David's life

I think most everyone knows by now, but just in case I'll fill you in. David was accepted into an internship for the summer. He'll be staying witjh a 'host' family in Northern TX (Border of TX & OK), I'll meet them on the phone before he meets them in person. He'll be selling educational books door to door. He gets college credits plus the average salesman makes aroun $7,000. for the summer. You all know David - he's always been above average- so he's planning on much more than that. He can do this for the next two summers and have more than enough to pay for his mission. Now we're in a whirl-wind trying to get everything together. Since he turns 18 this summer he'll be off of Hoosier Ins., so he's getting his wisdom teeth pulled tomorrow (there will be film and pictures of that one:-) He's cramming for finals and writing two or three papers, plus he has quite a bit to memorize for his internship. He's also trying to finish a web page he was hired to do so he can get paid and use that $ to put into the broken down red car so he can drive it out to Nashville for the training and then to TX. He's leaving a day early so he can spend it with mom and the gang and go to church. He's obviously stressed, he talked in his sleep all night last night.
We all are just revolving around David ha ha ha, he wishes!

Heard from Steve!

I just got off the phone with Steve, YEA!!!

Apparently I was misinformed on where he would be and what it would be like. While he has mountains around him, where they stay is actually flat and very sandy. They don't have running water, but they have a well they can pump to get enough water for a shower about once a week per soldier. They do not have the comfort of bathrooms (Scott can tell you all about the joys of that). There is just over 20 people on the tiny FOB and Steve sleeps in a connex (the storage units the military uses to ship their items over seas). He said they have a good report with the locals and have a really neat dog who found them and stays with them. Her name is Sandy.

He sounded like he was in excellent spirits and says the address we have is correct. He does have some access to the 'net and they have a sattellite phone he can use to call home every once in a while. Oh, and they do have a cook, so when they have enough supplies dropped to them, they get some hot meals.

He said he looks like a raccoon. His face is sunburned except where he wears his eye protection, so he looks like a red and white raccoon. :-) He's been busy with missions, and since they have so few people, he pulls guard a lot too and hasn't had a lot of sleep. And because of the lack of running water, he hasn't shaved and with as fast as his beard grows, I'm sure he already fits right in with the mountain men. And he hasn't had a haircut since he left and said his bangs reach his eyebrows.

As far as what to send to him, it pretty much is the same ol' list, except he did emphasize the need for baby wipes because he doesn't get to shower much. Oh, and he also told me to send out flea collars for Sandy, which I thought was kind of cute. I'll pick some up today and stick them in the package I have ready to go.

It was so awesome to hear his voice! I'll give you more updates as I get them.
~Sheralan

Steve's address

Hey all. Just wanted to give you Steve's address. They say it'll probably take two months for mail to reach him. :( Poor guy, no mail for that long. Anyway, here it is:
SGT MARROTT STEVEN R
B-TRP 1-61, 4th BCT 101 ABN DIV (AASLT)
WHAZI KHWAH, AFGHANISTAN
APO 09354

Even if you can't send a package, he'd love letters and pictures from everyone.

Thank you all for you love and support!
~Sheralan

Moses and Jethro

Weird things tie together in the strangest ways. Aurora had an assingment to study out the relationship between Moses and Jethro for her YWs class today. A speaker in Sacrament (the one following David's remarkable talk:) had braces and a retainer and one of us comented on his 'thick' speech. I told the girls they should call Cori and see how she's talking with her new hardware. Aurora (always more spiritual than her demented mom) brought up that they learned about extended families, and they should be in contact anyway!

Prayers for Koda

I'm just asking for prayers for Koda. He got into my clonazepam and ate at least 40 pills. They're very sweet tasting. I had even made sure I put them where he couldn't get them (reminds me of Kristie when she was little!) but he opened the cupboard, it looks like he easily got the childproof cap and I'm guessing he ate 40 to 60 pills. I called poison control and she just said there's nothing she could tell me except he's going to die. She was kind of rude. He staggers when he walks. I induced vomitting with vinegar which is really wierd because you're supposed to use sodium peroxide (I'm having a hard time remembering words but it's something peroxide, comes in a brown bottle). But it worked. The problem is those are sub-Q meds and absorb quickly into your system. So I'm sitting on the patio (it's a gorgeous day) so if he throws up more it's not on my carpet. I actually was smart enough to put him out on the patio before I induced the vomitting. But I want to carefully monitor his breathing, heart rate and color. I called the Vet and he said I'm doing all they would do. He'd never heard of inducing vomitting with vinegar but since it worked that's great. He said if his heart rate falls below 60 to bring him in right away. So far it's staying well above 60. I just took him out to go potty and the poor dog fell twice. So I'm asking everyone to pray for him. I can't afford to take him to the Vet and he just can't die because I'm too attached to him. Thanks!

Steve's Deployment

As most of you know, Steve left for Afghanistan on Tuesday. His flight got pushed back, so we were able to have a last minute get together hosted by Scott and Stefani. It was great. They bought pizza, pop, and snacks, and even let us bring another soldier and his fiance. It was nice to have those few extra hours.

Steve had to be at the troop area around 6pm but we didn't actually say goodbye until just after midnight. He is now on his way, though I'm not exactly sure where he is at the moment.

We are doing well. Of course we are sad, but we are looking forward to seeing him again, possibly in January (or maybe sooner) for his R and R.

Thank you all for your support!

~Sheralan

Plans for Easter

So how are you planning on spending Easter? I need help. I have 7 Easter Bunnies and 1 egg hunter. How do I make it fun for the older kids?