Watching the second episode tonight with the cast was a great way to relive moments from the deployment. Unfortunately, growing up an Army Brat and working for the Army for 7 years, I had attended numerous memorial services... but never felt the emotions that I experienced that day. The most sobering moment for me is always the roll call. I don't know how I forgot... but I forgot how much power is carried in the calling of the fallen soldier's name. My eyes are welling up as I speak. I can not begin to comprehend what the family has went through, but my prayers were and are still with the family of our fallen soldier.

Skeet shooting was SO MUCH FUN! I love doing things that are fun, different and outdoors but being pregnant... my options were limited. Oy! Alaska is like the biggest playground to me and every time I found something exciting I realized I have to wait until I am no longer with child. Seriously... it was like being grounded! Skiing-Nope. Ice Skating-Nope. Snowboarding-um yeah, NOPE.... Shooting? OH YEAH! My hubby and I own handguns but that was the first time I got the chance to handle a rifle. Can I say I am hooked?!? I enjoyed getting outside and handling a shotgun... maybe almost too much! My grin was soooo cheesy! LoL

My sweet Baby O. As I watched my phone call and trip to Labor and Delivery I found myself crying. A tsunami of emotions overwhelmed me as I realized that I was finally able to FEEL the fear and uncertainty attached to that event. At the time, I was just focused and I had allowed myself to go 'numb' to an extent just in case something happened to my baby. I was very mechanical-but I was SCARED OUTTA MY MIND! I don't know about you, but I always thought that when I was pregnant, my husband would be there to meet me at the hospital or go with me for ultrasounds. In this case, I had to call on one of my Army Sisters. At one of my most vulnerable moments, it was great to have someone to call on and hold my hand as I hoped for good news but prepared my mind for bad news.

I think Traci said it best in the first episode-during deployments, friendships are fast and hard. That's the truth and the reality of it. I had never experienced or believed that before being stationed in Alaska. I used to cope by throwing myself into work and pulling some serious overtime, but this time my focus was different... I was different. You form a family comprised of those that you feel you can depend on and you hold on with all you've got. For some of us that is the only way to survive. How do you cope with deployments or difficult situations?