Getting by.

First, I wanted to say, Kathy, our new phone number is on Emerald's site. Call anytime, I really like talking with you.

Now, I wanted to update, I haven't in a while.

The last couple months have been hellish. I mean really crappy. School is going ok, but the rest of it just sucks. Like I am being sucked down the big toilet bowl of life.

Every now and again, I will say aloud, that I need something... and oddly, if I really need it, it actually happens. So while my life is suckalicious, we have just enough to get by, barely. I had plenty of resources and then with all the strange things that have happened... just relentlessly, I have really used all those up. Another crises could be detrimental. Seriously.

I went to toys for tots for the kids. Last time that I did this, they gave us a lot of stuff. More than they could use, so I put some of it up and gave it to them for their birthdays and whatever. This year, the guy said that donations are really down, so when we got the toys, there were half the stuff, for 3 kids. I was happy and appreciative that we got anything at all, but at the same time, I felt so defeated.

I ended up taking some things back (I had bought the kids each one toy previously) and traded them for more things. With doing that, I still don't have a lot, but at least they have somethings.

I was getting a bit worried about other things like food... I should mention right now, that I had taken a new daycare kid in October, and this kid is great, and the mom is a sweetheart... and the state welfare office, lost her paperwork... so as it stands she owes me for 8 weeks of care, and makes $8/hour. So along with food program issues I had from moving, (out $1400) and Shawn and his brilliant plan to work from home, we are struggling in a bad way. I had some soap orders, but my site was down due to my own fault and I missed the day after christmas orders I would have gotten... anyhow.

I called the food pantry, because I literally had nothing but the food WIC gives me eggs, milk, cheese, cereal, and beans... and very little of anything else... I was really happy when they gave us 4 boxes of food. Should tie us over until things look up. Hopefully by the end of next month.

One of the other daycare moms came to pay me today and gave me extra money... and some toys to wrap and give the kids...`she said that she lost the reciepts and couldn't take them back, but I don't think that is true. :) I found I was only $200 away from having my checking account back to zero... it has been behind... and said aloud, that we need a miracle to get it to zero anytime soon. So the daycare mom that owes me for 8 weeks walks in and says that she got a bonus check from her boss, and she is giving it to me tomorrow... $200! I just about fell over.

The guy we bought the house from gave us a $25 gift card, and my friend online sent me a $50 gift card to Meijer. So I think just like I told Es 3 years ago, there is a Santa Claus, it just doesn't work like we think it does.

I am very fortunate... I have a healthy baby girl growing in my belly... two wonderful little kids, and my own angel watching over me to keep me from getting too far in over my head... I can't wait to get my nursing degree... I can't wait to give back all the good things that I have gotten the last few years...

Have a happy solstice, merry christmas, and if you celebrated hannukah, happy hannukah!