Deployments

So where do I start.....its November and Ryan isn't scheduled to deploy till later(sorry but OPSEC makes me wait) but I'm inspired to blog my experience of R's last 14 month and 21 day deployment in 2007-2008. Ryan and I got married in late December 2008 and he deployed 15 days later. It sucked big time because we were newlyweds. I can still remember the details of that day in Fort Stewart, GA. Had to wait and wait....then draw his weapon, wait wait some more...and then suddenly his CO said you have 5 minutes for formation and that was it. A day of waiting and waiting and we had 5 minutes to say goodbye. I had tears, I pulled out my camera as I took the last pic I would see for months. I have the picture, but can't seem to pull it up. It was the picture I sent to all of his family and looked at for months. He was a 1LT, not yet a CPT and it made me teary everytime. New marriage and new life to adjust to.

Our 12 months consisted of me working at the church and Ryan instant messaging me on the computer during the day and luckily my church family didn't care. They were thankful that I got to talk to him and communicate with him and knowing he was safe. Big thanks to Tommy, Bro Ben, Chance and Ty for being so understanding of the situation I was in.


In April 2008 we found out that Ryan was going to be extended an extra 3 months. It as like hitting rewind on the 3 months he had been here. I was at school that night in Savannah and came home to see the news he had been extended. My phone started ringing from his mom and sister asking if it affected Ryan. Yep, it affected him. 3 months down the drain.

And now I'm preparing 2 years later for a deployment. They suck, no denying it. My advice is this...

1. Keep yourself busy.

2. No news is good news.

3. Watching the news is pointless. Someone from DoD will inform you before some idiot from CNN decides to show up on your door.

4. The communication you do receive--cherish it because you never know when you will receive it again. Live for today, not tomorrow.

5. Don't worry if you miss a phone call. I know their random, but your soldier will forgive you. You have a life and family to tend to. Guilt sucks, but your human.

My day in El Paso

I'm not a fan of El Paso culture and shopping and my visit into the world of El Paso for Christmas/birthday shopping had me STRESSED. The twins are turning 2 and even though they won't remember anything, I do have 2 gifts from us planned. They really don't NEED anything, every else is more wants for the twins. They have clothes, we've gone through their books to rid the cracked/broken ones. I realize we need education toys for them to fight over. I have bought them both a sit and spin and 2 gifts from us on their actual gifts on their birthday on Wednesday. Am I a bad mom for only buying my girls 2 presents for their actual birthday? They don't care...they really don't. They just love to get individual mom and dad attention. I do my best to give both girls the attention they want, but right now I'm overwhelmed. Yep, an overwhelmed mom of 2 kids the same kids needs a break. I'm tired of everything....a twin who throws toys...one who whines.....one who eats and one who wants to drink juice/milk. I am thankful for Amanda C for making extra food and Bethany H for borrowing her drink dispenser. Without friends I would be lost. I'm frustrated and ready to cry...I won't cry though. I love them both so much, just wish they'd get along. I'm ready for their party since we celebrate their life and enjoy time with friends, but the cleaning up is out of my hands. Please let it all work out.

Why are women such bullies?

I've been thinking a lot about how some women are complete bullies to other women. Mostly on message boards, but I don't really think women really think about how their cutting others down which is essentially bullying. With so many stories of children being bullied at school with many of them committing suicide, why don't women think about what they say is conveyed to their own children? Even if you are on a message board full of women, why do they feel its okay to make others feel inferior, stupid or just belittle them with comments like "its my opinion and I don't care if you like it or not". Or "are you just a complete idiot"? Who made them the authority on life, the Army, even the relationship the woman might be just needing some advice on?

My next though.....cliques. I thought cliques were for kids in middle and high school? Not grown women who lead a posse of followers so they are more popular and help spread the bullying to others? Does it make them feel better to be part of that special group of women who know it all?

Random Junk about Twins

Before I had twins or even found out I was pregnant with twins I admit I was fascinated about twins specifically identical twins. There were four sets of identical twins in my high school at one time and seeing them in the hallways at various times wearing different times had people turning their heads. I do remember one set named Tracie and Stacie--something I was not going to repeat with my two. We did have a family member suggest Krista and Trista and we nixed that idea real quick.

I had a couple of twin comments recently that make me chuckle and also want to slap my forehead at the same time. My family and I are used to the stares and comments from the public when we go out in public. Sometimes its fine, sometimes its very annoying. People want to stop and stare and say dos bebe?? And then they say same same? I'm guessing they mean twin and I say si and get doble which I know means double. Then the older lady, its always an older grandma type, tries to love on them and say mommas.....mommas so sweet. And I know this is way out of left field, but I just love going to the doctors office and hearing Kreesta and Keendra Gillies. No joke. We hear that every doctors office in El Paso.

Back to my regular talk about twins. Having twins is different than having one. Its an adventure and a nightmare every day. Krista and Kendra must have this twin talk every morning on who is going to be the nightmare twin. Its a surprise every morning to see who wakes up in a good mood. Lately Krista has been the happy smiley one who has a good day. Kendra not so much. She steals her sisters juice cup and cries easily. But give it two weeks and the two will switch rolls.

For your enjoyment a little insight on how the twins act:

1. Krista is the bossy twin. She takes things from her sister and Kendra just lets it go. Krista is notorious for taking toys and Kendra just lets her.

2. Kendra is more talkative. We can say something to her and she repeats what you say. Krista follows her sisters lead and does what she does roughly 2 weeks later.

3. They have to sleep next to or near each other. That is a given that even the hourly daycare workers have caught on to. Total breakdown broke out when the twins were separated at naptime.

4. Krista is the bossy twin, Kendra is the mellow twin. They work well together. Krista has to see her sister when their at daycare especially.

5. They both love to eat....but never seem to gain weight. They both weigh around 23 pounds and wear a size 12 months in jeans. Almost 2 and wear 12 month jeans. Nice huh?

6. Kendra likes fruit more than Krista and Krista tends to eat veggies more. They like to swap food.

7. Krista tends to break down faster when she's overwhelmed than Kendra does. Krista will suck her fingers(number 5 on left hand and 4 on right hand) to comfort herself. Kendra will go to her sister when she sees she's stressed. We call it 5 and 9 here at home.

8.Krista is a huge cuddler and Kendra is not. Krista is actually drawn to momma more with Kendra favoring big sis Eryn.

So thats my random stuff about twins. I love having twins since their is never a dull moment with these two. They fight, they irritate each other, but yet that can't live without the other.

I am actually writing a book to the girls to be given to them when they turn 21. Its a mix of the trials and problems we went through with them being TTTS twins. TTTS is a very rare condition that affects identical twins. Its actually an interesting read.

Love from Texas,

Terra

I lost someone, but gained something else..

I lost a friend recently....very recently. A friend who I valued her friendship, until she got crazy after finding out her spouse had done some questionable things while deployed. I listened to her rants, her frustrations, etc, but I had enough when she became vindictive compared to venting. When you in front of myself and my husband say your going to take him for everything he's got and leave him with nothing but his
Harley and the clothes on his back I feel your being vindictive. He's a good dad to the kids, he's a good husband and provider. I get your mad, but go to counseling and work on your life together or separate without being a complete vindictive bitch. You laid it out how you were going to do your life and honestly is was vindictive and sorry. No more of saying You don't know what I've gone through. Sorry, dude but I have. My first husband cheated on me after 6 years together.
I've been there are started over.


On to life in the Gilles house.......I hate training. Seems like my husband is gone more for trainings and meetings at battalion more than he's home. Seems like he does more training for a deployment than he's home and its driving me nuts. Its the whole Meeting after meeting consumes our life and makes for a crabby husband when he's home. R doesn't deploy for a while but he's gone to meetings and 3 day TDY's more than I care to count. I wish the Army would realize that wives want to see their spouses BEFORE they deploy.

On to other news...the twins turn 2 next month. Holy cow I'm about to have 2 year old twins. Can I just say their a handful?? I was conversing with a fellow Army wife who is pregnant with twins apparently identical from the doctor's assessment from ultrasound. I was quick to tell her to be alert to TTTS with her twins since its very prevalent in identical twins. I worry for other twin moms like we're related. If not for the doctors at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, my miracles wouldn't be here. I'm geting teary so I'm signing off for the night.

Terra

Ugh...

These past two weeks have been hell. Literally pure hell with Ryan coming and going at odd hours. It honestly feels like he's deployed since he's gone all hours of the day and coming home at odd hours and having to field calls about troops in his unit. I get all that since its a part of his commanding his troops...what I don't get is the BS crap that pops up with after hours that makes him a difficult bear to live with. I'd rather he would get this stupid deployment over with so he can go back to normal.

Vacation

For the past two weeks the twins, Eryn and myself have been on vacation in Georgia visiting the parents, sister and grandma. And trust me its gone quick!








We've had a great time visiting some of the places we miss to eat at such as Tex-Mex Mexican, Japanese food, certain fast food we can't find in El Paso, TX. We've laid by the pool, gone to Fort Discovery in Augusta, Bee City in South Carolina and a little shopping. Just enjoying time with family.