A Day in the Life...Louisiana style!

So, living in the Leesville/Fort Polk area has taught me a little of what it must have been like back in the early 1900's when people "loaded up and went to town," once a month or so. Other than the PX, Wal Mart and a couple of Dollar Generals, the immediate area does not offer much in the way of shopping, therefor the Day family usually makes a monthly trip to either Alexandria or Lake Charles to visit some of our favorite stores! Since Randy had today off and it was payday, we decided that when we picked Cash from school (he gets out at noon on Fridays) we would grab some lunch and then head to Alexandria. Now Alex is closer than Lake Charles, but does not offer quite as many options as far as shopping goes. There is also NOTHING between Leesville and Alexandria (this will be come an important thing to remember later in the story). So, we pick up Cash, make a quick stop by Sonic and we are off! About 15 miles from Alexandria, Cash announces that he has to use the bathroom, we ask if he can hold it for a few more minutes and he says he can, but he seems a bit antsy, so Randy decides to pull over into a wooded area. Now, much like the bear in that old saying, poor Cashie had to "poop" in the woods and Randy accompanied him. After a few minutes life was good and we headed up the dirt road we had pulled over on to find a place to turn around, however Cash immediately announces that he has to go again! Now, a truck had passed us as Randy was getting Cash back in the van the first time around, and as poor Cash is making his second visit to natures toilet, a Durango pulls up and starts questioning Randy about what we are doing on that road! So Cash is copping a squat and Randy is yelling at the dude that his son just had a bit of a stomach ache and could not make it to Alexandria. He also apologizes to the guy, because we just figured he was the owner of said woods. Finally, when the guys takes out a notebook and starts writing down out license plate number, Randy approaches him to see what is going on. The guy explains that he is a sheriffs deputy and there had been a rash of burglaries in the area. Randy explains, once again, that he is in the Army stationed at Polk and his five year old son had to use the restroom! I am not sure what sort of burglars we looked like in our mini-van with Sir Poops a Lot out in the woods, but whatever! So, we get that all straightened out and we head off. Randy had to take a conference call, so the boys and I headed to the Children's Museum for a little fun and learning. Then we headed off to Target, the Spirit Halloween Store, Best Buy, Cici's Pizza and Big Lots! I told you we took care of a lot of business when we headed to town! Now, about 7 hours and many bathroom stops along the way, we head into the back gate of Fort Polk, which is about 7 or so miles from our house and Carter announces that he has to tinkle NOW!! Yep, you probably can figure out where this is heading, but needless to say the train tracks by the JRTC drop off point got watered tonight!! I swear, living with all these men is going to be the death of me!!!!

I Wish Everyone Could Experience...

Growing up in the El Paso area, I never paid much attention to Fort Bliss. We were out in the valley and rarely got to the Northeast and I just did not have much to do with the area. It was "just there." I think it was that way for a lot of my friends. Of course, this was prior to 9/11 and the whole patriotic movement that went on immediately after that. My first real experience with the military was when I started dating Randy. I had only been on post a couple of times prior to dating him, so I didn't know much. As many of you can guess, I was immediately mesmerized by the prices at the PX! Seriously, I never imagined I could get a Dooney for such a great price!! Slowly I also starting getting wrapped up in other, less shallow parts of military life. I attended my first hail and farewells, dining outs and other functions. For the three years that Randy was stationed at Bliss, we always went to the Christmas tree lighting and got to hear the Army band play Christmas carols. Seeing all those men and women in uniform, especially their dress blues, always makes me so proud. Now that we live on post (and right across the street from post headquarters) I get to experience even more of Army life. I wake up to a bugle call and know that the day is coming to an end to a bugle call. I wish that all my friends could experience what it is like to have a complete stranger come up to your husband and thank him for what he has done for his country. I am a very proud Army wife and I don't mind saying it. I think if more people were able to experience what it is like to "be" military we would have a much more patriotic nation. I know that I am much more "hooah" than I ever was before. Seeing a hearse driving down the road carrying the body of a soldier that died for your freedom will certainly change your perspective, and actually knowing the person will change it even more... So, I do wish that everyone could experience a little of what it is like to be a military family. I am proud of my husband and his fellow soldiers and I am so very glad that I have gotten to be a part of this crazy Army life!

My Doodle Bug

Every year about this time, I get a little misty eyed. For most people that happens because the anniversary of 9/11 is right around the corner, but for me it happens because Carter D.'s birthday is tomorrow. My pregnancy with Carter was not the easiest in the world. I had numerous kidney infections and was diagnosed with gestational diabetes and had to take insulin shots. Needless to say, that on September 9, 2007, I was ready to meet my boy on the 10th! Little did I know that meeting him would turn into the most harrowing two weeks ever. Because Cash had been so big and had to be born via c-section, my doctor had scheduled a repeat section for me on September 10th at noon. She arrived a little early, so he was actually born at 11:54am. All was normal, as far as everyone was concerned when he was born and life was good. However, on the morning of September 11th, the pediatrician who had stopped in to look at all the new babies came into my room and told us that she was a little concerned. It seems that Carter's breathing was way too rapid and she had admitted him to the NICU for further testing. Thus began the worst experience of my life. It turns out that my little boy was very, very sick and the most helpless feeling in the world was not being able to do a darn thing to help him feel better. It turned out, after much testing, that Carter had both sepsis and pneumonia, and no one could figure out how he contracted them, especially because he was a c-section birth. He had to be treated with massive doses of antibiotics, and we were not even allowed to hold him for his first few days in the NICU. Let me just tell you, when someone says they do not believe that there is a God, I just want to tell them that having a child that you think might not make it will make you hope like heck that there is indeed a God and he is listening to you! After almost two weeks, and many, many prayers, Carter was able to come home with us. Doctors never did figure out why he was so sick, but I am ever so grateful that they were able to treat him and make him all better. So, tomorrow I will wake up and have a healthy, happy (most of the time) four year old and I will say a very big thank you prayer to God for watching over my little Doodle Bug....