The Ground Truth: The Human Cost of War

AHHHH, it has been way too long since the last time I blogged! I am now officially a junior at San Diego State University and couldn't feel more accomplished. y favorite class is Sociology, but I'm not too sure it I like it because my professor is very passionate (of this subject matter) or because our society is really that corrupt. For extra credit he has assigned our class a few documentaries to watch and discuss it afterwards. So far we have done Super Size Me, Sicko, Food Inc. and most recently, The Ground Truth: The Human Cost of War.

I must admit, I am taken by the passion these directors have to point out mass problems with the American society. The last film brought me to a place I do not favor to talk about, but rather try to forget; Iraq. Although I wasn't injured physically, I have been scarred eternally and psychologically. Unlike many people who oppose the war, we jut do what we're told so you don't have to put your life on the line and be separated from your family.

YES, IT IS A CHOICE, BUT DOES ANYONE REALLY DESERVE TO BE BLOWN UP?

I definately do not agree with what the Department of Defense spends money on, but people NEED to realize they don't need to cut back on military pay (the enlisted members suffer the most), they need to pay the freakin contractors less and maybe even diminish some of those contracts. On a side note, I do have friends that are contractors who get paid well more than many of my service member friends, but do a whole lot of nothing; this is the sickening reality of or nation's beaucracy. These corporations are making biliions of dollars while defrauding the government so they make ultimate profit. Call me crazy but we need to elliminate many!

Next to these overpaid contractors, we have these greedy politicians in congress and the presidency whom send servicemembers oversees and can't give a dang when they return. Whatever happened to support the troops? Well, maybe support them not in parades to help your campaign for reelection, but PTSD and trauma relaed disbilities. We all may act fine and dandy, but it takes someone to commit suicide to release their stress from dehumanizaton and brainwash by the military. It's not the people you need to hate for serving in the military when we just do what we're told, but the country for in which we do it for.

I hope my husband's tour in the Middle East will be a smooth one..

~ Semper Fidelis ~

28 months later..

Hmm, this is long overdue! We will start with Madison is officially potty trained! She managed to pull it off in a little less than a week. She is 28 months old and out of diapers for good!! I thought it would never happen; however, it is definately a bittersweet situation because she is growing way too fast.

She took a 4 month break pageants, but I am going to put her back in them, but not so overwhelming, just like maybe once a month or so. I am also going to be putting her in dance or gymnastics, just not sure wich one yet. I want her to be active just as I was when I was a kid :)

We are currently trying to buy a house, but as a short sale. Unfortunately, since we will be up for orders within 2 years, I think we are going to pull the plug on this house. It is taking way too long and we just won't have time to resell it when the time comes.


On the upside, I start school full-tme at San Diego State University next month! I could not be happier! I have worked my butt off to get this far, and I will not let anything get in my way! So, basically I have 4 full-time semesters and I am done with school for a little while, then on to my master's degree. GO AZTECS!!

It's been a while..

WHEW!! It has been quite a while since I have posted. Since the last time I was on here, we have moved back to California and are no longer in Japan! Madison will be the big 2 on April 26!! Wow, how time flys right by us! She has also been in beauty pageants!! YUP, GLITZ PAGEANTS TO BE EXACT! We tried a couple of natural ones out, she did well, but we like the spunkiness of the glitz ones.

Anyways, I have been sewing A LOT!! For Christmas, my husband bought me a serger, and I love it so much!! It truely is the next best thing to sliced bread :) I will update some pictures soon, probably tomorrow. It feels so good to be home!!

Super busy!

I finally have a chance to get on here!! I have been so busy utting last minute things tgether for Madison's 1st bday & buying new stuff for our new house. Through all of that, we just bought a new vehicle for Madster & I and had Ben's birthday. We are currently staying with my mom and move into the house on Friday, the 2nd. I can't be happier! Then looking forward to my baby girl's very first Easter! Then, the week after we will be having a "belated Easter with my brother, Sister-in-law, and their kids over at our new place! I am super excited I get to meet my new neice, Dezarey Davina! So, APril we are driving up to San Jose for Madster's BIG day, then May for Dezarey's baptism, then Disneyland in May the week after Mother's Day, Vegas in June for my birthday (thank you hubby!), The walk for the Cure in San Diego on November 7, then starting school in the fall! I have one heck of a year planned out :) I just can't wait to post some pictures of how big my baby girl has grown! I cannot believe in less than one month, she will turn 1, it's bittersweet. MOMMY LOVES YOU MADISON PAIGE!!

HAPPY SHAMROCK DAY MADISON!!

Today was Madison's very 1st St. Patrick's Day! We celebrated and gave her some goodies :) I will post some pictures tomorrow when we have all of the festivities done. PS Irish Soda Bread is so de-lish!!

Sunny SoCal

We arrived safe and sound in San Diego. The weather here is much nicer and I am glad to be near family. We wanted a newer home on base, so we are staying with my Mom until the 3rd (when we get our keys). We bought our new couches, new dining room table which seats 8 (I am so glad because I have a big family) and new front loading washer and dryer. We are now working on upgrading my vehicle size. Since Madison was born, we will have to get me an SUV of some sort. I wanted an H3, but now really have my heart set on an FJ Cruiser :) Fingers crossed we will get one soon. Not much left to do until Masdison's bday and Baptism, so that's a plus.

The Monzen Inn- MCAS IWAKUNI

For our last couple of days, we have been staying in one of the hotels on base called the Monzen Inn. They have been recently renovated and when I walked in, I felt sort of zen-ish. It was beautiful :) I had to take some pics!

Last hours in Japan

Last night, my friend's Doreen & Steph threw us a going away party! It was Japanese themed and the most beautiful party ever! We had so much food ranging form teriyaki skewers to sushi made out of fruit roll-ups and red licorice. We had such a great time! We will miss our friends we have made, but the memories will last forever and we will definitely keep in touch!! To top the night off, we received two Japanese scroll dolls in which all for the guests signed for us as keepsakes. I did very well in holding back my tears, I felt wonderful!

A princess IS born..

Today, my first niece Dezarey Davina Nunez. She weighed 8lbs 5oz and was 19in long! She was very healthy, but I wish I could have been there. Soon enough, we will get to meet her.

A PRINCESS will be born

Tomorrow, my Sister in law will be induced and give birth to my niece Dezarey Davina Nunez. I am so excited my first niece! I am also sad at the same time, I will not be there, but I am sure I will get to meet her very soon with our move back to California :) I decided to create a little special graphic for her since my brother calls her his PRINCESS :)

Let the countdown begin!

We are set to move out of Japan to Camp Pendleton on March 9. I am so excited, I feel like a little kid at Christmas time. I cannot wait to be out of this fishbowl of a base and closer to family and friends. I am also anxious to start school back up, especially because with the new GI Bill, they not only pay for my school, they pay for my housing expenses (which we have none because the military pays for it), so it will be a great time to save money. We are getting ready for our big move and sold most of our furniture so we can buy almost everything brand new back in California. On top of that, we are still planning Madison's Baptism and 1st birthday party, which is coming along just wonderfully!! I am still working out, just a little less intense and I lost another pound this week versus 2lbs per week. Which is great because I want to be 120, and I only have 6 lbs to go!! Madison is also crawling all over and got stuck under the table chair before we sold it, haha! I ♥ her so much!!

6wks of MADNESS!!

Sunday was the very last day for my 6week weight loss program and I weighed in at 127lbs! I could not have done it without the help and support of my husband! Monday I started a lighter conditioning program and I am going to start running a lot again once I get over being sick. Here are some pics from today (my 3rd day into my new program), I don't weigh myself until every Sunday, so who knows, I might even be 126, now. Here are some pics (9 months after giving birth to my daughter and not breastfeeding!! I know all my breastfeeding friends say they don't have to work out because they burn so many calories, well I did this all on my own and I am very proud of myself. :)

[EXCUSE HOW BAD I LOOK, IT WAS 6:30A.M. & I HAD JUST FINISHED MY WORKOUT]

Madison & the Kintai Bridge

This past weekend, Ben & I took Madison to the Kintai Bridge here in Iwakuni, Japan. It is world known for it's architecture and how beautiful it is. We went with a couple of our friends Steph, Jamie, and Emma Valentine. We had a great time, especially the ice-cream! Ben ate Tira-misu flavored and I had peach, it is seriously like the BEST ice-cream you will ever have in Japan! We stopped at the playground and had a little fun. We also visited the water springs and the pond with the king sized Koi fishes. All in all, it was a great day, except for it being a little chilly, but the sun was shining, so it was great!

ALL AT ONCE!

Yesterday, Madison decided she finally wnated to crawl! We thouht she was going to skip crawling and just walk because she always wants to stand. Well, once she started, she hasn't stopped. Now she gets into everything! All her toys out of her toy basket can now be found all over the living room floor at any given moment. I really have to keep an eye on her now because one moment she is here, the next she is there. She pulls her self up onto the couch and her jumper! I predict she will be walking before her 1st birthday, fingers crossed. It seems like tihngs are coming all at once and I am excited to finally say we are moving back home to California within the enxt 3 weeks! Here is a short video of the 1st time she crawled.

MADISON: The world's BEST Valentine ever!

Yesterday (JST) was Madison's 1st Valentine's Day, so you know I had to make it as special as can be. The day started off with me working out of course while she slept and waited for her to wake up to eat with her. Ben, Madi & I were in the kitchen and started making breakfast. Ben made the heart shaped pancakes and I made my heart shaped egg white omelet.. tastey!

Then we decided to exchange some gifts. Madison opened hers first. She received a basket of flowers from her daddy and she was trying to eat them, lol. In her heart shaped box, she received a "1st Valentines Day" bib, a shirt that said "Daddy's little Valentine", a wash cloth with tons of hearts on it, a new teether in pink, baby food: apple pie dessert, baby fruit roll-ups, a heart shaped pink pillow, a lady bug beanie baby (we get her a different one for every holiday) and I think that was about it. Next, it was Ben's turn! He received a picture frame with a picture of Madison in it and the frame said "Daddy's Princess on it. I gave him a heart box with two mugs that said "crazy in love" and 2 single shots of Captain Morgan. I also turned a Snoopy plush into a Drill Instructor Snoopy with Ben's new rank and a red heart on his chest. I wanted to be different and not traditional. Next, it was my turn! The 1st thing I saw was a blue Tiffany box! I love blue boxes :) It turned out to be the charm I had been wanting that says "naughty" on one side and "nice" on the other side. Then There was "The Time Traveler's Wife" in Blu-Ray. I thought, my husband is good! The last thing that was in there were two 5lb hand weights. GREAT!! I had been telling Ben I need to step my game up from my 3lb hand weights and he got em for me, such a sweet husband! I had made sure he did not buy me candy (I'm on a weigh loss program and don't care for it) and there wasn't! Next, we used red paint and created what was supposed to be a heart out of our footprints. It isn't perfect, but it's art!

Next, we cleaned up and dressed Madison in her new shirt, some jeans and of course her red chucks. Ben & I actually got dressed in our red inspired clothes as well because we were supposed to go for a picnic for lunch. Needless to say, the weather did not permit us to do this because it was simply way too cold to take Madi out there. So, we decided to have lunch here on base at the Grand Buffet. It wasn't to bad. Ben and Madison dropped me off at home and the went to the store, to let me take a nap. IT WAS WONDERFUL :)

A couple of hours later, we got ready for yet another little expedition. We were a little formal this time and went to a restaurant called Jan Jakas. This place is so delicious and you cook your own food there. One place I will truly miss when we move back stateside. We had a blast and Madison was such a great baby (she always is) we never have to constantly be holding her, she is so independent.

When we got home, of course we had to watch my favorite show the Biggest Loser, lol. It is my inspiration! Then Madison went to bed and Ben and I watched my new movie together. It was really romantic. That ended our Valentine's Day and what a great one it was!