Back in the saddle again

Wow. It's been a very long time. A lot has happened since March 2009 and this would probably make it on the contenders for longest post ever if I try to include everything so I'll try to stick to the highlights.

Well, I went back and skimmed over what I've written so far, so onto the update. I think it will be easier if I do it by person.

Tyler
He's amazing! I totally get it now when people say "If I would have know grandkids were this much fun I would have had them first." I don't get to see him as much as I'd like, but he sure is growing up. He'll be 2 in a couple of months. That's him with me in my profile pic.

Tiffany and Tyler at the park with Army and myself.

Tiffany (& Army)
Tiffany is still working at Red Lobster. They love her there and if I do say so myself, she is very good at her job. She's having some issues with her Dad and family at his house. She believes her sisters stole from her and is not getting the resolution she hoped for from them or from her dad. She has never had a close relationship with him and now that she is older, and has realized that holding everything only makes you sick from the inside out, she is ready to say to him that she doesn't feel like he protected her when she was young. Without going into too much detail, her previous step-mother was crazy. Boy the stories I could tell, but in the interest of not having a colossal post, I will refrain. Anyway, she and I have spent time together recently (which I love) and her telling me things I never knew (and my heart breaking  - which I don't love) and she needed to do what she needed to do to remove, or at least lessen, the stress she is under with the relationship she has with her dad. She's been struggling with finding herself emotionally and keeping the Trichotillomania under control.She's been scared about her health (and so are we.) She is around 90 lbs. We recently found out she has a hyper-thyroid. She doesn't have insurance right now so it's hard. She's getting there though and I'm so proud of her for sticking up for herself and doing what she needs to do to be the best "wife" (not married yet) and mother she can be. Army lost his job a couple of months ago too. So the stress level at their house is pretty high. She turned 24 on the 9th and I tried to make a big deal. It was fun. I took her and Kayla to the Melting Pot and bought her a lot of things - Christmas decorations, jewelry by Premier Jewelry, perfumes and products from Arbonne, and a book on making your own candles and/or spa/body products -  all on sale. Plus some money to spend how SHE wanted. She was happy :) and I'm happy seeing her happy.

Kayla

Kayla being silly graduation night at my Mom's with her graduation pie :)

Kayla is heading at breakneck speed towards 19 and I want to slow down time.She also works at Red Lobster and recently was lectured to by her sister about how to be a good employ. She's learning though. I can't believe my baby is grown up and in college now too. She graduated and even got a Bright Futures scholarship. She is going to get her AA from the local community college and then she wants to go to University of North Florida (UNF) in Jacksonville. Now all she has to do is get her act together and apply.  She's going to visit a friend in Ohio in December and then spending a few days in New York City with another friend that is going to college there. I think all of her attention is on that right now and she's going to get a rude awakening when she realizes she won't be able to leave when she wanted to because she is lolly-gagging. It's hard stepping back and letting her learn those lessons on her own.