100th post!!

Oh yipee!! Anyways, just thought that was cool. 100 times I've bored you people with my life. Thanks for continueing to read on.

Anyways....an update on hubby. He's doing pretty good. I FINALLY convinced him that he needs to be further checked out by a doc though for his hip/neck issues. We need something in writing from a medical professional that he is having issues. He said he's only going to the doc to make me happy. Well guess I don't care why you are going - just that you are is what matters. I know he's going to have neck issues for MANY MANY Days/months/possibly years to come and why should we pay for that???

As for insurance companies - what a joke! We talked to both our ins company and the other driver's company. Get this....Hubby(as of our conversations yesterday) was 40% at fault because he didn't physically stop at the intersection to be sure no one was coming. Now remember, this is an unmarked intersection and he could see to his right that no one was coming. Yep - but he should have stopped and looked left since it was partially obstructed by corn. Give me a break. Now today they (the other ins co) have come back and decided on 80/20 for a split. Ok, better but not there yet. That means that our premium will go up for the next 5 years due to this 16 yr old's inexperience. Not going to happen. Boy am I a biatch!

So now we're in a holding pattern. If they came up 20% in one day....maybe tomorrow they will accept 100% of liability???? Who knows...it's worth a shot at this point. Plus the first figure our ins company gave us for the pickup as a settlement was ridiculous! Come on people, I'm no dummy. I have worked in this industry for over 5 years now. Go Screw someone else.

I'm Counting my Blessings

OK I debated about posting these pics. But I want people to know how important it is to WEAR YOUR SEATBELT. This is our 2007 GMC Sierra with 10,000 miles on it. Purchased Feb 2007. We were very proud of this truck. We have to work our butts off to make the payment but it WAS such a pretty truck. This past weekend I was just telling hubby how he got the inside of the box scratched up and he was like- "As long as it's just the inside of the box - who cares? Afterall, it's a pickup and I'm going to use it as a pickup!" Well now it has a few more scratches on it.....
Yesterday morning I got the call NO ONE wants to get. It was 6:45am! I was getting ready for work. Em was eating breakfast. JP was still sleeping. It was Hubby. I've been hit. Can you come up here. To make a long story short....A 16 year old driver failed to yield to her right. Hubby was on a County Road (gravel) and girl was on a township road (gravel). The corner was somewhat blocked by corn. He saw her at the last minute. She hit him on the drivers side door area. They both spun around and he ended up rolling at least 2 times and you can see where he landed. Without Hubby wearing his seatbelt, I would be a widow today. I still get teary eyed when I think about that. He is ok. Bumped/bruised/cut up/scratched up and has 2 broken fingers/lost 2 finger nails, but alive! The other driver is also ok. Bumped/bruised is all. Someone was sure looking out for Hubby yesterday morning! PLEASE - if you don't wear your seatbelt - Put it on! They do save lives! I know I can't make you - but we have always faithfully worn ours and I will NEVER get in a vehicle without putting it on no matter how far we are driving. It was foggy yesterday morning at our house so hubby figured he'd take gravel to town "so no one would hit him". We didn't know what was to come! It wasn't even foggy where the accident happened. The fog had lifted by that time. He was only 12 miles from home.

Back to Real Life

and wishing I was still on "vacation". Although I was happy to get home on Friday afternoon, it didn't take long to wish the week hadn't went quite so fast. It seemed to drag on at the time but MAN....was it relaxing for the most part. Peace & quite was never so enjoyable! I came home to find out Em had had a tough week in school and at the afterschool program and had been disciplined many times for not listening. UGH! Welcome to parent hood, right??? JP left his "ears" on the bus and didn't want to listen to anything I said on Friday night/sat am. I was never so happy to take them to Grandpa's house on Sat afternoon so we could go to my mil's wedding. And I had only been home with them for 24 hours!

So my mil got married on Sat to the man that she cheated on my fil with. I have a problem with her wearing a white wedding dress (maybe I'm just old fashioned but doesn't white signify purity???). She has 3 grown (ok they are 35,34, &14) kids. I also cringed at the words "Love, Honor & Obey...forsaking all others......" during the ceremony. Afterall, she CHEATED on my fil with this man! I know this is normal wedding lingo but it just didn't fit this situation. OH well. His family (son & granddaughters) were in the wedding party. We were Host/Hostess & hubby's sis was the guest book attendant & little brother was a gift carrier. Not that I care but as host/hostess our job was to set up the tables under the BIG TOP (think circus here). We were not included in any family pictures or anything. Little Brother & Grandma Anna & mil's brother & his wife were all seated at the head table during the reception. We didn't even get a chair to sit on! Finally once the dance started, she came over to talk to us. Needless to say Hubby's sis had left the place LONG before that. I did ask for a picture of us with her and she did oblige us. Such a nice lady! So then her new hubby whom I will call Step Dad even though we will not refer to him in that way in "real" life came over to talk to us. He invited us out for sunday dinner sometime. We will go and make an effort. After that - it will be in their court. I told Hubby that i was VERY disappointed at the wedding at how much we were NOT included in the celebration. I thought this was a turning point but I guess not. I'll see what happens in the future. I really want her to be a part of our lives and a part of our kids' lives, but I can't force it on her. All i can do is continue to invite her to our family functions and see what she chooses to participate in.

Checkin' In

Well I am enjoying my week away. The massage was WONDERFUL!!! If I could have afforded it, I would have another one before I head home. Oh well, guess I just have to be glad I pampered myself with one.

I am getting VERY homesick though. Glad tomorrow is FRIDAY and I am headed home in the afternoon. I have enjoyed my time but it's been a long lonely week too. My room is so nice. I have 2 queen beds, a sitting area by the balcony, chairs and table on the balcony over looking the lake (what a view!) and my own REAL fireplace. No gas one for me - they even stock the room with firewood and matches and everything! Tuesday night I had a fire and sat infront of it and watched tv. Would have been nice to have Hubby with me, but then again, that would defeat my purpose of this "break" right? I plan another fire tonight while I study for my final exam tomorrow. Whomever does the best tomorrow wins a VERY NICE jacket and I want the jacket!

I also decided that next time Hubby and I decide to take a litte getaway by ourselves, I think we just may come here. We'll have to save up though, because it is $200+ per night! OUCH!

Enjoy the rest of your week and hopefully it won't take me too long to catch up with everyone!

Leaving for a week

I am leaving today at noon for a week of meetings/school/training for my job. I'm excited to go. I really NEED a week of "respite". I feel a little guilty for feeling this way, but the last 3 months have been very stressful. Plus this past weekend, I don't know what JP's problem was but he's now in the stage of "I don't have to do that." "I don't want to" "You can't make me". Didn't matter what it was, he all out refused to do it. I was happy to have hubby home. I think sometimes he gets tired of me saying "The kids did this...the kids did that". Well now he got to see exactly what I see on an every day basis. Plus now he's got them all to himself for the WHOLE WEEK! (just wait - they will be angels for him now that I am gone this week).

I know I will be homesick by Tues night, but I am going to enjoy this as much as I can. It will be Friday before I know it and I will be back home with no "respite" trips for a LONG LONG time.

I am getting a FULL BODY MASSAGE this afternoon. Yes, I could do that here at home for 1/3 of the price but this is in a real spa - not just some therapist who works out of their home. Not that that means anything, but I want to pamper myself a little. After all, I deserve it! (don't I?)

Ok, like everyone else, I am going to ask you not to blog anything this week cause it will take me FOREVER to catch up with everyone! LOL! Have a good week. If I have computer access (It is a resort that we are staying at so I am hoping I do) I will check in later this week.

What happens now....

Today I received update case plans from our AASK worker. They have a timeline on them for what we are required to do by what date and what she is required to do and by what date. She has finalization set for Feb 2008. The earliest we can finalize is Dec 6, 2007 because the kiddos have to be here 6 months which is on Dec 5, 2007. She does state that things can move along quicker if we so choose. We'll see what the therapist has to say once we get the initial appointments out of the way and make a decision as to how quickly we want this done. In a way...I will be ready for it to be over so we can begin life as a true family and not be under someone's watchful eye anymore.

The kids also have case plans now with AASK. Their's are so cute! I, JP/Emilee, want to be adopted by Jody & Hubby by Feb 2008. I agree to .......... and it listed different things they need to agree to and then lists what the sw will do for them and by what date.

Oh my....this is really going to happen!!!!!

Hubby & I will look at all the forms tonight and sign them to make everything a go.

TPR News and Home Visit and other stuff

Ok so everyone is waiting for more info on the TPR (or at least I want to believe you are out there waiting to here) so here it is. Bio dad was caught telling a lie under oath. He then hung up the phone (if you really wanted your kids back - wouldn't you make an effort to actually show up for court versus being there by phone???). They tried to reach him repeatedly but couldn't. Court was then dismissed. The verdict came in last Thursday morning and that's that. I have not heard that dad is trying to appeal anything as of yet. We'll see what happens though.

We had a home visit from our local sw last night. It went pretty well. I knew it would. She's pretty laid back when it comes to this type of thing. She asked a bunch of questions about how things were going and that was about it. She wanted to just see how we interact with the kids and to be sure we weren't living in a filth house. (I'm no spotless house cleaner - but I do like things in order). Oh and I even had 2 bowls of cucumbers on the counter as the kids were eating when she showed up and she didn't care!!! One bowl had ranch dressing on them and the other had vinegar/sugar on them. Oh and the bread bag was open on the counter and butter dish was on the table as the kids wanted buttered bread with supper too.

I have to be thankful that our county is not as nit-picky as what i have read about some of your counties. They have their issues that's for sure but at least they aren't so invading of privacy and outrageous when it comes things out on the counter during meal times/meal preparations and etc.

Yesterday I was a "STUPID MOM". Know why????? I made Em eat breakfast before going to school! Darn it - and I must be mean too. Shame on me. To stick up for her - I don't like to eat as soon as I wake up in the mornings either, but we only have 30 minutes to get ready for the bus and so therefore, she NEEDS to eat. They eat lunch at 11am but she can't wait that long. Maybe someday she will realize I'm only trying to do what's best for her though. Every step she took out to the bus yesterday she was yelling "STUPID MOM" a little louder each time. (To top it off - the bus driver had some windows open on the bus. Great! Now I can only wonder what went thru her mind yesterday as my sweet little girl walked out there yelling that. Kids! Gotta love them to death! (Update - by the time I picked her up from my fil's last night - she apologized and told me I wasn't stupid! She just didn't like the cereal I had poured in her bowl!)