Catch up

Well I have alot to say and only a short time to say it. Aydan is pulling up now by himself in his crib at least. That is the only thing so far that we have seen him do. But he doesn't stay up too long because he looses his balance, falls down, hits his head, maybe whimper or two, then gets up and tries it again. So we got in on camera the second night. We went to TN over the weekend and left both our digital camera and the video camera at the camper. But we finally got it. About my new job: LOVE IT TO PIECES. I really enjoy it. I wasn't for sure about how the reception thing was going to go since I was in Purchasing, but I talked to my new boss, David Lanckewiz, now ain't that a name. But purchasing is right up front beside the reception area. Our receptionist is retiring at the end of this week, so I will be doing both, then I have a girl that comes in 3 days a week that can help me do my thing. I am the Jr in the department. But it doesn't bother me doing the reception work because I really like doing it. I am training for all the reception duties this week and then next week I start on my Purchasing training. I think I can handle it some. I enjoyed getting off at 3:30 though but at least I am off on weekends, we take turns being on call, but that won't happen to me until I know more about the area. I get 1/2 day off that is paid for my B-DAY (MAY 8Th in case you need a reminder), get to take my vacation when I want, my boss will let me make time up if I miss and he allows us to get off as needed as long as we get coverage for something that needs 'covering' up. But I think it is a really nice group of people to be working with. I am okay with Reception but nervous as all get out about the Purchasing thing, because I have never done it, so keep me in your prayers. Also get an hour lunch, the Valdese Library is only 3-5 minutes aways so I can come here and hopefully do much better on my blogging thing. Please be patient. I must go, but hope to see some of you at the Fall Festival thing. Grannie is letting the girls come, even thought Kristy has been bad. I don't know what she has been doing. But I think it is wrong to punish the other two from something Kristy did, that is why they didn't come to church on Sunday. So I told them to wear regular clothes, I just hope that when I go to pick them up that they have on regular clothes. Although Daniel said they weren't dressing in costumes this year, they were just going to do make up and wear something because Grannie didn't have money for them. So maybe that is a good thing.
Still haven't heard anything from Mariano's immigration. They needed certified copies of our marriage, birth certificates, income tax filing. So we sent that out to them so we should hear something soon. Nao is still in Canada, she is looking for a job but going to school to learn different things. She cracks me up, I just couldn't keep going from country to country, going to school, staying with people that I don't know for several months. Especially being away from my family, but she has guts that I will never have, at least hope to never have because Lord knows what will go down if I have to go to Guatemala.
We all went to the Dixie Stampede, Mom, Dad, Scott, Buren, Faye, Mariano, Aydan and me. We had a really great time. They have done some different things this year to the program. We didn't get to see their Christmas program. But awesome food, I want to know how to make that soup that they give. Don't know what kind it is but it seems very good.

My front yard

Good news and bad news? Which one do you want first or which one do I want to gab about the most? Good news: the busted water pipe is on the other side of our meter meaning it is not our responsibility to fix. Bad news: two things, the leak could possibly be up underneath the road, the other one is my front yard is in pieces. Dad and his friend tried digging to find the leak up and down our front yard only to find out that is on the other side of the meter. So now there is a nice swimming pool in our front yard. I told Mariano yesterday that if we cut off our water that there shouldn't be any water coming through. But the whole Mariano and Dad dug, was getting fuller with water. Only because the leak was on the other side. So they are digging now trying to find the leak. Hopefully we will have water turned on, my friend 'Tommy' came around yesterday and I told Mariano that I had to have running water because I go to the bathroom more frequently and I would have to get up during the night. So he turned it on today. The sad thing is when the guy from Brentwood jumps in the hole, you can barely see his head. And they still haven't gotten to a pipe yet. That is sad. He's about 6-ft tall. Anyways....
Aydan has started saying 'da-da'. Unfortunately....I have been trying so hard for him to say Ma-Ma but all he ever got out was mmmm...Mariano says that is what I get for trying so hard. But I told Mariano that I don't think he actually relates da da to him, I think he only says it because Mom and Dad are trying to be fair and they have been practicing both for him. But of course Mariano believes differently.
Kind of got some bad news on the new job thing. Still have the job though, I was supposed to start this following Monday. I was told that I would have to train my replacement which I was ready to. But about two weeks ago at work we ran out of SO2 which we use for the majority of the plant. Without this chemical we can't make electrolyte which is kind of like the battery acid that oozes out with you leave on in there too long. So they have shut down that side of the plant until we get some in. They were expecting some a month ago which came two weeks ago. The truck load that they got was bad, it had some cloudy mixture in it and there can only be a certain percentage of moisture. If failed our test, I used to do these test before I got pregnant. Loved them! So they are not for sure when the next truck load will be here because it comes from Texas. Hopefully this weekend, but if not this weekend then they will have to wait possibly til mid November. The company we buy this from places the SO2 on freight train then somewhere in Tennessee they transfer it to a truck because carrying it on a train and going across the mountain they say is too risky. SO2 takes away your oxygen, impossible to breath it so it is very dangerous. Anyways, I do have a point...since most of the plant was off of work due to the lack of SO2, it is not fair to those who want to bid on my job. When a person leaves or moves for whatever reason, they 'post' that job, people bid, most of the time depending on seniority is who get it. So whenever SO2 comes in, then they will re post the job for two days, then they will decide and THEN I get to train. So who knows...not to thrilled about it but things like this do happen. I was looking forward to a 40 hour week with no weekend work. But we can place the money somewhere else, possibly on Aydan and mine's hospital bill.
Anybody watch Smallville? Love it, Love Clark too! But I need to get to watching it because I have two brothers who are begging for the season 6 which I borrowed from Scott. So watching an episode or two from that sounds pretty good, only if I can stay awake...

Water Pipes?

Since we have moved on Jewel Street we have noticed that our water bill is always on the high side. So this month it was $23.00. So Mariano went out in the front yard, looked around and noticed that some of our yard was muddy. We have a busted water pipe. How did that happen? No one drove over it, it hasn't been cold enough to freeze, so what other reason is there? But he dug about 3-4 feet and still haven't seen anything except water draining. Dad is going to have to get some friends in here to dig deep because they are thinking that the pipe is about 7 ft. in the ground. Now who puts in a pipe that deep? Leave it to our little Double Wide Trailer. Not to mention that Dad was on his tracter trying to help Mariano dig. He had that thing on the back like you are going to hoe a garden, well guess what he did, he knocked a big chunck out of our driveway. Our PAVED driveway. We haven't even had that paved but like a year. So I have a muddy front yard, two huge holes in the front yard, pieces missing from my drive way, and no running water. But I told Mariano something had to give, because that was too many people taking showers out Mom's and Dad's. So I turned the water on, the holes that they dig are already full with water since it rained today. So just enough to get some hot water and some showers and maybe one load of laundry. Mom and Dad are at the bank, Aydan is with them asleep so I think I will take a short nap until he gets here, then we are going out to eat for our Fourth Anniversary. So I will run because I am loosing precious snoozing minutes here.

I GOT THE JOB!?!?!

Well I took today off, several reasons that just boil down to me just laying off. Tomorrow is Mariano and me's anniversary. Mariano took today off because Bro. Ken could work on Mariano's building. Aydan was up some last night with a congested nose, I did want to spend some time with the Hardings. Mom, Kelly, Jared, Amanda and Carter were going to the Apple Orchard today so I went, Aydan's first 'field trip.' So I just took the day off, but when I got home, there was a message from the HR department @ Saft. So I returned her call to find out that I have til tomorrow morning to see if I want the job as Jr. Buyer/Switchboard Operator. I got a $.09 raise, then in 90 days I will get another raise, then in 9 months another one, and later in 18 months, I will get the last one. So I really feel this is the way that the Lord wants me to go. Mariano is in agreement but I still have til tomorrow morning to see. But I am sure that I will take it unless God says other wise. But I am really excited, I think the people that I will be working with will be good mouthed individuals. My boss seems very good. Seems very easy to work with, so I am having a great day.
Well let me splurge about Aydan's runny nose. He was sneezing some last night at supper but I didnt' really think too much about it. Last night around 3:00 in the morning he woke up because he couldn't breathe too well. So Mariano suctioned him out, gave him a bottle, because at this point I was still supposed to be going to work. So I sat up with him a while. Then got up, got ready to go to work, I talked to Mariano before putting my work clothes on about staying at home. But he didn't really seem too much for the idea. So I got ready, came and kissed him goodbye and he was like, I thought you were staying here? So I got my pajama back on, and crawled back into bed. Mariano got up and started working but Aydan and me layed in til 9:15. So I brought some toys in the bed for him to play so I could read my book. So he played for awhile and then he got quiet. I turned to look at him, he was blowing this huge snot bubble! He was looking cross-eyed trying to figure out what was coming from his nose. I wish I had a camera. Then later on I was trying to gather everything together and I heard Aydan sneeze. So I went in there, he was draining from his nose, he was leaning over bouncing in the floor, and the snot just a dancing from his nose. Hilarious....but disgusting at the same time.
Well it is only 9:00 at night and it is pitched dark outside which makes it seem like it is really 11:00. But I guess I could get off and spend some more time with the Hardings, I am out Mom's using her computer...

Getting behind

Well, do you remember in an earlier blog, I mentioned that I kept a list. Well I have accomplished all of it, just to add some more but I did make progress. Just got off the phone with a friend that let me know that I hadn't blogged all week. So maybe I wasn't doing as good as what I thought I did.
This week, Mariano and I watched his video from his family. Well they have never seen me or Aydan. I am not so concerned that they haven't seen me or want to see me, but I have been pushing the issue about recording some of Aydan or just send a picture. Mariano has been against it for several different reasons but I asked him just once. So while listening to the video his parents asked to see where he lived @ and so forth. I just remembered that I didn't his pictures developed like he wanted..oops! Guess we will wait til next month, it was only pictures of him and his cousins that we saw in Florida from like, um, last May. That's bad....anyways so Mariano video recorded our house, inside and out, and then he recorded Aydan just in his diaper playing on the ground then when he was dressed playing with some toys. I was satisfied but he asked me to say something in the camera, of course all the things that I can say about them, I was completely speechless while on camera. But I said a few things, don't remember, Mariano translated and we are going to wait to see how big a bomb we landed in Guatemala.
Aydan is asleep, he fell asleep in my arms for an hour and a half (LOVE IT!!!), then I had to fix supper... so he is kind of whining and waking up at the same time. Sometimes he will do that for like 30 minutes, he has a hard time waking up. Guess who he gets that from?
I am cooking supper for Mom. One of her favorite dishes. BRB...had to feed Aydan his supper. He ate some apricots/apples/pears for the first time, at least the apricots, and he loved them. Back to cooking supper, I try to do something for her to 'repay' her for watching Aydan. She doesn't want any money she says that she is getting 'paid' by spending time with Aydan. But I don't do things every week like I should, but I do try. Gift certificates to resturants works good especially Olive Garden.
Well those who are wondering I had an interview today at Saft in the purchasing department. I will be the Jr. Buyer and part time receptionist. If I get the job, it will be more on the hour with less over time. So I am kind of making up the difference. It will be in a clean environment. I work with Carbon Black and it is definitely black. I got bumped from my department with last December's lay off so that is where I got stuck. Saft has a certification process in order to recieve top pay. I have one year to certify on everything to remain at top pay. That includes making the nasty black stuff which makes you look like Black Mamie when you are done, unless you where one of the jump suits which is difficult wearing a skirt, plus I dont' think God would approve. So I have been trying to find ways to be able to do that and still get my pay. The easiest way is to get the job in the office. So please pray, the one that will be doing the 'picking' is on vacation all next week, in which he will think of someone and let us know on the following Monday. I hate the wait. They are four individuals who were picked to interview out of 30. So I think that is pretty good for me, just pray that I make it to #1 position. I know of two others interviewed, but neither of us three know who the fourth individual is. All of us are from Saft so it is someone on site, just who?
Tomorrow we are going to find Aydan a car seat. He should of had one already but we were waiting til I got paid for my over time. We were going to go to Tennessee this weekend but I think we have decided to wait to the end of the month, at least we are just thinking about and by the way my anniversary is next Wednesday. Four years, very, very, very, hard to believe, but that is just how my God works!!!

All Day Weekend

I had a pretty good weekend, can't complain, just that it went by so fast. Well, I can complain, I take that back. Today we were sitting in the dining hall. Mom didn't know that we didn't have that much milk so we only made what potatoes we could. Well I forgot to get some out for Aydan before we ran out. So I only had one jar of baby food for him. When we are at home, I usually leave his food that is closed on his high chair. He usually picks it up and looks at it. So we are getting ready to feed him, he is fussy because he is hungry. So I hand him his jar of food to hold while I dig for his spoon. Well he drops it in the floor, which someone (Mariano) neglected to tell me that he opened it. The food was Vegetable Beef and it is that nice ucky orange that STAINS everything. So I am like great, we aren't talking about a little spot, but a spot longer than my foot!!! So we had to scrub, I still feel really bad about that because I just feel that is God's territory which I know all things are, but stuff like that I feel like you should go the extra mile to keep those things clean. Of course Mariano and I spoke a few words, my dad was there to witness so any questions you can ask him.
Those who don't know, my work schedule has been boosted by 15+ hours a week now. Really stinks because I have been praying all alone that I could just stay at home and work. Didn't work out, maybe I should start praying the opposite to see what happens! But God does know what he is doing, I just wish he would let me in on things...PATIENCE MY CHILD. I have already got my crying out tonight about leaving Aydan in the morning. So maybe things will go smoother. I hope so. Aydan gets to go to Amanda's house tomorrow.
Mariano's family sent us a video. I can't live in what they live. No way to explain it. They need a new roof, which they haven't mentioned but I told Mariano, we are going to send the money over. Even if it is a couple of Hundred dollars. The roof has holes and the rain just keeps coming on it. Very sad. I am actually surprised that they haven't mentioned that. Mariano had to tell them last month about what we did with our money. They didnt' fully understand the cost of living is so out rageous compared to what they are used to. So maybe that will help. Mariano asked me today not to make any plans for Tuesday evening because he wants to video Aydan and I for his family. I am shocked, not for sure how that will go or how much they will watch. The last video Mariano made was before Aydan, and it was only him sitting infront of the camera talking, maybe 30 minutes. It took them, like two weeks, no exaggeration before they sat down and watched it. His parents said they were too busy. Hello, you haven't seen your son in a couple of years. Mariano wasn't too happy about it. So this will be the first time that they will see me and Aydan, pray it goes well!

Wednesday

I kind of have problems sometimes with my 'titles'. So I know they stink, but just bear with me. Well lets see hear, at first I wanted to vent about everything, not that it would do any good and then the more I thought about it, why vent about things that I haven't done. When all I am doing about it is sitting here on the computer venting about it. Anyways, I cried again today leaving Aydan. I think that will be all the crying for this week. Hopefully. But I did get to get off work two hours early today to spend some time with him. I am thankful for that, so thankful. I still can't get that woman off my mind that is my age, I don't know who she is, but she is dying and is going to be leaving her 5 month old behind. I can tear up just thinking about it.
I am excited about the all day meeting. I requested prayer that I wouldn't have to work any this weekend, except at the church that is. But I'm not too worried about it. I know God will make a way to see that I will be where I am supposed to be. I have other things to worry about besides working this Saturday and that is what I have told God, he is going to work it out.
Mariano's cousin that lives in New York informed us that she is going to be getting married in January. And she wants us to come and see her. This is the only girl cousin that he has here in the states. He has one more cousin and a brother in law up there somewhere. All I said was, "we thought that Florida was a long trip?" So I don't know, he kind of wants to go but then again he doesn't. I like to go because the last 'meet the family trip' we had was such a blast. I love his cousin Freddy. He is very cocky and he held his boundaries from me, thank the Lord, but I can see him being a 'womanizer'. You know what I mean? But he was absolutely hilarious. Juan was okay, the one that got married, by the way, I told Mariano, he was blessed with the looks in the family. Then the other one, I forgot his name but he has a wife and a 3 year old. She gave me her email address, but I haven't emailed her. Kind of don't know what to say. Pathetic excuse I know. But maybe I will try once I get off of here. Almost bed time, don't know how I ended up where I ended up but it's still all good. Of course the trip we had down there would be a great idea for another post, because I really enjoyed myself even though they were only 3 white people. They had a MARIACHI BAND, which I loved, you heard my mouth over everybodies....anyways,,,

Long Days

Well I missed my nap today with Aydan, I had to work over 2 hours and of course he was smiling for me when I came in. That makes every day worth while. I couldn't tell you how far I would be willing to go to see that smile. I love him so so so much. He's asleep right now in his swing. Mariano is wanting some 'black beans with eggs', sounds so disgusting. But I am fixing myself chicken fajitas. I love it when we cook our own things, because then I am not on a schedule and then I can fix what I want, doesn't matter if I ate it yesterday or not, and fix it at 10:00 at night if I want. I am trying to get on in the office at Saft. Almost doing what Alaina was. It would be a Jr. Buyer/Switchboard Operator. The crazy thing is that it would pay more than what I make right now, but we have to go through the "senoirity and experience" thing. Not too many are signed up for it, but I think I will like it. It will free up some time for Mom watching Aydan, and Amanda too. She has started watching Aydan one day a week. I think when winter comes then we might increase it some since that is when Mom has the worse days. It hurts when you can't watch your own child, then when your mother can't watch him either it hurts just the same. The first day Amanda watched Aydan, Mom and Dad said that they sat and watched us at the door, driving down the road. They said they were ready to cry because he was going somewhere else. Amanda takes excellent care of him, I dont' worry leaving him there because I know it is a good environment. Plus I hope that Carter and Aydan grow up to be really good buddies...