I met Gavin when I was 13. He was friends with my oldest sister, Brenna, and I had a gigantic crush on him. He listened to the same music I did and was really sweet to me. Funny how young girls take older guys being nice to them a little too much to heart. He was 18 at the time and I knew, even at such a young age, that I would never date this dude.
...hah!
I graduated high school in 2007. I was still working at CVS at the time and having complications with my cheating, drug addicted, alcohol dependent, delinquent of a "high school sweetheart." Gavin found me on FaceBook and wanted to catch up. I was game! He looked mostly the same, with a few extra pounds and a lot less hair. We exchanged numbers and had made a plan to eat and see a movie.
I, being the open and honest woman that I am, told Jason about it. I mean, he gets to go out wherever, whenever, with whomever he wants to. Why can't I? Apparently it was a huge deal. Jason flipped his top. I hadn't even gone to see Gavin and Jason was accusing me of cheating on him and all kinds of craziness. I told Jason that I was going no matter what he said because it's unfair to have a double standard. Well, he got crazier. Called me about 100 times that night and I kept ignoring him. Finally, I answered and Jason flat out told me he had been cheating on me since we started dating and that things were over. Wow. So guess who was there to let me cry on his shoulder? Da da da dahhhh! My hero! So that's what happens. Some men are just there for you when you need someone most and it means the world to you.
Now we are working on a 5 year relationship while raising our two beautiful children full time and his cute 7 year old on the weekends. The only downfall? Her mother.
Caitlin's mother, Danielle, is a crazy woman. I use the term crazy, quite loosely. I can't count the number of boyfriends, houses and jobs she has had in the past 5 years.
This woman argues over everything. She picks petty arguments over silly things. She will randomly text Gavin things such as "I'll call the police if you don't drop her off on time." "I need your address so I can serve you with paperwork." "You're a dead beat dad." I would go on, but I just hate thinking about it. It makes my blood boil. Whatever happened to kindness? Whatever happened to please and thank you? Whatever happened to ladies acting like ladies?
I know what happened. She dropped out of high school after two weeks, got married at 15, pregnant at 16, and lost both of her oldest children to her husband due to a meth habit. Classy.
Danielle has a weird, for lack of a better word, life cycle... She will meet a guy, fall in love with him in a week, and move herself AND poor, sweet Caitlin into his home by week #3. Give the relationship three to nine months and it's done-zo! Danielle either moves into a studio/shack or back in with her mother. Wonderful cycle she has going on. Unfortunately, Danielle's little cycle ended when her mother, Starla, moved out of state. Now what is Danielle to do?
With Starla out of Arizona, Danielle has no free ride. She has no place to go if things with a new beau fall through. The news following this statement is unexpected! Danielle is trying to move to live with her mother! This lovely lady is petitioning for full custody and trying to take Caitlin from us. Was that too predictable? Oops! Hehe.
So I'm beyond upset. I've known this little girl since she was three years old.... I can't imagine life without her.
Last Sunday she told us she wanted to stay in Arizona with us. I asked her why and she said she would miss her brother and sister too much. OUCH! Haha. If only she had added, "and Dad and you!" Oh well, I'll take her wishing to stay in Arizona for any reason at this point. I don't want to see her go. I don't want to say goodbye.
If I had those 8 arms, I'd be tempted to strangle Danielle with each and every hand......
They still sound like a good idea. :)
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
A Little Piece of the Big Picture
I've been working at my new job as a quality control inspector for a medical supply company for only three short weeks and I can now say I enjoy what I do for a living. My job prevents product failure in a medical device that processes cord blood. This is important due to the fact that, with cord blood samples, you only get one shot. If the medical device happens to fail, they lose part, or all of the sample. You have no idea which child will end up needing their cord blood in the future. If you lose one sample, you essentially lose a child's chance at a better life.
"When Chloe was one year old, her parents, Jenny and Ryan, received news that she had suffered from an in-utero stroke before birth, resulting in a diagnosis of right-sided Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy. Fortunately the Levines had banked Chloe’s cord blood with CBR, which allowed her to undergo an infusion of her own stem cells as part of a study at Duke University.
Chronic Granulomatous Disease
Hystiocytic Disorders
Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency
Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Diseases
Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome
"When Chloe was one year old, her parents, Jenny and Ryan, received news that she had suffered from an in-utero stroke before birth, resulting in a diagnosis of right-sided Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy. Fortunately the Levines had banked Chloe’s cord blood with CBR, which allowed her to undergo an infusion of her own stem cells as part of a study at Duke University.
Prior to her treatment, Chloe held her hand in a tight fist, was not holding a bottle, couldn’t push herself up, and was not able to crawl like other babies her age, instead shuffling across the room. Within four days of Chloe’s infusion, the Levines began to see dramatic changes in their little girl. Chloe, who was nearly paralyzed on her right side, began to lose the rigidity and stiffness in her body, could lift both arms over her head, and began running and jumping. Today, Fox News reports that Chloe’s progress is still evident: "Her life is completely normal, she doesn’t drag her right foot, she can use her right hand," Jenny Levine said. 'She rides a bike, a scooter…we’re taking her skiing this year. She’s fabulous.'"
The following is a list of some of the diseases that have been treated with cord blood and other sources of the same type of stem cell, like bone marrow. For inherited genetic conditions, the child will not be able to use his or her own stem cells. A matched sibling's stem cells would be the first choice.
Cancers
Acute Leukemia
Chronic Leukemia
High-Risk Solid Tumors
Hodgkin & Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Myelodysplastic Syndrome
Blood Disorders
The following is a list of some of the diseases that have been treated with cord blood and other sources of the same type of stem cell, like bone marrow. For inherited genetic conditions, the child will not be able to use his or her own stem cells. A matched sibling's stem cells would be the first choice.
Cancers
Acute Leukemia
Chronic Leukemia
High-Risk Solid Tumors
Hodgkin & Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Myelodysplastic Syndrome
Blood Disorders
Beta Thalassemia
Diamond-Blackfan Anemia
Fanconi Anemia
Severe Aplastic Anemia
Sickle Cell Disease
Immune Disorders
Diamond-Blackfan Anemia
Fanconi Anemia
Severe Aplastic Anemia
Sickle Cell Disease
Immune Disorders
Chronic Granulomatous Disease
Hystiocytic Disorders
Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency
Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Diseases
Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome
Metabolic Disorders
Krabbe Disease
Hurler Syndrome
Metachromatic Leukodystrophy
Sanfilippo Syndrome
Krabbe Disease
Hurler Syndrome
Metachromatic Leukodystrophy
Sanfilippo Syndrome
Playing a small part in bettering a child's life is leaps and bounds away from being a cashier. I'm absolutely okay with that.
If I had 8 arms, it would increase my productivity at my new job. :)
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Starting at the beginning.
I am 23 years young, a mother of two beautiful children and a loving girlfriend of (almost) 5 years. I have a 7 year old step daughter and have to deal with her God awful mother.....
I'm starting this blog so I can prevent pulling out the REST of my hair.
I believe I will start with the amazing adventures of daycare! (and the resulting landslide of problems)
The past two weeks has been horrendous. I had never expected things to go how they did. On Tuesday, January 2nd, my children both started attending daycare! I'm sure you're thinking, "What fun! What joy! How exciting!" Unfortunately this was nowhere near my thought process. I was scared. I was sad. I was angry at myself for needing a job that took up so much of my time with them.
So the kids start daycare without a hitch. They barely cried, behaved for their teachers and made some pretty nifty artwork in the first week! I was getting excited about this daycare thing!
Then week two arrived... I get a phone call on Tuesday from daycare saying Delaney is inconsolable and needs to be picked up as soon as possible. I leave early from work and pick up both children. Delaney is miserable. She screams until red in the face, with giant crocodile tears rolling down her soft, rosy cheeks the entire ride home. We arrive at the apartment complex and pile out of the car. I, having my hands full with diaper bag, lunch box and sick screaming baby, let Cooper walk the four steps and down the pathway to our door on his own. "It's no big deal," I thought. "He has done this a hundred times before..." Then BAM! Cooper walks face first into a brick column. His eyebrow is busted open, blood running down his little face. He begins howling in pain, grabbing his face, smearing blood everywhere. I rushed into the house, put Delaney down and rush to the medicine cabinet. Delaney starts screaming because she is in pain and is no longer being held. Cooper is screaming because of his busted eyebrow. What about mom? Mom is on the verge of tears because everything seems to be falling apart at once.
I cleaned Cooper up and gave him a Buzz Lightyear bandaid. He looked pretty cool with his new battle wound. ;) I give both of the children ibuprofen for their pain and cuddle them on the sofa. Why don't mothers have 8 arms? Two is not nearly enough.
Wednesday arrives and Delaney is still in pain. I take her to urgent care and find out she has an ear infection. Wondrous! On the way to urgent care, I noticed the car acting up. I called BrakeMax to set up an appointment for after Dee's visit. We stop off at Walgreen's and pick up her medication and off to the auto place we go!
After waiting for 20 minutes, I am informed that the clutch is going out in my car. I am then told that it will cost, with labor, $1,375. I almost keeled over. Talk about sticker shock. My dad stops by to check out what's going on. You know how parents are, you are never too old for them to stop checking up on you. He co-signs for a credit of $1,000 and pays cash for the $375. Sometimes I don't know what I'd do without him. Probably drown.
Friday comes, the car is ready. Hooray! I'm pretty proud of myself for handling the situation in the way I did. I figured a credit broken down into monthly payments of less than $70 is better than forking out nearly $1,000 on the spot. Unfortunately, some don't exactly agree with that. My decision making isn't always considered educated. I take things in stride, try not to let it bother me.
Oh yeah, I was just informed by my boyfriend's baby mama that she's petitioning to move out of state with my step-daughter, but that's another entire page of drama better left for another day. ;)
So that's the beginning, I guess. I'm sure I've rattled on enough for today! I have written this blog with a sleeping 16 month old in my arms. It is decided. I need 8 arms. Puts a whole new twist on octomom.
I'm starting this blog so I can prevent pulling out the REST of my hair.
I believe I will start with the amazing adventures of daycare! (and the resulting landslide of problems)
The past two weeks has been horrendous. I had never expected things to go how they did. On Tuesday, January 2nd, my children both started attending daycare! I'm sure you're thinking, "What fun! What joy! How exciting!" Unfortunately this was nowhere near my thought process. I was scared. I was sad. I was angry at myself for needing a job that took up so much of my time with them.
So the kids start daycare without a hitch. They barely cried, behaved for their teachers and made some pretty nifty artwork in the first week! I was getting excited about this daycare thing!
Then week two arrived... I get a phone call on Tuesday from daycare saying Delaney is inconsolable and needs to be picked up as soon as possible. I leave early from work and pick up both children. Delaney is miserable. She screams until red in the face, with giant crocodile tears rolling down her soft, rosy cheeks the entire ride home. We arrive at the apartment complex and pile out of the car. I, having my hands full with diaper bag, lunch box and sick screaming baby, let Cooper walk the four steps and down the pathway to our door on his own. "It's no big deal," I thought. "He has done this a hundred times before..." Then BAM! Cooper walks face first into a brick column. His eyebrow is busted open, blood running down his little face. He begins howling in pain, grabbing his face, smearing blood everywhere. I rushed into the house, put Delaney down and rush to the medicine cabinet. Delaney starts screaming because she is in pain and is no longer being held. Cooper is screaming because of his busted eyebrow. What about mom? Mom is on the verge of tears because everything seems to be falling apart at once.
I cleaned Cooper up and gave him a Buzz Lightyear bandaid. He looked pretty cool with his new battle wound. ;) I give both of the children ibuprofen for their pain and cuddle them on the sofa. Why don't mothers have 8 arms? Two is not nearly enough.
Wednesday arrives and Delaney is still in pain. I take her to urgent care and find out she has an ear infection. Wondrous! On the way to urgent care, I noticed the car acting up. I called BrakeMax to set up an appointment for after Dee's visit. We stop off at Walgreen's and pick up her medication and off to the auto place we go!
After waiting for 20 minutes, I am informed that the clutch is going out in my car. I am then told that it will cost, with labor, $1,375. I almost keeled over. Talk about sticker shock. My dad stops by to check out what's going on. You know how parents are, you are never too old for them to stop checking up on you. He co-signs for a credit of $1,000 and pays cash for the $375. Sometimes I don't know what I'd do without him. Probably drown.
Friday comes, the car is ready. Hooray! I'm pretty proud of myself for handling the situation in the way I did. I figured a credit broken down into monthly payments of less than $70 is better than forking out nearly $1,000 on the spot. Unfortunately, some don't exactly agree with that. My decision making isn't always considered educated. I take things in stride, try not to let it bother me.
Oh yeah, I was just informed by my boyfriend's baby mama that she's petitioning to move out of state with my step-daughter, but that's another entire page of drama better left for another day. ;)
So that's the beginning, I guess. I'm sure I've rattled on enough for today! I have written this blog with a sleeping 16 month old in my arms. It is decided. I need 8 arms. Puts a whole new twist on octomom.
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