New house and move

So we are finally into our new house.  It has been very stressful but it is done.  Mostly done at least.  I am still unpacking. 

I was finally able to work everything out with the realtor for our previous place.  That office was being horrid.  I think everything is working out fine though. 

As for the move, it was hectic.  The movers did a fast job but they broke some of our stuff.  My sons dresser is destroyed.  One of the movers tried to move it DOWN THE STAIRS all by himself.  Well let's just say the dresser took a tumble.  My nice cryatal pitcher was broken and my dresser was chipped.  Our Rockband drums are now not operational and a chipped glass shelf in my husband's Mimi's antique curio cabinet from Guam.  It is estimated at about $2000 worth of damages.  We will see how that goes. 

Anyway, all teh stuff got delivered and I have been unpacking and organizing EVERYTHING.  My husband had his surgery so he cannot walk.  Thus he is no help at all.  At least last time I moved, when he was in Iraq, I had some help.  I had some really great firneds help me out.  This time it was just me and my 10 year old son unpacking it all. 

Well now my son is visiting family 3000 miles away so I am without him too.  I certainly do miss him.  He called me early this morning to tell me he had gone fishing with my Grandpa james...his great-grandpa, and he caught "five big ones".  He also got to go to a mud bogg tonight.  I am so glad he is having fun.  Actually, I am kind of jealous. 

Nonetheless, the living area is completely finished.  The bedrooms still need a lot of work.  I mean a lot of work.  But I have the pictures on the wall and that always makes it feel like home. 

Affection for Gretchen

I have not written in a while.  I have been so busy with life.  I will begin writing again soon.  Hopefully daily.  However, this has to be posted.  I want to spread the word.

A lady I went to school with and knew my whole life has breat cancer.  The expenses are hard.  Please follow the link and donate if you can. 

http://www.giveforward.com/affectionforgretchen

I am an Angel

So I got a temporary job last week.  After months of searching I was hired to be a cashier on a temporary basis.  I am super excited as I always wanted to work for this company.

I was hired as a cash wrap associate at Victoria's Secret during the 2012 semi-annual sales event.  I hope I can impress them and do a good job because I want to be kept on permanently.  I love the products.  It is so easy to sell products and give personal testimony on products I actually use and love.  I use so many of these product.  Everything from the undergarments to the perfumes.  I have my favorites in all of the departments. 

Currently my favorite bra is the Dream Angels Add 2 cups Push Up.  I have it in this pattern...

I went to three different stores before I found this pattern in my size.  I want to try the new Knockout Bra but I have not purchased it yet.  I might get one during semi-annual.  I am still undecided about it.  I will probably get it though.  Sometimes it is nice to get something for me and even though I do not shop often, some days I just have to get treat myself.    

In fact, today I spent money on products before I could get out the door when my shift was over.  They only had one pair of my favorite PINK lounge pants (Boyfriend cut) in my size so I HAD to buy them before someone else did.  I needed these pants.  I also had to get a matching top or it would have been pointless.  I typically do not buy things for myself because I always think my husband or son might need something.  However, it felt nice to spoil myself for a little while.  And I got some lotions too...now I smell SUPER pretty and I glitter just a little bit!!! 



For some reason this job excites me.  I cannot wait for Tuesday when semi-annual begins.  I will have an 8 hour shift that day.  I expect it to be super busy.  Just the way I like work to be.  Slow days are boring.  However, I will not be boring because all my new lotions will make me sparkle! 

Little One's Extracurricular Activities

As promised I am going to try to catch up on the happenings in my life recently.  I guess the easiest place to start would  be with my son.  He has had a lot of activities going on lately.  He has been doing orchestra all year and recently began track and field.  Both of his activities had events this week. 

On Monday, June 4th he had his final recital for the year.  When he began orchestra this year, I was shocked that he chose orchestra over band.  I let him make the decision on his own so when he came home with a note stating he had chosen to play the viola, I was a little worried.  I was not looking forward to all the hours of practice.  I thought the sounds coming from the instrument would be terrible until he learned it well.  Honestly, I thought it would sound like a screaming dying cat.

Fortunately, he picked up on how to play the instrument very quickly.  In just a short month he was playing sounds and I could tell what songs the sounds were making.  It was not perfect but it was recognizable.  In the beginning he was just plunking the strings but soon was able to play well with the bow. 

His first recital was back in February.  He did a good job but you could tell the first year students were very new to their instruments.  It was terribly cute.  However, just four months later, the children played a few of the same songs at the second recital that had been played during the first recital.  Oh my goodness, the improvements were amazing.  I was a very proud Mama. 

At the end of the recital we turned in his instrument.  His instructor asked if he was returning next term.  Sadly, we are moving and he will be in a different district.  When we informed her of this news, I thought his instructor was going to cry.  She stated she was losing one of her best players and made me promise to keep him involved in music.  She said he had a lot of talent and great potential.

The next morning, which would have been regular orchestra practice time, they were supposed to have a party to end the lessons.  My son was unable to attend this party because he had Track & Field breakfast at the same time the orchestra party was underway.  Since the breakfast was where the children were to pick up their team shirts he had to miss the orchestra party.

He had started to run track about 4 weeks ago.  Tuesday, June 5th was his first and only track meet.  This was also the same day as my husband's surgery so I had to try to figure out how to be around for both events...but that is a different blog lol.  There was no way I was going to miss his track meet.  It was important to both my husband and myself that one of us be there to support our little guy.

I was able to make it to the field just in time to see his event.  He was participating in the Long Jump.  He managed to jump 6'10".  That is about 2.5 times longer than he is tall. 

We are so proud of his efforts and his accomplishments.  If he keeps practicing he could be great at either one of these things.  Who know, he could have  a seat at Juilliard or a spot in the Olympics someday.  We just plan to nurture him and help him live up to his potential. 


SIDE NOTE:  He has been incredibly helpful since my husband's surgery.  He even warmed up dinner tonight because I was at work when it was time to eat.  I am so glad he is willing to help!

Absense

Sorry for not posting any blogs lately.  I have so much news to share.  I just have to find a few minutes to share it all.

• hubby's surgery
• son's recital
• new job
• moving to new home
• results from my latest hearing tests
• son's track meet
• personal gossip/drama

Lots to share.  And I promise I will.  Hopefully, by the end of the week I can have a blog for all of these topics.

Terror

So a few weeks ago I finally got into the doctor about the problems I am having with my ears.  I thought it was nothing serious but turns out i have some problems. 

Over the past few months I have been suffering from moderate to severe pain in my left ear.  The pain is not there all the time but on days I have the pain, it is awful.  The pain often leads to motion sickness followed by migraines.  I was also having difficulty hearing.  My husband and son had brought this to my attention.  I kept telling them I WAS NOT the problem.  The problem was because they mumbled. 

I honestly thought the problems were being caused by a small cyst that had developed behind my ear.  I went to the Dr in hopes it could be removed and then everything would be okay.  Nothing is ever that easy for me. 

Turns out I have Meniere’s disease (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001721/).  Fortunately, they can treat the disease but they said I would never regain the ow frequency hearing in my left ear.  If it goes untreated I could become completely deaf. 

Well tomorrow is the day all my testing is scheduled.  I will be undergoing a serious of tests that are designed to tell what triggers the motions sickness (vertigo) and the migraines.  I was told to have someone that could drive me home because I would be so sick they legally cannot allow me to drive myself home. 

Needless to say, I am seriously excited about all of this.  I am ready for tomorrow to be over with and treatment to commence.  I do not want to lose my hearing but I am trying to be optomistic.  I mean really, I may never get to hear the voices of my non-existant grandchildren or hear crickets chirping ever again but I also will not ahve to listen to other people's crap....right?  Ugh, I am really scared about this! 

Always busy

So this week has been terribly busy.  Everyday I have been running around taking care of stuff.  By the end of the day I am so exhausted I literally feel like I crash!!!  Maybe I need more caffeine...but then my heart might explode.  Thus I digress. 

With everything I have done this week, you would think I would be winding this process down but noooo.  Every time I think I am almost done, I get a crap-ton more paper work to do. 

We did get the lease signed this week.  Along with all the JPPSO paper work and appointments set up.  Then we later found out my name was not added to the form so we have to stop back in to get that fixed...thanks guys lol!  Also, the lease signing was not just a signing.  It was an entire military brief.  Took over an hour to get the paperwork completed.  I was not expecting that at all.  Once that was done, I went on ahead and paid our deposit early.  Heaven help us if we waited until the last minute and something was done incorrectly.

I also had to run all over town to get paper work mailed to our current realtor and I had to take care of some insurance paperwork.  Not to mention normal errands like delivering the child to his appointments and going to the grocer.

Today we spent hours having me added to that previously mentioned JPPSO paperwork and  getting info to register our son for the new school.  We also have to enroll him in CYSS so we can use day care services and let him participate in sports.  No it is not the same office.  We had to go to different locations to get this paperwork.  Afterwards we had to go back to the same building from where we started to get another form so we can register our weapons for post living.  once all this was done we finally met the property manager (who was late by the way) to get our keys to the new place.  

Now that it is dark and I am completely exhausted my dear sweet hubby says, "Are you going to bed?  It is not even 11pm?  You are getting old and tired."  I swear he is asking for a groin punch!

No idea what I will do tomorrow.  Hopefully sleep in late and have someone else make me breakfast...but I am not holding my breath!