December News

[SemperMeGina]

It's been a bit since I made an update on things.  So here ya go.  It's December, boy did it get here FAST!  WOW!  Now, if things could just SLOW down a bit, because I LOVE December.  Plus the fact that my baby turns 6 in January...lol.  Anyway, there is ALOT going on this month.  We are working quickly to get decorations up.  Yall know it takes us a while to get them all up.  Hopefully tonight 70% will be up with the rest last minute (as always, as planned).  Tony has some woodworking things that need to get done as well.  This Friday I have a class to go to so that I can work at the Elem school Emmaleigh goes to.  It's as a substitute, but they only hire people that have either voluntered a long time or who are substitutes.  The principal told me to call her as soon as I getthe class done.  Next Thursday Tony has a dental appt at Camp Pendleton for his jaw and lip.  Friday is his hernia surgery in San Diego.  We will be there for the weekend.  I don't know if the military will pay for us to be there that long,as of right now no.  But they are going to ask the command to allow him to at least stay the night of surgery.  I already plan to stay the weekend.  I'd rather make sure he is all ok and nothing goes wrong before I make the 3 hour drive back with him.  Since he is having surgery, he will be out of commisssion for a while. He goes back for a follow up on Dec 22nd and we will see if he is released to full duty then.  As of right now they are giving him 2 weeks off. They are doing open procedure this time (last time was laproscopic).  Last time he was off for like 4 or 6 weeks (I can't remember, I think it was 4 weeks then another 2).  This time they are giving himm 2 weeks and are doing open procedure...whatever.  The doc said that most guys he has done surgery on was back to duty after 2 weeks, but they weren't repeat surgery and weren't double hernia's.  So we will wing it he said.  These trips to San diego every 2 weeks are getting to me and racking up miles on the van BIG TIME.  Since he has surgery the 12th we are taking this weekend to do family stuff.  We are going to head to Knott's Berry Farm on Saturday (yes, again).  If you donate a Toy worth at least $10 you get in free...I have our toys...lol.  I am cashing in some points and we will stay out that way and go to Universal Studios for Grinchmas one more time before our passes expire at the end of the year.  They are goign to have snow to play in and Whoville on the back lot (where the movie was filmed) will be all done up with stuff going on there and a few other things going on.  Watch me stretch a dollar...haha. 

I guess the best news so far is that Tony has submitted his reenlistment package.  It is currently being walked through by the Gunnery Sgt, in the Career Planners office, himself.  I am so glad Tony checked on it yesterday because the genious he gave his package to last week FILED IT...ahhh ok, we are on a time crunch here and the guy put it in a file cabinet...ahhh okkkkk.  Anyway, for the first time EVER, Tony is eligible for a reenlistment bonus.  This could also be his very last enlistment (depending, we will see in 4 years when he hits 19 years...he may reenlist or he may just extend a year to 20, depends on things).  While it isn't a big bonus (nothing like what our Army friends get...which could say something about Marines, but I wont go there...haha), it's something and very much welcome and appreciated, we are thankful.  Tony is only eligible to reenlist for a short time, once he hits 15 years he goes into another zone and will no longer be eligible, since he hits 15 years Dec 28th, his window is SMALL.  Plus, the fact we had to wait til now so he would be a year out from his end of service date (meaning he is reenlisting a year early).  Anyway...its here, it's time, package is submitted and hopefully will be back next week and we cna DO THIS...lol  Then they wil put in for the bonus and we will "patiently" wait for that...haha. 

The kids are doing good.  Brodey is trying to keep us away from cutting his hair (it's driving us nuts, but I am trying to let him he himself adn do his thing...trying, haha.  Emmaleigh is trying the Cheerleading thing.  Next she does Cheer/Dance.  It's cute to watch, it's her first time and she is about 3 seconds behind, but still...she is having fun and it's great.  Brodey decided to sit out on football, but he will be playing basketball (while Emmaleigh does Cheer/dance).  I love that this base offers so much and I am very thankful for the donations/sponsorship of the AFAF (American Friends of the Armed Forces), so that I can afford to put my kids in this stuff.  Without their donations, cost would be too high..so THANK YOU. 

So, that's us for now.  Just a small update on things.  We are happy, healthy and very much blessed.