Sunday, April 30, 2006

Alive and kicking...

Hey all!
 
It seems like I have no time left to write here these days.  Honestly, I'm not sure how some people can handle working full time, taking care of their household, and keep up daily or even weekly entries...
 
By the time I sit down, I'm done.  My brain refuses to think anymore, so I try to catch up alerts then.  When that is finished, so am I ;)
 
Let's see... what's been happening.  Well, sometime last week or the week before, Grace decided her hair had gotten too long.  I came home for lunch and was pulling down both sides of her braided pig tails, like normal.  One stopped way short of the other, and the first time I thought I let it go, so I found it again.  Nope.  It was missing half.
 
My father is like laughing, and said he didn't even notice!  She did it after her nap, while she was upstairs.  She had dumped her dirty laundry out of the basket and used it to climb up and unlock the bathroom door.  All while my father sat on his ass downstairs, thinking she was sleeping.
 
This was the icing on the cake for me.  I have been considering part time daycare for her since his breathing issues.  Now it is a done deal.  When preschool is out for the summer, Gracie will be in daycare 2 days a week from 10-6, and one day from 9-1.  This move, my friends, will cost me $296.00 per month...
 
I also just enrolled for health insurance, which comes with dental and vision... for another $190.00 per month, for just me.  Good thing the girl's father will cover her... or I couldn't afford it.
 
Just paying those, leaves me about $40 a paycheck, not including student loan payments or other bills....  I am really bummed.  I thought I'd have some money for working all these hours.  Its to the point where I may have to give up the job I love for something that pays more.
 
I am still due a raise from January, and that should be retro-active.. won't be enough, but its something...
 
I won't be paid for the time I took off in June to try to head East to meet everyone, so that may be a kink in the chain, but I do have the time scheduled off anyway... just in case.
 
I won't know until closer to the date if I can actually go or not, and that sucks because I'm such a planner.  I like to have as many ducks in a row as possible :)  I am still hopeful... very hopeful... that I'll make it.
 
Grace had her dance class pictures taken last Friday and that went well.  I went $24.00 over my budget, but I do that frequently... LOL.  I couldn't decide between 2 poses, so I got both!  What the hell?  They're only young once...
 
In news of moi, its been the same.  I'm trying to get back into some kind of shape... even if its wrong ;)  I started getting non-fat mochas from Starbuck's instead of regular ones.  They really do taste the same!  That's a big step for me in itself... Ha!  If I could only give up Cokes.  At least I'm buying the little 8 oz bottles instead of the 20 ouncers  :)
 
Now, if I could only get up early enough to go walking before work...
 
Have a good week if I don't get back before then :)
 
Cat
 
PS~ A big CONGRATULATIONS to Bernie & Chris!  She's having a baby :)

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Man I sure hope you can swing it doll.

Hang in there toots.

Stacy

Anonymous said...

Oh man can I relate!!  It's always crazy trying to make ends meet, and it seems like just when you get things figured out you have to throw something else into the mix - you know, pesky luxuries like insurance and daycare - lol - Hang in there... it can only get better, right?  -Kelly  www.pixiedustnme.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Thanks for stopping by and saying hi to me!  I just put your journal on alerts and you now have a new reader!!!

Take care and I totally understand trying to keep up with a journal.

Terra

Anonymous said...

I know what you mean by busy!  I wonder everyday if I am going to get to journals at all anymore!!  I hope that you are able to get to AC in June!!
Hugs,
Colleen

Anonymous said...

Well, as you know I work from home so I gots me all the time in the world...when I'm not entertaining 4 5 year old girls, 3 4 year old girls, and 4 3 year old girls...yeah me!  It's a wonder I haven't commited some kind of crime...or suicide.

None of my kids every cut their hair, or each others....but my nephew cut Alex's hair once, no biggie though cuz boys you can just buzz.

It costs us 200 a month just to have ME on Bill's insurance..I got the kids on CHIP and don't pay a dime thank god!  So, I guess you can say this country helps out it's citizens on some levels.

~V~

Anonymous said...

Oh No!!  Not her hair???  Well, I guess you can look at it as, they all do it at one time or another...  I practiced on all my dolls one day before I cut my own hair...we were all bald...LOL.  ;)  
On the day care...it will be a good thing for Grace in the long run, even if it's so expensive...I wish we would have done that with Josh looking back now.  That little head start, can make all the difference in the world.  
I hope you are still able to make the trip!  I so wish I could be there with all of you, but with Jim's schedule and tight on money, it's just not in the cards for me this time.  But I will be there with all of you in spirit, that's for sure!!  So you have to go!!  I can't wait to hear about it all!!  :)

*hugs*

Anonymous said...

Hey Cat! F/T work really stinks and is realy hard to get time for other things other than your child. Grace cut her hair? Too funny! I think all lil ones do that at some point or another. Can't you take Grace to your job since you work at a daycare anyway? That would suck to have to place her in another location. My husband's cousin takes all 4 of her kids to work with her at the daycare she works at and it is no charge at all, how nice is that?!?!
I would love to meet ya when June rolls around, hope you can come out to play, than again, I might not even be allowed to come out to play either so......
Well seems that you are doing well, hope things get alittle better for you!

~Theresa~

Anonymous said...

NOOOOOOO!  not her hair!  yeah, time for daycare ;) no offense Pops!

That's awesome that you got insurance...sucks that it's costing so much..guess it could be worse, but still.  Well, use the hell out of it and get your money's worth!

You've gotta post the pictures from dance class!  I hate when they spring pictures on me..I always want them..how do you say..nah, don't want these cute pictures of my kid?!  We should start a photo studio ;) and we'll have free healthcare!  one can dream ;)~

Whatever you do, don't try the soy milk..that's a BIG difference.  Some people say they can't taste it, but I sure can..course, I can always taste sucrose in everything, I can't stand diet stuff.  But you were totally right about the decaf..no taste difference...it just doesn't perk me up..and I need all the perk I can get!

I'm trying to figure out the June trip too...and won't know what I can do until Chris gets his June schedule..in June :( let me know when you figure out when you can go, I definitely want to get up there when you're there!  p.s.-...i'm talking PA, I know I can't do AC :(

Thanks doll :)  You're the bestest Kitty that ever there was!
~Bernie

Anonymous said...

Cat
I laughed reading about Grace cutting her own hair secretly.  Girls will be girls, but I agree daycare is going to be a safer bet even though it will really stretch your budget.  I hope it wasn't too hard to even her hair out again.

I know what you mean about finding it hard to keep a full time job and post on a regular basis.  I find myself playing the same catch-up game that you are doing right now.  I was reading your archives this AM but could not find a post where you talk about heading East and meeting everyone.  Do you mean that there is a J-Land rendevous in June?

Oh, and can you believe Jimmy is shutting down his journal?  I know he will be missed!

Sam