10 Days until my Retirement Ceremony!

10 Days and Counting! And Man, am I nervous, haven 't even started to write my speech and am not worrying about it until a few days prior. Want it all to come from the heart! But I want to make sure and not forget about anyone that has helped me over the years. People tend to forget the ones that DESERVE RECOGNITION.. but I won't. I just hope I don't miss anyone. I am not writing out a formal speech, but I will have some notes. Want it to be uplifting and funny.... Never mind that I am moving to a DRY COUNTY! Yikes! Have to import my beer over the border! ha ha!

I am excited about going home and being able to paint the house! YEAH ME! Well take care, thought it was time to update my blog!

Old BootCamp Photo!

Now don't tell me I wasn't a young puppy when this was taken on the bus back from Sea World in Sept 1985! Man have I came a long way baby!

Official Pictures for Retirement in July 2007

Well Howdy everyone!
Here are 2 of my photos
for my retirement
invitations and announce
ments that will go out
at the end of this month!
I can't believe that it has
been 22 years! My body
sure feels it, but in my
heart, I will always
want to help my
sailors!





OFFICIAL PHOTO w/FLAG

Made a Big Decision Today!

I came to the decision today, that I will not take any classes next semester due to me moving back to North Carolina, preparing to get out of this house, packing out all of my HouseHold Goods, getting my son ready to go. Really don't know how he will act on the plane, the last flight was hell in the air, so i do not want a repeat!

Little nervous about buying a home, but I DID IT! Received my first book of checks in the mail with my new address on it! HOW SWEET! 38 working days LEFT, and YES I AM COUNTING DOWN! I can't wait to get home! :)-

New Bedroom Suite

Hello All! Here is a picture of my NEW Bedroom Suite! Well not totally NEW, but new to me!

Bought the 4 piece set for $800 to include the Queen size bedframe, big dresser with mirror and side table. Still looking for a Amoire (sp) ....

Additional Pictures from New House!

Outdoor Patio
will wrap
around to Bay
Window in
Kitchen!






Master
Bedroom
standing in
corner!






Unfinished
entrance to
basement!
Love the smell
of the wood!




Cameron's
Playroom!

More pictures of the house!

I am looking out
front door down
driveway!







Outdoor patio
Plan on wrapping
it around to bay
window







New Washer
Dryer Set!In
basement!

New RoseWood Dining Room Table

Look at this Table! I found it on CRAIGSLIST.COM, that is where
people sale their stuff they want to get rid of and here in Hawaii,
there are a lot of nice Asian People living here and alot of them are
moving back to Korea, Thailand and can't take their heavy furniture
with them and they are putting them on sale for GREAT PRICES.
Look at what I bought for $700.

Help me Raise Awareness for Autism!

I want you to
look at this
precious little
boy playing
in the tub as
you read this
story of another
mother's
struggles
with Autism



Autism strikes about 1 in every 166 children. As the mother of
one of them, I feel it's important to draw attention to this nearly
invisible disability. My son was once called "spoiled" during a
meltdown in public, but rather than be angry at the person's rush
to judgment, I would rather educate the many people who don't
recognize autism when they see it. Here you will find Autism
Awareness products, links to books and educational websites, and
tips for making one particular experience easier. I will continue to add
products and links as I find them, and if you know of a good online
resource I've missed, please feel free to e-mail me. 1 in 166 means
there are a lot of people coping with autism. If you're one of them,
I hope you will find this site useful and will help educate others. If
autism hasn't yet touched your life, it most likely will in some way--
in fact, maybe it has already and you didn't even realize it. Maybe
that quiet girl who wouldn't look you in the eye was more than
simply shy; maybe that screaming boy wasn't really spoiled after all.
Maybe it was autism.

http://www.autismgear.com/index.html

More Pictures of My New HOUSE!

Back of the house, look at the Bay Window and patio!














Master Bedroom!

This is only 1/2 of the Basement!
This will be Cameron's Playroom!

I GOT THE HOUSE!

Living Room!










Front of House




Kitchen! I love it!
So many possibilities!
Try and look at her with all
wood cabinets and wood floors
with wood trim going around the
sit-down area! I can't wait!










Look at this kitchen!

The home owners came back with a counter offer!

I'LL TAKE IT!

I was so excited when my realtor called me back and gave me the news and what was

the funniest thing, was the current owners have a brand new Washer&Dryer set

(FRONT LOAD)

Can you say YES YES YES!

My realtor was holding out and not telling me because she already knew how much I

loved this house and how bad I wanted it! She didn't want my decision based on a

washer and dryer, I just laughed, wouldn't have done it anyway but here are the

stipulations of the contract!


original price $ 159,000

1) Asking price $ 160,000

2) Covering closing costs up to $4000

3) Guarantee one year warranty on house

4) Complete all projects in house, (wooden floor in basement)

5) Closing at end of March 07!

So I won't pay my mortgage until end of April or first

of May! That is only one month prior to me moving in and sounds fine to me!

I am hoping now that there is no problems on the mortgage! I need to keep the price around $1100 a month or lower, don't know how much insurance costs or taxes but it is all included! Now I need to figure on how much it costs to heat the place and other utlities but I have my dad going to the store for me, filling the house up with groceries so I don't have to worry about that when I fly in!

I don't want to get too excited but I am so happy that the counter offer wasn't a cluster like I have know them to be!

Process of Home Buying is Tedious and Stressful!

I am in the beginning process of purchasing a home in North Carolina. It has just begun and I am already nervous with the concept of paying a mortgage. It is kind of scary buying a home for the first time ever but I am giving it a shot! Took time to consolidate some bills in November, paid off 6 separate bills and lowered my interest rate tremendously and I am happy about that but I still have a car note and credit card. So overall I am sitting ok, as long as the loan gets approved. I am a little nervous about that part of it, moving back home, enrolling Cameron in a new school and starting all over with his Special Needs. I just hope the process is not as hard as it was here in Hawaii. Took me almost 1.5 years to get Cameron his benefits and here we are leaving in June 07. Wish me luck!

More pictures of Cameron and the Tree!

Here is Cameron Playing with Thomas the Train Set!
He didn't do too well with the motorized one, so I will
have to put down the old wood tracks and get him a
couple of the big old trains to play with. He still likes
to push them around the track!

Next year, we get to decorate the tree in OUR HOUSE!
I can't wait!

Christmas Day 2006 in the Icenhour House

Cameron had fun playing with his
new Train Set (Thomas and all the trains)
His daddy sent him a couple of trains
and I got him 4 new trains as well
so he had plenty to choose from!
He played with
him ALL DAY!

MIGRAINES! Here they come....

I have been going thru this cycle of migraines and no sleep! Don't know what to do. The doctor changed my medications and I guess it is taking my body some time to adjust and it is causing me problems. For one, stress is getting to me, because I had to slowly stop the other anxiety medication that I was on to help me cope with Cameron's situation and school and work, etc, etc, etc....then get off of it all together, then slowly start another one, well it takes up to a month for the other one to kick in but I need it now. I can feel it! I don;t drink caffeine at night or after 3:00pm, and I was up ALL NIGHT LAST NIGHT, thinking about all kinds of stuff! The house, Cameron, School, work, etc! Anything and everything! I am SO TIRED right now! So I am going to lay down and try to get rid of this migraine that I picked up AFTER THE MOVIE! Man, I can't win for losing when it comes to these things.... almost making me nauseous...(sp)

Christmas Photos done by Walmart! Not Bad!

I thought they would turn out horrible but not bad at all, both of us were smiling and Cameron had a good ole time with that lady! She did a fine job and just look at that smile, worth a million bucks! Don't you just want to squeeze him to death! Now ladies, watch out in your mailbox, you have a surprise coming!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Doctor told me," SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE!

I couldn't believe it! I have been so tired lately. I spoke to my buddy Jim Shelton about it a few days ago and I have labs to do tomorrow morning to make sure it is not thyroid or nothing like that, but he thinks I am totally WIPED OUT! He thinks my body can't take anymore stress and something is going to happen! Well I have been doing ok until these past two months, I have been feeling the pinch. Been tired everyday, it is taking more than 2-3 cups of coffee to wake me up and I don't wake up until lunch. Can't get to the gym until after work because I can't wake up and get moving. Breaking in new Personal assistants for my son, training them, buying new boosters seats for their cars so they can bring Cameron home and I can go to tanning booth and gym! This past semester kicked my ass in work load! Always on the computer! Well only 8 classes left and I graduate with my Bachelor Degree in Human Resource Managment! Yeah Me! Lets hope I can hold up until August! :)-

A lot has happened in the last two weeks!

Well it is about time but Cameron has FINALLY got the assist from the State of Hawaii in the area of "PAP" or Personal Assistance Program. What that means is that he is allowed 25 hours of one on one of a personal assistance per week, any way I want it, so I ask for after school! If I can get my work to agree that I can come in late, then I won't need before school care either and I can put him on the bus every morning and just be like a hour late everyday! We will ask that after the new year and after I get closer to retirement! That will save me about $275 dollars a month in daycare and I will put that DIRECTLY in the HOUSE FUND! I am saving towards buying my house later next year, if all possible, if not I will make the decision to stay here another year and let Cameron finish another school year here and I will return home in 2008. I am also authorized for RESPITE, which the state will give me so much $$ a quarter to go and do "ME" stuff, since I don't go anywhere and do anything for myself, like go to the mall, and shop, or just walk around, meet other women and maybe get involved with a support group. Sometimes I feel like I am going at this alone, but I finally feel that I am getting the support that Cameron deserves, I mean it is coming late in my time here in Hawaii, but it is coming, so I am not knocking it!

If I stay in Hawaii another year, I will get a part time job, probably working at the gym, training and will go to school in pursuit of my Master's Degree in Early ChildHood Education, with a Minor in Special Education. I mean, why not! With me retiring from the Navy and I am sure to get some disability with all the injuries and surgeries that I have had in my 22 years, they will PAY for my degree and all my supplies and then give me $600 a month to attend full time. I don't see a down side to that...In turn, my son can still attend the school that he loves, they love him, and now he is getting all the services that he deserves. I will let GOD sort this one out for me! Too much on my brain for me! Oh well! That is it for tonight! Later!

Oh yeah! Retirement ceremony date is 27 April/PunchBowl Cemetary... Be there!