I've learned that, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 percent of the population carries the type of staph bacteria known as MRSA.
That's a lot different then the last thing I heard about MRSA which was about 5 years ago when it was something horrid and you were going to pretty much die from it if you got it.
I've had it for several months....but I didn't know it. I kept getting these little red "pimples" that I presumed to be ingrown hairs since they were on the top of my legs and on my stomach. These pimples would fill with pus and be so painful until I drained them- which just made them hurt worse. Once I started draining them, they just kept filling back up and it took about a week each time and lots of band-aids, gauze, peroxide, and draining to get them to go away. I have a scar from each one I've had. I had a pretty gross- in perspective- one in October that I sent a picture of to my aunt for her opinion. She knows a lot about health related things, etc. She said to just keep cleaning it, etc. After that I had a few more, nothing too bad though. About a month ago, though, I got one and as soon as it went away, a second one formed immediately *when the previous ones had at least a week between them* and then a third one while that one was still draining. The third one got pretty severe. I couldn't even leave a gauze pad on it for more then an hour or two before it needed changed again and it was really really deep and so painful that if Lucas even grazed the area around it, it hurt so bad. I had been sent a picture to my aunt of this one after about 3 days when it looked, what I thought, worse then any I had had yet. She told me to keep doing what I was doing and it should go away. She said I did need medical attention, but she also understands that we are beyond poor (poverty line...what's that?!) and that I don't have insurance. I kept at it for a few more days, but it just kept getting worse. I sent her one more picture and she told me to get help- it was bigger then I could handle on my own.
So, I went to the ER- simply because any doctor requires payment up front, and we don't have that. They more or less just put me in the very back room after admission and left me there for a good hour before anyone even came in to see me. The doctor came in, looked at it for like 30 seconds, stuck a giant swab in it and rubbed it around. That hurt worse then anything- maybe even more then child birth :O. He then said I had an abscess and would prescribe antibiotics for it. The nurse came in...cleaned it all up and bandaged it. He then gave me a shot in my rear and some pills to take. They sent me on my merry way and told me to call the doctor's office Monday to get the culture results.
I started taking the antibiotics- your run of the mill Kelflex and Bactrim DS. I didn't really think anything of it, although they did knock me out and keep me out for a couple of days- but I think that was the infection giving it's last shot at me.
I called on Monday and the nurse called back a few hours later. Confirmed who I was then kind of sighed a little and didn't say anything for a few seconds. She then told me that the culture tested positive for MRSA and that if it wasn't going away or if it came back I would have to come in for different medication. Thankfully, in just those 3 days, it looked tons better. I haven't missed a dose of my antibiotics- as I don't want it back...it's gross, it hurts, and it can be life threatening. I almost waited too long to get treatment. It could have turned out a lot worse then just a skin infection.
Today, it's almost completely healed and I haven't had any more "pimples" sprout up- which hopefully means it's sleeping for good!
MRSA sucks. I always said I wouldn't get MRSA....I also said I wouldn't ever have a baby, lol.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
When Ashley met Andy pt. 5
Getting ready to go back |
Lucas's first cardiologist appointment came up a month after we got home. I was so nervous going into it. I had no idea what to expect and was scared we had done something wrong. The appointment went great. The doctor was pleased with the way his heart looked/sounded and we didn't change anything. PHEW! That one was easy. That afternoon we also had a hearing test scheduled because his left ear failed the newborn screen. That one was harder because we weren't supposed to let our 4 week old sleep for 4 hours beforehand and not eat for 3 of those. That was one fussy baby. We got there and did that test as well, he passed it, too :)
At the end of July, I had posted something on my facebook about him being blue often and hating that I couldn't change places with my baby. Well, Andy's mom found out and came to be all "nurse" to me, even though she hadn't been a nurse in at least 10 years and never worked for a cardiologist or anything heart related. I was in a bad mood that day, so before she could get her two cents in, I told her like it was. She hadn't ever worked for a cardiologist, she wasn't there when we talked to ours, and she didn't know what we were told to look for or when to worry. She got mad at me and stormed out the door saying I would regret saying that to her (to this day, I still don't).
Our next appointment was scheduled for 8/1. I went alone with Lucas to this one because Andy couldn't get time off of work because he was still new. That one wasn't as fun. I told him the issues with the feeding, sleeping, and blueness and he sent us for an impromtu ECHO. After the ECHO was done, he said that given the way it looks, he wanted to go ahead and schedule a heart cath to look around inside. That was like a real smack to the face- I knew it would happen, but I wasn't ready for it just yet.
That Tuesday 8/2, there was a knock at the front door. We normally don't answer the front door but something told me that I needed to this time. I opened it, the lady asked if I was Ashley then introduced herself and asked if she could come in. It was a woman from CPS! I guess that's my payback, huh? She did the interview and looked around the house and other then saying we shouldn't sleep with Lucas- it wasn't against the law though- there was nothing wrong. The case was dropped. I have refused to talk to Andy's mom since that day. She will never see Lucas again other then maybe pictures. That was really low and uncalled for. You can call me horrible names to my faces every day of my life, but don't dare say I'm a bad mom. The next day I left because I was scared to be in my own house- I was petrified she would show up and start more drama. I went to my grandma's with Lucas and we spent the night. I collected myself and came home the next day.
The day after the cath |
Pt 6 to come later :)
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
When Ashley Met Andy Pt 4
At my next to last OB appointment, my blood pressure was up and I had protein in my urine so they stuck me in the hospital overnight to do a 12 hour urine collection. Everything came out normal so they sent me home, but not before informing me that they set me up an appointment in Indianapolis just to "double check" ...serioursly, guys? So we went to IU the next week and peed in their cup and let them listen to the baby, etc etc.....for them to tell me everything was a-ok and to go home. I all but begged them to take Lucas then, but they wouldn't. So we went home...a whopping 2 hours after we drove 2 hours to get there.
So May 2 finally came...and that 2 hour drive took forever! I was so anxious, excited, nervous, scared, etc etc etc. We get there and it's a whirlwind of activity. The exam and all that good stuff was done- I was dialated a whopping 1/2 cm. And the doctor that was there that day was not pleasent about it....
They then wanted me to pee in a cup, you know, after they tore me all up so that didn't go so well. They tried to do a cath to get what was needed, but that hurt even worse (I'm a bit of a baby) so I tried the cup again. The nurse was able to get enough, so we didn't have to do that again! They weren't done torchering my lady parts though...because then they had to put a cervadil in....um ouch again. They started pitocin, too. So then started the long 12 hours of waiting. Lots of joking....some contraction feeling...the works. After 12 hours....I think I made it to 3 cm. So we did another round of cervadil and pitocin...12 hours later....3 1/2. We went one more time. No change after the 12 hours. Lucas was just stubborn as all get out! He did not want to get out! The doctor offered to send us home and try again in a week, or she could get me an epidural and break my water. I opted to go home- because I was too chicken to get an epidural. I was scared it would hurt. 3 days in the hospital, and all I got was contractions that continued the 4 days before we went back to try again.
May 9, here we go again! We arrived at 8 pm this time. I got an awesome night nurse- I had met her the first go around, and I just loved her. She was so kind and went above and beyond. Another check...what?! I went backwards! Back to a 1 maybe. We did cervadil again that night...what's one more, right? About 2 in the morning, though, they came in and said they had to take it out because all of the contractions were making Lucas's heart rate struggle a little. They left the pitocin on and just let me go back to sleep. During rounds the next morning, I learned I would be getting an epidural and they were going to break my water. Oh...ok, lol. They came in explained everything and I did the consent. They came back about 20 minutes later and I got it. It didn't hurt at all. Nothing like I thought it would- thank goodness. I didn't know why I was scared of it after that.Broke my water and we were on a roll. I had 24 hours or I had to have a c-section. They checked a few times throughout the day then told me it was time around 9 pm.
Blah blah blah...skip all the gory details...
Yay! Lucas was born at 10:19 PM. I saw him for about 20 seconds before they took him out of the room. I heard he weighed 7 pounds and was 20.5" long. They tried to fix my innerds...Lucas had apparently grabbed on and planned on taking everything with him...but were unsuccessful so they opted to take me back to the OR and knock me out to do it. I got to see Lucas for a minute or two on my way back. He was the most beautiful thing I had ever saw and I wanted to hold him so bad.
After getting back to my room after being repaired, I wanted to go see Lucas so bad. It couldn't be that hard to get up and sit in a wheelchair, could it? HAHAHAH! I nearly passed out about a dozen times before getting back in the bed. Fine, I would have to wait until tomorrow.
I got moved to the postpartum wing and fell asleep around 2 in the morning. I slept until about 3 the next day. It was amazing. I felt like a new woman :) I nagged and nagged Andy until he was finally ready and we could go see our baby. The walk *ride in my case* seemed to take FOREVER! But we finally made it. He was absolutely gorgeous! He looked mad, but can you blame him? I held him first. I didn't ever want to put him down. He was so cuddly and very observent of everything. He had wires and IV's attached and I was scared of him. He started crying and I nearly broke down. :( Andy held him for a little bit and then we put him back in his bed. The cardiologist on call came to speak to us, letting us know how his echo had gone. Everything was as expected, but they didn't think they were going to need to do any intervention right away. We went home three days later.
The next week or two probably went like any new parents first few weeks. Lots of insecurities and worrying over whether you were doing the right thing or not, but we eventually got into a routine-ish.
That's all for now. Stay tuned for Pt 5. :)
Side note, I was going to attach a picture, but it won't let me upload one :(
So May 2 finally came...and that 2 hour drive took forever! I was so anxious, excited, nervous, scared, etc etc etc. We get there and it's a whirlwind of activity. The exam and all that good stuff was done- I was dialated a whopping 1/2 cm. And the doctor that was there that day was not pleasent about it....
They then wanted me to pee in a cup, you know, after they tore me all up so that didn't go so well. They tried to do a cath to get what was needed, but that hurt even worse (I'm a bit of a baby) so I tried the cup again. The nurse was able to get enough, so we didn't have to do that again! They weren't done torchering my lady parts though...because then they had to put a cervadil in....um ouch again. They started pitocin, too. So then started the long 12 hours of waiting. Lots of joking....some contraction feeling...the works. After 12 hours....I think I made it to 3 cm. So we did another round of cervadil and pitocin...12 hours later....3 1/2. We went one more time. No change after the 12 hours. Lucas was just stubborn as all get out! He did not want to get out! The doctor offered to send us home and try again in a week, or she could get me an epidural and break my water. I opted to go home- because I was too chicken to get an epidural. I was scared it would hurt. 3 days in the hospital, and all I got was contractions that continued the 4 days before we went back to try again.
May 9, here we go again! We arrived at 8 pm this time. I got an awesome night nurse- I had met her the first go around, and I just loved her. She was so kind and went above and beyond. Another check...what?! I went backwards! Back to a 1 maybe. We did cervadil again that night...what's one more, right? About 2 in the morning, though, they came in and said they had to take it out because all of the contractions were making Lucas's heart rate struggle a little. They left the pitocin on and just let me go back to sleep. During rounds the next morning, I learned I would be getting an epidural and they were going to break my water. Oh...ok, lol. They came in explained everything and I did the consent. They came back about 20 minutes later and I got it. It didn't hurt at all. Nothing like I thought it would- thank goodness. I didn't know why I was scared of it after that.Broke my water and we were on a roll. I had 24 hours or I had to have a c-section. They checked a few times throughout the day then told me it was time around 9 pm.
Blah blah blah...skip all the gory details...
Yay! Lucas was born at 10:19 PM. I saw him for about 20 seconds before they took him out of the room. I heard he weighed 7 pounds and was 20.5" long. They tried to fix my innerds...Lucas had apparently grabbed on and planned on taking everything with him...but were unsuccessful so they opted to take me back to the OR and knock me out to do it. I got to see Lucas for a minute or two on my way back. He was the most beautiful thing I had ever saw and I wanted to hold him so bad.
After getting back to my room after being repaired, I wanted to go see Lucas so bad. It couldn't be that hard to get up and sit in a wheelchair, could it? HAHAHAH! I nearly passed out about a dozen times before getting back in the bed. Fine, I would have to wait until tomorrow.
I got moved to the postpartum wing and fell asleep around 2 in the morning. I slept until about 3 the next day. It was amazing. I felt like a new woman :) I nagged and nagged Andy until he was finally ready and we could go see our baby. The walk *ride in my case* seemed to take FOREVER! But we finally made it. He was absolutely gorgeous! He looked mad, but can you blame him? I held him first. I didn't ever want to put him down. He was so cuddly and very observent of everything. He had wires and IV's attached and I was scared of him. He started crying and I nearly broke down. :( Andy held him for a little bit and then we put him back in his bed. The cardiologist on call came to speak to us, letting us know how his echo had gone. Everything was as expected, but they didn't think they were going to need to do any intervention right away. We went home three days later.
The next week or two probably went like any new parents first few weeks. Lots of insecurities and worrying over whether you were doing the right thing or not, but we eventually got into a routine-ish.
That's all for now. Stay tuned for Pt 5. :)
Side note, I was going to attach a picture, but it won't let me upload one :(
Monday, January 9, 2012
When Ashley Met Andy Pt 3
So now I am definitely pregnant.....and panicking. It was confirmed in a doctor's office on 9/14- not that I had doubted it anymore at that point. The first appointment was scheduled for 10/5.
The morning sickness got increasingly worse, but I didn't really start puking until 10ish weeks or so, and even then, it wasn't much. I just felt horrible all day every day.
During the few weeks between finding out and the first appointment, I finally came to the realization that all of the issues I was having with Andy stemmed from nutso hormone levels. I finally decided that I wasn't going to leave him- both because I didn't want to and because there is no way I could ever raise a baby without him around.
So October 5 came around....I even took one more test before I went for the appointment (Andy still doesn't know this) because I secretly doubted that it just randomly fell out of me in my sleep, even if I knew that's not how it happened. We saw our little baby that day. It was so sweet to see "him"...he even moved for us....that made it real <3
There really isn't a whole lot between that day and December 27....THE DAY! I was so nervous that day. Andy and I had picked out a girls name at least a month before then (it will still remain secret just in case there ever happens to be another one) but we never picked out a boys name. I was convinced it was a girl, however we sat and debated for a good 3 hours the night before trying to come up with a name....just in case. Of course I didn't sleep the night before, that's just silly! And the hours drug on the next morning up until it was finally time to go see my goat again. The sonographer took what seemed like hours doing her measurements and what not before she finally turned the screen around for Andy and me to see. She's showing us the face...and the arms...and the legs...and she's like.."see that?" ...."congratulations, you're having a boy" ....and boy was he ever a boy! She gave us our pictures and we went to see my doctor. He looked, and agreed....it was definitely a boy! Good thing we picked out a boys name the night before, huh?
I got a call early the next week saying that they didn't get a real good picture of his heart during the ultrasound and they wanted me to come back in. No biggie, she said...he was just laying in an odd position. I was nervous, but put those feelings aside knowing that I was going to get to see him again.
I went for the ultrasound and she took lots of pictures and said she thought she got a good one this time. I went to my appointment a few weeks later and the doctor said she still didn't get a good picture, but the sonographer said everything looked OK. I could either choose to go with that assumption or I could go to IU to get a Level II ultrasound- fetal echo. We had decided to just assume everything was OK, but word got out to Andy's family and his mom started driving me mad about scheduling that appointment. I finally called the doctor and told them I changed my mind- just to get her to shush....I will never admit it to her face, but I am actually grateful that she was super naggy.
My appointment was in early February. I told Andy to not even take the day off, there was no need for it because everything was going to be OK. My mom and dad took me because I didn't know where I was going and I'm horrible with directions. I get into the room and the tech starts looking around...there's his spine...and his he parts...then she starts getting all kinds of images of his heart. Using buttons and changing the view and colors and listening to sounds...this goes on for a good hour. She then left the room and an actual pediatric cardiologist came in. She looks around some, too, then asks me to go to the restroom because the baby is laying in an odd position and maybe by moving around he'll move too. So I go....then come back still thinking everything is a-ok...until I see my dad in the room now, too. She looks around a little longer, then started talking.
"You're baby has a heart defect." ....she talked for a good 10-15 minutes after this but I honestly don't know anything she said. My brain shut down and my world just started spinning. I was blaming myself...I did this and this and this and I didn't do this and that and it's all my fault.. The cardiologist was talking about surgeries and what would need to happen after he was born. Nothing was really set in stone at this point, I would come back in a few weeks for a confirmation. I sat in the car numb as could be....didn't say much to anyone. I did eat some food- I had to, it was best for the baby. I cried almost the entire trip home. When I got home I continued to cry, for probably 2 weeks off and on- still blaming myself and thinking my baby wouldn't make it. I drove to pick Andy up at work that night. I needed to see him. I needed him...he is my rock...my solid place...my support system and he would make it all better.
I had my second fetal echo at 32 weeks. A different cardiologist did the echo this time- I realllllllyIU OBICU and Riley's NICU, and scheduled an induction for May 2.
This is the end of when Ashley met Andy Pt. 3. I need a break. It still makes me super emotional to talk about all of this...I don't think it will ever really get better. But look...he was definitely a he!!!!
The morning sickness got increasingly worse, but I didn't really start puking until 10ish weeks or so, and even then, it wasn't much. I just felt horrible all day every day.
During the few weeks between finding out and the first appointment, I finally came to the realization that all of the issues I was having with Andy stemmed from nutso hormone levels. I finally decided that I wasn't going to leave him- both because I didn't want to and because there is no way I could ever raise a baby without him around.
So October 5 came around....I even took one more test before I went for the appointment (Andy still doesn't know this) because I secretly doubted that it just randomly fell out of me in my sleep, even if I knew that's not how it happened. We saw our little baby that day. It was so sweet to see "him"...he even moved for us....that made it real <3
There really isn't a whole lot between that day and December 27....THE DAY! I was so nervous that day. Andy and I had picked out a girls name at least a month before then (it will still remain secret just in case there ever happens to be another one) but we never picked out a boys name. I was convinced it was a girl, however we sat and debated for a good 3 hours the night before trying to come up with a name....just in case. Of course I didn't sleep the night before, that's just silly! And the hours drug on the next morning up until it was finally time to go see my goat again. The sonographer took what seemed like hours doing her measurements and what not before she finally turned the screen around for Andy and me to see. She's showing us the face...and the arms...and the legs...and she's like.."see that?" ...."congratulations, you're having a boy" ....and boy was he ever a boy! She gave us our pictures and we went to see my doctor. He looked, and agreed....it was definitely a boy! Good thing we picked out a boys name the night before, huh?
I got a call early the next week saying that they didn't get a real good picture of his heart during the ultrasound and they wanted me to come back in. No biggie, she said...he was just laying in an odd position. I was nervous, but put those feelings aside knowing that I was going to get to see him again.
I went for the ultrasound and she took lots of pictures and said she thought she got a good one this time. I went to my appointment a few weeks later and the doctor said she still didn't get a good picture, but the sonographer said everything looked OK. I could either choose to go with that assumption or I could go to IU to get a Level II ultrasound- fetal echo. We had decided to just assume everything was OK, but word got out to Andy's family and his mom started driving me mad about scheduling that appointment. I finally called the doctor and told them I changed my mind- just to get her to shush....I will never admit it to her face, but I am actually grateful that she was super naggy.
My appointment was in early February. I told Andy to not even take the day off, there was no need for it because everything was going to be OK. My mom and dad took me because I didn't know where I was going and I'm horrible with directions. I get into the room and the tech starts looking around...there's his spine...and his he parts...then she starts getting all kinds of images of his heart. Using buttons and changing the view and colors and listening to sounds...this goes on for a good hour. She then left the room and an actual pediatric cardiologist came in. She looks around some, too, then asks me to go to the restroom because the baby is laying in an odd position and maybe by moving around he'll move too. So I go....then come back still thinking everything is a-ok...until I see my dad in the room now, too. She looks around a little longer, then started talking.
"You're baby has a heart defect." ....she talked for a good 10-15 minutes after this but I honestly don't know anything she said. My brain shut down and my world just started spinning. I was blaming myself...I did this and this and this and I didn't do this and that and it's all my fault.. The cardiologist was talking about surgeries and what would need to happen after he was born. Nothing was really set in stone at this point, I would come back in a few weeks for a confirmation. I sat in the car numb as could be....didn't say much to anyone. I did eat some food- I had to, it was best for the baby. I cried almost the entire trip home. When I got home I continued to cry, for probably 2 weeks off and on- still blaming myself and thinking my baby wouldn't make it. I drove to pick Andy up at work that night. I needed to see him. I needed him...he is my rock...my solid place...my support system and he would make it all better.
I had my second fetal echo at 32 weeks. A different cardiologist did the echo this time- I realllllllyIU OBICU and Riley's NICU, and scheduled an induction for May 2.
This is the end of when Ashley met Andy Pt. 3. I need a break. It still makes me super emotional to talk about all of this...I don't think it will ever really get better. But look...he was definitely a he!!!!
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Where is my money tree?!
I need to take a moment from the back story and rant a little. I am so tired of being completely and utterly broke. We never have any money to do anything even remotely fun, and if by chance we think we do and have a little fun, it comes back to bite us in the butt.
My rant this week is inspired by Andy's work. A few weeks ago, he was unable to work because the system he uses wasn't working properly. He was out of work for three days waiting for the update that had to come through to come trough. They told him since it wasn't an issue he caused he would be paid tech pay for those hours. The last check came out and it wasn't on there. Great! Now I can't pay my car payment...whatever though, there's a 10 day grace period and they said the tech pay would be on the next check. Guess what? It's not! So once again, we have a tiny check to last us two weeks...thats to buy groceries, pay a few bills that have to be paid, and to get gas for doctor appointments and the like. But, I'm still not able to pay my car payment. I wouldn't be quite as concerned if it were just the hit to my credit in the mix, because, well, mines shot after having a heart baby and not being able to work to pay my debts back. But it's not. Andy is a co-signer on the loan and we need to keep at least one of our credit scores fairly decent- we would like to move out of his dad's house at some point before we're 50.
I can't call them and skip a payment either, because you can do that once a year, and we did that in June right after he was born. I try to be frugle, I really do- the only thing we have "splurged" on in the last year was Christmas for the boys. We can't take Michael anywhere fun on the weekends he is here, we can't have date nights, our couch is broken but it's going to have to wait longer before we can replace it.
The ONLY thing getting us through right now is Lucas's SSI- and we can't use it for many things because we have to have proof of where the money went and, well, I don't know if you noticed, but formula isn't cheap lol. We have WIC, but he can't drink the Gerber formula and he's on 30 cal/oz so we go through about 12 cans a month. Times like now is when I wish I breastfed because that would save a lot of money, but thats a post for a different day.
I'm done ranting now. Time to take the puddin to get a shot :)
My rant this week is inspired by Andy's work. A few weeks ago, he was unable to work because the system he uses wasn't working properly. He was out of work for three days waiting for the update that had to come through to come trough. They told him since it wasn't an issue he caused he would be paid tech pay for those hours. The last check came out and it wasn't on there. Great! Now I can't pay my car payment...whatever though, there's a 10 day grace period and they said the tech pay would be on the next check. Guess what? It's not! So once again, we have a tiny check to last us two weeks...thats to buy groceries, pay a few bills that have to be paid, and to get gas for doctor appointments and the like. But, I'm still not able to pay my car payment. I wouldn't be quite as concerned if it were just the hit to my credit in the mix, because, well, mines shot after having a heart baby and not being able to work to pay my debts back. But it's not. Andy is a co-signer on the loan and we need to keep at least one of our credit scores fairly decent- we would like to move out of his dad's house at some point before we're 50.
I can't call them and skip a payment either, because you can do that once a year, and we did that in June right after he was born. I try to be frugle, I really do- the only thing we have "splurged" on in the last year was Christmas for the boys. We can't take Michael anywhere fun on the weekends he is here, we can't have date nights, our couch is broken but it's going to have to wait longer before we can replace it.
The ONLY thing getting us through right now is Lucas's SSI- and we can't use it for many things because we have to have proof of where the money went and, well, I don't know if you noticed, but formula isn't cheap lol. We have WIC, but he can't drink the Gerber formula and he's on 30 cal/oz so we go through about 12 cans a month. Times like now is when I wish I breastfed because that would save a lot of money, but thats a post for a different day.
I'm done ranting now. Time to take the puddin to get a shot :)
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
When Ashley met Andy Pt. 2
I moved in with Andy and his dad in the summer of 2008. I got a job relatively quickly at WalMart as a cashier. I hated that job. The hours sucked, there were never enough, and some of the customers were just nightmares. Right around my one year there mark, I got trained to work at the service desk- they refused to change my actual job title though because that would mean they had to pay me more per hour, which is a big no no at WalMart! Around February 2010 I became bored with the customer service type job and thought I would give factory work a shot, so I got a job where Andy worked at the time. It payed $1.40/hr more then when I left WalMart so that was pretty sweet to me. I also got a minimum of 40 hours everyweek, which was also pretty sweet. I was busy paying off all of my credit cards and student loans and was starting to actually save some money in hopes of being able to move out soon. We were on our way to work a few days before the winter shut down when the car broke down. We pulled over to the side of the road and had to wait on a tow truck. Since we were using our roadside assitance, we waited for 5 hours befor the truck got there. We could at least turn the car on to get warm. Turns out it was the transmission and we didn't have the money to get that fixed- the car had close to 200,000 miles anywho- so we got a loan to get a new car. The salesman was a pro....showed me the car I'd wanted for a while and that was all she wrote. Now we drive a 2007 Chevy Cobalt. Having to now pay a car payment and ridiculous insurance rates, that put the damper on getting to move out anytime soon.
I had been at the faactory for about a year, and I was now tired of that place, too. The new supervisor we got was a real jack ass who treated us like his slaves. I couldn't work in conditions where we were never praised and only told we weren't good enough. I applied to NEW for a job at a DTV agent. I was pretty stoked when I got that job, because after the six weeks of training in Terre Haute, it was a work from home job! I got to sit in my jammies all day and get paid :) The raises came fast and I was not even remotely disappointed. I didn't really like the job much because of unmentioned reasons (they will not be added here because some of the people I worked with will read this and it doesn't need to be known).
Fall 2010 came and I started becoming really mean to Andy. Like, mean to the point of telling him that I was going to leave him because I could do better. I had a get away planned and everything. I was going to go away for three days and rethink things a bit and see where we were going. Two days before I was to leave, it came to my realization that I hadn't had my menstral cycle that month. I thought it was maybe stress but I had a pregnancy test around just in case- I had bought 2 the last time there were concerns of a pregnancy. Andy left for work that day and I took the test. The whole 25 seconds it took to read out "pregnant" went on for about 100 years. It was a digital test, so there was no denying it. I had a small breakdown in the bathroom after calling my mom and not getting an answer. I was so incredibly scared and worried because I was still thinking that I didn't want to be with Andy anymore (it took about a month or so after that to realize it was crazy pregnant lady hormones :)). My mom called back and calmed me down- but you could hear the excitement in her voice. She's always wanted to be a grandma. Andy came home that night- he got here before I got off work- and since I couldn't hold it in anymore, I pointed him to the location of the positive test. He found it...and was just as speechless as I was. The last ten minutes of my shift took forever.
We discussed it a little bit after I got off work and I went to WalMart and bought six more. Don't judge me! :P They were positive, too.
And this is where we end this episode of Ashley meeting Andy. :) It's obviously not meeting anymore, since we obviously were doing other things ;), but this is the back story to get us to today
I had been at the faactory for about a year, and I was now tired of that place, too. The new supervisor we got was a real jack ass who treated us like his slaves. I couldn't work in conditions where we were never praised and only told we weren't good enough. I applied to NEW for a job at a DTV agent. I was pretty stoked when I got that job, because after the six weeks of training in Terre Haute, it was a work from home job! I got to sit in my jammies all day and get paid :) The raises came fast and I was not even remotely disappointed. I didn't really like the job much because of unmentioned reasons (they will not be added here because some of the people I worked with will read this and it doesn't need to be known).
Fall 2010 came and I started becoming really mean to Andy. Like, mean to the point of telling him that I was going to leave him because I could do better. I had a get away planned and everything. I was going to go away for three days and rethink things a bit and see where we were going. Two days before I was to leave, it came to my realization that I hadn't had my menstral cycle that month. I thought it was maybe stress but I had a pregnancy test around just in case- I had bought 2 the last time there were concerns of a pregnancy. Andy left for work that day and I took the test. The whole 25 seconds it took to read out "pregnant" went on for about 100 years. It was a digital test, so there was no denying it. I had a small breakdown in the bathroom after calling my mom and not getting an answer. I was so incredibly scared and worried because I was still thinking that I didn't want to be with Andy anymore (it took about a month or so after that to realize it was crazy pregnant lady hormones :)). My mom called back and calmed me down- but you could hear the excitement in her voice. She's always wanted to be a grandma. Andy came home that night- he got here before I got off work- and since I couldn't hold it in anymore, I pointed him to the location of the positive test. He found it...and was just as speechless as I was. The last ten minutes of my shift took forever.
We discussed it a little bit after I got off work and I went to WalMart and bought six more. Don't judge me! :P They were positive, too.
And this is where we end this episode of Ashley meeting Andy. :) It's obviously not meeting anymore, since we obviously were doing other things ;), but this is the back story to get us to today
Monday, January 2, 2012
When Ashley met Andy Pt.1
We'll start at the most obvious place of the family story, whenI first met Andy.
It was Januaryish 2007 when he found me on a dating website- yes, I used one simply because I was looking for validation. I didn't think any "normal" person would ever like me.
We talked a few times but never really got close or connected in any way until one day in mid February. I just randomly said hi again and that was all she wrote. We talked several times a day after that.
I was ready to meet him and convinced him to come to ISU to meet me on March 2, 2007. I told him to meet me outside the gates to the residence hall I lived in- safe, right? So, anyways, he showed up just when he was supposed to but I almost kept walking when I saw him- he looked like a 40 year old virgin rapist HAHA. (Sorry Andy...I love you!!) I didn't, though. I invited him up to my room- even safer, I know! Whatever happened that day- I won't be sharing details- made me smitten.
He went home and I thought for sure he would never come back to see me. Thankfully, I was wrong :) In April I had a 10 page presentation I had to give in a class and I was a procrastinator-wating until the night before it was due to do 90% of it. I had to stay up all night and Andy stayed up with me that entire night. He was my cheerleader <3. That night was the night that I realized I loved him.
The next year was filled with every other week visits and tons of phone calls. In April of 2008, I decided I didn't want to continue on with my education- a choice I now regret but it's too late.
Andy talked to his dad and due to the conditions of the house my parents live in, he let me move to his house- it was supposed to be temporary...
It was Januaryish 2007 when he found me on a dating website- yes, I used one simply because I was looking for validation. I didn't think any "normal" person would ever like me.
We talked a few times but never really got close or connected in any way until one day in mid February. I just randomly said hi again and that was all she wrote. We talked several times a day after that.
I was ready to meet him and convinced him to come to ISU to meet me on March 2, 2007. I told him to meet me outside the gates to the residence hall I lived in- safe, right? So, anyways, he showed up just when he was supposed to but I almost kept walking when I saw him- he looked like a 40 year old virgin rapist HAHA. (Sorry Andy...I love you!!) I didn't, though. I invited him up to my room- even safer, I know! Whatever happened that day- I won't be sharing details- made me smitten.
He went home and I thought for sure he would never come back to see me. Thankfully, I was wrong :) In April I had a 10 page presentation I had to give in a class and I was a procrastinator-wating until the night before it was due to do 90% of it. I had to stay up all night and Andy stayed up with me that entire night. He was my cheerleader <3. That night was the night that I realized I loved him.
The next year was filled with every other week visits and tons of phone calls. In April of 2008, I decided I didn't want to continue on with my education- a choice I now regret but it's too late.
Andy talked to his dad and due to the conditions of the house my parents live in, he let me move to his house- it was supposed to be temporary...
Welcome to Tagueland!
I am going to be blogging about life in the Tague household. Give me some time, as finding time to do anything while not holding momma's boy is rare ;)
Enjoy :)
Enjoy :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)