January 18, 2013

I started this blog during Brian's last deployment and didn't do a good job at keeping up with it.  It has only be a little under 3 years since Brian came home from Iraq.  A lot has changed since then and a lot has remained the same. 

We gave birth to our son, William Ryan Martel on December 10, 2010 and he is two years old.  I got pregnant when Brian was home on leave during his last tour so we had a lot to adjust to when he came home on May 31, 2010.  William is a bright two year old who loves playing with trains and trucks.  I think if the world only contained these two things that he would be extremely happy. While he loves his Mama very much, he is definitely his Daddy's boy.  They are definitely two peas in a pod and I love watching them together.  William receives speech services once a week since this past fall and continue to improve immensely.  We also discovered that William appears to have a gluten intolerance and have removed gluten from his diet.  We have seen growth in him since this.

Brian continues to work for Loudon Police Department full time and picked up a part time job working for MVM securities.  They perform security for all the state and federal buildings.  Since coming home, Brian finished his Associates degree from NHTI in Criminal Justice in the spring 2012.  He was inducted into Pi Betta Kappa prior to graduation.  This month, Brian enrolled at Granite State College to continue his education in Criminal Justice.  He hopes to receive a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice Administration.  Brian switched his MOS after returning from Iraq.  He transferred from the 325th Transportation Company out of Brockton, MA to the 94th Military Police Company in Londonderry, NH.  While we are waiting for his MOS paperwork change to go through, he is fully trained as Military Police.  He is still an E6 (staff sergeant) in the active reserves. 

I left my teaching job at the end of the 2009/2010 school year to focus on being a Mom and a wife.  My unemployment status was only supposed to last for one year, but due to the economy and numerous qualified teachers, I have been unable to return to my field.  I currently work part-time as an adjunct professor at both Nashua and Manchester Community colleges.  I also work 20 hours a week as a graduate assistant in the Educational Resource Center at Rivier University.  In the summer of 2011 I went back to school to pursue my degree in School Psychology.  In my free time I am continuously applying for full time work and try to balance the budget.  Unfortunately, I am having about as much luck as the federal government. 

I'm sure many of you are wondering why I am starting this blog up again.  There are many reasons, but the honest truth is I need somewhere to write and express my thoughts and feelings.  My  husband just received notice that he is deploying again.  He and 9 other soldiers from from the 94th have been transferred to the 344th Military Police Company out of Middletown, CT and are set to mobilize on April 23, 2013.  This will be my husband's third deployment, the second since we have been married.  I have a lot of mixed emotions and am terrified on the impact this will have on my husband, our son and our marriage.  Reintegration was difficult the first time and I know it won't be any easier this time.  I know we have to learn from our mistakes and communicate, but there is so much more to lose this time.  Now that we have a child, thoughts change and different priorities take place.  This deployment, the focus shifts from me to my child.  Don't get me wrong, I will still focus on myself and my husband, but my child will be my priority.  I am very thankful that we have the next three months to prepare for this deployment as we have a lot to accomplish in this short time. 

Please keep us in your prayers.