when it rains it pours

on top of trying to get hubby to where he can make it without a total struggle when I go back to work Monday my mom's apartment building caught fire Friday night about 11:00. It started on the other side and she just had mild smoke in hers but they are not letting anyone back in until at least Tuesday, if the fire inspector says the electric work is ok. So mom and her two cats, yes you read correctly two cats, are having to stay at my house. So that makes a total of four cats and one dog along with hubby, myself, mom, TG, and Big T...... fun fun!!!! Really I wouldn't want it any other way!

My grandma Jo has been living in an assisted care place in Ft Payne since September. She really couldn't afford it but they kept telling her she would be able to receive some veteran funds from my grandfather even though he past away. WELL THEY WERE WRONG! My grandmother received a letter today stating that she is not eligible. So guess what... that means she has to find somewhere to live that is cheaper. I think mom has just decided to find a house to rent and she and grandma jo will just share it...... please pray that we can find them some place to live and some people to help pack and move them. Christmas time is so close and everyone is busy.... We really need your prayers.

On a good note though hubby did walk some today........ I am so proud of him!

Insurance????

Sometimes I wonder why we even bother having insurance, but then again I a very thankful for it..... Hubby is just really having a difficult time trying to walk again. Both ankles hurt badly and his legs hurt after he tries to walk. He wants to walk so bad that he is pushing himself too far, but I no matter how hard I try he will do what he wants.... :( anyone with a husband knows exactly what I mean!!!!!!! The home health PT guy came by and pretty much told us the insurance will not pay for it anymore. I will not be able to take him when I go back to work. Hubby knows the exercises and is very determined to get better, but I just felt better knowing someone else was coming to help him........

I just love him so much it is just killing me to see him in pain and so desperate to regain some sort of "normal" in his life. He is just miserable sitting a home not being able to do anything. It is so hard to believe the wreck was September 29th! Some days it feels like it has been forever, but most days it seems like just yesterday.... or at least emotional it seems like yesterday. I have realized over the past few days just how much this has changed me as a person. My emotional state is nothing like it was... I am not sure how good or bad that it is LOL. I can honestly say I am a completely different person!!!! I just haven't figured out how to deal with that person. I know that doesn't make any sense to all of you, but I just don't know how else to explain it. I just don't feel like "me" anymore. I have become a different "me". I don't want others to be offended or think I am being mean or stop liking me because of my decisions and thinking on things, but unfortunately some have. Especially those I work with and some that I am sad to say "were" my friends. Hubby and I have had to make some very difficult decisions that haven't made others happy and others don't understand why, but we do and we did what God directed us to do. I ask for your prayers that I will be strong and understanding for hubby. I just want to cry most of the time. Some days I just can't bare the thought of having to get up and face the day. Then I roll over and see my miracle beside me in bed and realize quickly how blessed and thankful I am. Even though I cry at the drop of a hat! I can honestly finally admit that I hate what happened to my family. I wish it never happened! I am mad about it, but being mad doesn't and will not get me anywhere. I just feel like I am walking through this cloud and I just can't find and opening. Please pray for me.

I am going back to work Monday, December 1st. I don't know how I will be able to handle it, but I know that God will be there each step of the way. Please pray for hubby as this will all on his on (which he is still not independent, but I can't afford to take anymore time off due to bills and other things). I hate that I am having to leave him knowing he will struggle all day alone. It just breaks my heart and makes me feel like I am abandoning him.... :(:(:(:(

Thank you for letting me vent! I hope to write about good news next time....

I wish each of you a wonderful Thanksgiving. We all have so much to be thankful for.......

To my sweet friend Karri- You mom is smiling so big because she knows how wonderful you are going to make this Thanksgiving..... You are just like her! :)


I love you all

uggggggg!

hubby had a very bad night. He didn't rest well at all. His ankles, yes both of them, are hurting him very much. He had PT again today but didn't do any walking. He is not getting to try walking again for a couple of days. Hopefully the rest will help his ankles to get better. I ask for your prayers for him. I am supposed to go back to work soon and I am so worried. I am trying to stay strong, but knowing that I am going to have to leave him all day long by himself scares me. I know he has a difficult time getting around with his walker. He still has to use the wheelchair. That will be the only way he will be able to get into the kitchen to get something to eat. I just don't really know how he is going to get the food back to his seat to eat it!!!! Please pray!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TG is not feeling well and has a terrible cough and rattle in her chest. I am going to have to take her to the doctor tomorrow. Please pray for her to feel better soon and for me to tae good care of her.

PT and dread of work

well in the words of my hubby "therapy suxs, hurts, and I don't stretch far enough!"

So that should answer your question of how he is doing..... LOL

Big T is very happy and enjoying Ider very much. I am very happy for him!

Have I mentioned how I am so not Betty Crocker or Ms. Susie homemaker? LOL

I have never really minded cooking, it is the cleaning up part I can't stand... and let me tell you I learned to cook from my grandma Jo and we dirty every dish in the house when we cook! Hubby is a great cook and one that keeps things very clean as he goes...... man I will be glad when he can get back to the cooking...LOL

Actually I will just be glad for our lives to get back to something similar to what they were before the accident. I am scheduled to go back to work on Monday, December 1st. No, I am not really looking forward to it.... I am not sure if it is just me trying to deal with my emotions about how our lives have been changed or what but I have no desire to teach...... I just feel so out of place and can't seem to focus. My thoughts are consumed with my family and hubby. I also dread having to deal with the stress of the students and parents. There have apparently been some that have had problems during my absence and of course people are running their mouths and we all know how that goes......... so I am sure there will be much to deal with upon my return and I am not emotional ready to deal with it at all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But by the grace of God I know I will make it. I ask for your prayers for a smooth return.

update

Just wanted to let everyone know that hubby walked with his walker yesterday and put some weight on his foot! It was painful but he did great! Thank you all so much for your prayers, please keep them coming! The wrist is healing, still sore and stiff though.

I have posted some updated pictures of his injuries. Believe it or not they look great, or so the doctor says.... lol

first sleep over

TG went to her first sleep over at her friends house. I handled it pretty well I think.... man I just never thought I would be the kind of parent that would not "cut the cord", but I have realized I AM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :( I am getting better slowly but surely...... LOL

TG had a great time. Her friend L's mom went all out for the birthday party. TG stayed up later than she has ever stayed up in her life.... 11:45..... I couldnt believe it! The girls played and bobbed for apples, busted an pinata, played babies and barbies and so on....

Big T, hubby, and I had a nice peaceful night just hanging out watching TV and laughing and talking... it was great!

Hubby is feeling better. He has started trying to do a little more with his right hand. Still not able to really put weight on the right foot...a but we are getting there...

Glad my sweet friend Karri is home from gallbladder surgery and is doing well.... please keep her in your prayers.

Farrah and baby Ava are doing great! Thank you for your prayers! I will post some new pics soon.....

Passing of an amazing woman

Just wanted to let everyone know that Pauline Jolley, Grandma Jolley as I knew her, passed away at the age of 100 today around 3:00 p.m. Visitation will be from 12:00-9:00 and the funeral will be Saturday at 11:00. Cornerstone will be in charge of the arrangements.

Please keep the Jolley family in your prayers.

Doctor appointment

I just realized that I got so caught up in baby Ava that I completely forgot to tell you about how the doctor appointment went for hubby.....

He got the fixator out of his arm.. the nurse came in with an allen wrench and pair of pliers and took it off. NO FUN!!! They just unscrewed it from his arm. NO pain meds or anything! Hubby didn't care much for it at all!!!! :(

Doc said his foot was looking better, to me it is still nasty and I feel like it needs more care, but doc assured me that is what it is supposed to look like as it heals.

Hubby gets to begin working his wrist- slowly and gets to begin trying to walk again a little bit with his walker putting a little weight on his right foot.

So all in all we were very happy with what happened. No comes the difficult part.... starting to move as normal again. The pain in his arm has been very bad today and pain meds just don't help. The holes in his arms really hurt. I will post some new pics when I clean it again. It looks like he has been bitten by a snake two times... LOL

Thanks to everyone for the prayers. We still have a ways to go in healing, but we are getting there.

Farrah and Ava are doing great today. They are supposed to be home after lunch tomorrow. Keep them in your prayers!

Also, please pray for my friend Karri- she has got to have surgery and my friends Deedra and Kyle in the loss of their grandfather.

love to all

Ava is here!

Ava Meshon Cochran

6 pounds 11 ounces

19 1/2 inches long

born a little after 6:00 p.m. CST at Erlanger

Farrah and baby are doing great! She is simply breathtaking!

baby time

well Bridgett and I are off the the hospital. Carissa called and said my cousin Farrah is finally at 7 cent. and hopefully we will have baby Ava sometime tonight.... pray for Farrah she has been in a great deal of pain and is so tired....

love to all

prayers please

ok so my cousin Farrah is in the hospital to have baby Ava!!!!! PLEASE PRAY for her to have an easy labor and smooth delivery and for mom and baby to be safe and healthy. I will let you know when she gets here! :):):):)

Today was Big T's first day at Ider! I dropped him off this morning.He was so excited and of course I was nervous....... why is it so hard to let your kids experience life on their own? Many times I wish I had never gone into teaching and had no idea what things were like. I think that might make things easier....... I just see so much and have to deal with so much that it makes me want to shelter my children, but I also know that hubby and I have done everything we can to instill values and morals in our children. I know that the only way to prepare them for the real world is to let them experience things for themselves and for us to be there to help guide and trust the Lord to keep them safe. I just know what an amazing kid Big T is.......... but I also know as his mother and as one of his past teachers that he has some real "dumb" moments! I just know how people (unfortunately) judge quickly and very seldom change their opinion. Big T was so sick of being my "adopted son that had such a horrible life until I got him" and then moving into "the teachers kid". I know first hand what it means to a "teachers kid". Mom taught at Ider my entire time there..... it wasn't always bad, but it had moments when I just wanted to be a regular kid. I ask that you please pray that others will see the Big T that I know and will be treated as everyone else.

TG had some moments this weekend about school. She got a little upset and wanted to change schools. She so wants to be just like her brother. After we talked she got a little excited about being able to be with me by herself for the rest of this school year when I return to work.

Hubby goes to the doctor in the morning..... he is hoping to get the external fixator out and get the clear to start trying to walk a little on the right foot.

I will let you guys know about Big T's first day and how the doctors appointment for hubby goes.......


have a blessed day!

new events

God has been working and has lead Scott and I to make a change in our family. Big T will start at Ider Monday morning. As most of you know that is where all of my family in the past has gone and I graduated 15 years ago from there... wow 15 years.... :( makes me feel old!

He is excited, I don't go back to work at Moon Lake until December ( hopefully) so hopefully everyone will be over the shock of the change by the time I get back. TG is going to finish her first grade year at Moon Lake. She has one of the greatest teachers and I wanted her to finish with her. She will (if all goes well) have my sweet precious cousin Carissa for 2nd grade next year at Ider. So my family will be back to being Ider Hornet fans!!!! I am excited and hoping to get a transfer there in the next few years. There just haven't been any openings. I ask for your prayers that if Ider is where God would have me to teach to make a way. I know he is in control! Thank goodness I would just make a mess of everything! :)

I talked to my sweet best friends Karri and Jason this evening.... man I miss them. We all have such busy lives, but I love them and I am so thankful for them! Funny how even though we don't get to see or talk to one another often, when we do, it is like time hasn't past!

Hubby is feeling much better. Thank you all so much for your prayers. The Lord is so wonderful and I just want to praise him for the answered prayers and blessings of each day! Hubby has a good bit of movement in his fingers, but can't turn his wrist just yet. The pin, screw, and outside medal bar will have to be moved first. We go back to the Doctor Tuesday. It will be 5 1/2 weeks. We were told that he would only have to wear that outside bar about 6 weeks so we are very hopeful that we can get it out next week or schedule a time to have it done. :)

The foot still looks terrible! Hubby is very hopeful that he will be told next week that he can start to try to walk a little on the foot. His spirits are much higher. We were actually able to go out to a restaurant and eat for the first time since the wreck. That might not seem like much but wow it sure was to us!!!!!!!! We had a great time. We felt like our lives were almost back to normal. :) :) :)

Please remember to pray for my cousin Farrah. She is going in Monday night to be induced to have our precious baby Ava. We are all so excited!!!!! I just can't wait to hold and love on her. TG is just beside herself. She keeps asking me "momma, when is God going to put a baby in your tummy?" I just have to tell her in His time.

I do ask for your prayers about my getting pregnant. I have had a few problems and had to go through testing and medicine. My priority is getting hubby better, but we hope to have a baby and ask for your prayers.

I just love you all and I am so thankful for your blogs and prayers.

Jen

passing time

well hubby and I went to vote today then we went to get some more bandages and other medical supplies. Man that stuff is expensive! The kids at school did a mock election today... TG was so excited! LOL I love that the kids felt involved. I am anxious to see the election results. Things are going to be interesting regardless.

Hubby is getting great movement in his right fingers! :) His right foot is still ugly...lol we go to the doctor Tuesday. I ask for your prayers!

I will post some new pictures of his injuries to show the improvement.

catch up

things have been busy lately... the kids and I haven't felt very well. Hubby is getting better. The left foot is better, not quite as swollen. It still hurts him a little. The new medicine is helping. We go back to the Dr. on Nov. 11th. Dr. is going to let us know when we get the medal bar and screws out of the right arm and hopefully when he can put some weight on the right ankle. That will help things greatly!!! Hubby seemed to be extremely down on Halloween. I know it broke his heart to not be able to go to the trunk or treat with us. :( we all sure missed him. The kids and I loaded up and went to Mentone to the community church and had a great time. All the Churches did a fantastic job. I am so thankful to work in a wonderful loving community. Got to see some of my students and parents so that was nice. The kids and I spent 3 hours at Drs. Med Care Saturday morning (sweet mom came to sit with hubby). The kids were pitiful as was I. Big T had to have a breathing treatment- he has bronchitis, TG has a URI, and I have a sinus infection. So we all came home with medicine and are trying to rest up. Mom and Grandma Jo are coming to eat lunch with us today we are all excited. We love it when the come. We are all missing church..... and look forward to being able to get back to it! I am so thankful for my friends/coworker Wendy Haynes. She has been a life saver. She is a busy mom of three but comes to get my kids for school every morning and brings them home every afternoon, and gets them on Wednesday and some Sundays and takes them to her church.... she is precious! I am thankful for her caring and love for my family.

well you would think I would have more to tell over the past few days.... but we have pretty much been trying to get better.
Thanks for the prayers. Please keep them coming!