discussion title:
WOW....it has been WAY too long!!!
Okay, so I have been gone for way too long and need to get everyone caught-up and I need to get caught-up on everyone. I am not even sure where to begin as so much has happened.
First, Joe and I have been having some issues and have been working through them which is the main reason I have been MIA. Thank God(literally) that Joe is such an amazing DH and willing to do anything to keep me by his side and not give up. I have been spending a lot of time at my parent's house but am starting to spend more and more at our home. At first it was devastating that I had to do it but it has turned into the best decision I have ever made. It really gave Joe the kick in the bum he needed to get his actions straightened out and start treating me like a wife NOT an employee or some woman that will bow down to their man. He has since done a complete turn around and is the amazing man that I married again. We are also starting marriage counseling on Friday to make SURE that we don't back track which is something Joe always swore he would never do since he isn't big on doctors, therapist, medicine, etc. We just want to make sure that we maintain the loving, fun relationship that we once had and by bringing a 3rd party into it we can keep each other accountable. While I have made mistakes as well it was just at a point that Joe wasn't treating me well and I had to take a stand for myself because no one else is going too. We basically started dating again and it has brought back all the reasons that we married in the first place and has been PURE BLISS!!!!!!!!!! :o) We also started a new rule that we each have to plan a date night once a month. The goal of planning the date night though is to make the other person feel special and do something they want. For instance, New Moon is coming up and I know Joe doesn't want to see it but he will more then likely make that a date night for us since he knows it is something I want to do. For this month the date night I am planning is going to be us watching the CMA's and me making homemade(from scratch) beef enchiladas which are Joe's favorite but that I don't make that often. Joe also has something planned for this Friday but I am not sure what it is which is exciting! Okay, I went on a longtime about all that but bottomline is that we are stronger emotionally/physically then we ever have been. I guess it was just a rough patch and my mom assures me that all marriages have them at some point but I assure her I pray we never have one this bad again! On the other hand it has made us realize what we have is amazing and we need to cherish each other because we don't want to lose our loves!
Second, my doctor approved me last Thursday to start back to work Monday. Well, I wasn't even at work for an hour when the boss called me in to inform me that my job had been sent to Guadlajara and that I was being laid-off. So, I will get full pay and full benefits through 1/8/10 and then I am officially unemployed. I definitely won't be looking for another corporate job though. I *might* look for something PT that I enjoy such as a nanny job that is just a few days a week or after-school hours. We(Joe and I) decided that we like the flexibility and freedom I have had the past months while on leave and that eventhough we will lose my income after the holidays that we can definitely make it on Joe's salary alone. We are NOT happpy with the way my company laid me off as my doctor ONLY sent me back to work because he thought it was best that I go back to having something to occupy my days and then BAM my company takes that away. Not much I can do about it though so I am thankful that I get the severance package that I do and have time through the holidays to just enjoy them and not stress about a job hunt.
Third, Bailey is amazing as always! She is just the joy of our lives and got me through some REALLY tough days over the past month. Literally, the day I went and packed a bag of my stuff not knowing if I would return home she gave us the most laughs and just really knew that we needed it! She is loving school and has yet to cry this year at drop-off or pick-up time. She is definitely a ham that knows when to turn it on. She is loving life and we have still been really lucky as far as getting such a sweet, well tempered little girl. She is also very into the holidays and all that we are doing for them. She knows that Halloween is over and that T-day comes next and that my mom's bday is on T-day. She will tell you that Turkey Day is next and Grandma's birthday is on the same day, then Christmas is next and that is Jesus' birthday so we need a cake. Then comes Daddy's birthday and then my(Bailey's) birthday is next and GiGi's(Joe's mom's) bday is the day after hers. She literally has it down to a science what comes after what from now through my sister(Jackie's) birthday in March. It is pretty funny to hear her talk about it all. She is also VERY into singing and dancing. She pretty much memorizes whatever song they teach them in school each T/TH and comes home singing it.
Fourth, as for TTC/fostering it has been put on the back burner but we have been bringing it back up this past week. We were trying to work on us because we didn't want to even start the foster classes if WE weren't strong as a couple. Now that we have worked through a lot we are not going to TTC but are definitely not going to prevent. Once the holidays are over we will approach the fostering program again as we still want to do it but want to make sure we stay focused on us and our families over the next few months.
Now that I have written a novel I hope ALL you ladies are doing well!!! I can't wait to get caught-up and stay caught-up with everyone! I can't tell you how much I missed you all but just couldn't bring myself to come here and air dirty laundry when I knew I might regret things I said in the heat of the moment. I am now glad I didn't as things are better then ever and I can report that things were bad but are now well again!
((((HUGS TO ALL))))
