The last day of 2008!!! This is been by far the best year of my life - one of my biggest dreams came true when I married my best friend. He truly is my other half, my soulmate, my biggest encourager, best friend, and sometimes the only person who really understands me in all my weirdness. I'm a little sad to see this year go, but am also excited to see what next year brings. Maybe by the end of next year I'll be writing from a new(er) home, on new land, in a new town, hopefully able to work from home. Maybe a mini-Miller, maybe not. While I do have a touch of baby fever lately, I'm not totally prepared to give up all my freedom just yet. Plus there's that money issue - we have none, lol. But if it happens, it happens, and we will both be super excited. God always provides!
Tonight I have to babysit.....I might as well, b/c Jay has to work so there's nothing we can do to celebrate New Year's Eve anyway.....might as well make a few bucks, eh? So I'm leaving here around 3:15 or so (yay!) and have to be back around 8pm; hopefully I'll be outta here by 10:30 or so. I love how they originally say, "Oh, we won't be any later than 10:00, for sure. We don't like to be out late." Then it changes over time, to, "We should be back by 11:00 or so. If it's later, we'll let you know." Great. This reminds me of why I do not babysit anymore - I always hated being out so late and not getting to bed until midnight or after and most of the time still having to get up at the crack of dawn. But - I have tomorrow off and I plan to sleep in. =)
Tomorrow night we are having our annual Christmas dinner (better late than never) at my aunt's house. Which reminds me I need to find a recipe for broccoli casserole.... I think we're going to go early so Jay can hunt on the last day of deer season. Can't say I'm sorry to see that go. It will be nice to have him home on a Saturday for more than ten minutes before dinner. =) Too bad rabbit season goes through March. Then it's turkey month in April. My only reason to love summer is that there is no hunting. Sigh.
Better sign off for now. Almost time to go and I still feel like I need to puke. I would feel a lot better if I COULD puke. =(
Hope you all have a HAPPY NEW YEAR and make it great!! Count your blessings - I'm still learning just how many I've been given. =)
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
December 30, 2008
Today has been SOOOOOOO boring. I had a perfect day planned and it was carrying out so gracefully......until 10am when I realized there was no baby carseat anywhere to be found in this house. It must be in one of the parents' cars. Joy. So now we're stuck here. Hope we don't have any kind of emergency. This is why I really wish they would get another seat that can just stay in my car and we don't have to keep juggling one seat for three cars. This is not the first time this has happened. It is extemely difficult to stay in the house all day long, especially with a whiny baby and a wide-open kiddo. This day isn't even half-over. It hasn't been a bad day, it's just getting really boring. I already gave them both lunch and it's too early to go down for nap, plus there's no longer a white-noise machine for the baby, b/c it was left at grandma's house and apparantly isn't deemed necessary. I find it very necessary, but what do I know.....I just stay here 50 hrs a week with her.
I had the hardest time sleeping last night. On Sunday night/Monday morning and also Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, Jay now goes in at midnight until 6am. It's hard to get to sleep knowing he has to leave in just a couple hours and then if I do fall asleep, I wake up when he gets up, so I know these are going to be long evenings where I don't sleep well. Plus I didn't feel too good, but that seems to be past now.
I have another job possibility, but I will NOT be holding my breath for this again. It's another nanny job, for one little girl, 14 wks old. I still have to talk details so it may not turn out to be anything, but we'll see. If it would pay more per hour and be less hours during the week, I'll probably take it.
I had the hardest time sleeping last night. On Sunday night/Monday morning and also Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, Jay now goes in at midnight until 6am. It's hard to get to sleep knowing he has to leave in just a couple hours and then if I do fall asleep, I wake up when he gets up, so I know these are going to be long evenings where I don't sleep well. Plus I didn't feel too good, but that seems to be past now.
I have another job possibility, but I will NOT be holding my breath for this again. It's another nanny job, for one little girl, 14 wks old. I still have to talk details so it may not turn out to be anything, but we'll see. If it would pay more per hour and be less hours during the week, I'll probably take it.
Monday, December 29, 2008
December 29, 2008
I have just not felt like blogging lately. Been so tired and trying to catch up and.....yeah, it's no excuse, but anyway, here it is.
Christmas went well. I was just not in a Christmas spirit this year - I dont know what it was, but neither Jay nor I really felt Christmas-y. We did enjoy the visit with his family and we had a great time, but it's always nice to get the house back in shape and time together again. I always feel like I havent seen him in weeks when we have company, even though he's right there the whole time. They got in about 3am on Thursday morning and we sat around for a few minutes, getting food put away and all, then everyone went back to bed until about 8am. We went to my parents for breakfast and stayed until noon or so, they went back to our house, where I honestly cant remember right now what we even did, lol. We had a good Christmas dinner and opened presents that night. Then on Friday we went to breakfast and Walmart for some stuff, then Chad and Jay went hunting for the afternoon. Turns out if they had gotten in the usual hunting spot, they would have a monster buck......but an ex-friend got to that spot first and he got it. Figures.....Jay was mad about that for awhile, lol. On Friday night we got pizza and rented a movie - "Fred Claus" - pretty funny. On Saturday morning I made egg/cheese biscuits while the guys were smoking a hog leg that Chad brought up. We had that for lunch and then went to my parents for dinner and games before they left for Florida that evening.
The biggest part of my week was - the beagles are now outside. I had an inner meltdown (no wild tantums or anything, just lots of tears of frustration) on Thursday afternoon. I'm SO tired of waking up at 2am smelling poop and then having to clean up tons of it every time I walk by the playpen.....I just couldn't do it anymore. So - we put Bishop back in his little cage and brought him back to the living room, and the beagles went in the outdoor pen. They have a red-light for warmth as needed and they're okay out there. They're a lot bigger than they were when we first got them, so I feel better about it. They eat 3x a day now (instead of 4-5 and during the night). We burned the playpen - it was beyond repair at this point. It's been through 3 litters of kittens, at least 3 puppies not including this litter, and various baby parrots......it's served its purpose and had a great life - we laid it to rest and I was not too sad to see it go.
Today I have the day off (I asked for it two months ago) and I'm glad I did - I was up really late last night getting the house back in the order I prefer it to be and I got up when Jay came in at 6:30am so we could go to breakfast. He had a rought night at work and was feeling down, so it's nice to spend some time together before he goes to sleep. He should be getting up pretty soon, though he doesnt have to go in until midnight tonight. I'm making steaks for dinner - yum!!
Guess that's it. I don't dread going to work tomorrow, b/c I *supposedly* only have to work tomorrow, half a day Wednesday, and Friday was optional. We'll see what the money situation looks like before I decide on Friday. After this week, there won't be any time off for a long time, plus the grandma is coming back to town soon and I HATE that, so I might as well take it while I have it, eh?
Christmas went well. I was just not in a Christmas spirit this year - I dont know what it was, but neither Jay nor I really felt Christmas-y. We did enjoy the visit with his family and we had a great time, but it's always nice to get the house back in shape and time together again. I always feel like I havent seen him in weeks when we have company, even though he's right there the whole time. They got in about 3am on Thursday morning and we sat around for a few minutes, getting food put away and all, then everyone went back to bed until about 8am. We went to my parents for breakfast and stayed until noon or so, they went back to our house, where I honestly cant remember right now what we even did, lol. We had a good Christmas dinner and opened presents that night. Then on Friday we went to breakfast and Walmart for some stuff, then Chad and Jay went hunting for the afternoon. Turns out if they had gotten in the usual hunting spot, they would have a monster buck......but an ex-friend got to that spot first and he got it. Figures.....Jay was mad about that for awhile, lol. On Friday night we got pizza and rented a movie - "Fred Claus" - pretty funny. On Saturday morning I made egg/cheese biscuits while the guys were smoking a hog leg that Chad brought up. We had that for lunch and then went to my parents for dinner and games before they left for Florida that evening.
The biggest part of my week was - the beagles are now outside. I had an inner meltdown (no wild tantums or anything, just lots of tears of frustration) on Thursday afternoon. I'm SO tired of waking up at 2am smelling poop and then having to clean up tons of it every time I walk by the playpen.....I just couldn't do it anymore. So - we put Bishop back in his little cage and brought him back to the living room, and the beagles went in the outdoor pen. They have a red-light for warmth as needed and they're okay out there. They're a lot bigger than they were when we first got them, so I feel better about it. They eat 3x a day now (instead of 4-5 and during the night). We burned the playpen - it was beyond repair at this point. It's been through 3 litters of kittens, at least 3 puppies not including this litter, and various baby parrots......it's served its purpose and had a great life - we laid it to rest and I was not too sad to see it go.
Today I have the day off (I asked for it two months ago) and I'm glad I did - I was up really late last night getting the house back in the order I prefer it to be and I got up when Jay came in at 6:30am so we could go to breakfast. He had a rought night at work and was feeling down, so it's nice to spend some time together before he goes to sleep. He should be getting up pretty soon, though he doesnt have to go in until midnight tonight. I'm making steaks for dinner - yum!!
Guess that's it. I don't dread going to work tomorrow, b/c I *supposedly* only have to work tomorrow, half a day Wednesday, and Friday was optional. We'll see what the money situation looks like before I decide on Friday. After this week, there won't be any time off for a long time, plus the grandma is coming back to town soon and I HATE that, so I might as well take it while I have it, eh?
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
December 23, 2008
It's hard to believe Christmas is only 2 days away......I still just don't feel "Christmas-y." I'm very happy it's here (more so b/c I do not have to work for 5 whole days!) and I'm really excited to see Jay's family. I worked from 6p-11p last night doing some last minute cleaning and sprucing. I tried to finish shampooing/rinsing the carpet, but I think that old lady at the Rainbow store sold me the wrong shampoo. I TOLD her three times it was orange shampoo but she swore the green was the same stuff and she didn't have anything orange, so I bought green. The one section in the living room that I had left was shampooed/rinsed about 4 times and it's clearly a different shade than the rest of the carpet. It's still a little damp, but if it dries and still looks that way, I'm going back and the old lady and I are going to have a talk. :) That house is already crappy enough as it is; I don't want to have to deal with a living carpet in two completely different shades. On another note, I cleaned the master bedroom carpet with it and it looks fantastic! It's not the shampoo that's bad, it's just that I'm pretty sure it's not the same concoction that I started with and that's why the living room looks the way it does. It's very important to me that the house is spotless and clean. For the 3 yrs that Jay lived there before we met, he never once cleaned it and the ppl who lived there previously didn't do much cleaning, so I feel like I never got a fair chance to have a perfectly clean house like I'm so anal about. I'm stuck with stained carpet and stained bathtubs that can't/won't come clean, and there's nothing I can do about it except be embarassed when company comes over. I've worked so hard to clean it and when I turn around, it looks like it hasn't been touched. Anyway, I did the best I could. The bathrooms are scrubbed and smell nice, the bedrooms are vacuumed and clean, and the kitchen is swept/mopped/scrubbed. There's nothing else I can do. I love having company come and I really LOVE when his family is here, but the prep of getting a house ready for company gives me so much stress and makes me so overwhelmed that I get to the point where I'm ready to have a nervous breakdown. I couldn't stop cleaning things last night, even when I hadn't had dinner by 9:30pm, the puppies were yelling to be fed (I hadn't even cleaned the crib out yet), the older dogs were hungry and Stinky was freezing outside, the laundry hadn't even been started, etc......I just can't do it all. I can't imagine what life will be like if we have kids in that house. Sigh.
Hopefully luck will be on our side and we'll get that crap-trap sold by next summer and get the heck out of there.
I'm sitting at the kitchen table with Zack, watching SpongeBob and waiting for his dad to get back from the sudden "errands" he had to run this morning before leaving for Charleston. He's taking the kiddo (great for me!) but I am always the last to know anything here and who knows when they will leave. It could be after lunch for all I know.......I just get stuck with whatever they decide to do - I'm expected to just deal with it and that SUCKS. So far the morning is not too bad, but I hate not knowing what's going on. I'm such a detail-oriented person and I thrive on a schedule and consistency. When my schedule is thrown off, it takes effect over my entire attitude. I desperately need some time off. I'm glad I asked for Monday off as well, even though it's one less paid day for us and we badly need it.........I need my sanity more. I mentioned giving up my day off but Jay was adamant that I keep it - for the sake of my sanity, lol. I don't know yet if I'm getting off for New Year's Day. I don't need it off for anything personal, but she mentioned something about it being a paid day, and that's a moot point unless she's planning on giving me the day off. Not likely.
I meant to write over the weekend about the bargains I found at several grocery stores - I've been collecting coupons, something I rarely do but want to do more of, and I was able to stock up over the weekend on some things we use a lot of and things we will need this week (foodwise) while his family is here. At RiteAid, they had paper towels and laundry detergent on sale. We have been going through a TON of paper towels these last few weeks with the puppies litter box. Laundry detergent is always used - I do 2-3 loads of laundry every day, usually.
At Bloom, they had Spring brand water on sale - three 24-packs for $10. We go through a lot of bottled water, too - that's pretty much all I drink anymore, and Jay usually takes one or two in his lunch to work. They also had Kraft mac & cheese on sale, and that's one of his favorites. We are now the proud owners of about ten boxes of mac & cheese, lol. They also had turkey breast on sale, but I didn't get any b/c I didn't like the way it looked after it had been picked through - I wasn't able to get to the sale before the final days, so not much left of that.
Ingles had some great sales on soda - four 12-packs for under $10 - Jay goes through Mt. Dew like it's nobody's business, so I got some of that and one of Diet Coke (for me, lol). They also had good deals on frozen steam-veggies, which we eat a lot of, so I got about 10 of those.
There is a ghetto grocery store off N. Main in Greer called Quality Foods - not a place I would want to go into at night, but twice a year they have FANTASTIC sales, especially on their meats. I got about $40 worth of meats (ground chuck, steaks, pork chops, roasts, etc) that would have cost me about $100 in any other grocery store. I freeze them and they last us a long time.
So between all that and the deer meat we still have in the freezer, hopefully I will not have to go to the grocery store for at least a month. I dont hate grocery shopping but money is so tight it's always a burden to go b/c I don't know what to get that will last us......nothing lasts as long as it should.
I had to take a break there between paragraphs b/c kiddo just left with his dad for Charleston. They might be back tonight or they might drive back in the morning (would be GREAT for me b/c I'm leaving at noon tomorrow) but either way - my afternoon is kosher today. =)
Hopefully luck will be on our side and we'll get that crap-trap sold by next summer and get the heck out of there.
I'm sitting at the kitchen table with Zack, watching SpongeBob and waiting for his dad to get back from the sudden "errands" he had to run this morning before leaving for Charleston. He's taking the kiddo (great for me!) but I am always the last to know anything here and who knows when they will leave. It could be after lunch for all I know.......I just get stuck with whatever they decide to do - I'm expected to just deal with it and that SUCKS. So far the morning is not too bad, but I hate not knowing what's going on. I'm such a detail-oriented person and I thrive on a schedule and consistency. When my schedule is thrown off, it takes effect over my entire attitude. I desperately need some time off. I'm glad I asked for Monday off as well, even though it's one less paid day for us and we badly need it.........I need my sanity more. I mentioned giving up my day off but Jay was adamant that I keep it - for the sake of my sanity, lol. I don't know yet if I'm getting off for New Year's Day. I don't need it off for anything personal, but she mentioned something about it being a paid day, and that's a moot point unless she's planning on giving me the day off. Not likely.
I meant to write over the weekend about the bargains I found at several grocery stores - I've been collecting coupons, something I rarely do but want to do more of, and I was able to stock up over the weekend on some things we use a lot of and things we will need this week (foodwise) while his family is here. At RiteAid, they had paper towels and laundry detergent on sale. We have been going through a TON of paper towels these last few weeks with the puppies litter box. Laundry detergent is always used - I do 2-3 loads of laundry every day, usually.
At Bloom, they had Spring brand water on sale - three 24-packs for $10. We go through a lot of bottled water, too - that's pretty much all I drink anymore, and Jay usually takes one or two in his lunch to work. They also had Kraft mac & cheese on sale, and that's one of his favorites. We are now the proud owners of about ten boxes of mac & cheese, lol. They also had turkey breast on sale, but I didn't get any b/c I didn't like the way it looked after it had been picked through - I wasn't able to get to the sale before the final days, so not much left of that.
Ingles had some great sales on soda - four 12-packs for under $10 - Jay goes through Mt. Dew like it's nobody's business, so I got some of that and one of Diet Coke (for me, lol). They also had good deals on frozen steam-veggies, which we eat a lot of, so I got about 10 of those.
There is a ghetto grocery store off N. Main in Greer called Quality Foods - not a place I would want to go into at night, but twice a year they have FANTASTIC sales, especially on their meats. I got about $40 worth of meats (ground chuck, steaks, pork chops, roasts, etc) that would have cost me about $100 in any other grocery store. I freeze them and they last us a long time.
So between all that and the deer meat we still have in the freezer, hopefully I will not have to go to the grocery store for at least a month. I dont hate grocery shopping but money is so tight it's always a burden to go b/c I don't know what to get that will last us......nothing lasts as long as it should.
I had to take a break there between paragraphs b/c kiddo just left with his dad for Charleston. They might be back tonight or they might drive back in the morning (would be GREAT for me b/c I'm leaving at noon tomorrow) but either way - my afternoon is kosher today. =)
Monday, December 22, 2008
December 22, 2008
So today I had no idea what to expect when I walked into this house. Will I be responsible for 2 kids all day or just 1? Will 1 child be in/out all day so I am confined to the house awaiting his return? Will I be pulling out my hair all day waiting on said child to go on said outing with unsaid but obvious parent whenever said parent decides to leave?
Alas, I have been responsible for 2 kids today but it has not been near the dramatic experience I feared it might be. We went to Monkey Joe's and lunch, and now it is naptime and the only debacle I've faced is when in the world is it my turn to pee? Not easy when you're tugging 2 kids around.....again, I am grateful for naptime. :)
Tomorrow will be interesting......kiddo is supposed to be going with said parent on all-day or most-of-the-day outing. Hope he sticks to it. We'll find out. Otherwise, I dont know what we're going to be doing tomorrow, b/c it's cold and MJ's 2 days in a row isn't really an option.
This weekend we had our "personal" Christmas - just Jay and me. We went to dinner at City Range (I will never recommend it - it was mediocre, at best....more on that later.) Then we went home and unwrapped presents and stocking gifts. I already knew what I was getting since we ordered it together, but I still love it! I got a medium-sized stand-up jewelry armoire - it's what I really wanted. My little plastic box isn't doing the job anymore for all the earrings I keep collecting, plus we really need the counter space in the bathroom for more important things like makeup and deodorant, lol. We had a great time! I wish our dinner experience had been better - I've heard such wonderful things about this restaurant, but the highlight of our dinner was the free bread, lol. We both ordered steak and a baked potato, but both steaks turned out to be pretty much 90% fat. The 10% we were able to eat was delicious - very well seasoned, but a big disappointment that this was all there was to it. The potatoes were okay, and we both got salads b/c we were led to believe by our waiter that this was part of the entree. It wasn't. We didn't know that until we got the bill and saw we were charged extra for it, and felt quite misled afterward. We did not stay for dessert - we went elsewhere. So, all in all, I wouldn't recommend it. It's a fancy little place for mediocre (at best) food for a very expensive price. We'll know better next year! :)
This weekend I borrowed my uncle's carpet cleaner. I started in the guest room and by the time I finished that room, I finally got the hang of how to work it. It does an amazing job! The guest room and the "pink room" (what we call it b/c it has that color carpet, ugh) are now cleaned and deodorized. The dogs (okay, just Stinky and Gavin) sleep in the pink room and all of Jay's hunting/fishing stuff is in there so it sees a lot of foot traffic and mud from Jay's shoes. Her Majesty refuses to sleep in there and sleeps on a down comforter on the floor on my side of the bed. I can't blame her - she's almost 8 years old and NEVER had to sleep either in a crate or w/o me, so trying to get her to do either of those is just impossible now in her old(er) age. Unless we want to hear her bark all night, we just let her bed down in her comforter beside the bed.
Anyway, back to the carpet cleaner - I started on the living room carpet and was APPALLED at how much dirt it was pulling up. I knew that carpet was dirty, but good grief - now I'm imposed to making a "no shoes in the house" rule which we all know will not be followed. I got about 80% of the living room done before I ran out of shampoo, so I had to wait until today to pick up some more. Expensive crap, too - $20 for a bottle of it. Sheesh. I still have to do the remaining section of the living room and then do the master bedroom and I'm finished. I might move the couch and shampoo underneath it, but I'm undecided about that at the moment. For that matter, I might as well just wait until the Christmas tree is out so I can do that section, too, and have Jay move the gun cabinet so I can shampoo under that. Might as well do it right. Only problem is - I have no TIME to do this unless it's on a Saturday.
One day down here (almost), one day to go......and a half-day. I wish I hadn't said I was free that morning, but we DO need the money. Lots of ideas/things going on in the Miller household that are going to require more money than we make, lol. If all goes well, we will be moving next summer. Praise the Lord - I hate that house.
=)
Alas, I have been responsible for 2 kids today but it has not been near the dramatic experience I feared it might be. We went to Monkey Joe's and lunch, and now it is naptime and the only debacle I've faced is when in the world is it my turn to pee? Not easy when you're tugging 2 kids around.....again, I am grateful for naptime. :)
Tomorrow will be interesting......kiddo is supposed to be going with said parent on all-day or most-of-the-day outing. Hope he sticks to it. We'll find out. Otherwise, I dont know what we're going to be doing tomorrow, b/c it's cold and MJ's 2 days in a row isn't really an option.
This weekend we had our "personal" Christmas - just Jay and me. We went to dinner at City Range (I will never recommend it - it was mediocre, at best....more on that later.) Then we went home and unwrapped presents and stocking gifts. I already knew what I was getting since we ordered it together, but I still love it! I got a medium-sized stand-up jewelry armoire - it's what I really wanted. My little plastic box isn't doing the job anymore for all the earrings I keep collecting, plus we really need the counter space in the bathroom for more important things like makeup and deodorant, lol. We had a great time! I wish our dinner experience had been better - I've heard such wonderful things about this restaurant, but the highlight of our dinner was the free bread, lol. We both ordered steak and a baked potato, but both steaks turned out to be pretty much 90% fat. The 10% we were able to eat was delicious - very well seasoned, but a big disappointment that this was all there was to it. The potatoes were okay, and we both got salads b/c we were led to believe by our waiter that this was part of the entree. It wasn't. We didn't know that until we got the bill and saw we were charged extra for it, and felt quite misled afterward. We did not stay for dessert - we went elsewhere. So, all in all, I wouldn't recommend it. It's a fancy little place for mediocre (at best) food for a very expensive price. We'll know better next year! :)
This weekend I borrowed my uncle's carpet cleaner. I started in the guest room and by the time I finished that room, I finally got the hang of how to work it. It does an amazing job! The guest room and the "pink room" (what we call it b/c it has that color carpet, ugh) are now cleaned and deodorized. The dogs (okay, just Stinky and Gavin) sleep in the pink room and all of Jay's hunting/fishing stuff is in there so it sees a lot of foot traffic and mud from Jay's shoes. Her Majesty refuses to sleep in there and sleeps on a down comforter on the floor on my side of the bed. I can't blame her - she's almost 8 years old and NEVER had to sleep either in a crate or w/o me, so trying to get her to do either of those is just impossible now in her old(er) age. Unless we want to hear her bark all night, we just let her bed down in her comforter beside the bed.
Anyway, back to the carpet cleaner - I started on the living room carpet and was APPALLED at how much dirt it was pulling up. I knew that carpet was dirty, but good grief - now I'm imposed to making a "no shoes in the house" rule which we all know will not be followed. I got about 80% of the living room done before I ran out of shampoo, so I had to wait until today to pick up some more. Expensive crap, too - $20 for a bottle of it. Sheesh. I still have to do the remaining section of the living room and then do the master bedroom and I'm finished. I might move the couch and shampoo underneath it, but I'm undecided about that at the moment. For that matter, I might as well just wait until the Christmas tree is out so I can do that section, too, and have Jay move the gun cabinet so I can shampoo under that. Might as well do it right. Only problem is - I have no TIME to do this unless it's on a Saturday.
One day down here (almost), one day to go......and a half-day. I wish I hadn't said I was free that morning, but we DO need the money. Lots of ideas/things going on in the Miller household that are going to require more money than we make, lol. If all goes well, we will be moving next summer. Praise the Lord - I hate that house.
=)
Thursday, December 18, 2008
December 18, 2008
Well, I woke up saying this and I'm going to continue saying it throughout the day as necessary - I am determined to make this a good day. (Okay, I started out saying "great day" but I'll settle for "good day.") So far, so good. I'm on my own with Allie here and that's always the best - I hate it when one of them is here - it just bugs me in a way I can't explain. I never feel totally free. I did get up the nerve to ask her this morning if the two holidays next week are paid holidays for me.....she kinda bumped around the answer but I think she settled on Christmas day is paid but I'm still not sure about Christmas Eve day. It should be but.....we all know how that goes. I'm trying to remember the holidays I've had here and whether or not they were paid. I know Memorial Day was paid and I think 4th of July was and I dont remember about Labor Day. I am dead-positive she did NOT pay me for Thanksgiving day. I worked that Monday, Tuesday and Friday but I was only paid for 3 days that week. So technically that leaves me at least 2 more paid holidays before the year is over......it will probably be Christmas day and New Years day.....she did mention that but I wasn't aware I was getting New Years day off. That would be nice as long as it's a paid day. We don't all have thousands in our checking account that we can just draw off of when necessary.....some of us live paycheck to paycheck pretty much and I'm not usually too depressed about that, b/c we ARE getting a lot of debt paid off as well as paying monthly bills and still having a little to put in savings each month so it's working.
Jay found out last night that he has to work Tuesday night as well as Monday next week. We knew about Monday but had already planned a family Christmas dinner at my aunt's since we weren't able to make any other time work before his family got here......so now we're switching it all up again.....trying to see if Sunday afternoon might work or perhaps even Saturday evening. I really don't like having to do it further away from Christmas b/c then it just doesn't seem as real, but it is very important to me to have him there so I'll go along with whatever day works. This is our first married Christmas and it would not be at all the same to go to a family Christmas dinner without him. He's come to the last TWO Christmas dinners that my family has had and we weren't even married then.....shoot, at the first one we weren't even officially dating yet, just good friends.
Anyway, I digress so easily....must be that attention-deficit problem I have. Seems to run in our family - we can go from one point to another to yet another and never even realize we made the switch......then (at least for me) I have no idea what I was even talking about when the conversation started.
Sometime between now and Sunday I have to do some serious grocery shopping. I clipped a bunch of coupons for some things at Rite-Aid and there are some good sales going on at Bloom, Ingles, and some other place I can't remember right now (see? that ADD thing again....) I may try to do some of it today if Allie wakes up early enough from morning nap. I did do all my house-cleaning last night so I don't have too much to do Saturday except maintain it and probably dust furniture. It would be nice to get some of it out of the way. I want to stock up on a lot of things we use often so I don't have to make a grocery trip every week or twice during the week. When I get off work, all I want to do is go home - I don't like having to stop here or there if I don't have to. Hence, I usually do my grocery shopping on Monday mornings with Allie and then take it all back to my house and unload it. She's not a big fan of my house b/c all the dogs usually bark at her for a minute or two and she doesn't really know what to think. Her dog never barks unless FedEx is here (in the middle of naptime ALWAYS and he feels he has to ring the doorbell at least 3 times.....thanks, dude).
I never plan to write so much in this blog, especially in the mornings when I first open it up. It just kinda flows out. There's nobody here to talk to (that knows how to carry a conversation, anyay) so it gets really lonely sometimes, so I talk through the blog. That's okay, right? Don't tell me if it's not. I like to live in my own reality sometimes - it's a happier place.
Jay found out last night that he has to work Tuesday night as well as Monday next week. We knew about Monday but had already planned a family Christmas dinner at my aunt's since we weren't able to make any other time work before his family got here......so now we're switching it all up again.....trying to see if Sunday afternoon might work or perhaps even Saturday evening. I really don't like having to do it further away from Christmas b/c then it just doesn't seem as real, but it is very important to me to have him there so I'll go along with whatever day works. This is our first married Christmas and it would not be at all the same to go to a family Christmas dinner without him. He's come to the last TWO Christmas dinners that my family has had and we weren't even married then.....shoot, at the first one we weren't even officially dating yet, just good friends.
Anyway, I digress so easily....must be that attention-deficit problem I have. Seems to run in our family - we can go from one point to another to yet another and never even realize we made the switch......then (at least for me) I have no idea what I was even talking about when the conversation started.
Sometime between now and Sunday I have to do some serious grocery shopping. I clipped a bunch of coupons for some things at Rite-Aid and there are some good sales going on at Bloom, Ingles, and some other place I can't remember right now (see? that ADD thing again....) I may try to do some of it today if Allie wakes up early enough from morning nap. I did do all my house-cleaning last night so I don't have too much to do Saturday except maintain it and probably dust furniture. It would be nice to get some of it out of the way. I want to stock up on a lot of things we use often so I don't have to make a grocery trip every week or twice during the week. When I get off work, all I want to do is go home - I don't like having to stop here or there if I don't have to. Hence, I usually do my grocery shopping on Monday mornings with Allie and then take it all back to my house and unload it. She's not a big fan of my house b/c all the dogs usually bark at her for a minute or two and she doesn't really know what to think. Her dog never barks unless FedEx is here (in the middle of naptime ALWAYS and he feels he has to ring the doorbell at least 3 times.....thanks, dude).
I never plan to write so much in this blog, especially in the mornings when I first open it up. It just kinda flows out. There's nobody here to talk to (that knows how to carry a conversation, anyay) so it gets really lonely sometimes, so I talk through the blog. That's okay, right? Don't tell me if it's not. I like to live in my own reality sometimes - it's a happier place.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
December 17, 2008
This has day has been horrible from the get-go. I didn't sleep very well last night and it always sucks having to get out of a warm bed when my hubby doesnt have to work that day.....I just want to stay there! Anyway, cleaned up puppy poo and started a load of poop/pee sheets, fed the puppies, let other dogs out to pee, fed them, dressed myself, got ready (hair, makeup, etc), ate breakfast, kissed my babe goodbye, and left. (In the midst of all, dropped four things on the same big toe, spilled a glass of water everywhere, and broke up a dog fight. Bad day already.
Got to work - kiddo is sick again. Great. Big decision on whether or not he goes to school. His dr appt is not until 3:20 and if he has strep again, then he is CONTAGIOUS. So.....he went to school! Wow. Good for me, not good for all those kids. He had a Christmas play so the dad picked him up, I was told he wouldn't be back until after his appt - he just rolled in (at 2:15) so dad can "do some paperwork" (that means hide in his office so he doesnt have to deal with his kids) for an hour until they leave (they'll leave late, I'm sure). So I'm left to deal with a sick and WILD kid who isn't going to take a nap and guess what? When he gets back from his appt, I'll be stuck with a kid who has not had a nap and we will both be in tears by 5:30, since I'm sure I won't get to leave early. He just will NOT take his kids earlier than he absolutely has to.
Anyway, backing up. Got an email this morning from the guy I interviewed with last Friday - turns out his wife doesnt want to pay for more than 15 hours a week, and the absolute least I can do is 25 hrs. So that made my day ten times worse. Now I feel so totally stuck here. I was counting on that job and on being out of here by New Years and now I'm so disappointed. I tried to keep the attitude that if it didn't work out, then I'm meant to be here, but it just feels so AWFUL to know I have to stay here longer than planned. I'm so tired of feeling like somebody's hired hand to just catch all the crap they dont want to deal with.
**Edited to say** He left for the dr appt at 3:05 and I finally got Allie to nap about 30 minutes ago. I feel more rested now and just ready to go home and clean something (my stress-relief.) Jay has to work tonight (sigh) so I'm on my own. Maybe I'll just cuddle puppies for awhile.....that's a proven pick-me-up, isn't it? Jay's been working with them on tracking a rabbiy hide - they do well until Bella knocks the boys out of the way and grabs the hide and takes off with it and Jay has to chase her.....she doesnt listen to him....its pretty funny. She's a true-blue Momma's girl but she is WICKED when she wants to be. Still the prettiest of them all though. :)
I hope its sunny tomorrow.....maybe that's why I feel so blue (okay, grouchy) lately. It doesnt help that we aren't able to get out of the house after naptime to go to the park or anything. That and Christmas is coming up and the excitement of it all easily gets to kids. It just dawned on me that Monday and Tuesday there is no school for him.........sigh. Hope she refills the money box so we can go to Monkey Joes. :) Who's with me?? Soooo worth it - ten bucks and turn 'em loose for hours upon hours. Take a few snacks and drinks in the diaper bag, a few bottles and graham crackers for Allie, the laptop for me, and I'm set! He will play there for HOURS and it's great come nap-time ---- 1 exhausted kid, 1 exhausted baby b/c she refuses to nap there = easy and quiet afternoon for me.
They just came back in the door downstairs so I better go. No chance he'll actually let me leave 45 minutes early though........heaven forbid he play with his own kids.
Sigh.
Got to work - kiddo is sick again. Great. Big decision on whether or not he goes to school. His dr appt is not until 3:20 and if he has strep again, then he is CONTAGIOUS. So.....he went to school! Wow. Good for me, not good for all those kids. He had a Christmas play so the dad picked him up, I was told he wouldn't be back until after his appt - he just rolled in (at 2:15) so dad can "do some paperwork" (that means hide in his office so he doesnt have to deal with his kids) for an hour until they leave (they'll leave late, I'm sure). So I'm left to deal with a sick and WILD kid who isn't going to take a nap and guess what? When he gets back from his appt, I'll be stuck with a kid who has not had a nap and we will both be in tears by 5:30, since I'm sure I won't get to leave early. He just will NOT take his kids earlier than he absolutely has to.
Anyway, backing up. Got an email this morning from the guy I interviewed with last Friday - turns out his wife doesnt want to pay for more than 15 hours a week, and the absolute least I can do is 25 hrs. So that made my day ten times worse. Now I feel so totally stuck here. I was counting on that job and on being out of here by New Years and now I'm so disappointed. I tried to keep the attitude that if it didn't work out, then I'm meant to be here, but it just feels so AWFUL to know I have to stay here longer than planned. I'm so tired of feeling like somebody's hired hand to just catch all the crap they dont want to deal with.
**Edited to say** He left for the dr appt at 3:05 and I finally got Allie to nap about 30 minutes ago. I feel more rested now and just ready to go home and clean something (my stress-relief.) Jay has to work tonight (sigh) so I'm on my own. Maybe I'll just cuddle puppies for awhile.....that's a proven pick-me-up, isn't it? Jay's been working with them on tracking a rabbiy hide - they do well until Bella knocks the boys out of the way and grabs the hide and takes off with it and Jay has to chase her.....she doesnt listen to him....its pretty funny. She's a true-blue Momma's girl but she is WICKED when she wants to be. Still the prettiest of them all though. :)
I hope its sunny tomorrow.....maybe that's why I feel so blue (okay, grouchy) lately. It doesnt help that we aren't able to get out of the house after naptime to go to the park or anything. That and Christmas is coming up and the excitement of it all easily gets to kids. It just dawned on me that Monday and Tuesday there is no school for him.........sigh. Hope she refills the money box so we can go to Monkey Joes. :) Who's with me?? Soooo worth it - ten bucks and turn 'em loose for hours upon hours. Take a few snacks and drinks in the diaper bag, a few bottles and graham crackers for Allie, the laptop for me, and I'm set! He will play there for HOURS and it's great come nap-time ---- 1 exhausted kid, 1 exhausted baby b/c she refuses to nap there = easy and quiet afternoon for me.
They just came back in the door downstairs so I better go. No chance he'll actually let me leave 45 minutes early though........heaven forbid he play with his own kids.
Sigh.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
December 16, 2008
Today has been pretty uneventful. The highlight of my day was lunch with Jessica (thanks, girl, for coming out when I was so bored!!) Right now I just got the kiddo out of bed from his nap (dangit) - he's already slept for 2.5 hrs and he's only supposed to have a 1-hr nap. **yeah right, haha** This is usually the hardest time of day for me - the time between the end of nap and when I go home....partially b/c I NEVER know how long that time frame will be. Might be 5:30, might be 6:30, I never know. (For instance, the dad just walked in the door [its 430] and I still will not be able to leave early....it will be every bit of 5:30 or after before he "realizes" what time it is.) Sigh. Again, that is just one of many reasons why I'm quitting (WOOOHOOO!!!)
I'm getting so excited for Christmas! I can't wait to give Jay his gifts - I got him some fishing and hunting stuff. I wish I could have gotten one big gift like he got me, but none of the things he wants/needs were within our spending budget, so I just took our budget and got him a bunch of littler things, so he has lots of things to open! We're going to dinner on Christmas Eve and opening gifts after that - I can't wait!
I'm looking forward to our annual Christmas breakfast at my parents' house - this will be the first year I haven't woken up at their house on Christmas morning and I love it - I loved all the childhood memories but this is still so much better, to be starting our own memories and traditions. His family will be here in time for this breakfast and it's always fun getting both families together. I think there are some other aunts/uncles and family friends coming for breakfast, so the more the merrier. If you are without tradition on Christmas morning, come join the fun!
I'm getting so excited for Christmas! I can't wait to give Jay his gifts - I got him some fishing and hunting stuff. I wish I could have gotten one big gift like he got me, but none of the things he wants/needs were within our spending budget, so I just took our budget and got him a bunch of littler things, so he has lots of things to open! We're going to dinner on Christmas Eve and opening gifts after that - I can't wait!
I'm looking forward to our annual Christmas breakfast at my parents' house - this will be the first year I haven't woken up at their house on Christmas morning and I love it - I loved all the childhood memories but this is still so much better, to be starting our own memories and traditions. His family will be here in time for this breakfast and it's always fun getting both families together. I think there are some other aunts/uncles and family friends coming for breakfast, so the more the merrier. If you are without tradition on Christmas morning, come join the fun!
Monday, December 15, 2008
December 15, 2008
Today has been such a bore. I guess it's the typical Monday here. It's gloomy outside and I know that usually makes us all just kinda.....blah. I'm happy that my day is half-over and this is the last full week I have here for the next couple weeks (maybe total!!!!) I'm working only Monday and Tuesday next week.....reminds me to ask her to make sure I'm getting paid those holidays, b/c I'm supposed to be, but of course, that's no guarantee. I did not get paid for Thanksgiving.......plus I had to deal with the granny which made it ten times worse.
Anyway, no digressing. More later. I dont have anything else to say now.
Anyway, no digressing. More later. I dont have anything else to say now.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
December 14, 2008
Today has been super boring. Jay got home from work about 6:30 and fed the pups while I cleaned their playpen, then we both went to bed. I got up to whiny puppies at 9:30 and tried to keep them quiet while Jay slept, since he has to be at work tonight. They woke him up anyway and he moved to the guest room at 10:00, and ended up getting up at 10:30. I made us breakfast and he went back to bed again at noon and so far, is still asleep. :)
I've had puppy duty all day and have taken them outside to play a couple of times - they are hilarious to watch when they run through the leaves and fall over things. Bella chased Baylee around for a long time and when Baylee can climb the hill, Bella tries to and just ends up falling and rolling all the way down. I did find they are all three terrified of Gavin's "warning bark." He barks when he and Baylee are playing fetch and when he's excited, but his warning bark is very different. A car stopped right outside our driveway and he started the warning bark. All three puppies came HAULING butt toward me and started trying to crawl up my legs, crying and begging to be picked up. I sat down with them and they were all crawling up to be held and whimpering, and kept looking back at Gavin like they didn't know what was going on. I took them up to the porch to play and Sam made a bad choice - he went after a piece of dog food that was in Stinky's bowl, at the same time Baylee was going after it..........Sam got bitten in the face - not too bad, but enough to make him howl and cry all over again. So we just went inside to try to be quiet again. Bella and Henry are in the playpen asleep now, but Sam is still in my lap, shaking. Poor thing - he's been through a lot more than the other two and it takes him a long time to calm down enough to be put down.
We run such a freakin' spoiled zoo, lol.
I've had puppy duty all day and have taken them outside to play a couple of times - they are hilarious to watch when they run through the leaves and fall over things. Bella chased Baylee around for a long time and when Baylee can climb the hill, Bella tries to and just ends up falling and rolling all the way down. I did find they are all three terrified of Gavin's "warning bark." He barks when he and Baylee are playing fetch and when he's excited, but his warning bark is very different. A car stopped right outside our driveway and he started the warning bark. All three puppies came HAULING butt toward me and started trying to crawl up my legs, crying and begging to be picked up. I sat down with them and they were all crawling up to be held and whimpering, and kept looking back at Gavin like they didn't know what was going on. I took them up to the porch to play and Sam made a bad choice - he went after a piece of dog food that was in Stinky's bowl, at the same time Baylee was going after it..........Sam got bitten in the face - not too bad, but enough to make him howl and cry all over again. So we just went inside to try to be quiet again. Bella and Henry are in the playpen asleep now, but Sam is still in my lap, shaking. Poor thing - he's been through a lot more than the other two and it takes him a long time to calm down enough to be put down.
We run such a freakin' spoiled zoo, lol.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
December 13, 2008
So far this day has been pretty boring. Jay left around 6am for rabbit hunting and I got up about 6:30 b/c the puppies were pretty hungry. They've been doing really well about sleeping all night. I fed them and cleaned their playpen, fed the rest of the dogs and let everyone out to potty, then got started on all the cleaning I wanted to do.
I washed all of the blinds in the kitchen and living room, washed all the windows in those rooms, dusted and wiped Pledge on all of the ceiling fans and furniture throughout the house, vacuumed all the carpets, swept and mopped all the floors, changed the sheets on our bed, and spruced up the guest room for when Jay's parents come. That took four hours and I was exhausted, lol. It was time for the pups to eat again, then I took them outside to play for awhile.
I went to Great Clips to get my hair trimmed.....ended up getting a stylist who looked like she didnt even own a brush -- that's always reassuring. But she did an okay job - I wish she had trimmed more off the back but it'll do.
Jay got home about 4:00 and we ate an early dinner at 5:30. He just went to bed about a half hour ago to sleep for a few hours before he has to be at work at midnight. He's bummed about having to go to work again .....it discourages me b/c I certainly understand how he feels.
On that note - yesterday we both went to meet with the guy who is offering me the new job. He was really nice and funny and it seems like a PERFECT job fit for me. I remember saying that about the nanny job about a year ago, and while it is a good job for my personality, the hours are not. I still have to meet with his wife on the Monday after Christmas and talk through all the other details, but we pretty much laid it all out yesterday and talked about what he/they were looking for, what I am looking for, etc. It was a great time and I am really looking forward to this new opportunity. I can't wait to get back to a decent work schedule and not feel like I'm constantly tied down to my job. I will be working 25-30 hours a week for the same money I make now.......wonderful!
I washed all of the blinds in the kitchen and living room, washed all the windows in those rooms, dusted and wiped Pledge on all of the ceiling fans and furniture throughout the house, vacuumed all the carpets, swept and mopped all the floors, changed the sheets on our bed, and spruced up the guest room for when Jay's parents come. That took four hours and I was exhausted, lol. It was time for the pups to eat again, then I took them outside to play for awhile.
I went to Great Clips to get my hair trimmed.....ended up getting a stylist who looked like she didnt even own a brush -- that's always reassuring. But she did an okay job - I wish she had trimmed more off the back but it'll do.
Jay got home about 4:00 and we ate an early dinner at 5:30. He just went to bed about a half hour ago to sleep for a few hours before he has to be at work at midnight. He's bummed about having to go to work again .....it discourages me b/c I certainly understand how he feels.
On that note - yesterday we both went to meet with the guy who is offering me the new job. He was really nice and funny and it seems like a PERFECT job fit for me. I remember saying that about the nanny job about a year ago, and while it is a good job for my personality, the hours are not. I still have to meet with his wife on the Monday after Christmas and talk through all the other details, but we pretty much laid it all out yesterday and talked about what he/they were looking for, what I am looking for, etc. It was a great time and I am really looking forward to this new opportunity. I can't wait to get back to a decent work schedule and not feel like I'm constantly tied down to my job. I will be working 25-30 hours a week for the same money I make now.......wonderful!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
December 11, 2008
I slept SO good last night - I forgot how wonderful it feels to sleep the whole night through. I fed the puppies when I got home at 6:30 and they usually wake up for another feeding around 11:30-12:00.....not last night! They slept all night long - I dont even remember hearing them whimper. There was a gigantic mess in their playpen this morning, but that's okay. Nothing can render (Joe?? I used your word!) my good mood today - I have tomorrow off and I just have to get through this day. I asked this morning to please be sure I was off on time --- let's just say I got a less than satisfactory answer. I was thinking this morning -- I know I mentioned that last Thursday I didn't get off until after 6:30 b/c that was when the parent rolled in -- how much grief would I catch if I decided to be an hour late and show up at 8:30 instead of 7:30? It would put them in a bind, right? My point exactly. When they dont show up on time and I'm late leaving, it puts ME in a bind. And tonight is Jingle Jazz and I do NOT want to be late again for something.
Jay works a half day on Thursdays and has a lot to do when he gets home - hopefully he will be able to get the air vent fixed under the house where the dog(s) (I'm not sure who did it - one of the fellas) chewed it up. Then we can run the heat/air conditioner again. Though the last couple of days have been great - the weather has been so nice, we haven't needed it.
I think he's also going to try to finish his brother's Christmas present.....a large shadow box for a team jersey. It's technically a work in progress for the last 18 months. It was originally going to be a wedding present but it never got finished in time for his brother's wedding, then they ended up divorcing anyway (good riddance) so it's a good thing it wasn't finished. So far it looks awesome - the only thing left to do is put the glass in in - not an easy task. He's already gone through three pieces of glass trying to make it work. He gets it cut down to size and 3 corners put in, but as soon as he gets that 4th corner fitted, the whole sheet breaks. So I dont really know how he's going to remedy that, but he always amazes me at the creative ways he finds to do/fix things. He's so smart like that. =)
Sometime this weekend, I think he's also going to start working on the outdoor beagle kennel. He's going to put them out beside the barn where Bishop stays - it will be a lot cheaper than building a new kennel elsewhere on the property. Poor Bishop - now he'll never sleep at night with all the noise they make, lol. In a way I'm ready for them to move outside, but in another way it makes me kinda sad. I like taking care of them and they are SO cute and cuddly, but they poop a LOT and then walk in it and it makes a ginormous mess in the playpen and I wash at least one load of their laundry a day, as well as giving them baths when they get so messy. They're getting better at going just in the potty box, but then somebody will walk in it and track little footprints everywhere, so the whole sheet set has to be changed out. They're so funny in the mornings though - I get them out and wash their feet, then let them run around the house while I change their bedding. They follow me everywhere b/c they know its time for breakfast and they think they're starving to death. They sit at my feet by the kitchen sink while I get their food ready and Bella always puts up a huge commotion b/c I don't feed her first. I have an order - Sam, Bella, Henry. It takes about 2 minutes per puppy to feed them, and since we've been giving them dry food, I have to hold them in one arm and the bowl in the other, or they just knock over the whole bowl in anticipation of getting to the food. Sam is always the hungriest (little runt won't grow!) so he eats first, while Bella screams at my feet and Henry tries to climb me. He never cries unless he's hungry - such a good dog. =) Then I put Sam back in the playpen and feed Bella, who takes her sweet time licking the food first then deciding to actually eat it. Then she gets run of the house (she behaves for the most part) while Henry eats. Watching Henry eat is hilarious - he is the biggest chowhound I've ever seen. You have to really have a grip on the bowl b/c he chows down and just can't get enough. And you can NEVER take his bowl away until he's eaten every last piece or he'll keep pushing at you with his feet to follow the bowl wherever it's going. I dont even think he chews his food, he just inhales it. Funny little boy. Then he goes back into the playpen with Sam and I have to chase down Bella to put her back in, too. This morning she and Baylee were playing chase in the living room and Baylee was acting so offended when Bella got close, but if Bella stopped playing, Baylee would come after her and get her riled up again. What a zoo we run.
I'm meeting tomorrow with the guy who offered me the new job - I dont think any decisions will be made tomorrow, b/c I still have to meet his wife, but hopefully we can arrange that soon. I've really been praying about this - that the door will either be wide open or obviously shut, for whatever reason. As desperate as I am to be free of this time-consuming job, I still want to do the right thing for me and for us and for our future. It sounds like a the truly perfect job for me, but if there is something obvious that stands out, I will not take it. It would be wonderful hours and even more wonderful money, but I really do want to do the right thing. So I'll update you more on that tomorrow afternoon.
I think I'm headed to the bank and the grocery store after Allie wakes up. I have a few more things to get for the Lilyea boxes and then they will be finished! I'm looking forward to getting our living room back - at least half of it (literally) is full of boxes for them. I don't know where in the world she's going to put it all - that house is packed from floor to ceiling and wall to wall with stuff as it is. I'm looking forward to seeing the little ones tomorrow - the older half will be at school but I can spend some time with my littler friends while the boxes are unpacked. =)
Jay works a half day on Thursdays and has a lot to do when he gets home - hopefully he will be able to get the air vent fixed under the house where the dog(s) (I'm not sure who did it - one of the fellas) chewed it up. Then we can run the heat/air conditioner again. Though the last couple of days have been great - the weather has been so nice, we haven't needed it.
I think he's also going to try to finish his brother's Christmas present.....a large shadow box for a team jersey. It's technically a work in progress for the last 18 months. It was originally going to be a wedding present but it never got finished in time for his brother's wedding, then they ended up divorcing anyway (good riddance) so it's a good thing it wasn't finished. So far it looks awesome - the only thing left to do is put the glass in in - not an easy task. He's already gone through three pieces of glass trying to make it work. He gets it cut down to size and 3 corners put in, but as soon as he gets that 4th corner fitted, the whole sheet breaks. So I dont really know how he's going to remedy that, but he always amazes me at the creative ways he finds to do/fix things. He's so smart like that. =)
Sometime this weekend, I think he's also going to start working on the outdoor beagle kennel. He's going to put them out beside the barn where Bishop stays - it will be a lot cheaper than building a new kennel elsewhere on the property. Poor Bishop - now he'll never sleep at night with all the noise they make, lol. In a way I'm ready for them to move outside, but in another way it makes me kinda sad. I like taking care of them and they are SO cute and cuddly, but they poop a LOT and then walk in it and it makes a ginormous mess in the playpen and I wash at least one load of their laundry a day, as well as giving them baths when they get so messy. They're getting better at going just in the potty box, but then somebody will walk in it and track little footprints everywhere, so the whole sheet set has to be changed out. They're so funny in the mornings though - I get them out and wash their feet, then let them run around the house while I change their bedding. They follow me everywhere b/c they know its time for breakfast and they think they're starving to death. They sit at my feet by the kitchen sink while I get their food ready and Bella always puts up a huge commotion b/c I don't feed her first. I have an order - Sam, Bella, Henry. It takes about 2 minutes per puppy to feed them, and since we've been giving them dry food, I have to hold them in one arm and the bowl in the other, or they just knock over the whole bowl in anticipation of getting to the food. Sam is always the hungriest (little runt won't grow!) so he eats first, while Bella screams at my feet and Henry tries to climb me. He never cries unless he's hungry - such a good dog. =) Then I put Sam back in the playpen and feed Bella, who takes her sweet time licking the food first then deciding to actually eat it. Then she gets run of the house (she behaves for the most part) while Henry eats. Watching Henry eat is hilarious - he is the biggest chowhound I've ever seen. You have to really have a grip on the bowl b/c he chows down and just can't get enough. And you can NEVER take his bowl away until he's eaten every last piece or he'll keep pushing at you with his feet to follow the bowl wherever it's going. I dont even think he chews his food, he just inhales it. Funny little boy. Then he goes back into the playpen with Sam and I have to chase down Bella to put her back in, too. This morning she and Baylee were playing chase in the living room and Baylee was acting so offended when Bella got close, but if Bella stopped playing, Baylee would come after her and get her riled up again. What a zoo we run.
I'm meeting tomorrow with the guy who offered me the new job - I dont think any decisions will be made tomorrow, b/c I still have to meet his wife, but hopefully we can arrange that soon. I've really been praying about this - that the door will either be wide open or obviously shut, for whatever reason. As desperate as I am to be free of this time-consuming job, I still want to do the right thing for me and for us and for our future. It sounds like a the truly perfect job for me, but if there is something obvious that stands out, I will not take it. It would be wonderful hours and even more wonderful money, but I really do want to do the right thing. So I'll update you more on that tomorrow afternoon.
I think I'm headed to the bank and the grocery store after Allie wakes up. I have a few more things to get for the Lilyea boxes and then they will be finished! I'm looking forward to getting our living room back - at least half of it (literally) is full of boxes for them. I don't know where in the world she's going to put it all - that house is packed from floor to ceiling and wall to wall with stuff as it is. I'm looking forward to seeing the little ones tomorrow - the older half will be at school but I can spend some time with my littler friends while the boxes are unpacked. =)
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
December 10, 2008
It's speech day. That means it's going to be a long afternoon. Kiddo has a field trip where he will eat lunch, so that does help a lot - one less thing I have to cram in to the afternoon. It the rain holds off long enough, we're going to the park for an hour or so before his speech therapy appt at 2:00. This time, Allie and I will be waiting in the car. It is near impossible to entertain her for an hour when she's so exhausted. So maybe she'll sleep in the car. Or maybe she'll just scream in the car.....either way, we're waiting in the car until he's finished.
I don't know why I am so exhausted this week. The last two nights I've gotten at least 7-8 hours sleep, pretty much non-interrupted. I dont know if the lack of sleep from last week is just now catching up to me or what, but yesterday and today, I can hardly keep my eyes open. It's a weird feeling - not just sleepy or tired, but that word "fatigued." Jay was so sweet last night and got up to feed the puppies at 10:30 when they fussed, then cleaned their playpen at 4:00 when he got up. I have been getting up between 4:30-5:00 in the mornings though - I wonder if that has much to do with why I'm more tired than usual? It's nice though to be able to get a couple loads of laundry done and the dishes washed/put away and the bed made and other miscellaneous things, in the couple of hours before I have to leave for work. It makes me not feel so rushed than I do when I get up at 6:30. When I get home in the evenings I'm so tired I dont feel like doing all those things and I dont want them to get piled up.
I'll be glad to get all those boxes out of the living room, too - we're delivering those Friday morning. There are about 12 boxes piled up in our living room - most of them wrapped gifts, 3 of them filled with food items, that we're taking. We're also giving them our old desktop computer and the big computer desk, b/c I am desperate to get that thing out of the house so we can have more room in the guest room. We just flat out have too much stuff in this house and it (the house) is too small to keep putting more things in. The "pink" room (dubbed that title b/c of the carpet color) is where the dog crates are and all of Jay's hunting/fishing stuff - we had to designate an actual room for it b/c there is so much of it and I got tired of constantly picking up things from the bedroom or living room, and he got tired of not being able to find things after I put them somewhere. So the designated room has worked out really well. I get a little panicky when I think about the possibility of putting a baby in that house - where would we put it?? The hunting/fishing stuff would all have to be moved to the garage (he said so, not me, lol) and the guest bed moved into the pink room......I dont even know what we'd do with the dog crates. They could probably stay in there - there's room for it all if it's rearranged the right way. I dont have to think about that right now.
Tomorrow night is Jingle Jazz - I'm looking forward to it! I know a lot of work/prep goes into this every year, for everyone, and it's always a fun night. I'm super excited about having the day off on Friday - I dont even care that it's sans pay - I just need some time to SLEEP and be free of kids. Jay is rabbit-hunting on Saturday morning so I will be sleeping in as long as possible and then doing my usual Saturday deep-clean. I do love cleaning - I just have to be in the mood for it. I'm trying to keep everything "kept up" after the deep clean, so it's not as much to do the next Saturday. Then I wont have so much to do to get ready for holiday company. Shoot, two weeks from today is Christmas Eve! Time flies when you're an adult.
**Edited to add** Today as I was leaving CDS, my car battery died and it wouldn't start. Of all people, my mom happened to have stopped CDS to say hello since her last appt didn't go as long as it did. She had jumper cables in her car. :) If she hadn't come by, I would have been stuck downtown in a tiny parking lot with a bunch of ppl who dont speak English, with two very tired children, and no way to get my car started. God is good. :)
I don't know why I am so exhausted this week. The last two nights I've gotten at least 7-8 hours sleep, pretty much non-interrupted. I dont know if the lack of sleep from last week is just now catching up to me or what, but yesterday and today, I can hardly keep my eyes open. It's a weird feeling - not just sleepy or tired, but that word "fatigued." Jay was so sweet last night and got up to feed the puppies at 10:30 when they fussed, then cleaned their playpen at 4:00 when he got up. I have been getting up between 4:30-5:00 in the mornings though - I wonder if that has much to do with why I'm more tired than usual? It's nice though to be able to get a couple loads of laundry done and the dishes washed/put away and the bed made and other miscellaneous things, in the couple of hours before I have to leave for work. It makes me not feel so rushed than I do when I get up at 6:30. When I get home in the evenings I'm so tired I dont feel like doing all those things and I dont want them to get piled up.
I'll be glad to get all those boxes out of the living room, too - we're delivering those Friday morning. There are about 12 boxes piled up in our living room - most of them wrapped gifts, 3 of them filled with food items, that we're taking. We're also giving them our old desktop computer and the big computer desk, b/c I am desperate to get that thing out of the house so we can have more room in the guest room. We just flat out have too much stuff in this house and it (the house) is too small to keep putting more things in. The "pink" room (dubbed that title b/c of the carpet color) is where the dog crates are and all of Jay's hunting/fishing stuff - we had to designate an actual room for it b/c there is so much of it and I got tired of constantly picking up things from the bedroom or living room, and he got tired of not being able to find things after I put them somewhere. So the designated room has worked out really well. I get a little panicky when I think about the possibility of putting a baby in that house - where would we put it?? The hunting/fishing stuff would all have to be moved to the garage (he said so, not me, lol) and the guest bed moved into the pink room......I dont even know what we'd do with the dog crates. They could probably stay in there - there's room for it all if it's rearranged the right way. I dont have to think about that right now.
Tomorrow night is Jingle Jazz - I'm looking forward to it! I know a lot of work/prep goes into this every year, for everyone, and it's always a fun night. I'm super excited about having the day off on Friday - I dont even care that it's sans pay - I just need some time to SLEEP and be free of kids. Jay is rabbit-hunting on Saturday morning so I will be sleeping in as long as possible and then doing my usual Saturday deep-clean. I do love cleaning - I just have to be in the mood for it. I'm trying to keep everything "kept up" after the deep clean, so it's not as much to do the next Saturday. Then I wont have so much to do to get ready for holiday company. Shoot, two weeks from today is Christmas Eve! Time flies when you're an adult.
**Edited to add** Today as I was leaving CDS, my car battery died and it wouldn't start. Of all people, my mom happened to have stopped CDS to say hello since her last appt didn't go as long as it did. She had jumper cables in her car. :) If she hadn't come by, I would have been stuck downtown in a tiny parking lot with a bunch of ppl who dont speak English, with two very tired children, and no way to get my car started. God is good. :)
Monday, December 8, 2008
December 8, 2008
Wow, lots coming up to look forward do, both this week and in the coming weeks. On Wednesday morning I'm having an early lunch with a dear friend I haven't seen in weeks, and then after work I'm going to pick up the last of the things we're packing up for the Lilyeas. Then on Thursday night, we're going to Jingle Jazz with my parents and two sets of aunts/uncles. I'm really looking forward to that. Then on Friday, I have a day off......I need to remind her about it, too, b/c I know if I wait til Thursday to mention it, it will be like a brand-new request. But regardless of response, I will NOT be at work on Friday. Lots to do! Jay and I are delivering all the boxes to the Lilyeas that morning, then we're both meeting with a guy about my new job opportunity. Then hopefully I still have time for a haircut b/c I need one, lol.
Today has been a pretty good day....though I hesitate to write that b/c it usually makes the details change, lol. But so far, so good. I was sound asleep by 9pm last night and woke up to puppy crying at midnight. After I fed them, they pretty much went right back to sleep. They are doing SO much better than this time last week. The sound machine helps a lot - drowns out the noises of us talking or tossing/turning at night, etc. We're still having an issue with puppy diarrhea and going wherever they feel like it in their playpen, but.....I dont really know how to fix that. I've never kept multiples in that playpen or tried to potty-train multiples. It's almost pointless to take them outside six times a night b/c in a month or two's time, they'll be outside in their kennel and it wont matter. But for now, I'm washing a lot of old crib sheets/handtowels and spraying Febreeze freely. The house does not smell but the moment I smell poop when I walk in the door is the moment they move OUTSIDE. So far, so good (again).
I'm really looking forward to Christmas and seeing Jay's family - it's such a fun time and we really only see them 2-3x a year. Next year we're planning to go to Florida for Christmas, barring anything unforseen. It will also depend on our jobs and the time(s) we get off, too.
Today has been a pretty good day....though I hesitate to write that b/c it usually makes the details change, lol. But so far, so good. I was sound asleep by 9pm last night and woke up to puppy crying at midnight. After I fed them, they pretty much went right back to sleep. They are doing SO much better than this time last week. The sound machine helps a lot - drowns out the noises of us talking or tossing/turning at night, etc. We're still having an issue with puppy diarrhea and going wherever they feel like it in their playpen, but.....I dont really know how to fix that. I've never kept multiples in that playpen or tried to potty-train multiples. It's almost pointless to take them outside six times a night b/c in a month or two's time, they'll be outside in their kennel and it wont matter. But for now, I'm washing a lot of old crib sheets/handtowels and spraying Febreeze freely. The house does not smell but the moment I smell poop when I walk in the door is the moment they move OUTSIDE. So far, so good (again).
I'm really looking forward to Christmas and seeing Jay's family - it's such a fun time and we really only see them 2-3x a year. Next year we're planning to go to Florida for Christmas, barring anything unforseen. It will also depend on our jobs and the time(s) we get off, too.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
December 6, 2008
Today has been relaxing, though I've spent it all cleaning. I found a GREAT website with tips for cleaning every room of your house with vinegar/baking soda. I've scrubbed every single floor, door, cabinet, sink, tub, toilet, etc with this mixture and it is amazing the difference it makes. The floors look better and the whole house smells......clean, in a different way. It never has a smell b/c I always keep it clean, but it has a different clean smell this time, and I really like it.
I sprinkled baking soda on all the carpets and let it sit for 15 minutes. After I vacuumed it, the rooms all smelled extra fresh. I may use this method from now on.
I took the puppies to get their first shots this morning. They did so well! I held them all while we waited and they practically fell asleep......until they got the needle in the skin. Bella didn't make a sound and hardly even opened her eyes....the boys SCREECHED so loudly everyone else around us felt bad for them (lol).
They did really well last night. We went to dinner with Jay's friend and got back to the house around 7:45 - everybody was sound asleep by 8:30. The pups had been fed at 6:00 and I had planned to just see how long they would sleep before waking up to eat, since I'm home all day today and they dont have to stay on the usual schedule. They woke up at 10:00 to eat, and then again at 4:00, but other than that, they slept all night with no fuss. So far, so good! Jay has been taking them outside the last couple of days to let them sniff around and explore, and they really like it. However, they do not listen to him when he calls them to come back........they are more used to my voice than his, since I do most of the feeding, holding, changing of the bedding, etc. So I had to laugh when I got home yesterday afternoon and he asked me to "sweet-talk" Bella out from under the barn b/c she wouldn't come for him.
I'm really looking forward to Christmas. It will be so nice to see Jay's family again and have some extra time off work. Hopefully by then I will know for sure whether or not I am able to take this new job opportunity. They did say they were not averse to a contract, so that's a good thing. I wish there had been a written contract with this job - might have saved us all some "miscommunication" along the way. Not much longer......
I sprinkled baking soda on all the carpets and let it sit for 15 minutes. After I vacuumed it, the rooms all smelled extra fresh. I may use this method from now on.
I took the puppies to get their first shots this morning. They did so well! I held them all while we waited and they practically fell asleep......until they got the needle in the skin. Bella didn't make a sound and hardly even opened her eyes....the boys SCREECHED so loudly everyone else around us felt bad for them (lol).
They did really well last night. We went to dinner with Jay's friend and got back to the house around 7:45 - everybody was sound asleep by 8:30. The pups had been fed at 6:00 and I had planned to just see how long they would sleep before waking up to eat, since I'm home all day today and they dont have to stay on the usual schedule. They woke up at 10:00 to eat, and then again at 4:00, but other than that, they slept all night with no fuss. So far, so good! Jay has been taking them outside the last couple of days to let them sniff around and explore, and they really like it. However, they do not listen to him when he calls them to come back........they are more used to my voice than his, since I do most of the feeding, holding, changing of the bedding, etc. So I had to laugh when I got home yesterday afternoon and he asked me to "sweet-talk" Bella out from under the barn b/c she wouldn't come for him.
I'm really looking forward to Christmas. It will be so nice to see Jay's family again and have some extra time off work. Hopefully by then I will know for sure whether or not I am able to take this new job opportunity. They did say they were not averse to a contract, so that's a good thing. I wish there had been a written contract with this job - might have saved us all some "miscommunication" along the way. Not much longer......
Friday, December 5, 2008
December 5, 2008
I got to work this morning only to find out the kiddo has strep throat and will be staying home......meaning I get off work around noon or so!!!!! I'm so happy! I really wanted to be at the house when Jay's friend gets here - I hate coming home after guests are already at the house.
Jay had puppy duty last night and it's always humorous - I wake up the puppies crying to eat......Jay sleeps on. So I usually just get up and feed them and clean up the potty box and put them back to sleep. Then he wakes up when I get back in bed and wants to know if it's time for them to eat, lol. It's just easier if I do it sometimes. But last night was different - I was sleepy from crying an hour straight when I got home (job-related) and had to get up this morning for work, while he is off work today. So last night - I woke him up and said, "They need to eat."
And went back to sleep.
lol. He did great - we're trying to really get them to poop/pee RIGHT after they eat, so there isn't such a mess in the playpen in the mornings for us to clean up. They woke up to eat at 4, then when I got up for work at 6:30, all the poop was......in the potty box!!! Yay!!! Very easy cleanup - no baths this time. Usually when I get home (I get home first most of the time) - the first thing I have to do is give them a bath and clean out the playpen from all the....well, you know. But Bella has learned how to get out of the tub and she never stays in one place anymore. This morning I got her out and she was following me all over the house while I got last-minute stuff done before I left. Shes fairly reliable about not peeing anywhere - she just wants to be wherever I am, getting into something and barking, lol. She's so cute.
We figured out last night that Sam is sick - he had diarrhea (if you dont like details, dont read any further) the night before but when we put them in the bathtub to eat (they're messy) he was having watery diarrhea and a couple drops of blood. So I looked it up and most advice says to give him wormer. Some advice mentioned parvo and that scares the crap out of me. But Jay called his friend who bred those puppies and he said to give them wormer. So my sweet husband went out to Tractor Supply at 8pm to get the last bottle they had and we wormed all three of them. This morning Sam's stomach didn't look nearly so bloated and he wasn't scarfing his food down like he'd never eaten before. So here's hoping it's just worms and not parvo. Neither Bella nor Henry are acting this way and they dont have diarrhea, and if it were parvo, they'd all have it, especially Henry since they are brothers from the same litter.
Anyway, it's 10am now and I'm so looking forward to a slightly longer weekend than I was expecting. I hope I dont get the strep but I am HIGHLY prone to it, so we'll see. Glad I have some antibiotics at home, just in case.
Have a great weekend! 19 days til Christmas! (I dont count the day-of.)
Jay had puppy duty last night and it's always humorous - I wake up the puppies crying to eat......Jay sleeps on. So I usually just get up and feed them and clean up the potty box and put them back to sleep. Then he wakes up when I get back in bed and wants to know if it's time for them to eat, lol. It's just easier if I do it sometimes. But last night was different - I was sleepy from crying an hour straight when I got home (job-related) and had to get up this morning for work, while he is off work today. So last night - I woke him up and said, "They need to eat."
And went back to sleep.
lol. He did great - we're trying to really get them to poop/pee RIGHT after they eat, so there isn't such a mess in the playpen in the mornings for us to clean up. They woke up to eat at 4, then when I got up for work at 6:30, all the poop was......in the potty box!!! Yay!!! Very easy cleanup - no baths this time. Usually when I get home (I get home first most of the time) - the first thing I have to do is give them a bath and clean out the playpen from all the....well, you know. But Bella has learned how to get out of the tub and she never stays in one place anymore. This morning I got her out and she was following me all over the house while I got last-minute stuff done before I left. Shes fairly reliable about not peeing anywhere - she just wants to be wherever I am, getting into something and barking, lol. She's so cute.
We figured out last night that Sam is sick - he had diarrhea (if you dont like details, dont read any further) the night before but when we put them in the bathtub to eat (they're messy) he was having watery diarrhea and a couple drops of blood. So I looked it up and most advice says to give him wormer. Some advice mentioned parvo and that scares the crap out of me. But Jay called his friend who bred those puppies and he said to give them wormer. So my sweet husband went out to Tractor Supply at 8pm to get the last bottle they had and we wormed all three of them. This morning Sam's stomach didn't look nearly so bloated and he wasn't scarfing his food down like he'd never eaten before. So here's hoping it's just worms and not parvo. Neither Bella nor Henry are acting this way and they dont have diarrhea, and if it were parvo, they'd all have it, especially Henry since they are brothers from the same litter.
Anyway, it's 10am now and I'm so looking forward to a slightly longer weekend than I was expecting. I hope I dont get the strep but I am HIGHLY prone to it, so we'll see. Glad I have some antibiotics at home, just in case.
Have a great weekend! 19 days til Christmas! (I dont count the day-of.)
Thursday, December 4, 2008
December 4, 2008
So about 6 weeks ago, a Florida friend of Jay's stopped by on his way to Ohio, heading to a temp job. He got to the house around 8pm and spent the night, then left the next afternoon. Well, actually, while we were eating dinner he talked about staying another night (never bothering to ask if that was alright.) He said he was staying in OH for about 6 weeks, so according to the calendar, it's about time for him to be coming back through.
Yesterday Jay sent me a "911" text - his friend is leaving OH in the morning and will be here tomorrow night.
Now, first off, I want to say he is more than welcome to stay with us. I'm glad to get the chance to meet him and glad for them to be able to hang out, b/c this is Jay's best friend (other than me) and they never see each other. This friend is an older guy (50s maybe) and he doesnt leave FL much. My issue is this -- it caused a LOT of stress for me last night when I got home at 6:30 to have to turn the house around for company. We've been sleeping in the guest room b/c of the crying puppies, so I had to wash linens, remake the bed, clean up all of the Christmas boxes/wrapping paper/gifts/stuff still out to wrap, vacuum the whole house, clean the kitchen, and schmorgisbord of other things to do to get the house even semi-ready for a guest. My qualms were this: if I were traveling and had planned to stay at someone's house, in my opinion it is common courtesy to give more than 24 hours notice. I would never just call and say, by the way, I'll be at your house tomorrow.
So I got up when Jay got up this morning (at 4am) to finish what I was just too exhausted to do last night. Jay was a big help last night, though - he entertained 5 dogs while I got other things done (b/c, as I've mentioned before, his cleaning habits aren't the greatest, lol). It gave me the time to get a lot of things done (thanks, baby!!) =)
Anyway, to add to the story - after I busted my butt last night to get the house cleaned up, this friend left a voicemail last night that he wouldn't be here til Friday night.....and he plans to stay the weekend. That made both of us a little frustrated - me, b/c the weekend is OUR time to spend together. Him, b/c he planned to rabbit hunt Saturday morning and now he can't. To me, it's rude to do this - like I said before, he's more than welcome to spend the night on his way back to Florida, or to hang out for a few hours the next day, but it's so rude to just assume we have no plans of our own and are willing to drop everything to entertain his visit.
So I'm frustrated.
Today has been a good one though (I left the blog for awhile and am picking back up on it now.....just in case the time I started it reads differently than the time I'm posting it....) I met mom for lunch with Allie. Before that, I went to Petsmart to get some better food for the puppes - wet and also some dry food for them to start crunching on. Then maybe it will take them more than 18 seconds to scarf down their food.
Looking forward to impending naptime....
Yesterday Jay sent me a "911" text - his friend is leaving OH in the morning and will be here tomorrow night.
Now, first off, I want to say he is more than welcome to stay with us. I'm glad to get the chance to meet him and glad for them to be able to hang out, b/c this is Jay's best friend (other than me) and they never see each other. This friend is an older guy (50s maybe) and he doesnt leave FL much. My issue is this -- it caused a LOT of stress for me last night when I got home at 6:30 to have to turn the house around for company. We've been sleeping in the guest room b/c of the crying puppies, so I had to wash linens, remake the bed, clean up all of the Christmas boxes/wrapping paper/gifts/stuff still out to wrap, vacuum the whole house, clean the kitchen, and schmorgisbord of other things to do to get the house even semi-ready for a guest. My qualms were this: if I were traveling and had planned to stay at someone's house, in my opinion it is common courtesy to give more than 24 hours notice. I would never just call and say, by the way, I'll be at your house tomorrow.
So I got up when Jay got up this morning (at 4am) to finish what I was just too exhausted to do last night. Jay was a big help last night, though - he entertained 5 dogs while I got other things done (b/c, as I've mentioned before, his cleaning habits aren't the greatest, lol). It gave me the time to get a lot of things done (thanks, baby!!) =)
Anyway, to add to the story - after I busted my butt last night to get the house cleaned up, this friend left a voicemail last night that he wouldn't be here til Friday night.....and he plans to stay the weekend. That made both of us a little frustrated - me, b/c the weekend is OUR time to spend together. Him, b/c he planned to rabbit hunt Saturday morning and now he can't. To me, it's rude to do this - like I said before, he's more than welcome to spend the night on his way back to Florida, or to hang out for a few hours the next day, but it's so rude to just assume we have no plans of our own and are willing to drop everything to entertain his visit.
So I'm frustrated.
Today has been a good one though (I left the blog for awhile and am picking back up on it now.....just in case the time I started it reads differently than the time I'm posting it....) I met mom for lunch with Allie. Before that, I went to Petsmart to get some better food for the puppes - wet and also some dry food for them to start crunching on. Then maybe it will take them more than 18 seconds to scarf down their food.
Looking forward to impending naptime....
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
December 3, 2008
Today we're going to practice attaching pictures to blogs. We'll see if I can figure it out or not. I still can't figure out how to move them very well, so these are probably going to be out of order/place, but.....at least they're uploaded. They're also on my Facebook page if you want to see all of them.
Here is the threesome having a drink on the first night at home. In order - Sam, Bella, Henry. They are living in a pack 'n play in our closet - a warm and secure place for them.
Here is little Sam - the most needy of them all. He is 5 weeks old and was the runt of his litter. It's been a harder adjustment for him to be without his mommy than it has for the others. His little personality is cute though - he's very into exploring everything and doesnt seem to be afraid of much. He likes to follow Gavin through the house....much to Gavin's dismay (he does not like them and is very offended that they are even here.)
This is Henry. He is another boy from the same litter as Sam - also 5 weeks old. He makes the funniest facial expressions - one minute he looks like he just lost his best friend, but the next minute he's rolled up in a towel growling at himself. His personality is very sweet - he's very quiet and likes to check out things on his own. He likes to play, mostly with Bella, and is a very good sleeper.
This is Bella. She is from a different litter (so Jay can breed them years down the road) and she is 6 weeks old. She is such a sweetheart! She is very playful when she wants to be, and is very cautious about new things. She does not like the kitchen floor and prefers carpet under her feet, or better yet - a lap under her to sit on. She doesnt stray far from Mommy or Daddy. She can go from quiet and tender to a very rough player in just seconds. She chews her brothers' ears and doesn't listen when they yelp at her. She is very smart and is going to be her daddy's best hunter. She can smell her food from all the way across the room and comes immediately when her name is called.
Here is Daddy with Henry. He was talking to his dad on the phone about the puppies. He's already so proud of them and they don't even do anything yet, lol.
Daddy with Bella.....
We're really enjoying having them with us. Jay is building them an outdoor kennel that they will move into in early February, when they are old enough. Then the training begins.......can you believe he wants to put a leash on Bishop (my rabbit) and walk him around the yard for the dogs to smell?!?!? I'm not so sure about that.....
The other dogs are doing better than I thought they would with the newcomers. Baylee hasn't been too bothered by them as long as they dont get in her personal space (which is miles-wide some days). Stinky is just plain confused by them and the noises they make, but he's been very gentle with them. Gavin is clearly offended that they are here and finds every excuse possible to tear up something from the garbage every chance he gets, just to show me how offended he is.
Don't you like Jay's new haircut? I did that! I was so happy with it, and he seems to be, too. He looks so handsome. =)
Jay got his new schedule yesterday (boy, I'm quite random today, aren't I?) Cryovac is changing up their schedules for everyone and now instead of working his regular M/T/F/Sa/Su schedule, he will be working 12a-6a on M/T/W, and one week be off on Th/F and work 6p-6a on Sa/Su, and the next week work 6p-6a on Th/F and be off on Sa/Su. He's not sure about it yet but I think it will give him more free time than he thinks. Same amount of hours, but they often give a lot of overtime and he hates that. It's good money though and we can surely use it. I worked on our new budget yesterday, and if we really stick to it, we can be debt-free (except the house) by this time next year! That really is exciting.....it will take a lot of discipline to stick to it, and there are always those little things that come up along the way (my check engine light has been on for 2 months) but I know it can be done!
Here is the threesome having a drink on the first night at home. In order - Sam, Bella, Henry. They are living in a pack 'n play in our closet - a warm and secure place for them.
Here is little Sam - the most needy of them all. He is 5 weeks old and was the runt of his litter. It's been a harder adjustment for him to be without his mommy than it has for the others. His little personality is cute though - he's very into exploring everything and doesnt seem to be afraid of much. He likes to follow Gavin through the house....much to Gavin's dismay (he does not like them and is very offended that they are even here.)
This is Henry. He is another boy from the same litter as Sam - also 5 weeks old. He makes the funniest facial expressions - one minute he looks like he just lost his best friend, but the next minute he's rolled up in a towel growling at himself. His personality is very sweet - he's very quiet and likes to check out things on his own. He likes to play, mostly with Bella, and is a very good sleeper.
This is Bella. She is from a different litter (so Jay can breed them years down the road) and she is 6 weeks old. She is such a sweetheart! She is very playful when she wants to be, and is very cautious about new things. She does not like the kitchen floor and prefers carpet under her feet, or better yet - a lap under her to sit on. She doesnt stray far from Mommy or Daddy. She can go from quiet and tender to a very rough player in just seconds. She chews her brothers' ears and doesn't listen when they yelp at her. She is very smart and is going to be her daddy's best hunter. She can smell her food from all the way across the room and comes immediately when her name is called.
Here is Daddy with Henry. He was talking to his dad on the phone about the puppies. He's already so proud of them and they don't even do anything yet, lol.
Daddy with Bella.....
We're really enjoying having them with us. Jay is building them an outdoor kennel that they will move into in early February, when they are old enough. Then the training begins.......can you believe he wants to put a leash on Bishop (my rabbit) and walk him around the yard for the dogs to smell?!?!? I'm not so sure about that.....
The other dogs are doing better than I thought they would with the newcomers. Baylee hasn't been too bothered by them as long as they dont get in her personal space (which is miles-wide some days). Stinky is just plain confused by them and the noises they make, but he's been very gentle with them. Gavin is clearly offended that they are here and finds every excuse possible to tear up something from the garbage every chance he gets, just to show me how offended he is.
Don't you like Jay's new haircut? I did that! I was so happy with it, and he seems to be, too. He looks so handsome. =)
Jay got his new schedule yesterday (boy, I'm quite random today, aren't I?) Cryovac is changing up their schedules for everyone and now instead of working his regular M/T/F/Sa/Su schedule, he will be working 12a-6a on M/T/W, and one week be off on Th/F and work 6p-6a on Sa/Su, and the next week work 6p-6a on Th/F and be off on Sa/Su. He's not sure about it yet but I think it will give him more free time than he thinks. Same amount of hours, but they often give a lot of overtime and he hates that. It's good money though and we can surely use it. I worked on our new budget yesterday, and if we really stick to it, we can be debt-free (except the house) by this time next year! That really is exciting.....it will take a lot of discipline to stick to it, and there are always those little things that come up along the way (my check engine light has been on for 2 months) but I know it can be done!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
December 2, 2008
So I am kinda hesitant to write this here for fear I will jinx it, but..........
.......I got a job offer yesterday. It is for a professional business couple here in Greenville. They have no children and it would be mostly a PA/housekeeping/dogsitting/errands type of job. We have talked via email several times about what they are looking for, job duties, etc. I pretty much got to name my price and it was accepted - such an answer to prayer!! I told them that I was leaving this job primarily b/c of the amount of hours I have to work, and to cut down on hours, I can't afford to drop my pay, but when I gave him the number I was really looking for, it was accepted readily. I will be working 25-30 hours for MORE money than I'm making right now working 55-60 hours!! God is good!
I'm trying not to hold my breath quite yet (doesnt seem to be working) b/c it isn't set in stone yet. Jay and I are going to meet them for lunch next Friday on my day off to talk about it all. They are also willing to take out SSI and taxes if I wish. I truly hope it works out - this could be a dream job for me. If we did have an "oops" before we plan to have babies, I could take him/her with me. I could probably do that with this job as well, but it would make the job itself twice as hard and my days even longer. I want to be able to stay home when we have babies, but right now it wouldn't be possible........why must money be so necessary?
So things are looking up - God is still God and is still good, no matter the outcome of this job situation. My biggest fear is the "I have to quit" conversation b/c I have NO idea what the response will be. I know that less hours here is not an option, so I really have no choice but to leave. Pray for this job situation - if it is where I am supposed to be, the door will open and I will have the right words to say to all involved.
On another note, I slept GREAT last night!! After we ate dinner, we put all the big dogs to bed for the night and shut their door, then brought out the puppies into the living room. Jay wanted to try "tracking" with them. It was a joke - all they did was sniff around the room and climb on us. I think he was a little discouraged, but I reminded they ARE only 5 weeks old, and this was the first time they've ever really had the chance to explore anything. They've been in a little 2x10 dog run their whole 5 weeks, then in a playpen for the last 24 hours - they want some freedom to roam. Bella did track the treat pretty well toward the end though - I think that made him feel better. The boys were useless though - just wanted to play.
We slept in the guest room last night so we wouldn't have to listen to Sam wailing all night long for someone to come pick him up. There's no fan in the guest room like we have in the master, so I was hot for awhile, but I still fell asleep fast. I was soooooooo tired from not having slept the night before. Jay fed them at 9:30 (I was already OUT) and then got up again to feed them at 1:30. Then I fed them again at 6:30 when I got up for work. It was very different sleeping on a double bed when we're used to that huge king bed -- hopefully Sam learns quickly to go back to sleep after eating, so we can move back to our bed. I feel so much better today after some sleep!
.......I got a job offer yesterday. It is for a professional business couple here in Greenville. They have no children and it would be mostly a PA/housekeeping/dogsitting/errands type of job. We have talked via email several times about what they are looking for, job duties, etc. I pretty much got to name my price and it was accepted - such an answer to prayer!! I told them that I was leaving this job primarily b/c of the amount of hours I have to work, and to cut down on hours, I can't afford to drop my pay, but when I gave him the number I was really looking for, it was accepted readily. I will be working 25-30 hours for MORE money than I'm making right now working 55-60 hours!! God is good!
I'm trying not to hold my breath quite yet (doesnt seem to be working) b/c it isn't set in stone yet. Jay and I are going to meet them for lunch next Friday on my day off to talk about it all. They are also willing to take out SSI and taxes if I wish. I truly hope it works out - this could be a dream job for me. If we did have an "oops" before we plan to have babies, I could take him/her with me. I could probably do that with this job as well, but it would make the job itself twice as hard and my days even longer. I want to be able to stay home when we have babies, but right now it wouldn't be possible........why must money be so necessary?
So things are looking up - God is still God and is still good, no matter the outcome of this job situation. My biggest fear is the "I have to quit" conversation b/c I have NO idea what the response will be. I know that less hours here is not an option, so I really have no choice but to leave. Pray for this job situation - if it is where I am supposed to be, the door will open and I will have the right words to say to all involved.
On another note, I slept GREAT last night!! After we ate dinner, we put all the big dogs to bed for the night and shut their door, then brought out the puppies into the living room. Jay wanted to try "tracking" with them. It was a joke - all they did was sniff around the room and climb on us. I think he was a little discouraged, but I reminded they ARE only 5 weeks old, and this was the first time they've ever really had the chance to explore anything. They've been in a little 2x10 dog run their whole 5 weeks, then in a playpen for the last 24 hours - they want some freedom to roam. Bella did track the treat pretty well toward the end though - I think that made him feel better. The boys were useless though - just wanted to play.
We slept in the guest room last night so we wouldn't have to listen to Sam wailing all night long for someone to come pick him up. There's no fan in the guest room like we have in the master, so I was hot for awhile, but I still fell asleep fast. I was soooooooo tired from not having slept the night before. Jay fed them at 9:30 (I was already OUT) and then got up again to feed them at 1:30. Then I fed them again at 6:30 when I got up for work. It was very different sleeping on a double bed when we're used to that huge king bed -- hopefully Sam learns quickly to go back to sleep after eating, so we can move back to our bed. I feel so much better today after some sleep!
Monday, December 1, 2008
December 1, 2008
I cannot believe it is already December!! I know I say a hundred times how fast this year has flown by, but it truly has. So much has happened this year that will remain wonderful memories for us as the years go on, and I'm only beginning to realize how much time flies when you're an adult. The carefree days of childhood are gone and you have to start making your own decisions and being responsible. And I love it.
This weekend was just what I needed - relaxing and quiet, and a slightly longer amount of time before I had to come back to work. Work.....ugh.
On Saturday, I gave Jay a haircut....all those gorgeous curls are gone. BUT ---- at least his head isn't shaved. He knew exactly how he wanted it and I (imagine this) actually cut it the right way. Usually I notch out a section and it looks awful, or make the bangs too short or whatever. I could never be a hairdresser, lol. Anyway, I cut his hair and it looks SOOOOO sexy - I love it more than any other haircut he's ever had. And that says a lot - I loved those curls.
Anyway, before I get off on a tangent there that nobody else wants to read about, I'll go on. After I cut his hair, I snatched Gavin into the bathtub to shave him down. Now, anyone who's ever had the pleasure of meeting Gavin just once in their lifetime knows this is no easy feat. Gavin is quick as lighting and when he decides he doesnt want to do something, there is no making him do it. I was able to hold him in the tub and cut maybe 3/8 of his fur, but he'd had enough and took off and there was no returning him to the tub.....at least not that day. His back half looks good though. =) I'll get the front half next weekend, lol. I was going to cut Baylee's as well; hers actually needs it more than his, but if he sees/hears the clippers come out before you actually catch him for his own cut, you can forget it. He'll never let you do it then. It took all day just to do that much.
So end of that saga.....more furcuts next weekend. On Sunday we went to church and then to Mom and Dad's for the usual Sunday lunch together. Sunday's sermon was so-so, not nearly as good as last week's.....I love the message but I think there were parts that were confusing to a lot of ppl and perhaps could have been worded differently. I do love that church though. My mom was telling me about someone she saw this weekend mentioning how she often saw us (my brothers and I) at church (meaning Southside) and Mom was like, "well, Gina and Jay haven't been to Southside in almost a year" ---- just goes to show ya, ain't nobody noticing who's there and who's not. Thanks, SF!
Here comes the good part. We went to look at some beagle puppies that are owned by a friend of Jay's that he hunts with every weekend. I have been planning to get Jay three puppies for his birthday in January, but, come to find out, the puppies are old enough to go now and will be too old by the end of January to start training. So......we came home with three puppies. Totally unexpected and unplanned. He picked two little boys out of one litter and one little girl from another, so one day he can breed them as they get older. The little girl, Bella, is 6 weeks old and SUCH a sweetheart! She was so quiet and shy for the majority of the afternoon, just hid in my jacket and wouldn't come out for anyone, but by the time they were all together in the pack'n'play last night, she turned out to be a rough and tumble little girl.....who bites hard.
The little boys, Henry and Sam, are 5 weeks old. I was surprised we were able to take them, as 5 weeks is really young to leave, but they're all eating solids very well. Henry is a real sweetheart who loves to cuddle and play quietly. Sam......is going to be trouble. He does not sleep unless someone is holding him. Instead, he sits at the corner of the playpen and whines/cries/bays/you-name-it, until someone picks him up. I was up ALL night, and when I say all night, I do mean ALL night. I didn't sleep at all. Since we are both gone 12 hours a day, we've turned their schedules around and make the day-hours their "nighttime" - meaning they get all their meals at night while we're sleeping. So I got up to feed them at 10:30 and again at 2:30, and in between those feedings, Sam cried until I held him. As soon as I put him back in the playpen in his bed with the other sleeping two, he would wake up and start again.....waking the other two.
So all night long that is what I did - feed, clean up poopy paper and pee paper, wipe their feet, put them in the potty box whenever they started to pee/poop elsewhere, and hold Sam. Bella and Henry are already getting the idea that they only potty in the box. Bella is perfect at it, Henry gets it most of the time. Sam.........no clue. I told Jay that this one is going to be trouble......the beagle that runs the deer and not the rabbit, lol.
But he loves those puppies already. He was so happy to get them (even though it was 2 months early) and tonight it's HIS night to get up and feed them. Ha! I'm sleeping tonight!!!
This weekend was just what I needed - relaxing and quiet, and a slightly longer amount of time before I had to come back to work. Work.....ugh.
On Saturday, I gave Jay a haircut....all those gorgeous curls are gone. BUT ---- at least his head isn't shaved. He knew exactly how he wanted it and I (imagine this) actually cut it the right way. Usually I notch out a section and it looks awful, or make the bangs too short or whatever. I could never be a hairdresser, lol. Anyway, I cut his hair and it looks SOOOOO sexy - I love it more than any other haircut he's ever had. And that says a lot - I loved those curls.
Anyway, before I get off on a tangent there that nobody else wants to read about, I'll go on. After I cut his hair, I snatched Gavin into the bathtub to shave him down. Now, anyone who's ever had the pleasure of meeting Gavin just once in their lifetime knows this is no easy feat. Gavin is quick as lighting and when he decides he doesnt want to do something, there is no making him do it. I was able to hold him in the tub and cut maybe 3/8 of his fur, but he'd had enough and took off and there was no returning him to the tub.....at least not that day. His back half looks good though. =) I'll get the front half next weekend, lol. I was going to cut Baylee's as well; hers actually needs it more than his, but if he sees/hears the clippers come out before you actually catch him for his own cut, you can forget it. He'll never let you do it then. It took all day just to do that much.
So end of that saga.....more furcuts next weekend. On Sunday we went to church and then to Mom and Dad's for the usual Sunday lunch together. Sunday's sermon was so-so, not nearly as good as last week's.....I love the message but I think there were parts that were confusing to a lot of ppl and perhaps could have been worded differently. I do love that church though. My mom was telling me about someone she saw this weekend mentioning how she often saw us (my brothers and I) at church (meaning Southside) and Mom was like, "well, Gina and Jay haven't been to Southside in almost a year" ---- just goes to show ya, ain't nobody noticing who's there and who's not. Thanks, SF!
Here comes the good part. We went to look at some beagle puppies that are owned by a friend of Jay's that he hunts with every weekend. I have been planning to get Jay three puppies for his birthday in January, but, come to find out, the puppies are old enough to go now and will be too old by the end of January to start training. So......we came home with three puppies. Totally unexpected and unplanned. He picked two little boys out of one litter and one little girl from another, so one day he can breed them as they get older. The little girl, Bella, is 6 weeks old and SUCH a sweetheart! She was so quiet and shy for the majority of the afternoon, just hid in my jacket and wouldn't come out for anyone, but by the time they were all together in the pack'n'play last night, she turned out to be a rough and tumble little girl.....who bites hard.
The little boys, Henry and Sam, are 5 weeks old. I was surprised we were able to take them, as 5 weeks is really young to leave, but they're all eating solids very well. Henry is a real sweetheart who loves to cuddle and play quietly. Sam......is going to be trouble. He does not sleep unless someone is holding him. Instead, he sits at the corner of the playpen and whines/cries/bays/you-name-it, until someone picks him up. I was up ALL night, and when I say all night, I do mean ALL night. I didn't sleep at all. Since we are both gone 12 hours a day, we've turned their schedules around and make the day-hours their "nighttime" - meaning they get all their meals at night while we're sleeping. So I got up to feed them at 10:30 and again at 2:30, and in between those feedings, Sam cried until I held him. As soon as I put him back in the playpen in his bed with the other sleeping two, he would wake up and start again.....waking the other two.
So all night long that is what I did - feed, clean up poopy paper and pee paper, wipe their feet, put them in the potty box whenever they started to pee/poop elsewhere, and hold Sam. Bella and Henry are already getting the idea that they only potty in the box. Bella is perfect at it, Henry gets it most of the time. Sam.........no clue. I told Jay that this one is going to be trouble......the beagle that runs the deer and not the rabbit, lol.
But he loves those puppies already. He was so happy to get them (even though it was 2 months early) and tonight it's HIS night to get up and feed them. Ha! I'm sleeping tonight!!!
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