The Beginning

This is my first blog...a little nervous I will admit.  I have been told I am 'too in my head', so I thought blogging may help that.  I guess first some background...
-first, the name of the blog!  My husband, Rick, is a medic in the Army.  He is currently attached (belongs to) the Big Red One.  For those of you who aren't Army people, that is kind of a big deal because the Big Red One is in EVERYTHING.  Most of the war movies are about some portion of the Big Red One.  Anyway, I digress...I went to my first Family Readiness Group (FRG) meeting.  This is a meeting where the spouses of the soldiers get together to get information from the command and join together to do volunteer projects, gain support, you know, whatever.  So, I was sitting there, minding my own business, when this guy came up and said: "Are you Mrs. Doc?"  I had to think about the question for a minute...was I Mrs. Doc?  Medics in the Army are called 'Doc', therefore Rick is called Doc Konish, so...Yes, I guess I am Mrs. Doc.  He was very excited to meet me and couldn't stop raving about how awesome Rick is.  It warmed my heart, so I decided I liked it!  It sure does beat Mrs. Konish.

So, next, our family structure!  Boy, I could probably go on for days about that!  I am married to a wonderful man, Rick.  We have been married since September 8, 2008. We got married in Germany, alone.  Well, except our friend Jutta and her twin boys (2 at the time) Jason and Justin.  We then had a ceremony (really an actual wedding) back home in WI on August 8, 2009.  My mom says that is the day our marriage became real to everyone, because they got to see it.  It hasn't always been sunshine and roses I can tell you!  We started out in Germany...

I worked as an intern for the federal government (the Army) as a Civilian!  I was/am a Human Resources Specialist. After I completed my internship, they 'placed' me in Germany.  So, I was 24, I had just met this great guy (well started dating him at least) about 3 weeks before I left, and now I am going halfway across the world, ALONE, with my dog!  Ugh! 

Before I left, I was at Ricks parent's house and we were having dinner.  It was the first time I met his brother Steven.  When his mom said that I was moving to Germany, he just looked at me with a very puzzled face.  He finally asked, "is Ricky going with you?"  I said no, he was going to come visit in October, I was leaving in August.  Grace chimed in immediately and said "I will send him to her though.  I wouldn't give him to just anyone, but I will give him to you, Sara."  I couldn't imagine this conversation happening at my parent's house.  There would be no way my parents would let me do that. 

Well, on October 4, 2007, Rick moved to Germany!  It was the first time I had ever lived with anyone. I had pretty much lived alone, so if I didn't want to pick up my socks, I didn't...that caused some growing pains;)  On October 6, 2007, Rick asked me to be his wife and I said YES!!!  I knew he was coming with a ring and was somewhat disappointed it took him 2 days to ask!

Anyway, Germany was fine, we were broke!  It was super expensive and we weren't making much money, so we decided to come home.

We moved back to WI and things were going ok.  Rick decided he wanted a career, not just a job, so he enlisted in the Army.  That was interesting.  He left for basic training October 6, 2009.  He was in Ft Benning, GA learning to be a solider in the most difficult basic training site in the Army.  He graduated from basic in December 2009.  In January 2010, he went to Ft Sam Houston (San Antonio, TX) for AIT (Advanced Individual Training). So, now he was learning to be a medic.  When he joined the Army, he told me he was going to be a Health Systems Specialist...ok, that sounds pretty nice.  Then, about 1/2 way through basic training, I found out it is actually a Combat Medic...TOTALLY DIFFERENT!!!!  Oh well, we were going to roll with it.  He graduated AIT in May 2010.

From April to July 2010, I was detailed to Headquarters Army for a developmental assignment in HR.  This was quite a learning experience, but prolonged our time apart.  We moved to Ft Knox, Rick in June, me in July 2010.  When he got here, he found out they were deploying in January 2011.  We had said the whole time, give us 6 months to a year before he deploys so that we can have some time together before that happens, oh...and we wanted a baby.  Almost 6 months to the day from reporting to Knox, he deployed. 

When he deployed, I was about 6 months pregnant with our daughter. It was pretty emotional.  First of all, I was pregnant, and anyone who has been pregnant knows that you are not emotionally stable to begin with, then add the stress of saying goodbye to your husband.  I couldn't stop thinking about how that may be the last time I saw his face.  I knew he would be safe and I trusted his platoon SGT, so I was ok, as ok as I could be.

My mom came to be with me when I had the baby, thank God!  Halaina Kathryn was born March 27, 2011.  She was perfect!  I was terrified.  Now I have to ensure this little thing stays alive until July when Rick comes home to meet her, and that will only be for 2 weeks!  AHHHHH.

Well, we made it.  Rick came home for R&R (2 week leave during deployment) and fell in love with Halaina, and she with him.  I went back to work in July and learned what it was really like to be a single mom...hats off to ALL the single moms out there!

Rick came back January 2012.  That was pretty emotional.  He was finally safe, I didn't have to wonder every day if the knock on the door was 'the knock'.  I didn't have to worry about unplanned phone calls, or memorial services, or phone trees, or anything like that, he was home, and safe!

Life has happened since then...I find it difficult to co-parent.  I think mainly because I am a control freak and I 'learned' to be a mom alone for the first 9 months of her life, so when someone else is doing it differently, I have to just step back and let it happen.  IT is ok, it doesn't matter.  Adjusting to family life again is difficult.  It is hard to know when to give in and know that he is ok, just being quiet, or if something is really wrong.  Communication is interesting!

For 1 year, he chose when we talked, how we talked, and a lot of what we talked about because I refused to talk to him about the petty stuff that didn't matter.  Now, we are together every day.  Before we would talk once every 5-7 days, and by talk I mean some form of communication, rarely verbal.  It could be as simple as a facebook message or email.  He made sure I knew he was alive and ok.  I would send countless boxes, I don't even know how much money I spent on Amp Energy Drinks (which you aren't really supposed to mail).  Anyway, now we are here, knee deep in reintegration, learning to be together as the people we have become.

I love our life, but I think this blog will help me release some of the things jammed up in my head!

Enjoy :)