Interview #4

While at HEB picking up cat food, I got a call, and have interview #4 scheduled tomorrow at 3:30 for a PPCD position. The only down side is that it is in Round Rock, which is a little far for me, but at this point, I will take anything!

Interview #3

So, after feeling really down, and getting discouraged, I took a leap and emailed the Director of Special Ed for Hays CISD. I thought it wouldn't hurt. I didn't hear anything all week, which was OK since I know most of the district is on vacation now. Sunday night at 10, I checked my email, and had a message from a principal at a school in Buda. She said she had a position open, and thought I may be a good match for her campus, and wanted to know if I could come in at 11 to interview! Before I responded, I called a friend to see if she could watch Blake, and then emailed her back.

I dropped Blake off at my friend's house, and you would have thought he had been there a zillion times before. He walked in and got on the couch, took his shoes off and said, "bye, mommy!" I left and went to the interview. I got there about 5 minutes early, and went it. They were not quite finished de-briefing after the last interview, so the principal took me to the work room. That was totally fine with me. It allowed me to actually see what I looked like in a mirror rather than the reflection in my car window.

I was in the interview over an hour. My other 2 interviews were less than 30 minutes. I was asked some questions that once I came home thought of great answers to, but overall, I think I did great. I felt like they really wanted to get to know me, and let me explain myself even if I was talking in circles! About 5 minutes before the end of the interview, the principal told me about a training on Aug. 4 (which I took as a good thing), and asked me to resend my resume and a list of references when I got home.

The position is more perfect than I could have asked for. It is a co-teaching/inclusion position for Kinder through 2nd grade. There are a total of 14 SPED students on campus, with 3 (yes 3!!!) SPED teachers. That's roughly 5 kids per teacher! The best part is that it's co-teaching. I did that a few years ago in Prairie Lea, and it is wonderful!

I emailed the principal the things she asked for, and told her I was really excited about hte position, and looked forward to working with her. She responded this morning saying she would be in contact by the end of the week.

I am trying not to get too excited, but it's really hard. EEEK!!!

How time flies

June has flown by, and I can't believe today is the 18th! Blake is definately missing daycare...as am I. I really don't know how women do it every day of the year. I miss working, talking to adults, using my brain. Today we went to Goin' Bananas in south Austin. It was great. Blake played for 2 1/2 hours and did not want to leave at all. It was almost 1:30 (the middle of nap time) and we had not even eaten lunch! He was a trooper though! We went to Wendy's for lunch and then to his favorite circle store, Target. Luckily they were out of popcorn.

Joe's birthday is Sunday. We are going downtown on Saturday night. It looks like just work friends are coming and he is a little bummed. He wanted to go to Lake Charles and do some gambling, but we just can't right now! Maybe for my birthday!

Here are some pictures from the month so far.





Helping Grandma feed the birds




My little dare-devil






I really don't know what he is doing


I'm a cowboy


Just plain ole silly

Job update

Well, I did not get the job. A person in my co-hort (class at region 13) got the position. I kinda feel cheated. I have worked with 3-5 year olds for 6 years, and i can't get a job in a public school? I am very disappointed. I am a little turned off by the person who got it too. She texted me on Thursday to say they checked her references, then called me last night to tell me they offered and she accepted. Oh-well--maybe it's not meant to be. I have a mission next week to get as many resumes out there and get a job. I need to find something until school starts. I am not motivated to do any of it though.

Blake had a dentist visit yesterday, and it went great! She said we have done a great job at keeping his teeth clean, and we don't have to go back for a year! He got 2 toothbrushes, a plastic dinosaur and some stickers!

Joe went camping this weekend. I was originally supposed to go, but he told me early in the week that there were no other girls coming, so I backed out. Just what I want to do--spend the weekend with a bunch of drunk guys on the river. Turns out, there are some girls coming this afternoon. I guess I will just stay at home.

Interview

I had an interview this afternoon for a PPCD position. I left not knowing how it went. I think I am a great candidate, but did they? One of the six (yes 6!!) people, I know and have worked with professionally for a few years, but it is still an unnerving feeling. I will know something by next Tuesday at 5 p.m. Keep your thoughts and prayers coming! I really need this!

Joe's family came over on Sunday. It was nice...for the most part. Here are all the kids. Bianca is going into 5th grade. She is holding Olivia & Adam, and Robbie is sitting on the floor in the front of her. Gabryel is on the floor in the middle, and Michael is trying really hard to hold Blake. Olivia just turned one, Adam is almost 7 months, Gabryel is 3, Robbie will be 2 next month, Michael is 6 and Blake is 2. It was really hard to get them all to sit still for this picture. We took 6 I think, and this was the best one.

Kung Fu Panda

We took Blake to see Kung Fu Panda this afternoon! He loved it. It is a great movie for kids and there is enough funny stuff for the parents, too! We had attempted to take him once before to see Horton Hears a Who. We had to leave about 45 mintues into the movie! We were very proud of him!

My camera battery is kaput, and I am waiting patiently for the new one in the mail. We are having the in-laws over tomorrow, and I won't be able to take pictures of all the kids together. Maybe I will break out the big camera...

Unemployed

I am officially unemployed! I don't think I like it. It wouldn't be so bad if I knew I were getting unemployment. It wouldn't be so bad if we had a savings! Nope, nothing! I know now that we have to get at least 2 months built up of ONE of our incomes in the savings. We haven't even started feeling the crunch, but I know it is coming. That is the worst part.

Blake has been running a fever since Tuesday afternoon. I made an appointment for him yesterday, and they say, "he has a virus". No ear infection, just a bug. Don't get me wrong, I am glad he doesn't have an ear infection, or anything serious, but I want to be able to treat him with something other than Motrin or Tylenol.

He did wake up happy this morning though! He slept in until about 8, and Joe & I were getting worried, because he was over an hour late waking us up. I walked out of our room just as he was coming in. He watched some cartoons while I got ready, and after breakfast, we went shopping. I know, shopping when you don't have the funds??? I only spent $4.32. Carter's was having a sale, and I found a cute fall jacket for $3.99! I couldn't pass it up. We went to Chic-Fil-A and got our free meal. Two weeks ago, Joe brought home dinner, and they forgot Blake's meal. We called, and got a free adult meal and kid's meal! Anyway, we ate, and then it was play time! Blake played for about 45 minutes. Lots of kids were coming in and out and then a cute little 3 year old came in. We should have left. He was being a little mean to Blake, but nothing too bad. He comes down the slide, gets up, and his pants are wet. Mom & Dad wisk him away and it's just Blake again. Then I hear, "OOOOOOOOOOOOHHH, pretty...Water!" And splashing with his hands and feet. Picture me, climbing up to the top of the playscape, trying to carry a screaming toddler down who is covered in someone else's urine!!! And, of course, it was through the tunnel the furthest away from the steps!

I came out and told this nice lady that someone else's kid peed in the playscape, and they needed to clean it, and all she said was, "oh-you want a refill". Granted, she didn't speak much English, but still. I said nothing about a refill! I told the manager, and he sent one of the high schoolers up there!