Still we sit...and wait...

So the story on the other house is that the people who own it have two loans on it. The first bank is ready and roaring to sell (I guess). They have accepted our offer. The second bank has not responded. It's not that they've said no or anything. They've said nothing.



So the realtor selling the house decided to raise the offering price as if the second bank said no. Shady I tell you because he told my realtor that if I offered $8,000 more the second bank would probably go for it. See they didn't figure in the costs that they were going to have to incur in the whole deal so they just set the price at what was owed on the house.



But I told my realtor that maybe he should tell the first bank to slide some of that money to the second bank because we aren't raising our offer. We've been back and forth until we got to this point and NO ONE has offered them anything even close to what our offer is. So, we didn't go in giving them the world. lol



Then there's the lovely news on the other house. It too is a short sale. It too has two loans out on it and currently there has been an offer sitting for less than the asking price for over a month. Apparently the second banks don't like to give answers.



So, that is why we sit in a standstill. Isn't it amazing? Our realtor found another house that is brand new for sale. The person built it and never moved in. She's praying it's not a short sale and doesn't have two loans out on it.



At this point, I am just frustrated. Here I am pre-approved to buy a house, millions of houses for sale and still nothing to buy. Go figure. Maybe that's why we are all screwed. Ya think?

Por Que?

Ok, so before anyone gets on my case for what I am about to say, just forget about it because you will be wasting your time. When it comes to this topic, I have made up my mind.

I've decided that I hate bilingual schools. Well, let me be more specific. Our bilingual school. I've started to notice over the past two years that our school tends to lean towards Spanish. Forget, lean--it caters to it. Every form, every sign, everything...so it seems like.

I didn't mind in the least to begin with. I can speak Spanish and I can read Spanish. I thought it was cool because my kids would have a jump start on learning a different language and how valuable would Spanish of all languages be to them, right? Almost everyone wants a Spanish speaker.

Then last year, I found out they were teaching classes in Spanish. Bilingual is what they call it but I always thought of bilingual as an ESL type of thing. But no, they teach math or whatever to EVERYONE in the class in Spanish.

That was for my oldest. I requested she not be in a bilingual class because let's face it. She has a hard enough time learning math in English. Her teacher agreed with me.

This year CDQ was put in a bilingual class without even asking me. I was sent home a form to sign that said I understood she was in a bilingual class except the form read more like your child is ESL and is in a bilingual class. I refused to sign it three times because my child is not ESL. I even wrote a note.

The teacher threatened CDQ with loss of recess if I didn't sign it. WTF? So I wrote a note on the same paper about how they needed a new form and how my child does NOT speak Spanish and I signed under my note. Whatever...

But it didn't end there. CDQ came home saying they take kids out who are advanced in Spanish and work with them in Spanish and she's not good at Spanish yet. Let me just say, CDQ is very smart. She's advanced and very very competitive. She wants to be number 1. I didn't think much about what she was saying because I thought maybe they had just said that to her but were really pulling out the kids who needed to be taught in Spanish. But. uh. no.

I went to back to school night and I was greeted by the teacher as the one having the problem with the form. I told her I didn't have a problem with the form if my child was indeed ESL but yet again, she is NOT. She said she had another parent who was concerned as well.

I told her I wanted to know about these Spanish break out sessions and what she knew about them. After all CDQ is a RAD child. Paranoia and lying are no strangers. She didn't really answer my questions. The other thing I noticed is that I am the only one that she spoke to in English. I later asked CDQ how many people don't speak Spanish and what do you know? Just one other child.

I had asked about GATE because CDQ is a fast learner and she had scored in the advanced range. I did see that she is bored out of her mind in that class. Her work is substandard and very immature to anyone who doesn't know her. Her previous teachers would be surprised to see the work she is doing in that class. It's that bad. But I can clearly see she is bored.

At any rate, I was told CDQ would have to step it up and focus to even be selected to take the test. Fine. I made sure CDQ knew and that the teacher reinforced it.

Little did I know that other children were listening to our conversation. There certainly weren't any standing around us when we were talking to the teacher.

CDQ came home the next day upset. I asked her what's going on. Some child, who's name I can't even pronounce much less spell had told her she heard us talking to the teacher the night before and she wasn't very good at Spanish because she is "too white". She didn't tell the teacher, instead she went to the bathroom and cried.


This set me off. I am not white, I am not Hispanic or Mexican and I am not racist. I have been on the receiving end of discrimination so many times it's ridiculous. But this... My children are part white AND Hispanic. But I called the teacher and told her children or not she needed to set some things straight in her classroom. Spanish is for their benefit not necessarily for my child. For my child, it would be a plus but she won't be at that great of a disadvantage if she doesn't learn it in elementary school. For those children who are ESL, Spanish is the way for them to move forward so that they aren't left behind while they are learning English. So they better keep that in sight.

She said she would talk to her class that day. As far as I know, she never did.

Yesterday CDQ came home with a Spanish book. She's behind and she needs to catch up. AGAIN, WTF? Spanish is not that important that she need to be made to feel stupid and told that she is behind. Really. She has more important things to be learning besides Spanish. Like Multiplication and Division and Cursive and punctuation. Things that have been taught in the 3rd grade forever.

I find it so hard to believe what is going on. I question whether CDQ is lying and instigating this whole thing as well. But I don't feel that I will have any help from the school at getting to the heart of this issue.

It's so weird how a school can turn so quickly with one change in leadership/administration. I loved this school. I love the teachers for the most part. I couldn't even tell you who the principal was before when it was all good. But the last three years... it's just gone down hill. I thought this new principal was going to be a breath of fresh air and he was, until I needed something, he doesn't have time. Then I realized it was all smoke and mirrors.

I'm eager to move because it's my understanding that the schools in the area we are looking to move to are more caring and accommodating with all their children and will bend over backwards for those with special needs. I want them to have a go at school. But some days it just seems like homeschooling is my only answer for all of them but the oldest since I can't afford to send them all to parochial school.

Hi, Remember Me?

I know I haven't posted...at all.

Things have been hectic with the sale of our house, the offer on the other house, home school, Girl Scouts first meeting and uh, their first sale (already!), catechism, etc...

They all were going to wrap up quite nicely last night. At least I thought. I was ready to post all about it until the shit hit the fan around 9 pm.

Actually, the whole day sucked. I wasn't feeling all that great and Poufy decided she wanted to go on a stealing and lying spree at about 6:04 am. The boy also decided he hadn't been an asshole for too long and let loose. Then CDQ made it her mission to bitch and whine and scream alllllll day just because she felt like it. Literally.

I had been working on getting all the Girl Scout orders into the system when my exhaustion, tummy upset, etc... hit me. I put it aside because I figured, hey...I'm ahead. It'll be ok. I tried to take a nap...but note the above going on. So, it didn't really happen. I mean I was finally dozing off when The Oldest let me know she had to be to confession in 15 minutes because she serves tomorrow (today). Lovely... oh and her shirt isn't clean, even though I washed every frickin' piece of clothing that was in that laundry room.

This past week we had an appraisal done on our home. I thought things were going just swimmingly. It was done Thursday. We are looking at a possible closing date on our house in 10 days. So like the second week in October. That's fine.

We had placed an offer on the other home and it had come back, so we just gave them exactly what they wanted in terms of offers and conditions. I just wanted the deal done already. The person selling the home seemed content and excited to get this deal done and over with. Last night as I was returning to finish up the last 5 of the Girl Scout orders I had to input. I get an e-mail from the realtor of the house that we placed an offer on. There's been a price change... WTF! They've increased the price by $10,000. 00 this pisses me off to no end because I already offered them EVERYTHING they asked for. AS IS. TOTAL ASKING PRICE, etc... I call my realtor who doesn't know what the hell is going on either because as I said, they told us they were totally with us and ready to get this deal done as well.

I'm not going there. I hope it was an error but if it wasn't. I already have another house in mind. Which costs about $50,000 less and is only about 1,000 sq feet smaller. We'll have to build a wall to split one of the gigantic rooms to have 6 rooms and we will have to install an elevator but hey! look! We qualify for about $70,000 more than what that house costs and we qualified for a loan specifically for fixing up a home either to make it livable if it's really bad or to make it accessible for Hubs.

The other house was huge. It would be nice but we went in and took pictures of everything that needed to be fixed. When all was said and done, we submitted 190 pictures of individual problems. I wasn't too worried about it because we had the money for the repairs. Besides the whole time I've felt like it's truly been left in God's hands for this whole housing thing. But raising the price by $10,000 is just unacceptable. It's shady.

At any rate, after that, I finally sat down to enter the last 5 orders for GS. But wait there is a new e-mail, maybe I should see if it's an e-mail from our realtor or the other one saying it was a mistake. GULP! No. It's an e-mail from the GS product manager telling us we've all been locked out of the ordering system, thanks for participating...good bye.

Then I died.

I frantically e-mailed her, telling her I royally screwed up, thought we had until 9 pm the next day (today)..pppppllllllllllllleaase help me. *send*

Then I got all bitchy myself and was like wait just a minute. It said the 28th at 9pm. Three calendars, three wall clocks, my cell phone and my laptop are telling me it's the 27th. I find her e-mail and it DOES say the 28th at 9 pm.

So I fire off another e-mail. Your e-mail says I have until 9 pm tomorrow. *send*

No response.

crap.

It has to be ok. It just has to. Right? Poor Hubs. He got the total tirade. Houses, kids, Girl Scouts, etc...

I decided not to post last night because I was trying to avoid this here very kind of post. lol

But whadda ya do when this is it? This is what it is?

I mean it sucks and it's not the end of the world or anything...

I did get the Girl Scout stuff done and turned in. It was an error on the other lady's part. (Thank you God!)

I'm still exhausted, feeling slightly better and I have a First Holy Communion meeting to go to in about 5 minutes.

I'm ok. I will survive. Hubs is ok, we think. He's still on a low fat diet. We think he might have a hernia now. Who knows? Everything came back fine for gallbladder and ulcer but he still has some trouble every now and then.

Hope all is well with you. I'll try to post more often.

Still here!

Taking a break from packing...yep, at 2 am because it's the only time I have where I am totally undisturbed to get things done.

Homeschooling is going great. The kids have changed a lot in a week. The individual attention seems to be working miracles. I hope it continues and isn't just a honeymoon phase.

Poufy is on meds for her Grave's disease. I can't say I see much of a difference. Unless the meds are changing her behavior and not homeschooling. Who knows?

The house. We have to sell our house in order to buy the other house. We were the only offer before the guy went on vacation but while we were there Friday taking pictures and documenting needed repairs a man showed up and I have a feeling he will be making an offer. I heard him tell his wife he was standing in "her home." I felt such rage, frustration, etc...

We need this house and this guy... from his conversation, it's just him and his wife and he just wants something huge to add to his huge arrogant ego. I'm trying not to be bitter but really. There are no other one story homes (to accomodate Hubs disability) with so many bedrooms (one for each kid) that is in our price range. I am at a loss but keeping my faith that God will see this through. He knows what we are going through with RAD kids and he knows how much we really need this.

I've sent e-mails to investors hoping they will swoop down on our house. We are offering it cheap. Especially since there is a planned extension that will lead straight into ABQ right past our house. An investor could rent the place out and then cash in once the extension has been built because Lord knows they are going to want our property. Hubs has it mapped out to about 4 houses from our house. We wish we could hold on to it, but finances won't allow us to qualify to keep both. Bummer.

But I'm willing to let go and move on because I am trying to make this work with the kids. I really am. I think separate bedrooms will make such a difference.

Anyhow, Hubs is doing ok. He went in to see the doctor. She wasn't sure if he has gallbladder issues, an ulcer, or severe heartburn. She did x-rays and took blood and there weren't any indications of a gallbladder problem nor an ulcer. She had already prescribed him heartburn meds. She has him on a low fat diet but she's worried he could lose too much weight too quickly. He's allowed to try more fats but if he gets severe stomach pain again he has to go in for surgery because then it has to be his gallbladder. I'm worried.

My job hours have been increased to what I had before. They made a mistake with Hubs case and in my frustration and anger, I suggested Hubs write to "his people" ( Hubs spends hours writing letters to politicians and signing petitions, lol) so he wrote Governor Richardson and he came through and fixed things for Hubs temporarily. I'm proud of Hubs for taking a stand.

Our first Girl Scout meetings (long story) went well. I have another one this week and I have to confess, I am not ready. But those little Daisy girls are sooo cute.

Well, I better go, we've gotta get the house on the market this week. Please keep us in your prayers for the sale of this house and the purchase of the other. We were able to secure a loan that would allow us to borrow the money to fix it up even.

Hope all is well with everyone :-)

I WON!

Hey! Looks like I won something through Blog the Recession. I'm so embarrassed. I haven't replied! Very Cool! I won Jewelry from CheekySweetie.

Thanks Angel and Kristen. I am very excited.

Ok, first I post too much

and then nothing...Sorry.

It's been crazy. So crazy at this point I can barely turn my head because my neck is so stiff. It will loosen up eventually.

Ok, first, we put our offer on the house but... the realtor is on vacation until the 15th so we have to wait to find out. Grrreat. That's a week where other offers can come in. Which I gotta say I'm pissed because if they would have just looked at our offer 3 weeks ago and returned it saying they would work with us without the contingency we could have moved on already in the process. We are now trying to keep this house as rental. Long story.

Second, Poufy's doctor called TODAY. Poufy has Grave's Disease. I didn't get to talk to her because I was unloading boxes into storage and didn't get to my cell phone on time. Soooo, I don't even know and I haven't googled Grave's Disease because I don't want to drive myself crazy.

Third, Homeschool starts Monday.I need a lesson plan.

Fourth, I had my Girl Scout Parents meeting yesterday and I have to say it went well. It's been awhile since I've done any public speaking but at this point, it's good. The girl's had a blast and I have some really terrific parents. I was worried I'd get some of the snotty people but nope. It's all good. Lots of parent volunteers. We have our first product sale starting next week, plus our first girl meeting. I've got to pull all that together.

Fifth, Hubs has been having some stomach pains that have me worried. I think it's one of his meds for bladder spasms that is causing it, but he scared me because he had said he was having such bad pains he almost woke me up to take him to the ER. Last time he took this medication, it gave him stomach pains right off. I had reminded him of that when he started it again but it was actually helping him this time. The only side effect he had was dry mouth. I'm stressing because I can't have him end up in the hospital. He needs to stay healthy.

Sixth, I finally went and got processed and ok'd to start work. Only glitch is that I have 20 hours a week. Get this, Hubs gets 15 minutes to eat A DAY. I get 15 minutes to do laundry, linens, A DAY. Really, it's totally ridiculous. I hope the people who dreamt this stuff up eventually end up on their stupid program because they sooooo deserve it. Assholes.

Seventh, which should piggyback off of sixth. I've got two kids who were stabilized by their meds finally, starting all over because the assholes that be decided that they could give them generics. These generics did not work for them. All the progress that we had made over the last 6 months thrown out the window and we start all over again. Headbanging, tantrums, talking back, weepiness, hallucinations, you name it, it's baaaack. The doctor wrote for no generic or substitutions but still, all that progress down the toilet. One of them has been back on the brand and I can see slow changes. It sucks.

So, my house is in total chaos, Packing stuff everywhere. Van benches in my living room, since I am using the big van to transport the stuff. Just one.huge.mess.

O-M-G

I know I totally need to shut up already today but I am here to ask for prayers.

I just got an e-mail for the house that we really really really want and desperately need. They lowered the price to within $5,000 of our offer.

This is huge. As I said they declined our offer solely based on the contingency that we sell our house. They never looked at it. However, we were offering $100,000.000 less than they were asking.

Do you see why I am totally freaking out here? They dropped it to $5,000 more than we offered. I'm jumping out of my skin. I've put a call in to my realtor but it's after 8, so I am insane.

OMG!

I am going to be jumping out of my skin. It's cool because it's so close we can taste it but it sucks because it's so close we can taste it. If we don't get it... it's gonna hurt more. But if we do...light at the end of the tunnel~! Each kid gets a room! It might seem dumb but with RAD kids I can recognize how important it is.


Please pray we get this house, this wonderful beautiful opportunity!





PS. I wasn't kidding when I said my life was an emotional rollercoaster, was I?

Homeschooling here we come...

I have my number and I've officially gave notice to the state that I am homeschool Poufy and the boy.

This is my last resort attempt before things go really bad and we give them back.

I wanted to do this a year ago.

I totally hear what you are saying Kether and that is the place I am afraid of going back to believe me.

But for my own sanity. This is how it is. If I don't bring these kids in and teach them the right way, they are going to probably take all the kids from me just because of their lies.

I just talked to the boy's teacher. She called me because the boy has been late to school too many times and they are holding a slot for him in reading recovery.

Yep, reading recovery. I voiced my concerns last year that he was being socially promoted. I sent him to summer school where I was assured he was one of the brightest. In fact, I'm sure I blogged about it somewhere and BAM! week 2, "You are sooooo lucky your child was honored to be chosen for reading recovery." Maybe they assume if the child is dim so is the parent?

Anyhow, this is the second week of school...late? How many times, where is he?

At least those would be the questions but I was rather told that I needed to get him to school on time. Ok. I confess. The oldest had an early morning Doctor's appointment last week that ended tragically (for her) in her needing 4 shots. After many tears and hyperventilating, she got them and the kids got to school an hour late.

Then yesterday, there were full out meltdowns. Poufy and the boy were in full force. I should've just taken the other two to school on time but I felt like the meltdowns would die down soon enough. With the price of gas, I just can't be driving at their whim. So they were 17 minutes late. If you count that we were there at 7 minutes after and we waited for the forms until 17 after. I mean there were other kids that were late ahead of us that needed forms too.

So yes, he was late twice but she insists it was more than that and that it is my fault. She parents my children. Last year, Poufy was in her class. Poufy was scared of her so it worked for a little while. I told her that Poufy was not allowed to have candy. I kept Poufy from the halloween celebration because she had just had a gazillion caps put in and fillings and the dentist said no sticky stuff. I asked about Rice Krispies because that is our tradition and he said yes but just one and only that. That's how serious the no candy order was. I mean these kids never brushed their teeth for 4, 5, 6, 7, and 9 years. Seriously. Their teeth are jacked.

She still collected candy for Poufy and gave it to her in class. Poufy ate the entire bag in one day during class time. Maybe I'm just anal, but would you be pissed about that "Mom" decision?

I'm upset with the school because they know they misplaced the boy and all he did was snap his finger and say "oh well, we will have to look into that for next years students."

They want to wait until another child goes without breakfast or lunch. Another child has their snack stolen. I don't want anyone else's child to suffer because of mine. Who isn't starving, who isn't lacking. They don't believe RAD is real. They dismiss what I say. I'm just a bad mean over worked mom to them.

I don't want to catch another teacher's assistant screaming at my child at the top of her lungs while the whole class stares in horror. I do not exaggerate. Poufy and I both stopped in our tracks and turned to see the woman shrieking on the playground. Turns out she was going off on the boy. Talk about timing.

As it is, CDQ is paying for her earlier mistakes. Kids don't like her. Parents call her names and one parent went as far as to tell her she comes from a black family. CDQ still doesn't understand that the woman was saying a bad family, she thinks the woman is confused because she's not black.

I have a lock on my pantry door. I have alarms on doorways to tell me when they are out. I have to sleep with one eye open. RAD is real and it's in my house. I haven't really gone into details about the worst parts of it because maybe I am in denial.

I feel that even though homeschooling might not be the best thing for me right now, it's what these two need. They need to be taken back to 1, 2 or 3 years old. They need to be given the boundaries and the limits that toddlers are given. They need to learn right from wrong but they still need to learn at their age level. Does that make sense?

They seem to be missing those parts. This is my last hope. Aside from their issues. I need people to stop judging me. Kether, I hope you don't take this personally because I in no way mean you at all, you are completely right and I know it. I value what you say and what others who are in the trenches say because you know what I am going through. I need the people who don't know me and the people who don't know RAD to butt out. My kids are not "normal". I am not a "bad mother" and I am not my sister either.

I just want what every other mother has. The ability to make choices for my children and to be respected like any other parent. I don't understand why I can't have that. Because I didn't give birth to them? Because I am related to their mother and therefore something has to be wrong with me. Why?

An Open Conversation With Myself

Did I just really do that?

Yep, really, really.

What the hell are you thinking?

Dunno. Maybe I'm not. Maybe it's the beginning of the end. Maybe I just don't care anymore.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I posted to the local group about homeschooling.

Me. Homeschooling.

I have no choice. I have no help. I have nothing...just me.

Two kids stayed home today because of behavior. The boy peed himself and then tried to kick a hole in Poufy's dresser. They aren't related as far as I can tell, I don't know what he is thinking.

Poufy continues to disrespect and act out all over the place. She's still stealing and lying. Just yesterday she had a handful of candy at school, gum included. Who knows who she stole it from not to mention the fact that the dentist said for her not to have candy because her teeth are sooo bad. Nothing sticky. Then she punched and kicked her sister on the playground while her "friends" watched and laughed.

I ended up driving to a Doctor's appointment an hour away only to find out it's tomorrow. I'm tired and I'm coming to the point of not wanting to do this anymore. I know I am under a lot of stress. But in all honestly, once Poufy and the boy are diagnosed and on meds and things don't change, I'm going to send them packing. I have enough to deal with. If it's health or trauma related issues that can be changed, fine. But if it's something they are going to do just because they feel like it. I'm not onboard that ship. I am nobody's punching bag or doormat. Family or not.

To Sell or Not to Sell, That is the Question

Hi, yeah it's me, remember me?

I've been buried in life. Doctor's appointments for the kiddos (3 more to go), House Hunting, House fixing, house, house, house.


Last week we had a bobcat come in and relevel the land, take out all the weeds, etc... We are getting ready to sell!

Except this week we looked at another house. Yesterday to be precise and we came to the conclusion that if all the houses were going to be short sales, we needed to sell first or take equity out of our home at least.

We want to put a big down so we can have a lower payment. But that puts us in a weird place. I can't remember if I blogged about it already because I haven't had time to get here to blog.

So, the original house we want is still available. Our offer was declined right off because of the contingency that we sell our house first. They aren't accepting contingencies.

But now that we know that a.) we can make about $500 a month off our house if we turn it into a rental property and that b.) they will be putting in a road that will make it ohsoeasy to get to the city from here about 2 miles away. It's in our best interest to keep the house.

So we are looking at a refinance, withdrawing a small portion of the equity and placing it down on the other house while also opening an account and placing six months worth of mortgage payments for this house in it. If that is even possible. I don't know how the whole lending business happens.

Meanwhile, the state has screwed all caregivers and their clients alike with their new plan to ruin the lives of the elderly and the disabled. Funny enough for a span of a few weeks it was called CLTS (or as Hubs referred to it, clits.) Now it's been changed to COLTS. LOL

Anyhow, my budget has been approved...for 20 hours...for the next 75 days. After that they may adjust it.

Two things here... if I weren't hubs caregiver (we'd be making a hell of a lot more money)...who would wait since May 17 until Sept ? (because I still haven't started) for a job to start? Who could wait?

Second, who can work for only 20 hours a week with no promise of a true end in sight after 75 days? Who can live like that?

It's been hard for us. One might ask how it can be so hard when I did wait and we are house hunting. Well, to answer that, I have no choice. With 5 kids having special needs and Hubs special needs, I'm stuck. House hunting...we need to find a new house because if I don't get these RAD kids seperated, I'm sending them back. We are able to house hunt because of the equity Hubs and I had in the house loooong before the kids arrived.

I did think that I could start up my biz again, but now that homeschooling may be in the picture, it will be totally impossible. Yet, another reason why we must move. New school, where the people will help me and basically not tell me to shut up and go home.

I read the reviews for the schools by the first home we want and there were a few posts from parents with children who had special needs who boasted about how the school bent over backwards to help their children. Soooo, we know there is a good school in that area.

So, at this point, I have a van full of packed stuff from the house that I was getting ready to take to a storage facility but now I don't know if I should waste the money to do that if we are going to keep this house.

We may just find ourselves stuck here despite it all. f---!