They Think We're Just Fishin'

It almost feels like summer here in Northeast Ohio! We've been spending a lot of time outside. Steven is working 7 days a week now, so we have to get up early to enjoy our days before he heads off at 1:45. Luckily, we live pretty close to 2 different parks where fishing is allowed, so we've been doing that a lot. We've also been playing outside at our house and eating at our new patio table as much as we possibly can. I know we are making memories that will last a lifetime!

(My mom surprised them with a new car, which Carter

is too big for, but insists on driving anyway!)

Steven has been hard at work preparing the yard and deck for his family who is visiting us from NY in 3 weeks. We went and bought a much needed Pressure Washer and a Leaf Blower from Lowes. He has our back deck looking brand new! My mom gave us a brand new, super nice patio set and we put the kid's water table back out so we can play! Now we have the hardest part ahead of us...weeding and making our front walkway look pretty. Its a mess! Then we will buy a new grill (we had to toss our old one.) so we can enjoy!

Here are a few more photos from our outdoor (and indoor) adventures...

And the Father-of-the-Year Award goes to...

Yesterday was the 14th anniversary of my car accident. I have been in a wheelchair for almost a decade and a half. Honestly, it doesn't seem like that long. Life just goes by so fast...especially once you have children. I wish I could go back to when they were little and enjoy it all over again! Anyway, I'm thankful for every day I have been given and I certainly don't take anything for granted. I know all too well how quickly it can all be taken away. It sounds cheesy, but we really do have to live every day as it is our last...because today is almost over and tomorrow isn't promised.

I hope you all have a fun and safe Memorial Day. God bless all of the men and women who served and are still serving.

Busy. Just busy.

That is the only word to describe what we've been up to. I feel like I'm just spinning in circles these days...and there's no end in sight.

Since I blogged last, I celebrated my 31st birthday. Steven bought me my Ruger SR22 which I am in love with...although finding ammo these days isn't easy. My mom got me a new Shark Navigator Cordless Vacuum. It's amazing! I couldn't vacuum at all before because we had a Hoover that weighed more than I did and the cord would get wrapped around my wheelchair any time I tried. So I had to wait for someone else to help, which I hate. My new vacuum is light as a feather and I don't get tangled up. It's also my first bagless...how did I ever survive?! Anyway, my mother-in-law, Godmother, and Grandmother came to visit from NY and took me to dinner for my birthday. We also left the kids at home with daddy and went to Ulta. It was so nice shopping for makeup with actual girls!! I usually go with Steven...he does try to act interested, but I know he could care less! We went to the mall and I finally replaced my old-as-dirt Kate Spade wallet. It was a great birthday!

I made Carter's kindergarten screening appointment a couple weeks ago. He goes on the 16th. I cannot believe my baby will be in school in the fall. We had leaned toward homeschooling and then decided it would be best to get him into the community and send him to public school with his friends. I think I've done a good job preparing him...lets hope he screens in. He actually misses the age requirement by a month, but they are allowing him to screen early. So, he will be one of the younger kids in his class. My little guy is growing up too fast. I am so proud of him.

I got word back from Medicaid recently that I was denied...yes, denied. I am permanently disabled, needing in-home care, and the state of Ohio is denying me medical care. I am in the process of re-applying. I will continue to fight until they realize that I truly need this coverage. Steven and the kids are covered on his insurance from work, but that doesn't pay for the things I need, so I am not on that plan. For now, I am thankful to have my Supplemental Needs Trust, but that won't last forever.

Last week, I received a letter from Social Security that my benefits were going to be stopped completely, due to Steven's income. I have been disabled since before we got together and I have never lost my money. It has been cut down before, but never taken completely. So, after my initial "How will we survive?!"  freak-out, we crunched numbers and figured out that we will be ok as long as he takes any overtime that is offered...which means working weekends as often as possible. So far, we are on Day 12 of a 26 day work stretch with no days off. It's been difficult, but we need to do whatever we can to provide for our kids and give them a good life.  And we will do whatever it takes to make that happen. The main issue with SSA is that they are claiming that I was overplayed $10,000 and that I must pay them back. Of course I will be appealing this because I believe this is wrong. They're coming at me from every angle these days!

So, we've been crazy busy and things will continue. I have to thank God that my husband has a job that allows as much overtime as he has gotten. I'm thankful for our strong marriage and our beautiful family. We can get through anything as long as we are together. They're totally worth it!