Moving again

Our lease is up at the place we are renting in the country, on the six acres.

We are moving back into town, back into the neighborhood we lived in when we first moved to Amarillo.

Someday we will find our farm or land on which to build our farm.

Glorious day

We have been waiting since April for a large sum that is owed us on Gregory's SSI disability. I have heard from other parents of Autistic children that many of them have never received their back pay, or it was paid months after the date they were told it would be paid.

We have been in such turmoil with this. We were told "6 months" when he was approved in April. I have called 5 times in the past 3 weeks to verify this payment will be paid in Oct as we were told. Never a return call...which is typical of our SS office. They are horrible up here.

Well, glory be!! The direct deposit hit today, just as promised.

I can't tell you all how much stress is now off our family.

It is truly a glorious day! We will now actually have a "cushion" in the bank for emergencies, etc.

In a funk

Sorry it's been so long since I posted here. Several of my family members have commented that I haven't been around here, so I figured I should post.

I've been in a funk lately. Overwhelmed, indecisive, stressed.

Mike and I have been doing alot of thinking and decision making about the future of our family. For most of the 8 years we've been married, it seems we've been in a downward spiral. We've finally come together and made decisions that we think will help us start gaining ground. I'll post more details soon, I promise. Just don't have time right now.

The kids are doing very well. Gregory is doing fantastic in his therapy/preschool. He's learning/using more and more signs every day and we are thrilled! We've been trying to teach him to sign since he was a year old and never have we had so much success as we have in his current situation. He's also trying more to form words vocally.

Hank (our rooster) got very sick 1.5 weeks ago. And after a week of ICU and round the clock care in the house, he was outside for fresh air for the first day he was able to be out, and Margo (our poodle) got him and killed him. That's 2 of my chickens now that she has killed. We were devastated. Margo is on very shaky ground right now.

Currently, Gregory and I are sick with respiratory infections. But at least Gregory is still eating and drinking, so...so far, so good. No hospital stay so far.

I will post again soon with more details. We are all doing fine, though.

Changes again...

Well, after Mike pushed to get through his training (at the request of his District Supervisor) for promotion with TSC to Store Manager, now we're told, there's no place we could transfer until maybe next spring. UGH.

So we're here, in Amarillo, indefinitely. It's fine, though. A great opportunity has opened up for Gregory through the place he goes for all of his therapies, so we have decided staying here as long as necessary is a good thing. He will be attending preschool, as well as all of his therapies. Four days a week, 9-12. It's really good for Gregory.

We will continue to homeschool Felicity. She will be participating in 4-H, soccer, and Girl Scouts. There's even a Girl Scout troop in each level here that is mainly homeschooled girls. She'll be able to make all kinds of new homeschooled friends!

There's an equine rescue about 5 minutes from our house that Felicity and Katie (my grown daughter) are going to volunteer. They are thrilled! They both adore horses!

We FINALLY found a Catholic church where we are comfortable. It took 2 years, but the Parish in Canyon, TX, is about 10 minutes from us and it's a very comfortable place. Lots of "country folk" there and not "hoity-toity" as we have felt the others we attended here in the Amarillo area were.

Katie has decided she wants to finish her Senior year of school (finally). We are researching an online high school that's specialty is helping kids finish high school online. She will be able to get an actual diploma, not having to take the GED.

Gregory was approved for his MDCP program, which provides paid respite care for him to give me a break to work, clean house, etc. Katie has been hired to be his care provider. She's making really good money, paid through Gregory's program, but technically, she works for me, I am her employer, but she's paid through the agency. She's living with us again, as well. It's working out well.

We plan to add to our little farm soon. We will be getting more chickens in the next few weeks. We will also be adding guinea to our brood. Guinea are excellent at keeping away snakes, mice and bugs. Turkeys will also be coming along soon, too.

As soon as we get the pen built, we will be getting a few goats. Not only for companionship, but Felicity will be able to show them in 4H competition, and also to help with the grass/weed mowing lol.

Felicity is talking about wanting a pig to raise/show. Not sure if we're there yet.

So...that's some updates for now.

Have a great Sunday!