Twelve Years Ago Today.......

This little Cutie came into my life and stole my heart



He has since taught me so much and grown into this handsome young man.

We will be celebrating here:



sigh, can I bring him home?



Happy 12th Birthday, Jakes!

We're going to have SO MUCH FUN!

I LOVE YOU, JAKES

COLD

Cold has griped most of the nation again.  Ok, its January and supposed to be cold.  But I am not enjoying it ONE LITTLE BIT.  I don't know why.  Its not like this is out of the ordinary for where I live.  It could be that as I get older, the cold gets harder to deal with.  Or it could be that I have a friend in AZ who keeps me posted on how WARM it is there. pphhfffttt!

Right now, I am keeping a CLOSE eye on the next storm eyeing up the Northeast.  They are predicting mainly rain and slush for my area and I hope that holds true.  Fingers crossed that its not that bad 4-letter "s" word!

On Saturday, we had a tug and barge head downriver, dodging the ice bergs at sunset.  It was pretty.



Tug and Barge at Sunset

We still have some ducks and geese that make the trip up the ice for corn

Isn't that GORGEOUS???

I am holding out hope that Spring is coming, SOON.

Dearest Momma

Dearest Momma,

I can't believe its been 12 years since you found your peace.  Where does the time go?  I know you are keeping an eye on us and I hope I am making you proud.  So much has happened this year, so much to share with you.

This year has not been the easiest for me in a long time.  I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel now and I know I will be able to survive this storm.

I know that family meant the world to you and you did everything in your power to keep it together.  I am ashamed to say that I apparently don't have that same feeling of family.  Maybe its the Gerwitz in me. 

Brother seems to have cut himself off from us.  Dad calls and he doesn't respond.  We don't even know if he is still living in the same place anymore.  I just hope that he is okay with his decision to cut himself off from us.  I hate how hurt Dad is by Brothers actions. 

I also have not kept in contact with your sisters and brother.  One does get tired of negativity and put downs, you know?

Jakes is growing like a weed!  He's almost as tall as me and when I stand next to him, I feel short.  I don't know how to go about talking with him about puberty.  And until recently, I don't think he would listen.  I will find a way, momma.

Dad's busy being stubborn about his health. Like we'd expect anything else from him?  Renie does her best to keep him in line but he makes it difficult at times.  You know Dad.  :)

There are two things I want to thank you for since you left us.

Thank you for watching over me in my search for help for Jacob and me.  Several times in the last few years, you have shown me wonderful people to help me and us together.  Those are the times I feel your presence the strongest.

Also, I wanted to thank you for wishing a child like myself on ME!  I'm extremely grateful you didn't wish TWINS on me!  Just so you know, your wish came true.  Jakes is SO like I was as a child, only worse in some ways.

I love and miss you everyday, mommy.  So many times I wish you could wrap your arms around me and make it all better.  You did that so well when I was growing up.

Your Loving Daughter,

Amy

The Science Fair Results

The Science Fair was held this week.  Son's project was to build two different types of roller coasters out of K-nex and determine which style is faster.  Check this post out for the first Coaster.  It ended up being a really cool project.  Unfortunately, I had to help build the coasters and I am not a good choice for working with picture plans and things that snap together.    Plus I have trouble imagining the finished product.  Son says its cause I'm a girl.

So, here are pictures and another movie of the second coaster:

here's how it all started

Spiral Coaster

spiral to your death!

The Movie:

The required Story Board

The best thing about all this............................................

HE GOT 3rd PLACE!!

I'm SO PROUD!!

Thursday Check In

What kind of blogger am I that doesn't blog everyday?  phft. Not a very good one.  So I am probably  going to take a break from blogging and recharge.  I do have a couple of posts banging around in my head and maybe I will be able to get them out of there over the weekend. 

But first a quick update!

Took Jakes to the Ear Specialist today.  He had an ear infection over Christmas and then there was swelling and yucky stuff around the tube.  Only in his right ear, which has always been the difficult ear.  So after 2.5 weeks of ear drops, there is still inflammation and the Dr wants to take the tube out.  He thinks the tube is causing the inflammation and irritation.  But on the plus side, Jakes is old enough that his ears should be grown into position so that everything drains as it should and we won't have infections or a need for tubes.  HOPE.

My Job.  Still haven't been paid and we are coming up on the close of another pay period.  And there is no word as to when we might get paid.  They are offering lay-off to anyone who wants to take one but you might not get hired back into the same position if at all.  So while I am pissed off at the treatment of the staff and would love to find a way to leave the company, I am afraid.  I checked my numbers for the amount of unemployment I can get and I can pay my bills on that.  I would then know that I will have an income coming every two weeks.  I also still have a savings account to pull from and then replace when I actually get paid from the company.   I don't know what to do.  So for now, I'm not doing anything.  I will give them until Monday and if there is still no word on the paychecks past or future, I will ask for the lay off.

The other thing is that I don't know if they will allow me to be laid off.  I am the only one doing my job and the only one trained to do my job.  I am the grant writer.  If I don't work, they don't get money coming in.  So, while I may ask for a lay off, it may be denied.  We'll see.

Jakes father is still being an ass.  I sent him an email with instructions for Jakes meds over the weekend and he is freaking out over giving it to him.  sigh.  I will explain to him the need once again, quoting the courts and the therapist and hope that he gives it to Jakes.

My dad had surgery last week (I completely glossed over it cause I was in court and I WON!).  He had a bump on his arm that the Dr thinks is cancerous.  If so, that will make 3 different kinds of cancer he has had.  He made it through surgery just fine.  I was more worried about the effects of the anesthesia on his heart than about the actual surgery.    But he was fine and is healing fine as well.  We'll find out the results of the biopsy next week when he gets the stitches out.

Well, that's my check in.  How're things on your end?

Gratitude

Today I will be grateful. I will start the process of turning today’s pain into tomorrow’s joy.

I have a lot to be grateful for in my life. I have wonderful family and friends who are there when ever I need them, sometimes even when I don’t need them. I have a son, who I love more than I can describe. I have the ability to fight for the things my son needs and WIN.

I should be grateful for my job as it usually provides me with the means to support myself and Son. But right now I am pretty disgruntled, as I am sure everyone in the company is. See, we are supposed to get paid every 2 weeks which was last Tuesday. But they didn’t have the money to pay us. And they have no idea when the money will be coming in to pay us with.

On Thursday, they paid the full timers half their pay and the part timers got all what was owed to them. But they still have no idea when the money will be coming in to pay us. And on this coming Friday, they will owe me for THREE weeks!

What they are doing is illegal and I along with the rest of the employees could file with the department of labor for this. But that won’t necessarily get us our back pay, it just might cost the company more money in fines and get me fired for reporting them. Plus the entire process takes at LEAST 10 days with the Department of Labor.

I am between a rock and a hard place. I need my job as long as there is a job. Now if they say leave, then I can file for unemployment and be able to live on that. I won’t be going to Hawaii in November but I will be able to put food on the table. I know that there will be money in the bank on a set date and I will be able to look for a new job.

While I am stressed over how to pay my bills and everything that goes with living, I am grateful for this little bit of stress. Nuts, you say? Of course I am! But this little bit of stress reminded me that I have lots to be grateful for.

For now, I have a savings account to dip into to cover expenses.   Gratitude!

Another reason is that my parents offered to loan me some money to help out while I am waiting for the paycheck to come in.   Gratitude!

Plus my neighbor Kathy, who also happens to be my landlord told me to pay her last, she can wait for my rent if necessary.  Gratitude!

AND a blogger/twitter buddy told me I should send my resume to her so she can share it with her hubs.  My biggest reservation with that is that I would have to move.  And not to somewhere warm!  lol  Gratitude!

Am I the luckiest person on the planet? I am so grateful to have these people in my life!

Thank you all SO much!

Now if I can just get my employer to cough up some money.

weekend wrap up

Its been a quiet weekend round here.  With the occasional giggle when I remember the court win.  Want some details?  Ok here they are.

1. Mothers request to reduce the child support GRANTED (the medical insurance premium actually went DOWN!)

2. Mothers request to medicate the child for ADHD GRANTED AS MODIFIED. I don't need the fathers consent to medicate Son for ADHD.  The judge said in his notes "It is clear from the Mother's certification that she has been concerned about Childs behavior for a significant length of time.  The Father only has Child two weekends a month and therefore the Mother is able to observe Child's behaviors on a more regular basis.

3. Mothers request to reimburse medical expenses is GRANTED.  He has 15 days to pay me what he owes for his portion of the co-pays.    Although he is court ordered to, I am not holding my breath.  He never pays unless I take him to court.  A$$hole.

4.  Mothers motion to have Father be responsible for court costs is DENIED.  oh well.  It was worth a shot.  This was the only thing I lost.  Tee he!

5. Father's motion  for an additional evaluation of Child is DENIED.  Tee he!  Of course, this would have made the 4th evaluation for ADHD that was done on Jakes.

6.  Fathers motion to have Child interviewed by the court is DENIED.  Duh.  They are lawyers, not doctors.

7.  Fathers motion to change transportation is DENIED.  And all because he wrote in his cross motion 2 sentences.  Had he argued his points in writing, the judge might have entertained changes.  In my response to his cross, I informed the judge that he moved over two years ago and never discussed changes and the judge tossed that in A/H's face!  So if A/H re-files on this, I don't think the judge will be inclined to make changes.  And I have lots of good arguments against changing things.

8.  Fathers motion to claim Child every third year for income tax purposes is DENIED.  Again, partially because A/H only wrote what he wanted with no details and mostly because its against the IRS rules and regulations.  The judge sited the IRS rules and if A/H re-files on this, I will also include that information in my cross.  Tee he!

9.  Fathers motion to change parenting time holidays and increase summer visitation time is DENIED.  I did consent to adding one week of vacation in the summer and for him to keep Jakes until 9:00 on Fridays and Sundays in the summer.

Ok, so only ONE of my requests was denied and I put that in there more or less to annoy A/H.  Had I been awarded the court fees, it would have been sprinkles on the icing on the cake.

ALL of A/H's requests were denied!  Tee he!  I WON, I WON!

Throughout the entire hearing, I think I only spoke 4 sentences.  The judge asked if I disagreed with anything and of course, I said Nope.  Perfect!  Well, I talked about agreeing to change the visitation.  It was funny to see the judge tell A/H that he's an idiot to oppose something that obviously his child needs to be healthy and successful in life.  The judge also told him that he needs to figure out how to follow the rules for filing the motion.  tee he!  I had to bite my tongue so I didn't giggle right there in court.

So Friday, Jakes had dinner with his dad, Neicy and I went furniture shopping (her, not me!) and then I came home and celebrated with Skittles Vodka!

Saturday, I did laundry, a quick clean on the house, yelled at the kid to get homework done and celebrated with Cherry Jolly Rancher Vodka while texting with my friend, HS in AZ.  He's going through a rough time.  I hope things start looking up for him soon!  He's a good guy and deserves a break.

Sunday, we kicked back and I yelled at Son to get more homework done.  There is more yelling and nagging going on again, we have an appointment with the Dr to see about changing up the medication.  While, its nothing like it was before Christmas, its still not productive for us.

I texted with HS again until he had to leave for errands.  He was bragging about the weather out there.  He was in shorts with the door open.  I'm here with layers and blankets and waiting for an ice storm.  sigh.

Monday, I spent with a book in my hand for the most part.   I haven't been this relaxed in a LONG time.

I have cooked dinner four nights in a row!  Two of them for the Compound.  Its great to get together with them for dinner.  Three generations of family at one table, nice.  I try to cook for them on Sundays because there are usually several nights during the week that we go out to dinner with them and as the "kid" I have to fight for the bill!  lol

Well, I'm going to go nag the kid to clean his room and make the rounds of your blogs!  Sorry I have been absent lately but I have been a little stressed.  There were days that I would head over, read your stuff and just couldn't come up with a comment.  I drew a blank.

Thank you to each and everyone who gave me positive words and out good thoughts and prayers out for me!  It paid off!