Adventures with Customer Service

Moving to San Antonio has been a challenge, to say the least. First there was the car problems on the drive out. Then, we had problems with our Sears delivery of washer, dryer, and refrigerator. And, since the day before Thanksgiving, we’ve been dealing with a furniture store, trying to get a good quality bedroom set. Now, a month and a half later, and 7 visits later, we still don’t have a quality bedroom set!

I hate (and I don’t use that word flippantly) talking to customer service. I have been on the phone with these people way too much. I am stressed just talking to strangers, and I have to be on the phone with these people at least once a week. I get all emotional when they aren’t helpful and take it personally that these people don’t think I deserve quality furniture. I sit on the phone for sometimes over an hour at a time, with a 4 year old (well almost) and a 1 year old (again almost) tugging at me, climbing on me, screaming, singing, etc. almost in tears because they don’t seem to want to help me at all. Just thinking about it again has me almost in tears.

And, after today, it looks like we’re going to have at least one more visit sometime in the future.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET A BEDROOM SET WHERE THE DRAWERS ALL WORK AND THE BACK ISN’T FALLING OFF?

What will the new year bring?

2013 was a big year for the Breiding family.  What will 2014 bring?

Just 9 days into 2013, our lovely son Maxwell was born.  It was a a much easier birth and recovery than I had with Jade.  I had to recover fast though.  I had Jade to take care of, and I was the president of the MOMS Club.  Everyone needed me.

Maxwell’s first few weeks were rough, just like with Jade.  He had trouble latching on, and wasn’t gaining weight (in fact he was losing weight).  But, he bounced back fast than she did.  He learned how to eat quickly and bulked up pretty fast. But, he wouldn’t take a bottle, so we had to deal with that.

A couple of months later, after a lot of rough nights and some scary symptoms, we found out Maxwell had an allergy to dairy and soy.  So, I had to cut that out of my diet.  Luckily, it didn’t last too long.  At 7 months, we tried introducing it back into my diet, and the symptoms did not return.

While I was in the hospital having Maxwell, Jeremy got a phone call offering him a job where he would work from home most of the time, which he accepted.  It was nice having him home for the first year of Maxwell’s life. He got to spend more time with Jade and Maxwell.  I got a little bit of help, which I needed.

Just before Easter, Jeremy decided he needed to enhance our family once more with a puppy.  We got lucky and found a puppy in a rescue.  Her mother had been rescued pregnant.  She’s a Jack Russell/Chihuahua mix, with a lot of energy and a lot of spunk.  She’s very fast.  But, with all that energy, Jade still wears her out.

Our summer went by pretty much as normal.  Nothing exciting, just fun as a family in Orlando.

Then, Jeremy started interviewing for new jobs.  In September, we took a family trip out to Washington, so he could interview with Microsoft.  He loved it.  We had fun.

A few weeks later, Jeremy took a trip out to San Antonio to interview with Rackspace.

A week later, we made the decision to pack up our family and move to San Antonio.  We had a month to get everything ready and by the end of November, we were in Texas, our house in Orlando cleared out.

So, a new baby, a new puppy, and a new home in 2013.  What will 2014 bring us?  I’m excited to find out. I’m excited to watch what Jade and Maxwell will learn. I’m excited to watch my husband grow at his new job.  I’m excited to see what I have in front of me.  What will I do?  Stay tuned to see!

First month in Texas

We’ve been here a month now, and we’re doing okay.

We got here the week before Thanksgiving, which made Thanksgiving very interesting.  Me, the one who loves to cook, had to buy a pre-cooked turkey and sides, because all of my dishes and everything were still in boxes.  We had a nice day, though.  I had my husband and beautiful children with me, and that was all that mattered.

My husband is freaking out a bit about his job. He is super smart, but he’s afraid that they are going to expect more from him than he can give. I’m confident that he will shine, but he’s a worrier.

I’ve contacted the local MOMS club here.  They are very different from Orlando.  Most of them have older kids. I haven’t met another Mom with a baby yet.  They aren’t very active.  I’m in desperate need of some connections here besides my stressed husband and my small children.  I’ve looked for other groups, but so far, none of them are accepting me.

Finding a preschool for Jade has been rough. I’m just not as thrilled with what they offer here.  I’ve settled for a school and have her signed up to start in January.  I hope it ends up being ok.  The trickiest part is that I have to decide if I like it in a month, because that is when enrollment for next year is, and schools fill up quickly here.  She’s been begging to go to school too, so I know she misses fun time with people her own age.

Maxwell is doing great.  He’s trying to drop his morning nap.  The good news is that he has been sleeping for 3 hours when he naps just once.  Now if I can only get him to sleep through  the night.

Christmas is just two days away.  There are tons of presents under our tree. I have the turkey in the fridge. I’ve made peanut butter balls, cookies, and pies.  It’s cold here.  It could snow, but it probably won’t.

So, all-in-all, we’re doing okay.  One month down.  I think we’ll be doing “well” by Easter.

This is getting real

The company my husband is going to work for is packing us up, so here we are 5 days from our move date, and we haven’t packed anything yet.  It really hasn’t seemed real, until today.  Yesterday was my husband’s last day in the office.  This morning, they movers came to pick up his car.  This is really happening.

People always say, you find out who your true friends really were when you move, and I’ve found that to be the case throughout my life.  With the exception of family (of course) and the casual Facebook “friends,” I haven’t kept in touch with very many people from Michigan, where I grew up and spent 18 years of my life.  And, after spending 9 years in Miami, I only have 1 person I keep in touch with from there, except for those Facebook “friends.”  Now, I’ve been in Central Florida for 10 years, 4 years in Lakeland and the last 6 years here in Orlando.

Everyone has very busy lives, but for those that you care about, you make time.  It doesn’t have to be hours on the phone every week, or even tons of letters.  It’s more of a meaningful connection, like what my friend from Miami and I have.  We don’t have to talk every day, or even every week.  But, we know that when either of us needs someone for anything, the other person will be there.  We keep in touch and keep up with each other’s lives.  We are there for the important events. We know, and we understand that life in two different cities and two different places in our lives make it difficult.  But, it doesn’t matter.  We are friends.

Will anyone from here continue to be a friend once we’re not here?  Or, will we all change to casual Facebook friends?

Craziness of Moving

I can’t believe that in 2 weeks we will be on the road headed to our new home.  I never envisioned myself a Texan, but in 2 weeks, that is just what I will be.  Wow! I’m excited! I’m nervous!  I’m freaking out!

There is so much to do  to get ready.  We’re trying to sell things that we don’t want or need before we move, which is a pain.  We’re trying to organize.  Plus, I’m trying to keep life as normal as possible so that the kids don’t freak out too much.

Sadly, I think I’m failing, because Maxwell is clinging to me, so I think he knows something is up.

What’s worse is that we are just now signing a lease for a place to live today.  It was difficult finding something that we both liked and that was in our price range and that we could agree to the lease terms.  At least that stress is now behind us and we have a place secured.

Now, with less than 2 weeks left in Orlando, we are so busy!  We don’t have a free night for the next 2 weeks!  It’s just crazy!  How am I supposed to get anything done? How am I supposed to get any relaxing in?  Can I cry now?

Plus, we’re moving right before the holidays. I’m worried about my hubby.  He’s never been away from here before, and for us to do this  move right before the biggest family time of the year, I’m nervous.  I hope he’ll be ok away from everyone.  I hope I can make Thanksgiving and Christmas nice enough for him.

Wish me luck! I’m going to need it!

We’re moving on!

Yee-haw! The Breidings are moving to Texas!

Jeremy has accepted a very good offer with Rackspace and we’re moving to San Antonio, TX in 1 month!  It’s exciting!  It’s scary!  There is so much to do and so little time to do it in!  And, I feel like nothing is in my control right now!

So, I’m cooking a lot!  And, I’m going to Disney a lot!

More details to come as I find out more.  If anyone has any tips on places to live, pediatricians, preschools, etc., in San Antonio, send them my way, please!

I’m waiting on a decision for our future

So, when last we spoke, we had just gone out to Washington for an interview.  Now, here we are 3 weeks later, and Jeremy is in Texas for another interview.  What will our future hold?  Where will we be next year at this time?  Who knows.

Jeremy really had his heart set on Washington, but so far, they have not made him an offer, so it is not looking too good. While waiting for that to come through, he has continued to pursue other options, including one at his current company, and one in San Antonio, TX.  This is ironic because about a week before we went to Washington, I bought Jade 3 pairs of shoes, a pair of rain boots, a pair of flip flops, and a pair of cowgirl boots.

So, here we are with three jobs on  the table (or around the table, since we have no offers yet): One in Washington (rain boots), one in Orlando (flip flops),and one in Texas (cowgirl boots).

For my husband’s ego’s sake, I’m hoping that by the end of this week we have a decision to make.  I’m hoping that he will have at least 2 (hopefully 3) offers on the table to decide from.  Will we take flip flops and stay where we are at?  Will we take cowgirl boots and move to Texas?  Will we take rain boots and move to Washington?

I know that if all three were on the table, my husband would prefer Washington for MANY reasons.  Sadly, I think that one is the least likely of the three to be on the table.  If he had to choose between Orlando and Texas, I’m not sure what he would prefer, though.

But, this isn’t a blog about what my husband wants and thinks, is it?  It’s about me and my thoughts.  What are my thoughts?

Well, politically and educationally, Washington would be the better place for us.  Weather and health-wise, Orlando is the better place for me, although I think Jade and Jeremy would do better in Washington due to their seasonal allergies.  The idea of going somewhere where it is cold, again, does not sound fun to me, but I like the idea of going some place new and starting OUR life together.

Here in Orlando, we live in the house my husband bought with his ex-wife.  We are surrounded by his family and friends. He has lived his entire life here.  I was just fit in and made to adapt, which I do very well.  The plus-side to Orlando is that we have family, if we need them, and Jade can see her great-grandparents all the time (which is really cool).  Also, we have Disney, and I can load the kids up and go there whenever I want, which I’ve done twice this month already.

But, in Texas or Washington, we would be starting new as our own family.  I would get a say in where we live.  We would be doing everything new and together, not based around his old life.

It’s exciting and scary.  I’m hoping we have something more to talk about next week, with actual offers on the table. Send him good vibes and wish us luck!