Angie - you have alot on your plate this week - will be sending good thoughts your way, particularly for B's surgery.
Marti - hope you can get some sleep this week - I was tired just reading about your schedule. That is so sweet of your coworkers to try to swing it to help you out so you can spend more time with your daughter -
Julie - your puppies are cute - makes us want to get a dog, but we want to wait until we are done with some remodeling and our kids are a little older.
Mindee - sounds like B is coping pretty well with his teething. My kids were a bit fussy until the teeth broke through the gum, then they were fine. They drooled an awful lot, I must say!
Cristi - how'd things go at Direct Buy? Bet you had fun spending time with Vince. Did you get any Christmas shopping done? I have already started getting the ads for the day after Thanksgiving, and there are some darn good bargains out there!
Angie - yes, I think you did the right thing, being honest with your mom. No reason you should have to go get your own present, unless it has to be an exact item. Even then, as long as you describe it well, she should be able to find it. How'd dress rehearsal go last night? Bet Brandon (and his mama) is getting a little nervous about the surgery.
Ellen - sounds like your house is going to be a Christmas fairyland! Can you share with some photos? Glad your daughter is close and can help. Btw, I love reading your "what I'm thankful for today" lists... it's very sweet that you include us in them!!
Katy - good luck at the TAG meeting today. Being a charter member will have its advantages, that's for sure. Like you said, no baggage, lol. What are the specific objectives, or are they yet to be defined?
Susan - so sorry you have all this stress going on right now!! Did you find a new sitter for Gaby? Hope Katy's friend will be able to help you. Just keep focused on next Spring, ok? I know that's easier said than done right now.
Marti - miss you!!
Hi to anyone else reading this.
Gotta tackle Mount Washmore today... how do we get so much, so soon????? It's a gloomy day here, so I may just put on some Christmas music and finish addressing the Christmas cards in between the loads of laundry.
Ellen, as what Jane said your house will be like a Christmas fairly land....
Susan, Thank you for the card...I can't wait to buy my own one day...meaning I wanna go there!
Jane, so what did you buy? You must be done or close to it....
The dress rehearsal went well last night other then some of my light cues didn't happen...there is no ghosts there so not sure why. Didn't get home till midnight...arghhh the morning came too early.
Brandon went off to school,,,his last day for the next 6 weeks...Im worried about the pain. And I have so much to do...
And on top of everything my van is acting up again so brought it in,,,36 hundred to fix it. The cams and a belt are the problem.
well need to get going to work...
have a great day ladies!
Angie
Thanks for all the compliments on my two little angels....They are hysterical...I guess for now they're the only babies we have!! Oh well....
Nothing much else new here, just busy working away I guess, trying to stay caught up on my studies and stay well!!!
Jane" already working on xmas cards??? I wish I was so motivated!!
I do love xmas though, Ill be shopping pretty soon....
Susan: sorry to hear you're going through a rough time, hang in there
I guess theres nothing really much else going on here to update you on
Hi to Mindee, Cristi, Ellen, Angie, Marti, Sue, Rosie Kate, and all the other girls!!
Have a nice day
Julie
Sorry I haven't posted earlier....only had time enough to read and then get going.
I have to say......I am SOOOO tired this morning! I got home a little after 3:00 since it was so foggy and I didn't want to risk an accident and drove 55 all the way home. (I hate it when it's so thick you can't see two feet in front of you!) I did't get to bed until 4:00 and had such a time getting to sleep because my back was aching (it's ok at the moment) and then my alarm decides to go off at 8:45! This morning shift is for the birds! I like waking up on my own and not to an alarm clock! Tomorrow I have to get up even earlier.....must be there for orientation by 8:00.....UGH!!!!
Angie--Brandon will be in my thoughts tomorrow while he's in surgery....how is he feeling? I sure hope surgery makes him feel much better!! Give him a hug from Cyber "Aunt Marti"!
Jane--I've been wanting to put on some Christmas music myself! And I still need to tackle my Christmas cards or I won't EVER get them done! This week sure has me thrown off!
Katy--I'm really hoping that Friday I'm able to get off early. It all depends on how the work load looks. Maybe if I shed a tear they'll let me go......
Susan--Keeping you in my prayers that everything turns out ok for you and that the stress level calms down a little. Spring will be here soon and we'll all be celebrating your wedding!!
Ellen--Your house sounds so magical!! I would love to see photos too if you'd like to share! Jhanai is wanting to get some decorating done this weekend....we'll see how it goes.
Cristi--So which movie did you end up seeing? Or did you go? Your "Cow Town" Sounds very interesting.....tell me more about it. I may have to go visit your town now!!
Julie--Adorable puppies!! So glad you shared those photos with us!! Cute, cute, cute!!
Mindee--Glad to hear that Brandon is doing better w/his teething.....every age has something amazing! Keep on sharing with us!
Good Morning to everyone else!!
Ok girls...I'm procrastinating what I need to get done....getting ready for work!...I have to leave here in an hour so I better get ready. You all have a wonderful day and I will try to pop in sometime after work....if I don't collapse!
Katy~I too was skeptical. Well after sitting there listening to their speech and seeing the showroom etc. we turned it down. Okay, it is a great deal if you plan on doing a lot of remodeling, buying a lot of furntiture and such as you can buy wholesale through them, everything from clothes to appliances big and small, furniture, siding for the house, drapes, shoes, just about anything. But the initial sign up fee is a whopping $3400+ for the first two years and then each year after the 2nd there is a $149 membership fee if you wish to stay. Of course they don't give you any time to think about it, you have to decide then and if you decline you will not be invited back for 7 years. Oh well...
Susan~I truly am sorry that what should be a very happy time for you is turning out to be stressful. And that's not right that if Mike has talked to them that they can't help you-not fair at all. Just don't understand him thinking he can waltz in and start demanding this and that especially since he has been carrying on as he has. Well, I know things will work out for the best in the end and you and Rocky will live happily ever after. Hope you find daycare for lil' miss Gaby.
Ellen~oooohhhhh, I bet your house is going to be BEAUTIFUL! I am getting in the Christmas spirit and am wanting to decorate but will wait till Thanksgiving weekend. But then I do this every year. I get jazzed and excited in the beginning and then want it to be over, get a little sad. Would love to see photos of our house all done up, that goes for everyone else too. Maybe we should do a thread to share Christmas photos.
Jane~I had the best time with Vince yesterday even though we didn't go to the zoo or the movie. We don't get to spend too many full days together and the rest of the week he is working till 10 pm. Did some shopping, went to Direct Buy, then to lunch, actually a late lunch, early dinner-it was 3 pm when we got there, then did a little more shopping. Found a 48 in. wreath at Wal-mart so went ahead and got that, will have to put lights on it though. We went to SAMS last week to see if they had the 60 in. ones but they were out, told us we could order one online because they only order so many and that's it, well they showed them online but it said it is an in-store item. So went to the west side store, they had none. We did find one at Hobby Lobby but was $80 without the lights! The one at SAMS was $53 or $58 with the lights. Anyway, the 48 in. one will do just fine once I get some lights and a ribbon on it. Spent about 2 1/2 hours at Direct Buy, man was I ready to leave after 30 mns. Vince wanted to see what it was all about so I went. I was pooped when we got home. Went to bed at 10 and I was out in five minutes-didn't even hear Vince leave this morning and he alwasy kisses me on the cheek.
Angie~I don't think you were rude with your mom. My mother would buy everyone else's gifts and by the time she got to us she didn't want to shop anymore so would give us a check. Which I actually wouldn't have minded had she not told me that she bought gifts for the others. I sent a couple back and she would keep sending them so I just tore them up. I just think it is impersonal and felt like I wasn't worth her time.
Well, today is another ugly day. It is supposed to be this way the rest of the week. But then I guess I better get used to it because for the most part that's the way it is here in the winter time-how easily I forget. Of course what I didn't forget is how when the weather changes the pain I get in my right arm. OUCH! I bought some tylenol arthritis and it actually does help-thank goodness. Going to have to get to doing my exercises again. Did my grocery shopping last night so really nothing to do today except clean the house and do laundry. Man you miss a day of laundry and it piles up. Anyway, that's about all I have. Take care ladies and have a good one!
Hi Julie and Marti, you ladies snuck in there while I was posting. Sometimes I go down and it will show a new post before I hit submit, I always check. But didn't see any till after.
Julie~I had to show DD and DH your little angels, they really are adorable and making me want another!
Marti~Cow Town is cool, we almost were going to get married there because I thought that old little country church is so cool. But I was afraid I wouldn't be able to find a dress to fit the whole country, cowboy era. Anyway, it's alittle western town that has a lot of different buildings decorated with the authentic furniture from the western days. There's a grocery store. the church, a dentist office, a jail, school, saloon, train station, houses, etc. Most of the people who work there are volunteers and they dress in the clothes from back then. This week topped off their holiday season so they had things going on but with the rain, it's not a good place to be going. They have shoot-outs, and do other stuff on the streets, I'm drawing a blank here, duh! It's just a cool place to go visit. I wish I could remember the movies they shot down there.
Angie~how did I miss that Brandon was having surgery tomorrow??? You all will be in my thoughts.
Goofy me just noticed that my ticker is gone. Guess I was messing with my signature the other day and not sure why but must have deleted it. Definitely need to get that back up there.
I love your new tickerfactory thing Cristi!! Very pretty. I tried to do one for myself but is too much to digest,.....can't figure it out.
Hope Brandon is doing well today Angie
I haven't called Katy's friend yet but I will......
I am applying for our pre paid lawyer thing through my employer, $15 a month to see someone but if it goes to court it would be a 25% discount.
I did talk with legal aid and she gave me some advice.
I went and mailed off my waiver fee application and hope to get some good news on that. I need to come up with a visitation plan for Gaby like I am already in Hawaii........
Would I really send a 3 year old on a plane over to Oregon to spend 2 weeks or a month with this man???
I think not....
Would I send her over to my mothers or even Gaby's half sister mother?? You know..............I would consider that..............when she is like 10.....lol
So, he can visit in Hawaii!!! wooooo hoooo.,.....what are the chances he could afford airfare and lodging???
He CAN'T bunk at my house!!!! lol..........
anyway..........I am working on day care between my mom and sister now...but there was that lady that I interviewed in May that I am trying to track down......at least to get me by til April....
Rocky is a doll!!!! He bought me a cell phone so we can talk for free........he might come in January......maybe, we will see.......
lost down to 143!!!! yay..............love stress............does wonders, lets bottle it and make a million!! lol
Had a few minutes and thought I would check in and see how everyone is doing.
Susan~yeah, Mike can't or doesn't want to pay child support so how in the world does he think he is going to have joint custody??? I too wouldn't send a three-year-old on a plane alone either, I would even be leary when she is ten but then I am a worry wart really bad. So cool Rocky got you a phone, what a sweetie. I will keep my fingers crossed and send a little luck your way that he does visit you in January. I am going to have to keep checking back with ticker factory as that is a new one and they had a couple other new ones. Hoping they have a Christmas one soon. Also, can't wait to finally weigh in at the end of the month to see that thing changed!
Well, guess I will go finish my cards. I had finished my christmas cards to family and friends but then bought some really cute snoopy ones to send to the kids from MACS (Makeachildsmile.org) there some that I send to on a regular basis. Need to get my dining room table clear of that stuff.
He really does have a sweet spirit. He said no way was Gaby coming to Oregon by herself. I would have to go with her- he would pay for my airfare but Mike would have to come up with Gaby's.
I would even offer to waive child support for ( it isn't like I am getting it now...lol- geesh- though I did get a 3.96 check today!!!)) Mike to have a chance to come up with the airfare.
Course I would put in a 2 year evaluation and room for modifications along the way.
Anyway, just trying to be fair and get my butt to Hawaii!!! lol.....Rocky said I could just come in late December. I have to do a seat belt class on the 8th and after that I am free!! I just need to respond to court issues....if I had a lawyer here though I could just do phone in's????
I did call Mike and offered mediation- get a chance to resolve this before going to court.
Angie - I'm thinking of you and Brandon today - and you're in my prayers, too, that all goes well. Mary and I weren't Christmas shopping, just regular old grocery shopping. Except for Katie's, I am just about done with Christmas shopping.
Julie - I usually have my Christmas cards done before this, except for the ones I write a long note with. Glad your classes are going well.
Marti - how's the training going? Is this your last week for that? Bet Jhanai is getting excited about the holidays, isn't she? Has she said what she wants for Christmas?
Cristi - I think you were smart to not sign up with Direct Buy!! Any company that wants you to sign right now gives something to worry about. Your wreath will be beautiful when you're done!
Susan - stress is not a healthy way to lose weight, missy!! But still, yay to you for your loss, lol!! I, too, would never put a 3 year old on a plane. It would depend on the child as to when she would go by herself. Some kids could do it w/o batting an eye at 7, others, like Mary, couldn't do it at 23, lol. Sounds like you're getting some good advice, setting things up as though you are already in Hawaii. Maybe Rocky could come visit you over Christmas?
Shanna - wish you could find time to post!!
Hi to Ellen, Katy, Sue, Mindee, and the others!
Well, since I was here yesterday, I got a touch of the flu! Felt terrible, and couldn't keep anything down. Finally kept down some toast last night. I just hate being nauseated!! This morning, I am still a little woozy and unstable, but wanted to check in with my buddies... The worst part is, little Madison has it, too. Hope the other DGDs escape it!
Susan~sounds like you are getting things taken care of, good for you. So what are you going to do with that big check?! You mentioned the stress diet, my cousin went on the stress diet going through their divorce. She was so shocked that he wanted one and she tried everything to work it out because she didn't want one. But he was through. He had lost a lot of weight before that and I think it went to his head and he didn't want her anymore, of course he was a snotty jerk from the beginning. She lost a lot of weight and told everyone she does not recommend it. Of course not, stress takes it's toll on ones body but I think sometimes it can't be avoided, as in her case-she was a basket case, upset all the time over that. But good for you for the loss, just be careful and take care of yourself.
Angie~special thoughts to your family today.
Jane~hope you get to feeling better. I am hoping I don't get the flu this year, knock on wood. I think I can deal with just about anything except a stopped up nose and nausea-don't like that at all. Yeah, I agree about Direct Buy. I asked the woman even though it said it on their video, if we could have a day to think things over and she said they can't do that that they need an answer before we leave. It's something that needs to be discussed more than just a couple of hours in their store. She didn't try to pressure us but still...
Hi to everyone else, Jen, Mindee, Julie, Katy, Marti, Shanna, Sue, Ellen, Kathy, Katie and anyone I may have missed.
That's about all I have. Getting ready to head out to Hobby Lobby to see if I can find a ribbon for the wreath. Wal-mart had plenty but they had a big one and a smaller one and I need one in between of course. Going to look at all their Christmas stuff also. Went this past Saturday but there were so many people I really didn't look at everything good, couldn't get through the isles. Hoping there's not a lot of people today. Need to make a grocery list for Thanksgiving dinner. Bought a few groceries Tuesday evening and did get the turkey but nothing else so need to get that done tomorrow. That's about all I have to do today. Got the house cleaned yesterday and laundry done, so kind of a lazy day for me. Anyway, hope everyone has a nice Thursday. Take care ladies.
I joined this lawyer site. Talk legal stuff and all. Thought to ask for thoughts on a parenting plan.
So...........I have heard a lot of " he has his rights", "you are taking her 5000 miles away(actually only 2000) what kind of parenting can he do??", "you will be paying for the airfare!!!!" " who are you to say for him not to pay child support, you don't have that right"......."oh, no.........you can't move"
lol
Mean people!!!! Geesh...........he is a ding bat!! What kind of parent HAS he been??? whatEVER......
Stressful......
Oh,..........and the "ex" took it on himself to call Mike and assure him that Gbay is fine *roll eyes*.....and they talked and male bonded and ................aaaaaaaaaAAAAaaarrrRRgGGGHHHhhh... ....lol
Mike goes " Is she doing drugs?? Is she sleeping around having sex????"
I am sooooooooooooooooooo ...................just pissed.
(((((HUGS))))) to you Susan. Sounds like someone is trying to dig up some dirt on you Susan. Hope the ex didn't say much to him. About him having rights, yeah, hate to say it but he does and apparently he knows he can make it bad on you. I have even heard of cases where the judge wouldn't let the person take the child that far-totally depends on the judge. Things could be a little different since you guys were never married. All I know is from hearing things from my cousin and two of my friends who are going through and/or went through a divorce. Of course theirs was more about child support and dividing stuff. But I know my friend in CA whose ex has been carrying this thing on for three years now does pay child support and he pays for the kids to go see him in AR. I would think that if Mike is the one starting this that he would have to pay to see Gaby and I really don't think any court would expect you to send her on a plane by herself, not at that age. I mean he wasn't seeing her on a regular basis or paying child support so...he hasn't been the best at being a father to her surely the courts would take that into account among other things, ie doing drugs. At least this is happening now instead of a month before you leave, so it is taken care of before then. What does Rocky think about all this? Want me to come up there and beat Mike up? LOL Just kidding.....
Bored so I thought I would see if anyone posted. Made it to Hobby Lobby and picked up a few things. I am amazed at all the stuff they have now, so much better than Michaels, or the one here anyway. Of course then I headed to Michaels, there is a swag I am debating on getting, just not sure and had to look at it again. They have it marked down 1/2 price, which is a good thing but still not sure. Anyway guess I will go find something to do. TaTa again ladies
Well, nothing really new here today. Things are the same as they were yesterday….so now real change there.
Tommy’s mom stopped by here on Monday. Tommy was going to make it look like we weren’t here, but since he split one of the two pairs of jeans he had, he answered it because his dad sent over some of his old pants. Well, she knows that Tommy doesn’t have a job, and she said that when you get fired from your job, that it takes 6 to 13 weeks before you get a check. And from the looks of it, we are about 4 weeks into it. So hopefully we can get this all settled soon! And to top it all off, I got a letter in the mail from FIA telling me that me and Brandon no longer have Medicaid. So Tommy called the worker yesterday and she called us back before we headed out the door to look for some more pants for him at the thrift stores. She left a message and said that she wasn’t the one that had closed the account, it was the other lady that we had talked to last week. So now we are going to call her and find out why in the heck she is doing that.
Brandon has always been our little nature boy. My grandpa who passed away a week exactly before our wedding, was a nature guy. So we are thinking that that is his great grandpa coming out in him. Well, that and Tommy likes nature as well. Brandon has also been playing with his mouth lately. He has been moving his mouth like an old person who forgot to put in their dentures. Then he will give me a BIG gummy smile. He also likes to be a little goofy boy. When we tell him “shhhhhh be quiet” then he will scream or yell. The more you tell him to “shhhhh be quiet” the louder he will get, and then he will start to laugh because of it.
Jane~ My hubby has seen commercials for that and has said that he wants to get one! I am sure that your son will like it! I hope you feel better soon!!!!
Cristi~ That duck costume, is actually a half size of the smallest size the pattern made. So as long as Brandon doesn’t grow too much, that will be his costume again next year!
Angie~ I will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers during the day of Brandon’s surgery.
Ellen~ His teeth still haven’t come through yet, but he is feeling better. He isn’t as grumpy as he has been. He is sitting on daddy’s lap right now drinking some juice out of his sippy cup.
Susan~ I hope things get a little less stressful with you soon! YAY on the WL!
Katy~ He really hasn’t been that fussy with his teeth. He has been a drool bug since he was about 2 ½ months old. Now you can see the whites as they are just under the skin of the gums.
We did find out though, that he can’t have applesauce anymore. At least not when his plumbing is fine. When he is all backed up (which is never with him) then he can have it…cause applesauce works just like prunes on him! We also tried him last night to see if he has outgrown his milk allergy and it is looking like he has. We gave him a little bit of ice cream and a little bit of yogurt and no reaction like before. I am still waiting for him to give me a big diaper explosion from it. He loved the yogurt, and got mad when his Auntie Anna stopped feeding it to him.
Marti~ I will be sure to do that. As long as you ladies don’t get over whelmed with me sharing! LOL
Oh, and we are debating if we are going to take Brandon to the Thanksgiving parade next Thursday. We were going to go last year, but since we went to bed at like 2:30am, then got up at 5:30am to go to Meijer’s because they were having a sale on a jump box that my hubby wanted, we just decided to come back home and got back to sleep. And we ended up sleeping right through watching the parade on tv. The best part with the parade is that where we sit, by the time Santa makes it past us, and we head for him, we get home just in time to watch Santa hit the end of the parade route and get the key to the city.
The one at SAMS was $53 or $58 with the lights. Anyway, the 48 in. one will do just fine once I get some lights and a ribbon on it. Spent about 2 1/2 hours at Direct Buy, man was I ready to leave after 30 mns. Vince wanted to see what it was all about so I went. I was pooped when we got home. Went to bed at 10 and I was out in five minutes-didn't even hear Vince leave this morning and he alwasy kisses me on the cheek. 
It is supposed to be this way the rest of the week. But then I guess I better get used to it because for the most part that's the way it is here in the winter time-how easily I forget. Of course what I didn't forget is how when the weather changes the pain I get in my right arm. OUCH! I bought some tylenol arthritis and it actually does help-thank goodness. Going to have to get to doing my exercises again. Did my grocery shopping last night so really nothing to do today except clean the house and do laundry. Man you miss a day of laundry and it piles up. Anyway, that's about all I have. Take care ladies and have a good one! 
You all will be in my thoughts.
I am going to have to keep checking back with ticker factory as that is a new one and they had a couple other new ones. Hoping they have a Christmas one soon. 
Hope the other DGDs escape it!
