SESAME STREET HELPS MILITARY FAMILIES
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Being the wife of a military officer can certainly have its moments (such as deployments), but some days the military comes through and makes these situations just a little bit easier for not only those of us left behind during a deployment, but also for those who are deployed. I had 4 of those moments today.
FIRST: We had to pick up Marisol's asthma medication from the pharmacy. She's been suffering from asthma attacks for the past 3-4 days now and was in desperate need of medication after running out of her own and having to use mine. Our military health insurance covers this. It's truly a godsend, especially at times when you are running low on money and need medication. At least we know that we can pick it up and that the military have covered it. It's times like this that I owe them thanks.
SECOND: After picking up her medication we attended a FREE Sesame Street concert put on exclusively for military families at our base movie theatre. It was only a short concert, but little children don't notice that and for parents sitting there struggling to keep toddlers from running around and getting bored we are thankful that this was a short one. Not only was it short and free, but they gave us FREE stuff too. Can you believe it. I spent $15 on shiny spinning around light up toys for the twins at the actual Sesame Street concert. Today they were handing them out to all of the children for nothing ... we now have 5 of them, the kids are in shiny, spinning, light up toy heaven ha ha. They had tables of free items (which you can see in the photo to the right) - Sesame Street deployment dvd kits for the kids, postcards, tattoos, books and discs containing valuable information about deployment support for military families and parenting.
The theme of the show was TALK, LISTEN, CONNECT. It was specifically geared towards military families facing deployments, homecomings and changes.
Talk, Listen, Connect: is a new Sesame Street Bilingual, multimedia outreach program designed to help support military families with young children experiencing deployments and multiple deployments or when a parent returns home injured.
To order a free Sesame Street kit please visit the Military One Source website or log onto the Sesame Workshop
Check out my photo of the queue of people 1 hour and 15 minutes before the show started ... can anyone say 'free concert and no allocated seating'. I was doing laps around the carpark at this point with a very cranky Miss.
The concert was great, the kids had lost their minds for the nearly 2 hour wait before it started - we got to the pharmacy a little earlier than expected and the concert was only 1 block away. They were opening the doors to the concert 1 hour before the start time so that everyone could find seats and snacks could be purchased. The bugs hadn't napped so you can only imagine the hysterics they were in, however after filling them to the brim with popcorn, red vines and M&M's (yes I'm one of those parents) they were more than happy to sit on our laps through the show wiggling their butts to the songs and clapping.
Here are a few photos from the concert:
Mummy attempting to entertain the twins before the show started. Flynn was thrilled by his light up spinning toy, Marisol was LESS than impressed. The little boy next to us I'm guessing was not very happy with all of her screaming either LOL
Marisol & Flynn in their red vine Sesame Street trance.
Check out the back arch on Miss M. She thought it was absolutely hilarious arching back and looking at me upside down. She was giggling her little butt off.
THIRD: Since Randy has been in Iraq he hasn't been able to see photographs of the kids. We thought he'd be able to use this blog to keep up with what we have been doing but unfortunately he can only read along and not view the photographs. Emailed photograph attachments have been quarantined too. It's a security measure and we understand that.
So we applied to Website for Heroes about a week ago for a free website that Randy would be able to view. I received a phone call this morning from Terry one of the co-founders of the organization. He told me that he had a waiting list of 240 families but not enough funding to set up websites for all of them. Only 50 were able to receive websites today and we we were lucky enough to be one of those families. The websites are paid for thanks to the wonderful corporate and private sponsors who provide donations, and now, because of these amazing people Randy will be able to view photographs and updates of the kids for the next year on our very own private website.
If anybody would like to make a donation so another family just like us can enjoy a year of sending photographs, videos and updates to their deployed loved one please visit Website For Heroes.
FOURTH: As we were standing in queue waiting to get into the concert today there were people handing out flyers for youth groups and childcare. I found out that I can get FREE drop-in care at the military base childcare center for up to 16 hours a week while Randy is deployed and not only that but I can also get FREE parents night out care one night a month. They normally charge for these services but if the spouse is deployed they waive the charges. The best part is that spouses of deployed personnel also get priority for reservations. I couldn't believe it. I have to jump through hoops to get this happening - powers of attorney (yes more of them), doctor's certificates for each of the kids and a mountain of paperwork, but I will be doing all of this and I will be using this service while Ran is gone. Mama's going to the salon people and mama is so darn happy about it. Jay's pretty stoked too as he no longer has to wander around outside the salon pushing the babies and trying to entertain them for me ha ha. I can go shopping, I can go out in the evenings and I can work without babies pulling on my legs. I can even go to the doctors or dentist ON MY OWN.
July 16, 2008 12:25 AM
Hi Tonya,
I'm sorry I've been MIA, but I'm trying to catch up. I can't write comments to all of the entries I read to do that, but thought I would just say the kids always look so happy at the beach, the party at my gym looked like fun, I'm glad you got your blog back up and running, you'll definitely have to use that drop off daycare for a MNO so maybe let us know when that is and we could organize around that, and finally, I LOVE the neato pictures of Randy. I hope you and the family are doing well!
July 16, 2008 1:02 AM
so sorry to hear M is having asthma problems :-( they're not fun.
great post tonight. it feels so good to hear about the support military families get.
i'm off to check out the link for the web host.
k
July 16, 2008 5:19 AM
Congrats on all of your cool finds that will make you life a little easier while Randy is gone.
I can't see the pictures for some reason. I will check back later to see if that has changed.
July 16, 2008 6:09 AM
OK..now is see the pictures. They are great!
I was wondering what a "red vine" was, now in the picture I see it is a twizzler! LOVE THOSE!!
July 16, 2008 6:42 AM
Those are some awesome benefits! Have fun out and about during your 'alone' time :)
July 16, 2008 6:45 AM
Number 4 must be the best of all!
July 16, 2008 7:00 AM
Wow those are GREAT perks! That is awesome that they do that for the families... makes it just a bit easier while the hubbies are away I'm sure.
July 16, 2008 8:14 AM
Funny you should mention the drop-in care, as I just started the paperwork for my kids for that on Monday! No kidding about "jumping through hoops"! But it will be worth it. Will is only gone for a couple of weeks this time, but it still counts as a deployment.
I didn't know they had gotten so strict about the photos going through on emails to Iraq. When Will was there, at least he could still view pics that I emailed. Thank goodness you got selected for the family website so he can see his kiddos without having to rely on on snail mail!
It was fun seeing you at the concert, though I'm sorry that we didn't get to sit together since Luke had already claimed a seat next to his buddy! Great post :)
July 16, 2008 8:21 AM
Tonya...even though this last 2 1/2 years has made me not like the military very much...I know that there are some perks and I can't wait to be married and finally be able to take advantage of them. I mean, they have taken advantage of me enough haven't they?!?! KIDDING!
I am so glad you and Randy are able to share pictures now..that is AWESOME! How special if that and the asthma medicine would have been all you got that day huh?!
Much love girl! Take Care
July 16, 2008 8:22 AM
I am so glad that they are doing something to help you out. It seems there should be so much more for the families of our men and women who are serving our country!
July 16, 2008 8:42 AM
That drop in care sound great.....you need those few hours for YOU!!!!
Looks like Elmo and friends was fun!! Thos cherry twizzlers look delicious.......but not as yummmy as my BIRTHDAY GIVE- A- WAY!!! Okay, that was a shameless plug....
Have a FABULOUS day!!
July 16, 2008 8:54 AM
glad there are some perks for being a military wife. enjoy
July 16, 2008 9:42 AM
Great post, Tonya. It's nice to hear that the military offers such wonderful things for military families. Can't beat the free daycare...that's awesome!!!!
July 16, 2008 9:49 AM
What a great time for the kids.
How awsome that you will get some alone time, that is great for you!
July 16, 2008 10:07 AM
I didn't know about the free drop in care. Is that in any of the CDC's? How do I go about finding out about that? Joe's not deployed yet, but it won't be too long now, and I KNOW I'm going to need a break while he's gone!
July 16, 2008 11:05 AM
Yeah for the free Sesame Street stuff!! My kids love Sesame Street.
Also yeah for you approved site for Randy. I am excited for you on that. I can't imagine being away from my kids for a year. I would definitely have to have pictures!
Glad you're going to get to have some free time.
And, for the record, red vines are the best! Way better than twizzlers!:)
July 16, 2008 11:31 AM
Ugh you reminded me that I still haven't registered the boys for the daycare programs. It's so hard for me because I know I can't use it but I want to. Unfortunately the fear of leaving my SI kid with new people is more than a fear. It can cause major setbacks and I have to get past that before I attempt it. But we also get four free classes (like karate or gymnastics) and two free sports during the deployments too.
As for the pictures Kirke can see our pictures in his emails thank God. We also will have access to webcamming soon. I hope...
July 16, 2008 12:12 PM
I'm so glad to know that they do something, even if it's just a little something here and there, to help all of you out who serve and dedicate so much of your time and life to our country.
sorry to hear your little one's asthma is acting up... that is no fun. I remember those days.
Sesame street- free concert and gifts?! How cool is that.
oh and I love the red vines picture... adorable, and yummy- made me want to go buy some!
July 16, 2008 1:01 PM
Time out for mom. . . what an awesome thing to have come across!!! And a free Sesame Street concert too! Awesome! Congratulations on the web site! I'm sure it will help you to keep in touch with your husband while he's gone!!!!
It sounds like you had one very busy day!
July 16, 2008 1:47 PM
Sounds like a great day with lots of good news!! I am most excited for you about the help with the kids and prospect of just a little break every once in a while. I bet the kids will love playing with the others too!
July 16, 2008 6:10 PM
You certainly deserve all the things you mentioned! Glad the kids had fun at the show!
July 16, 2008 7:20 PM
can I say again how jealous I am of all the FUN things you do with your kiddos.....
kudos to the military for being so great to you all and the private website....WOW...now that is amazing!!!!!!!!!!! I know that's the best news you have heard in awhile
July 16, 2008 8:36 PM
Well look at you and your 23 comments. Miss Fancy pants. LOL!
1. Yea!
2. Yea!
3. Yea!
4. YIPPEE!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm happy for you, hon.
July 17, 2008 1:22 PM
Wow, great news about the website!!!
Double wow about going to the salon by yourself!!!!
Congrats on the blog awards!!!
You really have a great blog going, I can't wait to see the other one that you are working on(No, I didn't forget:)!
July 17, 2008 5:47 PM
great post! at least there are some perks!
xoxo, K
July 18, 2008 11:04 PM
I'm glad to hear the military helps the spouses left holding the fort. You guys definitely deserve it!