We finally have news!

Aaron finally reported to the brigade today. It was a rocky start for him, though. We have been planning all along for him to go to 4th BCT and today he was told he wasn't going to be going to 4th BCT, but instead to 1st BCT, which as of now isn't getting deployed until Jan '09. Aaron waited to talk to the G1 in charge and explained our situation. He has been getting emails from the rear detachment officer for 4th BCT and we both have been planning for this deployment. We got married early, sold his car, got my own place for me in Norman, he didn't move anything down here, and we would be in a big financial bind if he did not deploy with 4th BCT. But thankfully the G1 he talked to understood our situation and is going to put him with 4th BCT.

We are still waiting to hear what BN he'll be assigned to. Hopefully he knows that tomorrow, but for sure by Friday. He knows where he's going, though can't tell me specifics. But he assures me he's not going to Baghdad and will be safe. I don't care where he is, as long as he's safe: that's been my prayer all along. He has one last bit of training left to go through starting in a couple of weeks and will for sure be here through mid July (yay!) So I am officially dropping my summer school class and we will be here until then. After his training is over he will be ready to deploy but even then he might not leave until August, depending on when the next flight is. It's all good news. I have gone from thinking I was only going to have 2 weeks with my husband to over a month and a half. I still am praying for his safety, naturally, but also that he makes friends in his BN. That doesn't sound like a thing his wife would say, but I do. He's going behind the curve so to speak and doesn't know anyone there. I know there will be people who he will become friends with; we all know those southern boys stick together =)

I'm glad that his deployment is happening now. I'm excited for him in some ways, sad in others, but ready too...at least I think I am. I'm ready to meet other wives, make new friends, and to learn all that I can. Once he knows his BN, I'll be able to get in touch with the FRG representative. I'll be distracted by trying to graduate and get my real estate license...or go into pharmaceutical sales...to overly worry...I'll still worry. But at least with these distractions I have to focus on school too. I'll also have my amazing friends in Norman who have been so supportive of us both that have already promised to keep me busy. I'll have the other wives to talk to and hopefully FRG events to come down for.

I was a little stressed and confused yesterday as we tried to set up our tricare insurance. I know it's because I'm young and don't know a whole lot...or really anything about medical insurance besides what I'm exposed to at work and what I've been told...but I just didn't understand what the lady that was helping us yesterday was saying. Maybe she didn't understand my questions, I have no idea. I just hoped we picked the right plan. I just have this weird complex about picking doctors out of a phone book, which is essentially what I had to do yesterday. Every doctor I have ever been to, I have known someone else (family or friend) that have been their first and didn't have any problems. So selecting a doctor off a page based basically off their name was a little challenging for me, and maybe that's dumb...but I'm just not used to it. Oh well, only 1 more day of hotel for us and we get to go see our sweet dog, Chuck. (Actually I saw him today when I had to go back to get a letter from Cedar Park, but still he's my baby and I miss him!)

I'm super excited that my wedding scrapbook will be here hopefully by Friday and my Hero on My Arm purse (SO CUTE!) will be here in two weeks!! I'm ready to represent my husband and support my troops hehe! =)

The Joy's of In-Processing

Aaron and I woke up this morning and made our way to Killeen. We got there a little after 9 and were directed to the visitors center to get our pass and start in-processing from there. They sent us to the main in-processing building where Aaron had to fill out a little bit of paper work. From there they sent us to another building to check in with someone else and then he sent us to III Corps for Aaron to sign in (I had to wait in the car since it was 100% ID check and I hadn't gotten my card yet). Since that all only took an hour (surprisingly) we went back to the main building and got me my ID card and DEERS. Aaron's going to put me on his insurance next week. After that we went to housing, then to the on post hotel to get the statement of non-availability for us to be reimbursed for our hotel. By then it was a little after 11 and we went back to the visitors center to register our car...that was fun.

We waited in line, got called to the desk, started working on the paper work and were told we couldn't finish. We're in the process of transferring the title of my car from my parents name to our name, and the registration as well. Since it's not in our name yet, we couldn't get the tag for it. But the guy told us we could go next door and take care of it. So we tried that. But since we don't live in Bell county and all of the title stuff is being done through Tarrant county, it has to be done there.

Oh well, we are getting it all worked out. All in all, it wasn't a bad day. We were done before noon, they told Aaron he was off till 0530 Monday..so no going back tomorrow 'cause their off. And everyone was really nice and patient with us when we had questions. The lady that was helping us with my ID card was pretty funny. She had to go through and get all my information put in the system and then asked for my eye and hair color, height, and weight. I laughed at the latter and asked if we could be on the gracious side. She laughed back and said "Oh of course, we women are always gracious when it comes to that." I chuckled.

On another note, I miss my family--especially my sister since she's in MN--but it's reassuring how supportive they are of us both. They have all offered to help us in whatever way they can and I'm grateful for that.

Lt. and Mrs!!!

Well It's been a while since I've been on here, but now it's official...I'm a Mrs. now. Aaron and I went down to San Antonio for a couple of days, it was a lot of fun...our favorite part was feeding the dolphins at Sea World...it only took 5 minutes, but it was the coolest thing ever.

We came to Austin after SA to hang out with my new in-laws. They just bought a new house outside of Austin and it's beautiful! I love it out here, Aaron does too...some day he wants to live out here in the hill country...I wouldn't mind.

Aaron heard from his brigade XO the other day, and he could have up to two months here instead of up to two weeks, which is good. I'm dropping my summer school class and will pick it back up in the fall to be with him until he leaves. I'm excited to get this new chapter started in my life, but am anxious as well. When we report on Thursday, it should be an interesting day to say the least. We have so much to take care of before then...there will be a lot of early mornings this week as we try to prepare to report and get everything squared away.

Oh well, bring it on!