Grand Baby Linden

A couple of weeks ago for Cortlynn's 6th grade Health class she had to take care of a sugar baby.  This was only a 24 hour project but I think she got something out of it.  I personally think the project should last for several days with "fake" money involved so they have to pay for childcare, supplies, and everything else that comes with having a child.  Maybe that project comes later with the electronic babies.

 

Since her baby was a girl, she had to come up with a name and make sure she was properly dressed.  The name she chose was Linden (my friend had a baby girl that she named Linden a few days prior to this and Cortlynn LOVED the name)  thanks Sabrina ;-) 

 

We found a diaper, cute hat, and a dress that my grandma gave Kyra---unfortunately it was a doll dress and grandma didn't realize this.  Oh well-we put it to good use. 

 

I had to get a few photos of my grand baby and had to post them here.  Kyra LOVED the baby and I hope she has the same reaction to her baby sister when she makes her appearance in a few weeks.

 



 

I took several photos and didn't realize until now I didn't get any with Cortlynn.  Oops-- These were taken while I was babysitting and Cortlynn was taking a shower.

Frustrated!!!

To label me frustrated would be a complete understatement.  I don't think there is one word that can describe exactly what I am: perhaps a mixture of descriptive words---frustrated, embarrassed, pissed off, disappointed, perplexed, stressed, angry, and overall OVER IT!

All of this is thanks to Devin's (yes-I realize it is a community property state and what is his is mine, but not this) house in Arco.  AKA the house from hell.  I seriously believe there is a massive black cloud that hangs over this piece of crap property that will haunt me until the end of time.  Most people would think having a rental property is a great way to make an extra income and doesn't take a bunch of work:  LIE!!!!!!   Since the beginning-this has been a pain in my side.  We've had a tenant pass away inside the house, a tenant die in a horrific car accident while living in the home, and another tenant who passed away in a car accident shortly after moving out.  We've had renters who I would actually classify as squatters, not renters.  To be called a renter-a person must actually pay rent.  The current "squatters" seriously haunt me in my dreams.  I am losing sleep over these inconsiderate butt-holes that are constantly coming up with excuse after excuse. 

I love my husband and he can definitely be a "jerk" but not when he needs to be.  He really shouldn't be a landlord because he is too nice and takes people for being honest individuals that would never lie or cheat him.  The current situation is horrible and I will admit--embarrassing.  BUT-I'm going to break it down for everyone to read---I'm not looking for sympathy, I'm just hoping other people don't make the same mistakes as we have and currently are.

Monthly Rent for a 2 bedroom house:  $350.00   (this is less than my first apartment I had by myself.  Also-daycare for one child is usually twice as much as this amount.  When we file our taxes every year-we get a warning message stating that we need to actually charge $600.)
****We pay $93+ a month for the city bill:  technically--their rent ends up being $250.00/month

The current squatters are 7 months----yes, you read that right; 7 MONTHS behind.  Go ahead laugh--I would laugh too-if I stopped biting my lips from crying.  Don't think that nothing has been done in an attempt of collecting money.  I've typed up countless letters, notices, and even an eviction notice (or two, or three, or four)---the last eviction notice Devin handed to the guy and actually told him, "You've pissed off my wife and she told me to give you this eviction notice.  It's not the real one, yet...."    Can you guess what I did when he came home and told me this---yep-flipped out as only a pregnant women can.  Not a real one?????  WTH Devin!!!!!   The amount of money we have received from them in the last 15 months wouldn't even buy a case of Vaseline---and believe me, we need that case.  ;-{

Devin has been promised the money is on it's way---the money is in the mail----since October; with the last call coming in last Thursday stating the past due rent was put in the mail the day before.  Here it is Monday and still no money:  I didn't realize if you mailed something in Arco--it travels to the Pacific Ocean via the Pony Express-gets on a boat and travels the entire length of the ocean, only to get back on the Pony Express to get to us in Pocatello. 

The phone calls upset me as well----my patient husband is so nice---says thank you, has small talk with him, and continues to tell him that he understands.  The messages he leaves are also nice with thank you's and please call us.  I've decided to take things into my own hands.  I've called him and left messages----let's just say, he usually calls back within a couple of hours; not the normal 5 day turn around.  There are no thanks you's or pleases uttered from my lips.  I'm to the point where I will be heading out to Arco--8 months pregnant--with an eviction notice in my hand---Once it is delivered and the "legal" time frame is up--I will than be filing a small claims suit.  What else is there to do????? 

I sat Devin down last night and expressed my frustration with the situation and how stressed out I am over it:  I don't think he really understood until I broke down just how much money we have lost in the past year.  Thankfully the house is paid for and we don't have a mortgage on it---but we still have the monthly city bill and the yearly taxes----  I wish we would just list the property and get rid of it.

I think I'm done venting for a moment--but just remember---being a landlord isn't all sunshine and roses with a bunch of money----it's a lot of work, stress, and frustration.  I wouldn't recommend it--invest in a metal detector-you would make more money in the long run.

Things NOT to say to a pregnant women.

I admit-I have been an emotional roller coaster for months: thanks to the pregnancy and other things but mostly because of all the extra hormones.  I take comments too seriously at times-I take things way too personal-and I will either cry or scream if what I hear "upsets" me.  Over the last couple of weeks I've decided that there are a few things that people (mainly those of the male species) should not say to a women in my current (pregnant) condition. And NO--my husband wasn't the one that said all of them to me. 

 I'm going to share a few of them:

*"Wow-you really look tired."
       Really?! I had know idea.  Did looking like I just exited a boxing ring give you that clue? I thought bags under your eyes and pitch black circles were the new fashion statement.

*"Did you just pop the button on your coat?  Maybe you should wear a bigger coat."
      Grrrrrrrr----yes-let me get my "fat" coat out of storage.

*"Why are you so moody?"
    Hmmmmm--I wonder??? 

*"Did you know that you cry a lot, especially when you're tired?"
    Nope-I hadn't noticed.

*"Are you really going to eat all of that?"
   Yes I am!!!  Gotta make sure I fill up my fat coat.

*"Oh---I thought you guys were done having kids."
   As you can see by the belly--you thought wrong.

* "How can you be tired?"
   Seriously???

And one of my "favorites"

*"Wow-I couldn't get to sleep last night, I just couldn't get comfortable."
    I didn't even bother with a response on this one.

Crashed out, Super Heroes, and 12th Birthday

 My little 2 year old is extremely stubborn and doesn't want to do anything unless SHE wants to.  This includes taking a nap.  Even when she was a baby-she would not sleep; why would being 2 change that??  She will get so tired that eventually she will just crash.  Some of the places she's fallen asleep in are funny and I just have to get a photo.

Long Valentines Day--She was watching her baby show and the next thing I know she's snoring.

She fell asleep while eating pizza and watching the Super Bowl.
 

 Tristan loves to dress up and play super heroes.  Yesterday he put on his Green Lantern costume and Kyra ran upstairs to his room and found the Spider Man costume.  It was so cute.  They "fought" each other for well over an hour.

On the 20th, Cortlynn turned 12.  I can't believe she is 12!!!  Where does the time go?  On her actual birthday someone from the Beehive class came over and decorated our front door with a bunch of bees and a sign telling her Happy Birthday and welcome to the Beehives.  (it's a church thing)  it was really cute.  For her birthday dinner she wanted to go to Pizza Pie Cafe and I wasn't going to complain--I love the dessert pizzas and we had coupons for free meals for all the kids.  ;-) 

I debated for several days whether or not I was up to having a party for her and her friends.  I caved, and on Friday she had a party.  Due to dance practice it couldn't start until 7:30pm and went till 10:00pm.  I'm not kidding---after 10 minutes I was ready for bed and for everyone to go home.  I thought 5/6 year old boys were loud and out of control---nope!  11 and 12 year old girls are 100 times worse.  They were crazy!!!!!  Cortlynn did have one of them stay the night and I'm so glad there was just one; I don't know if I would have survived a sleep over with all 7 girls.  Tristan even told me several times that I needed to go tell "those girls to be quiet".  Good ol'Tristan.



Not one of my most "fancy" cakes-but she loved it.  And was even more excited when we cut it open and it was Red Velvet.

Maternity Clothes: Yes or No?

I don't know if people know this but I HATE spending money on myself.  I am so cheap and/or tight that I swear diamonds could fall out of my behind when I walk down the street.  I don't like the time it takes to shop, I really dislike trying on clothes, and I can always think of something better I can do with the money I was going to spend. 

Well-I came to a point the other day where I decided I needed to purchase myself a few maternity clothing items.  I haven't purchased anything new (maternity wise) since I was pregnant with Tristan and he is now 6.  Looking thru my maternity clothes a lot of them were from 2000 and I didn't realize how "old" the fashions make me look.  I have some ugly maternity gear.  I pulled out my prego pants and have 1 pair of full length and a pair of capris---that's it.  I actually had another pair, but I must have purchased a size too big becuase I had safety pins all over the waistband.  I broke down and went to Old Navy Maternity.com----I found a few really cute items.  But guess what---I didn't pay full price; HECK NO!!!!  Everything I purchased was on clearance, I had a 15% off coupon on top of that (for each item), AND a free shipping coupon.  Now-I'm patiently waiting by my door for my box of much needed maternity wear and I hope they fit.

Don't worry--I won't be posting any photos of myself on my blog and/or facebook because unfortanetly I'm not one of those women who are cute pregnant.  ;-)

The Worlds Population would have been ONE!

We have had nothing but nasty sickness in our home since before the New Year and I am getting so tired of it.  Poor Kyra recovered from having influenza but her poor immune system hasn't recovered.  She has been coughing for almost 2 weeks, has a gross nose, teary eyes, and is unable to sleep.  Cortlynn has had a cough on and off for a little over 2 weeks but is improving.  I was doing really good until Saturday when I caught Kyra's cold with a vengeance.  WOW!  It probably doesn't help that she insists on sleeping in bed with me, both arms around my neck (to make sure I am there and don't go anywhere), and she coughs and sneezes all night.  A little difficult to avoid the germs 100% of the time.  So far Tristan has been healthy (knock on wood)

With Devin's crazy work schedule and the fact he usually ends up sleeping on the couch-(his snoring is horrific and my pregnancy hormones cause me to think awful thoughts when he is snoring next to me and I'm wide awake: for my sanity and his safety-the couch has become his bed) I didn't think he would get sick.  Nope---he caught the cold as well and we all know that the "End of the World" is now upon us.  It's miserable, I get that-I understand, sympathize (to a point), and would never wish people to get sick: but holy crap!  I swear, when a man gets sick--it really is the end.  Today when he was complaining about this cold kicking his butt I looked at him and expressed my thoughts.

*Really????  Have you been sleeping in bed with a sick child and averaging 3 hours of sleep a night? and that is TOTAL
*How about I put an added 10lbs to your stomach-push your insides up-and make it so your entire body is uncomfortable- not just from the neck up.  (for which he responded with a smirk "10 pounds??)  Yes you butt----I may look like a fat whale, but I have only gained 10lbs.
*Why don't you continue to self medicate----take those pain meds for your headaches, the mucinex, the dayquils, and the nightquils......because I CAN'T!
*Have you had to consider wearing adult diapers because when you're coughing up a lung you almost wet your pants?  being 6 months pregnant and coughing really is a scary situation.  ;-{

These were just a few of my responses.  I also expressed to him that if men were the ones to have the children, have the monthly "visitor", and everything else crappy and painful---the world's population would have stopped at 1.  Because I'm pretty sure Adam would have "died".

After my ranting--he just looked at me and said, "I Love You!"

Dermatologist Visit

A little over a week ago I went to a Dermatologist to have a scar thing looked at on my leg.  I've never been to one before (for myself) so it was a new experience for me.  I find it weird when doctors don't have eye contact with you while they are talking and appear to be nervous--this doctor was nice and professional, but it felt like I was on a "first date" with a freshman in high school that has never been on a date before.  When he asked me if I've ever had a really bad sunburn with blisters--I withheld the truth and told him yes-twice; on my shoulders and feet.  I left out the fact I burned my boobs one summer and they blistered up.  And there was absolutely no way I was going to tell him I have a phantom lump on my upper thigh/lower butt cheek since last January:  Maybe on the 3rd or 4th date.  ;-)  tee hee hee

He decided to remove my weird scar and send it for testing.  I was alright during the numbing process and the prepping of the area-but once he started cutting (I wasn't even watching-my head was turned away) I became extremely nauseous and broke out into a sweat.  I'm thinking shock was setting in--how embarrassing that would have been if I had passed out at the dermatologist. 

I have 5 stitches that Tristan and Cortlynn find horribly disgusting-yet Kyra is fascinated by it.  I get them removed on Friday and will have a scar-but at least I know what this scar is from unlike the one that was removed.