On the Move...

Sorry it has been so long since the last update. I am failing at keeping up Caleb's blog! I will try to be more consistant in the future!

We have been able to keep up with Caleb pretty regularly the last few weeks and are grateful for that opportunity. He is doing well but has been very busy. The first few weeks he was back in Baghdad were very hectic and dangerous. That was when Al-Sadr's militia was acting up in Basra and Baghdad. Caleb and his crew had a couple of close calls, but thank God, they were not harmed. After things settled down a bit, he had some good news and was promoted to Specialist! He is no longer Private First Class de Armas, he is now Specialist de Armas. With the promotion he received a pay raise and that made him very happy!

Caleb is still (most days) the Gunner on his Humvee. Every time we sign off of the computer I remind him to "keep his head low!!"
And his response is always, "Don't worry, Mom!"

Last week has been very hectic because he and about a hundred other guys are moving off of the FOB (forward operating base.)
They will still be in the same area of Baghdad, but will now be living in a small tent city. He will still have electricity and computer access, but will have to make trips back to the FOB for mail and supplies. I have a feeling the living conditions will not be so nice as before, but I will get an update from Caleb soon and fill you in.

Please keep praying for him and the other brave soldiers in his unit, they are certainly in need of the Father's protection and strength.

I will update again soon, proud soldier mom, Betsy

Update on Caleb

Just wanted to give everyone a quick update on our soldier, Caleb! We thoroughly enjoyed our visit with him while he was home (in Orlando) on his mid-tour Leave. He seemed to be doing great and really glad to be home with family and friends, and mostly with his fiance, Cali!! He safely returned to Baghdad about a week and a half ago and is back in the business of fighting a war! He is trying to adjust again to Army life and being away from home and all of the comforts of life in America, but he is doing well. He was hoping for a couple of days to get over jet-lag when he arrived at his base (FOB FALCON), but he was put right back to business! We are able to talk to him several times a week through the computer and are so thankful for that contact. He wanted me to thank all of you for your prayers, letters and care packages. He so appreciates all of the support. Continue to pray for his safety, his health and emotional strength, and just endurance to finish the race in Iraq! We are praying he will be home by the end of the year. I will update again soon and Caleb will when he has the chance, the internet is so slow in Iraq that it takes him forever to post a blog, so I am helping out! Betsy, proud Army Mom!!

At Home...

Ok. So I need some help.

I've been thinking about coming home and all. And I need the assistance of someone in the Central Florida area. Someone who reads this owns a firearm. I have no clue who you are. But you should take e shooting. Cause, I don't think I can handle 18 days without something going boom. And I wanna fire a weapon. Preferably something in the 5.56 - 7.62 range. Pistols just don't do it for me anymore. If you have access to like, a Class III range, then you'll be my best friend forever. I just want to shoot. Without someone shooting back. That'd be cool.


Hook it up!!

Clarification

I'm not coming home for good. I'm only coming home for my midtour leave. I'll be in the states for 18 days. Then I come back to sunny Iraq.

I'm done. I was officially pulled off mission status about 20 minutes ago. From now on all I'm doing is packing and getting ready to go home. See you guys soon.

I leave here in four days. Ridiculous.

Ridiculous is a good way to describe the last week here. Apparently Hajji thought that now was a good time to start doing some serious IED's and what not. Seriously guys, can we like, lay low for a week or two? Thanks.

In other news, it's starting to warm up. I think I need to get my AC fixed in the truck this weekend. That sounds like a plan.

I've been really scatter brained this week. I can't sleep. Then I want to sleep all day. I'm sick of my iPod. I want new music. You guys should hook that up when I come home. What should I do when I come home? Any ideas, post them. Cause, that would be awesome.

Peace.

Our internet is back.

I am alive.

I'm busy, I'll update later.

Internet

Ok, so our internet died. But as soon as I get it fixed I will be online.

If anyone is interested in talking to me over here, I have AOL instant messanger (www.aim.com - its free to download and use) and my screenname is waryall


I'm ALWAYS online. It's usually from around 10AM EST to around 2 or 3PM but depending on whats going on I may be on earlier or later.

Last few days have just been alot of real quick missions. Nothing major.

Updated wishlist:
Peanuts
Airheads
Magazines (anything)
Suprisingly - NO MORE Q tips...I underestimated how many would be sent here. I'm probably in the 20,000 range. At least.