I forgot to post last week but I lost two pounds last week. Even after taking a few days off for our trip the week before. I am stoked. The routine change up has helped alot and I am motivated once again. I feel the challenge and the different workouts for cardio and strength training has been a blessing. I feel the workout for days and I am standing taller. It is such a cool thing.

I was at the gym this morning as usual and I love to people watch. The gym is a great place to watch people and study them. I crack up at some people and others I wonder if their Mama taught them how to dress in public.

I see people who are like me and trying to get back in shape. I admire these people. They are my kick in the butt when I need it and they don't even know it. I see women who are larger than I am and they are in better cardio shape than I am. I hope to one day be in as good as shape as they are and to be able to stay on the elliptical machine for longer than 45 minutes.

Then we have the men. They are in their own group. Most the men there are their to build muscle and bulk up. They have an encouraging word for everyone and are friendly.

The skinny women are another group by themselves. I am sure some of them started off overweight but my goodness can't they cover up. I don't want to look at you sweat with half your body hanging out. I view them as show offs. I am sure that not every man wants to see a woman with all of her stuff for view. To them the shorter the short and the tighter the top they happier they are. All I can think is EWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!! I am not impressed at all.

Those are the basic groups, there are sereval subgroups within the larger groups. I am sure all of them are nice people and have something to bring to the plate. But I really can not get over some of the clothes people think are okay to wear to the gym. I wonder if they would dress that way to go to the store, church, or to see their own parents. Anyway I am done now. I am off to make lunch and head off t o find Hubby a truck. We can no longer be a single truck family. I am out of denial on this and

Hubby is somewhere behind the smoke being a 240b gunner. This was part of the tactical display they did during graduation. It was the coolest part of the whole ceremony.

This is the Baby hanging on the ropes at the PT Field. He had a blast.

This is the first meal we had as a family in two months. Hubby had a wonderful steak and i had a salad and soup lunch. It was a shrimp and lobster chowder that was to die for. Hubby even manged to stay clean with the Kiddos hanging all over him.

I will try to get more pictures up of the weekend we had.

HAPY BIRTHDAY SWEETNESS!!! My little princess is now 11 years old.

We spent a good porton yesterday in Ft Hood. It was good and bad. I always have disliked dealing with the ID card people. It was and is always nervewracking for me. They are so rude even when you smile and are very friendly. ANyway I finally got my active dependent Id and while we waited for that we ran upstairs to deal with housing. The first person we came into contact with was typcial GS employee short and rude. We waited for about ten minutes and was called back. Hubby was back in the little cubicle and getting ready to start. We declined a five bedroom because it is a 12 to 14 month wait. I am not wanting to wait that long. So we signed up for the four bedroom and asked when we should expect a call. The wonderful lady who helped us said she could offer us one then and there. We set the date to sign the lease and do a walk through at then end of May. It is one of the newer ones and has a fenced back yard. Hubby and I drove through the neighborhood.

But to be honest we are just excited to be getting centrel HVAC and screens on all the windows and doors. The rest is an added bonus. We are already plannin our first get together with our new friends we made while at Benning and looking into what trouble I can find while Hubby is deployed.

The whole downside to this is that Hubby will be deploying this summer. We have a fifty fifty chance of hime being gone before the school year begins. We found out what brigade he will be assigned too. Just not the specific unit. I am bummed and wondering how this will be different this time. I know I will havemore resources and all but wil it make things easier on me or not. We shall see.

I need to jump off anf get ready for the gym. HUby is in the shower getting ready for his day at the recuiter's station and I have part of the day for just me and the boys. I am looking forward to tht. LOL

We have made it home. It was a long five days but so worth the trip. Hubby earned his In Blue Cord and Disk and is ready for a few days off. We spent Sat at my Dad's house and came home this morning for church. We are exhausted and n need of sleep. Of course the Kiddos are raring to go and the pooch is excited to be home again.

In the next couple of days I will post pictures and talk about the trip. It was beautiful, honorable and sobering for me all att he same time. Hubby has made me proud and I have done well by hime. He likes the changes in my body and I fit into a skirt today for the first time that was not a plus size. I am a happy girl right now. OOOO and in true military spouse fashion I met a woman whose huby is going to Hood too and made instant friends. She is younger than I am with one cute little girl. We are already planning dinners together and have already blew up the phones text messaging to make sure we made it to our homes. I am excited to be back amongst this wonderful family and support system.

I must go and put laundry away and do some homework. I am behind and finals are in a few weeks. Plus I must plow ahead because we have finals in about three weeks and I need to pull in some decent grades.

We had a wonderful day. All the Kiddos hung on Hubby all day. The two Boys did not want to let go of him at all and even slept on his chest today while Hubby took a quick nap. It was such a neat moment. If I was alert I would have grabbed the camara and snapped a picture, but I am feeling the effects of not sleeping to well for the last couple of months.

Today Hubby and I were talking about this next segement of our lives and how we are ready to start and finish it. It got me to thinking how I look at the different times of our lives. I used to looked at it as sea times when Hubby was in the Navy. Then I looked at it at what weekends we could not do things because Hubby had drill. Then it was AIT for 15U school and Afganastain. Next was a time of drill weekends again, then the Iraq times. Now it is Army training for 11B and whatever unt he will be assigned too. He has a 50/50 chance of going to a unit already deployed, as in right now. Then again he may be able to stay home for awhile.

My biggest thing is: Am I ready for another segment of my life labled Deployed? It scares the pants off of me and makes me wonder if I will have a full head of gray hair if he does deploy, again.

To be honest I had a really hard time this time around. I could breath today for the first time in two months at almost 10:55 am this morning. After the Turning Blue while I was driving us to a steak lunch Hubby asked me why I was so quiet. It is all because I can tak ethe load off of my shoulders and share it again. I am not the all of all anymore. At least for a short time period. I have my husband back who will step up and help with Kiddos, dishes, laundry and just eing my friend. It is times like that that makes me able to suck it up and move on. I can handle any deployment, TDY or whatever life throws at us and know I will not be gray, in jail or in a crazy ward somewhere. My backup is always there to help whenever he can and that is worth it for me to keep moving on.

I learned today that every seperation comes to its own end and it is not the end of the world. Now if I can only remember this when I am losing it and needing to punch something or throw something. I can handle anything the Army throws at us: TDY, school, unaccompined tour, deployment and whatever else they may find. These things will all pass and life wil be good for us no mater what is done or not done. It will make every birthday, anniversary and holiday that much better.

We made it.Less than 12 hours before we see Hubby at his Turning Blue cermony. We will have a few hours and then it will be graduation day. I am ready to go home. Lots of pictures taken toay. Sweetness was busy with the camara. She was bores. Now I am off to take a shower and try to sleep.On orders from Hubby. :)

Today is a busy day. I have to get the oil changed in the truck, wash the truck, and pack the truck. We will begin the trip to see Hubby graduate. I have not slept more than 10 hours the lst two day. You would think everything would be ready to go. But it is not. Having five Kiddos around will distract a person all the time.

I am ready to get on the road but the Kiddos have school. So I will delay until later. Late this afternoon we will be running around like crazy to drop off the pooch to doggie daycare and get on the road. Please pray for us and send good thoughts our way. I am m hoping I will not hurt my kiddos on the way. We shall see.

Hmm..... two more pounds slid off this week. I am excited to finally to be able to play with the Kiddos and not be out of breath. I do know Buddy Lee enjoys being around me more now and likes tochase me. He has to put up more of an effort.

We are leaving in a few days to go see Hubby graduate and bring him home. I have been searching high and low for a place to live and have very few must haves.I do know that we will be able toafford something much nicer than what we have now and will pay a decent chunk of BAH but after what we have ived in I am not going to complain or worry about it.

I am off to pick up the Kiddos and get ready for a church service tonight.

It's official (as much as it can be) we have orders in hand to Hood. I can't wait to finally move on. I am in a funk right now and need to move on. I don't knowif this little wall will be my downfall this week or not. Let's just say I did not work out for more than an hour today and I am not feeling good. The Kiddos drove me bonkers last night. (Of course I was halfway bonkers) Slepp is not coming and I have a very long drive ahea dof me soon. Oh well, I will suck it up and move forward with each day. Just like a good Army wife.

I saw this today and was floored that people think this way. It seems to be one more way to show off wealth. I have NO MONEY!!! We are raising five kiddos (all who eat like teenagers) on one income. It is hard and we do not regret it one bit. I did not have my Kiddos to show off or to say I am better than you are. What in the world are people thinking now days??

Everyone in Hubby's class was verbally told where they would be going after they graduate. When it came to HUbby's name it was an unconfrimed. Hmmm.. back tot he waiting game. I have learned not to trust the military on anything til you are there. Pray I do not blow up waiting and we do not end up not being able to join Hubby on his first tour.

I plan on sweating out my frustrations this week, at least until we have paper orders in hand. I do not think I will be doing to much. The change in weather is catching up to me and causing all kinds of havoc with my head and attitude. I will try to push through it and keep going. I only have a few days to make a differenc before Hubby sees me for the first time in two months. I think I am doing good with only busting butt for a month and really enjoying it. People think I am a nerd for wanting to workout everyday for close to two hours without fast results. They don't see the results though, I feel it in my dailey life and when I play with the BOys. I am not out of breath and I can run with them now. THat in itself is a awesome reward.

I am done putting off homework. It is due in less than two hours, so I am going back to that.

Good Night.

This is my before picture. Sweetness convienced me to put it up. I am not to thrilled about it but it is a starting point. I only lost a pund this week.I figure with all the weight training I am doing and the Chai Teas I had for a treat did not help any either. Oh well. I was able to buy my first semi formal gown this week. I found it online and it is absoultly perfect. It came from a junior plus site. The sizes are bgger but the measurements are that of a regluar 2X Plus size. It is kinda loose in the bust since I gues I did lose inches there in the last two weeks.

I am off to have my fat free sugar free fudge bar for dessert. And of course conitue with the laundry that is never ending.

Spin class on steriods is what I did today for part of my cardio. My butt hurts. The stupid seats are not made for fat and oversized butts. I will find out tomorrow if it helped with the weight loss. I hope so. I do know that I can wear my wedding band again and that is a big improvement for me. I did not measure tonight so I will do that tomorrow after I settle down for the evening.

We only have a few more days before we head out to watch Hubby graduate and bring him home before he has to check in to whatever unit he will be assigned too. He is out in the feild and not really loving it. He does like blowing things up tho so he is happy to do that. LOL