Well Hello Shoe

I've been waiting for about 6 years for the other shoe to drop... well hello shoe.  I've always known that life with Eric wasn't easy and it wasn't going to be easy.  I loved him for 6 years.. good, bad, and ugly until I finally had enough.  My hand was more forced in the matter... here's the thing.. when you love and care about an addict there's two things that live in the back of your brain every second of every minute of everyday... one of two phone calls will come: 1. he's dead.  2. he's in jail.  Well hello shoe.

7am this morning: I woke up to my cell phone ringing... a number I didn't recognize.  Ignore.  I'm still feeling my buzz from the night before.  Correction.. my responsible buzz from the night before.  You see, I arranged a babysitter and a DD.  I had my fun and made it home safe and sound.  Cellphone rings again... same number.  I answer: "this is a collect call from the Marion county jail from inmate: Eric."  Oh fuck.  I accept the first free call and hear "hello? hello? Lindsay I got arrested last night for DUI."  Oh fuck.  "Please don't make me sit in here.  Please. Please.  I have money at the house.  You have to get me out."  Oh god, really?  "I'll call you later with the bail amount after I see the judge"  Oh god, judge?  Buzz..........gone.  I can't believe this is happening... well that's not true.  I can and I knew it would eventually happen... hence the shoe.  My head is killing me from what has got to be my hang over starting... fucking tequila.  It tasted great last night... now it's a mere bitter taste in my mouth.  Oh. my. god.  He's finally gotten caught... after years of evading the police with his drunken driving... he's locked up.  Many women in my shoes would probably be dancing around the room, but I feel something different.  I'm not pissed, or happy, I'm more sad and disappointed.  Don't get me wrong, I didn't have great hopes for Eric, but Jesus.  You know, you always want to be wrong about somethings. Damn shoe. 

I made my way upstairs to talk to my mom.  Then tell my dad.  They ask what I am going to do.  I said I'm going to eat... then decide.  Best thing for a hang over:  Hardees.  Feeling better after my greasily delicious breakfast... I set my resolve: he's made he's bed.  He called 5 more times today.  I didn't answer a single one.  However, my father did.  I'm laying in bed trying to take a nap before I have to work tonight and my mom walks in.  "honey, I just wanted to be honest and your father is going to bail out Eric."  "No, he's not."  An hour later, my dad is mowing the grass and Eric remains safely in the custody of the marion county criminal justice system. 

I didn't sleep today.  I couldn't.  My mind just kept going and going and going.  I've talked to several people and everyone agrees its the best thing.  I've talked to a lawyer and gotten the information I need to put my mind more at rest... knowing what is to come calms me... I'm a planner and I want to know what is going to happen.  It wasn't for Eric... I want him to feel uncertain and unsettled because he deserves it and maybe it'll teach him a lesson.  It was for me... for Joe.  Oh god... Joe.  When something like this is happening, you start to think about things like... how could I bring an innocent little person into something so unhealthy.  Then the thought came to my mind... because I was supposed to.  I am supposed to have that beautiful little boy and I am supposed to go through all of this for a reason.  I am not sure of what that reason is, but my shaky little faith tells me that God wouldn't put me through it if I couldn't handle it. 

I want to explain a little further... I went to the doctor this week.  Along with primary hypertension, it is believed that I fit almost perfectly into someone who has insulin resistance.  You know what goes along with that... PCOS, which I ironically show symptoms of.  You know what people with PCOS have a hard time doing... conceiving.  So, you're telling me that I probably have a disorder that makes it difficult if not impossible to conceive, but yet I accidentally got pregnant with a man many would say wasn't worth my time.  Hmm... and I learn all of this the same week Eric goes and fucks up really big?  Coincidence? Or God?

I am supposed to be here... I am supposed to have my son... I am supposed to be there no matter what for him even when his father is not.  Eric and I have been having problems with our custodial agreement.... ok Eric has been having problems.  He can't seem to be consistent or reliable... qualities every addict possesses... right? :-) I was told by the lawyers... well you have to wait a full year then we can re-examine the agreement and make changes... unless something else happens.  Shoe. Guess Monday morning I'll be making a phone call regarding the shoe. 

I've been chanting mantras to myself pretty much all day... I can do this, I can do this, I can do this; he made his bed; don't give in.... And saying the serenity prayer over and over.  Faith, courage, wisdom.  I need all three.  I have faith that this will pass, but there will be many more obstacles in my single mommyhood journey.

Where I Stand... wavering in the breeze...

So it's been quite some time since I have written anything... probably because the last nine months or so of my life have been difficult to put down on paper (or computer). I guess first things first... I left MY cute little home... and moved back in with my mom and dad. I emphasize my because that's how I felt, like it was my own little piece of this great big world. It made me feel like I was actually working for something other than paying off my student loans, but in the end, it had to go. Of course all of this is resulting in my and Eric's resent split. It was OUR house... then just mine. Mine and Eric's tumultuous relationship met it's demise in Oct of last year and he left our home in Jan... after one seriously messed up night... one I'll probably remember for the rest of my life. So, in January I started a whole new chapter of my life... single mommyhood. *sigh* When I think back to when I found out that I was pregnant... if I'm being perfectly honest, I knew it would eventually come to this.  Life with Eric has never been easy, so I guess I was always preparing myself for it... but no one tells you how exhausting, terrifying, and utterly difficult it is.  I am so so lucky to have the support of my family and friends and luckily (i guess) Eric is still present in Joe's life, but let's be honest... raising a toddler with Eric is like raising two children.  I have to be the adult x2 and worry that much more because he doesn't remember little things... like paying daycare.

Worry... it has a whole new meaning to me now.  I was very familiar with worry before.. you could say we were chums... I mean let's face it when the man you love, adore, share a child with is a raging alcoholic and spends many nights out away from the house... you worry.  A lot.  I thought that all of that would go away if I ended things with him.  Boy was I wrong.  Now for some reason, I worry when I have Joe what he is doing and whether or not he's blowing all of his money so that in there is no "child support."  I worry when he has Joe, what is really going on at this house, despite his many many attempts to squelch this with "you know I'd never hurt Joe"... yeah... not on purpose....  worry.  I worry if he's going to disappear, although that one I would probably be more ok with except for Joseph and what that would do to him.  Worry worry worry... I'm sick of it.  It's giving me wrinkles.  Me and my pal worry need to have a serious heart to heart about our relationship...  I'm aware that we will always be connect Eric and me and worry.  Let's face it, moms and worry are two peas in a pod, but I want normal worry, but not the extra.  Is that too much to ask?

Lawyer.
I've entered into a whole new world of separate parenting.. me and my pal worry... paternity agreement... legalities.  Of course, Eric was not a fan of getting the courts involved in our... "relationship", but when you are able to do whatever you want knowing the other person will pick up the slack... why would you?  I contacted a family law attorney in May.  The experience has been less cathartic than I thought.  More worry.  My inner vindictive bitch said... yes slap him with a suit and let him squirm and watch out Eric you're going to get it... But my inner mommy, who is much more reasonable and level headed said that wasn't right and to attempt to work with Eric to get an agreement that would could both work with.  But do be aware that if this doesn't work... I'm going with my inner bitch. 

Feelings...
All over the map... that's where they are.  I've been a crazy person.  I apologize to those who have witnessed it or been affected by the grouchy bitchy lazy person who has replaced me.  I'm truly sorry.  I don't think that I've truly dealt emotionally with any of this.  Eric is my first- my first everything.  Truly... my first first... you know... my first love- and I fell hard and fast... my first everything.  He has asked me if there is hope... ever... for us.  In my head and to my friends, I can easily say no.  To him.. I. can't. say. it.  And I don't know what that is.  Why I can't seem to bring myself to say that word. no. never. I've said we're done a million times to him, but always went back.  I truly feel different this time though, like there's more closure this time, but I don't know.  I know that he deserves my answer.  I think when I don't say anything, he gets the idea, but it's not the same.  He deserves not to be strung along... is that what I'm doing?  I don't feel like I am.  He's been my person for so long... 7 years.  7 years.  Since I was a senior in high school... He's been my first call, my shoulder, my everything and now it's gone. Gone. <--- this is exactly what I haven't dealt with.  I find myself wanting to call him to tell him things... just idol chat... but I know better.  All I do know is that, that man put me through more hell than anyone I've ever met. But I loved him.  So much. But it comes down to... I'm not the person he made me into.  And no amount of love changes that fact.  Even though Eric made some stupid decisions at the end that forced my hand, I knew.  I knew that I had to make a decision... to be the person that he's made me... or not.  Not.  So that's where I stand... wavering in the breeze... hoping and praying that I find the strength to keep going... and the grace and patience to do so without a major meltdown.

"Where I Stood"

I don't know what I've done

Or if I like what I've begun

But something told me to run

And honey you know me it's all or none

There were sounds in my head

Little voices whispering

That I should go and this should end

Oh and I found myself listening

'Cos I don't know who I am, who I am without you

All I know is that I should

And I don't know if I could stand another hand upon you

All I know is that I should

'Cos she will love you more than I could

She who dares to stand where I stood

See I thought love was black and white

That it was wrong or it was right

But you ain't leaving without a fight

And I think I am just as torn inside

'Cos I dont know who I am, who I am without you

All I know is that I should

And I don't know if I could stand another hand upon you

All I know is that I should

'Cos she will love you more than I could

She who dares to stand where I stood

And I won't be far from where you are if ever you should call

You meant more to me than anyone I ever loved at all

But you taught me how to trust myself and so I say to you

This is what I have to do

'Cos I dont know who I am, who I am without you

All I know is that I should

And I don't know if I could stand another hand upon you

All I know is that I should

'Cos she will love you more than I could

She who dares to stand where I stood

Oh, she who dares to stand where I stood

Wonder and Amazement

Childrens Museam:

We took Joseph on his first of many visits to the childrens museam.

After seeing the giant water clock we had to see the trains first... "choo choo" he kept saying over and over. Decided we're definitely going to have to buy him one, especially to go around the christmas tree this year. He's complete obsessed.

After that we visited the carasol..

He loved the museam and I'm sure as he grows he's going to love it even more!

Wonder Lab:

We visited Wonder lab in Bloomington for Brie's 2nd birthday party. It's sort of like a mini children's museam... Here's some of my favorites from the day.

As I suspected, he loved banging on the drum and making as much noise as he possibly could.. just look at that cheesy smile!

Not a baby anymore...

Well it happened. And I'm sure that it's going to happen many more times in my lifetime and his, but he's not a baby anymore. Hard to believe how fast the past 2 years have gone. 2 years ago I was a scared 22yr old afraid that I was going to completely mess up my life and this litte person's who I was bringing into the world... but I guess I haven't... He's happy and thriving. And already giving me a run for my money.

Diego cake for our animal themed party!

Our present to the big boy... he gets to mow the grass now.


Happy birthday to my doodle bug... I'm so happy that I have you in my life!

My Water Bug

Water. It's one of the purest things on earth... That brings the simplest fun. We bought a pool this past weekend. Just something small to set up in our modest backyard to cool on in for these excrutiatingly hot summer days. I think it's safe to say... Joe loves it.

I look at these pictures again and I can hear his belly laugh. Maybe you can too? Another well spent $20.

Let Freedom Ring

July 4th

What a great weekend! Spent the 2nd (saturday) at my parents. Good food, cold drinks, boating, and great friends and family.

This weekend was the 1 year anniversary of my being a nurse. Just another day that reminded me to take a step back and thank god for everything I have in my life and see how far we have come. I, as a woman, had the opportunity to get a good education and provide for my family because of all of those that have come before me. I was reminded that I had this right to choose my destiny and my future because someone decided that it was there choice to serve our country and fight for our freedoms. I will eventually marry a soldier. Who everyday, but especially these patriotic holidays, I am so proud of. I pray to god that my soldier does not have to lose his life for my freedom, but I thank god for those men and women who have made the choice, as he has, to do what it takes, even if that is to make the greatest sacrifice for all of us. Thank you to all of our men and women in the armed forces! We raise our flags, wear our goofy glasses, and salute you!

"I thank god for my life
And for the stars and stripes
May freedom forever fly, let it ring.
Salute the ones who died
The ones that give their lives so we don`t have to sacrifice
All the things we love"

-Zac Brown Band

What It Means to be a Father

Father's Day 2011

It's pretty amazing that a 2ft spit-fire of a little boy can make a whole day mean something so much more.

Joseph made Eric a father. A daddy. He looks up to him with big blue eyes and loves him so much it makes me melt. Fatherhood has changed Eric... I watch him love on that little boy and it makes me love him more.



Joseph made my dad a papaw. It's probably the coolest thing I've ever experienced. It's hard to explain, those who know my dad probably understand it best. Growing up my dad was stern and gruff, but soft and gentle with me at the same time. He put on this fascade that he was a tough guy and that he had a "I don't give a shit what you think attitude." But... wow... it's astounding how that little boy changed things. I knew my dad was loving and caring, but watching him play with my son makes me well up with even more love for him than ever.

I love all the fathers in my life... my own and my son's.

"Any man can be a Father but it takes someone special to be a dad." -- Anne Geddes

Better late than never... Easter

I know that Easter was a few months ago, but I thought I would share some photos from Joe's first easter egg hunt considering he was too little last year to really get it... But this year...

I was afraid he wasn't going to understand what his mission was... but surprisingly he is a natural easter egg hunter... and scored big!

Insomnia makes you think

I hate working nights. Here I sit at 3AM awake. Joseph is soundly sleeping with drool pooling around his mouth... I just checked on him. So is Eric. Amazingly they sleep about the same way... all over the place... drool and all. Speaking of Eric....


We had our 6yr anniversary last week. Anniversaries of any sort whether of a relationship, marriage, birth, or disaster tend to make to think about how you got to where you are... to think about the start. It seems like it was so long ago almost like a lifetime ago. It's almost like I don't remember my life before him. Weird. 6yrs ago I was getting ready to graduate high school... start my "college life", which really turned out to be so much different than I ever expected... He was working at Marsh. He was my project, something I never saw lasting.





We've been on and off and on again, but there's always been something there. This deep connection that I could never explain. We've always wanted the same things.... nice house, nice things, a family... but have had very different ways to achieve it. According to everyone else and me most of the time, he's gone about it in all the wrong ways. Took every wrong turn... the bad boy so to speak and me... well... we could not be anymore different in that respect. I wanted to do everything right... an aspiration that was totally unrealistic and unreasonable. I went to college like I was supposed to. Made big "plans" like I was supposed to.





Then... came Joseph.


Something I was not supposed to do. I was not supposed to have a baby with the bad boy before I was married... before I finished school... He is the best "wrong decision" I've ever made. Eric joined the guard to try and be a responsible father... eventually ended up paying for his way through CDL school... I finished school and started my career as a nurse... That brings us to now... 6 years, a baby, many jobs, many fights later... still in love and more committed to work through life together. Amazing. Never thought I'd be sitting here saying this. Ever. Guess sometimes bad judgements end up working out....

House to Home

So a lot of changes have happened in the last 6 weeks. I started my new job at Community South, which I love. I love the girls there and I love love love the commute of only a short 30 minutes. Compared to 1hr+ to north. I miss my girls at North and it's really been more of an adjustment for me in the way things are done. We do a lot of things the same way, but a lot of things we don't. Seeing as how North, a long 4 yrs ago, was my first hospital job, it's the only way I know how to do things. Bless the girls at South for helping me adjust and understanding my learning curve. I really do love it there though and see myself liking it for a long time to come.

Eric also got a full time job driving a semi truck. I'm so happy and proud of him. Finally providing for our family the way I've always wanted him to, but I guess there's always a price. He's been gone for weeks. He was home last weekend, his first trip home in three weeks. He'll be gone for another 3. It's been a tough adjustment. For all of us. It's temporary. It's temporary. I keep repeating it in my head. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. I'm SO happy he's got a job. I'm SO happy he likes what he's doing. I know he hates hates hates being away from us and it's gotta be tough on him as well. I know it is. But for so long I've been the one taking care of our family and the one thing I always had to lean back on was coming home to him and him being here to take care of Joseph. Now, I'm relying more on my parents than I ever have because he's gone and I work nights, which is a fact of life that is not going to change anytime soon. I enjoy that niht pay too much and am so not ready to give that up. Really we can't afford to give that up. I don't know, it'll only be 6mos to a year of him being over the road, but it's going to be a long haul. Excuse the pun. :-)

Now off of the not so glamous part of my life to the most exciting part, my house. We moved about 2 months ago and I'm enjoying being an adult. So far. It's finally starting to look like a home, instead of a stark white cold house.

Kitchen - love love love my lime green curtain :-)

Living room

Our bathroom (1st floor)

Joe's froggy bathroom

Still working on getting the finishing touches on Joe's room, our bedroom, as well as the office. It's a slow, but worthwhile process. It was amazing the difference some curtains made. So much more warm. Can't wait until we buy our own house and I can actually paint. Funny story. I've had MANY apartments before this house, but the one apartment I had that was my very own (no roommate) I decided i was going to paint... much against eric's opinion. We painted... and then when I moved out we had to paint it back... much with eric's grumblings. It took a hell of a lot longer than I ever thought it would.... This time, I'm listening to Eric. We're not painting. Although I think it would really add something... damn him. :-)

All in all, we're happy. Together or not. It's finally working.

"When it's just me and you
Who knows what we could do
If we can just make it through
The toughest part of the day"

Joe's Big Beach Adventure

We finally did it! Got a vacation! We left early on Thursday morning... after I'd worked all night Wednesday night. I bet you can guess just about how excited I was to be in the car (my car... my four door sedan)... with 4 adults and a 2yr old. 12hrs and 4 dramamine later... we arrived in the Isle of Palms, SC (just outside of Charleston, SC) around 11pm and even thought it was dark I could hear the ocean from our oceanfront porch. That has got to be one of the best sounds in the world. Friday we ventured to Target to get a few necessities... sand pales, shovels, and sandals for joseph... then headed to the beach :-)

Which Joe loved more than anything... but who could blame a kid for loving the beach. He ran and ran and ran... then dug in the sand then ran some more. The only thing he loved more than the sand was the ocean. Everytime the waves would come up over his feet he would giggle. It made me want to pack everything I just unpacked and move to the beach so that I could watch him do that every day.

Saturday rolled around and so did the event we all made the 12hr trip for... the wedding. My cousin Eric's.

I think it's safe to say we'll be back. Maybe one day permanantly ;-)

Shaving already?

Joe walked in on papaw in the bathroom this afternoon... he was shaving. Joe just stood and watched him shave. Papaw picked up the shaving cream and started putting some on Joe's face.



Joseph walked out of the bathroom licking his lips making this face like..."ew that's gross" and walked proudly up to my mom as to say look what papaw did.

Then back over to me and said "Cheese!"

Once papaw was done shaving he helped joe "shave" the shave cream off. It was cute Joe kept touching dad's face (who's had a beard allllll winter) like where did it go? I love watching them together...