[Angelaosaurus-rex]

How is the home schooling preparations coming along? I bet Taylor is excited to start school!

[LisanAndy]

Wow, you read my mind! I was seriously about to come post here. I feel like my mental sanity is beginning to return to me and I feel like I can post again. I took a small little break from JM and Facebook, and a little longer break from here just after some of the drama because seriously... I care for everyone here so much and on top of the humongous amount of stress I was and still am under at the moment, I just didn't want to deal with it when my family and Andy's family have had some SERIOUS issues these past few months and I come here for fun and "to get away from my problems" and just talk to the girls I care about, not feel even more miserable and negative. That may sound really selfish and I'm sorry, but I needed the break and I'm feeling much better now. So if you all will have me back, I'd like to stick around So I guess I should post updates, this may take a while LoL. Andy's mom, if any of you remember, tried to commit suicide and wasn't successful. She overdosed herself on medicine but freaked out and called the dr. This was after finding out she had been cheating on Andy's dad since Andy was 1 or 2 (he never new this until now), she'd been doing drugs, and drinking.. barely even got him dressed. His whole life was a lie. She used to be like my own mother. Ever since we got married my relationship with her has been VERY weird and I know for a fact she doesn't care for me. Andy and I are choosing to raise our girls differently than she raised her kids and she takes it as I'm the one setting the rules and trying to say she was a bad parent for raising her kids the way she did, ect ect... definitely not true. I tried to call her after she attempted to kill herself to let her know I cared about her and everything and she hung up on me... nice. So she's been trying to call Andy and Andy had avoided her phone calls for some time. He finally picked up the phone and she basically confirmed that she thinks I think she was a horrible mom when I've never said that. Andy and I BOTH make the decisions in our house and he told her that so I hope that finally got the point across. Either way, we avoid them as much as possible because it's always something with their family, they're extremely dysfunctional, only call when they want something, and I refuse to have my kids around that mess. We found out Taylor needs surgery on her eye for her blocked tear duct and we're still in the process of getting that figured out. She's my baby and I'm just scare for her My dog has been sick with a parasite that could have infected my entire household and it's FINALLY gone. He was hospitalized and everything. We are most likely getting rid of him though despite that. There's something wrong with him mentally, I don't know what's going on, but I can't keep him in this house but that's a whole other story. We've had my dad's birthday and my birthday in the last month. My almost 90 year old grandma just fell down the stairs, broke bones around her eye, broke her nose, and her cheek, her skin is completely off her arms and other areas, she has bleeding on the brain, and is bruised so badly. She was in the ICU but was released just the other day and just had to move in with my parents so that's been extremely scary. I'm in the process of starting Taylor's preschool curriculum as it's our first year of homeschooling and any home schooling family knows.. that's a HUGE job so I've been extremely busy with that. Taylor has hit her "terrible 2's" a little late and it's been miserable. She has honestly turned into the devil. She's extremely strong willed to begin with so it's been a challenge. Andy works until 6 every night, sometimes works late (like tonight) and I do basically 90% of the parenting. I knew this would happen and I'm fine with that but I'm pregnant and mentally exhausted. I was feeling lost and no matter what type of discipline I used, NOTHING worked. I was feeling depressed, crying all day, and just didn't know what to do anymore. Well I'm slowly learning and relying on my faith and some new parenting books to get me through. If you're the praying kind, pray for my sanity and clarity from now on so I handle every situation properly. My sciatic nerve has been hurting this pregnancy and actually made my entire left leg so painful that I couldn't walk. I'm having tons of BH contractions and my back and pelvis are sore. I saw my midwife and my blood pressure is elevated due to stress and I need to try and take it easy... easier said than done LoL! My sister came to help out for a day so that was nice. I go for fillings this Thursday (so scared!), Taylor has her first dentist appointment Saturday, Monday I have my glucose test and rhogam shot, the 18th is our 4th wedding anniversary, and the 21st I have a wedding to go to. Home schooling starts on the 30th so I have A LOT of curriculum stuff and school supplies to finish buying. Anyway, that's all I can think of for now. If you made it through this novel, I'm seriously impressed

[*krista*]

Goodness woman! You've got a lot on your plate. I'm sorry to hear about your grandma's fall, I know that is difficult to cope with. I hope she is okay.

Andy's family sounds a lot like my DH's family. He also keeps his distance from most of them... the ones who are dysfunctional and only call when they need money, anyway. I know how that is.

I'm glad you are in a better place and feel ready to come back. We missed you! And you know you are always welcome here. I can't believe you are so far along in your pregnancy! I can't wait to meet the mini Andy.

[JediRach]

Good lord. No wonder you took a break. Sounds like you have so much going on right now. Jeez. Good luck getting everything sorted out. My MIL is the same way, both with the suicide attempts and the cracks at our parenting, lifestyle choices. She always assumes I am being manipulative and coercing Guy when in reality we both make the choices around here.

[~Caroline~]

I'm happy you're back and feeling ready to post again. We missed you!

I'm sorry you went through so much and I hope things start to go better soon. I really admire you for homeschooling and I can't wait for you to start and tell us about it

[Angelaosaurus-rex]

Holy monkeys lady! I understand why you took the break that is a lot for anyone to deal with! I'm glad your grandma is doing better. Don't worry too much about what your MIL thinks about you. I know very few people who's MIL actually like them lol!!! My MIL doesn't like me because *gasp* I don't allow drunk people alone or around my son!!!! That sucks about Taylor's eye I would be scared too!!!! Landen hit the terrible two's a bit early so I feel your pain on that LOL its been a struggle with him so I could only imagine how it would be pregnant and with another little one! I will pry for your sanity for sure!!!! I'm glad your back!!!

[LisanAndy]

Thanks girls! There's been a lot going on, that's for sure. I feel like you guys must think I'm exaggerating or that my family is crazy (my family IS crazy, that's for sure LoL) so it's embarrassing to type it all up but I feel like I need to let everyone know what's going on. It's so weird how Andy, and even myself, can turn out to be completely normal and our families are so off... I'm thankful that's all I know

[~*sierra*~]

*hugs* what a hectic time you are going thru! i am prayin for your sanity, but i know you are a strong lady & will be able to get thru everything. i think a lot of us have a 'crazy side' of the family! i'm constantly surrounded by my IL's lately and am feeling the stress of it too...my BP was higher last midwife appt as well....lets both take some deep breaths! *sending more hugs*

[Mars]

WOW, you certainly have a LOT going on. I'm sorry about your grandmum's fall. I think we all some family members "who are missing a few screws" but when it's so many and so close together, it's just chaotic. I'm happy that you're coping and I hope you get everything sorted out. Best luck with the homeschooling.

[LisanAndy]

Thanks girls for making me feel a little less crazy

[*krista*]

Originally Posted by LisanAndy

It's so weird how Andy, and even myself, can turn out to be completely normal and our families are so off... I'm thankful that's all I know

You don't know how many times DH and I have said that about him! We should have a "who's got the crazier ILs" talk some time. It would be fun!

[LisanAndy]

I'm sure it would be fun Weird freakin ILs LoL.

[greeneyes]

Originally Posted by *krista*

You don't know how many times DH and I have said that about him! We should have a "who's got the crazier ILs" talk some time. It would be fun!

I think all in-laws have some amount of crazy in them, haha. Lee definitely has some... "quirky" folks in his family and mine can be just down right insane.

I'm so sorry to hear you've hit a rough patch, Lisa. Lily and I have totally had our days and there have been times I have gone to bed thinking I must be an awful mother for her to act this way. It's exhausting. Hopefully the drama around here has died down and JM can be a fun get away for you again.

[**Jenn**]

You definitely have had a lot going on! And I completely understand your need for a break. If we lived a bit closer I'd come help you out--I don't think we're too far apart but it would be a drive for sure! I know all about devil children as well. Lochlann has definitely been testing the limits and my patience! But then the next minute he's sweet as can be. Personlly I think 3 is way worse than 2, Liam really tried my patience when he turned 3 too. Just stick to your guns, it all pays off in the end! I'm sorry about Taylor's eye and needing surgery. I'd be scared too. But I'm sure everything will be just fine! HUGS

[Frozendesire]

Where do I even begin!! You poor girl! I can't imagine going through all of that. I'm glad that you are back here though I hope you can find refuge here!

Sorry to hear about your struggles with Taylor. I swear 3 was way worse then 2 here as well! Hopefully it passes soon.

How is your pregnancy going??

[LisanAndy]

My pregnancy has been SOO different this time and more uncomfortable, that's for sure. The past few days I've had a reprieve from the back/pelvic/sciatic nerve pain so I'm very thankful. I've had migraines and the BH contractions having been going on for a while now but they're really picking up in frequency. I had my first "ouch, you just pinched my cervix, child, and now I can't move until you stop" moment the other night when I got out of the shower

[Resi]

Wow! You have so much going on right now. I'm sorry to hear about the mess with your inlaws. I remember you filling us in about it before. Your poor Grandmother! That sounds so awful.

I hope you can find a way to take it easy. I know that is hard to do with two toddlers!

[.Brandi.]

Wow Sweetie, my life seems almost as crazy as yours, just for different reasons!!! I'm sorry about your grandmother, I sent you prayers on Facebook. And I understand the whole terrible two's thing and planning homeschooling at the same time!!! Preston is going through the terrible twos right now and Edward is going through a phase where all he does is hit and bite Preston, take toys away from Preston and then lie about it! He starts homeschooling on Monday. With Mason coming soon and the stress of getting everything ready for him and trying to find a bigger house and a bigger car and everything else that goes with having a baby, I couldn't plan my own curriculum for Edward and I didn't have ANY support from my family. So luckily, there is a program here in Colorado that allows me to homeschool him but it's through a school district. The program is sending him is own computer to use for school work and it's all online plus we'll meet with a teacher in our district to see how his progression is going. That program has been a Heaven sent! He actually starts on Monday, I just got my "Teaching Coach" account set up on their website so I can get things going. Plus they're sending the curriculum to my door and it's all free!!! That's my favorite part! Plus the martial issues that Chris and I have been dealing with, though they are coming to an end as we realized that we weren't spending enough time together and talking as adults and a married couple. All we talked about before was money and the kids. So we're making an effort to correct that by being friends and spouses not just parents and financial partners!


You definitely have my prayers for your sanity though!!!!

[LisanAndy]

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate it!

Brandi, you KNOW I've been praying for your situation as well and I'm so glad it's starting to look up. I'm so excited to hear how Edward's first week of school goes