A Little Update

I thought I'd post a REAL post about how things have been "chez Fernandez" since I'm always posting crafts, recipes, pictures of kiddos, or abstract thoughts about life.  :)

Paul (my husband)--He's working all. the. time.  He got a promotion at work after his month-long trip to Tampa in July, which we were super excited about (that's why we didn't move to Chicago, after all!).  He's still in training to be a trainer, but we were quite disappointed to learn that his company nixed the pay raise and switched to a performance-based pay that would be less, even with his best foot forward, than the money promised him when everything was in the hypothetical stages (actually, it was exactly his old salary).  AND our student loans started coming due, so we're actually poorer than we were when he was just an agent or a supervisor.  On top of that, he's working between 55 and 70 hours a week now (I think his longest day was 7am-10pm), and even when he's home he's often still working...or so burned out from all that stress that all he wants to do is veg and take really long naps.  So, basically, pray for him!  (And US!  I rarely get to see him anymore.)  Otherwise, his health has been fairly good--nothing happening with his legs lately (that occasionally go out on him)--so we can't complain too much.  If he ever has a spare moment, he spends it playing with our two puppies, watching Star Trek on Netflix, or drawing (he's actually quite the artist/sketcher, mostly with either his dream spacecraft or faces as gifts, and is hoping to start making a *little* money with it...like $5-$10/portrait).

Cerene (my lil' sister)--I couldn't tell you a TON about how she's doing (she keeps a lot of things a frustrating mystery) BUT she's working hard.  She got a job where Paul works, as an agent/customer service rep for Verizon, and even though her hours and the work itself are hard at the moment she's making friends there and enjoys having actual money of her own to spend!  She's working towards getting her own apartment and car, and she starts a new shift in exactly one week, where she will work mornings and be home with Caida all afternoon and evening.  Which, I think, will be WAY better for her and Caida both.  Which brings me to...

Caida (my niece)--She's a few weeks into first grade, and for the most part is staying out of trouble.  She is NOT a morning person, and with the increased dosage of her anti-seizure medication (now she takes 7 pills in the morning and 8 at night) it makes mornings pretty much awful.  BUT, by the time she's at school she's mostly fine, and for me in the afternoons/evenings she's pretty awesome.  She gets tired thanks to the medicine and fell asleep in class a few times one day last week, but otherwise her teacher said she's a sweetheart and very capable learner.  Caida loves watching TV/movies, playing on "her" computer like a big girl, doing homework and chores (yes, you read that right--she LOVES it--learned that when we tried adding extras as punishment!), ice cream cones at McDonalds, new clothes, art, and she still dances and sings all around the house whenever she can.  Oh yeah, and she LOVES all her family TONS--when her baby cousin Tanner comes over she gives him all the kisses she can, and she gets SO excited to walk over to Grandma Linda's on Friday nights!

ME (Celeste)--I've been having a super difficult time lately, and I couldn't even tell you all the reasons why. I am still grieving a little for all the life changes that have or HAVEN'T happened--like Paul's job here and now, not going to Chicago like we'd planned to get a teaching job for me and have Paul go back to school to finish his degree, or the whole infertility struggle.  Everyone else is so stressed and negative around these parts lately, I think it's just been really hard for me to bounce back from that when they're all gone--it takes like three hours of prayer, scripture study, and crafting-while-daydreaming to get over it and be positive again.  I've also got cabin fever like CRAZY--having one (barely) working car between three adults, the other two working full time at different shifts, means I don't get out much.  What is my *dream* right now is being able to sub for this year and build up my resume and contacts so I can teach next year, whether it be Chicago or (more likely) here.  But until they get new shifts, or a second car, or the economy miraculously bounces back and a ton of teaching jobs open up (ha ha), I'm stuck at home.  And I've been having health problems--like my hip injury acting up, my thyroid going more out-of-whack, increased migraines, and my wrist that got sprained or something over a month ago and that hasn't healed.  Despite this boredom and pain and the constant depression I'm trying to just ignore now, I keep pretty busy still--Caida alone keeps me busy all afternoon/evening, (and sometimes mornings--like when I had to perform the Heimlich on her today!) and as you can see from the blog I craft, bake, write, do free babysitting for family and friends, and so on during the day.  I'm working on patterns and craft/flower stuff for Etsy and/or craft fairs, but that's still a little ways off (not to mention intimidating and expensive), and I'm working on my portfolio and rounding up educational activities/bulletin board ideas/etc. to make the transition easier if that dream ever DOES come true!  Paul and I BOTH still LOVE primary, and we're enjoying every moment in it as long as we can (since we were supposed to move and therefore be released this summer, we count our blessings every week we still get to work with the kids in the ward!).  It's amazing how busy and how NOT busy you can be at the same time.  Or how happy and how sad.  People are so full of contradictions, and I'm no exception.  Take that as you will. :) But I'm okay, and the world keeps on spinnin', and life is beautiful.

If you've read all this way, you're a real friend and pal.  Thanks for caring!  :)  And have a great day!