it's fine, who needs money anyway, right?

  i am trying to remain positive in light of all the things that keep happening to me, but i think its time for a break!  as everyone knows i went back to work part time.  it worked out for our schedule and our finances.  there wasnt a lot of playing room in the ol check book, but we managed it well...
  june 18th was like any other day, john went to work at 9.  what was a bit different was he was back at 1030.  he was "let go" from his 7 year long employment at tom ahl.  no warning, no real reason. come to find out later it was probably because they needed to make room for employees from the recently bought out findlay tom ahl store.  he wasnt the only unfortunate person.  so, while he has sent out many resumes and even had an interview, our future is uncertain.  he has 2 more weeks to see if he is even eligible for unemployment. heck, verizon is already calling...
  i definitely enjoy having him around during the day though, thats for sure.  an extra set of hands is always nice!  we have never spent this much time together.  i am getting better with it.  at first it was weird, he was all up in my day.  now we take turns sleeping in, making lunch etc.  i could get used to this!  if only he got paid to help around the house!
  it always feels as if when it rains it pours.  im frustrated that im paying off a $700 water bill from my previous renters, also frustrated that i sent a $125 check for a phone i never received.  i dropped and broke my new camera.  my week old scale broke (i was able to return it though). i hate saying no to the kids when they want something.  i know things will turn around for us, but waiting is no fun.
  BUT, we are all alive and healthy.  we are enjoying our summer.  lillian turned 7, sebastian is close behind her to turn 6 next month.  leyton, amity and atticus all had wonderful well child exams.  amity is on day two of potty training and its going great.  atticus is a fun happy smiley baby.  my company (paid) picnic is in a few weeks, and my diet is going great.  so despite all the above bull, things besides money are perfect.  and thats whats most important :)

we're going to have a mexico!

ok a few updates to get out of the way.  i returned to my job at the pig farm.  i attempted to quit by email telling my boss that i couldnt work 50 hours a week first shift anymore with such a large family and sitter bill.  i told him that maybe if i could work different hours and part time i could probably stay. (there are no other shifts, or part time people)  So i thought i would be told no that it wasnt possible and i would feel ok to quit at that point.  instead they LOVED the idea! so, my own special valerie hours are 3:30 to 7:30 or 8:00 or 8:30, whenever valerie feels valerie hours are over.  my sole purpose there is to help the sows who may have difficulties having their babies, drying babies, making sure the babies are nursing and warm and happy.  i do some laundry and  other odd jobs sometimes.  my job is to walk, and walk and walk.  up and down the hall, up and down the back of each side of each room.  i work all alone.  i thought i might be scared but im not.  i actually LOVE me time!  after all day with the kids at home i have no problems going.  sadly, compared to home its quiet.  first week back my feet were hurting, now im good.
anyway, back to my title.  after 5 kids john says we are done.  heck he said we were done after 4 hehe.  pregnancy was something special to me, as it is to most im sure.  i loved each new week knowing something big was happening.  i always have gotten pregnant easy, stayed pregnant easy, had easy births, etc.  i guess pregnancy is just kind of "my thing".  im trying to get used to the fact that i cant do my thing anymore.  so, i had a great idea.  im giving myself a "due date."  its in march of next year.  its 9 months from now.  its diet time!  each week will be exciting as in pregnancy.  each week i WILL have accomplished something!  and at the end, i am going to mexico!  and, maybe i will just wear a two piece suit lol.  so as in pregnancy, each week will be exciting with one big huge thing happening at the end :)  the april following my march due date is john;s and my 5 year anniversary too, so something special was in order anyway
granted, this isnt the first time i have dieted.  actually just before i got pregnant for atticus i had just lost 60 pounds.  oopsy.  so, i know what i am doing and how to do it.  this time i think it may be the easiest for a few reasons.  being as how i am alone at work there will be no donuts or cakes for birthdays.  theres no vending machines.  what i bring for my dinner there is what there is.  cant cheat if i dont bring bad stuff! not to mention all the walking i do is like free exercise.  i am on day four of operation lose this weight...again. so far, so perfect.  i have an app on my phone called "lose it"  its awesome!  i recommend.. you track all your food and it has it all stored with graphs and how much you have eaten and may still eat.  you add your exercises etc.  also has a bar scanner so you just scan the food and it puts it all in for you.  it really is nice.  last time i used a food journal and it helped a lot.  same thing, just less writing :)
i took my parade of kids for a walk today.  felt like longer but we walked .7 miles.  i pushed the two little ones in the stroller and the other 3 walked.  its good for us all to get moving. i plan for us to walk daily as we try to get into a routine.  i jump on the elliptical too as atticus and his non stop eating allows lol
so, things at home are busy but i feel they are going well.  and after i lose 60 more pounds and go to mexico, maybe ill just get pregnant there, ok john?