Re: Previous Post and How it Backfired

Last time I told you about how I love to write letters and send them to Gunnar. Well apparently his drill sergeants didn't think it was all that cutesy to be calling his name over and over again during mail call. Two night ago they made him to 20 push ups for each letter he received. Of course he got 5 from me that day. So to get his mail he had to do 100 push ups in front of the entire platoon (164 people). I felt awful!! I asked if he wants me to stop sending them to him. He said no, the letters were worth every push up and to keep sending them.

Letters from Home

I began writing Gunnar letters before he ever left for the Army. I know how much soldiers appreciate letters and even though we can text and talk, there's just nothing like getting a letter in the mail. Gunnar didn't have an actual address for the first week and a half so when he finally gave me his address I had over a dozen letters to send to him already. He was more than shocked the first day they had mail call and he had a ton of letters, way more than anyone else in his platoon. It really made his day. He received another 7 letters yesterday in the evening. I think he is beginning to get quite a reputation. He said seeing the stack of mail for him had him grinning from ear to ear and was a real emotional booster. I never run out of things to write either which is sort of funny because it's hard to distinguish one day from another these days.

I think in my very first blog post on here I had preferences for where we will be stationed. I've since decided I absolutely could not possibly care less where they send us to. More than anything I just want our family back together and they could send us to anywhere they please and I will be the happiest girl in the world. It's been about 2 1/2 weeks into the 15 week separation and I'm ready for it to all be over.

Gunnar mentioned yesterday that the probability of him being deployed is quite high. And the average ship out date post Infantry school graduation is 72 days. I guess I always knew the liklihood of him being deployed is fairly high but I just figured we would have some time together as a family, some time to get settled God knows where first. It looks like that might not be the case. I seriously don't know how to handle that right now so I'm not going to think about it yet. Channeling Scarlett O'Hara - "I'm not going to think about that today, I'll think about that tomorrow."

Gunnar's actual training is underway now. I think he enjoys a lot of it. He learned to give an IV yesterday and was quite good at it. He is doing combat drills and lots of physical training. He pulled a hamstring earlier this week and has been in a tremendous amount of pain, likely because he hasn't sought any treatment. It's so hard to know that he is hurting and I can't be there to help or even to offer comfort of any kind. This is the type of thing I don't think I'll ever get used to.

1 Week Down, 1 Million To Go

Not really. That was really dramatic of me but that is really how it feels most days. Luckily Gunnar and I have been able to stay fairly closely in touch since he's been gone. We text several times in the morning and evening and we can talk every day or every other day. It's been just over a week now since he left. I would be lying if I said I was getting used to him being away. And truthfully I never want to get used to being apart. I want him to know how much I miss him but at the same time I want to sound at least somewhat upbeat when we talk so that he doesn't worry too much about me and how me and the kids are doing. It's a delicate balance. I send him pictures of the kids, but don't want to make him homesick. But I think he really is anyways. He sent a text today saying that nothing could prepare him for how hard the seperation has been for him. I know exactly how he feels. It's hard to hear him having a hard time with this because he is the strong one, the tough guy in the relationship. I'm the emotional one. I'm the one that can cry over On-Star commercials and don't even get me started on that doggone Beyonce "Halo" song. That turns on the waterworks every time!





Things at my parents house are working out really well. Gus seems to be finally adjusting to his surroundings. He asked me the other night what happened to his house. It's so hard to explain this to him! I do think he gets it though on some level because he asks when we are going to be all together again. It's precious. He will be so thrilled to see his Daddy in September!

Gunnar's new haircut - courtesy of Uncle Sam.



Gotta love a man in uniform.

Gunnar has been questioning if this decision was the right one lately. He sometimes thinks he should have joined the reserves instead. I really hate to hear him doubting this because sometimes I do too. But deep down I think it's just the homesickness, sleep deprivation and 18 hour days that are doing the talking in his head. I think when he finds his groove he will be happy to be where he is. My dad says he is "in his element" in the Army. And I agree.