Six More Years

As an autism mom, I'm so grateful for the benefits that my kids get since their daddy is in the military.  Not only do I have the security of a roof over their heads, but I also get the wonderful medical benefits that cover all of their various therapies, their specialists for autism and epilepsy, the pediatric dentist, and the medications that would put me in the poor house.  ABA therapy alone would cost $30,000 per kid a year without insurance.  That is close to $100,000 a year when you have three kids.  I'm so grateful that the government takes care of its military families.
The Navy has been trimming down a little bit in the last year, and I have met quite a few people who were either let go or did not get the chance to reenlist, and it hurt my heart and made me so anxious for our future.  My husband's current enlistment ends next March, and we were starting to feel the pressure.  Luckily, he worked really hard and studied really hard to pass the test required to make E5 (rank advancement).  Being an E5 basically guaranteed him the chance to reenlist.

This last week was his pinning ceremony, along with all the other people from his ship who were able to advance.  I got to go to the ceremony.  This was my first time being there for one of his advancement ceremonies because he usually advances when he is deployed.  I was so proud of him.  He has given up so many things, as most parents do, to make sure that his kids are taken care of.  I love him so much for putting his family first, and for striving for excellence at work so that we can have the security of another 6 years.