Monday, June 30, 2008

No Work, No Money, School, Lots of Stress and our car is for sale

It's been quite a while since our last update. Stress just doesn't seem to be the word that covers it all.

We are a one-income family at the moment (hopefully not a forever moment). New location, new house, new baby, new school and all the stress that comes with it. I (Joseph) have been to 5 job fairs to no avail. I have applied even at the places of business that are not big companies that do government work (i.e. Wal-Mart, Target, etc.) - where I was either not called back or told I was "over-qualified" for any positions.

I have been searching work since 3 months prior to having to move and since we moved here end of March 2008 (so, about 6 months of searching) through the internet, in-person and job fairs. It almost seems all the effort I put is fruitless. I have a family to take care of and provide for, bills to pay and I am at a loss as what to do that is different from what I am doing. Also, the only jobs that would seem to fit me are positions that are in Denver (which is about 2 hrs - with traffic - each way) or over seas (which is hard due to our 4 month old).

I am still trying, praying and far from giving up. It can be very hard to keep going, but I have much support - First and foremost, my strength comes from the Lord, Second, my wife and my child keep me going when I feel as though I do not have the strength to to even look up.

Okay... on to the positives...

Well, I have lost 15 lbs in just over a month, and I am working out everyday now to make myself healthier (I want to be around for my grandkids and just plain have the energy to play and raise my son). As well as in the process of trying to get back into the reserves as a "weekend warrior." Please be praying I can lose the required weight and pass the entrance physical, this will at least be a partial income to help. So, I am eating better, working out everyday (really, I am working out - some intense stuff) and just doing all I can to be a better Husband and Father to my family.

I am back in school! I am attending Colorado Christian University, studying for a B.S. in Organizational Management in Project Management. Less than a year to go!!!! MAY 2009! Well, I hope all goes well! Thanks to student loans and the amazing Montgomery G.I. Bill, I can finish immediately. I hope and pray the finishing of this degree (or the in-progress part) will help with the job seeking.

Also, we are selling our car, since it's the one you can't fit a baby in, hehe. So, we are hoping it will sell better than a house! So, if you are interested or know someone who is, you can find our car on craigslist (http://cosprings.craigslist.org/car/731604354.html) and firebirdtrader (http://www.camerosandfirebirds.com/page-1503.html) with pictures and some good descriptions of the car.

So yeah, that's life so far...

Holding our heads up high on a cloudy day <><

Saturday, June 21, 2008

2 Years, WOW!

So, we've been married two years as of of yesterday (20 June), and it has been quite the adventure and Blessing!

Some have asked, "What have you learned so far?"

Here's the answer...

"We are different!"

What a revelation, but hey, it's only been two years... We have many, many more to go!

Monday, May 05, 2008

Planes, Trains & Automobiles?

More like "Dogs, Baby and Automobiles" - yuppers...

Well, it definitely has been a while since our last update... Benjamin David is now 3 months old (as of 8 May), who would have guessed time could pass so quickly? I sure didn't!
We are all moved into our house (in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA!) - well, as moved in as we can be at the moment (still a lot of boxes to go through!). Will have some pictures up as soon as we deem the house "nice" enough to spread pictures around of, hehe.

Well, let's see - updates since we've been here... hmmm...
New dog: "Sammy" a possible Lab / Beagle mix, we adopted him a week ago from PetsMart here in town:

We also had to buy a new vehicle (we discovered that her RAV4 was a little scrunched with two people and a car seat!), so we went and found a used 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee SE 4x4, 4.7L V8, with under 50K on it!

The Day we bought it - Friday, April 25, 2008


Oh yeah, having fun up in the mountains! It's a JEEP Thing!


Just a stroll at over 9,000 ft.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA!

Hey all, it has been a long time!
Well, we are BACK in COLORADO!!!!


Thats right. We officially moved into our new house (yes, and actual house - and yes, we own it - well, until the mortgage is paid off, haha)


We moved in around the end of March, and we are still unpacking - oh for Joy! The weather here has been incredible, we had snow fall even as of a few weeks ago, it was great. It is pretty dang windy where we are, but the view from our front door is amazing (a perfect view of Pikes Peak!)


Sunday, March 09, 2008

Our First Family Portraits!







Saturday, February 09, 2008

Benjamin David Salmoiraghi

February 8, 2008
6:04 p.m. EST
7lbs, 15oz
20.5" length




Friday, February 01, 2008

Update on "Amanda and the Great Pregnancy!"

Well, here is the story so far on Amanda and the birthing process on which she is participating on:

Wednesday
1855L.
Starts having contractions that are 30-60 seconds in length and 5 minutes apart. Darn right we got excited.

They last into late evening and sporadic in morning. Intensisty levels on scLe 1-10 are as high as a 6 at times.

Thursday
1030L.
She decides to get checked out to see what is our status with the actual labor. Go to base hospital and get turned into a cyborg for 20 minutes of monitoring. Then awesome Nidwife arrives.

Midwife does checkup; says Amanda is 1 cm dialated, 80% efaced (cervix ready for baby) and she could feel baby's head, meaning he is ready - just waiting for her body to be ready.

So, contractions were her body going into preperations for tv 'big game'

Says baby can be here tomorrow (Friday) or mid-next week. We go home :-)

Friday.

Mother-in-law is flying in.


More to come as it happens...


-posted by the addictive iPhone