Another hold up

In going Active Duty that is. Of course, the military has found yet another reason that we're waiting on paperwork to clear.

Doc Handsome has been working with a recruiter since he returned home in February. We've had some bad experiences with other recruiters, not to mention heard even worse horror stories. So we are extremely lucky to have this one.

For the last two years, the hold up on going Active Duty was being released from the Reserves. In March, his conditional release was finally accepted. They gave him until the end of June to sign an Active Duty contract. The begining of this month, we finally had all the paperwork completed. You would not believe how much there was to fill out. Neither of us thought it would take months to gather.

One of the forms you have to turn in is a "Financial Statement." It basically includes pay stubs and a written statement of how you are making a living. Not just the servicemember, but also the spouse. Doc Handsome has been working for a Nursing Agency so he had those pay stubs to turn in. I however, get paid under the table for the mean time. (Which is luckily in the process of changing). So all I have to provide proof of my income are my time cards that are hand filled out. Yes of course that didn't fly. Not even along with my business card and a letter written from my employer.

See here's the tricky (yet ridiculous) part. The reason they need this whole "Financial Statement" is because they believe that military pay is signifigantly low. Which I will agree with. The base pay is pretty low but what they don't take into account is your housing allowance which provides more than enough to also covers utilities, health insurance, life insurance, and there is also the sometimes food allowance. Those benefits alone reduce your bills a huge amount.

So considering that the military pay is pretty low, they need to know you are surviving as a civilian, that way when you recieve military pay instead, you can live off of it.

Now tell me that doesn't make the least bit of sense?!

So the verdict after all that has been decided. Doc Handsome just started a second job since the nursing agency wasn't cutting it (not enough hours) and my employer has just started giving me business checks. We're going to wait a pay period and once we both get paid, hopefully those will be enough proof for Doc Handsome to finally go down to MEPS. The only catch now is, his conditional release was only good until the end of June. So he now has to get another one. And who knows how long that'll take.

And despite the difficulty we're gong through, being in no man's land, not knowing what to do next, I know it will work out. Even if we don't get Active Duty orders right now (because it's a 50/50% chance for Corpsmans at this time) I know eventually we will. Even if that means 10 years from now after he finished school.

To me however, it just seems like the Navy would be far better off accepting someone who is already trained and has plenty of experience in his MOS rather than some new person they have to spend thousands of dollars on to send off to all his training, uniforms, etc.

Do we ever understand the military? No.

Family pictures have arrived

We had some first family pictures taken a couple weeks ago in honor of Mini DH reaching his six month mark. I finally have them all back and thought I'd share. These were extremely important to me because up to this point we haven't had any family pictures taken of us. No maternity, no newborn, and no happy parent pictures. I am so excited we now have pictures of our little family.In case you're going, "What the heck are the swirlies on his uniform!" that is where I blurred out rank, ribbons, etc. We also had some portrait pictures done of just Mini Doc Handsome here on base (they were having a discount priced for military) so when I get around to scanning those they will be here too. They turned out adorable.

Shout out to the Spouses

This is OUR day military spouses! The one day we are recognized by the Nation as a force to be reckoned with! Hopefully your man in uniform appreciates you everyday and you feel the love all year long, but enjoy today as the day JUST FOR US.

"We come in all...

Shapes
Sizes
Ages
Backgrounds
Colors
Theologies
Ideologies
Societies

Some of us are Army-strong, others of us are in the Air Force-blue, there are a few proud Marines, a wealth of Navy and the ever-vigilant Coast Guard.

We love our soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and coasties. Most of us don't wear the uniform but all of us swoon (deeper than a civilian can understand) when we see the uniform.

We keep the home-fire lit and our babies at bay. We manage the home-front with grace and ease mixed with a few fumbles and a bit of heartache. We may not be "issued" but we are chosen!

We depend on friends, mentors, networks and far away family to get us through the tough times.

We use strength to carry us. Distance to mold us. Tears to soften us. Laughter to brighten us. Perseverance to humble us."
(LeeAnn from MilitaryAvenue.com)

The President also issued a proclamation regarding today's Military Spouse Appreciation Day. You can read it here if you're interested. I always like reading what the Big Wigs over there at Capitol Hill say about military families.

So to all my lovely spouses...wives and husbands (because husbands stand behind their woman in uniform too!) I appreciate you and hope that today is one that you feel love from more than just your family. Without you, without us, our servicemembers would have no motivation to come home, to fight for a better tomorrow, and to inspire others to do the same.

Happy Military Spouse Appreciation Day!!

P.S. Don't forget to send those girlfriends, fiances, and boyfriends a thank you too. We all started out in their position. And someday they will be in our shoes.

Navy, you know just how to push my buttons

I am attempting to book tickets for our family to fly to Washington and Alaska as one big joint vacation in May/June. My grandparents live in Washington and a lot of my family (including my little sister, little brother, mom, other grandparents, etc.) live in Alaska. And yet again, the Navy knows just how to ensure difficulty in the planning phase.

With active duty orders being up in the air (not even knowing if we'll get them yet) it's quite challenging to buy airline tickets. Sure there are refundable options but of course those prices MORE than double for the price of non refundable tickets. It's absolutely frustrating. I stopped looking at all the figures today. I might just drive myself nuts if I continue working on it for too long. If we could just find out what the military plans on giving Doc Handsome, everything could finally fall into place. Including the possibility of trying for a second baby once we know when Doc Handsome will be home for an extended amount of time. There is no way we are allowing the Navy to take him away for another pregnancy and birth. And of course, this will all happen once Mini DH is older. But it will be nice to have a rough estimate of when we'll be able to plan for another.

Once I do get it all planned, this vacation will be one for our record book I believe! My grandparents in Washington raised me and one of my sister's (the pregnant one) for five years of our lives. So we are extremely close. They have yet to meet Mini DH or Doc Handsome. I can't wait to show the hubby where we built forts, the farm we grew up on, the creeks we went stomping through in the summer, and all the amazing childhood memories I have from there. Not to mention my grandma's delicious cooking. She was a chef before she retired!

After Washington, we'll be off to Alaska! With the exception of my sister, none of my family there have met Doc Handsome. Not even my mom. They talk on the phone and my mom calls him her son, yet they've never been in the same room. When I think about that, it's so strange to me. My mother, one of my best friends, has never met my husband. Even Doc Handsome's family has met her. And of course, everyone is dying to see little Mini DH. I am sure if we just sent him on the plane by himself, they'd be more than ok with that. It's all about the baby and I am good with that. I like being on the back burner to my son. That's the way it should be in my opinion.

So needless to say, this vacation will be eventful and not to mention full of memories. My mom and her soon-to-be-husband even volunteered to watch Mini DH for one day and night while they send us off on a romantic trip to Bear Creek Winery. They went there a few years ago and from the pictures it looks beautiful. There's hiking, exploring, amazing food and wine, cozy rooms, and even a hot tub on the porch outside your room. We are looking forward to one day by ourselves for the first time since Doc Handsome has been home.

Lastly but not least, please Dear Navy, cooperate with us as soon as possible!


Sincerely,
Me

From reservist to active.....who woulda thought?

Today is a lazy Sunday for our family. While Mini DH naps, I am taking advantage of this time to crave my need to blog! On topic today? The frustrating process of Doc Handsome getting out of the Reserves.

The process of Doc Handsome going from reserve Navy to active duty has proven to be quite the chore. After trying for two years, we were finally given word that he may now be able to get active duty orders. Granted, the package the recruiter gave Doc Handsome has what seems like......100 pages to fill out! Complete with referral letters and our entire family's marriage certificates, social security cards, and birth certificates! Who would have thought it would take so much.

So as we patiently await the word, money must still be made! Luckily, the deployment allowed us to save up. Doc Handsome was also granted paid leave and paternity leave till the end of this month. I have gone back to work a few hours a week for Farmers Insurance again. It's only two hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays but it's perfect to have "grown up" time. Not to mention, it's a great opportunity for the boys to bond. Mini DH is getting more and more accustomed to Doc Handsome everyday. Despite the fact that he still cries part of the time I am at work, I know it's helping Mini DH bond with Daddy. He needs to know Doc Handsome, as well as mommy, can comfort him.

Back to the work situation, Doc Handsome is looking in the medical field until (fingers crossed) recieving active duty orders. It's hard for him because he hated the job he had before he left on deployment. He could go back there but he'd like to find something else if possible. So the search continues!