Hey! I hope you all didn't forget about me. I can't get on the Internet anymore.

Just wanted to stop in and say a quick CONGRATULATIONS!! to Benita, Alex, and Emily.

Also, wanted to say a public "THANK YOU" to Elvia (she knows why)...

I miss you all and I'm glad to see everyone's doing well. I don't have any news to share but when I do you all will be the first to know.

Well I think the reason I am so determined to see you guys have kids is because.... I cannot have anymore..... so you guys are the closest I will ever get to "THAT FEELING".



HI MELISSA!!!!! You're welcome!!!

All righty Elvia…when it happens for us, I won’t keep it a secret from you.

Elvia: I want them as bad as you want me to have them. Someone else apparently has a different idea. Maybe He will get on the same wave length as us soon enough. Until then we just have to wait. I know it sucks but what can you do. Rest assured you all will be the first to know. Except for Javier that is.

you know I think that is the hardest thing I have ever done...... I usually just like blow it off like it doesn't bother me but seeing it in black and white and actually typing that out was VERY HARD for me! I will go crawl under a rock now. C-ya

Don't go crawl under a rock. We will share ours with you. Once I have some you can keep them any time you want. Just call me and let me know you want them and I will ship them down there.

Elvia…get yo’ a** out from under that rock!!

We love you and need you PRESENTE.

Elvia I think Ill crawl under that rock with you, is it a big rock????

Congrats Benita!

Melissa so glad you are doing alright and good luck on finding a new job.

Alright girls it's Friday so everyone better be out from under their rocks and present for this wonderful day. Plus it's Saint Patty's Day! I hope everyone has a great day today!

OKAY!! OKAY!! I'm out
Happy St. Patricks day!!!!
When I went home yesterday I went and treated myself to some Wing Stop..... Nothing like wings and a beer to cheer me up!

Elvia: Wings and beer sounds good to me. Was your beer green? I don't think I could drink green beer. I know it wouldn't taste any different but I have a problem with eating or drinking something that is green that is not supposed to be.

Benita: My mom said to send some pregnancy mojo down my way. Both my brothers have kids and they aren't going to be having anymore. Well the one isn't because his wife has had a hysterectomy. The other one has a 17 year old and a 5 year old. He is dating a new girl, we hope he doesn't have any more kids but you never know. So I am the only daughter and the only one left who hasn't had any kids. She is getting pretty anxious for me to have some. Maybe it will happen soon.

yes m'am it was...... and it was good and the wings well they were also finger lickin' good! There was one guy in there and since I was by myself he kept looking over at me and was being very friendly.....
I kept thinking..... Hell yeah I've still got it ... Raul better look out

You rock Elvia!!

Well let me tell you. I had a student coming by here to see me. Javier knows. I told him, for some unGodly reason. I think just to make him jealous. He is a baseball player here at ASU. Cute as he can be. He hasn't been back in a while though. I think the last time he came by he noticed my wedding ring. I thought the same thing. Javier, watch out. I knew I was one hot mamacita!

Did everyone go back and crawl under another rock? Where is everyone?

OK.... So here is a question. If the laundry that did this was done the first week of February, then how did the doctor estimate that I am 9-10 weeks and the internet says I am 8 weeks. But there are only 6 weeks between Feb 1 and now???????????????

Benita: They start calculating from your last period. So when you first get pregnant they say you are already 2 weeks pregnant, I think. It doesn't really make any sense to me because you can't really be pregnant until you get pregnant but that's how they calculate it. It was confusing for me too.

So eight weeks would be about right if there are 6 weeks in between then and now.

I think the 8 weeks is what you should go with. I’ve heard the same thing as Charity…that they start counting from the first day of your last period. Maybe your doctor didn’t hear you right when you told him the date you got your last period?

Have you told your family yet?

Thanks for the info guys. I knew I could count on you to set me straight. Basically I need it as amunition for Alex as he was the one that said how is it possible for me to be that far along when he was still in Mexico........Of course he has to think the worst of ever situation.

I am going to tell my family this weekend, I think. Or I may wait until I get the US on April 3rd so that I have photo backup.

Benita: Ain't it just like a man. Well at least now you can tell him. I hope he understands. I know sometimes Javier has a hard time comprehending stuff like that. It's hard for me to try and explain some things to him. I understand it so it doesn't make any sense to me why he doesn't understand it. Does that make sense?

Perfect sense.


Everyone have a wonderful weekend. Talk to you on Monday.

The way the doctors count is screwy to me too! I guess they do it that way since a period is a solid marker whereas actual conception can be up in the air as to the actual date it happened. Maybe that reasoning will help Alex get it. I am sure when our time comes I'll have to get out the chalk and chalkboard...........

Hope you let us get a glimpse of the lil' baby chagala when you get the US. Good luck telling the fam...I am sure they'll be excited. Maybe this is a blessing in disguise since some folks (and possibley your overstayers in your house) don't like the newborn cry at all hours. Maybe when the lil' one is around you'll have to go out to the living room to rock it.

Have a great weekend. Good luck telling your family. "See" you all on Monday!

HOPE EVERYONE HAS AN AWESOME WEEKEND!!!!

GOOD MONDAY MORNING .......I am such a happy camper this morning. The ungrateful, unappreciative, unwelcomed visitors have all found other housing and we are back to our little family as of this morning. WHOOO HOOO

The only downside is that when we move we are going to have to find some recruits to help us. The good thing is we are only moving 4 doors down.

Whoo hoo Benita!! That is good news!! When are you planning to move? Hopefully you can round up some helpers...

Have a good week all! Spring has officially arrived!

I am ready for Spring. It's lousy here today and will be all week. I want to wear capri pants and sandals. My white legs need some sun.

Benita: I am glad your houseguests have moved out. Maybe you can get them to come back and help you. I see your strategy of flipping on the lights and making as much noise as possible worked. They didn't want to stick around long. How are you feeling? Any morning sickness yet? Did you tell your family this weekend?

Melissa has a job interview this morning at 10 so let's all wish her a big GOOD LUCK!!! I hope she does well!

Everyone have a great day today!

Melissa: GOOD LUCK.

Everyone: I received an e-mail from a new VJ user (carlosalica), they are going throught the I-130 process and are going to have to file the I-601. I told her to come out here for information. If anyone wants to PM or e-mail her to give her info I am sure that would be helpful. I don't know what the DS-230 is (state department form) and if it is necessary when filing the I-130.

Alicia: Hope you don't mind, but I am going to post your e-mail and address here so that everyone can help you out.


Here is her e-mail:
I am a new user of visajourney.com and I noticed your situation is very close to ours. We filed the I-130 May 2005. Currently we're waiting to send in the I-864 and DS-230. I was wondering if you could give me some pointers. My husband is from Mexico and entered the country illegaly. The way I'm reading when we go for the interview we will have to file a I-160 waiver. Is this correct? What does the interview consist of? How long will my husband have to stay in Mexico, until the I-160 is approved? Anything you could tell me would be greatly appreciated. We really don't know what to expect. Thank you so much for your time.

Sincerely,
Alica & Carlos
carlosalicaana@msn.com

Well after waiting 2 weeks to get Javier's social security card it still hasn't come. I called the office today and they said there was a glitch in the system and it didn't issue him a card. Why oh why can't things just be simple? I hope there isn't some problem and that's why it didn't issue him one. They said I could call back later in the week and see if it issued him a number. They won't give them out over the phone, of course, but they said he could come by and pick up a print out with it on it. I guess I will call tomorrow and see if it worked this time. I don't understand why things like this always have to happen to us. Nothing can be simple for us. It always has to be a big deal.

Charity, I am sure we all feel that way at some point. First lets try to remember that we are still dealing with the government and whatever can go wrong will. Now just relax until tomorrow and call them back. Do you have to have it right away? I would hate for you two to have to make that long trip again, if you could wait for them to mail it out. Maybe you can ask them to mail the printout to your home. Least they can do since they have messed it up so badly.

We don't have to have it but it would be nice. We need to see about refinancing our car and we can't do it until we get his number. Plus his boss wants it. Also, we need to replace the ITIN number on all our other banking stuff. I need to put it on my insurance. He is my beneficiary but it has his ITIN number right now. There are just a lot of papers that need to be taken care of and we can't do it until we get the number. I just can't imagine why it kicked it out of the system to begin with. I don't know if they can mail the printout or not. He said Javier would need to come pick it up. At this point, if it issues him a number, I guess we could just wait for the card. We have gone this long without it. I just want to know it is actually coming this time. I didn't call last time to check on it because I never dreamed there would be a problem. I should have known. I just wish all this immigration stuff was over. Lucky me, I get to go through more of it in less than 2 years.

Charity have you heard from Melissa yet. I so hope that she gets the Job but only if that is God's will. If she does not get its because he has something more better out there for her. Please tell her Ashley says hello.

Ashley: I talked to her at lunch. She said the interview went okay. There were some bad parts and some good parts. She said it took about 45 minutes. I will tell her you said hello and good luck.

How are things going with your new job venture? I can't remember when you said you would be going at it alone.

Hola mis comadres...como estan todas? First of all a big ol' welcome to Alicia. You can also go to Immigrate2us.net and check out the I-601 forum. we are all active members in both forums

Melissa! hola chica, I crossed everything in my body in hopes that you get the job!

everyone else have a good day

hey in Love.... I have some questions for you about living in Mexico

EVERYONE DIANE JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE W/ our CONGRESS REP AND SHE HAS BEEN APPROVED THEIR SECOND APPT IS MAY 16 YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LAST DAY AT MY JOB IS SUNDAY AND THEN ILL HAVE CLASSES TO TAKE SHOULD BEGIN SOLO AROUND THE END OF APRIL

Ashley: That is great news!!!! I am so happy for her. I am glad this is finally over for her. I know she had a long hard journey. Hopefully things will only get better for her now.

So you go solo sometime in April. That sounds good. I hope things turn out okay for you too. It will probably be tough to begin with but you can do it. I would love to be able to do something on my own and not have to be so tied down to a job. I get restless in jobs. I would like to change jobs about every two to three years. I get tired of doing the same thing over and over again.

Hey girlies! Well we have a mess here. It snowed a couple of inches yesterday and then started freezing raining. I don't mind the snow it's the ice that bothers me. The trees are all covered in it. Thank goodness it's not quite cold enough for the roads to be bad. Unfortunately, that means I am here at work instead of home in the bed. Not so bad I don't guess, I didn't need to use my time. So we have started spring out with a bang. Hopefully it will be more springlike next week.

Hope you all have a great day!

Hola girl! yeah so we had a low of 32 and will have a high of 51.... so much for spring.... although I am glad it did not snow!

Well my few inches compared to Stephanie's 10 they had the other day doesn't really compare. It's still aggravating to have it when it's supposed to be warm outside.

What have you been up to lately? How is your hand?

It is still a pain in the @ss though!! I mean I would right about now like to be wearing capris and flip flops like you said before. I want to be able to wear summer clothing and not having to put a sweater on. Oh well so much for mother nature listening to me! or anyone for that matter.

I went to get my medical records and am gathering all that information for my HSL. I also have been pondering the idea of living in Mexico while we wait. Raul refuses the idea though.

Edited to add.... forgot you asked about my hand..... Well the cast and stuff only lasted 1 week.. and I threw it out because I couldn't do anything.....

You threw it out?!? Is your hand okay without it? I hope it doesn't get worse.

Why doesn't Raul want you to move to Mexico? I told Javier I would have moved if I could have. I really like Huauchinango. Then after his little stunt he pulled I really do wish I had moved down there. Well that's water under the bridge now. Can't go back in time and redo anything.

Well if you need any help with your research or whatever just let me know.

yup it's off... Nothing to help my hand or anything for that matter..... It has been hurting at night but I just try and ease the pain with massages....

Well Raul is just a LEO!!! very very stubborn and full of pride. He is afraid that Dante and I would not be able to adapt

If I can adapt, anyone can adapt. I don't know where you would be but Huauchinango doesn't have anything Americanized. If I could have stood to live there for 6 months, I think anyone could live in Mexico for 6 months. I think the hardest thing for me would have been not having running water, but I could have managed. Where would you be going in Mexico?

Good Morning Everyone.

Alex had his fingerprinting for the Employment Authorization Card and Adjustment of Status this morning. Then he had his stitches cut out. Now I am back at work, sucks. Especially considering the night we had.

I am not everyone's mother and I did not sign up to be everyone's mother. Yet, everytime someone is sick or needs something read they come to me. I am getting fed up with it. I just want to be left alone. Everytime this happens then there becomes issues with Alex and I. I just know if we were left alone none of these problems would happen.

So here is the story. Last night Alex's brother gets off work, he does not have to work today, so he is going to come stay the night with us. Alex went to pick him up and when they got back Emily and I were in bed, it was about 10pm, but I have had terrible sinus problems and just wanted to sleep. Alex comes bursting into the bedroom, flips of the lights and tells me that his brother is having terrible stomach pains. I have to get out of bed to check his brother. This has given Emily permission to get up and run around. All heck is breaking lose. His brother is holding his stomach crying in pain. But it is his entire stomach, not like appendix problems. He tells us that he thinks the guy he worked with must have put something in his drink. I am doubting this and actually am having a hard time believing this show he is putting on. (He is used to getting his way and he is a real momma's boy). So Alex says we need to take him to the hospital. We get into the van and start down the road. Well the complaining stops, I tell Alex that I think his is faking and that the hospital is going to cost a lot of money, I think we should stop and buy some Mylanta. So we stop and get this and head back home. We no longer get into the apartment then he is doing it again. SO back into the van and to the ER. Where after being triaged we sit until 2AM, at which point I tell Alex that how can someone who is supposedly in so much pain sit in a waiting room chair and sleep.

THis made me mad because Emily was still running around. We had to be downtown this morning at 9am for Alex finger printing and his brother gets to sleep all day. First I get in trouble because I go to an ER that is busy, and why couldn't I pick somewhere that could see him immediately. It is not like this in Mexico!!!! So our anniversary starts out very badly, with Alex mad at me and me frustrated at the fact that I am having to take care of someone who should not be my responsibility anyway. Alex and I end up working it out before we went to sleep at about 3:30, (I made his brother leave AMA from the hospital).

Sorry about venting, hope you guys don't have to do anything like this EVER.

Benita: I am so sorry this happened. Javier depends on me to do this stuff with his family too. I really hope things are okay. I don't want you to have a bad anniversary because of this. You should be enjoying each other and not mad at each other. I know it is very aggravating. I don't mind your ranting because I have done it myself. I am just glad we have each other to rant at.

I am glad Alex got everything taken care of this morning. Do you know how long the rest of the process will take? Does he have a job to go to when he gets his EAD or is he still looking for something?

Benita..... I totally know how you feel......
This is the sole reason I moved about an hour away from his family. Now this is just me and I do not (or have ever) doubted you are a good person. (much better human than I) for sure....
I got to the point where I do not answer any of their calls. Now my husband is really not attached to them either so it makes it really easy when it happens because I don't catch any grief. I am sorry this is happening to you and I tell you from the bottom of my heart that you will have to put your foot down and just say NO. Well maybe not to us! but to them! PS.... rant away!

Charity.... My husband is from Zacatecas. It is full of tourists and has an awesome hotel called Quinta Real
Quinta Real

Elvia: That hotel is awesome! I thought the one we stayed at in Huauchinango was nice. That one blows it out of the water. I don't think I would have any trouble adjusting if I were staying there. If it is real touristy I don't see why you would have any issues. It's like I said, Huauchinango doesn't have anything touristy or Americanized and I could have handled it. I think it would be awesome to go there for 6 months. I wish I could have had the opportunity to do it.

I am glad you don't mind my ranting. I wish they lived farther away as well.
I am going to write a Soap Opera "Life with a Mexican". Bet there are a lot that could relate.

How true. I know we could all add some things to it. It still amazes me how different the two cultures can be. And that we make it work the way we do. I know there are a lot of things that get on my nerves about Javier but I would not trade him for anything. I know you feel the same way about Alex.

Very true.

Elvia: That hotel is beautiful. Will you be staying in the Presidential suite for the six months that you are going to be in Mexico??? If you are, please make sure to send plane tickets to the rest of us so that we can come and visit you.