-mail from a sailor thanking me for the  boxes we sent from Molly's. She was from the Vinson. How did our boxes get to the Vinson I thought we packed for the Makin?.. stay well evryone.

hi all, lots to catch up on I see.  Michelle your slacking on the cliff notes..:) Everyones sailors are in my prayers.....Pat have a question for ya....I recieved an e-mail from a sailor thanking me for the  boxes we sent from Molly's. She was from the Vinson. How did our boxes get to the Vinson I thought we packed for the Makin?.. stay well evryone.