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: Starting over
I've been so busy dealing with the drama of life that I haven't posted in months. Cadence had her first birthday on Thanksgiving and we gathered as a family at our home. Dude, Kyle, Alex, Mia, Guen, and our little family were all in attendance. Cadence had cupcakes. Thanksgiving dinner was served ridiculously late, but Alex and I took a relaxed approach and just let it take however long it took. I don't think Dad was too happy. We sang happy birthday to Cadence and let her make a mess of her cupcake. She wore her little black leggings and her red, orange, and pink flowered black-trimmed dress with a yellow ribbon with orange polka dots and her turkey ribbon I made for her. She looked beautiful. Happy 1st birthday, gorgeous.
Christmas was approaching too fast. Alex and I were talking daily. We were excited because this year we had managed to get together a really great Christmas for everyone, even Dad. Then tragedy struck. My sweet daddy passed away on December 18th suddenly in his home from a cardiac event. Cindy and Russ came out a couple of days later and spent Christmas with us. The holiday was kind of a blur, honestly. Alex and I were trying to put together a small memorial for Dad and trying to still have a good Christmas with the family... It was hard.
We had our first Christmas morning at home as a family, with the kids waking up and coming downstairs and seeing that Santa came. It was very special and bittersweet with all the drama preceding the holiday, both with Dad and within our own home. Darwin and Cadence still had a great Christmas and got lots of presents from family, Santa, and even presents Dude had bought them before he passed. Darwin got a brand new Cars bedroom, most of which was bought for him by Dude. Cadence got her first doll that isn't a blankey - Stella. Darwin also got Wall Tracks that took forever for me to get around to setting up, but they are awesome!
We rushed the next week to set up the small memorial for Dad at the PV fire station. It was on December 30th. I can't really talk about that yet. It's still fresh. Needless to say, New Years kind of came in quietly. Richard and I were happy to have the family home together after spending an entire week in PV. I think we both fell asleep before the new year. For the first year ever, I wasn't awake to talk to Alex right after midnight.
Alex has had a really hard time dealing with Dad. I think I'm having a hard time too, but I have my family drama distracting me from dealing with my grief over Dad. Richard and I are trying to work things out. It is really difficult. I hope we will make it.
Cadence started walking in her 14th month and now she practically runs everywhere. She has a full head of hair finally and 7, almost 8 lil chompers. She is a happy girl that smiles a lot and loves giving kisses. She loves animals and is very gentle with them. She also loves to sneak up the stairs at every available opportunity.
Darwin has had yet another verbal breakthrough. He pretty much talks like a big kid now. He has a great vocabulary and enunciates well enough even strangers understand him well. He is getting more conscientious about how he treats others, although it is taking a little time. He is so tall and so handsome. He loves his mama and I adore him. Oh, and he is obsessed with the Power Rangers right now! He also loves to do anything outside.
I forgot to mention him running off at the park a few weeks ago and the subsequent routine CPS visit, but the visit was short and very perfunctory. Him running off terrified me and I am hoping that he learned from it, although I've already had to stop him from doing it again a couple of times. I'm scared to take him back to Columbian Park just yet. I'm trying smaller venues until I can feel more confident he will stay with me. I can't watch him constantly with Cadence so I have to be able to trust him to stick close by.
This March was unseasonably warm and we spent tons of time outside. I've already gotten lots of sun and I've also gotten lots of pretty dresses to wear this summer. I've lost 50 lbs. I now wear a size 0 jean and weigh around 120. I feel good, but still am not satisfied with how I look because of stretch marks and loose skin. I guess I will never be really happy with my body again... *sigh*
I'm looking forward to summer and moving. OH! DUH! Richard started a new job in February. Throughout all the home drama and Dad passing, Richard was looking for a new job. He started right before Valentine's Day working for HH Gregg in Indy. He seems to like it so far, but the commute puts a lot of strain on an already strained situation, although things are MUCH better now than they were even a month ago. We are looking to sell our home and relocate to the Indianapolis surrounding rural area. Hopefully that will happen this summer.
Geez, my whole life has changed in six months. I look completely different even. It's crazy. I don't even recognize things as they were. It's like I'm starting completely over again.
I've been so busy dealing with the drama of life that I haven't posted in months. Cadence had her first birthday on Thanksgiving and we gathered as a family at our home. Dude, Kyle, Alex, Mia, Guen, and our little family were all in attendance. Cadence had cupcakes. Thanksgiving dinner was served ridiculously late, but Alex and I took a relaxed approach and just let it take however long it took. I don't think Dad was too happy. We sang happy birthday to Cadence and let her make a mess of her cupcake. She wore her little black leggings and her red, orange, and pink flowered black-trimmed dress with a yellow ribbon with orange polka dots and her turkey ribbon I made for her. She looked beautiful. Happy 1st birthday, gorgeous.
Christmas was approaching too fast. Alex and I were talking daily. We were excited because this year we had managed to get together a really great Christmas for everyone, even Dad. Then tragedy struck. My sweet daddy passed away on December 18th suddenly in his home from a cardiac event. Cindy and Russ came out a couple of days later and spent Christmas with us. The holiday was kind of a blur, honestly. Alex and I were trying to put together a small memorial for Dad and trying to still have a good Christmas with the family... It was hard.
We had our first Christmas morning at home as a family, with the kids waking up and coming downstairs and seeing that Santa came. It was very special and bittersweet with all the drama preceding the holiday, both with Dad and within our own home. Darwin and Cadence still had a great Christmas and got lots of presents from family, Santa, and even presents Dude had bought them before he passed. Darwin got a brand new Cars bedroom, most of which was bought for him by Dude. Cadence got her first doll that isn't a blankey - Stella. Darwin also got Wall Tracks that took forever for me to get around to setting up, but they are awesome!
We rushed the next week to set up the small memorial for Dad at the PV fire station. It was on December 30th. I can't really talk about that yet. It's still fresh. Needless to say, New Years kind of came in quietly. Richard and I were happy to have the family home together after spending an entire week in PV. I think we both fell asleep before the new year. For the first year ever, I wasn't awake to talk to Alex right after midnight.
Alex has had a really hard time dealing with Dad. I think I'm having a hard time too, but I have my family drama distracting me from dealing with my grief over Dad. Richard and I are trying to work things out. It is really difficult. I hope we will make it.
Cadence started walking in her 14th month and now she practically runs everywhere. She has a full head of hair finally and 7, almost 8 lil chompers. She is a happy girl that smiles a lot and loves giving kisses. She loves animals and is very gentle with them. She also loves to sneak up the stairs at every available opportunity.
Darwin has had yet another verbal breakthrough. He pretty much talks like a big kid now. He has a great vocabulary and enunciates well enough even strangers understand him well. He is getting more conscientious about how he treats others, although it is taking a little time. He is so tall and so handsome. He loves his mama and I adore him. Oh, and he is obsessed with the Power Rangers right now! He also loves to do anything outside.
I forgot to mention him running off at the park a few weeks ago and the subsequent routine CPS visit, but the visit was short and very perfunctory. Him running off terrified me and I am hoping that he learned from it, although I've already had to stop him from doing it again a couple of times. I'm scared to take him back to Columbian Park just yet. I'm trying smaller venues until I can feel more confident he will stay with me. I can't watch him constantly with Cadence so I have to be able to trust him to stick close by.
This March was unseasonably warm and we spent tons of time outside. I've already gotten lots of sun and I've also gotten lots of pretty dresses to wear this summer. I've lost 50 lbs. I now wear a size 0 jean and weigh around 120. I feel good, but still am not satisfied with how I look because of stretch marks and loose skin. I guess I will never be really happy with my body again... *sigh*
I'm looking forward to summer and moving. OH! DUH! Richard started a new job in February. Throughout all the home drama and Dad passing, Richard was looking for a new job. He started right before Valentine's Day working for HH Gregg in Indy. He seems to like it so far, but the commute puts a lot of strain on an already strained situation, although things are MUCH better now than they were even a month ago. We are looking to sell our home and relocate to the Indianapolis surrounding rural area. Hopefully that will happen this summer.
Geez, my whole life has changed in six months. I look completely different even. It's crazy. I don't even recognize things as they were. It's like I'm starting completely over again.
