May :: 2010 :: Firefighter Wife

Patience on a Shift Day

Posted on May 31, 2010 by HotWife

I don’t like days I have no patience, but I especially hate it on shift days. Today is one of those days. Kids aren’t being bad at all, I’m just lacking patience.

Thankfully I saw it happening so I’ve been working hard not to be snippy. But there are still 4 more hours before I make them go to bed. lol Am I going to survive the summer?! 2 more weeks and they’ll be home every day. ahhhh

I’m trying to keep myself busy, maybe I just needed to sleep in a little longer this morning. One thing I know for sure is I’ve been busy for days. Running around with my errands, others errands, cooking and cleaning hasn’t even happened yet. Possibly I shouldn’t have taught seniors class this morning as it just seemed like one more thing, but it’s one of my few times I try to ignore everything else. Plus I had 12 seniors show up so it was worth having class

The weather has been absolute garbage all May and no hope of getting better. I know that’s not helping my mood any. Then I want to go up to a Revitalizing Your Spirit event at our longhouse and of course hubby has to work. It’s a 2 day event. I can work around the kids, but it’s the dogs that put a kink in everything. That didn’t help my mood any, but hopefully I can get it figured out.

Like I said, the kids have 2 more weeks left of school. 4 days this week and hubby has tech drill and then 2 days of extrication class. MAN, no wonder why I’m getting so snippy. Over 3 weeks without a sunny day, very little time alone with hubby this week & kids home soon, and a ton of laundry still to do.

<sigh> I’m just out of patience for it all and with too many excuses why! I just need to grab a funny movie and veg out.

Categories : Everyday

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Weekend? It’s a Holiday?

Posted on May 30, 2010 by HotWife

Yeah, we’re scheduled the holiday weekend. It means that a holiday is just a date on the calendar. lol I’m actually working Monday morning and caught crap from it but heck I’ll be up so why not? If he wasn’t getting up for work I’d be thinking differently for sure.

He’s working the weekend. THE WHOLE WEEKEND! Hey someone has to answer when you call 911. It’s hubby tonight. I went to the farmers market and bought this big-ass freakin’ pretzel and took it to him and now I’m in trouble cause I didn’t get some for my other boys. Since it is a holiday there are many of them working together. AWW, how about inviting me to cook dinner at the station then? whatevah?

I got the text, barely, that they are going to the gym and running hell hill in the morning if I want to join. NO, I DON’T. Usually, yes I do. But I wake up early every freaking morning, let me sleep in until 8 if possible damn it. lmao I told him to tell everyone to come over for blueberry pancake breakfast and sausage with farm fresh eggs. If that doesn’t get them running and working out with him then nothing will.

We don’t get him home this weekend, but we will make the most of it. It’s a huge fastpitch weekend and we love that. GO HUSKIES! Back to the world series we go. Let’s REPEAT WOMEN! woohoo But then it’s also high school state ball and we know a few coaches locally. I’m excited to hear how they do. I’m sure they need some pancakes to keep going!

So my biggest bitch at this time is I was asked if I want to workout in the morning. NO, jeesh. I’m up around 6 every morning to work, make breakfast before school or help someone get out to work before the rest of the house. Youngest and I have been craving blueberry pancakes for a month and I finally bought blueberry’s today. I’m out. Let me know before you get home and I’ll start cooking. Our best buddy has to come over and get his dog anyway, but he’s the sickest right now whatever, go workout and let me sleep until 8 damn it!!@ I’ll feed you breakfast if you do, if not then you get jack nothing. lol

Tonight has been all me and my youngest. Tomorrow he’s home and daughters buddy is staying over. We’re having a big seafood fest to celebrate the weekend. Then he works on Monday and I work in the morning as well on monday. But just for my class. I figure why not teach class if I’m already up? My seniors don’t care what day of the week it is either.

BUT tonight, I’m putting foot down. I refuse to get up and I’m happy that I was invited, but ticked that I should feel I need to get up and work out with them. Something I need to bring up because I’m sure it’s all in my head. Truly, he never excepts me to do more than I want to, but I read more into things because I can’t help being a girl. Yeah, <sigh> I’m a girl can’t help it. lol

Anyway, the weekend! We have no weekend plans. He’s working it. Someone needs to show up when they call 911 and this weekend it’s B shift. No biggy, cause the weather is absolute crap and we don’t have a trailer yet. We’d have to go over the mountains to be happy and find the sun

It’s still early tonight so I could still get up with them for a morning workout, but I refuse to set my alarm damn it! I don’t care that I will wake up 2 hours before you want me to set it. lol It’s the point, NO ALARM

Categories : Everyday

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Q & A: Driving By Major Fire

Posted on May 28, 2010 by HotWife

Dani asked: “My boyfriend starts fire academy in the fall….last night we drove by a horrific fire that sadly claimed a firefighters life. is it wrong to be so afraid for my boyfriend?”

Oh boy, this is a rough one since he hasn’t even gotten hired yet. He’s so hungry to be there at the fire that you are dealing with a different animal. His thought is he could have been so much help there and why couldn’t he have been there. You are probably (from your question) a big WHY ARE YOU GOING TO DO THIS DAILY?!”

One big thing is unless they are in a major (MAJOR) city, they aren’t on fires daily In fact we’re a big department and my hubby can go months without a fire. Don’t tell some of them that, it’s what keeps some of them going. lol Most calls are medic. Sadly, if you do a little research, I’ll take a fire any day to the meth heads, tweakers and crazies they go on calls to. Let alone all those criminals that have no business being out of prison yet, but budget cuts have sent home early. But that’s a different worry and I definitely don’t mean to make things worse for you.

It is not sad or sorry to hope and wish that you don’t go through the same horror this family just did. It’s everything we all worry about. However, the daily happy life outweighs the worry in my case and those I hang with. I’m thankful for the man that loves to help others. That truly lives to help others. If this didn’t full-fill him, then what was I doing supporting him mentally for 17 years before this happened? My story is different and yours will be as well.

I’ve been with my hubby for a long time. I’ve seen him pull in major money just to support us and hate every second of his work. I’ve now also seen him pull in more money than ever because he loves it and it’s not work. Even with more OT and tired as hell. To me, there is no discussion where I want him. But again, I’m not sure if this is because I have been with him for so long and I’ve seen how miserable he was before getting hired on.

I guess part of my thing is I have a really good friend that lost her husband IN a horrible car accident. I lived everyday with my hubby commuting 2ish hours each way while doing construction and our traffic is really bad around here, I really worried about him on that commute. My friends loss was a true-life nightmare and it’s not my story to tell, but let’s just say she is a dispatcher and was at work at the time of the call. She had 2 young one’s at that time and no time to deal with it herself. I say this because it’s been over 12 years since her loss and I didn’t know her husband at all. She is a very strong woman and I know I could pull from her strength and she would whip me into shape with no excuses. Look around you for the resources that will help you stay strong on days they have bad calls that you know about so you aren’t worrying yourself sick.

I can talk all big because all of us can predict what we want, but until we go through it there is no way to tell. Right now, I CHOOSE that he gives everything to what he loves. I CHOOSE to back him up 300% so he does this until way past retirement. I CHOOSE to push him past what he expects to accomplish himself because I know he can move up high in the ranks. I also CHOOSE to love this man that can help so many that won’t help themselves.

Dani, you drove by something that is not the norm. If you need to chat further, we can do so privately. Because NO DEPT loses their Chief in the line of duty and the ramifications from that have been huge in our life. We have major fires in our area and no losses in a very long time. We live in the Seattle area and I’m telling you, this is very much not the norm to lose someone in a fire or accident. Doesn’t make anything easier, but it’s rare.

I wish you and your boyfriend much success and discussion in your lives. Talking about it is one of the hardest and most necessary things you can do.

Sorry, I got totally long winded with this one!

Categories : Everyday, Fire Questions

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The Fireman’s Wife Book Review

Posted on May 27, 2010 by HotWife

This one could get a little lengthy. I probably should have set up a couple of reviews and started when I was only half way through the book. I also know many of you have been waiting for quite a while for me to get this posted. Sorry for the wait.

For the record, I really did enjoy The Fireman’s Wife. From start to finish. But that doesn’t mean I agreed with the majority she said or wasn’t annoyed by certain aspects of it here and there. Some are just personal decisions and a big difference in personality as well.

See the book was written AFTER she got that horrible call we all worry about getting. So all those fears she’d had were justified. How many of us have the same worries? Anyone not raising their hand is a big, fat liar, so reach high. lol But, thankfully very few of our worries will ever be justified with a major incident happening. The major theme throughout the book is how she never wanted to marry someone in the field because of this major worry she knew she would have. But again, this is written after there is an accident in their life so looking back in hindsight to write the book it would be very easy to run with that idea in your head as the common theme.

Now even with our obvious personality differences I enjoyed hearing another wife’s point of view. Our lives are very different, but even with how different they are we both deal with the same issues. OT, missed meals, rough calls (especially the kids), not being able to plan your day after shift because you don’t know if they can stay awake. There were many times I was laughing out loud as something sounded so familiar it was just a big THANK GOD I’M NOT THE ONLY ONE!

A big difference and one that is a major one for me is there has never been a time I wish he didn’t become a firefighter. Ever. Not when our Chief died, not when little injuries have happened to our friends, not when he was a volunteer and I was raising little one’s with him rarely home (or felt like it so many weeks). The thought has never once crossed my mind that I wish he didn’t do it. Because as I’ve said before, if he wasn’t doing it then he wouldn’t be the man I love. And I’ve seen that man that was miserable not working as a firefighter, so that was a big thing that did annoy me.

The end of the book was rough. I don’t know how I could watch my firefighter possibly not be able to return to work. The support she received brought tears to my eyes over and over again, because this is truly how it works. Reading her struggle with how to help, when to back off, when to push and having the Chief there to explain how things will work and what others have gone through when it’s happened to them. It was heartbreaking to go through that with her and know that it could happen with a serious injury at any time. It would be so devastating to hear that he may never be able to work a fire again.

It’s a keeper and I’ll reread it. I’m not a rereader so that says a lot.

So what did you think of the book? And what book should I read next? I saw some books on my friends coffee table, so I am thinking of making her bring me some to the girl’s night party. You want more reviews right?

Categories : Everyday, Shop, Uncategorized

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Love my Girl’s NIGHT!

Posted on May 26, 2010 by HotWife

This was one of the funnest girls night’s out I can remember in a long time. There were a ton of us there and no drama. WHAT? I know, no drama I say.

I sadly met some other wives from other shifts that I didn’t know who they were, but I felt I was supposed to so I didn’t say anything. lol Hubby told me who they were when I got let home. All cool, they aren’t anyone we run into regularly obviously or I’d know them. But still, I liked her.

Most incredible thing for me? Our friend needed a sitter cause her hubby is out of town (hubby works with my hubby) Did you keep up with that? lmao Anyway, I threw it out there that they needed someone to watch 4 year old ‘X” while we went to the girls party. Hubby immediately said drop her off. AWWWW, he NEVER watches anyone’s kids. I mean never. I’m teary thinking of it. I do know it’s a different story cause our kids are older and don’t take so much out of us daily, but he just doesn’t volunteer for it.

We’ve hit such a different spot in our life and it’s awesome and more work all at once. We’re at 20 years of being together, just hit 16 years of marriage. WOW, some of our friends have gone through 3 wives in that time. lol K, that’s not really funny, but true!

One cool thing is some of our good friends have been together for a good while as well, but they waited to have kids. Good for them we came into their lives with our 14 & 12 year olds huh? lolol

Today was a great day from start to finish. Kids, hubby, friends, friends kids, it was good from second one. Sure shit went wrong in between a little bit, but the majority was just great and I understand that I really need to hit girls night more often. I’ve known it before, but it’s been so long since I’ve participated fully that I didn’t notice.

Having a party with over 10 close-nit fire wive’s and girlfriends definitely hit it. Even though one of them isn’t even our district, it’s so much fun to have everyone close and know that you can make a joke. We’re all family damn it

Categories : Everyday, Family

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Family CPR & First Aid Class Day

Posted on May 25, 2010 by HotWife

It’s amazing how things happen. My CPR/First Aid card is up and I told hubby I needed to sign up again. I asked if he could see who is working in the next few weeks so I can pick my class? lol He logged on to emails and low and behold they are having their first family class day for our department. FUN!

Daughter needs to update hers and son is old enough now to take it as well. No reason not to take it. CPR classes are free to residents. Daughter needs it since she’s working on babysitting more. Hey, you can’t babysit for other firefighters and not have your card close to up-to-date anymore. lol

I’m not sure who is doing the class but it’s the station down the street from us. WOOHOO, bonus. We’ll get to chat with others from our department. Extra bonus. THEN THERE IS A BBQ AFTER! SUPER-DUPER Extra bonus. FOOD lmbo I haven’t told the youngest he is signed up, but daughter was oh so excited about it. (insert eye roll here)

Now to get the word out that the kids and I are going and see who else needs to update their cards.

Categories : Everyday, Family

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Look at my Shout Out!

Posted on May 24, 2010 by HotWife

I have been doing a lot of researching in the last couple of weeks. A lot of visiting firefighter blogs, finding firefighter wife blogs and looking for all resources for the firefighter.

This recently brought me to the firecritic.com site and I found a lot of leads to follow from there. I also found posts to comment on which I love even more

As I went through my stats on Sunday morning (almost said Sat night cause hadn’t gone to bed yet) I kept seeing the same link to firecritic.com so I clicked to see what was up. The site spotlighted me for their Monday Shoutout. Very cool and of course it makes me feel great to have my blog recognized. This blog is more personal than many of my other sites and blogs because of it’s nature and why it was created. So to ever have others read it is wonderful to my ego. Let alone to have it featured in a post.

Thanks firecritic.com, I’ll look forward to more of your posts.

Categories : Cheers

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Some Sets Are Extra Long

Posted on May 23, 2010 by HotWife

It’s almost over, but this set felt like it has been weeks. Maybe because the last few weeks have been so busy with his classes, friends, family, and trying to get normal life in there as well. It’s just on a big spinner right now and I’m looking for the pause button.

We can add to the mix that the first 2 days of the set were very busy for him. This means that when he gets home he ends up napping around the normal daily activities. Especially since right now he’s been really good about getting to the gym and really enjoying it again. This set has seemed like I’ve seen him barely a few hours.

Tomorrow will probably be no different. The day was half inter-department drill and then other half covering stations so the rest of them could go to drill. Hubby texted me at 10:30pm that they’d finally had dinner and he was working on reports. That’s not going to be a good start to the night. I have a very bad feeling about it. Thankfully tomorrow starts the 4 day and we have minimal plans.

Friends invited us out for the day where they are camping, but there is just no way we are road tripping to anywhere no matter how much fun we’d have. I know I need some family downtime and I wasn’t the one having to go on all the calls.

**edited** Just wanted to add that his shift was total crap and no sleep like I thought. Topped off with not getting out of the station until almost an hour after shift as well. I forgot he has a K day this week so his nap is starting off a 6 day for us. lol No wonder why the set was a long one. It’s backing up to this 6 day.

Categories : Everyday

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Is there an Doctor in the House?

Posted on May 21, 2010 by HotWife

Well I’m late posting this, but hey it’s still relivant here in our house. Son just got the staples and stitches out yesterday. OIY, yes, I said staples and stitches.

I know none of you will believe it, but hubby was home when the incident happened. Son is a little embarrassed by it all so he has fabricated some good stories about how it happened. But Dad and I figured it out. He wasn’t doing anything wrong, but is embarrassed by it all. We told him he knows better than to hide something and we have to know how things really happened so we can tell the doctors.

Anyway, son cut his finger and was working on covering that up himself and fell in our hallway. He’s somewhere around 5’7″ so when he opened the bathroom door and then fell out, he made a HUGE CRASH. I mean huge! The other 3 of us were watching the history channel we’d tivo’d and it seemed like the roof fell in down the hallway.

I was even slower to get up, but none of us were real fast. We are used to crashes, our dogs like to wrestle around. (as the two labs are doing so at my feet this very moment) But then hubby did quick count of dogs and went, “Oh crap, what was that?” Look around the corner and son’s laying on the floor. WTH?!!!

Again, I can’t believe hubby was home. Nothing happens when they are home and especially a major head gash like he had. How’d I get so lucky? I just got to play nurse and grab things he asked for and they both went off to the ER. No major gushing of blood anywhere. Only a little bit on the carpet that came right out.

Got the text message that it was 10 staples in the head and 3 stitches in the thumb. OH BOY, good thing I wasn’t the one having to take him. I could take the head wound, but would have had to leave the room for the staples. Or they would have been stitching me up as I fell to the floor.

He was healing very nicely already the next day. Healthy 12 year old’s will do that. They took everything out yesterday and he got to go to lunch with Mom and Dad. I made Dad take him as there was no way I was going to be there when those things were pulled out. EWWWWW

I know it’s too much to ask, but I sure hope he is home if anything like this ever happens again. It was so nice to sit back and let him deal with it.

Categories : Everyday, Family

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Archive for May 2010