(The only moving pic I took - doesn't really do it justice - Our garage in AL full of our stuff with the moving truck backed up and ready to be loaded)
Since I last wrote, my husband celebrated his golden birthday by passing his final flight school check ride. We spent the same day picking up our moving truck (which was 2.5 hrs late). Thanks to the help of five of our friends from OCF, our moving truck was 3/4 of the way loaded by the end of the night. On Thursday I spent the entire day, really I mean entire day, cleaning the house while my husband finished packing the garage and loading the truck and car. We were hoping to be on the road to our new house early Friday morning; however, we had to schedule a carpet cleaning through our rental agency. It was originally set for 9am, but when I called to confirm the property manager had forgotten to make the appointment. She later called and said the carpet cleaning company had a 9:30 available so we went with that. Unfortunately, the carpet cleaners ran late and didn't arrive until close to 11am. During our wait we did some last minute things and more cleaning. By the time the cleaners were gone and we were able to get on the road it was about 2pm.
We spent the next 8 hrs driving from lower Alabama to Ft. Campbell, KY - my husband drove the moving truck and I was in our car with Opie. Surprisingly, after a week of cleaning, packing, and loading and not being able to move a muscle, the long drive wasn't all that bad. We arrived safely at a weigh station just outside of post where we met my husband's parents. After weighing our vehicles we made it to our new house around 11pm at which point the unloading immediately began. After a couple of hours of work, we all decided it was time to call it quits for the day. We woke up bright and early Saturday morning to finish unloading the truck (well everyone else did, I woke up nice and early to organize and start unpacking boxes). Thankfully, even though we were a little stressed and very much exhausted, we finished unloading the truck by noon and were able to return it on time. That afternoon we got our Internet and satellite all set up
We spent the weekend moving furniture and boxes into their respective rooms, and I slowly began the unpacking process. My husband's parents left us early Sunday morning, and I dropped my husband off at the airport that afternoon to catch a flight back to Ft. Rucker so he could be there for all the 'pre-graduation' activities. So while he's been busy with all that un-fun business, I've been here in our new house with our dog unpacking, organizing, and putting our house together. Even though I've been keeping quite busy, it's been a little lonely. I can't wait to be reunited with my husband and to feel like we're getting settle in our new home and community and making new friends.
And surprisingly, leaving our home in Alabama was not as hard as I thought it might be. Obviously I have a real attachment to our rental house because it was the home we brought Hailey home to and is the home that holds our memories with her. But leaving didn't make me feel all that sad. However, the move hasn't really sunk in quite yet, I'm still having that almost temporary vacation feeling. Perhaps once the permanence of it settles in I might feel different. I will say though that with the move, our new pregnancy, and time continually moving forward, it does feel like more of Hailey is slipping away from me, like in a weird way she's growing further and further away from me. Even though I feel that now, the emotional side to it isn't really hitting quite yet, probably because I'm caught up in the busyness of the move.
We met our neighbors across the street, a very nice military family. However, when the question came up about if we had kids, we said no, but we had one on the way. I hate saying it that way, but I don't see any other way when we're going to be meeting so many new people. I'm starting to understand why people who have lost a child don't talk about them. I never understood it before. But I don't want to talk about Hailey as much anymore, at least not to people I meet for the first time. I think it's because she is something so important and personal to me that I'm coming to understand not everyone can handle, understand, or appreciate her/our story; therefore, I'm starting to keep her to myself. And in a sense it protects me from hurt that can come from the responses of strangers. Even though I'm starting to understand this 'new way' of handling her and others, I still wonder or worry about all the new people we'll be meeting in the coming months and how to deal with the question of children. But I think perhaps if they ask, "Do you have any children?" I'll respond with a "no" - even though I thought I'd never do that. But if they are people who become part of our lives, then certainly I will tell them. And I'm sure in talking about my pregnancy and what I do with Hailey's Hope, Hailey's story will come out, and I think it's okay to have that be the natural progression of sharing her with others.
Oh! And on a separate note, Opie celebrated his 3rd birthday this week! He enjoyed some scrumptious doggy bakery cookies and a new toy (that seems to not only be a hit with him, but with me as well because so far it's seeming indestructible).
All in all, despite the hard work, stress, and exhaustion, I would declare this a successful DITY and PCS - Hello Ft. Campbell!
So glad! :)
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