Happy Heart Day!

Baby P was sick last weekend and Bug has been sick this week. I woke up early yesterday morning to get her things together for her first day back at school. I texted a friend asking if her bus was running (the heat doesn't work on the bus so they don't pick the kids up when it's cold). My friend replied via Facebook and another friend of mine commented that they were having their Valentine's parties. 

OH CRAP!  VALENTINE CARDS!  Yep...I'm THAT mom...the one who forgot (granted she hasn't been to school in two weeks due to the weather and her being sick!). Mitchell didn't have to be at work until later so I asked him to sit with the girls while I ran to the store for v-day cards. Next thing you know, I get a text from one of Bug's teachers telling me that I need to send a v-day box. OH CRAP!  A BOX!  Yep...I'm THAT mom!  So I grabbed the Tinkerbell Christmas paper and some foam heart stickers and got to work on her box. It actually turned out okay. 

Introducing My Own Personal Circus

This is my first blog post EVER, so bear with me...it's going to be rough!

Disclaimer:  Names have been changed to protect identity and maybe to preserve a little dignity :)

     I am 26 years old and I have been married to my husband "Mitch" for about three and a half years, but we have been together for almost 7.  Mitch has two boys from previous relationships.  "Jordy" is 14 (YIKES!) and "Cade" is 7.  Together, Mitch and I have two girls.  Bug is almost 5 and Baby P is 7 months.  Jordy and Cade are with us on the weekends, most of the summer, and any other time school is out.  Our relationship with Cade's mom has been rough from the beginning, but it's slowly getting better.  Jordy's mom is pretty cool.  We live next door to her sister.  We all hang out a lot and for the most part, we get along very well.  People often ask me if it's awkward being around her a lot.  No, not really.  And honestly that's the best way it could be for Jordy's sake.

     I work as an assistant manager at a gas station (can't glorify that one!) five days a week, from 5am to Noon. My job is definitely stressful.  I was robbed around 5am one morning this past December.  That has become a huge thing in my life and I can't seem to force myself past it.  I have never been terrified of my job or felt unsafe, but some thug with a drug problem shook me up a tad...nothing seemed out of the ordinary and he totally caught me off guard.  I even have a thing now about being in the parking lot at the grocery store after dark...alone.  I just can't explain it...except to say that it's the most traumatic thing that has ever happened to me and I can't seem to let it go.

     Most days I'm off work in time to pick Bug up from her preschool.  She LOVES school and is soooo smart!  A parent's dream right there!  She has two of the most amazing teachers ever.  When I walk in the classroom, I don't feel like I'm conversing with my kid's teachers, I feel like I'm talking to my best friends!  (I'm so LAME!)  At parent teacher conferences, her teacher didn't really have a lot to discuss because we talk about Bug's progress and problems every day!  I just feel lucky to have her in such a good program with such great people.  This is her first (and last) year in preschool and I wish I had started her sooner.  A mistake that will NOT be made with Baby P!

     I got to stay at home for the first four months with Bug, but I didn't have that luxury with Baby P.  At this time, I'm still fixing bottles and searching for binkies that have gotten tossed from the crib at 2am when I have to be up getting ready for work by 4.  My first thought when I wake up is:  "If I hurry and get everything done at work, maybe I can get off in time to come home, get the girls settled, and take a nap before Mitch gets home!"  Never happens though!

     Our house is tiny.  There isn't enough room for all of us.  When I'm in the kitchen, no one else is allowed in there because I can't move around like I need to in order to get the food done.  We are constantly stepping all over each other and Bug seems to always be the one that's in the way (oops!).  It doesn't help that Baby P needs so many things that take up even more of the space we already don't have (play pen, Jumperoo, bouncy seat, Bumbo seat, infant carrier, Exersaucer, etc.).  Mitch says I'm a hoarder.  I think pack rat is closer to it.  Everything has an emotional value to me.  It paid off when we found out that we were (unexpectedly) expecting Baby P because I had refused to part with any of Bug's baby things.  We pay next to nothing for rent, so we just deal with it from day to day...for now.  We have dreams...BIG DREAMS...maybe one day our hard work will pay off.

     Stay tuned!  There is always something interesting, weird, funny, stupid, strange, etc. happening around here.  We share a lot of laughs, tears, stress, and excitement.  You'll be entertained!