See, I didn't drop of the face of the earth. It's just been a very long and very interesting year and I needed time to process how to blog about it. Still not sure how to fit everything into a logical order so if it's a little, or more likely a lot, rambling, I'm sorry. This isn't really a "Christmas Letter" type of post. I can say that the monkeys are growing up and up and up. I'll have to post one of those type of posts next.
In order for things to make some sort of sense, I need to give a brief summary of how we got to this point. If this is stuff you know, feel free to skim until you hit something new.
In March of 2008, Chris was in Afghanistan again. He was 9 months into a 5 month deployment when he was med-evaced to Germany to begin treatment for Combat Related Severe Depression and Combat Related PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). He was able to come home to Fort Bragg and continue treatment for a year and a half. Once cleared for duty, we moved to Kansas for 10 months of schooling where Chris was doing well. Then, the "needs of the Army" called us to Fort Riley, Kansas where they deployed Chris to Iraq. He was there for almost 3 months when he realized he needed help. So back home he came. He was treated at Riley for 8 months and then we moved to Columbia, SC. His job here was a job planning ops in Afghanistan. Basically reliving that last Afghanistan deployment over and over. It wasn't very long before he realized this wasn't healthy. After numerous outpatient and two inpatient treatments, the Army found Chris unfit for duty and we started the medical board process.
OK, that brings us up to last June when we started this process. I can tell you if you didn't have some sort of PTSD before, this process might give it to you! In true Army fashion, what is supposed to take a week actually takes a month and what we thought was going to be a 4-6 month wait was 3 weeks. There are a whole new set of acronyms to learn and power point slides aplenty! We are finally nearing the end of this process which brings up the "What next?" question.
Chris was given the option to medically retire or apply to continue on active duty. After prayer and discussion, we have decided to retire from the Army. He will be placed on the Temporary Disability Retirement List. Most likely, he will be placed on permanent disability retirement in a year or two.
Trying to imagine our life away from the Army seems so strange. We were married for 10 months when he was commissioned and it's now 16 and 1/2 years later. The thought of moving where we want is both exciting and a little strange. Only moving once more, no more moving stickers on all our furniture. Only one more round of "where in the world am I going to put this" and "why in the world are we still moving this stuff around".
So, where are we going to end up and when are we leaving? Those two questions are still being determined. Chris is looking at ROTC and JROTC jobs in Florida. I'm sure none of you are surprised about the state. As for when, the Army originally set his retirement date for the end of February but we have applied for a 60 day extension so we have time to take his leave days and house/job hunt. I will try and keep everyone up to date but it's been a lot of "hurry up and wait".
The blessing in all of this is that we needed to be here in SC for Chris to get the help he needed. THe right programs and doctors were here. We found a great church family here. We were also able to have my Mom and Dad an hour and half away during some very difficult times. Their help and my sister, Michele, being able to come up was invaluable. Even in the midst of a deep valley, I knew God had this all under His control. My control/Type A personality does rear its ugly head every now and then but I'm working on it. Chris is doing very well and we are looking forward to what is coming next.
Please be in prayer for our job/home hunting. Especially the timing of all that. Prayers for all of us as we become a retiree family in a civilian world. Pray especially for Sarah and Jacob who, until last April, had no idea anything was going on with Chris. They have been amazing about everything and are taking this huge change in stride.
I'll try to update when we have some sort of news. Could be weeks, could be months, could be tomorrow. Love that.
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