Bold New Move

Well, after over 8, 000 hits on this beloved blog, I've made the difficult decision to call it quits.


My reasons are numerous and too lengthy to explain here... but not too lengthy to have explained in my first post on the NEW BLOG!!

http://www.thescogins.wordpress.com/


I hope you like the fancy new space and that you'll continue to join me as I share news, stories and thoughts with all of you.

Blogspot has been good to me, but I'm looking very forward to my new relationship with Wordpress :) Of course, should it let me down, hopefully Blogger will welcome me back with open arms.

Rejection--How Much of it Can One Person Handle?

Reject: –verb (used with object)
1. to refuse to have, take, recognize, etc.: to reject the offer of a better job.
2. to refuse to grant (a request, demand, etc.).
3. to refuse to accept (someone or something); rebuff: The other children rejected him. The publisher rejected the author's latest novel.
4. to discard as useless or unsatisfactory: The mind rejects painful memories.
5. to cast out or eject; vomit.
6. to cast out or off.

None of the above definitions are particularly lovely. My job search here has also not been lovely and has led to me feeling FAR too familiar with the definition of the word "reject." Someone refused to have me. Someone refused to accept me. Someone discarded me and regarded me as "useless." I was vomited! Cast out! Cut off! (See above definitions)..

I am just being melodramatic to be funny...BUT, in the past two days, I have been turned down for two jobs that I really thought I would/could/should get. And I didn't. I'm not used to that. Before now, there had only been one time that I had interviewed for a job that I wasn't subsequently offered. I tend to perform well (better even) under pressure, so interviews typically go quite well for me. I'm also not very shy and feel like I'm a pretty friendly gal, so I tend to get along well with the ones interviewing me. But something has happened to me here... and it's causing me to not get a job. I know it's a tough time to be looking, and thankfully, Aaron and I aren't in dire need of the money- but I would like something to do. SOME sort of structure to my day. A routine. Even though it is nice to be able to wake up and have a "mommy morning" everyday (minus the little ones running around calling me "Mommy" over and over again...ha).

Sigh. Will someone hire me? Anyone? Anyone? Um.... please? :)

Less Than a Month...

... I haven't really talked much about the deployment on here. I'm not sure if it's been due to the fact that there's just been a ton of other stuff going on, or an effort to avoid the topic altogether, therefore making it not really "real." BUT then I get emails from the squadron like the one below, which are always a nice dose of reality:

"With the upcoming deployment we all have a lot on our minds and on our agendas. To help break down the sometimes daunting deployment preparation, we have dissected a deployment checklist into a timeline. You can expect to receive these in your inbox 2 months prior, 1 month prior, 1 week prior, and 1 week after the deployment. We hope that this breakdown helps alleviate the stress of it all so you can focus on spending quality time with your loved ones before they leave.

1 month prior to deployment

Medical

*Prepare/Update Family Care Plan

*Prepare an emergency contact list and phone numbers

*Verify family enrollment in DEERS

*Review insurance policies (medical, life) and make sure they are current

*Discuss medical/dental/eye care and review insurance coverage

Home Safety/ Management

*Review/discuss home & personal security measures

*Check smoke detectors and replace batteries

*Discuss emergency exit procedures

*Ensure appliances are in working order, serviced, and in good condition

*Review/Update vehicle maintenance record

*Know where utility shut offs and breaker boxes are

*Make arrangements for household repairs

*Complete property inventory

*Arrange for lawn care/ snow removal

Miscellaneous

*Notify creditors, service providers, cell phone companies of deployment, they may offer deployment benefits

*Collect important documents (Will, POA, Marriage Certificates, Birth Certificates, Social Security cards) and put in a fireproof box

*Insure vehicle title, registration, insurance and warranty papers are current and safely stored"

Their projected date to leave is June 24th... which is only about 3 weeks. I've been prepared (by Aaron and also a few wives who have been through deployments before) that the date can and probably will change several times before they actually leave. Maybe even the week of- pushing it back a day, forward 2 days, back 3 days, etc... JUST enough so that you're completely emotionally unstable and ready to just push them out the door to get it over with. The good news is that the squadron said they'd quit taking missions in June and it's looking like they're actually doing it- though I realize that, too, can and probably will change. But for now, I'll bask in the fact that Aaron and I may actually get to spend 3 consecutive weeks together... for the first time since early February.... who knows, by that point we may be ready for 4.5 to 5 months away from each other :) Ha...

I'm not sure how much information I'll be able to put up here about where he is or his mailing address for y'all to send him care packages, etc... if you so desire, but I'll find out. And I'll try to use the blog to keep everyone as up-to-date as possible on his life and times over there.

Until then, stay tuned for the Deployment Countdown!

Aye Aye, Captain....

Last night, I fell asleep beside a First Lieutenant, but I woke up this morning next to a Captain. He looked the same, for the most part, but there was a little twinkle in his eye that hadn't been there before ;)

The promotion ceremony was this morning and Aaron pinned on Captain along with another girl in the squadron named Molly. I thought it would just be Aaron and me and the commander, etc.. in a little room, but unbeknownst to me, they invited the entire squadron. Scary. I never knew how hard it would be to work a button and slip something on someone's sleeve in front of a bunch of people... after some haggling, I finally was able to get it done. Much to Aaron's relief, I'm sure....

I'm still learning the protocol on lots of different things--like rank and who does what and who to not make stupid jokes around. But I still manage to have SOME sort of clumsy interaction with those in leadership positions at least once everytime I'm on base. I am, after all, me.

For example, when a Lieutenant Colonel (their new Director of Operations) told me that I could step over him to get a better picture, I thought he was telling me that HE would be able to take a picture. So I just gave him my camera and said thanks and proceeded to watch the ceremony. Yes, I saw the little emblem on his shoulder and I knew it meant something, but I couldn't remember exactly what. For all I knew, he was a loadmaster or something (note: officers are not loadmasters.. I learned this recently...). In any case, he stood up and took a few shots for me and handed the camera back. It wasn't until I was holding the camera again that I realized what he said, but it was too late-- he thought that I intended for him to become my personal photographer. Oh well, he took it like a gentleman... And he did, afterall, have a much better angle than myself. He can just consider that another way that he served. Do they give out medals for good picture taking?

I've only been in this for about 8 months and realize everyday how little I still know about all of this military stuff, so I've got a ways to go... Luckily I've got about 16 more years to figure it all out.... But I am very proud of my Aaron and that shiny new rank he gets to wear around. His work ethic and discipline still never cease to amaze, convict and encourage me. And I also just so happen to think that those two attributes are quite handsome on him :)

Aaron and Molly with the Commander... as mere Lieutenants...

Shig got to pin on one side, and I got to do the other... Because Aaron's so tall, it got tricky, so we each had to wait our turn.

I'm not sure what I'm laughing at, but it looks like something must've been hilarious...

The oath...

Spring Has Definitely Sprung...

We have some amazing flowers blooming in our yard as of late and they're just gorgeous. Sometimes I walk by a plant, go inside for a few minutes, come back out and another blossom has exploded with another beautiful and brightly colored flower. I feel much more "well versed" in the language of flowers since living here and thus having this "accidental garden" in my own backyard. I now know what a poppy is (and I've also been told that opium is made from poppies... who knew?). I now can say that I have my own rose bushes (yep- plural...). And I can also now say that I have not yet killed my hanging plants AND that my petunias are actually blossoming!

I feel like.... like.... AN ADULT!!

My babies that I've raised from birth... :)

STILL alive... (although we got into some dangerous territory where their future was questionable for a little while there...)

Our first rose blossom!

Poppy in front of our house

(Noteworthy: This photo has not been edited at all... this is the actual color... so bright!)

One of the huge ferns that have popped up in our backyard

Our grape arbor grew some leaves seemingly overnight... it's so pretty now

Our happy, colorful, flower-surrounded house

Update on Eloise

Here's the latest email update from Adam:

Hi all, I apologize for the lack of updates. There hasn’t been much to say after our initial visit with the hematologist, but today’s appointment gave us a little more to report.

Since leaving the hospital, Eloise has seemed like any other baby. She’s eating, sleeping, gaining weight, is alert and having a great time with her sisters. Aside from monitors for her heartbeat and breathing, everything is normal and we are very thankful for that.

While various disorders continue to be ruled out, some tests needed to be re-taken for various reasons. This morning they, again, checked her hemoglobin and found that it had returned to very low levels and also determined that her body is producing fewer red blood cells. In turn, this has caused her heart to have be slightly tachycardic (meaning, it’s beating faster, trying to do more). In response, the doctors have recommended that she be transfused in the morning in order to stabilize her hemoglobin and prevent any further over-working of her heart. Obviously, this is not the news we were hoping or expecting to hear, but we’re hopeful the transfusion will bridge the gap and give her body time to correct itself.

As for a diagnosis, we’re still unclear. The one test that has come back as a possibility is for a G-6-PD deficiency. This would be a little odd because it rarely takes place in females and almost never in Caucasians – so we’d be 0 for 2 on those. However, it remains a possibility and we’re told that she could live a normal and long life with proper monitoring if that’s the case. We continue to hope that her little body will simply heal itself, but we’ll take a little extra monitoring any day over some of the worse things we’ve heard about.

We continue to be grateful for your encouraging words and prayers.

Adam

They also found out that she has to have a bone marrow biopsy on Thursday morning at 8... Please continue to pray for their family and little Eloise.

Race for the Cure

A few friends and I have decided to run the Race for the Cure which is next weekend in Seattle. We've formed a team to run in honor of my mom, a breast cancer survivor, and named it Runnin' Easy for Joan Veazey (Emily Culbert thought that one up!). We each have individual fundraising goals--mine is $150, which I'm sure I can raise in a week and 2 days!! (With your help of course...)

Please feel free to click HERE to view our team's page and HERE to see my own personal page and check out our progress. Any little bit helps!

Memorial Day Weekend 2009

This was my first Memorial Day weekend as the wife of an active duty service member... And I'll say it: I was proud...

Apart from celebrating and remembering the lives of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of our country, I was able to spend a few days in Charleston and meet my newest niece Eloise (and hold her a lot), visit with Lucy and Mary Beck (and play with them a lot) and fall asleep accidentally (a lot). I've been so tired... I'll blame it on the time-change, even though I had been on the east coast for a while by that point. Ha... However in my defense, it had been a very crazy week.

Onto the pictures.

Rach and Weezy

Me and all of the Temple girls

Me and Weezy

Punkin'

Adam and Maybay

First time holding Weezy

Officially Michelley Kelley

Woah, it's been an entire week since I blogged. Things have been busy, though. I haven't had a chance to just sit and breathe. Until now...

I got into town late Tuesday night and spent the night with Matt and Mary Neil and Diana... (no matter how many times I asked, Diana wouldn't scratch my back like Aaron does, nor would she spoon me... sigh... meany). We woke up early, ran to the airport to get my bags (because of course they lost them at Dulles...typical) and then met JoBeth and Bo at Gourmet Shop. Nan and I were both overwhelmed with his cuteness.

Mom picked me up and we drove up to the lake house where Marcus, Emily and Marjorie were waiting and we cooked out and hung out all night. So fun.

When I finally got into Columbia Friday, we had the bridesmaids luncheon, followed by the rehearsal dinner and then a little "out on the town" in Columbia--my ole pals Jeff, Jay, Madden and The Don came out to meet us- I hadn't seen them since the wedding and they were all in town (Madden was because he lives there, but the others had come from Charlotte, Charleston and Virginia...good times).

And then my camera died... way to go, Becca. So sadly, I got no pictures of the wedding itself or of the beautiful bride and her handsome husband. I'll steal some from others to post so you can see the cute couple. And evidence that Michelle Parsons has officially become Michelle Kelley... Such a fun weekend and such a fun wedding!

Goin' to Carolina...

...not even just in my mind. I'm actually going there.

I fly out of here in about 3 hours (if all goes well), connect in DC, and should arrive in Columbia around 2340 (there's a military wife for ya ;) ) I'm being picked up from the airport by Matt and Mary Neil and Diana, who just happens to be in town and will be leaving tomorrow afternoon. After a late night IHOP run with Nan, like back in the good college days, I have brunch tomorrow morning with Nan and JoBeth so Nan and I can meet Bo (JoBeth's baby who looks like one of the cutest kids around) and then I head to Augusta where my brother and sister-in-law will be arriving with Marjorie to visit! I head out of Augusta on Friday morning to start Michelle's wedding festivities, am there until Sunday and then head to Charleston Sunday to meet Eloise and then I fly out of Columbia early Wednesday morning.

Sheesh... I'm exhausted just thinking about it- but also so excited! Because of the wedding, so many of my friends will be in town and in one place so it will be fun to get to see everybody and of course to watch Meesh and Jay tie the knot.

Now... if I could just get over this paralyzing fear of flying, then I'd be well on my way to a good day :)

Heading Home

Less than 24 hours before I head to the airport to fly back to the most beautiful place on earth--the southeast. :) (I claim the entire region because I feel equally from Georgia and South Carolina and am indecisive...) I've got a lot to get done because this trip sort of snuck up on me. I think I was so distracted by the fact that Aaron "might" be getting home today that that was all I could think about. In a bizarre twist that almost NEVER happens (insert freakishly thick sarcasm here), Aaron's crew isn't making it home today. Maybe not even tomorrow. Which means I definitely won't see him before I leave and, with our great luck, he'll probably have to head out on another mission while I'm gone. Such is our lives... Only about 16 more years of this, so I guess I should just accept it, huh? ;)

Anyway, I have so much to get done before I leave. And I have a picnic to go to today at a house that's about 40 minutes from mine... which I need to make something for... which involves going to the grocery store... and I haven't even run yet today... and I need to leave here in about 2.5 hours.... therefore, I need to quit slacking and get started on this crazy day!

Weezie

The latest:

Hi all –

I’m happy to be writing you from home with Eloise right next to me. Although they haven’t been able to diagnose her condition, the doctors felt she could come home until the hematologists at MUSC begin caring for her on Tuesday. So, we were able to bring her home with heart and breathing monitors that make hideous noises when things get out of whack (which hopefully won’t be often).

As of this morning, her H and H numbers remain unchanged (good that it’s no longer declining, but still too low for comfort). Her PKU (newborn screening) came back normal which rules out a lot. More tests results are pending and more will be taken beginning next week. Unless something changes or we get a diagnosis, I’ll probably hold off on updates since we will probably not have anything new until Tuesday. Eloise continues to do everything normally – eat, sleep etc. so we’re hopeful her blood will begin healing itself soon even if that means we never find out why this happened.

Thank you all for your continued support and prayers,

Adam

SURPRISE!!!!

A house that was bustling with activity just hours ago is now totally silent (except for my iPod playing on the speaker system....) and Howard snoring (yes... he's only 4 months old and he's taken up snoring). Today was Brittany's birthday and we had a surprise party for her at our house tonight. It was tough just bold-faced lying to her about all of our friends and whether or not they'd be coming to her birthday dinner (which she thought would be at a pizza dive down by the Tacoma Dome with only Kim, Jill and myself in attendance). Brandon (her husband) left for a trip yesterday so he couldn't be here, but most everyone else that we contacted attended and after calling her to tell her that my car wouldn't start and I'd need her to come pick me up, she showed up at the door to a huge SURPRISE!!!! (and Brian covered in the alpaca fur on the floor, pretending to be a rug... and it actually looked sort of real).

We ate pizza and beer (the answer to her "If you could have any meal in the world, what would it be?" question Brandon had asked her last week to do a little P.I. work for us), ate yet another one of Kim's famous cakes (DELICIOUS) and concluded the night with hours of Rock Band. Yes.... hours.

All in all, a successful surprise party :) I love love love having people over to my house (most of yo know this....). Hosting guests is one of my absolute favorite things- not to mention that it definitely was fun to have so many bodies in a house that's otherwise been empty so much lately (apart from Howard and me).

Tomorrow night is the Taylor Swift concert. My sweet sweet husband surprised me with FLOOR SEATS to the concert and now has to miss it since he's still off on a mission, so Brittany is going in his place. It's at Key Arena in Seattle and should be a great time... per the usual, pictures to follow :)