*~*~*~*April Pagan Family Thread~*~*~**~**~ - Page 5

[mary3mama]

Originally Posted by Mommy2Austin 

Got the reply today. Denied. I feel royally f***ed. 

Originally Posted by Maiasaura 

M took the "antidote med" to work with him. That's the one that supposed to shut off side effects from his other meds. I guess yesterday it worked Let's hope it stays working!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mommy2Austin 

I wish I had a skill I could sell. I've spent every year since I graduated high school as a wife and mother. I was a correctional officer for 2 years, but forfeited my certification when I quit (they paid for me to go to school.) I couldn't go back to that if I wanted (and I really REALLY don't.)

I'm waiting for something to come to me that I can actually do in my home that I don't have to leave the house for. I'm not even looking to make a living on it, just supplement what we already have.

I totally hear you! I have a bachelor's degree and about a half of my coursework for a masters. I had lots of jobs before becoming a mama and was an excellent, sought-after employee. I am intelligent and conscientious. BUT -- I've been a SAHMama for 11 years and it would be hard at this point for me to get anything but an entry level job anywhere. And I with homeschooling I really don't have much flexibility with my time.

I am so thankful that my husband is employed at a job with a decent salary. But sometimes I worry about what would happen to us if anything happened to his salary (or him...)

In past years when he wasn't making as much and it was hard to make ends meet I did babysitting. Just casual stuff not every day of the week -- which I found really difficult to do when I tried it. It was too limiting and curtailed what I could do with my own children like field trips and park dates. But helping various friends one or two days a week was just enough income supplementation that it made a big difference in getting bills paid on time and having enough $$ for groceries. I found that within my circle of AP-mamas there was always one or two people who wanted an "AP-safe place" to leave their children from time to time.  And their children didn't mind because I had 2 or 3 children to play with so it was just a play date to them. 

In my pre-mama days I was a magazine writer and editor. That was my most favorite job. Sometimes I wish I could do that freelance and online now. But my skills are rusty and I don't really have that time to devote to it. 

I have a friend who does lots of book editing -- and it pays well and allows her to be home with her homeschooled children. She says that it is not easy to break into, but once you get in and prove yourself it is great.

I am working on a plan to generate income via knitting and crocheting. I am not to the point where I want to be with my skills yet; but I am working on all of it. We do not need the extra income right now, thankfully (and that is the first time in nearly 18 years of marriage that I can say that.) But if anything should ever happen to my hubby I want to be ready with an income stream I can ramp up. Beyond that if any of my children decide to go to college, whatever income I generate can help them with their expenses. And we can squirrel away money for retirement needs. Not to mention my hubby wants to go back to school to get a masters degree. Ugh. 

Sorry, hijacked your convo there....

[LionessMom]

Originally Posted by vydalea 

Originally Posted by LionessMom 

i am off to my mom's house. ds is going to mow her yard. she is going to make me pineapple brats and macaroni salad. and the girls are going to play in her toy room. then i get to meet my cousin and she is going to give me all her 0-3 mo boy clothes and a stack of prefolds. so excited! should be the last load of clothes i get. so i can go through them and decide what to keep. i am thinking about taking the rest to a consignment shop and seeing if i can get some money out of them. i have ALOT of baby clothes right now. lol. 

Sounds like a great day for you, LM!!!  hooray for a stack of prefolds!  What are pineapple brats?  All I can think of is bratwurst with pineapple and if that's the case I guess I'm going to your mom's too.  haha.  (This thread has me HUNGRY today!!)  

they are old time prefolds. thin. so perfect for a newborn. but at least 4 inches bigger than the size they should be, but with how thin they are, it isnt a big deal. 

yes brats with pineapple in them. they were awesome. she even gave me some to bring home. i think i will eat one for breakfast. lol. 

off to the uu church. we are goiing to do an easter egg hunt. then service, then a meeting with the other pregnant ladies to discuss dedication ceremonies. i think we are all doing it at the same time. to make a big toodoo out of it. DH is actually going today. i am so shocked. he hates going. but it is easter and he wants to help the kids with the hunt, and he dug up a raspberry bush to give them for their garden. ii would love if he started joining us more often. 

[DaughterOfKali]

Originally Posted by Mommy2Austin 

I'm waiting for something to come to me that I can actually do in my home that I don't have to leave the house for. I'm not even looking to make a living on it, just supplement what we already have.

I sent you a message.  

[Mommy2Austin]

Still trying to be positive though my nerves feel shot.

Did a house sweep for loose change and have it and a $5 bill tucked away where no one can reach/will look for it. I'll call it a rainy day fund.

Friday my sister is going to come pick me and the kids up for the weekend and we're going to do Easter re-do for my kiddos since we didn't get to have one. On Saturday, we're gonna tote em to the beach for some fun in the sand, sun, and water. It'll be nice to see my family and get out of here for a few days.

My sister is also gonna take me grocery shopping next monday to help with our food situation. I just have to keep telling myself I can make it until then.

[witchygrrl]

Mommy2Austin, hugs. I am hoping the universe sends you some luck soon.

A follow up on the hospital bill...it wasn't itemized! So now I have to call back and argue the bill. There's no way I am paying it for the little work the man actually did.

In good news, it's been almost 2 weeks since I've been on my crazy elimination diet. I've had several compliments on how great my skin looks, and I've lost 9 pounds. My energy is also better. So I think I'm doing the right thing. It was insane today with all of the candy and whatnot at my aunt's house, but I had promised myself one cheat, one of another aunt's hot cross buns. So I ate that. Honestly, it didn't do all that much for me, so now I kind of wish I had spent a cheat on something else, but I'll live. LOL!

[3xMama]

Mommy2Austin:  I feel ya. We were there November through January trying to eek by just two more weeks, just one more week. Its so rough. But it will switch around, it will get better. Just have to keep pushing and pushing and pushing. 

Vydelea-So glad things pulled through with the art exhibit!

No carb breakfast-Thanks for sharing.  I think giving up breakfast would be one of the hardest things for me to follow that type of diet. I love all those different breakfasty items and I honestly don't know that I could give up real sugar. I hate sugar substitutes, they just are unpleasant to me. I wouldn't mind not enjoying sweets as much, though...

Lioness-Def hit a consignment shop! I've made over $100 selling stuff to one around here. Its not a huge amt of money at once (they only pay out after the item sells which is somewhat annoying but oh well...) but its put gas in the car several times. They are super super picky, though, and if it has any minor teeny blemish, they'll find it. How was the uu service?? 

Maia-Glad that M's hands are doing better! How crappy of his boss to tell him to get something like that under control or he is out of a job. Geesh!

I hope everyone had a great Easter!  Ours wasn't too bad though I'm ready for a break from DH's family. Just too much time with them in the past couple of years, I think. Its gone from a great way to get a free meal to a chore to spend time with everyone. I'm glad family holiday season is OVER! Now to get my little slice of the world back into order after DD's spring break and all will be well again. 

[revolting]

Originally Posted by Mommy2Austin 

I'm waiting on a few books on Wicca to come in the mail from the library (they ship holds straight to your house :D ) They were recommended to me as good for beginners (both by Scott Cunningham) so I figured I'd start there. 

I wish our library delivered things! At ours, you can only put five things on hold, and it takes forever for the holds to come through: literally they will have the book available at another library and it will take months for them to move it to one close to me.

Originally Posted by 3xMama 

First and foremost: Thank you all for all the support and love after my last post in the March thread! I cannot express how much it meant to me!  You all rock!!

And now I am leaving all the bad juju in March. April will be fantastic month, full of wonderful, positive experiences and open to all kinds of positive change. Yes, my friends, yes indeed. 

On the first note of April's good juju, DH interviewed for a part time second job and was hired at the interview! He's going to be working at a restaurant in the evening three or four nights a week as needed. He will still have the weekends off! He will be putting in between 60 and 70 hrs a week, but its really going to pay off for us. Oh, and its all of three minutes down the road! No commute! He started yesterday and I can already see a change in him. He really enjoyed it and was very happy to be back into the hustle and bustle of a restaurant. Squee!! 

My dad is doing much much better. He's down to very little pain medicine, he's sleeping through the night (which hasn't happened in nearly a year!) and in his own words he's getting stronger by the day! Its so nice to see the man I grew up with poking out of the pain laden man I've known for the past year. 

And my house is clean. Yard is almost completely cleaned up. New clothesline is in the garage, waiting to be installed on Friday. Going to check out some herb plants at the grocery tomorrow. So far, April is off to a great start!

UU: We have a pretty good UU church close to downtown Indy. I enjoyed the pastor a lot. I just was bothered by the constant need to vocalize the inclusion of everyone's beliefs. Like saying "We will now have a moment of silence. You can pray if you pray, meditate, reflect upon or whatever you feel drawn to do". It got tedious for me. And I didn't enjoy how the services were seemingly exact replications of Christian services with hymns and all that. But otherwise I enjoyed it. Depending on how things go with DH's jobs, I may start attending the Pagan circle they have. 

Ha! I think DH needs his exhaust system fixed pretty badly. DS2 just heard a lawn mower start and started yelling DADA! and running for the door.  I think we'll get on that...

Welcome welcome welcome to all the new members! Look forward to getting to know you!  

Here is to a fabulous April, ladies! 

Yay about your father and your husband's new job! I wish our UU church had a Pagan circle. The closest CUUPs is an hour away, and I just don't have it in me to try to get something going at my church even though I know a couple of other Pagans there.

Originally Posted by witchygrrl 

I'm so glad things are looking up for you, 3xMama!

This month seems to be a month of bills for us, more so than usual. Yesterday I got a bill in the mail for DD's ER visit in FL back in January. I had already paid the hospital bill, so this is the doctor's. We have a super high deductible, so basically we pay for everything out of pocket. They want $732!!!! She saw the doctor for less than 5 minutes, so I'm fighting this. If she had had major injuries or something, that would be one thing, but she had a sinus and ear infection, and he repeated what the nurse had already done. I called them up and asked for an itemized bill, so I can see if we can have it audited for  extraneous charges first. Hopefully, I won't have to argue too much, but this is why health care costs in the US are going up! Total price gouging!

That sucks. I hope you can get the bill down.

Originally Posted by LionessMom 

my midwives came over last  night for my appt. everything looks great. baby is even head down at 28 weeks. they could tell where all his little parts were and heard his heartbeat. they tried to let me hear it, but it is so faint i can barely make it out. i already went out and bought all the supplies, pads etc, so all i have left is going through and arranging etc. i still need a dresser for the baby clothes though. but everything is coming together just like i put on my map from last year. maybe that is why i havent been abel to finish the hew one, the old one isnt done yet....

Yay for healthy babies!

Originally Posted by Maiasaura 

I am such a cheap date, too! I told M that all I wanted for Valentine's Day was a hand written love note, and he tried to get me a bouquet of flowers-- ON the day of, and it was $82 and he couldn't afford it. So I ended up with nothing, which for whatever reason hurt worse. I mean-- I guess he had loftier sights, but really-- all I want, ALL I want, is a hand written love note. I have yet to see it
 

That would bug me, too.

Originally Posted by 3xMama 

Has anyone read The Hunger Games trilogy? I just finished it yesterday and I'm trying to digest it and, wow, I'm having a hard time getting it all down. I enjoyed it, but it wasn't exactly a happy story. In fact I've had Hunger Games bad dreams nightly since I started reading it-a first for a book. I'm a little freaked out them bringing some of this stuff to "life" on the big screen, esp the war scenes in Book Three.

I read them. I loved them. We were supposed to see the movie opening weekend, but the kids got chicken pox. No one wants to sit the kids while they're sick.

Originally Posted by Mommy2Austin 

I must have been a terrible person in a previous life. Every time a small ray of sunshine comes into my life, a thousand rain clouds come to pour down on it.

DH couldn't get the van taken care of yesterday. So the electricity payment wasn't made. I'm worried he'll get too busy to get it done today too or something will come up and I'll end up with no electricity on Monday :/ And its not like I have a vehicle to go get all of this done for him. We have one vehicle and it because his work vehicle when his died.

While DH and I were separated last year, he got into an accident (his fault.) He asked for a court date to be able to get the points off his license with the class you can take. We got back together and then he lost his job, so I quit mine and we moved in with his mom. With all the moving, he didn't receive his summons for court and missed it. Then his mom went psycho and threatened to kill him so we moved out and were basically homeless for a month (we lived in a one room efficiency with 4 kids for over a month.) He realized the due date for the ticket payment was coming soon and there was going to be no way for us to pay it. Since his job is reliant on him being able to drive, he can't get his license suspended. He called the County Clerks office and asked what to do. She said to write a letter of appeal to the head of the office for an extension and that should do. So we did.

Got the reply today. Denied. I feel royally f***ed. 

I hope things are looking better now.

Originally Posted by Mommy2Austin 

I'm trying to put out positive. Instead of sitting and dwelling on the bad, I'm going to focus my energy into finding ways to make money. I'm doing some old GPT type websites that were always decent for a little extra cash and I signed up for some online writing jobs for a legitimate website, so hopefully that pans out. I'm looking to possibly doing online classes and working on a degree (which gives the benefit of getting financial aide to help pay for some of life things as well as school)

I wish I had a skill I could sell. I've spent every year since I graduated high school as a wife and mother. I was a correctional officer for 2 years, but forfeited my certification when I quit (they paid for me to go to school.) I couldn't go back to that if I wanted (and I really REALLY don't.)

I'm waiting for something to come to me that I can actually do in my home that I don't have to leave the house for. I'm not even looking to make a living on it, just supplement what we already have.

I know how that is. My husband works construction. We'll have weeks where no money is coming in, which freaks me out. I've tried babysitting some,  but it seems like for the most part most people don't want a sitter who can't drive their kids places, and my car is too small.

So, we are still knee deep in chicken pox here. We still went to my in-law's seder. My eldest (who is over it) went to my grandmother's for Easter. We're still looking for somewhere to move, and with that, we're still thinking about our eldest's school. She will be kindergarten age next year. My mother puts a lot of pressure on me to send her to school. I've always thought about homeschooling, but my daughter on and off asks to go to school. We applied to some charter/magnet/gifted/classical public schools, but she didn't get accepted anywhere (though she did score as gifted, which makes me wonder how good a fit a normal public school would be; I don't want a highly academic kindergarten, but that's really difficult to find a non-academic public school, and I think what would be even worse for her is to have her in an academic kindergarten where all the kids were working on letter sounds and counting to a hundred and she'd be really bored). We have one more school we're waiting to hear from: a virtual charter school that has one on-campus class a week, which might be the best compromise for our family, though I don't like that it's non-union. Otherwise, we have to move somewhere with a decent neighborhood school or homeschool.  I just want things to settle and to know what the plan for next fall is so that I can prepare for it.

[Mommy2Austin]

Originally Posted by revolting 

I know how that is. My husband works construction. We'll have weeks where no money is coming in, which freaks me out. I've tried babysitting some,  but it seems like for the most part most people don't want a sitter who can't drive their kids places, and my car is too small.

So, we are still knee deep in chicken pox here. We still went to my in-law's seder. My eldest (who is over it) went to my grandmother's for Easter. We're still looking for somewhere to move, and with that, we're still thinking about our eldest's school. She will be kindergarten age next year. My mother puts a lot of pressure on me to send her to school. I've always thought about homeschooling, but my daughter on and off asks to go to school. We applied to some charter/magnet/gifted/classical public schools, but she didn't get accepted anywhere (though she did score as gifted, which makes me wonder how good a fit a normal public school would be; I don't want a highly academic kindergarten, but that's really difficult to find a non-academic public school, and I think what would be even worse for her is to have her in an academic kindergarten where all the kids were working on letter sounds and counting to a hundred and she'd be really bored). We have one more school we're waiting to hear from: a virtual charter school that has one on-campus class a week, which might be the best compromise for our family, though I don't like that it's non-union. Otherwise, we have to move somewhere with a decent neighborhood school or homeschool.  I just want things to settle and to know what the plan for next fall is so that I can prepare for it.

We had that issue with DS. He started kindergarten back in August and his teacher wanted him to be tested for gifted. We moved a few times and his lost school he started getting bad notes home. Come to find out, he was bored out of his mind. He was doing anything to occupy himself. He also has the beginnings of ADHD and OCD (I hate labeling them, but its soooo blatant its hard to ignore I do try to not talk about it in front of him.)

We're homeschooling right now, but I'm desperately looking for a happy medium between him being home all day with little interaction with kids other than his siblings and being in public school and bored out of his mind because he's ahead of the other kids.

I can breathe a sigh of relief for the moment. The electric payment was made last night. So we won't be without power. I have to figure out what other bills are coming up because I don't want to be scrambling for money when it gets here.

[vydalea]

Originally Posted by LionessMom 

off to the uu church. we are goiing to do an easter egg hunt. then service, then a meeting with the other pregnant ladies to discuss dedication ceremonies. i think we are all doing it at the same time. to make a big toodoo out of it. DH is actually going today. i am so shocked. he hates going. but it is easter and he wants to help the kids with the hunt, and he dug up a raspberry bush to give them for their garden. ii would love if he started joining us more often. 

Can't wait to hear about the dedication ceremony when the time comes!  How did the kids like their raspberry bush?? yum!!! 

Originally Posted by witchygrrl 

In good news, it's been almost 2 weeks since I've been on my crazy elimination diet. I've had several compliments on how great my skin looks, and I've lost 9 pounds. My energy is also better. So I think I'm doing the right thing. It was insane today with all of the candy and whatnot at my aunt's house, but I had promised myself one cheat, one of another aunt's hot cross buns. So I ate that. Honestly, it didn't do all that much for me, so now I kind of wish I had spent a cheat on something else, but I'll live. LOL!

Right?  What the heck is with ALLLLL the candy?  Don't get me wrong, I love chocolate but my mom brought us like 5 lbs of candy.  I sorted out all the Hershey kisses (my fave!! - and a small, perfect cheat for me) and put the rest in a bag and sent it to work with DH.  I'm sure they'll love me  but I don't want it here!  If it sits here I know I'll tell myself "oh, just one" and end up eating 15 pieces!! 

Originally Posted by revolting 

So, we are still knee deep in chicken pox here. We still went to my in-law's seder. My eldest (who is over it) went to my grandmother's for Easter. We're still looking for somewhere to move, and with that, we're still thinking about our eldest's school. She will be kindergarten age next year. My mother puts a lot of pressure on me to send her to school. I've always thought about homeschooling, but my daughter on and off asks to go to school. We applied to some charter/magnet/gifted/classical public schools, but she didn't get accepted anywhere (though she did score as gifted, which makes me wonder how good a fit a normal public school would be; I don't want a highly academic kindergarten, but that's really difficult to find a non-academic public school, and I think what would be even worse for her is to have her in an academic kindergarten where all the kids were working on letter sounds and counting to a hundred and she'd be really bored). We have one more school we're waiting to hear from: a virtual charter school that has one on-campus class a week, which might be the best compromise for our family, though I don't like that it's non-union. Otherwise, we have to move somewhere with a decent neighborhood school or homeschool.  I just want things to settle and to know what the plan for next fall is so that I can prepare for it.

Will keep my fingers crossed for your daughter to get in to the virtual school or that the Universe gets you wherever you need to be to get your child the schooling that will best fit her.  

3x: I'm with you.  I also need a break from DHs family.  We get along fairly well but I've seen them 4x in the past week and it's time for some room.  haha.  After an insane week of preparing for both the holiday and the art show last week this week is full of NO PLANS.  A trip to my grandparents farm on Thursday and lots of free play for both Z and I!  haha.

Off to finish the dishes, I hope!  Sometimes I really envy those who have dishwashers!!!!  I've had 8 people over for 2 meals in the past 24 hours.  LOL!  Time to get crackin'!  
 

[Maiasaura]

Originally Posted by 3xMama Maia-Glad that M's hands are doing better! How crappy of his boss to tell him to get something like that under control or he is out of a job. Geesh!

Well, it's fair. He works a VERY dangerous job where it'd be easy to get maimed or killed in a heartbeat. You can't have shaking hands. So far it's working out, though; he's kind of fudging with his meds to figure out a dose/time schedule that works, and he's bringing the antidote med to work with him if he needs it.

I don't mind not eating sugar anymore. It's SO FREEING not to be chained to the cravings. I am so addicted.

I am trying something new: Bulletproof coffee. Google it. At first it sounds freaking GROSS! but it's actually quite good! And so filling. Keeps me going throughout most of the morning; I don't even need breakfast. At 10am I just had some of the standing rib roast that I made yesterday but couldn't eat because of upset tum.

Originally Posted by revolting I wish our library delivered things! At ours, you can only put five things on hold, and it takes forever for the holds to come through: literally they will have the book available at another library and it will take months for them to move it to one close to me.

Otherwise, we have to move somewhere with a decent neighborhood school or homeschool.  I just want things to settle and to know what the plan for next fall is so that I can prepare for it.

Right? I am so jealous of the library delivery! OTOH I would be really upset if it took that long for holds to come in!

Homeschooling vs public schooling: what is the compulsory age for schooling where you live? Here in NC, you don't have to send them to school till they are 7, but lots of people don't know that because kindy usually starts around 5 or 6yo. My boy didn't go to kindy at all; we homeschooled and then I sent him to public for 1st grade. He was 6 turning 7, I think. He's in a charter, now. He got into that (lottery) 6 weeks into the 1st grade year and he's now 11 and in 5th grade.

Which is a long winded way of saying-- if your state has a higher compulsory age, like mine does, you may not need to make that decision so soon

Originally Posted by Mommy2Austin He also has the beginnings of ADHD and OCD (I hate labeling them, but its soooo blatant its hard to ignore I do try to not talk about it in front of him.)

I can breathe a sigh of relief for the moment. The electric payment was made last night. So we won't be without power.

Yay for paid electric! Relief, huh? We are (or used to be) avid campers so I have lots of camping stuff around-- the power went out the other day because of severe storms and here M is freaking out on our behalf-- we were inconvenienced, yeah, but it wasn't a big deal. We had the roof and we live indoors so yay. I know it's not the same, but it made me think of it.

ADHD-- if you have him tested, and he does have it-- it's not a bad thing to keep him abreast of his disorder. Mine knows he has it. But his is pretty severe. He knows he has to compensate for it in lots of ways. I have it, too, but didn't know it till a couple years ago, and it turns out that I have had coping mechanisms in place for a lot of years

Originally Posted by vydalea Off to finish the dishes, I hope!  Sometimes I really envy those who have dishwashers!!!!  I've had 8 people over for 2 meals in the past 24 hours.  LOL!  Time to get crackin'!  

WOW. That is a lot of dishes! I can't live w/o a dishwasher anymore. I would go NUTS. But every time ds complains about having to unload it, I either threaten to teach him how to load it (at 11 he is WAY grossed out by dirty dishes or food ick), or I ground him from the dishwasher. He learns to appreciate it right quick!

[Mommy2Austin]

Originally Posted by Maiasaura 

Originally Posted by 3xMama Maia-Glad that M's hands are doing better! How crappy of his boss to tell him to get something like that under control or he is out of a job. Geesh!

Well, it's fair. He works a VERY dangerous job where it'd be easy to get maimed or killed in a heartbeat. You can't have shaking hands. So far it's working out, though; he's kind of fudging with his meds to figure out a dose/time schedule that works, and he's bringing the antidote med to work with him if he needs it.

I don't mind not eating sugar anymore. It's SO FREEING not to be chained to the cravings. I am so addicted.

I am trying something new: Bulletproof coffee. Google it. At first it sounds freaking GROSS! but it's actually quite good! And so filling. Keeps me going throughout most of the morning; I don't even need breakfast. At 10am I just had some of the standing rib roast that I made yesterday but couldn't eat because of upset tum.

Originally Posted by revolting I wish our library delivered things! At ours, you can only put five things on hold, and it takes forever for the holds to come through: literally they will have the book available at another library and it will take months for them to move it to one close to me.

Otherwise, we have to move somewhere with a decent neighborhood school or homeschool.  I just want things to settle and to know what the plan for next fall is so that I can prepare for it.

Right? I am so jealous of the library delivery! OTOH I would be really upset if it took that long for holds to come in!

Homeschooling vs public schooling: what is the compulsory age for schooling where you live? Here in NC, you don't have to send them to school till they are 7, but lots of people don't know that because kindy usually starts around 5 or 6yo. My boy didn't go to kindy at all; we homeschooled and then I sent him to public for 1st grade. He was 6 turning 7, I think. He's in a charter, now. He got into that (lottery) 6 weeks into the 1st grade year and he's now 11 and in 5th grade.

Which is a long winded way of saying-- if your state has a higher compulsory age, like mine does, you may not need to make that decision so soon

Originally Posted by Mommy2Austin He also has the beginnings of ADHD and OCD (I hate labeling them, but its soooo blatant its hard to ignore I do try to not talk about it in front of him.)

I can breathe a sigh of relief for the moment. The electric payment was made last night. So we won't be without power.

Yay for paid electric! Relief, huh? We are (or used to be) avid campers so I have lots of camping stuff around-- the power went out the other day because of severe storms and here M is freaking out on our behalf-- we were inconvenienced, yeah, but it wasn't a big deal. We had the roof and we live indoors so yay. I know it's not the same, but it made me think of it.

ADHD-- if you have him tested, and he does have it-- it's not a bad thing to keep him abreast of his disorder. Mine knows he has it. But his is pretty severe. He knows he has to compensate for it in lots of ways. I have it, too, but didn't know it till a couple years ago, and it turns out that I have had coping mechanisms in place for a lot of years

Originally Posted by vydalea Off to finish the dishes, I hope!  Sometimes I really envy those who have dishwashers!!!!  I've had 8 people over for 2 meals in the past 24 hours.  LOL!  Time to get crackin'!  

WOW. That is a lot of dishes! I can't live w/o a dishwasher anymore. I would go NUTS. But every time ds complains about having to unload it, I either threaten to teach him how to load it (at 11 he is WAY grossed out by dirty dishes or food ick), or I ground him from the dishwasher. He learns to appreciate it right quick!

I'm still waiting warily for library books. They check them out to you before they send them via courier and evidently it can take 3-5 business days from when they check them out to get to you. If they get lost in the mail its supposedly on my ticket...which I'll fight tooth and nail, because my address is correct in their system and it doesn't give you a choice for in house pick up. 

I miss camping! I hope to take the kids some day when they are older.

As for the ADHD. He knows daddy has it and takes meds. He hasn't been diagnosed, so I can't say he officially has it. I hope to be able to get him evaluated soon.

As for dishwashers, I HATE, DESPISE, LOATHE with every inch of my being hand washing dishes. When I have to do them by hand I have to change the water at least 3 times because if even one floater ends up in the water I have to empty it and get fresh soapy water. I grew up being the dishwasher. I adore my dishwasher <3

[3xMama]

Originally Posted by revolting 

Yay about your father and your husband's new job! I wish our UU church had a Pagan circle. The closest CUUPs is an hour away, and I just don't have it in me to try to get something going at my church even though I know a couple of other Pagans there.

I read them. I loved them. We were supposed to see the movie opening weekend, but the kids got chicken pox. No one wants to sit the kids while they're sick.

So, we are still knee deep in chicken pox here. We still went to my in-law's seder. My eldest (who is over it) went to my grandmother's for Easter. We're still looking for somewhere to move, and with that, we're still thinking about our eldest's school. She will be kindergarten age next year. My mother puts a lot of pressure on me to send her to school. I've always thought about homeschooling, but my daughter on and off asks to go to school. We applied to some charter/magnet/gifted/classical public schools, but she didn't get accepted anywhere (though she did score as gifted, which makes me wonder how good a fit a normal public school would be; I don't want a highly academic kindergarten, but that's really difficult to find a non-academic public school, and I think what would be even worse for her is to have her in an academic kindergarten where all the kids were working on letter sounds and counting to a hundred and she'd be really bored). We have one more school we're waiting to hear from: a virtual charter school that has one on-campus class a week, which might be the best compromise for our family, though I don't like that it's non-union. Otherwise, we have to move somewhere with a decent neighborhood school or homeschool.  I just want things to settle and to know what the plan for next fall is so that I can prepare for it.

Thanks! 

DH is finally getting through the second book and everytime I see him with the book open I ask "Where are you?! What's happening?!". Repeat every fifteen or twenty minutes.  Its nice to be able to talk with someone about it though, finally!

Kindy...oh lord have I stressed over kindy...DD isn't quite gifted though. She's smart but in an upper average kind of range. We had her in a Montessori Charter school that was AWFUL. She didn't learn a damn the the whole semester she was there because the teacher was so hands off she had no guidance. Got all kinds of complaints from the teacher about how DD wasn't working and was distracting other kids (she's a bored 5 yr old, what's she going do besides bug other kids?!) and wasn't learning enough etc etc etc. She basically just sat around and stared or played with friends because no adult was guiding her through things. Finally switched her to the local public school where she is thriving. I was really worried about it but its worked very very well for her. So I guess what I'm saying is sometimes the local neighborhood school can do your child better than all the bells and whistles. Just do the best that you can and follow your gut. There are tons of homeschooling resources out there and co-ops get the kids involved with other children so that may meet all the criteria you're lookin' for. 

Originally Posted by Mommy2Austin 

We're homeschooling right now, but I'm desperately looking for a happy medium between him being home all day with little interaction with kids other than his siblings and being in public school and bored out of his mind because he's ahead of the other kids.

I can breathe a sigh of relief for the moment. The electric payment was made last night. So we won't be without power. I have to figure out what other bills are coming up because I don't want to be scrambling for money when it gets here.

Have you looked for homeschooling co-ops? Might be the happy medium you are looking for. :)

Ahh, I love that sigh of relief! Its sooo welcome!!
 

Originally Posted by vydalea 

Right?  What the heck is with ALLLLL the candy?  Don't get me wrong, I love chocolate but my mom brought us like 5 lbs of candy.  I sorted out all the Hershey kisses (my fave!! - and a small, perfect cheat for me) and put the rest in a bag and sent it to work with DH.  I'm sure they'll love me  but I don't want it here!  If it sits here I know I'll tell myself "oh, just one" and end up eating 15 pieces!! 

3x: I'm with you.  I also need a break from DHs family.  We get along fairly well but I've seen them 4x in the past week and it's time for some room.  haha.  After an insane week of preparing for both the holiday and the art show last week this week is full of NO PLANS.  A trip to my grandparents farm on Thursday and lots of free play for both Z and I!  haha.

Off to finish the dishes, I hope!  Sometimes I really envy those who have dishwashers!!!!  I've had 8 people over for 2 meals in the past 24 hours.  LOL!  Time to get crackin'!  
 

Candy...I swear we have 10 pounds of the stuff! We will eat on it for a few days and luckily I don't care for much of it. Milk chocolate and jelly beans aren't my favorite or even close to it. In a week or so though I will throw it out. I used to keep it around but I seriously still have Easter candy from two years ago in a bag on top of my fridge. We just can't eat it all and there's no point to saving it! Though I should probably throw that old stuff out, too. That's just yucky!

That's a lot of family! Four times in a week, eeeek! I don't even want to see my side of the family that much! A free day on the farm sounds divine! Enjoy!

I miss my dishwasher! Still haven't gotten ours replaced from when it burnt up however many months ago. January I think it was. I'm not pleased. 

Originally Posted by Maiasaura 

Well, it's fair. He works a VERY dangerous job where it'd be easy to get maimed or killed in a heartbeat. You can't have shaking hands. So far it's working out, though; he's kind of fudging with his meds to figure out a dose/time schedule that works, and he's bringing the antidote med to work with him if he needs it.

Ok, that's different. Its good that he's getting it under control anyway then!

I've been looking into going into nursing school in six months to a year. I'm going to have to transition from being a SAHM to a WOHM when the kids are all in school. That's always been the plan between DH and I its just that now I seriously need to start thinking college. I don't overly want to go to college but since I want to do something more with my life than ring people up at the grocery store. Plus nursing pays and since DH's job doesn't so much (though he is happy which is extremely important)...IDK, I'm trying to decide if the jumbly nervous feeling I'm getting is at the idea of being a nurse or at the idea of going back to school and being in the work force again no matter what the job. I'm very happy as a SAHM--right now. I don't think I will be as much once the kids are in school full time. But I like my safe little world! Gah!! I'm chasing my tail, so to speak!

Cleaning...must go clean!!

[Mommy2Austin]

The only issue with co-ops is I don't have a vehicle and the idea of trying to take public transportation for the first time, by myself, with 4 kids makes me panicky. I want him to go back to public school in the fall. He thrived there. It was the stupid private *cough* Christian School my MIL worked at/contrived to put him in while we were there, that caused the issue. He went from talking normal to now all his Vs are THs...too much King James Version bible verses is my best bet. So we've been working on that A LOT (He calls his brother Stethan instead of Steven more times than not and grrrr it bugs me) he went from loving school to talking about how boring it was. 

My sigh of relief was short lived. DH called and said he thinks the car payment that we *HAVE* to make on time or they'll repo our ONLY vehicle is due tomorrow. We have $0. My dad can only help with $100. My sewing machine is now on Craiglist. Praying it will sell in the next 24 hours.

Praying its not due yet. The days sound a little off so I'm hoping I'm right.

[LionessMom]

Originally Posted by 3xMama 

Lioness-Def hit a consignment shop! I've made over $100 selling stuff to one around here. Its not a huge amt of money at once (they only pay out after the item sells which is somewhat annoying but oh well...) but its put gas in the car several times. They are super super picky, though, and if it has any minor teeny blemish, they'll find it. How was the uu service?? 

i just got to go through everything. i received so many clothes from people it is crazy. i have 4 times as many clothes as i need. it is overwhelming. and i still have another friend who wants me to come look through the stuff she saved (her boys are 10 and 8). and i cant say no bc i know her stuff is cute! so after i get all the clothes i will go through them. then the girls clothes. and i will take all the nice stuff to the consignment shop and the stuff they wont take will go to goodwill. then i can use the credit to get new consignment clothes! i have to check out the shops too bc i know there are at least 4 shops to choose from. i want to choose the one that has the most traffic and the cutest stuff. 

the service was awesome. dh nevers goes with us. so that right there made my day. he helped with the egg hunt and gave rev tom the raspberry bush. he sat in the service with me and then watched the kids after so i could go to my meeting. never would have happened even a year ago. and then the service was a multi generational. so they had some kids go up to tell the passover story with puppets. usually it is all the kids but not this time. DD1 ran off up there anyway and i was going to go up and get here, but the gave her a puppet and told her to sit down. then she played with all the toys and made noise. everyone was able to hear the story and they even laughed at her antics. one lady was laughing so hard she had tears coming out of her eyes. i was embarrassed that she was so disruptive but everybody was so accepting and enjoying it that i ended up smiling about it. i love that place. i did apologize to the RE director who was doing the story but she laughed about it too! just not how i was raised and it is a breath of fresh air! i took them all downstairs to the nursery after that and sat with dh for the service. it was all about redemption in the UU perspective. our rev used to be a psychologist. lol. he is well suited to his task. and it was all about how redemption happens here and now as you work through your issues. i thought DH and I really needed to here that. and then rev tom told about how he healed from having an alcoholic absent father. very powerful. 

Originally Posted by vydalea 

Originally Posted by LionessMom 

off to the uu church. we are goiing to do an easter egg hunt. then service, then a meeting with the other pregnant ladies to discuss dedication ceremonies. i think we are all doing it at the same time. to make a big toodoo out of it. DH is actually going today. i am so shocked. he hates going. but it is easter and he wants to help the kids with the hunt, and he dug up a raspberry bush to give them for their garden. ii would love if he started joining us more often. 

Can't wait to hear about the dedication ceremony when the time comes!  How did the kids like their raspberry bush?? yum!!! 

rev tom beamed and was very excited about it when DH gave it to him. the kids will help rev tom plant it later as it was for the churches living edible garden. we are still having frosts. our mommy bush is doing well but i dont think you are supposed to transplant new baby ones right now. 

we already had the ded service for the older kids. they are trying to plan one for all the new babies but we are having to split them up bc of family visitation and 2 of the moms want theirs before i am even due. it is a beautiful thing though. it is just introducing the children to the congregation and the people of the church promising to help them on their path towards figuring it all out. 

Originally Posted by Mommy2Austin 

The only issue with co-ops is I don't have a vehicle and the idea of trying to take public transportation for the first time, by myself, with 4 kids makes me panicky. I want him to go back to public school in the fall. He thrived there. It was the stupid private *cough* Christian School my MIL worked at/contrived to put him in while we were there, that caused the issue. He went from talking normal to now all his Vs are THs...too much King James Version bible verses is my best bet. So we've been working on that A LOT (He calls his brother Stethan instead of Steven more times than not and grrrr it bugs me) he went from loving school to talking about how boring it was. 

My sigh of relief was short lived. DH called and said he thinks the car payment that we *HAVE* to make on time or they'll repo our ONLY vehicle is due tomorrow. We have $0. My dad can only help with $100. My sewing machine is now on Craiglist. Praying it will sell in the next 24 hours.

Praying its not due yet. The days sound a little off so I'm hoping I'm right.

i just wanted to let you know, that i know how you feel. we have very slowly got to the point where DH can take a month or 2 off work and not have to worry about the lights being shut off. it is so hard and such a struggle. DH hasnt worked for 3 weeks. he just got told last night by the guy who was contracting him that he should basically look to work for someone else. thank goodness we just got the tax returns bc i can pay off EVERYTHING for the baby and he had money left to fix some house stuff. and even some left to get to a new job for a week or 2. not what he wanted to do with it, but that is how it plays out sometimes. 

chicken pox- my midwife just sent her son to a chicken pox party. she said that as soon as he looks contagious she is going to have a party too and invited me to bring the 2 kids i have that havent had it yet. so excited! I already have had it so no big deal. she assured me it is safe to do while pregnant. then all i have to do is get her tested for titers to show the school. i still need to sign a religious exemption form for that stuff. but her getting chicken pox will give me more leeway. it is only 1 of the shots she hasnt got. the other one she doesnt have is the mmr and she ownt be getting it. the 2 year old only got 3 shots total and the next will get none. 

[Mommy2Austin]

Another blessing my way :) The car payment isn't due until Saturday.

So I'm scraping the cabinets, fridge, and freezer to finish eating for the week. Just have to make it to friday. DH is going to try and hit one of the local food pantry places to help as well. 

I'm going to work on remembering that more often than not good will follow the bad. 

[Valerie.Qc]

Ok... finally able to post!

Happy to read that you got some good news Mommy2Austin! 

The construction field in our area used to be non-stop-year-long... Not anymore... It's much more stressful now than a few years ago.

I'm so happy! I won a giveaway! The recipe book Eat Like a Dinosaur! Fun in the kitchen! Yay! :-)

Edited by Valerie.Qc - 4/10/12 at 11:38am

[Maiasaura]

Originally Posted by Mommy2Austin Another blessing my way :) The car payment isn't due until Saturday.

So I'm scraping the cabinets, fridge, and freezer to finish eating for the week. Just have to make it to friday. DH is going to try and hit one of the local food pantry places to help as well. 

I'm going to work on remembering that more often than not good will follow the bad. 

Awesome, Mommy2!

What do you have in the fridge, etc, and maybe we can help you with menus or recipes? Sometimes it helps to brainstorm! Where do you live; is it still coldish there? Maybe soups might be a plan. They're always good for stretching food.

It's supposed to stay sunny, though windy and mild here, but it looks alarmingly like rain.

My ds's martial arts teacher just had their 3rd baby on Sunday! An Easter baby! His name is Jeremiah.

M's brother's step-grandson just had his operation. He was born on like...March 26th, and he had next to no diaphragm They replaced it with some sort of plasticky thing and he's in recovery now. Please pray for him as his recovery chances are only like 30%!

M is off to work. He's liking his new job but is still getting oriented to it. I am off to go get ds and go to martial arts class.

Originally Posted by Valerie.Qc Ok... finally able to post!

Happy to read that you got some good news Mommy2Austin! 

The construction field in our area used to be non-stop-year-long... Not anymore... It's much more stressful now than a few years ago.

I'm so happy! I won a giveaway! The recipe book Eat Like a Dinosaur! Fun in the kitchen! Yay! :-)

There you are! Testing worked, lol. Yay for winning! Congrats! What do dinosaurs eat?

[Mommy2Austin]

I have 3 of the Knorr Rice Sides/Pasta sides, Half a bag of brown rice, 2 lbs of hamburger,  7 eggs, 4 chicken breasts (which is one meal for 6 of us), half canister of oatmeal, one box frozen breakfast sausage, half of a very large bag of broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower mixed veggies, frozen broccoli, frozen carrots, frozen green beans, frozen corn (kernel), 2 cans of green beans, 4 slices of bread, peanut butter and jelly, half box of cheerios, half box of corn flakes, 2/3 full box of froot loops, 2 boxes rotini, 1 can sauce plus some leftover in the fridge from 2 nights ago that I may freeze, some bags of popcorn, partial box of mashed potatoes, can of manwich sauce, 1 small can of raviolis, butter, shredded cheddar cheese and one small bag of shredded mozzarella. I think that's everything. Today is done for food (I'm making shake and bake chicken that I already pulled out so I'm left with 4 in the freezer.)

I'm in Florida (aka my A/C has been running since January)

In other news, my books are here :) Living Wicca by Scott Cunningham and Loom Knitting Primer :) I still have one more on its way to me and 3 on hold. When they said it comes by courier its actually a private courier not Fed Ex or UPS :) I was surprised!

[3xMama]

Originally Posted by LionessMom 

the service was awesome. dh nevers goes with us. so that right there made my day. he helped with the egg hunt and gave rev tom the raspberry bush. he sat in the service with me and then watched the kids after so i could go to my meeting. never would have happened even a year ago. and then the service was a multi generational. so they had some kids go up to tell the passover story with puppets. usually it is all the kids but not this time. DD1 ran off up there anyway and i was going to go up and get here, but the gave her a puppet and told her to sit down. then she played with all the toys and made noise. everyone was able to hear the story and they even laughed at her antics. one lady was laughing so hard she had tears coming out of her eyes. i was embarrassed that she was so disruptive but everybody was so accepting and enjoying it that i ended up smiling about it. i love that place. i did apologize to the RE director who was doing the story but she laughed about it too! just not how i was raised and it is a breath of fresh air! i took them all downstairs to the nursery after that and sat with dh for the service. it was all about redemption in the UU perspective. our rev used to be a psychologist. lol. he is well suited to his task. and it was all about how redemption happens here and now as you work through your issues. i thought DH and I really needed to here that. and then rev tom told about how he healed from having an alcoholic absent father. very powerful. 

rev tom beamed and was very excited about it when DH gave it to him. the kids will help rev tom plant it later as it was for the churches living edible garden. we are still having frosts. our mommy bush is doing well but i dont think you are supposed to transplant new baby ones right now. 

we already had the ded service for the older kids. they are trying to plan one for all the new babies but we are having to split them up bc of family visitation and 2 of the moms want theirs before i am even due. it is a beautiful thing though. it is just introducing the children to the congregation and the people of the church promising to help them on their path towards figuring it all out. 

chicken pox- my midwife just sent her son to a chicken pox party. she said that as soon as he looks contagious she is going to have a party too and invited me to bring the 2 kids i have that havent had it yet. so excited! I already have had it so no big deal. she assured me it is safe to do while pregnant. then all i have to do is get her tested for titers to show the school. i still need to sign a religious exemption form for that stuff. but her getting chicken pox will give me more leeway. it is only 1 of the shots she hasnt got. the other one she doesnt have is the mmr and she ownt be getting it. the 2 year old only got 3 shots total and the next will get none. 

Your service sounds wonderful! I'm so glad you all had such a good and rewarding time!

Oh, I wish I knew someone having a chicken pox party! My midwife had a party a couple years ago but DS2 was too little to go, he was only two or three months. Enjoy!
 

Originally Posted by Mommy2Austin 

Another blessing my way :) The car payment isn't due until Saturday.

Yay! 
 

Originally Posted by Maiasaura 

M's brother's step-grandson just had his operation. He was born on like...March 26th, and he had next to no diaphragm They replaced it with some sort of plasticky thing and he's in recovery now. Please pray for him as his recovery chances are only like 30%!

There you are! Testing worked, lol. Yay for winning! Congrats! What do dinosaurs eat?

Oh my, I will keep the poor lil man in my prayers. 

I'm intensely curious, too, what do dinosaurs eat?

Originally Posted by Mommy2Austin 

I have 3 of the Knorr Rice Sides/Pasta sides, Half a bag of brown rice, 2 lbs of hamburger,  7 eggs, 4 chicken breasts (which is one meal for 6 of us), half canister of oatmeal, one box frozen breakfast sausage, half of a very large bag of broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower mixed veggies, frozen broccoli, frozen carrots, frozen green beans, frozen corn (kernel), 2 cans of green beans, 4 slices of bread, peanut butter and jelly, half box of cheerios, half box of corn flakes, 2/3 full box of froot loops, 2 boxes rotini, 1 can sauce plus some leftover in the fridge from 2 nights ago that I may freeze, some bags of popcorn, partial box of mashed potatoes, can of manwich sauce, 1 small can of raviolis, butter, shredded cheddar cheese and one small bag of shredded mozzarella. I think that's everything. Today is done for food (I'm making shake and bake chicken that I already pulled out so I'm left with 4 in the freezer.)

I'm in Florida (aka my A/C has been running since January)

In other news, my books are here :) Living Wicca by Scott Cunningham and Loom Knitting Primer :) I still have one more on its way to me and 3 on hold. When they said it comes by courier its actually a private courier not Fed Ex or UPS :) I was surprised!

Yay books! I love getting new books. I need to hit the library...

Well, I'm really really bad at making out menus, if its not something that's going to hit me in the face, I'm not going to pick up on it! Its sounds like you've got some stuff though and getting a little creative with lunch you'll make it, esp if your DH hits a food pantry. You'll make it!! One day at a time!
 

[Maiasaura]

Originally Posted by Mommy2Austin 

I have 3 of the Knorr Rice Sides/Pasta sides,

Half a bag of brown rice,

2 lbs of hamburger,  

7 eggs,

4 chicken breasts (which is one meal for 6 of us),

half canister of oatmeal,

one box frozen breakfast sausage,

half of a very large bag of broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower mixed veggies,

frozen broccoli,

frozen carrots,

frozen green beans,

frozen corn (kernel),

2 cans of green beans, 4 slices of bread,

peanut butter and jelly,

half box of cheerios,

half box of corn flakes,

2/3 full box of froot loops,

2 boxes rotini,

1 can sauce plus some leftover in the fridge from 2 nights ago that I may freeze,

some bags of popcorn,

partial box of mashed potatoes,

can of manwich sauce,

1 small can of raviolis,

butter,

shredded cheddar cheese

and one small bag of shredded mozzarella.

I put them in a list to make easier reading. You have quite a bit there to work with! How long does it have to last? And it's for 6 people, right?

I am seeing that 4lb of hamburger split up into 8 portions, which you can use 1/2lb portion for a soup or casserole for the family. You can brown and add 1/2lb of it to one of the rice/pasta sides, and add a frozen veggie or have that on the side. You'd probably use less if you incorporated the veggie into the meal instead of on the side.

Same for the chix breasts-- if you cut them in half, they'll stretch longer. And cut each one into teeny pieces when you make a meal, so it spreads out further. You can have meat with your meals without it being the crowning glory-- more of a side dish to the whole thing, or an accent.

The mashed potatoes can maybe be a topping for Shepherd's pie, using some frozen veggies and a portion of the ground beef.

Manwich sauce + leftover sauce from the other day, with or without a portion of ground beef = chili. Maybe topped with just a tad of shredded cheddar to add flavor and make it look pretty like you've taken all day And if you need to stretch it further, you can add the small can of raviolis and some of the pasta. OR you can save the Manwich sauce to use in the Shepherd's Pie, if you don't have a way to make a sauce for that.

Do you have soy sauce? You can take a portion or two of chicken, add to the Very Large Bag (or some of) of mixed veggies, and some rice, and make a stir fry.

Oatmeal + sausage + eggs = some kind of creative breakfasty thing-- maybe in the crock pot? Maybe stir in a raw egg into the oatmeal while it's cooking, so that it's not really noticeable yet adds a protein boost? If you don't have maple syrup, maybe use a bit of sugar or brown sugar or molasses. Molasses + white sugar = brown sugar anyway, did you know that? Lots of people don't!

I'm also seeing scrambled egg stir fry, with the rice, you know, like fried rice maybe? You'd have to get soy sauce if you don't have any. It really makes the flavor of Asian things, IMO. I like sesame oil, too, but if you're not used to it (or your family isn't), I would just keep it simple.

The cereal and popcorn, I'm afraid may have to stand on its own. Maybe use the cereal as a dry snack, if you don't have milk for awhile.

Peanut butter and jelly-- I am at a loss unless you had more bread, or had flour to make pancakes with Maybe you can put some of the peanut butter in a stir fry for a peanut satay sort of flavor? And a protein boost?

OR-- you have 4 kids? You can splurge and make Eggs In A Nest with the 4 slices of bread and 4 eggs. Or maybe you can use the bread in a bread pudding sort of way, with the breakfast casserole in the crock pot.

Hope it helps?

Originally Posted by 3xMama Oh, I wish I knew someone having a chicken pox party! My midwife had a party a couple years ago but DS2 was too little to go, he was only two or three months. Enjoy!

DS has been exposed FOUR times. Maybe even 5. And never gotten them, not even one spot or a fever or anything. I have two theories:
1) he had them so mildly nobody knew, or

2) he got immunity in utero when I had shingles in the middle trimester. But nobody will entertain that idea as valid. Sigh. Gotta love the medical community.

I wish his insurance would pay for titers.

I really miss M in the evenings I get to talk to him most of the mornings, but it is not the same. Tomorrow, or maybe tonight, I will get tix to see him again. I'm going up Memorial Day weekend.

It turns out that he found out he's the 2nd highest paid on the floor, aside from (I think a supervisor?). He needs to keep mum about that as he's also the newest. Wouldn't want to create resentment!

Oh, check it out, y'all!!! They get profit sharing! He missed out on this past one because he's too new, but they all each got EIGHT HUNDRED DOLLARS extra in their paychecks this week!

I told him he better go talk to HD as soon as he's able, to make sure he claims correctly in his paychecks-- or he'll be facing a whopping tax bill next year!

It'll be so nice for him, though, after living hand-to-mouth on ramen for years.