Ricky has joined the National Guard. The Army National Guard to be exact. It is a process that has been long and frustrating. Hoops to be jumped through, many Dr. Appt's to get cleared, but through it all, he is in! We had expected that he would get sworn in, and get his orders to ship out to boot camp immediately. We prepared for it, really. So when he got sworn in and his orders weren't until Sept, we were a little shocked, frustrated, and at a loss as to what we would do until he took off...
We had decided that the best thing for me to do, while he is gone, is to sell the house and live with family. That way I would have a better chance at adult interaction at least once a day, if even it is a hello, and would be less likely to start talking to television characters. So at this point, through one way or another, we are moving out of our house May 26th and are going to go to California for a couple months. We are going to help my mom clean out my grandma's house so that in November it can be rented out. (that is going to be a lot of work when it comes down to it...) We will be back in Utah in August so that Ricky can spend the last month with family and friends. Hopefully lots of BBQ's and good times.
He will go Sept 8th for processing, where they will get him all set up in the system, make sure his heart still beats, and he is still good for basic training (boot camp). He will be in basic for 10 weeks, then we get to go out for his Graduation. He will then go directly to AIT... where he will learn to work on Apache's and the guns that go on them. Perfect for him right? He is so excited. He will be gone in VA doing that until May of 2011. Now, originally we were told that he was set to deploy to Afghanistan at the end of 2011... but just a couple weeks ago he was talking to a neighbor/friend, who actually happens to be over his unit, and was told that one thing has led to another, and they are 99% going to Iraq in June of 2011.... So.... yeah... He is going to be gone for almost a full two years. Thank goodness for Skype!
I am not sure where I will end up with the kids. Our hopes are that if I don't end up living with family, that at least I can be close enough to our family to have support. I am up for the challenge of being a single mom for a couple years (i think), but I am going to need a time out every once in a while. I would like to be able to go to the movies, or get my hair cut, or do those things that are less conducive with little ones. That is the only thing that makes me nervous, is that I will become a hermit. So here's the heads up for those out there.... When I seem to go into my little dark place, please force me out.
I am so excited for Ricky to do this, because he is so excited. I am so happy that he has found something that he is excited about doing. I wish I would have encouraged him to do it sooner. But here we are. Ready or not! I know we will all be okay!
