My account of July 22, 2003

I guess you could say that the day started out like any other day. We were going on a convoy. A mission to trade some soldiers out from a boat mission and to restock some supplies. We did the normal things that any soldier would do before a convoy; briefing, packing, smoking, etc. Except this day felt different to me. See, I should really start the night before...

As I was cleaning my weapon, a 9mm, and talking to my then dear friend and new "boyfriend" Rob(who is now my husband) I asked him if he had ever wondered what it was like to be shot at. It was such a surreal question. I could almost feel the bullet coming at me as I inspected it before loading it into the clip. The thought passed and I finished my cleaning and packing. I still couldn't shake that weird feeling that something wasn't quite right.

The next day, after our convoy brief, we loaded up and headed out. I was riding in the back of a HMMWV(Humvee) with a few other soldiers. Jon was driving the cargo hemmit right behind me. As we exited the gate, I turned back to smile and wave at my friend behind me. Little did I know that was the last exchange I would have with him on that level.

The convoy was going just fine for a while. We were all looking out, making sure nothing looked out of place, when all of a sudden we noticed an orange(I can't quite remember the exact color, so I could be wrong here) Iraqi truck. It was trying to separate our convoy!

I had just lit a cigarette when I first heard, then felt the explosion behind me. I knew right away what had happened. An IED had exploded. I turned to see what exactly was wrong and saw that Jon's truck was coasting to the side of the road. We started to receive small arms fire from the hills next to the road. It was a perfect setup for an abush. We started firing back and soon we all got up to the "safety zone." I'm a little blurry on what exactly happened next as things seemed to be moving at an unnatural pace.

The next thing I knew our 1SGTs vehicle pulled up and we unloaded Brandon into my vehicle. Being the medic I started to asses his injuries and determined that he needed a tourniquet and an IV. Before we could really do much of anything on him the 1SGT was back and yelling at me to get in his vehicle. I didn't know what to expect, I just knew it was bad.

My first thought upon seeing Jon, was "Oh my God! My friend!" I got to work immediately and found he had no pulse and a brain injury that I could do nothing about. Still, he was my friend and I had to try. I performed CPR and tried to bring him back. He let his last breath of air out right there with his head in my hands. "Top"(that's what we called our 1SGT) yelled back "Is he gone?" I couldn't answer. How could I pronounce my friend dead? Top had to ask again and this time I had to answer. "Yes, there's nothing I can do." came out of my mouth.

Soon after we stopped so I could get back in with Brandon and help him. While I had been with Jon, a "combat lifesaver"(they are trained by medics to assist the medics in the field) had been trying to start an IV. I immediately got the tourniquet started as he was loosing a lot of blood. I knew he was going to loose his arm, but that was the last of my worries at the moment. I had to keep him alive.

We talked and talked after he was as stable as we could get him. I talked and prayed with him to keep him awake. We talked about how much he loved his girlfriend and about how God was going to bless him with a long and wonderful life. At one point we heard a helicopter and thought for sure it was the med evac. We found out later that it was a CNN chopper coming to film footage of the burning truck! Are you kidding me? The families haven't even been notified!

We finaly arried at our destination and took both Jon and Brandon to the medics there. My job
was done. I sat on the hood of the HMMWV for a long time, by myself. Dokken came and just sat next to me. I am forever greatful for him. That's exactly what I needed that day. Just a quiet shoulder to sit next to me as I quietly processed what had just happened.

After a while we suited up and headed back to our original camp. That was one nerve wracking drive. I traded out my 9mm for a 203, much safer for me.

I remember nothing else upon arriving other than seeing my dear sweet Rob and just holding onto him for dear life. I was so scared and scarred, I had no idea what to do.

The next few days were a blur. We put Jon's body on a plane and sent him back to be buried. Rob and I had some late nights trying to keep my panic attacks at bay. In the end I clung to my Bible.

I'm baaaaaaaacccckkkk!

LOL. No, I haven't abandoned my blog. We moved! We are now back in the Dakotas! South Dakota to be exact! I'm so happy to be back here.

Lots has happened in the past two months. My boys, lightening and thunder both had birthdays! I can't believe they are growing so fast. We are going to start homeschool this year! I'm so excited.

The story about the moving company is a whole post within itself. I may delve further into that at a later date. For now I need to get to bed. I have an early morning tomorow.

Goodnight for now. I'll be back tomorow to update you a bit better.

Great giveaway!!!

http://lyismama.blogspot.com/2009/05/giveaway-day.html

Such cute stuff!!! The giveaway is for some really cute personalized bean bags.

Keeping busy

I keep waiting for things to calm down around here, but they just aren't. It seems like we have one thing after another lately. I guess that's what happens as kids get older though. Lightening goes to preschool twice a week, I have a couple comitments a month, Rob's work stuff and then there's the daily tasks that require running around town. LOL. Such is life though.

I'm totaly loving it right now. The kids can get pretty crazy, but it's so fun. Sonshine is a climbing fool. Ever since he figured out how to crawl(around 7 months or so) he's been climbing things. I take him off the dining room table at least 5 times a day!! I don't know what I'm going to do with this kid. He's already trying to figure out how to get up to the top bunk. I think he's going to give me grey hair before I turn 30. LOL.

I also finished Rob's winter hat for next year. It's the first hat I've ever knit!! I'm so excited. I almost woke him up last night to try it on. LOL. I didn't. I was a good girl and waited until this morning, then I made him try it. He loves it!! I'm so happy. I have now started on Thunder's hat for next year.

Well, I better get back to knitting and stop blogging for now. Hope you all have a wonderful day!

Peace!

So tired...

Who knew that having three kids ages 4 and under would tire a person out? LOL I long for the day that I can sleep in my own bed without a foot in my face or someone waking me up. I know I'll long for these days back once they are gone, but for now I just want 8 solid hours of rest.

My little "sonshine" is walking more now!! Yay!! He's so cute when he does it to. He's expiramenting swinging his arms and different ways to pick up his feet. Such an adventure for him, and me!

"Thunder" is, well, 2 almost 3 and has the attutude to proove it. LOL. I love it and hate it. He's a little spitfire!

"Lightening" is almost done with his first year of preschool! It's amazing how fast it went. He's totaly loving it. I've always wanted to homeschool, but said I'd do what's best for each child, I guess God is showing me what is best for right now. I'm so happy to have such a wonderful school to send him to though.

I've been keeping busy with a lot of sewing, knitting and crocheting. When I have time between taking care of the house and kids that is. LOL.

Yea!!!!!

I wanted to share my new website with all of you. www.peacefulenergyhealing.com I have wanted to start this for so long and finaly just did it. I hope you all like it.

I offer:

Aura Readings
Chakra Readings
Distance Reiki
Distance Energy Healing


I offer all of this free of charge. If you feel led to give money for my services, you may do so by clicking the pay pal button on my site. If you feel led to barter for my services, I'm down with that too.

Wow!

My youngest recently turned ONE! Amazing!

I was thinking tonight at what I would've thought of myself 6 years ago, before a baby was even in my thoughts. I think if someone would've told me that I'd be nursing a 2.5 year old and a 12 month old, I would've laughed at them. I love that I'm doing it now though. I'm so blessed to be able to give both of them this wonderful gift.

I'm just rambeling anyway. Just thought I'd share.