Wow…. Summer is finally here again - praise God!
I posted about Jayden’s rough week and the excitement of
Jeff getting his boot off but I’ve not mentioned some other excitement in our
home.
Kiarra officially has her drivers permit!!! She’s been taking driving school for the past
few weeks and on the 3rd day of class she took her test along with the rest of
the class. Since I’ve been the only
driver for the past 14 weeks, it’s never worked in our schedule to get her to
the DMV to get her actual permit. Well,
Tuesday we made the trek to Rosenberg and after a long wait...a VERY LONG wait
may I add she officially has her permit.
The day before driving school started, I took her to a school parking
lot and let her drive for the first time.
Of course there were no cars, only light posts, curbs and of course the
school. She actually did great, better
that I expected. So, it was only fitting
that after getting her permit this week that I let her drive…. She didn’t want to drive home, which I can
totally understand (I wouldn’t have let her anyway as she’d never driven on a
real road before) but once we got to our subdivision I let her drive around a
few streets. For it being her first time on the road, she did well. She didn’t hit any curbs, cars or people so I
consider that successful. Now there may have been a time or two (or 20) that I
raised my voice saying “don’t hit the curb” or “you’re getting too close to the
curb”, but all in all she did great and I’m so proud of her for putting her
fear aside and driving, even if it was only around the neighborhood.
To say the last 14 weeks have been busy is a complete
understatement. I didn’t realize how much I depend on Jeff for some little
errands like running to the store for something I forgot to get, picking up/dropping
off a kid here and there, etc. Don’t get
me wrong, we typically divide and concur for most kid related stuff but since
he’d worked out of town so much last year I got used to just doing everything
myself again. Since my last post, Jeff
became a little more independent and started moving around a lot more with the
boot. As the weeks progressed, he
started hating that boot more and more and would wear it less and less. He was good about wearing it anytime we left
the house but the minute we got home, it was coming off. I would nag him a bit because I didn’t want
him to have to go through the surgery again and have to start over with all the
progress he’d made. He started physical
therapy about 5 weeks ago to build the strength back in his leg. It will take
about a year before he has full strength back and will be able to use it the
way he was prior to tearing his Achilles.
All day Wednesday, he was like a kid in a candy store, smiling from ear
to ear - just overjoyed with being free, being able to drive, walk freely
without a limp, etc. I find it very
convenient that he got the boot off the same week the kids’ evening schedules
go to a minimum. I went from running
Jayden 3 days a week to/from practice (5:30 - 7pm) and running Kiarra to/from driving
school 4 nights a week (7 - 9 pm), in addition to Taryn’s dance class and her
allergy shots each once a week AND church on Wednesday nights TO Jayden only
having practice once a week, driving
school being over and then the normal 2 things for Taryn. How convenient JEFF DAILEY…. how convenient!!! Of course all that was in addition to
dropping off/picking up Jeff from his co-worker who drove him to/from work and
often going to physical therapy before heading home. We also relied on friends to take Jayden to practice
some days because we just couldn’t get home in time. We left the house at 6 am
and most days I didn’t walk back in the door until 9:15 pm. I was simply exhausted! Then on the weekends we had tournaments, I
literally felt like I didn’t have time for anything. I’m not complaining, I actually really
enjoyed the time Jeff and I spent in the car going here and there and the time
I got to spend with the kids, even if it was only for a few minutes going here
and there. That said, I’m glad we can
divide and concur again… even though there isn’t much to divide right now J
Last month, we made a short trip to Iowa for my niece’s
graduation. We actually spent more time driving to/from Iowa than we actually
spent in Iowa. Crazy, I know but totally
worth it. It was a tear-jerking moment to see her walk across the stage and
accept her diploma. It was also great to catch up with family and friends I haven't seen in years!
I finally feel settled in the new house. We still have some boxes to unpack and some
shelves/storage to sort out but all in all I feel settled and love it. We replaced the carpet in the formal rooms
with wood floors and we absolutely love them. Not sure why we didn’t put wood
floors in other houses, it was the simplest process and they are just gorgeous.
Jeff still loves his new job and pretty much wishes he would
have made this type of a change earlier on.
I don’t think he has regrets necessarily but he really is enjoying this
inside job, especially now that he can drive himself to/from work!
As for me…well, I’m just hanging in there. I really do need
to start looking for another job but that in itself is a bit scary. Although I’m not happy with the situation I’m
dealing with right now, I’m still comfortable at BP. Change is inevitable and I’m ok with change…what
sucks is when adults are treated like little kids and our every move is micromanaged
and documented. It’s weird! Of course it’s
ok for the smokers to take six 15 minute breaks everyday but good grief, don’t try
to leave 10 minutes early (even after working all day, no breaks or lunch
break). It’s really insane. I am doing my best to stay positive through
it all and am trying to smile through it.
It doesn’t help that I was overlooked for another role to someone who is
majorly less qualified. I guess it pays to be a bull-shitter which is something
I’ve NEVER been good at. I am a big believer in everything happening for a
reason but it still hurts and at the end of the day still sucks that I’m being
told I have to answer all her questions because if not, I’m not being a team
player… so this is how it goes. I answer her questions, the questions she should
already have answers to in this role…so I’m helping her to be successful in the
role that should have been mine to begin with.
I’m not bitter or anything (hahahaha).
EVERYONE in our group was shocked when they announced that she got the
role. No joke, I’m not just being
big-headed here, everyone’s jaw dropped and they looked at me when they made
the announcement. It really is crazy
though, and of course she waits until our manager is away from her desk before
she asks me the questions. Once, I said “hang
on a minute, I’m in the middle of something”…. And then I waited for boss lady
to come back and then I answer her question.
Do you know that she pulled me aside the next day and told me that if
our boss is at her desk that I can just answer the question through email and that
I don’t need to voice it! bahahahaha - I
guess she’s feeling insecure! I swear it
feels like we are in a movie in an episode of a reality show. On a serious note though, if you have any
advice on this, I welcome it.
And here we are… summer 2014. Kiarra will be a sophomore, Jayden in 7th
grade and Taryn in 2nd grade. How this
is even possible is beyond me. Looking forward to a relaxing and peaceful
summer before the madness of the next school season kicks in.
