OMG what a life it's been!!! - my 2 months of agony

zachsmom wrote: Jeepers... ya'll wouldn't BELIEVE the last 2 months. As you know... we went to Alberta in late April-early May. We has mosty a great time, and I got to meet a member of our board. I was going to meet with others too, bnut we didn't get to. Next time!

(ps to the TO people, we're going back this summer...)

(and to the AB peop[le... we'll probably be back next spring...)

Anyhoo...our trip was a complete disaster. In Alberta, we were staying with DH's brother, his gf, and their 2 MONSTERS. I like kids, but not them. Is that wrong? Ugh. The niece is 4 1/2 now, and the nephew 3 1/2. They don't listen, at ALL...they talk back, they scream at the top of their lungs, they hit, they throw things, they spill food everywhere, they still drink out of sippy cups, and the nephew pees in his pants when he's angry at something, which is ALL THE TIME.

Poor Zach was so miserable, he spent most of that week playing alone, bcause everytime he picked up a toy, his cousins would rip them our of his hands, and/or pitch a fit. So I'd stick in the kitchen with him, and he'd sit on the ground with someting, and I'd be in the way of his cousins when they'd come over to throw a tantrum. It was RIDICULOUS. Where are the parents yo uask? why...they're 3 feet away, ignoring the kids, because they think that if they are ignored, the nsaty behavoiur will go away. NOT!

We spent the entire time ending up watching the kids, too. It blew goat... the SIL was working nights, so she'd leave at like 10pm, and come back at 6am, so she'd sleep until noon...and the BIL would lie on the couch, because ghe "didn't get enough sleep" until his girlfriend came home at noon, then he'd go to work, and come back around 11:30 at night. so since DH's brother is a lazy A$$, we got stuck doing chores while SIL was away, since BIL "doesn't do women stuff" like cooking, and cleaning etc.... Boy is he going to get a shock when he gbrowes up.

Then we left a day early, and spent the entire day in Edmonton doiung absoutely NOTHING. I tried calling Shelly...but there was no answer, and we were prolly gone when she called back...

So we took our flight, and got back to Toronto. There waere no shuttle buses available, so we had to pay for a taxi. friggin 30$, for a 8km ride! ANyways... we get back to the hotel where we stayed the night before leving (so we could leave our car parked there) and the car was totally vandalized. There were scratches everywhere, the back passenger sidewindow was broken, and the glove bax was empty. I'm glad we didn't really leave anything in there... although they did take our car seat coversm, and the driver wheel cover.

So we go inside the hotel, and ask what's going on. Remember, it's almost 1 in the morning. The clerk was this young guy, who had no idea what was goin on. I got really upset, and told him that we'd been gone all th is time, and that we just got back to pick up our car (they have the whole park and fly thing - yo ucan leave your car parked for 14 days at no charge, just for spending 1 night there, which we did.) and that it was vandalized. and that I wasnted to know who was responsible for NOT WATCHIBNG our car. Before we left, I asked about the security in the parking lot, and the managere assured me that my car would be safe when we got back. So the clerk got his manager, and the mangaer, get this, said that there was no proff thatwe didn't just do this ourselves to get money.

WTF?!?!

So anyways, the hotel refused to take responsibility. We tried to file a police report, but the cops said there was nothing we could do. But that if we really wanted to go through the trouble, we could file a civil law suit against the hoetl. They didn't even want to check for fingerprints! Aren't they supposed to? Ugh.

Sio we drive an hour away to Cambridge, where my aunt lives, pretty slowly so not too much wind would get past the stuff we piled in fron t of the window (suitcase, pillow, balnket)into the car, so we get there like at 3:30 in the morning. The kids woke up at 6, We were both so tired, we were in the worst temper that day. We took a walk to try to get some air, and we had both ikids in the strolkler. Zach was starting to act up, because he saw some older kids playing in a yard, and he wanted to go join them. I got short with Zach, and I yelled at him. This lady who was standing nearby having a smoke, started to come over. We started to walk away.. SHe stops us, and tells us she's a social worker, and wants to check Zach's back,. chest and back of thighs for bruises. What the heck? No way! I don't hit my kids, even if I'm REALLY angry. I told her to F*** right off, she had no business demanding a thing like that, and picked thie cigarette out of her hands, threw it on the ground, stepped o it, and said "you have the nerve to bring over that crap and blow it into my kids faces - and you say you *help* kids? get lost before I call the cops and charge yiou fr harrassment."

she left pretty quickly...freaking pedophile...

then we had to get the car fixed. AND, w had to dish out teh money to do it...which we didn't really have. SSo we paid for it on credit. Once the car was fixed, we headed up to Sudbury, to see the resat of my family, which hadn't yet seen Emiliy, and hadn't seen Zach since last August. We're just lucky that my aunt let us stay at her place... we'd be so SO broke if we had to pitch for a hotel room.

We get to sudbury, and we see everyone. They all come over to my uncles' house, where we were going to stay overnight. Now you have to understand that for the lsat 3 motnhs, my not-so-pacified Emily has been a complete angel. She sleeps thourhg the night, eats well, never cries etc etc etc... the complete opposite of what sdhe was the first 8 weeks of her life... and the one night were my family gets to see her, she is SOOO cranky! she didnt stop screaming after 8pm, didn't want to sleep, etc...and everyone understoodm, said she had travelled, there w as too many people, etc... which was good, at least I dind't fell bad abou her behavious.

We got home May 14th. There was a notice in our mailbox from our alarm company that we owed 75$ for a false alarm. My stupid mom went in my house, tripped the alarm. I cazll her stupid because of what she did when she was in the house.... She took off all my kitchen cabinet doors, and started sanding them. Why? becaue SHE didn't like their look... my kitchen is white and pale blue (or at leat was), and the doors were white, with the border very light blue. THey were gorgeauous! So anyways, get back find that out, got updet at her, becase while I appreciate the thought of her kieepig my house clean, she had decided to go through OUR cluittler, and get rid of what she thought wasn't necessary for us to keep. Boy was I hoppin.

The next day we changed our door lock, and we didn't answer her calls fro 3 days. She got the idea, and sent us ija huge lkong email of apoilogy. Darn right!

After that, DH goes to work (we're the 18th now) and gets his schedule - he works only 2 days the next week! We so totally can't afford him not wokring much, so he goes to see his boss and asks if it's possible to get more hours. His boss says - actually, I wasnted to talk to you... we have to cut some of your house for the smmmer, since thereis more availablity on the other workers part, what with school being out now.

So now, DH works 20 hours a week instead of the 35 he would normally.

we knwe we'd have to get deeper into debt, so we decided to cut our cable, internet, and our cellphones for a while, until we could pay for stuff again. We had the basic on our phone.

So now, here we are, end of june, and we're just finally getting over our financial slump. DH still doesn't have a better job, he stil flips burgers, but at least now he's trying, not half-a**ed attemplte like bv efore.

I'm just terrified when Spetmeber arrives...we have to pay 1200$ for childcare. My morgadge is 650$... Aaaah! Oh yeah,.... we had to consolidate our loans, so now we have a 375$ payment everymonth. But our cards are clear, if we absolutelly absolutely need them

Now, yesterday, DH got hit by a flying tire. I'll take a pic with my digital... the passenger headlight is smashed, and there is a huge dent in the fender. Gresat. There goes the money we managed to save... *sigh*

Amyhoo, jhust thought I'd update. I'm at my mother's and i am using her internet, and since I don't get along too much with my mom in the last few eeks, i don't know the next time I'll be over....considering she's not here at the moent... ha ha

Man my spelling sucks.

Oh well!

Boys r us replied: All I can say is WHOA!!!
What a trip!!!!! Sorry it wasn't more relaxing for you!!

I hope the sun starts shining your way soon hun!

amynicole21 replied: OMG, you have been through A LOT!!! I can't believe all of that! Especially the part about the hotel manager not believing you about the car. WTF?? Don't they have surveillance cameras or something? That is ridiculous. I'm so sorry that life has been so chaotic, and that all of the bills have been hitting you all at once. I really hope that things start to calm down for you guys and can get out from under this black cloud. We've missed you around here!!!

Kirstenmumof3 replied: I'm so sorry to hear of all your trouble these past few months! I had started wondering what happened to, but figured you were busy with the kids. I never would have guessed any of this. I hope the next few months get better for you. Please update us again when you have the chance we MISS YOU!

kimberley replied: i am so sorry to hear about all your troubles. are you going to pursue a claim against the hotel? i hope you get some kind of compensation. i would call the head office of the hotel chain and threaten to go to the press. i am sure they will do something for you then. i am glad to hear you will be back in TO this summer! maybe we can pre-arrange a specific day and time so we don't miss each other again. i hope things get better soon. we miss you!

coasterqueen replied: WOW is right! You've been through the ringer lately. I hope things get better for you soon. and we miss you!!!!

DansMom replied: I've been wondering where you've been. That is such a nightmare---I can't imagine going through all that.

Maddie&EthansMom replied: I hardly go visit family unless I can afford a hotel room (which is pretty much never) b/c I don't adjust well and neither do my kids. It is hard to mix everyone's schedules...especially with kids.

I'm sorry you had a rotten time.

MommyToAshley replied: Woah--- what a trip! I am sorry it did not go well. I can't believe the hotel and the police weren't more helpful with your car. Have you talked to your insurance company? I know our insurance doesn't have a deductible when it comes to vandalism. Someone stole our headlight which was $145 to replace and our insurance company took care of it with no problems. (and it doesn't count against you for your rates)

I was wondering where you were, I didn't realize you were going to be on vacation for that length of time. Zach and Emily were on the homepage as photos of the week... sorry you missed that. You'll have to submit some new photos now!

I hope you have a more relaxing week -- sounds like you need a vacation from your vacation!

ediep replied: wow! What a trip!!!!! I was wondering what ahppened to you. I figured you were busy with the kids. I am so sorry you are having such a hard time right now. I would be very PO'ed about the car too!! That is insane! Glad the kids did well on the trip. Can't wait to see some new pics of them.

aspenblue1 replied: that sounds like a stressful time. I hope everything gets better soon.

A&A'smommy replied: DANG Girl! Sounds like you had a LONG two months!! (((((BIG HUGS))))) I hope things keep getting better for you!

lsjulee replied: Oh my!! Sorry for what you'd been through. Blowing you all the lucky dusts. Wish you all the best.

CantWait replied: Glad you're finally back. Was wondering where you were hiding. Things sound crazy and hectic. Your mom sounds like a real piece of work LOL Anyway I'm glad you're back, I have pics of the kids if you wanna pm me your Email.