Happy Birthday, Rees!

May 29

Today my second son, Rees, turned 9 years old! Happy Birthday, sweetheart! He celebrated by attending the first day of Cub Scout Day Camp. I set my alarm for 3am on May 30th so I could catch him after camp. We are 8 hours ahead so if that's not motherly love then I don't know what is. Over the phone, he told me he shared cupcakes with the boys at camp while they sang Happy Birthday. After camp, his father and brothers took Rees to his favorite restaurant for dinner. This weekend, he will have a pool party at the house with his friends.

Memorial Day

May 28

Well we didn't get a 3 day weekend to barbeque with family and friends, swim in the family pool, or walk the beach. However, we didn't get any patients this day either. So all in all I consider it a great holiday. Of course I have to have some sort of pictures to show you to commemorate my holiday.

Table decoration at the chow hall

Cake at the chow hall

Awesome food displays. Too pretty to eat.

Statue of Liberty

(No, she is not made of butter)

Run for the Warriors

May 19

"The Run For The Warriors™ - Iraq
On May 19, 2007, at Camp Taqaddum over 650 Marines, Sailors and Soldiers participated in the 1st Run For The Warriors™ - Iraq as part of the Run For The Warriors™ race series. WHile thr racers numbered in the 600, registrants numbered over 1000. This event raised over $27,000 in registration fees and donations. We are pleased to announce that the units came out in force to support their brothers and sisters who have returned home wounded. 2d Maintenance Bn had the strongest presence and was awarded the Iraq Spirit Award. " (copied from http://www.hopeforthewarriors.org/therace.html)

Many of the Marine Corps bases in the states held their 2nd annual Wounded Warrior Run, and we in Al Taqaddum, Iraq ran with them. Originally scheduled to start at 4pm to commenserate with the start in the states, it was realized that with our heated afternoons starting that late may not be such a great idea. So at 7am on Saturday morning our medical crew along with 600 other navy, marines, army, Ugandans, and civilians ran (or in my case walked) 5k.

Here I am making memories of the run. Smile everyone!

Here is my friend Harlan making memories of me making memories. Smile Beth!

Last but not least here is my walking club taking up the rear. I ran ahead to take the picture. Noticed the long line of patient drivers behind us.

Valerie and I cross the finish line.

Valerie and Chris each earned medals in their age class. (Psss... they were the only two women in that age class.) You did great ladies!!!

"Courage is not defined by those who fought and did not fall, but by those who fought, fell and rose again”.- Author Unknown

If you would like to read more about this great cause or donate please click on the site below.
https://www.hopeforthewarriors.org/onlineDonate.cfm

Smole

We have had a few sandstorms here and the only nice thing about them is they make it cooler. Maybe it is because they block out the sun. Who knows? All I know is last week it went from 118 to 80's and 90's and it was wonderful. Well, as long as you didn't mind the dirt in your mouth, ears, eyes, hair,... Any who, we were told that it was SMOLE season. Which meant we would be getting sandstorms intermittently through out. I couldn't find the word "smole" to mean "sandstorm" on the web but I did find these great pictures.

This photo was taken here in Iraq in I believe 2006. It is not my base as far as I know but does give you an idea of the sandstorms in this area.

Here is another one taken here in Iraq. (Remember, I got these off the web)

The next few were take from Harlan's camera on our base last week. He was the only one who had his camera with him and could catch the wall as it moved in. We were a little mesmerized by what we were seeing and how fast it came in. Notice the blue sky to the right and the wall of sand beginning to cover up the sky.

Goodbye blue sky. Goodbye heat (for a little while at least)

The sandstorm is just beginning to hit in this one. We didn't stay outside much longer after this shot.

MCMAP

May 13

MCMAP stands for Marine Corps Martial Arts Program. On Sunday, May 13, not only did I celebrate Mother's Day and the Nurse Corps Birthday but I got my first MCMAP belt - TAN.
It was alot of fun. I was a little nervous until I realized that we had an all ladies class. Then I enjoyed it because I didn't have to watch someone heave ho too much. We were all equal in talent and there to have fun.

Basic warrior stance
(Psss...that's Chris, my MCMAP partner in the back left)

Here I am demonstrating some of the choke holds on Chris. After I tested out she got to do them on me. So we had an agreement to not hurt each other any more than we had to in order to pass and to make each other look good.

Here I am performing an arm bar take down on Chris. My friend Harlan came to take pictures for us. We were so fast in our moves his camera could not keep up.

Chris on the mat after arm bar take down. Now remember, she got to do this to me too. All I have to say is "Don't mess with Mom when she gets home!".

"Thank you, thank you, thank you very much." Here I am being presented my tan belt by Corporal Robbins (my sensai). Chris and I have decided to go for the next color which is grey. It is a little more difficult but as long as we are paired together I know we can get through it.

Happy Birthday Nurse Corps!

May 13

The Navy Nurse Corps turned 99 years old on Sunday May 13. We look good for being so old! Here is a group photo of our nurses - they include EnRoute Care Nurses, Nurse anethetists, and Perioperative nurses. I couldn't be any happier or more proud working with those that I am deployed with now. I truly enjoy this great group of folks.

Nurses
2nd Maintenance Battalion (-) (REIN)
Al Taqaddum, Iraq

Perioperative Nurses and Nurse Anethetists
2nd Maintenance Battalion (-) (REIN)
Al Taqaddum, Iraq

Happy Mother's Day!

May 13

To all my friends and family who are mothers, Happy Mother's Day!

Here's your cake to celebrate. Don't worry I didn't taste it either.

HM1 Ricks asked all the mothers in our command to come to the hospital Sunday morning for a special message. It was definitely special. HM1 Ricks played his harmonica and sang a song he wrote in celebration of all the moms. Then he played a video he made on the tv. And last but not least he presented us with cards that he and our corpman made and signed with 2 hand made tissue carnations. It was hard not to cry. Thank you HM1 for making our day special so far from our children.

Proud mothers - Chris Haughton, me, and Robyn Cross.

The chow hall had prepared a special dinner in honor of all the mothers. Unfortunately it wasn't publicized very well and we didn't notice it until we were getting dessert. They had set up a hot buffet meal in the conference room with all kinds of wonderful food, cakes, and this heart shaped vegetable platter. They also had sparkling cider again. I was able to talk them into letting me have a bottle to take home (since I didn't get the meal).

Bada Bing

May 12

Two of our docs, Chris Carr and Kim Smith, celebrated their birthdays Saturday at our new hang out - Bada Bing. It is a balcony type "bar" (minus the bar tender and alcohol) that is located three stories high on one of our buildings. It was such a nice night after having sandstorms all day. There was a cool breeze, good friends, cake, near beer, and cigars. What more could a deployed soldier want? Here are some pictures I hope you enjoy.

The Bada Bing Wings on the bar.

Me at the "bar".

The gang celebrating Chris's Birthday. (Front row center.)

Kicking back, waiting for my next "mafia" hit.
All you kids - the cigar and near beer are staged.

My mafia ladies and birthday girl Kim. (Center.)

Blow out your candles, Chris and Kim, before the wind does!

What's a birthday without gifts? Nice boxers, Chris!

Bada Bing from a distance. That's it under the green flag.

Is that the Temperature?

May 6

It had been steadily getting hotter and hotter during the days. Many bets were being made as to how hot it really was getting . So one of my friends decided to put his clock that had a temperature gage outside in the shade to settle the bets. Little did we know how hot it really was!! The time was noon and the temp was already 112 degrees. Whew! Bring on the Iraqi diet plan.

"Walk-In" Movies

May 2

Our morale and welfare organization has started showing outdoor movies twice a week. It reminds me of a drive in only with out the car and need for your own radio. This night I watched "Happy Feet" with my friend Harlan. He had never seen it and I just liked the music. I've tried to see a few other movies that they have had but either I get too sleepy or I get called away. I hope the nights stay cool enough to where we can enjoy going and watching them on the big screen. One of the wonderful additional things they offer is free popcorn and sodas. Now if I could just get some milk duds to mix with my popcorn I'd be set. Yum, yum.

Steal my heart

As I have already mentioned, we do see civilians here and unfortunately some are children. This little guy stole all our hearts, from his long hair (we thought he was a girl at first), chubby cheeks, and smile. A piece of mortar shrapnel found his right hand and with the help of my favorite orhtho doc here (psss...he's the only one) we were able to help him. He required several surgeries but he was a trooper.

The top picture is of him with his right handed club. Next is Harlan refering to a hand book for confirmation. And last is my favorite picture.

Iraq Critters

Recently we had our lecture on all the Iraq "wild life" in the area. This is a picture of a Fattail Scorpion that is highly venomous that some one caught in a sticky trap in their living quarters. Now before everyone freaks out, it was the old living quarters we refer to as swa huts. They are made out of plywood and have many gaps. So far our tin trailers are hole and pest free. Some of my co-workers have also come across cobra snakes but no one stayed around long enough to take a picture. We'll have to work on that.

So I am more aftraid of the critters here than the explosives. Most folks don't want to waste time with a flashlight at night going to the bathroom or shower. But I take mine and constantly sweep my path with it. I haven't come across anything but an ant or two and lets hope I don't.

Yellow Air

One afternoon after a sandstorm had come through, one of my friends took this picture of the outside. Everything was yellow looking. I guess it is a change from brown or beige but it was just so eery looking.

She Band

May 1

We had our second concert here. It was an all female band called "Bandshe". Anyone ever heard of them? They were pretty good. But you have to realize how strange it is to hear a woman singing a song that was made a hit due to the lead man singing it. The strange part is they actually sounded like the male singer. Since it happened the same day as Lew's promotion, he tried to pass it off as his "wetting down" party. Oh no you don't! Your not getting off that easy.

Nurse Corps Promotion

May 1

Everyone in the military looks forward to the day they can put on the next rank. It means several things: pay raise, more responsibility, new uniforms, and yes, let's not forget the promotion ceremony. Today one of our nurses, LCDR Lewis Dyer in an outside ceremony, was promoted by the General to CDR. Knowing my special skills with a camera, Lew asked me to video tape the ceremony for him. That's me with the camera standing off to the side. Congratulations!