Years Recap

Year recap

January 2012: Lost a member of our family; Harley Quinn and began studying Veterinary Assisting

February 2012: Brought home a new member to our family, Samurai. After 4-5 weeks of MeiMei mourning the loss of Harley, and becoming extremely depressed, I went to find a play mate for MeiMei. Sam was born January 6, 2012 and is an Australian Shepard/German Shepard mix. While we hadn’t come close to getting over the loss of Harley, Sam was brought home so that MeiMei could be the Momma, like she has been to all of the animals we've brought into that house.

March 2012: Went to Colorado to visit my family. Had a great time while there and really contemplated if we could just up and move to Colorado. With the time I had out there, it was incredible.

April 2012: Spring came, and we had no winter storm of any kind. Totally pissed us off.

May 2012: Spoke to my father for the first time in about two months and told him I’d call him for Fathers day if he called me for my birthday. Began volunteering at the Capital Area Humane Society.

June 2012: 31^st birthday….Did nothing for it. Got a text at 10:30pm on my birthday from my father… In return on Fathers Day I sent a text to my father at 8pm. Finished school for Veterinary Assisting on June 1^st and rang in my birthday with D beside me and Teebs on the phone with me as I submitted my last test while on the phone with him.

July 2012: Really started getting my name out there for the Veterinary field and out of the restaurant business. Met a friend I’d spoken to on the phone and internet, but never in person. Had a great time with her and her daughter over brunch of my family. It was nice to have that opportunity to meet someone that I’d spoken to for over 2 years.

August 2012: Got a new job at Always Payday/National Check Cashers. This job was to allow me to start gaining experience toward the reception area I had lacked for so long. Became store manager at my own store near the end of the month.

September 2012:  Went to Maryland and visited with Teebs and his family. I didn't tell anyone I was in town aside from Teebs. I needed some time with him without the added stress to be everywhere else. We went jet-skiing. Claire and I had never been before, so it was really nice. It was something we all needed.

Found out that our furnace had stopped working because of how old the system was. Became invested in ceramic heat towers to help keep our family warm.

October 2012: Talked to my father for the first time since May to wish him a Happy Birthday.

November 2012: Birthday galore. Set up having a birthday party for Claire but had dealt with a lot of attitude and misbehaving both in and out of school from her so we cancelled it. Lost Uncle Lane, on D’s side of the family and went to Pittsburgh to be there for the family.

December 2012: D got dental work done, Sam was hospitalized for having a marrow bone wrapped around her bottom jaw, furnace got repaired, student loans began getting paid back, snowfall began, Christmas didn't happen for us within the household (except for those who sent stuff our way), I slipped on ice in the alleyway, and we completed a puzzle which took under a week to complete, but was awesome to do.
Now that we're at the end of this year, while a lot happened, a lot worse could have happened. So we're thankful for what we've been lucky enough to make good of and hopeful for everything to look brighter for us. Tonight, we have two bottles of wine, sparkling cider for Claire, a 12 pack, and no obligation to the outside world once we get home.

New year………..

Weight loss begins again

Home Improvements underway

Hope to pay off my truck

Want to lower at least one of my payments for student loans

Hope to land a career which’ll allow my degree to be used

Try to spend more time together as a family

Stop trying so damn hard to please my family, outside of my house

Work toward getting where WE want to be as a family

Happy New Year Everyone!

The year of 2012

So much has happened this year that's made it difficult for us and then again, pretty nice. It really started off rough for us w/ losing our beautiful girl, Harley. So many wonders are still left unanswered but the love remains strong for her even though she's no longer, physically, with us.
As the year progressed, things began turning out a bit better. Sam came into our lives, giving MeiMei a friend to play with, and giving us more joy, once again. She's goofy, protective, thankful, and just one amazing dog. We're so thankful to have such a great pup on our lives. She makes us smile even on a rough day that we've had. This is the only dog we've ever known who actually expresses a lot of her reactions within her face, and makes her eyebrows shift in concern or just for being able to do so. Words can't explain just how much laughter she has brought to us.
I moved on from a job that I felt stuck in, and onto something which was more my cup of tea. Finally I got myself out of the restaurant business, and into a business environment which I never thought I'd succeed in, but have truly kicked some major ass. I have a great District Manager who has helped me greatly toward improving something, even I felt was impossible. Now my totals are impressive and showing that I was a perfect fit for a store that was struggling at one point. Shockingly, I've turned the debt ratio around, increased revenue, and made a lot of people happy. I have clients who have come in there and dropped Christmas gifts off to me. It's so darn amazing. I feel appreciated. Many clients will call before they come to pay their check off and if they don't recognize my voice than they'll talk long enough for me to respond with something that'd show that I am working, and that it's not someone else. They will not come in to pay their check off unless they know I'm there. It's insane how particular the clientele is at this location. I'm working 6 days a week now and with doing so, I've kept my loan amounts higher than they've ever stayed. This time last year, my loan totals are at 17K more than they were last year.
 Claire has had injury galore this year. Stitches on the bridge of her nose, staples in her head, and a concussion so far this year. It's been pretty hard on her. She has recovered from all of those rather well, thankfully, but man it sure has been stressful and worrisome while and after treatment had occurred. Schooling for her has been up and down. Attitudes have also been rather up and down with her. Nothing really steady with her for a lot of the important things in our lives. We've hoping that'll change and better itself as time continues to progress.
D's near the end of his program, which has been taking most of his time. Plus working his butt off at work with his job, it's been challenging.
Since the end of September, we've been dealing with a lot of added expenses... D broke a tooth of his, plus had a wisdom tooth that needed to be taken care of, our furnace died, Claire had another hospital bill, Sam's hospital bill, my student loans starting, additional school costs, and God only knows what else I'm leaving out.... But thankfully, my DM has helped me by scheduling me 6 days a week with any days I may need off, covered. That has helped quite a bit, to say the least. It's definitely kept our heads above water, even if it is barely.
This year we've decided to not celebrate Christmas by giving "gifts". We feel with all that we have encountered, bills wise, we'd step back from that and take care of what is needed, vs. what is wanted. We'll do some Christmas Dinner, sleep and watch a couple of movies, and work on this one penguin puzzle we have, as a family. We were going to volunteer our time to the local homeless shelter, but I was too late to put our names in for it. So, this next year I will be getting in touch with someone to help with either/both Christmas and Thanksgiving.
I wish all of you a wonderful Christmas, New Year, and entire holiday season.
I have to say, I think this year I've grown closer to those I love, and I'm so thankful for doing so. You all are amazing. Thank you for being who you are and letting me be a part of who you are. <3

More unsettling behavior

Let me just add that just within the last 24 hours I have also noticed that she has been into my makeup, my desk drawers searching for things she wants, and taking things off of my desk without my permission. I'm officially so hurt by her that I'm concerned for my own health. I feel so overwhelmed and hurt by her that I feel like she's targeting me specifically. I am honestly fearful for what is to come. I'm concerned that with her thieving and sneaking tendencies that my medication is at risk at this point. In my eyes that's where she's going to target next. :( I just can't seem to understand where the hell this is all coming from. Truthfully I feel I'm a parent getting bullied by my own daughter. :(