"Happy Hallowiener"

Okay so it's not so happy, but it's definitely Halloween and it's one less Holiday I have to spend without The Misses.

There was no big Octoberfest Party this year like last. The Misses is the Party Organiser in our house. I stick to "drinking all the beer". But this isn't to say my garden, and more importantly the Great Pumpkins weren't a success. After we had carved up all the pumpkins last year, The Misses gathered up a few of the seeds and dried them out. Apparently, I must have been drunk while she did this or maybe it was the listeria (yeah, to make me feel better and not so much like the family drunk we will say it was the debilitating brain injury that caused me not to remember). This spring The Misses pulled the seeds out and planted them in some potting mix and a few weeks later we had a start. With the party on hold until next year I thought it would be best to give the pumpkins away.The first person that came to my mind was my cousin The Cutie's little girl The Beautiful Princess. I had no doubt the smile I would put on her face when she received her pumpkins. I was out of town, but the story goes. The Old Fart (Alpha Grandpa) knocked on Aunty C door and asked for The Beautiful Princes. When she came to the door The Old Fart asked her if she need a pumpkin. She told him "no, I already have one." As she pointed to the one on the ground. "Well, come see the ones I have in my truck." He took her to the back of his truck and pointed to The Great Pumpkins. "Would you like one of those?" Her eyes got big and a smile came to her face. Exactly what I was hoping for. The Cutie sent me a picture message
"I cannot believe how big these are!"

I told her she could have them if I got to come over on Halloween and take a few pictures. The Beautiful Princess was very shy and wouldn't have her picture taken unless The Cutie was with her.

"Happy Hallowieeener!"

"Mommy, you said Wiener"

And the hits just keep on coming....

It's called Avascular Necrosis (AVN)- According to the Internet "AVN is death of bone tissue due to a lack of blood supply. This can lead to tiny breaks in the bone and the bone's eventual collapse. AVN most often affects the head of the thighbone (femur), causing hip pain. But it may affect other bones as well." Guess what? I have it.

The story goes like this: 3 months or so ago I was pushing a cart at work when it felt like I pulled a muscle in my butt and groin. After a week of limping I finally went to see a Doctor at the VA (its free and I figured he would just give me some pain meds). He told me he thought I had pulled my piriformis muscle, which is a muscle deep in my hip. He put me on light duty at work for a week and gave me pain meds. After a week my butt started feeling a little better.


Around that same time The Misses was leaving for her first training. You can imagine as a new married couple there was a little (okay a lot) more loving going on than usual. Pretty soon I was back limping around the house and work. The pain started going down my leg into my knee and shin. I was sure I had a sex injury, or at least that was what I was telling people. I thought since The Misses was going to be gone for a long... long.... long.... time my sex injury would heel. Well it didn't.

Last week I went back to the VA Doctor and told him I was still in pain.
" My wife, the nurse thought I should mention some medicine I use to take."
"What medicine Is that?" he mumbled while typing on the computer.
"Prednisone." I said matter of factly.
"SHIT!"
I don't know if he was saying shit because he should have thought to ask that, or he was pissed I hadn't mentioned it in the first place. Prednisone is a horrible steroid I was taking to combat the effects of my Ulcerative Colitis flare ups. The crappy thing about this drug is how much you have to take. It isn't one of those that once you use up the bottle your done. You have to be weaned off it. With as big of doses as I was taking it would take me forever to get off it.

The Doctor order me an xray for that day. The xray department is well known for their cute xray techs. They all look like little girls to me, but the guys in my section seem to take a lot longer when they have to take something to this area. One of the cute techs came and called my name. I followed her into one of the room where waiting was another tech. She was there doing some training. Unfortunately I wasn't wearing scrubs so she handed me a lovely gown and told me to get down to my underwear. As I took of my shoes it hit me. You see I work hard everyday at work. I am constantly running from section to section issuing items and fixing problems. Doing this I work up a sweat. I wouldn't say I have stinky feet, but after a long day there is an odor. As I stood there in the gown I tried waving my feet around trying to dry them off. My hip was killing, but I was more nervous to have these cute girls smelling my stinky feet. Soon they both came in and asked me to lay down on the table. They both were leaning over my feet trying to move the xray into place. I was trying to decide if I should say something. If I did, what would I say? So I just laid there embarrassed as hell.

The xrays came back "suspicious" and an MRI was scheduled for the next week. The MRI was uneventful. It consisted of laying in a small tube staring at nothing for 35 minutes. When I was finished the tech told me "I can see why you are limping." When I asked for more information he told me he wasn't the doctor so he couldn't go into more details. I had an appointment the next day with the doctor so all I could do was wait.

The next day my appointment was first thing in the morning. At the time of my appointment the MRI hadn't been read by the radiologist. The Doctor took my number and told me he would call as soon as he knew anything. Meanwhile The Misses is going a bit crazy. She like lots of information and I just didn't have any to give. She knew when my appointment was so she called right after. I told her I didn't know anything. Wouldn't you know right after I got off the phone with her the Doctor called.

"I have some bad news. You have avascular necrosis...." He told me that the steroids had restricted the blood flow to my femur and it was dying. The reason bones are so strong is because they constantly heal and fix themselves with blood. In both femurs blood wasn't getting to the heads and they were slowly dying. The reason my right one hurt so bad is I have a compound fracture.

He told me he wasn't an orthopedic specialist, but from what he researched the fix to this problem is hip replacements. As I heard this my eyes began to well up with tears. I couldn't believe this was happening to me. More surgeries. He suggested that I make an appointment with several orthopedic surgeons. He didn't believe the ones at the VA were the right ones for me. I thanked him for the information and went back to work.

On my way home from work I called my mom in tears. "Oh crap" is what she said. I feel so bad telling her this stuff. There isn't a mom out there that worries more about her family. I know she hasn't slept well since I told her. That night I laid in bed trying to decide if I should tell The Misses. I didn't want her too upset over there. I was concerned she wouldn't be able to keep her head in the game. In the end I decided to tell her.

"Hey, what did you find out?"
"I have a fracture in my tibia (I meant femur but wasn't thinking straight)."
"Tibia? I thought it was something in the femur?'
"Oh yeah, that's the one." I replied
"Well that's good at least we know what it is."
"There is more to it" I forced myself to say through the lump in my throat.
Click the phone went dead. Over in Kuwait you can imagine they don't get the best reception. So we get cut off a lot.
My phone finally rang again.
"What do you mean there is more to it?" She immediately asks.
"I have Avascular Necrosis." As the tears start rolling down my face.
"No no no. What does it all mean?"
"I am probably going to have to have hip replacements."
I didn't hear anything in return. She finally starts talking again all chocked up. I reassured that I will be okay. Then I tried to explain as much as I know about it.


So that is where I am. I have another disease caused by Ulcerative Colitis. My Mom, Sister, and I are in the process of finding the right orthopedic surgeon. From what I hear there are good ones and bad ones. I'm only 31 years old. I need to find one that is confident he can make the replacements last 15 to 20 years.

I am telling everyone I am doing okay. I don't know how much truth there is to it, but I have to be okay. I wont let my bad health win.

Letter from Iraq- 20 Oct 08

I made it, long trip but I made it. It's wasn't to bad. I ended up having my own 2 seats on the plane so I got to spread out a little. It was really hard when I couldn't use my cell phone anymore to text or call Mark. I know I am definitely going to have some withdrawls. We had some short but sweet conversations and talking to him always makes me feel better. Being here is pretty surreal. It's hot, dusty and desolate. Nothing to see for miles because there is too much sand in the air and what you can see are tan buildings or tents. We will be here in Kuwait for only a short time, training and acclimating. We are sleeping in tents and mine right now does not have air conditioning. We are working to get that fixed as I write this. Our shower point is about 50 meters away, we can only use 15 gallons of water a day to include laundry and showering. So when we shower we wet our selves down, turn off the water, wash, rinse... turning on and off the water. Oh and it's cold. Which I guess isn't too bad since it's hot outside. I know I will think of my Grandma Marie every time I shower here. She used to always shower like that because of growing up during the depression. She tried to get me to do it as a teenager. Ya right, Grandma look at me now. Well I don't have much time to write. Limited on computers with Internet. It was an hour wait outside to get on. Well everyone, know things are ok so far and I'll keep in touch as often as I can. I love and miss you all. As soon as I get an address I'll get it out to you.
Love The Misses

Letter from Iraq- 17 Oct, 08

Well Everyone,
It’s time. Time, to move on to the next location. The next step in bringing me closer to coming home to my sweetie. Oh and of course the rest of you too. It is 0030 and we are cleaning the barracks and buffing the floor basic training style. Why, not quite sure. These are World War II barracks. The paint is peeling off the walls to reveal about umpteen layers, the floor tiles are lifting off on all the edges and some are even taped down with duck tape and bla bla bla. Oh well, “Sir Yes Sir. Thanks for putting a roof over our heads.” We have an inspection at 0300 to clear billeting. By the time you read this I’ll be headed for the airport if not already on my 19 hour flight and 36 hour trip all the way to Kuwait. For those of you that would like to know we are flying on a chartered 767, shouldn’t be to bad. (That’s for you little brother) Leaving is bitter/sweet. I’m ready to go and do the mission. Just not ready for the realization that I’m really going to be gone. You think it would have already hit by now but each move I live these same feelings all over again.

Sorry I haven’t done a better job of keeping the up on the blogging and keeping in touch. Needless to say I’ve been pre-occupied but I’m going to try and do better. I have some pictures but most of them are of my down time. A lot of the training was the same as it was in California. Here are some pictures that I meant to put up a month ago and a couple from here. The only real major difference between my time in California and Washington was the weather and there were a lot more trees.

Combative Training – California

Self Defense - Washington

Convoy Training – California

Letter from Iraq- 17 Oct, 08 Cont.

Vehicle Towing - California

Yep good training right here, what you don’t see is the hole our back right wheel fell into. Yep, we didn’t see it either. See…

Sneaky Hole

I just want to put out there I wasn’t driving, that was my battle buddy. (I love you Adriana!) We were going around the vehicle to the left of the photo following the first vehicle up ahead when wait… and vehicle towing training was then executed.
While in Washington we did a lot more convoy/IED operation exercises. We also practiced what are called crew drills. This is where everyone in the vehicle practices “What If’s.” while driving. I have to say my favorite is “Down driver, down driver, down driver!” This one is kind of hard to take pictures of. This is when you are driving (slowly of course, and after we practiced while the vehicle was stationary) and for some reason the driver can no longer drive and is unconscious. You call out “Down driver” 3 times then practice pulling them out of the driver’s seat and the person who sits directly behind the driver grabs the steering wheel and climbs over the seat to take over. Like I said, sounds crazy but it is possible. We did it. If you have ever been in fully furbished HUMMV with all your gear on pulling a full grown man out of the driver seat and replacing him with someone else, you can imagine that this does take practice. So we did and it’s my favorite because it’s the most fun to do.

Letter from Iraq- 17 Oct, 08 Cont...

We did have some relax time too. We were able to take a 4 day pass and have our families come and visit. The Mr. talked about that so I’ll just elaborate a little. It was so great to see him! I hope nobody takes this the wrong way but I just don’t think most can begin to imagine what we are going through unless you have been separated by no choice of your own and are looking at that separation being a year long. You are both worried about each other’s health and safety both physically and emotionally. You’re not sure how often you’ll talk yet somehow you both will need constant reassurance things will be okay. This is the hardest thing I/we have ever had to deal with. I have no doubt this will make our marriage stronger. I am so lucky to have a partner that is not only willing but capable of doing all of this with me and supporting me as he does. I love him with all my heart and had a wonderful time with him. I am so glad we were able to see each other one last time. Not sure when exactly we will see each other again but I’m trying to arrange my 2 weeks of leave over our 2nd wedding anniversary.

So as much as we work hard, we play hard. I really think the Soldier’s I’m deploying with are a great group of people. Sure you have your friends and there are some you like and can tolerate more than others but as a Unit, we are strong. I believe we would do anything for the other to all come home safe. I’m proud to be going with this group of Soldiers and friends. Here are some pictures of our down time together.

“Out to lunch” wearing a mullet wig!

Recall Formation in “any uniform!”

Yep, Soldiers acting silly is a favorite past time around here. I think its how we deal with the stress. From left to right in the group photo is SPC Lawrence Luongo, 1SG Jason Biermann (in uniform), SSG Bryan Kaplan, and SFC Andrew Cole.

My personal favorite way to pass the time is with all the girls in the barracks for “Movie Night” I don’t have pictures of this, but one night there must have been 10 girls crowded on 2 mattresses on the floor around a lap top eating pizza and drinking wine. It was a good time. I think we watched 3 movies, all chick flick comedies of course.

Me and SGT Takanikoscorti

My battle couldn’t hang any more

SSG Adriana Galvan (aka battle), Me, SGT Veronica Badillo

I’m laughing because one of them (I can’t remember which one) said hey we look like an Oreo cookie. “Brown on the outside and white in the middle.” It just came off so funny to me, and I might have had a nice little wine buzz by that point.

Well I hope I have caught you all up and that you can see I’m doing ok. I really am. I am so blessed to have so many that care about me both near and far. The next time you hear from me I’ll be in the Middle East. I love you Sweetie more than words can express. I’ll talk to you again real soon.
Love, The Misses

Three Great Days-

Friday was one of the most emotional days I have had in a very long time. As I sat holding The Misses hand in front of the security point at Seattle’s Airport, I couldn’t wrap my head around just how long she would be gone. It was as if a large weight was pressing down on my chest, and there was nothing I could think of other then this is it, I wont see her again for 9 long damn months. Finally I couldn’t take it any more. We could have sat for another 30 minutes, but I had to get the goodbye over with. As we stood there holding each other, expressing our love for each other the time had finally come. We were at a point in the airport where she could go one way to the rental car and I would go another through security. We both watched each other as we both disappeare. I kept looking back hoping she would come back, but I knew she was having to hard of a time to sneak one last kiss. As I sat staring into nothing waiting to board the plane I thought back to the last two great days.

I flew into Seattle on Wednesday. The Misses had a 4 day pass and we couldn’t pass up the chance to spend a few last days together before she flew to Kuwait. As I saw her walking towards me at the baggage claim joy filled my heart. We hugged and kissed each other as if we had been apart for a year. We had a few hours so we went back to the barracks where she was staying so she could grab her things. It was so hard for me to be there with all the Soldiers realizing what I was going to be missing out on, but that is a story for another day.

The Misses had made plans for lunch with one of my Soldiers from my deployment to Landstuhl. SPC Shatzi (obviously her name has been changed) was a great Soldier. She had a knack for getting things done that most said they couldn’t. I really enjoyed being her Non Commissioned Officer (NCO). It was really good to see her and her 2 kids and catch up and remember the good times. It really made feel good when she had told her husband that she “was having lunch with her NCO.” It makes me feel like I might have left my mark on a great Soldier.

The Misses had made reservations for us to stay at a cute little cabin that sat next to a huge lake. It was perfect. That night as we lay holding each other on the sofa we fell asleep. It felt so good to have her back in my arms. She finally woke me up and we went to bed. As I got up through the night to use the bathroom it was so great to cuddle back up to her when I came back to bed.

-View From Our Front Porch-

We slept in late Thursday. We had nothing planned but to be with each other. We plugged in the computer and watched Grumpy and Grumpier Old Men. It was so nice not having anything to do. We got cleaned up and went to dinner. Then it was back to the cabin for “Champagne Thursday”. Okay so we stole it from a move, but it has been a lot of fun and I will miss our weekly toast. The Misses had made a “Missing You” playlist on her computer so we danced, cried, drank, and held each other till it was time for bed. I couldn’t imagine a better day.

- Champagne Thursday-

Friday we went into Seattle and had lunch on top of the Space Needle. We took our time, even though we both had lost our appetite. We were to upset about what we were about to do. Not much was said on our way to the airport, I wish it could have taken a lot longer. I wasn’t ready to leave her.

-Atop the Space Needle-

It was a great trip. One good thing that has come from all this is how close it has brought us. I feel so close to her, even though we are so far apart. It is going to be a long year. I can’t wait for her 2 weeks off over our anniversary. I can imagine the week we spend on a warm beach somewhere is going to be as good as those three days.