String's Atkin's Journal (Please Comment)

[luvmydogs]

Oh Beth! That is just unbelievable about your car! I'm sorry you have no proof as to whose fault it was--it seems justice needs to be served in more ways than one.

It breaks my heart that you and you family are going through such a difficult time. I've said a prayer that today brings you all hope and peace and strength.

God Bless You, Beth.

 

[CheapMom]

Jeez Beth- I am sorry for what you are going through. Are the police going to pay a visit to MIL?
It is possible that while one (or many) houses in the neighborhood are not properly water-sealed that others are fine. There was a neighborhood in the news here where they said 70% of the houses in the development were faulty. You may want to call the media if you feel the builder was negligent even if they don't have a legal responsibilty at this point they may make some concessions in the interest of public relations.
I can understand with all of Katie's sensitivies that you are stressed about the possibilty of mold...
Good luck sorting all this out.
Do something nice for yourself today.
Mary

 

[traceycooper]

Hi Beth, i'm so sorry to hear your news, i'm sure things will sort themselves out. In the mean time take it easy & take care of yourself & your family. I will send you some prayers, pixie dust & hugs

 

[Strings]

Hi All,

For some reason, I'm not stressed today. Katie had a couple of asthma attacks last night. She is getting a cold. Well, she is still asleep at 940AM. I decided she needed rest more than school today. Of course this means no Y for me today, but I think Katie will be taking a bike ride with me walking today. It will be a good way to ease back into healthy living.

As for the house, we aren't making any decesions until spring. We have a colonial. It is the bilevels that seem to have the most problems. The comany was bought out by another one, and it has been 10 years since they were built. Statute of limitations is 7 years in mi. We are going to look at the market in the spring, and decide then. Won went up and looked at the house, pulled back a piece of siding this morning, He didn't seee any damp or mold, so it isn't an emergency. If we move, we'll have to paint the outside, replace the carpeting on the main floor, and paint the first floor, probably $7000 vs. $10,000 to fix. We would do a home equity loan to pay for it, but we have decided I need to go back fulltime temporarily. Right now, we are money in/money out. Our savings is now gone, and we will go into debt over this. I will do weekend cadre. I will work 12 hours Fri/Sat/Sun. I work for 36 and get paid for 40 hours. Won would have Katie Sat and Sun. He would drop her off at school, and I would pick her up at noon. I can get a 3 hour nap before picking her up, and she usually needs a nap on Mondays anyways. It isn't perfect, but we'll make it work. It will mean that I only get to the Y 4 days a week.

My car goes in to get painted tomorrow. We have taken to calling it the B-mobile. The police did say that they were going to talk with PG. Nothing will come of it. I have lost faith in justice. FIL comes home today. Won plans on talking with him. I am hoping he at least pays our deductable.

Katie just woke up. I'll catch up on journals today.
Beth

 

[septbride2002]

Oh Beth. When it rains, it pours. I am so sorry this happened to you. Will your insurance cover the damage to your car? I'm also sorry to hear about your house - although maybe this is God's way of giving you a push to move out of your house. Like you said PG would not know where you lived then and maybe you could relax a bit more.

I'm sending lots of and your way!

~Amanda

 

[toystoryduo]

Oh Beth

I am so sorry that you have had to deal with all of this. I am sending some major prayers your way today. I hope that everything works out for you and your family. In the meantime, please take good care of yourself. Give yourself some time to just do "Beth" things whether that be reading a book, going to the mall, or whatever else gives you happiness, relaxation, and peace.

Take good care of you, sweetie!

Tracy

 

[AuroraluvsPhillip]

Hugs to you Beth, and as others have said, take care of yourself, especially doing 3 12's in a row. I remember when we first bought our current house, I had to take a 2nd job perdiem in cardiac stepdown to make extra $ for the mortgage. It was tough, especially doing nights full time with little ones, but you know what kept me sane? My workouts!!! I remember going out for a run at 7-8pm, showering, and then heading into Boston for my shift. I always was eating very healthy back then, probably the healthiest I've ever eaten. My good habits back then did help...of course I was in my early 30's too, that helped!

Thinking of you at this difficult time,
Jean

 

[lulu201]

Oh, Beth, I'm almost in tears here thinking of all that you've been going through. You sure have had more than your share to deal with. . .I'm so sorry . Still, you know that you're a strong, determined woman and you'll deal with what life hands you. Like everyone has said, though, make sure that you take some time to allow yourself to release stress. Goodness knows you're having tons.

, honey. Hang in there.
Erin

 

[wilderness01]

to you Beth. Hang in there. You are so strong and things will work out. Allow some quiet time for you when able especially now since you will be working 3 12's in a row. Boy that is hard so you will need to get your rest. We're all behind you Beth and you are doing a great job coping with way more than you or anyone should have to deal with.

 

[Strings]

Hi Guys,
Thank you for all the support. I called work, and the schedule is set through Thanksgiving, so I may pick up extra shifts here and there, but I won't be full time until then. I may call the ICU and see if they have anything for me on the days I want, but I hate working with them. They at superior and condesending. We'll see.

Yesterday was good. I was Op, except for some lc ice cream. Katie and I went for our walk, but she only wanted to do 1 loop instead of 2, so it was 1 mile. Better than nothing.

Today is dance class. Katie is feeling much better. She just has a chronic cough at the moment. We are being faithful with her inhaler use. We'll then go out to lunch and pick up a bday present for a kid in her class. Katie is the only girl invited to Joshua's party. I told her she didn't have to go, but she had a response for me! "Mommy, Joshua isn't my boyfriend, but I may meet some cute boys at the party" I blame the Disney princesses. They all get married. I thought I would have todeal with this when she was 14 not 4. Heaven help me when she is a teen.

I plan on goin to the Y this afternoon. I'm not planning on doing weights because I slept wrong. My back is a little touchy. I'll do some time on the treaddie. No idea how long I'll go. I'm playing it by ear.

Have a good one,
Beth

 

[CheapMom]

"Mommy, Joshua isn't my boyfriend, but I may meet some cute boys at the party"

OMG- She is 4 right! That is a trip!
My Bridget is the "girl buddy" in her class too. She plays rough and tumble games at recess and twice has been invited to all boy parties. She also is a bit boy crazy but I would say she was a late bloomer compared to Katie as her first crush was not until the ripe age of 6!!!
Have a great day, Beth-
Mary

 

[toystoryduo]

Good morning Beth ,

Your Katie is such a cutie! I had to laugh when you said that you blame the Disney princesses. Too funny!

Great job staying OP yesterday and getting that walk in with Katie.

Hang in there, Beth! You are a strong woman and God will help you get through this too!

Take good care of you!

Tracy

 

[Princess Michelle]

Beth, you're daughter is hillarious!

I hope you have a great day!

 

[sharoncity]

Hi Beth!

Just checking in on you. I hope you have a great day and that your back is "up to snuff" by tomorrow!!

TTFN-
Sharon

 

[DoeWDW]

Dear Beth, I'm sending more . You certainly have had more than your share of stressors to deal with. All you can do is take one thing at a time, one step at a time and just keep going. Of course the other option is a winning Powerball (lottery) ticket! Well, we can all dream!

Katie is one smart cookie, just like her Mommy! She sees this party as an opportunity! My DD was always the rough and tumble tomboy who played with trucks & bugs with the boys. She hated pink and Barbie - she even bit Ken's head off to prove it! Enjoy your girly-girl!!

Wish there was a better solution to your finances than you working 3 12s during each weekend! However, I admire you for doing whatever it takes to be home with Katie when Won is working.

Keep your head up, Beth!

 

[LAinSEA]

Beth:

Sorry that it is "raining" again in Michigan. You have way too much on your plate right now and just don't need anymore stress.

After going through the siding process this spring - and finding all kinds of builder problems too (our home is 12 years old) - I know what you are going through. We had one wall (on the south side) and the chimney (on the north side that goes up by our Master bedroom) that were terrible with mold & mildew. When the old LP siding came off, we had to replace framing, put on new plywood, new vapor barrier, and then the new cedar siding. I have terrible allergies and asthma too - I have not been as bad since the old siding came off when I am at home! Mold might be your family's problem too...symtoms can almost feel like a cold or flu bug that just doesn't go away.

I am so happy that Katie is enjoying dance classes - especially Tap! It is a good combination with ballet because it is more active and OK to make noise. When my niece Charly was Katie's age, she lived with us. She is a huge perfectionist! We got to where she wouldn't ski a run if she thought she'd fall - not because it would hurt physically, but that it would hurt her pride! I had to start falling...failing...making mistakes, all on purpose to make her see that it is OK to not be perfect. Take a look at how hard you are on yourself (and yes, you are), and think how Katie might be picking up on that. (BTW, I'm hard on myself too and know how hard it is to let go of perfection.)

I'm wishing you peace and calm for the rest of the week...

-Laurie

 

[Strings]

Well today has been interseting. Katie did a great job in ballet, but she seems to fall apart in tap. She was getting very frustrated. I think part of it is that they are back to back and just before lunch. I think the other part is that she is too young. I forget that she isn't even 4 1/2.Her teacher thinks that she could do it in a different time period. The only other class is Monday 545-630. Won, Katie, and I had a talk. She isn't having as much fun in tap and thinks it is too hard. We have decided that she will withdraw from tap this year, and she can try it again next year. I want dancing to be fun for her, and I am afraid that by pushing her now, she won't enjoy any of it. We left it up to her. She could try the other class, or she could wait a year. She chose to wait. I am proud of her.

Katie was wiped after lunch, so we took a nap instead of going to the Y. I WILL go tomorrow. Katie can go to school tomorrow, so no excuses.

Laurie, I do know that I am hard on myself. It is something I keep working on. I am trying to show Katie that trying your best is all we ask of her, but she is a perfectionist too.

I'll try to get to more journals tonight, but I'm pretty tired.

Have a good evening,
Beth

 

[DoeWDW]

What a wonderful, supportive family you are!! I think it's great that you talked about how Katie was feeling as a family, explored her options, let her decide and then respected her decision. You and Won should pat yourselves on the back! I've seen way too many kids that have been pushed in their activities. Bravo for handling this situation so well!!

I'm glad you both got a good nap in yesterday! Hopefully you'll have a good workout at the Y and send some of that stress packing!

Keep going, dear Beth, one step at a time!

 

[sharoncity]

Beth - I think Katie made the right decision! And the time of the class makes all the difference. When my DD was that age, she took dance on Sat mornings. I would have to drag her out of the house kicking and screaming, but she had fun once she got there. Then I figured it out - she just didn't want to leave the house Sat AM. I worked full time, so she was up and out 5 days a week by 7:30 AM. Sun was church, so she had no days to just relax in the morning. As soon as I switched her to an afternoon class it made all the difference! So wait the year and really look at what time of day is best for Katie and I think she will do much better. That one year of growth makes all the difference maturity wise as well.

I hope you have a good exercise routine today! That will definitely help with the stress and make you feel positive.

TTFN-
Sharon

 

[luvmydogs]

Hi Beth!

I was catching up on your journal and had to laugh at Katie's "boyfriend" comment! My ds9 started "girltalk" around that age and it has only gotten worse! We have girls that regularly cruise our house on their bikes and yell, "Chriiiiiiiiis...you're soooooo cuuuuuuute..." I can't imagine what the next several years will bring--that boy's head is already so big that he can barely fit through the front door!

Congratulations on staying OP this week--I know it would be hard for me not to give in to some comfort food if I were going through everything you are at the moment. Way to go for staying so committed!

I hope you're having a Happy Hump Day!