OK, well...we started out with me going to the IRS and Bob being a SAHD. Well, things have gotten more interesting from there. Mom and Dad have been considering for some time moving closer to us, so they could help with the boys (hence, the reason they moved 500+ miles). They are currently in a different town & school district, so this summer has proven very difficult since Mom has been keeping Cohen. Anyway, they decided to start looking at what was out there and planned to move sometime after school started since housing sales are always lower & prices will get lower as well. Surprise...they have found a house they've fallen in love with and decided to see what it will take to put their house on the market & buy this one. It's 3 minutes away from the elementary school!!!!!!! About 7 minutes away from us!!!!!

So now, it's to the point where Bob can go back to work whenever they finally get moved since the boys will get on & off the bus at Nan & Pap's house. The school has already started taking money out for the boys' after school care ($150 EACH)!!!! We'll have to wait and see how the next chapter turns out!

I keep getting more info & requests from the IRS. I swear I'm having to fill out 5,000 different forms. And I'm still not guaranteed anything since I have to get a background check, fingerprints, & tax checks! Don't foresee any problems, but I'm not giving my notice yet either...never know what types of freaky things can happen.

Well, for all of you that care, the buttscope came out fine (no pun intended!!). I'm paying for most of my activities this weekend, like not caring what I ate, sewing, cleaning, and playing in 100+* heat! Yes, we are still a/c free. Hopefully since Bob is off Friday & Monday this/next week, we'll be able to have someone in by July. I sure as hell hope so!!!! Don't know how much longer my weeny self can handle this! The boys helped Bob wash his truck for Father's Day (he's been trying to sell it to get something else). Of course, hot sun + fun in water = a REALLY bad sunburn!!!! Bob, not the boys...he was consciencious enough to put sunscreen on them!

I had a pretty good weekend. I went to the rheumatologist on Friday. Unfortunately she still doesn't know what's wrong with me. She's sending me for a couple different tests to see if they will bring a "TADA" to light. Right now, I'm in line for about 50 of the 100 types of arthritis and of course, we have to get the right one in order to pick the right medication for the job. Mom and I had a wonderful day on Friday. We left at 10am and got back at 730!!! Bob was hot...he didn't expect us to be gone that long (my doctor is notorious for 1 1/2 hr wait with a 1 1/2 hr appointment!!!) She changed some meds but nothing too drastic.

Saturday and Sunday were spend cleaning. Bob's been so busy with the boys and the furnace, he hasn't had time to do the semi-important stuff...laundry, picking up, etc. Sunday was dinner with the parental units, so that's good.

Yesterday we took the boys to Alabama Adventure (the KI of the south). They LOVED it. Benjamin even rode the big boy rides with Bob. I got some major sun though, so my shoulders and chest are still a little warm and red today. I probably blew my diet since nothing I ate yesterday was OK. Especially the turtle sundae I had at DQ!!!! Oh well, it was worth the splurge to see the boys' faces as they rode those roller coasters. I'm 181 today though!!!!!!!!!!!! 7 pounds down, only 41 more to go!!

Not only did our furnace/ac come on a 40' long semi (which will NOT fit anyway up our driveway), but Bob also received his grout gun (a really cool invention that puts the grout in the seams...with all our tiling projects, we needed this YEARS ago). We also go our new upgraded cell phones. OK, I've never thought I could love a material thing, but this phone is like a computer about the size of a business card. Since I'm so losing my mind (thank you Arthur Itis!!), I have my whole life on a flash drive. Now I can keep it on my phone with a back up on my computer. Ahhhhh, technology. The tree guys have taken another two loads of trees (for all of you playing at home that makes 6 loads of trees). So, we'll be getting our check shortly for all the timber...more Christmas!!! And I'm so excited, Mona was at the house yesterday!!!! Apparently she's been there for a week, but with all the boxes and other crap around the house I didn't notice until yesterday, so it just topped off Christmas in May!!!!

Benjamin has four more days of school and excited to beat hell!!!! He is such a social butterfly. Cohen has been back and forth to Nan & Pap's since Bob's been busy with trees and furnaces and grout, OH MY!!! So he's getting pretty spoiled for his next three month stint at the parental units.

I got to fabric shopping yesterday for a couple of new orders (banners...they are going to be SWEET!!!!)...sorry Traci, not rubbing it in :o) I plan to get my T-shirt quilt done this weekend. Since I'm feeling a bit better I haven't been sleeping at lunch...I'm been doing Quilted Memories projects...it almost makes the first 5 hours worth it!!!!

We moved to Alabama November 1, 2005. Bob had come down and found an apartment and got a seven month lease. As a stay-at-home mom, I had nothing better to do than search the web for a house right...(read: no 20 neighbors upstairs or roaches from hell!!!!) We started looking at our now house in December. After all the trials and tribulations of buying through VA repo, we bought our house in March 2006. Of course, we knew it needed a lot of work and didn't have a working furnace...it literally had NO a/c cause someone stole it for the copper. We got all kinds of quotes to replace it with the lowest being about $12,000!!!! Yes, it's quite a large house with a finished basement.

We worked on it until our lease was up in May. I have been living on subfloor (you know the floor below the REAL floor) since then. Only the kitchen, laundry and hall bath have new tile. It's nice when you spill things cause it doesn't stain the carpet, hehehe!!! Until the beginning of 2007, the boys were able to dance in the rain...in the house!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But Bob and I got up on the roof and fixed that problem. I believe the roof is my favorite place in the house ;o)

The last two summers were torrential. I never realized how sick I really was until I spent last summer in 100+ degree heat for days (and nights) on end. We finally broke down and bought air conditioners for the bedrooms. I found a deal from a company in Kentucky. Bob got an awesome unit for $3,000 and is putting it in himself!!!! It was delivered today...we just ordered it TUESDAY!!!!!

Benjamin is one game away from being the league champions in baseball. He is sooooo excited.

Bob ordered our new cell phones from AT&T yesterday ;o) and he ordered our furnace and AC!!!! It should be here over the weekend or early next week!!!! Of course, he's still not talking to me...I'm getting all of this info via text messages and emails...don't ask!

I'm still feeling like crap, more mentally than anywhere else. It's rainy...

I worked a whole 2 hours before I left today. I was so tired, I was almost passing out at my desk. Yeah, real comforting thinking I drove an hour home that way!!! It's still storming, saw on MSN where the Southeast is getting tornados. We really need to get these beautiful trees out of the front yard before anymore of them decide to fall on the house...Allstate really doesn't like that!

I got my embroidery machine today and not even in the mood to play with it. Tomorrow is baseball, Sunday is Easter at the parents' house. My grandmother finally goes back to Ohio Monday...thank goodness for Mom!!!

My hubby was so nice to take the boys to Walmart to get groceries so I could have some peace and quiet. Also, so I wouldn't have to go on Sunday...sleep in day for me :o) Lately, every day possible is sleep in day for me. I have such a wonderful hubby...I'm such a bitch and still puts up with me, finds me sexy, and wants to do things for me. I feel so horrible that when I do feel good I have so many other things to get done, he gets shafted and put to the end of the line. I hope someday we can finally get back from whence we came. I miss the way we used to live, love, etc. He does a great job controlling me (and Cohen) though. Don't know who else could conquer that chaos or would even want to...Love you, Bobert...

Yes, it's that time of year again...we get to play in the pollen falling off the pine trees. Ohioans may not understand this because I had never seen anything like this before, but EVERYTHING gets covered in this fine mist of yellow pollen. Poor Bob's going to be blowing his nose every three minutes for a couple weeks.

NEW Rheumatologist: I have an appointment with my new one at 1:15 on April 14!!! Of course, you know it's bad when they tell you to call before the appointment to see what time you should ACTUALLY be there since she is habitual runner-over. So, it will probably be at 3...Next time I'll make sure to have a morning appointment. But I'm sooooooo excited; I heard about this lady from a gal at work. The doctor is really excited about "weird" diseases, etc. So I should be her entertainment for a while. I made the mistake of actually writing down all the medications I've tried, the syndromes/diseases I've been diagnosed with, surgeries I've had, and symptoms I have and how often. I was SHOCKED!!!!!!!!! I think they might need to check me for hypocondria. I was pissed to find out that the two doctors my GP sent me to weren't certified by the American Rheumatology Association; HELLO!!!!! We need to find out what's going on and you're going to send me to the Shot Nazis just because they are "in your hospital network"? UGH...I thought I was over that already.

Trip to Ohio: I had such a good time with my bestest friends in the world. I got to see Becky get her Outstanding Woman of Clinton County Award. I also got to see my Greg & Sheryl...oh, and I can't forget the ten doggies over the weekend!!!! I remember now why I like dogs so much - People don't look at you funny if you have a dog in a cage!!! The boys were actually really good on the trip up and back. I slept most of the way, but they were amazingly quiet and sane. Not either of which we get often (or often enough).

Etsy: I got soooooo much done yesterday. I sewed two strapless dresses and one top. I still have to finish my sorority quilt by Thursday, but I don't see a problem with that...Then I have a clergy robe (yeah, the Anti-Christ making anything that has to do with church - Hey, I take Godly money too), two strapless dresses and two jackets along with an order of four more t-shirt quilts (possibly seven)!!

Birthday: Ok, Sunday was the birthday...we were driving home from Ohio most of it. I don't know how 32 is going to effect me yet, but so far, so good. Guess it's just like any other day anymore. The boys made me a gigantic card from folded poster board...Bob got me some Miracle Grow & pots for my roses and a pedicure!!! Guess he knows if I feel good, he's more likely to get laid!!!

Well, this is Bob's first day as a stay-at-home dad. The economy had gotten bad enough that we decided it would be good to reduce daycare & gas costs. Plus it'll provide him time to do some well-needed rehab on the house. THIS may be the year we get heat and AC PEOPLE!!!!!

Benjamin is now med-free. I'm not saying it's the easiest in the world, but I hate stifling his creativity. I just read an article on "unschooling" children at unschooling.com talking about embracing the crazy side and running with it for a while. You think Einstein would've been half of who he was if they kept telling him to follow the rules????

Cohen is in heaven. He is so excited to be staying home with daddy (i.e., the one wrapped around his little finger).

We're spending my birthday in Ohio. Ms. Becky is being celebrated and Ms. Sheryl is being invaded by me. The boys are going to Bob's family's...hehe, free me!! I can't wait though; I haven't seen these two best friends in over 2 years!!!!! Hopefully I can get in some other people while we're there but we're not staying long...Benjamin's on Spring Break & has a baseball game Monday. So, we'll leave Friday and on our way home Sunday.

New job's going OK. Still pining for the jobs at University of Montevallo....hello!!!! Less than 5 miles from the house, hook me up. All you praying people out there need to start for me!!!!!

With the economy taking its toll out on every industry, Bob and I decided it’s time for him to be a stay-at-home dad at least for a few months. We are hopeful by June 1 the stimulus package will be approved and the buying of cars starts again at least to get us through to the winter. June 1 is the first day of Summer Camp at their Elementary School. They can go there together since Cohen will be in KINDERGARTEN this fall!!!! Ahhhhh, no more daycare payments!!! Cohen is very excited about the decision. Of course, Cohen has Bob wrapped around his little finger, so he coddles him a bit. He stayed home with him almost eight months last year when Bob was laid off, so he knows how it’s going to be being back with dad full-time. During Benjamin’s baseball practices/games, each week Cohen and I are going to check out a book from the library on how to draw. His Papaw in Ohio gave them a wonderful art supply set for Christmas one year. So he and I are going to learn how to draw some different things. He’s gained homework every night. One reason was because Benjamin does, so it wasn’t fair Cohen would lollygag around the house, turn the TV on, etc. Another reason was because he reads and writes upside down and backwards! So every night, I use a highlighter and write his name, letters, numbers, etc. on a writing pad; he then traces the highlighter with a pencil to see how to write correctly. I’m sure there will be a couple nights we stay home and do Mom-mom/Cohen things (laundry, he loves to help with laundry and Mom-mom trying desperately to get two quilts done in a little over a month). I got an Etsy request to do two t-shirt quilts. So I’m going to start putting those together soon since I need to have them back to her by March 28. She’s getting married on 4/4/09 (which will be our 11th wedding anniversary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and wants to have that as her gift to her new hubby.

Benjamin is not too happy about the new arrangements. He likes being social at school (or just not punished at home). I feel so sorry for this child. If there’s something Bob and I fight about most, it’s the raising of Benjamin. Between ADHD-Impulsive, outbursts, misunderstandings and his ability to be nothing but literal, we have a hard time explaining things to him and get him to understand why things are the way they are. Benjamin will be riding the bus to and from school (which is NOT happy about). But he will have practice three nights a week until games start; then two games a week (one always on Saturday) starting March 23.

This will give Bob a chance to work on some of the projects which have been stalemated at home. I’m hoping to be able to put away money each week, so we can buy things he needs to finish projects we started so long ago. He will also be able to run Benjamin to all his baseball practices and games!!!! He will also be able to have the house clean, dishes washed, laundry done and put away and I can actually start enjoying my weekends!!!!

I'm just in a mood to screw off, so I decided this is as good of a time as any to post. I start my new job on February 2, 2009!!! Gwen (my new, ultra-cool boss) already has a project lined up for me. My office is on the 5th floor with a wall of windows and a DOOR! Yes, you heard me, a door!!!! Don't have that at the City! The pension I've collected since starting with the City will be used to buy a NEW FURNACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You see that y'all. Heat in the winter, air in the summer...I don't know what I'll do with myself...

I started on Wellbutrin again today in conjunction with my Prozac; don't worry, I haven't killed anybody...yet! I'm hoping it will help me lose weight again while I'm at it.

Benjamin's been bumped up on his medicine and doing well so far. I keep thinking I'll be able to figure him out one of these days, but I have yet to be successful. Benjamin is a literalist; this doesn't help me when he learns important historical events at school. The other day we were in Wal-Mart (we live in the South remember) and he said, "What do you think I am, your slave?" Needless to say we had a conversation later about certain topics learned in school.

Cohen is coming into his own right. He gets fascinated about the subjects he learns in school. I can't tell you how many times I've had to answer the question, "Is this healthy?", in response to something on his plate or about to go into his face.

Bob's still waiting on the other car dealership to call. Don't know if's the best deal in the world, but hey, ya never know until you try.

That and the Prozac helps a bit when I remember to take it!!!!

NOTE: Please understand, in most government arenas, it takes FOREVER to get someone interviewed, selected, hired, tested, and placed...please read on:
Tuesday (1/6) I had an interview with Jefferson County Department of Health (www.jcdh.org); it went splendidly!!! I was the only one she interviewed; she offered to see if the Personnel Board would approve me for more money and sent me on my way. It went so well, I even learned she has family in Massachussetts & Wisconsin and her birthday is February 15! Wednesday (1/7), before 8am, she called to say she was sending my request for more money and we'd wait til they respond (sometimes taking up to two weeks). I also had my second set of hip shots that day (which my bruises still haven't wained). Friday (1/9), she called to let me know the Personnel Board had ALREADY approved my hire at my higher rate and they'd begin the process on Monday. As soon as my supervisor came in on Monday (1/12), I gave her the news and put in my three week notice. I studied really hard yesterday (1/13) and took my urine test around noon. Now I'm just waiting for the O.K. and for my last day of January 30.

Other news from around the house: We survived the full moon. Benjamin got a couple orange squares and Cohen's being whiny, but I believe we are over the hump! Tomorrow (1/15), I take Cohen to get assessed by the psychometrics regarding his hearing, speech and reading/writing upside down and backwards issues. Bob has an interview Friday with Hoover Toyota, a local car dealership doing more business than his current VW dealer. Benjamin and I are off on Monday for MLK Day, so we've scheduled doctor's appointments for most of the day; we go see his psychiatrist for his bi-monthly appointment. Tuesday, the City of Birmingham has shut down to celebrate Barack O'Bama's inaugeration...so Bob and I are taking a playdate since he's off as well. We're doing some brunch, looking around at some consignment shops, etc. Just a day for us to be together since we don't get that much now.

Well, the Assistant Director of the Daycare's husband works as the General Manager at a local Toyota dealer. We've discussed sales and all for a while, but it wasn't until Tuesday she offered to take Bob's info to her husband. I dropped off his card last night and he's expected to be calling him today for an interview!!!!!!

Stats:
Toyota - sold 180 units last month, 16 on Saturday and 11 yesterday.
Bob's current VW employer - sold 180 units last month, 2 on Saturday, and don't know about yesterday.