Excuses. Excuses.

You know how they say that "people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones"? Well, don't go chucking rocks at us, or anything, but I wanted to give you all an inside look into what's been going on in our lives over the last month or so, mainly while I was being a major blog slacker.


Don't kill me - I've got a good excuse this time, I promise!


So McStudly's Crohns had been flaring up again not too long ago... or still... we can't really keep track, but he was finally on some medicine that seemed to be helping. And actually, the Doctor is phasing him off of it, now, so we're doing well. HOORAY!! Prayers that this will continue would be GREATly appreciated. ;-)

As most of you know, we found out a few months ago that he would be deploying in October for 6 months. Because of that, a lot of the "out processing" was taking place, which, for McStudly, also included a lot of Doctor's visits (not so much out of the norm, but for him they were a bit different). For anyone with military insurance, you know that it's not exactly like you're best friends with your doctor, or anything. Well, if you are, your military spouse is not. They're considered lucky to even see a real doctor.

Well, it finally came time for the vaccinations, which is all fine and well, accept - that medicine that he's been taking? Yeah. It's an immuno-supressant, which basically means just that: it suppresses his immune system. The whole reason you get vaccines at all is to build up your immune system to be able to fight off the sickness you could be exposed to, right? But if you're on immuno-supressants, this isn't really a smart thing to do. I mean - your body isn't able to build up that immunity, so you'll more than likely just get whatever it is that shot (or series of scratches) was for. AND that's not so much what we're going for, is it?!

So, McStudy had to get a "deferment" for the smallpox vaccine. That's the one where they make like an obscene number of scratches in one spot on your shoulder with a "live" portion of the virus. ??? Comforting, no? AND just to help you sleep real well at night for those of you unaware, they have to keep it bandaged 24/7 until the scab falls off, or something like that. AND if somehow I ended up being pregnant, I, apparently, can't even sleep in the same bed as him or possibly the same room... and I cannot, whatsoever, come into contact with said scabby-goodness.

Awesome.


Well... needless to say, he was granted a deferment by the not-too-bright doctor. Then 15 minutes later, he had to meet with her again about the remaining vaccines.

To a normal (and I use that term relatively loosely, these days) person, you would assume he'd walk into her office... again... and she's sign a deferment for these as well. But apparently, homegirl's memory didn't serve her past the previous 10 minutes. Yep - For real. So he had to go over everything with her A-gain.

*sigh

And she, half an hour later, signed another deferment.


Then a few days later, he gets notified that he'll have to be taken before the AF Medical Evaluation Board and have his health reviewed for possible medical discharge.


Awesome. Again.


We were informed (HA! Yeah right - I mean we researched the crap out of this) that this is standard for anyone in the military that is diagnosed with Crohns' after enlistment. It's mandatory, and they were slacking up until this point. We were informed that it could take up to a year for this MedEvalBoard to happen because they were backlogged, he was like 16th on the list, and each case takes several weeks+ to process.


Upon further research, I came to the conclusion that it wouldn't make sense for them to discharge him. Not that anyone gives a flying rat's hoot (whatever that is) of my opinion, but nevertheless, it doesn't seem to make sense. He hasn't missed a single day of work. When medicated, he has everything managed. And he hasn't really been outside of a flare-up, yet, to see how he can handle things then. And seeing as how medical discharge is based on your office, ability to carry-out duties as assigned, ability to perform necessary PT (PS: he scored an 84 on the last test - mid flare-up - which is 1 single point under getting out of all organized PT session requirements... I'mjustsayin'), and the amount of work missed. They talk to our flight chief, your commander, co-workers, blah blah blah, and I don't even think most of them know he's got Crohns' disease, much less that it effects his work.


So... like was saying before, I can't imagine them having reason enough to medically discharge him, but we shall see what happens.


In the mean time, and the reason I'm writing, he has been labelled "ineligible" to deploy. They did not push his deployment back. They did not reschedule his deployment. They did not pass go. No $200 collected (that's for sure!). He's just currently not allowed to go. End. Of. Discussion.

I gotta be honest - I didn't exactly weep in a fetal position over in the corner when I found out that little tid-bit of awesomey goodness. Who would?!


But I do know that McStudly hopes, upon evaluation, that he'll be allowed to deploy in the future. He really wants to do it. He feels like it's part of what he does and that he's not being fair to all of the other guys that have to go if he doesn't. And he thinks it'd be a wicked cool experience to boot.

...not the leaving me for 6 months part... the playing G.I. Joe in the desert part. With a big gun. and a Helmet, of course (I insisted). It's like any boys dream... ish.

And while we're still just... us and no kids (minus our furry one, of course, who'll protect me while he's gone), I think I'm okay with that. It won't be easy, but I'll manage. And I'll get to have that homecoming experience that most can't even imagine.



But for now, he'll be home. With me. And I couldn't be happier. I'm so grateful that I have a little more time to prepare myself for a deployment, because I just realized that it's September 1st, and there's no WAY I'd be ready to say goodbye to him in October.





Then again... are you ever "ready"? I can't imagine so.

MHR Friday

have I ever mentioned that McStudly rocks? Yeah. I'm pretty sure I have, but in case you were wondering why...

It's because he know show to have fun and make me laugh. The longer we've known each other and the longer we've been married, the more he's opened up and been vulnerable around me. And he's gotten so goofy at times (shh! it's a secret) and I LOVE it!

Baby - thanks for making me smile and see more of you every day. I love you!!

143.

Oh Deirdre...

She's got to be one of the funniest people I know. And if you knew her - you'd absolutely love her. She's got a phobia of closeness and a well-founded view that she has no plans to have children... or marry, for that matter. She loves her some Ultimate Fighting and her favorite movie is The Punisher... she's unlike any other girl person I have ever known.

She's hysterical. I don't think I've ever been around her and NOT laughed at something.


So I had to post her reply to the Girlfriend's Survey I sent out today. I don't typically send these kinds of things out, but I'm SO glad that I did because she literally had me laughing out loud at work, almost to the point of spewing water out through my nose. Good times indeed.


So here it is - Deirdre's Survey Response:



2009 Girl Friend Survey

Welcome to the 2009 edition of getting to know your Friends. ' press FORWARD ' then change all the answers so they apply to you, and then send this to your friends including the person who sent it to you. The theory is that you will learn a lot of little things about your friends that you might not have known!

1. What time did you get up this morning?
5:45am, 6:05am, and finally 6:15am
2. Diamonds or pearls?
Diamonds. Most women under 40 who wear pearls are either bipolar or schizoid.
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
Madea Goes To Jail. I would’ve gone to jail once if I hadn’t kept myself from running over my dad in a parking lot last year.
4. What is your favorite TV show?
I don’t watch TV. It kills brain cells.
5. What do you usually have for breakfast?
Who cares?
6. What is your middle name?
Michael (Yes, I know it’s a guy’s name. Get over it.)
7. What food do you dislike?
All of it. Look what it’s done to my body.
8. What is your favorite CD at moment?
Who listens to CDs anymore??? Oh well, anything Led Zeppelin is my fav.
9. What kind of car do you drive?
What kind of stuck up question is this? What if someone doesn’t have a car? What if someone can’t afford a car??? Is this to allow people with new cars to show off and rub it in everyone else’s face??? I refuse to answer this question. It sucks. (FYI- I drive a 2009 Scion tC Coupe and I look freakin’ awesome driving it…)
10. Favorite sandwich?
Knuckle Sandwich
11. What characteristic do you despise?
I don’t even want to think about this. It’ll just make me angry.
12. Favorite item of clothing?
Shoes. Hats. Fishnet Trouser Socks. Boots. Coats.
13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go?
Michael Ealy’s House (HELLO!!!) Of course, most of you probably don’t know who he is because you didn’t see “Barbershop”. Just google him.
14. Favorite brand of clothing?
The kind that’s on sale.
15. Where would you retire to?
I’m too freakin young to think about that.
16. What was your most memorable birthday?
My birthdays always suck. I try to 4get them.
17. Favorite sport to watch?
MMA
18. Furthest place you are sending this?
Who knows…
19. Person you expect to send it back first?
My Cuz, Gina.
20. When is your birthday?
Who cares…
21. Are you a morning person or a night person?
I rise and set with the sun. Night blows.
22. What is your shoe size?
The size that will fit in your…
23. Pets?
I got rid of all my pets. I can’t remember the names of most of my exs.
24. Any new and exciting news you 'd like to share with us?
No, not particularly.
25. What did you want to be when you were little?
A Jedi Knight
26. How are you today?
I’m great. I’m always great. Who isn’t???
27. What is your favorite candy?
Man Candy
28. What is your favorite flower?
Black Roses
29. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to?
The day my belly no longer hangs over my pants when I sit down.
30. What's your full name?
Deirdre Michael Truesdale
31. What are you listening to right now?
I’m listening to my freakin’ phone buzzing.
32. What was the last thing you ate?
Something totally disgusting.
33. Do you wish on stars?
Wish on a star??? And what exactly is this star supposed to do for me??? That’s the gayest thing I’ve ever heard.
34. If you were a crayon, what color would you be?
Beautiful Buxom Brown
35. How is the weather right now?
*Sigh* How long is this thing???
36. The first person you spoke to on the phone today
A Georgetown Law Student
37. Favorite soft drink?
Soft drinks are gay.
38. Favorite restaurant?
Idk.
39. Real hair color?
Black.
40. Favorite toy as a child?
Toys were for sissies.
41. Summer or winter?
Summer. Winter blows.
42. Hugs or kisses
Anyone who has ever met me knows the answer to this.. NEITHER!!! Ugh!!!
43. Chocolate or Vanilla?
Chocolate. I’m done with Vanilla.
44. Coffee or tea?
Tea. Coffee smells like hot dirt and makes people’s breath stink. What I really need people to stop doing is drinking Starbucks and then coming to church singing praise and worship without popping a handful of Altoids. Really… your breath is rockin…
45. Do you want your friends to email you back
My friends will email me back because but only to tell me how “Out of Control” I am and to tell me that they lost about 5lbs laughing at my answers.
46. When was the last time you cried?
Cry? Me… Cry??? Crying if for lesser beings. A better question for me would be “When was the last time you made someone cry?”- The answer is “Sunday”.
47. What is under your bed?
Nothing. What kind of dirtball keeps stuff under their bed???
48. What did you do last night?
Church and Target.
49. What are you afraid of ?
People who get too close to me.
50. salty or sweet
Both
51. How many keys on your key ring?
2. How many more do you need???
52. How many years at your current job?
6+
53. Favorite day of the week?
Everyday. Life is great.
54. How many towns have you lived in?
7
55. Do you make friends easily?
Heck no.
56. How many people will you send this to? ;
I don’t know.
57. How many will respond?
I don’t care.

MHR fricka-fricka-Fridays!!

...because he took me to lunch today (literally - picked me up and everything!) and let me vent my frustrations from my morning at work. AND when I got back to work, and my frustrations reappeared, he listened attentively on the phone as I dished them out, again.

*sigh

He's so dreamy!

My love

I have the most amazing husband in the world.


Today, I got up just after he came to bed (he works nights, this week). I gathered my clothes and got dresses in the bathroom, so as not to bother him. Took the dog out... took the recycle out... then left for work. It was BUTT cold! What's this 25 degree nonsense. No sir!!


But, alas, I had to stop for gas, because I didn't want to stop in last night's BUTT cold... I guess I figured it'd be better if at least the sun was shining. So I pull up to the closest gas station (that light's been on for a while, folks - have I mentioned how much I hate the cold?) and grabbed my wallet. Put my keys in my coat pocket, took a deep breath and then held it as I opened to door and let that dadgum wind whimp-slap me in the face.

I stepped up to the "pay at the pump" thingy and opened my wallet to find a piece of ripped off and folded white paper sticking in with my card. I know I didn't put it there... so of course my curiosity got the best of me. I opened it. It said:

"You make me Smile. I love you. - McStudly"



*sigh* Isn't he dreamy?! MAN I can't wait to get home and wake up him this evening. I wanted to call him right away, but I didn't want to wake him. Oh man... he's just wonderful. And now I'm giggling all over the place like a school-girl that just got that "circle Yes or No" note passed to her in class.


I guess that feeling never goes away... even after you're married.





I think I'm okay with that.

MHR Friday!

Becuase he listens. Okay - not always, but we ALL have our days where we "hear" and don't listen. It's usually when we're going through our own funk (as I have been lately), but he is listening now. And thats the best part, becuase now is when it matters.

McStudly's been exhausted lately, and he's still re-adjusting back to his old work schedule (which totally sucks, by the way), and he's still trying.

It's the simple things, most of the time. And today, it's just that he's listening to me. Truly listening to me.

He rocks.

Well, It's About Dang Time!

Hey guys! Sorry - I'm a slacker. I was actually sick yesterday... McStudly gave me a fun version of whatever it is he came home with, and I was battling it yesterday. I think it won, because I'm still battling it, but I am feeling a lot better. Finally!



Well, yesterday afternoon, after my fever finally broke, McStudly wanted to go out and look at bedroom furniture. He's going back to work tomorrow, so we were short on time. So... I drugged up and we headed out. First Showman Furniture... then Roomstore... and finally Value City Furniture.





AND *ding ding ding* We HAVE a winner folks!! Value City's prices and warranty's, plus their low (compared to most) delivery/set-up fee made it the perfect place for our furniture purchase.





We found one set that we both loved:

But unfortunately, the Chest (tall dresser) was out of stock, and back ordered until December 3rd (not cool for McStudly!), so we moved on. We both really liked it, but what can ya do, folks?!

As it turned out, the furniture we "moved on" to was actually a much better deal. We got a free lifetime warranty on the set. Everything was in stock, and it's quality, real wood furniture from American Signature, so it's really nice. Here it is:

That's it! And this next picture actually has the bed that we got (even though we both LOVED the canopy bed above, this bed was only $100 with the dresser and chest. Gotta love a good deal!).

By the time we had decided on this set, I was WAY past ready to go home. We signed the papers, paid for it all, and then went on our way. I was back to feeling not-so-good, so I was VERY glad that dinner was already in the crock-pot and almost ready to eat when we got there.

So here I am, today, back at work, and wishing I was at home and cuddling in bed with my warm McStudly. Why is it that I've found it harder to get out of bed now that he's home, again?

*sigh

Fall Fashion Fever

Am I the only one who gets it?


Not only do I LOVE the fall season, but I LOVE fall fashions (weather my budget agrees with me, or not)! I am addicted to SHOES, but am not allowed to buy any, unless I already have an outfit to go with them... because trying to buy things in the opposite order never works for me, and I'm stuck with these awesome shoes I can't wear.


So I've already got my eye on a few things, and am hoping to have my wallet on them as well, as soon as I can find a place to shop that carries clothing which actually FITS me the way it's supposed to!! (I'm not bitter, or anything)


But I thought I'd let you all in on a bit of my dilemma, when it comes to clothe shopping.

I am a pretty small girl.

*NEWS FLASH*, I know... but seriously... I'm not teeny tiny, but I am on the smaller end of things, with a smaller chest, longer legs, and I still consider myself an average sized person (unless I'm "undergarment" shopping, but I'll spare you that drama and detail).


I am also 22 years old.

*SHOCK AGAIN*.... yeah yeah yeah... bear with me. This means that I no longer want to dress like I'm in high school (not that I dressed all that well back then, but you get my point).


This brings us to my dilemma: finding clothes that FIT properly, without having to buy clothes that add to the misconception that I'm freaking 12 years old.

Okay - I am glad that I'm on the smaller side of things, DON'T get me wrong, but do you have ANY idea how hard it is to shop? To just find a simple pair of jeans that fit me - that aren't butt/skin tight, too short, crotch-cut-low, hoo-hah huggers, or on the flip side of things - mom style high cut, baggy on the "abdomen", or oddly colored... it's like IMPOSSIBLE!! And like I said, I'm pretty average sized - as in I know lots of people that look to be about my size or so, but I can't seem to FREAKING find out where they buy their FREAKING jeans, without having to pay $80 per pair!! And I'm almost to that point, but now I'm running into this problem - even places like Banana, Express, and Ann Taylor don't sell my FREAKING sizes!!


And don't even get me started on the sweaters and tops/coats/jackets. I absolutely LOVE them ALL, but again they're either too short, too baggy, too "old", too hoochie, or too stupid expensive.

I sware - if I had the money (or the even REMOTE ability to sew my own clothing), I'd start my own fashion line and make my OWN clothes. I just can't take it anymore and I can't be the only girl with this problem!


I'm sorry. I hear people say all the time "Oh I'd LOVE to have your problem", and what have you, but it's so frustrating! Just ask my husband... he thought I was exaggerating, but then he went shopping with me... I believe I tried on at LEAST 15 - 20 different styles and pairs of jeans between a few different stores, and none - count them: NONE - of them fit me. And see some of the CUTEST outfits, and get the most AWESOME ideas for clothes, but still... nothing. My mother and I were at Goodwill last Friday night, and I tried on at LEAST 10 pairs of jeans (and at goodwill, you know that's a TOTALLY huge variety of styles and sizes and what-have-you), but none... NONE of them fit me. And I don't mean like they kind've did, but I didn't like any of them, no - I mean none of them fit me properly.

It's just something I have to get over, but it's so hard. I see other girls that seem to be my size or at least close to it, and I LOVE their clothes!! But then in reality, they're either not really my size, and I just have a distorted inability to estimate that kind of thing, or they paid like 5-million dollars for it (obvious exaggeration here, people) and I both possibilities suck!


So I've resorted to trying to shop in European-esque stores like H&M and what-not, but I don't like skinny jeans, and I'm no 8 feet tall, which apparently they all are (according to the "regular" length pants, anyways). I'd LOVE to go into stores like United Colors of Bennetton, but I don't think I'd even be able to afford to breathe the AIR in that store. So I'm stuck drooling at the clothes in the window as I walk by... sullen and depressed at my "luck" in finding clothes.


Am I seriously the ONLY one with this problem? Or is there a widespread epidemic that no one seems to care about...











Woe is me.