The Immigration Process

We have been trying to get Miguel's FOIA for a little over 2 years now. For some reason, CBP never responds. The most I have seen is "under agency review." We are going to file FBI fingerprints soon, and go ahead and get started on the I-130. I didn't want to get started until we were sure that his CBP record had no expedited deportations, but 2 years is too long.

I plan to file the I-130 in August, and hope things go fast. I have seen online that it is moving faster than before.

Now we are stuck in another dilemma, whether to stay here, put the kids in school in Texas, or us go back to GA and put the kids in school in GA so they won't have to change schools again when he gets his visa. 

The kids prefer GA, but I don't really like the idea of being a 1000 miles away from Miguel for 9 months at a time. We will be renting my grandmother's basement, and she has said that she will get the kids to school and take care of them so I can come visit Miguel, but I am not so sure about this. I need to figure it out. I really need to think about the pros and cons of being there. Everything was fine before, but Miguel and I fought a lot. It was usually me who was fighting too, so I need to work on that. I have a great support system in GA with my grandmother, her husband, and my sister. My sister and I don't see eye to eye most times, but she really likes Miguel and loves the kids, so she tends to help out a lot when I am there and need help. I just need to get an online job again, and all will be good. 

If we stay here, we will be with Miguel daily, of course. The kids will go to school in Texas, but I will have to rent an apartment or something in Texas too. Plus, we would stay in Matamoros with Miguel most nights so that would mean getting the kids up at 4am so they would be ready to leave by 5:30 to avoid waiting in line for 2-3 hours at the border. I can't find a job here, I have been here almost 3 months and nothing. Miguel is working out-of-town so we never see each other anyway. I love our home here, but I don't know what to do.

Update: I started writing this post 3 days ago. We have more or less decided to stay here, and apply. I will be renting a house in Brownsville in August. We will be staying in Brownsville Monday night through Friday morning, and in Matamoros Friday afternoon until Monday morning. Miguel will continue to work out of town, so we will be in Matamoros at the same time. I will just have to cross some during the week to take care of our pitbull who will stay at our Matamoros house. The good thing is she won't be lonely, Miguel's cousin lives right down the street from us, so he will visit and care for her the days we aren't here.

Still Alive!

We are still alive. Just super busy with life. I really want to get back to posting again regularly. I just can't seem to find the time anymore.

We now live in Matamoros. My job with Open English is everything, but over. Our hours dropped drasticaly at the beginning of the year, which is normal for January and February. However, our hours dropped even more in March. I went from 20 hours a week to 7 hours a week! It only lookd like it is getting worse. We have no contact with management as to why this is happening or when things wil get better. So we made the decision to move to the border so I can find a job in Texas. We have been here since April and I have yet to find a job. I am very stressed out and feel like I will never find a job. I have applied and applied to companies. I have been to interview after interview. The only job offer I got was working from 4pm-12midnight at a place that is almost an hour from the border. Imagine crossing into Matamoros at 1AM every night and driving through downtown with the situation here! I can't do it, and no matter how much I need a job, I need my life more.

I have decided to advertise house cleaning in Brownsville and McAllen on Craigslistand pass out flyers in hopes that I will get some houses to clean. Also, I have always wanted to be an event planner so I am going to start advertising event planning here in Matamoros. I have plenty of experience, I have planned plenty o weddings and quinceaneras. Miguel has started a furniture building business here. Hopefully, it will really take off and we will start making a real profit, not a just getting by profit. He is also going to advertise painting jobs.

I plan on renting a house in Texas so the kids can go to school there, but I need a job first.

Friday was the anniversary of my brother's death. It was the first anniversary so it was horribly hard. We miss him constantly, but it gets a little easier each day.

As for TTC, it is basically on hold right now. If a miracle happens, great! We just don't have the funds to do treatment right now and the stress level is too high so it more than likely wouldn't work. I am almost 36 so getting close to stopping. We have decided that e wil do IVF next year and if nothing, adopt a baby. I just need to find out how to do a private adoption in Mexico. I have read that adoption through DIF is next to impossible fi you have children so that is out. We have agreed that f no baby either way by 40, we are stopping completely. I don't want to risk bringing a baby in to this world with birth defects, plus I really don't want to be having a teenage when I am in my late fifties or older. Just imagine! I want to enjoy that age. My kids are 12 and 10 now. I am already starting over, but having a child in 3-4 years would really be starting over. Not my idea of fun. I want another baby really bad, but I want him or her now or in the next 2 years, not in 3+ years.

I will post pics of my house later next week. It is HUGE compared to typical Mexican houses. We have a living room, diningroom, kitchen, full bathrom, and laundry area downstairs, and 3 bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms, a living area, and a terrace upstairs. It has a gate and an enclose parking area. The only thing I hate is the ever so often smell of sewer from the drain area and the lack of a grassed area.

I think I have rambled enough. If you read through and didn't get lost, you are wonderful!! I know I rambled and went in all kinds of directions.

The ABC's of Me..

I saw this on Emily's The Real Housewife of Ciudad Juarez blog and had to borrow it from Leslie's La Casa de Leslie blog as well. It has been so long since I have posted so I thought this would be a good way to get back into blogging for real.

The Letter A

Are you available? Not romantically, I am happily married. As a friend, translator, ESOL teacher, yes. 

What is your age? 35.  

What annoys you? Ignorant, judgmental people who have nothing better to do than to talk about other people. 

The Letter B

Do you live in a big house? I wish! LOL I live in a small 2 bedroom house. I would love a 3 or 4 bedroom though with a bigger kitchen!

When is your birthday? August 17. 

Who is your best friend? My hubby and Claudia. 

The Letter C

What's your favorite candy? Dove Dark Chocolate

Who's your crush? Vin Diesel, that chest and those shoulders! Yummmm!!!

When was the last time you cried? Last week during a conversation with hubby about our difficulty getting pregnant and staying pregnant for nine months.  

The Letter D

Do you daydream? All the time! I daydream about what it would be like for all four of us to cross the border together with Miguel's visa. I also daydream about when miracles happen and we have a baby.

What's your favorite kind of dog? I love my pitbull, she is a big baby. I want another chihuahua. 

What day of the week is it? Sunday 

The Letter E

How do you like your eggs? I hate eggs. 

Have you ever been in the emergency room? Yes. For  asthma, broken ankle, and a major sinus infect that had my nose swollen and painful.   

What's the easiest thing ever to do? Smile! 

The Letter F

Have you ever flown in a plane? Yes. Miguel has to soon though! He doesn't know what he is missing!

Do you use fly swatters? No, I use Baygon Casa & Jardin Works great! 

Have you ever used a foghorn? No 

The Letter G

Do you chew gum? Very rarely

Are you a giver or a taker? I give too much. I wish I could be a taker at times

Do you like gummy candies? Gummy bears and gummy worms.

The Letter H

How are you? I am doing great!

What color is your hair? Natural, brown For real: dark copper brown.

The Letter I

What's your favorite ice cream? Moose tracks. 

Have you ever ice skated? No.

Do you play an instrument? I used to play the violin, but I haven't played in ages. 

The Letter J

What's your favorite jelly bean brand? Any that sell the black, licorice flavored.  

Do you wear jewelry? My engagement ring, wedding ring, promise ring, and a silver necklace that Miguel bought me for my birthday that is a heart that says Te Amo. 

The Letter K

Who do you want to kill? Kill, no one; tell off, many; not see for a very long time, even more ! 

Do you want kids? Yes, I have a daughter and a son, but Miguel doesn't have any biologically. We want atleast one more together.  

Where did you go for kindergarten? Holly Springs Elementary. 

The Letter L

Are you laid back? At times, but mainly I am very uptight!

Do you lie? At times. LOL

The Letter M

Whats your favorite movie? Purple Rain.

Do you still watch Disney movies? No.  

Do you like mangos? Yes 

The Letter N

Do you have a nickname? No, except for Steph

What is your real name? Stephanie 

Whats your favorite number? 19

Do you prefer night over day? Night ;)

The Letter O

What's your one wish? To have a good life and my kids to be successful no matter what country we live in.

Are you an only child? No, I have 2 sisters and 1 brother RIP. 

The Letter P

What one fear are you most paranoid about? My kids getting hurt, sick, or worse. 

What are your pet peeves? Excuses. 

What's a personality trait you look for in people? A sense of humor and compassion.

The Letter Q

What's your favorite quote? "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own, and you know what you know. And you are the guy who'll decide where to go." -Dr. Seuss

Are you quick to judge people? No. I know what it feels like for people to judge you without reason. I have been judged quite often just because I am from the United States since coming to Mexico.

The Letter R

Do you think you're always right? Of course, I am always right! Really, often I am, but there are times Miguel is right. 

Are you one to cry? Constantly. I am very emotional. 

The Letter S

Do you prefer sun or rain? Sun, the rain is depressing. 

Do you like snow? Yes, but only when I am in a properly insulated house with heat. I love to look at it, but hate to feel the cold.

What's your favorite season? Fall in Georgia, Spring in Mexico

The Letter T

What time is it? 12:47pm

What time did you wake up? Late! 9:00am

When was the last time you slept in a tent? Never. I hate camping. I love A/C and a comfy bed too much!

The Letter U

Are you wearing underwear? Maybe...

Underwear or boxers? Boxer briefs. 

The Letter V

What's the worst veggie? Turnips. 

Where do you want to go on vacation? Italy! 

The Letter W

What's your worst habit? I get mad really quick. 

Where do you live? Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.

What's your worst fear? Something happening to my kids, myself, or my husband. 

The Letter X

Have you ever had an x-ray? Yes, too many.

Have you seen the x-games? No.

Do you own a xylophone? No.

The Letter Y

Do you like the color yellow? It is ok, but I prefer red.

What's one thing you yearn for? Another baby 

The Letter Z

Whats your zodiac sign? Leo, of course.

Do you believe in the zodiac? Sometimes, my personality matches the Leo personality. 

Favorite zoo animal? Elephants and monkeys,especially the one at La Pastora here in Monterrey. He makes signs to everyone with food or drinks to give it to him.


So, next post will be what has happened since moving back to Mexico and what is in the books for the next few weeks.