1 week and 3 years

Well I survived my first week at work. Lots of little ins and outs to learn but the basics of the job are the same that I have done before. Each day that went by I got a little more confident and asked a few less questions. Friday I had a meeting with the owner and he told me what he wants to do long term. Sounds like I will be very happy and kept busy. Busy is all I ask for really. When I get bored at work I get into trouble!! lol
3 years ago B and I were on a flight from Atlanta to Tampa right now and it was soooo special. We had already been thru customs and immigration when we landed in Atlanta so my princess was already a citizen. She did so good on both flights. As I look back the flights were so bittersweet. I had spent only a few days in her birth country but it was such a wonderful time. I knew then I wanted to return as soon and as often as possible. I have only been able to go back once so far but I look forward to a time when I can take her back and share it with her. I was sad to have to leave but happy to bring her home with me.
Today was planned as a lowkey day. Just a cake to share with family. It was even more lowkey than planned. I tweaked my back and knee so we didn't even leave the house but it was still spent with family and for that I am grateful.
As I look forward to the next weeks/year I hope that we all continue to progress in positive ways- growing closer together as a family and remebering that we love each other.

Catching Up

Wow- can't believe I missed the whole month of August. Well actually I can. I have been so busy with the family and some friends. School started again and settling back into that routine has been a little tough. I am looking forward to Monday when I start my new job and then maybe thing will get back to "normal". Hopefully.

Breahna- she is growing like a weed and showing her independent spirit much more every day. I think going back to work will be the hardest on her. She has gotten so used to me being with her everyday. Thankfully she will just go back to staying with Mom like she did before.

Cooper- back to school now and in the 4th grade. They are starting to work on their own laptops at school and he likes that. He is NOT enjoying math yet. I am hoping that they will get his math help back to where it was and he will be ok. Have to call them again I guess. It is much to early in his life to be stressing out about anything.

Andrew- big changes there. he seems to have made a huge turn around and is finally maturing. He and I have been getting along better and I just hope that it continues on this better path. He is getting ready to spend a couple of weeks with his uncle up north and then he is having some surgery when he gets home.

Mom and Dad- are doing good. Dad had some surgery this week but he is recovering well. Mom has realized that her "vacation" is almost over-lol.

and Me- I am doing far better tonight than I have been...I interviewed for a position today at 2:30 and they called me around 7 to offer me the job!! So I am officially employed again- Feels good.

My big girl and her characters

Amy and the girls were over a week or so ago and brought this suit for B. She took a minute to get used to it and then just started jumping and swimming like a big girl.

Sitting in line waiting to see the characters

Vacation in pictures

The day we left Coop had a show at school. His class was doing the 70's. The boys were dressed alot like a certain band.. any guesses? 24 hours later we had arrived in MA and were settled into a very nice 2 level suite. 24 hrs after that I was at the hospital with Andrew. He had a throat inf. on top of the allergic reaction to the feather pillows and the fireplace in the room. After having a ton of fun trying to fill his rx he was on the mend. 18 yrs ago I was holding him in this same spot for my great-grandfathers funeral. He tried to get me to hold him again.... not as easy as it was back then.

We tried for a family shot. Coops trying to do rabbit ears, Andrew is trying to put sticks down my back and B is like "um, she's holding me knock it off guys" That was Monday.

Tuesday Andrew went to NY with his uncle for a few days and my Mom had to catch an emergency flight home to be with Dad for unplanned surgery. So B and C and I hung out with friends and had a very nice relaxing and peaceful time.

We had fun at Endicott Park walking around and at the playground.

Fresh air knocks her out every time!!!!

This is a new addition to the grounds at my old high school. It was the gift from this years graduating class.

Another day we went to the Salem Willows. Oh I miss grass you can sit and lay down in.

Practicing cheer moves.. Thanks Samanatha!

Oh how she loved the stairs!!!! And yes I even cooked a couple of nights.

We left there on Sun after getting Mom at the airport in the middle of the night(delayed flight). We drove to NY to get Andrew- too sick to ride back on the motorcycle and headed to Sturbridge. We had the wonderful priviledge of getting to have dinner with Rich, Carrie, Savannah, and Seth. I was soooo nice of them to drive up. I had the oportunity to hold and feed Seth but then I had to share him. So Mom got to hold him too.. What a sweet little guy he is.

We left there and headed to Hershey. This is the Hershey Hotel- WOW It overlooks everything- the Gardens, the park, the factories-- wow

We went to the Antique car and motorcycle museum. This was out front.

She thought this bus was too cute.

We went to the Crayola Factory. They were in a hurry to get somewhere. There were tons of activities for everyone to do there.

Of course the Crayola store was right there. Blue is the most popular color.

Another day we went to the Amish house and Farm.

We went on a bus tour around Amish country. Stopped at a bakery-- oh yummy!

They had a 1 room school house. Oh I can tell now she is going to be trouble in school.

This is "her" baby goat. She had so much fun feeding/patting him.

One day we went to Hershey Gardens. This is the Cinci De Mayo rose. Oh the flowers were so beautiful there.

This ladybug was in the butterfly house. It made me think of my friends waiting for Colby.

After the gardens we stopped for lunch- she thought the corn fields were so cool!

After lunch was time for the caverns. 52 degrees. 71 steps down and up. Should have known after that I was getting sick.











We left for NC the next day and I was going down hill quick. By the time we got to the hotel I wanted an ER. I started the meds I had with me but we had to stay an extra day in NC. I was going no where that Sunday. We packed up and went to Mt Airy on monday. Mom and the kids walked around I slept/texted in the car. We made it to Atlanta monday night. Wed I was in the ER for me and B. Ear infections for her and more meds for me- Bronchitis. If Mom had been feeling better ( bronchitis as well) we would have just come home but no one had the energy to pack it all up and drive 8 more hours. We left there thursday and made it home that night. After 4389.4 miles we were home. Now just trying to get out from under all the laundry etc and feel better too!

Remembering

As I sit here thinking back I find it hard to believe that it was 18 yrs ago. Is it possible that my first born baby boy is 18 now?????? Where did the time go? He went from this tiny tiny preemie to this big guy who is almost 6ft. When? How? Why? It has been very hard at times. Especially the last few years and I anticipate that the challenges are really just begining. Not really thrilled with the "rules" but has no other options for living...... so we shall see...

I remember what I was doing 18 yrs ago-- Do you?

Update

We are going thru Conn. now. The kids did fantastic last night. The princess had her Dora portable cd player and she was as happy as a clam. The boys had their toys too. Everyone managed to get some rest. Mom was an animal driving. She took over driving in Georgia and turned the wheel over on the Jersey Turnpike. Good thing one of us was awake enough to drive--lol The weather coming up has had its moments. It seemed for a while like we had our own private rain cloud that kept up with us. This morning when we stopped in Conn. there was ICE mixed in with the rain. Now it is a mild 55. It's warm in the car anyway!! Just a little bit further!!!!

Road Trip

Well here we are in the car on the way to my other Grandmothers funeral. She died Sunday and will be buried on Friday. So far we have made it thru FL, GA, and are 16 miles into SC. Hopefully I will do better about taking pictures.
Updates later.. Miss B just asked if she could go to sleep......