Donde Esta??

Yes, yes... I have been MIA for awhile... but I have good excuses!

BEST excuse is that hubby is FINALLY here! YAY! Almost 10 mo. of the immigration process about did me in-- but I survived! It has been SO nice to have him here to help. And he has been quite busy-- though never fear-- he's had plenty of time to keep up with World Cup! (Too bad England has been rubbish! -- even my MIL says so!)

with the brothers after England's draw with the US

We have also been busy finishing up the nursery-- I saved the shelves project for him! And he has done an EXCELLENT job painting and hanging the shelves-- I am SO happy to have them up and ready--

Another biggie has been getting, putting together, and installing the travel system. This has resulted in some "colorful" language and hilarious quotes-- "Do not take anymore pictures because I am really not happy!" (I was, of course, photoing the whole event)... "You need a f-ing mechanical engineering degree to put this together!"  "What the hell *is* this?!"   "Look! Little hubcaps!" "How do stupid people do this?"

Again, Daddy has done a great job!

Next up: the baby!! Miss Priss is still breech-- they are going to try to turn her on Monday, so we shall see. I am ready for her to be here-- well OUT of me anyway... It is HOT (mid to upper 90s most days), humid, and I am really uncomfortable. I was positive my feet/ ankles would split open last night. Everyone tells me how great I look-- but WOOF! I am NOT feeling it!

And I just snorted at an email I received-- something from The Bump, or What to Expect... "36 Weeks: Take advantage of that energy surge!"  Who the hell are they kidding? What energy surge? Where? It took EVERYTHING I had to drag my swollen self out of bed today-- and even then I did it more out of guilt than anything.

Miss Priss is moving-- which is good-- though it makes me nauseous sometimes... And I don't think she is moving to the head down position-- just dancing-- or re-enacting moments from the World Cup. Oof!

So that's where I've been. I hope to be more "with it"-- we'll see!

Post-It Note Tuesday: Weekly Planning

Make sure and LINK UP if you play!!

I've Been Out of Control & Missing in Action...

Sorry to have been MIA all week on here... It's been a doozie!

I admit, I like to have control of most situations. Sure, there are times when I can go with the flow and just see what happens, but for the most part I don't like the out of control feeling. It's like riding the tea-cup ride at Disney World... I feel like at any moment I will be slung off into the universe.

Maybe that is why this whole immigration thing is so frustrating and uncomfortable. I have NO control over any aspect of it now. I have done my part, filled out stacks of paperwork, written several checks, copied and mailed all important documents and "evidence." Right now we are waiting on, perhaps RELYING on is a better phrase, Matt's Dr. to send a report to the embassy Dr. All the Embassy Dr. wants is 3 details-- it's really NOT hard. But for some reason, this is over the other Dr.'s head. Really?! You went to school for how long? People's lives rest in your hands daily, and yet you can't seem to get one simple letter written correctly? Furthermore, it's not like he writes it anyway, the secretary does. All he has to do is get her the info. Hell, I can write the stupid thing and get it to the Dr. in London (FROM THE US, no less) faster than this guy seems able to.

Needless to say, Matt will not give me the Dr.'s # so that I may call and, ahem, explain the urgency of the situation a little clearer. Apparently Matt is concerned that I will offend the man. PSHAW! I love that Americans have a reputation for abrasiveness... Whatever, we get things done! No stopping for a cup of tea for us!

School has been another out of control issue. This has been a challenging year. I am constantly shocked and saddened by some of the issues that  kids in elementary school face. I think back to those years-- fun, carefree... I certainly wasn't worried about taking care of younger siblings, or my parents! I was not neglected-- I had food, clean clothes, I was bathed... My parents cared about my education, made sure I did my work, instilled in me the VALUE of a good education. So what has happened?

If I spoke to adults, or acted the way some students today act... even now in my 30's-- my dad would STILL yank me up. And for some it is a game-- they know there are no consequences at home, and consequences they care anything about at school. Take my recess? Fine. Suspend me? Even better! I'll play video games all day! Kids like this go out of their way to drive teachers crazy for fun! And they win EVERYDAY!

Not only are my nerves frazzled, my blood pressure high, and my head throbbing... but now I feel like a failure because I can't get control over an 11 yr old! The thing is, NO ONE can... No teacher they have ever had... not their parents... no one! So what happens to these kids. If they act like this, and are this apathetic at 11... think what they will be like in high school... when they are 20... 30...

Here are some interesting recent articles from England:

Beaten boy was 'leading light of class trouble'

and the follow up:

Teacher Cleared Of Attempting To Murder Pupil

Now, I am not saying teachers should beat down unruly students. But teachers are human beings- and I am glad, for once, that a jury listened to the teacher. And what about the students' behavior? It will probably go unpunished (aside from a cracked skull)... but maybe other students will think twice before tormenting a teacher.

Thursday was one of the worst days. I had been out Wednesday... Two of my darlings had been in trouble with the sub-- so they were sent to other rooms for the day. That's how our "inschool suspension" works. Thursday, same two in trouble again. It's not always THESE two... but there is never a day that at least one of about 5 don't stir something up. I have not had one uninterupted day. And the school system wonders why test scores go down? It's not all books and learning-- there has to be some discipline-- and that discipline has to start, and carry on AT HOME. 

Teachers get blamed for everything-- if a child has low grades, it's our fault-- never mind the kid probably had no food at home for breakfast, is coming in dirty clothes, with dirty hair, face, and hands... Chances are the kid got themself (and sometimes siblings AND parents) up that morning... No one makes them follow directions at home, so why should they at school? Kids that see nothing but anger and fighting at home-- that is the norm-- so why not yell and fight everyone at school? "Multiplication? Who needs that? My daddy says that's a waste of time!"

OK, soapbox over... It's just that is what we are dealing with day after day... then we are told we can lose our jobs if scores don't go up. Parents come in and complain about ME if their child isn't doing their work. Well, newsflash: I have my OWN life. I cannot possibly go home with every student and sit with them until they do their work each night. I give my class LOTS of time IN CLASS... if they CHOOSE to use their time poorly-- well, that my friends is a life lesson. I'm a teacher, not Superwoman.

So on top of THAT stress on Thursday, my Dr.'s office calls to inform me that I have failed the 2nd glucose test. This was the 3 hr long one where blood was drawn 4 times. (I was technically poked 5 times if you could the last one when she couldn't get a vein in one arm). Great. Gestational Diabetes. And yes, I am aware that this is quite common. But it is ONE MORE thing, on top of all the other crap I am dealing with. Add this worry to all my worries about immigration, school, family, stuff at home, etc...

And did I mention I LOVE bread and all things carbs? I am already miserable. All I want this AM is some cereal... Nope, sorry... No can do... I can have an egg. Ever mention I really do NOT like eggs at all? I don't like the smell, the taste. the texture. Oh well.

I will go now, and fix an egg for breakfast, before I get too whiney...

Just a LITTLE longer...

Matt had his interview yesterday AM at the US Embassy in London. He said, while it was intense, the consular officer he spoke with was very nice. She didn't ask a lot of questions-- when we got married, how we maintain the marriage across the pond-- he explained we use skype and talk via webcams into (for him) the wee hours of the AM-- he said, "Can't you see the bags under my eyes?" She thought this was funny...



They did not issue his visa today, because the Dr. he saw in London (the one he had to see for the embassy) has no signed off on his medical. She is the Dr. that detected a murmur. He has since been to a cardiologist-- who has told him he has a leak in a valve in one of his arteries. This will require surgery for repair (NOT replacement). The cardiologist sent all of this to the Dr in London, but she still didn't sign it--

In the meantime, I contacted my insurance people, and explained the whole thing. They checked, and because he has coverage in the UK, then he WILL be covered here. They will not consider it pre-existing, and there will be no lapse in coverage. I had them write me a letter to this effect. Matt has the letter and the email from my insurance lady. He took those, plus a letter from my Dr. saying he really needs to be here for the baby. The embassy made copies and have instructed him to take the letters to this Dr. in London. Once she signs the medical (and they feel she has no reason not too, since he WILL have insurance coverage) and gets it to the embassy, they will then call Matt. They will give him a courrier number-- he is to courrier his passport to the embassy, they will then courrier it back with the visa.


I asked how long this will take-- hopefully no more than a week. When I spoke with him the first time, Matt was running down the street in London trying to get back to the Dr's office to talk to her.


She said what she needs is a report from his cardiologist detailing exactly what is wrong, what needs to be done, and a timeline (ie can he wait 6 months, a year, 2 yrs, etc...) She said she has to make sure he is ABLE to come over here. Why she didn't explain this to him LAST week when they spoke, I have no idea. Matt thinks he may have misunderstood her-- anyway-- he is trying to call his cardiologist now so he can set up a time to see him Monday. The Dr had already scheduled a procedure for Wednesday-- to go in with a camera and look closer at the heart, so he may wait till after that to send his report to the Dr. in London-- we'll see.


At any rate, we are still hoping that within the next 2 weeks Matt will be ready to step on a plane! He said he feels like a weight has been lifted. :)


SO... there we are. Not the BEST news, but certainly not BAD news. He said he feels he can go ahead and sort all his stuff, and start packing. This week will also give the airports over there a chance to decongest from all the people stranded by the volcano in Iceland.

Thanks for all the prayers, positive thoughts, and encouragement... this has been BEYOND stressful, but will hopefully be over soon!
 

The Waiting Game...

Well, the day is finally here (almost...)

After 10 months of filling out paperwork, answering questions, and WAITING-- Matt has his immigration interview tomorrow. This has been, quite possibly, THE most stressful thing I have ever been through. There are so many things wrong with the immigration process, I don't even know where to start. Nor do I have the answers. I realize immigration is one of the next big political issues to be addressed, and oh how I hope they are able to make some GOOD and LOGICAL changes so no one has to go through what we have.

I don't want to say I have an "appreciation" of illegal immigrants-- but I will say I have a new UNDERSTANDING.

If things don't go well tomorrow, I honestly don't know what I will do. My gut reaction would be to pack up and head to the UK... but at 6 monnths pregnant, that is hardly an option.

My feelings and emotions this week have been up and down. Like Matt, I don't want to get my hopes up-- seems like everytime we do, we hit an obstacle. At the same time, I have a positive feeling-- I have tried desperately to stay positive. It's not been easy-- that's for damn sure! But HOW could they NOT let him come? Surely the people at the embassy have a heart...

(SIGH)

OK... I'm off to try to occupy my time...

Please send good thoughts and positive vibes across the pond! His interview is at 9:30 (UK Time)... no idea how long it will take... letting the waiting game continue...

And the Beat Goes On...

Whew! I am EXHAUSTED! Had a great weekend-- lots of fun times with family-- my "crazy aunts" were both in town for Gma's 94th b-day... We had a great dinner Saturday night-- I made cupcakes-- coconut for Gma, and chocolate for Aunt V. When we weren't looking, Gma got sneaky with her cupcakes and candles-

Sunday we went to Pigeon Forge for breakfast and some outlet shopping. Then it was off to run some errands for Gma, a trip by my condo so the aunts could check out the nursery, then back to Gma's (I had to get my car)... by the time I got home, I was ZONKED! I took a short nap, then got up to talk to Matt via Skype... then I CRASHED!

Had early AM bus duty this morning (ONLY ONE MORE LEFT AFTER TODAY!) Took Aunt V to the airport, then had dinner with Gma and Aunt Liz. I could seriously go to bed RIGHT NOW and be fine. My lack of weekend naps is seriously catching up with me.

This is THE WEEK! Matt has his immigration interview on Friday... I am nervous-- and I know he is BEYOND nervous! I wish more than anything I could be there with him... Though, looking at the flying situation now-- even if I wasn't 6 mo preggers and able to fly-- I wouldn't make it b/c of the cancelled flights due to the Iceland volcano. Though let me say-- that volcano won't have ANYTHING on me if Matt gets his visa and then has to wait to fly here b/c of it's stupid ash!!

Anyway, I am asking for everyone to send good thoughts across the pond to my beloved British husband... I NEED him here NOW!!

OK, so here is your interesting Monday read--

First President Owes Library $4,577 and Two Books

What a scoundrel!!

Quote of the Day

Been having a completely HORRID time dealing with immigration... Everytime something good happens, Matt and I get a kick in the face that knocks us way backwards... I am terrified he will not be here when the baby is born-- add that in with crazy pregnancy hormones-- and well, I have been somewhat hysterical for a couple of days...

Luckily I have some awesome friends that remind me ultimately that I am not alone... and that I am a strong person (though I don't feel it right now), and that everything happens for a reason and that it will all work out. This has certainly been true in the past, and I pray it is true this time as well. Even though most of my positivity has been taken away, I am really trying to BELIEVE...

Thanks to my good friend Leigh for the quote she posted on my facebook tonight:

Sail on Silver Girl, Sail on by; Your time has come to shine,All your dreams are on their way. See how they shine. If you need a friend, I'm sailing right behind; Like a bridge over troubled water...

There are not words for how ready I am for some CHANGE! And isn't that what Spring is all about-- change... rebirth... new beginnings? BRING IT ON, I say!

First of all, I am so frustrated with the whole immigration process for the hubby. I won't bore you with the ugly details, but SERIOUSLY! Something's got to give! The process is long and tedious on it's own... throw in hormones, stress, and good ol' fashioned impatience-- and it's a NIGHTMARE! I need him here! I can't do all this on my own much longer! And it seems it has been one obstacle after another. I'm not an overly political person-- but YES, there needs to be some immigration reform-- and SOON!

Next, school is on my last nerve. I have some FANTASTIC students-- a few. But overall this year has been a headache. I have never been around this much apathy in my life. And yes I know, they're just children. But even children should have some dreams... a goal... a desire to succeed. (sigh)  Sometimes I feel like I am Bill Murray in the movie Groundhog Day.... It's the same crap everyday-- nothing changes, no one remembers details from one day to the next, and no one cares. I am just ready for this group to move on.

Is it too late for a new career? Guess this really isn't the time to look into that seriously...

And the weather! Honestly-- just pick one! Hot or cold... this back and forth is killing me. It's passed the point of hoping for snow days-- not that many of those worked out for us this year anyway! So let's just get warm and stay warm already! Besides, my feet are starting to swell-- it'd be awesome, and MUCH more comfy, to just wear flip flops!