life got too personal...

I was on such a good blogger wave, blogging away about all aspects of life.  And then the proverbial shit hit the fan.  My hubby was laid off from his job in the beginning of August.  I really try to be as truthful as possible in my blogging and, because we were not ready to share that information yet, I had to abstain.

It will actually work out well right now.  Last semester was his 1st in college and as 1st semesters go, it was a good one but tough.  I was not sure if he was really feeling ready to tackle this fall semester.  Since he no longer has a job he is tackling it full force.  He will still be going part time at night, but I know that he is taking it seriously.  He has been home with Lilly the past 2 weeks while I started back at work.  Just call him Mr.Mom.  Does it make me sad that I am not the one at home with her?  Of course!  But I also know that she is in good hands and it is a wonderful opportunity that Vin has to spend this kind of time with her.  Already I am seeing a change in how she interacts with him and it makes my heart smile.  Next week Lilly will be going back to daycare 2 days a week.  Vin needs the time to get his resume in order and do homework and job searches and it will be good for Lilly to have that social interaction.  She is a bright, active and social little girl and she enjoys school.  

I am back in the throes of the school year.  Wow, is it different than my last position.  I love the people with whom I am working, what I am doing and the town where I am doing it.  Hoboken is such a unique place...it is really indescribable.  The parking is terrible and right now I have to move my car every 4 hours.  Hopefully I will be able to buy a parking permit (to the tune of $300!) so I can at least park for the day.  Also, being so close to NYC I have to leave my house by 7am to get there and parked by 8:20. 

Not only do I love what I am doing but I am so lucky to be starting off the school year in NJ with a job.  So many of my fellow teachers had been laid off in June and still do not have jobs.  I have a job with amazing health benefits and a decent salary.  

Here is a recent picture of Lilly & I.  

I think this post is long enough.  I have other thoughts to share about my exercise routine, weight loss, and my summer travels.  They can wait for another day.  

catching up...again

Phew...I have not written in so long because my life has just been, well, hectic, crazy, overwhelming... Need I say more? So here is the long and short of it. I am fully entrenched in work now and it is good. It challenges me and I challenge my colleagues. I challenge them to look a little differently at how they have been doing things. My supervisors have told me that one of the reasons I was hired was because they believed that I could help shake things up. So, I am, slowly but surely.

Lilly has been doing so well in daycare. Really, it has been more than I could ever hope for. Basically the entire month of November she was there full time (not 3 days a week) because my mom was sick. That seemed to have gotten her in the groove. She does not cry during drop off or pick up, but goes right in, waves and blows kisses to Vin and starts to play. I can't really ask for anything more. The only thorn is that it seems as if she has been constantly sick! I am actually home with her today because of a fever/cough. Poor bunny girl.

Vinnie and I have had our struggles as we have adjusted to the changes from me being a SAHM to a working mom. Adding in the last semester of grad school never makes things easier. :) It has not been easy, but I truly believe that our struggles are bringing us closer and helping us grow as a couple and as individuals.

I will be finished with graduate school next Thursday. WHAT??? How can that be? It is not real yet. I am not sure when it will be. Because I am involved in a federal grant with my graduate advisor (very cool thing!) I will still be doing some work for that through the middle of January. But, I am not stressed by that. I have 2 big things due next Thursday and then I will be finished!! Unbelievable. I have had so much support through my grad school experience. I could not have done it without them.

And I now have a chance to support Vinnie as he starts his journey in college. I am so incredibly proud of him as he enters Union County College this January. He is going to do great!

I have 2 goals for myself over the next few months. #1 is to lose the weight I have gained in the past 6 months. Grad school and then starting work has really killed me in that regard. But I am committed to getting healthy again, and healthier than I was before. #2 Is to get started as a Developmental Interventionist in Early Intervention. I will hopefully have updates on that in the next few months...

Lilly is calling for me from her crib so that is my exit cue. I am really hoping to keep up with this blog and develop it more in the next few months. Watch for it!