Mega Update

Sooo much has happened since last time I wrote. We let Kim take over our lease, and we moved in with Sharon on Aug.19th. It took a lot of adjustments on our part. We went from living in a pet free, smoke free home with everyone in their own bedroom to being smushed up into 2 bedrooms in a house that smelled like a giant ashtray with a dog that smelled like wet rancid asshole who bit my kids almost daily. We tried t stay in the bedrooms when she was home away from the smoke and I hope it didn't make her feel like we were hiding from her personally, but I just can't deal with the smell of it. On me, on my clothes, in my hair. Gross. There were ten days, ten long days, where we had Tara's three dogs as well. That's four dogs. She didn't do a single damn thing for them. She didn't feed them or let them our before she went to work. She didn't do it when she got home either. When I'd tell her the last time they went out and ate, she'd just say something along the lines of "I don't care, I'm too tired to deal with them tonight" or "They'll be fine until tomorrow."  (Yeah, tomorrow when *I* let the out and feed them...) One particular day I had let them out in the backyard to play and run while I did some cups in the front yard. Next thing I know, they're running towards me from down the road, soaking wet and covered in mud. No idea where they were or how they even got out of the damn fence, but they threw mud all over me, the cups I was doing, and everything around me. I had to wash all my cups, change my clothes, and start over, after I cleaned them up as much as I could and got them back inside in their kennels. I was livid, so I made a post saying "So over dogs today" and Tara gets a damn attitude with me. She needs to stfu since she doesn't know what's going on, but I'm sure Sharon just pretended like she's bent over backwards to make things perfect for the dogs. Truth isn't her strong suit, as she proved when we took them to Orlando and she lied to everyone saying that WE stayed drunk the whole trip and made her & David take care of Kollin while we did whatever we wanted. Kris had one beer, and I not one single drop of alcohol the entire trip. Anyway, thankfully we were only there three months because...

We bought a house! The same house we looked at a few years ago on Spanish Drive. The one with the inground pool (which is actually gone now, the crazy dude filled it in) and the koi fish pond. It's also got palm trees in the back yard! They were around the pool, but we're going to get an above ground pool next summer. It's also been remodeled on the inside and I swear, they did it the way I would have (minus the ugly tile in the kitchen floor.) When we walked in this house, it just felt like home. It's not fancy, but it's nice. Most importantly, it's cozy.  I love it so much. It was for sale by owner and it was a pain in the butt to deal with everything, but I can say I officially own a house for the first time in my life. It's exciting. We closed on it on Oct 12, 2016 and moved in the same night. I had scheduled for the POD to be delivered the day we closed, and it made things sooo much easier and convenient.

We've been in the house for a couple of weeks now, and it's slowly coming together. It's so big, and there's so much space that we needed (and still need) more stuff to fill it and decorate it with. The neighborhood is so quiet. It's nice not having to wake Zoey up to drive the kids to a bus stop in the mornings and drive to pick them up in the afternoons. They can walk to the bus stop here, and we have sidewalks. There's pretty much zero traffic on our street, which I love. What I don't love is how no one has bothered to come visit. I got so much shit from people when we moved away. And then when we decided to move back, everyone acted so excited about it. One friend asked me a few times about the gym which unfortunately kept taking a backseat because other more important things were happening that prevented me from going. I've signed back up as of the other day but she hasn't made mention of going, I guess because her other friends got memberships, now I don't matter anymore. Holli invited me to dinner one night and I actually went since Kris was off. She said we should make it a usual Wednesday thing but ever since then, I've had too much going on with the house stuff to go again, but now we can get together again since things have settled. Another friend, I've hung out with and dne lunch with a couple times but only because I've called/texted her and made the effort to see her. I've tried more than that but finally I just stopped. She's always got something going on with someone or some group of kids (mine are never included, which kinda hurts my feelings to be honest but whatever) and I'm not interested in competing for friend of the week. I'm learning real quick that all I really need is myself.

New neighbors moved in next door last week. The guy came and introduced himself to us, so I stalked his fb page, as well as his wife's. They seem pretty cool. The wife is really pretty. Like, seriously pretty. And she's 40 years old. (I want to look like her when I'm 40 and I have to get started because I'm already 36. This motivates me to hit the gym.)  They have kids - two boys. One is in college, the other is a year older than Kylie. They also have a cute little weenie dog named Sadie, who Zoey is in love with. She comes over to our yard and plays ball with her.

Speaking of Zoey... the best news of all, which I saved for last. October 5th, she had an appointment with the cardiologist to check on the holes. The VSD (the non-concerning one) had closed up all the way. The ASD (the one that was an issue) had shrunk and is now very small. He thinks it will continue to close up on its own and not pose a threat. He said he's confident she won't need any procedures. I can't even tell you how that made me feel. I didn't know how scared of it I was all this time, until I wasn't scared anymore. It felt like a weight being lifted and I ugly cried all the way to WalMart. I had to just sit there in the parking lot and cry. Every time I thought I was okay, I'd think to myself "My baby won't have to get heart surgery" and I'd cry again. I finally got it together and was ready to go inside when the phone rang, and it was Ashley (loan officer) telling me the appraisal on the house was good and they were getting our papers ready to close. Alot happened that day, all good things, but Zoey's news was the highlight of it all, for sure.

So that's everything, I believe.

Mumble Jumble.

This is just another I'm running my mouth about nothing important blog.

Yesterday, my bra matched my panties and for a hot minute, I felt like I had my life together. I am always making sure that either my bra or panties match whatever outfit I'm wearing every day, but it's a very rare occasion that my bra and panties match each other,, and they match my outfit too. Winning!

So our wedding anniversary is this weekend, on the 13th. It'll be six years.
Six. Whole. Years... and I still like him. More than ever, actually.
My last marriage, I was soooo done a long time ago. We never made it to six years.
So this is a milestone in so many ways. To still be together at this point, happy, and more in love than ever, and to know the feeling is mutual... it just means everything to me.
I am beyond blessed to have that man. I don't know if I tell him often enough how much I appreciate him and everything he does for us, but I need to start. He needs to know.

Zoey is super into Peppa Pig and while the show itself is kinda annoying, her playing with her new Peppa Pig toy is adorable because she talks in the little british (I guess) accent like Peppa does.

Got on the scales this morning. 148.6 lbs!!   Finally back to my weight before we went on vacation and ruined all my hard work and clean eating. So naturally, I'm more motivated than ever now. I've even been buying more workout clothes on Poshmark, so that when I finally move back home and get back into the gym, I'll be all cute and shit. Until then, I'll be styling while walking the neighborhood looking for Pokemon.

Opportunity has presented itself to us yet again, as it seems to do. Kris said it's some kind of weird voodoo thing I do. Maybe it is, I don't know. This time it comes in the form of Aunt Kim complaining about how expensive rental houses are and not wanting to signa year lease and I said too bad she didn't tell us this a few weeks ago, she could have had this house. Long story short, she wants to take over our lease and wants us out of here by Sept. 23rd. She's already talked to Uncle Joe and Donna, but we have to talk to Kris's mom and things with grandad are rollercoasterish right now, so it's just difficult timing to be springing it on her so soon after we told her we were waiting until December. Yes, it helps us out because we're off the hook on this house as far as breaking lease. We may could possibly even get our deposit back. (Bonus, she said she could work it out with Bernie so that I don't have to paint everything!) So we would get to move back over there, and she gets a big house close to James that's a few hundred dollars cheaper than her current (small) house. So what's the problem? Kris can't decide what to do. He doesn't want to move in with her and us be cramped up in two rooms, but he doesn't want to keep renting. Soon the choices will narrow themselves down because there's only 1 house for rent in Satsuma and only 3 in Saraland. They won't be available forever. Or maybe they will, but we'll be out of time because Kim needs an answer by next week. I just wish a decision could be made one way or another. All the back and forth is annoying and disheartening. Tired of getting my hopes up for nothing. We're moving. No, we're staying. We're going to look at rentals, we cancelled. We're looking at houses to buy because they're getting us a loan, nevermind. (Okay, that one wasn't anyone's fault, and couldn't be helped or predicted.) Back to rentals, nevermind we'll stay here until December. Wait, we may move back now. It's too much.

Kids are being crazy today. Weather is preventing them from going outside to play, so they're wound up and bouncing off the walls. I hate that school over here doesn't start for another 12 days. Grr.
Better go negotiate with the terrorists, and by that, I mean bribe them with snacks to be quiet.

Confession.

I like it here, I do. I like being close to everything. I love the house itself.

But I want to go home.

I miss my friends just walking in the front door like they own the place.
I miss the small-town feeling, with Dollar Generals everywhere you look.
I miss friends being close enough to stop by, even if no one ever did.
I miss family being close. Close enough for game nights. I miss game nights.
I miss eating cheese dip and chips and drinking margaritas while the kids play on the ghetto playground that probably should have been torn down years ago because it's falling apart.
I miss feeling like I was where I was supposed to be. For now, anyway.

I can't tell him though. He asks me and says to tell him the truth, but I just can't. Because then he would do what he always does, which is find a way to make it happen, and I love him for that, for always wanting to make me happy. But going back is not what he wants or at least I think. I don't think he really knows what he wants yet. He deserves to be happy, more-so than I do. He's the one that makes all the money that pays for everything. If he wants to stay over here, then we should. He does so much for me, for all of us, and if he wants to stay here, then I can do this much for him.

For everyone obsessed with telling "the truth" about 50 Shades of Grey...

(Disclaimer: If you clicked on here to read this because you're one of the people described in the title, then you'll probably be offended. So either suck it up and keep reading, or  STOP NOW. I am going to be VERY straight forward, and it may hurt your feelings.) 

Did you actually read the books? No? Good, then shut up, your opinion is not valid.  If you did read it, then you're entitled to your opinion of it but just like any other form of religion, no one wants this shoved down their throat and if you honestly think your article is going to prevent anyone from seeing the movie, you're wrong.  Why? Let's get to that. Every article that's been in my newsfeed (and there have been sooo many, all written by different authors) the past couple of weeks about the books/movie have been written by people who have not even read the books, but feel completely compelled to judge it and warn everyone against it.  That's not very Christian, is it? Hmm... They're judging it because, let's see: It's pornography. He's forcing her to do sexual things. It's about a man forcing a vulnerable girl to obey him. It'll ruin your marriage."  Right?  WRONG. Let's address those issues.

"It's pornography."   Again, you didn't read it. Because if you did, then you'd know that it's not pornography. I mean, it may be to YOU, but in general, no. Just no. I've seen more than my fair share of porn, and lots of types too. (Please note that it was a long time ago though.) Nothing like that was in this book. Kinky stuff, yeah. But not porn.

"It'll ruin your marriage."  Uhhh, what? I can't think of a single person who had marital issues after reading it, but I do know people who became pregnant shortly afterwards. (With their husband, of course.) Was I personally turned on by it? Absolutely. I won't lie. And my husband thanked me for it. But did I expect things to change between us? Nope. Did I suddenly wish he was Christian Grey? Nope.  If you expected things to change in your marriage after reading this, or expected your husband to become like Christian Grey, then you have issues and you can't blame that on this book or any other book. Get real.

 "He's forcing her to do sexual things."    Again, negative. If you had read the books, you would know that she wanted to try them. She admitted to being nervous and even afraid, because it was something she'd never done. So they made up a safe word for her to say anytime she was even remotely uncomfortable with things. But he did tell her numerous times that she didn't have to do it.  But she did. She wanted to. And she LIKED IT. (ohhh the horror!) In fact, she liked it so much that it brought out her "inner goddess"  - a term she said quite frequently, to the point it got old actually. It got to the point where she liked being spanked. How many people in your real life do you know who like being spanked? More than would admit to it, I'm sure, because of prudish people like yourself.  (No offense, but it is what it is.)

 "It's about a man forcing a vulnerable girl to obey him."  I've already addressed the sexual aspect of this above, but he wanted her to do everything he said. Eat the foods he wanted her to eat, dress better than she was dressing, etc.  Basically, he was acting like every WIFE I know. Haha, but for real... Now had you judgemental people read the books, you would know that she defied him. Every single time. She was strong willed and stubborn and at some point, it caused them to split up because he liked his women a certain way, and she wasn't conforming to his standards. But wait, what happened? He got her back. He accepted finally that she was who she was, and he couldn't change that. And... wait for it... he liked her the feisty way she was.  Now who saw that coming?  I know who... open-minded people who don't judge something based on what someone else said.

I'm an open-minded person. I don't judge situations like those, or people who like things differently than me. And holy moly, I've done a few things that they've done in the book.  (In the words of Toby Keith: "How do you like me now?")  My point is this: all these Christians are spreading their high and mighty blogs around like wildfire, begging people not to see the movie because it's so bad and God won't approve and whatever, but all you're doing is proving the post we spread around last month about why people don't go to church... How about you stop being judgemental, and read the book before you form an opinion, okay? Until then, with all due respect, shut up about it. You begging people not to see this movie is a waste of your time. You don't even know the story. You only know what you read on the google search or the book cover. But obviously, any bookworm will tell you that's what they do to pull you in to make you read it.

I'll close with this:  Anyone who read the books most likely will go see the movie as well, regardless of what any blog says. I know I will. And I'll also be going to see Channing Tatum shaking his sexy body in July when the new Magic Mike comes out. And you know what will happen in my marriage? Nothing. Because I'm realistic. I don't have some dumb high-school expectations of how it should be. So judge me now, or judge me later. Or do the Christian thing and not pass judgement at all like it should be. I'm not judging YOU for thinking it's stupid. I'm just saying you should actually read it before you start preaching about it. Now that you know more about me and my opinions (and even some other things you may wish you didn't know), what you do with that information is your decision. If it's 'too much' for you, peace out homie. Zero fucks given.

One last thing: I still think Ian Somerhalder (see photo) should have played Christian Grey. Just saying.

Happy First Birthday, Zoey.

One year ago today, I was giving birth early to a miracle baby named Zoey. Zoey means "life." That's why we chose it, & it's fit since that day.
She was 4lb 8oz, with lungs full of fluid, and we were told she never would have made it until Friday when Dr. Lewis was going to do the c-section due to no changes in her growth. (That was a scary moment of realization, and I thank God for Dr. Trammell going with her gut on this. Also, because she said my uterus was so incredibly thin, going into labor on my own would have ruptured it for sure, killing both of us. She said it was so thin, it was like a window - you could see right through it, and she said she'll never forget that the rest of her life.) She was in an oxygen tent & on an IV for most of the first 24 hours of her life, and I didn't get to hold her until the next day.The hospital stay was pretty rough, and exhausting in a way I'd never known. Then we finally got to come home with a UV blanket for her jaundice.
Since then, she's experienced a lot. We knew about the hole in her heart since the 20 wk ultrasound during pregnancy, which they told us would close by birth, but then but found at her 6 month old cardiology appt that not only had it still not closed, there were actually two holes. Then, less than 2 weeks later, she was admitted to the hospital for a few days because we couldn't keep her awake. It was a terrifying time. Several tests, xrays, cathether, colonoscopy, bloodwork and other pokes and prods later, they determined it was intussusception - where part of her intestines gets sucked up inside the other part. But, being the trooper she is, she made it through that too and was back to her happy little self in no time. She's still pretty tiny for her age...she's exactly 17 lbs, no ounces. She just held her own bottle and fed herself for the first time four days ago, and still can't eat 'big people' foods, and she definitely doesn't sleep through the night. But to me, she's absolutely perfect and she hasn't let any of that bother her. She's probably the happiest-natured baby I've ever had.

Happy birthday Fattles.  I'm gonna go sob in a corner now. 

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery..."

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery."   That's what they say.

I say, MY ASS.  I say, whoever 'they' are that said that is stupid, and is probably the one doing all the imitating. Because no one who has ever been copied (excuse me, imitated) finds it flattering.
They find it pure fucking irritating. Or at least I DO.

Having someone imitate me - whether it be my fashion sense, my creativeness and the things I make, my hairstyle or color, my work, even my pictures, and sometimes just my personality in general - is annoying. Because every time someone imitates me, I LOSE A PART OF WHAT MAKES ME ORIGINAL.

And that pisses me off.

It's not flattering to me for someone to say "I want to be like you" whether they say it out loud or say with their actions. (Unless I gave birth to you, then by all means, you're pretty much entitled to be like me. Maybe not entitled, more like doomed.) I don't want people to be like me, in any way whatsoever. If I did, I would try to blend in. I try to stand out for a reason. I like being me. Respect that, and be your own person. It's okay to be inspired by someone, but do your own thing.

For the love of God, do your own thing. Stop doing mine. Leave what little bit of 'me' I have left, alone.

Time to reflect...

I'm not even sure where to start with this one, so I'm sure it'll be all over the place. Just bear with me. (Or is it bare with me? I wouldn't think so, that makes me feel like I'm asking you to get naked with me, and I'm not...) I was working on some Easter and wedding orders this morning since Kollin isn't here and listening to my iPod on shuffle, and came across a song that made me stop working and cry for a minute. Not a sad cry, but a happy, humble, grateful cry. It was tears of realization that I am loved.

"You find out who your friends are
Somebody's gonna drop everything
Run out & crank up their car
Hit the gas, get there fast
Never stop to think, "What's in it for me?" or "That's way too far..."
They just show on up, with their big ol' heart
You find out who your friends are."  

I'm only 11 weeks, 2 days into this pregnancy and already, it's been a huge learning experience. They say every pregnancy is different and sure, they are, but this one is really taking the cake. And if it weren't for certain people cheering me on and checking on me constantly, I don't know how I'd have survived it this far. No, I'm not being extreme or exaggerating, and I don't expect you to understand if you aren't one of those people because you most likely have no clue what's going on with me. The ones I thought would be here, have kinda vanished. No more dinner invites or texts, or anything for that matter. (Like pregnancy is a disease they could catch if they're around me.) Whatever though, live your life. I'm happy with mine. Just don't expect to pick up where we left off.

Then there's the other people. The ones who I've just met in the past year, some just in the past few months, and they have come to mean more to me than people I've known for years. Why? Because friendship is more than margaritas at the mexican place. It's being there when you're needed, even when I post statuses saying to leave me alone. It's the ones who dig through my rough outer shell to see the real me inside, and then love me anyway. They are the ones who matter most. They haven't taken no for an answer. They can tell the difference between a genuine "I'm fine" and a fake one, and refuse to accept it until I spill the beans, and then they comfort me. They come and get my kids when they know I'm sick or just need a couple hours to rest. They randomly drop off food because they know the smell of it cooking is too much, and feel bad for my poor kids being forced to eat sandwiches lol. They send me texts that say they're just thinking of me, or they love me, just because. They always check on me, even the ones not even close to me, (or in a completely different state!) to see if I need anything. I always say no regardless, because I can have Kris bring it home after work, but it's nice to know they care enough to offer. It's basically just an overwhelming (in a good way) support system, and I am so lucky to have each and every one of them in my life. I truly love you guys.

"Perhaps it's not blood bonds that make us family. It's the people who know our secrets and love us anyway, that are our family."  -- Gossip Girl.  (Yes, I just went there.)