Dear Washington

Dear Washington,

I am a spouse to a wounded worrier who has been apart of the fight in Operation Enduring freedom. He is still on active duty after having a titanium femur and hip. He is still in the fight because he believes in keeping America safe and fighting for freedoms of all.

Your choice to shrink the military to the smallest it has been in decades makes me infuriated and sad. I am infuriated and sad to think that the men and woman who choose, I say choose because we are not in a draft, to protect America's freedoms are getting cut. They are getting cut from something they love, believe in, and put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into. They are no where near compensated for their time of service or dedication.

You are choosing to cut the size of the military to work on "technological advancement". Who is going to run all of the technology? Who is going to update all of the technology? Who are going fix the technology when it's not working? Who is going to fight a war? Don't tell me you think that a computer is going to fight a war. Who is going to protect our own land? Is technology going to protect the United States from being attacked? Is technology going to make the other countries feel safe? Is technology going to stand up to Terrorists?

I am sad for my family. My family bleeds Military. We love having our hero wear camo. We have made scarifies in regards to my career, my children not having a "hometown", my son moving 5 times by the time he is 3, having to make friends every 2 years, having to attend new schools every few years, having to pack all of our belongings regularly. We wouldn't have it any other way!

As a wife, I have seen my spouse go through things no spouse wishes to see. He was shot when I was 8 months pregnant. I had to see him go through surgery, trying to manage pain, side effect of drugs to help his pain, nightmares, PTSD, survivors guilt, feeling of being unappreciated, learning to walk, bearing weight on his "new hardware", PT everyday, pschy appointments regularly, having to relive what happened that day every time someone asks, not being able to remember our sons infant stage because he was on so many prescriptions to manage the pain. I saw him fight, I saw him never give up, I saw him rehab in order to be able to get back in the fight. The military runs in his veins and he was willing to do anything he could to return to the fight. He has returned to the fight and is trying harder than ever to do his job and to be the best soldier he can be, just so you can say, thanks but no thanks. So you can tell all of the soldiers in his position that while we appreciate you and your brothers, some giving the ultimate sacrifice, we're going to go in a different direction.

You are going to cut him? You are going to cut thousands of soldiers who have this same fight? You are going to leave our security up to what? Technology that has no love or fight for this country.

I wish your heart was in the fight like all of our American Soldiers!

Thanks for nothing, Washington!

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Girl, Look at that body

Soooo.... the no sugar/carbs thing has gone well. There was just 3 days that I had coffee with sugar or 1 soda to deal with Mollie's all nighters ;) I haven't touched bread/carbs since I started!

As for my workouts! Dang! I have been hitting it hard with cardio and the Bikini Body Mommy Challenge. For cardio I started with the regulars (elliptical and bike) to get me going and my body back used to doing cardio. I have now transitioned into running. I have never experienced a "runner's high" and I believe that's why I've quit so fast and gotten so frustrated. I also think that the first day I should be banging out 3 miles.... bhahahaha. The games I play with my mind are ridiculous. I eased myself into it with the couch25K program and the days in between just listen to my body and run how ever far or long I can that day. I'm pretty proud of myself to sticking with this. I tend to set unrealistic goals and get really discouraged. It helps to have the best cheerleader in the world as a husband :)

I have lost my tape measure and my scale is broken so stay tuned for an actual measurement/weight update to show some results!

I also have decided to sign up for a 5k on my birthday. It happens to be a beer run for St. Patty's day- Might make the run a tad bit bearable ;)

Day of Love!

Valentine's day. I'm not quite into it however, since having children I am trying hard to be into every holiday and create our own family traditions. I also like setting standards for things. For instance, Christmas we set a present limit to ourselves children and from others.

Jimmy and I have been together for 9 years this year and thought I'd put forth some effort. For Valentines day,  I really wanted to hone in on our Love languages. My mom had recently given me a book about love languages and the military. Very interesting read! My husband's love language is words of affirmation and so I've been all over Pinterest trying to find the perfect thing for him. I found that perfect thing. It's the open when.... cards. All this week I have been writing special things to go in each one and to make them my own with things he'd appreciate. Here are my open when envelopes.

want to know my dreams for the future

need a reminder of what makes you a great dad

need a reminder of why you love me

 need a reminder of why I love you

need a reminder of why you joined the Army (if you're a military spouse you know why this one is included)

 You are feeling insecure

You are missing me

You are missing the kids

you need a laugh

You've had a bad day

You can't make a decision about something

You need motivation

Now, I'm not a lovey dovey writer nor am I a feelings kind of person sooooo this proved to be a little hard to start but I love the way they came out. A confession: all them have humor in them. I tried hard to be serious but sometimes I couldn't help it ;)

a little #tbt for you 

Weekend away

My husband calls one day and says "Cait, there is a weekend at a Great Wolf Lodge- I don't know what that is- anyway, do you want to go? Oh never mind, its only for people who have come home from deployment- Oh, never mind, we can still go. Do you want to go?"

Clearly my sweet husband was reading the email while on the phone with me. I obviously had quite a few questions.....

What is the weekend for? Whose paying? ect.

Turns out the weekend is a Marriage retreat hosted by the Army. And yes, they are paying. They also will provide child care. Sounds like a deal to me. When you live away from anyone you know, you don't tend to have date nights/dates ever!

I was reading the original information sheet and get this, there is a dress code. You heard me! A dress code. I by no means was going to look like I just woke up, but a dress code? Oh dear!

Business Casual. I am NOT ready to have to have make up, hair did, and real clothes on for 4 whole days. I just don't think I have it in me. ;) Also, I just don't have clothes.

Remember the two times I've worked since getting married(and fat). Right I was pregnant those two times and definitely do not fit into my pre marriage work clothes. Boooooo! That means shopping this weekend. Booooo! Look for my Instagram next weekend for my actually dressed like a real person!

Oh, Marines

While we were at Walter Reed we had some hilarious times. I am going to share the first laugh until you cry moment.

Every friday night a different corporation, business, group sponsor a free dinner for the wounded soldiers. They bring handicap accessible buses to, at first the Malone house (old Walter reed), Building 62(new Walter reed, Bethesda) and take the ww and their caretakers/ families to a special dinner.

Our first one was to Morton's stake house. It was lovely and they served all of the best things off the menu. We were getting ready to leave and had to take an elevator. We got on the elevator and these marines were going around the outside of the restaurant racing in their wheelchairs. The first one was a motorized wheelchair and he had about 3 manual wheelchairs all holding on to each other. The motorized one would speed up, slow down, or whip around the corner to have them fly off. Imagine a boat with one of those tubes on the pack whipping around to try and make the people fly off.

We got on the elevator and they yelled to hold it for them. So they come full speed ahead into the elevator and slam into the wall at the back of the elevator. All you hear from the guy in the motorized wheel chair was "Damn, forgot I had my legs on" as he crashed his legs into the wall.

I laughed until I cried. Maybe not appropriate but those Marines had the best sense of humor.

Girl, Look at that body

Oh working out. Should be about being toned and fitness and right now it's all about getting this jiggle to gooooo away. No one wants you here! I am here to share some things i've been doing.

1. water, water, water
2. Bikini Body mommy workout challenge
3. cardio at the gym every day
4. Salads every day for lunch
5. Clean eating for breakfast, lunch and dinner

Starting Tomorrow, I will be cold turkey quitting sugar. I say quitting because I'm addicted. When Mollie doesn't sleep I OD on sugar the next day to stay awake and keep up with the littles.

If I don't die, I will let you know how the sugar detox goes ;)