ATL Mom's discussing everything motherhood!

Chest pains or breast pains...??

So, I am totally freaking out as I have been having pains in my left breast which I am going to see a doctor tomorrow about but a couple days ago, I developed pain under my arm and now have pain all down my arm to my hand and it feel like its building up and getting worse by the minute.

My husband thinks it has to do with my heart and I am terrified that I have something really serious with my breast but I don't know what pain means what, so I am just stressed out and just need to know whats going on already.. My husband is on a business trip for 8 days so I will be alone when I find out what the problem is and then if its bad I need to keep it to myself until he gets back home so he can finish his job and not be worried about me as we need the money right now and can't afford to miss a day of any available work.

He was laid off back at the end of July and things have been really tough for us and we about to hit another dry spill in February with no work lined up and so its important for him to finish up the job he is working on right now. 

Well, keeping this one short gotta get some rest before the long day at the hospital Friday, as I lost my health insurance when he lost his job and now can't afford the doctors, so I have to go to the only hospital here that offers discounted services to the lower income but its a long drawn out process to get through to see a doctor but my health, my daughter, my family is worth whatever I have to do to stay healthy.

Say a prayer and I will update my page when I know whats going on with me..

Haiti Donations Made Easy

I am currently out of work but I think everyone, everywhere can find at least $10 to donate towards relief in Haiti.  There are millions of people suffering, hungry and homeless with many lost love ones and Redcross offers a simple way to donate via your cellphone.  Just dial 90999 and type in the word Haiti and send the text they will respond and ask you to type YES to confirm your donation of $10 and thats it, they automatically bill it to your cellphone.

If you think your struggling and your having a hard time just imagine how the people of Haiti are suffering and struggling just to live another day.  Sometimes we think our lives are difficult but we have never had to experience such devistation as what has occurred in Haiti.  If I was able to travel to Haiti myself I would be there to help out, but since I can't be there to help out and since I don't have alot of cash right now I figured I can manage at least $10 and then do my part to push other people to do the same, just think if everyone gave just $10 how much money could be raised to help those suffering so terribly.  We have to say a prayer for all the people of Haiti both the dead and the survivors and thier families so that hopefully they will make it through this dark time in their lives.

So, please give $10 to Redcross via your cellphone or go to Redcross.org and just think if that were your family member suffering, you would want someone to reach out and help and lets remember right now every little bit helps. Well,that is my request to anyone who seems my blog that you give to Haiti and that you pass the message on to others around you as well, family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, church members, just push others to give in anyway they can.  Thanks again for your support and lets all pray for Haiti...Let them know they haven't been forgotten and that we care!!

Well, I have been thinking of going back to school for a long time now, and watching my husband work on his degree for the past couple years and decided it's my turn to do something for myself. So, I am now enrolled in school and will begin my first class the first week of February. Yes, its a little scary to think about since its only been about 22yrs since I was in high school but it is necessary for me to be competitive in todays job market.

I have been online looking up grants and scholarships for women, GA residents and undergraduates and have applied for a few but haven't got much money yet. SO, I am also doing student loans and hoping to push through both my Associates and Bachelor degrees over the next couple years.

If you have recently returned to school and have any advice for me on how to manage my time, where to go and apply for student loans, grants and scholarships, I would greatly appreciate your help.

My daughter Taylor has been a big inspiration for me as well to get back to school, she does so good in school and she just loves learning and doing things. I want to show her that mommy can go back to school and do it as well, also I want her to know that it doesn't matter what age you are, that you can always still follow through with your goals.

I am open to any advice you may have for me, so please feel free to comment..thanks again and I plan on getting back to my blogging for 2010..

A chance encounter with another mommy!!!

Today I had to attend traffic court, some woman pulled a u-turn in front of me as I was driving down my street and boom, bang.. she was at fault but I didn't have my insurance card with me, therefore I had to attend traffic court.  Thank goodness all I had to do was prove I had insurance at the time and case dismissed.

I was so stressed over having to go to court but in the end it all went smoothly and I was the 3rd person called so I was in and out within and hour and a half.  After court I took Taylor out to eat and she played with a little boy for an hour or longer, while his mom and I chatted it up. 

Sometimes we meet people along the way that either help us or allow us to help others.  She was a single mom in her early 30's with a son and wanted some guidance on relationships, kids and following your dreams and it isn't often that someone approaches me for guidance but we talked for a couple hours and I hope I offered her some guidance and it also helps me to look at myself and my family.  We discussed marriage and commitment and being able to give of yourself , we talked about our kids the sacrifices we make for them to have a better future.  The type of role models we want our children to have and being able to love step-children when you are in a relationship with someone from a previous marriage or relationships.  We just talked about every thing we could and we discussed how she has relationship fears of not wanting to end up like her parents who have been together for 45 yrs and now her father is going outside his marriage and the pain her mother is going through, the anger her father omits on the family and the stress it has on everyone.

It was just good to talk to another mom, another woman not like myself with a different back ground but really we are all alike as we all struggle in life with parenting issues, relationship concerns, family problems and trying to find our career path.  Why we met and shared so much I am not sure what brought us together but we shared more with one another than we probably had shared with other people in our regular daily lives. 

So, in our meeting she shared with me some of her struggles and concerns and I shared some advice and I hope offered her something she can work with, of course I am no relationship or parenting expert but I have over come alot through the years and learned how to stay committed and how to work through my struggles and learn to pray and stay strong in my beliefs and to know we can over come any challenges we face in life and come out stronger and a better person for the struggles we face in life. 

So, a chance encounter with Camerons mommy..it was great to meet you where ever you are and I wish you the best in life..!! So, that was Tuesday, my Wednesday will be back to trying to get my swimming pool back up in running as all the rain has turned it green over night..have to get that corrected ASAP!!  Til next post !!

Relaxing 4th of July weekend !!

We enjoyed a long relaxing weekend for the 4th of July.  It was good to sleep in and hang out at the pool with my daughter. We cooked out and watched movies and even did an evening swim and watched fireworks from the pool as neighbors put on their own shows.  We didn't get to go out to watch fireworks as my husband was working on 2 college classes that were both due out Sunday evening, but we still enjoyed our time.

Oh, I also did the fire pit and lit the pool and backyard up with the torches and so it was all very laid back and relaxing.   Something I have realized over the past few weeks with my daughter out of school, is that I enjoy just being a mom and not always being stressed out by work.  I have been doing some re-organization around the house getting things in order and just spending time with my daughter.

I don't know if I am supposed to feel guilty for not wanting to be working and making money, usually I am stressed that business is slow and that I am not contributing enough to our home. But I am contributing every day by taking care of our daughter, the house, our three dogs and doing what ever work comes along, so I have become content with being here for my daughter and just being mom for awhile until school kicks back in and then I will get focused back on work but right now it just feels right to focus on her for these next few weeks.

Time passes us by so fast, it seems like she was just a baby not to long ago, so I think its important to make time when we can for our kids and so being out of work can both be a curse but also a blessing if it brings me closer to my daughter.  I think some times we lose focus on the important things in life, nothing is more important than our children and our families, so if we struggle a little bit it won't kill us.  Luckily we are not like some families whom have lost homes, cars, etc..I am out of work but my husband is working and I get some HUD and appraisal work from time to time and so far we keep it balanced out, our daughter is still going to her private school so its not so bad for us.

We have spent this year focusing on just paying off our debt and trying to be prepared for whatever comes along and we are not well off at all so we have to save and prepare because you never know what will happen in todays economy.  

Well, I have said enough about that stuff, so hopefully everyone had a great weekend as I did and lets look forward to many more and please remember that family is everything no matter what you go throug h or what you may lose as long as you have your family by your side you can make it through anything and tell your kids and spouse you love them everyday..til next post!!

Summer break with my daughter!!

Well, so far its been a pretty smooth summer break..Yes, I was a little worried over 9wks with my daughter over summer break, but so far we have kept busy going to the gym, then hanging out at our pool and hitting the water park once a week. 

Yesterday, we went to Stone Mountain park and did everything we possibly could do in a day, we hit the 4-D movie, road the train, took the trolley to the top of the mountain, Taylor rock climbed, we did the Sky Hike which was to scary for an old girl like myself, and we went to the Great Barn for a good shoot out..So, it was a fun filled exhausting day but so special to have that time with my daughter just hanging out laughing and spending that mommy, daughter time.

Last week my daughter was in Vacation Bible Camp and that did offer me some time for myself and Taylor has spent a weekend with her grandma and a night with her cousins and even did her first girlfreind sleep over. So, its been a good summer so far, we have had some moments of stress and needed breaks but overall its been good and I think we will spend time at the pool tomorrow after a long day today doing doctor's appointments and renewing my drivers license as well as running other errands.

So, hopefully if there is anyone else out there who is either enjoying or stressing over the long summer break with the  kids, you can always leave me your comments on what's happening with your family.

Workout journal entry..

Today I woke up thinking there is no way I would be able to workout, but eventually I talked myself into it..I have been going to the gym for weeks now and going 4 days a week, I workout between 1hr to 2hrs each visit and I mix it up, between aerobic workouts, to weight circuit training, water, bikes, treadmill, etc..

But after weeks of going to the gym and months or working out at home, I have still seen no results, no inches lost and no weight lost.  I feel like I am going to lose my mind, what in the heck is going wrong here, I workout, I eat right ,eating about 5 times a day, small portions like I am supposed to but nothing.

That is why I think today, I just didn't want to get up and go, where is the motivation in working out and not losing weight.  My doctor says I need to go get my hormones and thyroid checked to make sure I am not having other problems that could be causing me not to lose weight.

Well, anyways like always I did my workout. Today I worked out for 2 hrs, doing the bike for 20 min. then moving to weight training, then 15 min of rowing, and 10 min of the stair master..After that I went to the sauna and sweat like neverb before.  I think the sauna may help, because I think working out and then getting in the sauna is great for opening pores and making you sweat and lose alot of excess fluid build up.

That is another big problem I suffer with severe pitting edima in my legs and body, so I swell up alot from that..But I won't give up and won't give in, I will continue to do my workouts and see what happens..So, keep praying for me and maybe I will eventually see the desired results..

No summer camp this year !

Each year we have been able to send our daughter to summer camp and its great for her, she loves going on trips and doing lots of activities and just hanging with all the kids.

This year its all different, money is different and mommy not having alot of work, has more time at home and so this year we decided to save money over the summer and not do the summer camp thing.  My challenge is making sure during those 9 weeks I stay sane and that I also find more ways to entertain my 7 yr old daughter.

So, I am trying to compile a list of outdoor activities we can do that won't cost alot of money and see how often I should plan an outing.  We already have a swimming pool but I don't want to be out at the pool all day everyday so I need to do other things as well.

So, I am thinking most of the week she can play with her neighborhood friends and at least once a week we will go on our own field trip type of deal. The park, hiking,skating, or go to a water park thats close by and I promised to take her to Six Flags at least once over the summer as she already has a free ticket she got from school. 

But my daughter keeps asking to go to summer camp, I am not sure how to make my 7yr old understand that mommy and daddy just can't afford the $100 deposit, the $110 a week, lunch and snacks each day, T-shirt expense, and money for different outings. I have told her already several times that mommy and daddy just can't afford it this year and for her to be able to continue going to her private school mommy and daddy are going to try to save a little money over the summer to apply it towards next school year.

Also, my step daughter has to go to summer school to be able to pass and they now charge $200 per class and she has to take a few, so any money we have over the summer will be going towards her schooling. As her mom refuses to pay for any part of it even after she lied to us and let us think she passed school last year, when reality was she failed and her mom didn't want to tell us and she didn't want to have to pay the expense of summer school, so she just let her daughter fail.

Even if we had more money we needed it for my other daughter's summer school. It just amazes me the extent someone will go to at the expense of their child so that they don't have to come out of their pocket and pay any money. My husband has always been financially responsible for his daughter, child support, health insurance, cell phone expense and if he knew his daughter was failing or failed he would have paid the money for the summer school last year so this year she is now further behind trying to play catch up, so it's going to cost us alot for all her classes. But wether we want to pay or not or are unhappy with the situation we have to do what we have to, to support her and get her back on track as she can't afford to fall further behind.

I guess this summer my 7yr old daughter and I will get really close after spending 9 weeks straight together or I will lose my mind and end up in a straight jacket..Let's just hope we get closer as that sounds better!!!!  I am a high stress type personality so I hope I can keep my cool and I still plan to go to the gym 3-4 times a week and just take her with me so that I can get my stress worked out in the gym and hopefully I can get fit at the same time...

Working out or not ??

Well, its Monday and generally I am just getting back from the gym..but not today.  My husbands truck broke down on Friday and so I asked him this morning if he would be working from home or did he need to take my truck, so I would know to get ready for the gym or not.

He said he would take my vehicle to go to work and guess what ladies, he is still here never went to the office and is working from home. He knew I planned to go the gym and I didn't go this morning for my workout so he could use my car. This week is my doctor's appointment week, where I also have appointments Weds and Thursday so I will not be able to workout on those days either.

So, my challenge this week will be to stay focused on working out and eating as healthy as I can and not let myself fall off the workout regimen I have been planning to stick to, but 3 days without the gym will not help my cause much this week. 

I have to stay motivated or I will start to slack off..So, I plan to workout Tuesday and Friday at the gym and will have to do some working out at home on the other days to keep it balanced out..

Til next entry..

Another stressful Friday ...

You know Friday's should always be good days, as they begin the weekend but it seems I am always having stressful Fridays.

It all began relatively well, my husband made a good chunk of change yesterday teaching a class and so we planned to pay some bills and I was going to get a new laptop and take the kids to the movies this weekend.  I got up took my daughter to school, went to the gym for my morning workout and water aerobics class and that was all great.  I went ahead and paid some bills and was getting ready to go pick my daughter up from school when my husband called that his truck just broke down on the interstate and he was about 17 miles from the house, so he was going to need a tow truck, and a rental car, and to get the vehicle to the shop to have his clutch, and some other parts replaced/repaired. 

So, after all is said and done between the towing the vehicle about 17 miles to the shop, and getting the repair estimate and talking of rental cars it comes close to $1,000 so guess what, the money we planned to pay bills with or get my laptop with is now all gone. It makes me sick that my husband just made the money yesterday, and boom like that its gone and not on anything we had planned to pay for and what is even worse, my husband had planned on working on both of our vehicles tomorrow doing oil changes and repairing whatever ended up causing the problem he had today. Currently, I am out of work and so we needed the money to pay bills and for groceries and I needed to replace my broken laptop..

Last Friday, it was the news reporting that a crime committed by a man with the same name as my husband had been arrested,without them posting a photo of the criminal until 6pm. The entire day we were receiving phone calls asking what was going on, with people thinking my husband had been accused of a terrible crime and when they finally posted the picture of the man I was so happy. The calls stopped coming in but it was a stressful 8 hrs for us to have people assume such a terrible thing. But at the time all that was posted on the news, was the first and last name of a former police officer with no photo.  And then today to have my husbands truck breakdown and now cost us almost $1000 of money we planned to use to pay bills with it just really makes you sick..

But like my husband said, it makes you mad that it happened, sometimes we feel we just can't get ahead no matter what. But if it was going to have to break down and cost us alot of money we are just glad it happened now and not last week when we were broke and couldn't have paid for it.  So, he made the money yesterday and no it isn't all going towards the bills and no, I won't get my laptop but at least is isn't money coming away from my husbands regular paycheck where we couldn't have afford to even lose an extra penny of that money..So, we are unhappy about it and it stressed us out but in the end it could have been even worse, if my husband hadn't made the money he did yesterday teaching a class..It would have been even more stressful then..