A New Chapter

The past few weeks have been incredibly crazy around our house. Ever since the summer visit to North Carolina, we have been walking on eggshells wondering what was going to happen with Greg's job. I went ahead and started the school year like normal because we hadn't heard anything at that point. Towards the end of August, the human resource director from Asheboro contacted Greg and said that they were going to begin hiring for forklift positions and needed a copy of his resume. So, we get a resume together, send it, and then play the waiting game again. Several weeks pass and we don't hear a thing. I took it as good news because I was completely against relocating to another area. Two weeks ago, my world is turned upside down because they offer Greg a job and tell him that they need him to begin work on Oct. 5th. So we not only have to relocate, but we only have had two weeks to do it in. This past week, we went back out to Asheboro to find a place to live and I had a job interview. We were able to find a very nice rental home for a reasonable price.

Ever since our trip, I have been on a roller coaster of emotions. While we were out there, I was completely comfortable and it just felt like we were right around the corner from BG. It didn't really hit me how far away we were until our drive home which seemed to take FOREVER! Now, I've been having all of these doubts and going back and forth about going. I don't want to split up my family, but the thought of being so far away from everything and everybody that I know scares the living daylights out of me. It's a beautiful area and a wonderful opportunity, but I am nervous about my panic attacks coming back. What will I do if one hits and I'm home alone with Kaylee while Greg is working? It's not like any of my family members can hop in a car and come right over. What makes it worse is the fact that my grandparents told me that they will NOT come to visit. My grandparents are like my second parents because of the amount of time I spent with them when I was younger. How could they do that to me?

I know that with Greg's job, we can't pass up this opportunity, but why did it have to be 9 hours away? What will make it easier is the fact that our immediate families have already said they will make frequent visits to see us which won't be that different from now because we don't hardly see anyone as it is. I know everything will work itself out when we're there, but at first it's going to be very hard. I am just so scared to leave everyone behind, but I know other people do this type of thing all of the time. Most of my family on my dad's side lives somewhere other than here. Several people that I went to school with are living somewhere else now due to jobs. I just never thought it would happen to me.

A Handful of a Class and Terrible Twos

This year is definitely my most challenging year in teaching yet. Working at a high poverty school with 96% free and reduced lunch rate, brings it's own challenges, but nothing like the ones I have this year. Over the summer, we added a fifth second grade teacher to reduce class size so this year so far I have 21 students (the ideal number right?). In this class of 21 students I have five serious behavior issues, five instigators to get the five serious behavior issues angry, and then about 7 students that never stop talking even with consequences. Anytime my back is turned, my wonderful friends wind up fighting in some form. Now, usually with 7 year olds, it's simply arguing or poking, but with this bunch it's serious grabbing, punching, and kicking. Needless to say, I cannot turn my back for even a few seconds without having to break up something. Now I understand that these kids are exposed to things I don't even want to think about a kid being exposed to, but I think most of the issues is a lack of discipline at home. I know as a child if I would have even thought about doing some of the things these kids do, my rear end would be in a sling after many rounds of spankings. I just don't get how some parents could let their children rule the roost instead of enforcing some form of discipline.

With that being said, I'm having issues with my own child at home because we have officially begun TERRIBLE TWOS! I have received two notes from daycare this week about Kaylee pulling hair, biting, and hitting not only the other kids but the TEACHERS TOO! Obviously, I'm a firm believer in discipline and spankings which is why my child is really only acting out at school. She will try that behavior with me once, get a spanking, and won't try it again. However, she is very intelligent and has figured out that the only consequence at school is time out so she's becoming a demon of a child (figuratively speaking of course). I know the teachers probably think I'm doing nothing about it, but what can I do when she acts out there? Spank her at home for something that happened several hours before? That will do no good because it has to be taken care of her right then and there. I have tried talking to her right before she leaves every morning, but she really doesn't understand what I'm trying to say. I know it's just a stage and most likely when she gets moved up to another room, hopefully it will get better, but until then, I'm at a loss for words and ideas.

On a positive note, I feel better than ever. After my miscarriage and surgery, my blood pressure has gone back to normal, my anxiety has pretty much disappeared, and I just feel overall happier. It has taken almost a full year, but I finally feel like my old self. This goes to show that even though a miscarriage is a horrid thing to experience, for me it was a blessing in disguise due to all the health issues I was already experiencing while being pregnant. This experience has brought Greg and I closer together and we now have a better appreciation for each other and our family. We know when our time is right, we'll have another child. Until then, we will enjoy the family that we already have. :)

Kaylee and Brad

When I was pregnant, it turned out that my cousin's fiance wound up becoming pregnant as well. Kaylee was orginally supposed to be older by about a month, but Brad came about 10 days before she did. It's really neat that Kaylee has a cousin that is so close in age. Up until now, they really haven't had an opportunity to play together very much due to my job. However, now that it's summer, they are playing together more and more and learning how to share. We all know how hard it is to teach sharing when the words "no"and "mine" are so common. Here are some pictures of them playing together.

Father's Day

For Father's Day, we decided to spend the day with Greg's Dad in Springfield, TN. The highlight of the day was swimming in the pool. I absolutely love swimming and haven't been able to go at all this summer so I jumped on the opportunity. Kaylee has never been a in a BIG pool before so I was a little nervous how she would react. I think I was more nervous than she was. As soon as she got in the pool, as independent as she is, she wanted to do it herself. I was very surprised at how well she was swimming around with her floaties. On top of swimming, Greg and I decided to get into a splashing/dunking fight which was SO MUCH FUN! I can't tell you how many times I wound up under water but I did get in one good dunk :) I can tell we were rough housing in the pool because I am sore today but it was well worth it. Overall, we had a very good Father's Day and I can't wait to do it again. Here are some pictures of Greg and Kaylee in the pool. Enjoy!

A Difficult Decision

Back at the beginning of May, I found out that Greg is either going to have to switch jobs or transfer to another location. The president of the company said it does not have to be immediately, but in the near future. The closest location is Asheboro, North Carolina which is about 9 hours from here. Keep in mind that I have never lived outside of Bowling Green let alone another state. I absolutely hated the idea of leaving my family and being so far away. However, Greg could finally make a career out of his job and we could look into getting married and becoming financially stable.

So trying to look at the positives, I began a job search in North Carolina. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING due to our wonderful economy. I contacted and sent my resume to 40-50 principals and all but 2 had to cut teachers due to a statewide education budget cut. (Isn't it amazing that education is always the first to get cuts?) The two principals that are hiring are filling the vacancies with local teachers instead of an outsider like myself. So I took this as a sign that maybe we're not meant to go.

Today, Greg calls and asks me what I found out about teaching positions and informed him about there being no opportunity for my career at this time. Unfortunately, Greg has now been given the time frame of 3-6 months from May meaning as early as August and as late as November. In addition to all of that, we have found out some additional news that makes me want to stay even more. However, if Greg and I want to get ourselves more financially stable and build a family together, it would be smart to move. I just hate the idea of being in a location that I've never even visited, not knowing anybody, and having the closest person 9 hours away. I spend a lot of my free time with family and friends. I know people move with their families all the time for career opportunities, I just never knew it would happen to me.

Random Pics

Look at this cool girl wearing mommy's sunglasses:

Here's the newest addition to the family: Abby.

Here are my wacky second graders on the last day of school: