August 2012 AOS Filers

[epsonderby 85]

Hope everyone is well?

Been a busy week for me. I got my SSN last Wednesday so I thought I could start the job I had lined up, alas it fell through so I've been working hard on finding something new. Everything seems to move so much slower here compared to my experiences elsewhere in the world. I'm intrigued by the amount of checks and tests I have to go through just to get my application considered. Anyway, I have received some callbacks and have been to a few assessments - hoping to hear good news shortly...

We also took the time to open a joint checking account with Bank of America this morning. A really painless process and done in less than 30 minutes. We also opened a savings account. I have forgotten about Wells Fargo already!

It's my birthday tomorrow so we are going by my mother-in-laws tonight for dinner and cake! I have been working out a lot lately; 5 mile runs and benching weights so it will be nice to gorge a little!

Interview in 15 days!

[Kim & Gesner 14]

Same here, everything moving by so slowly. Gesi has started his job in Florida but not excited about the pay, much less than he was making and he said by time they take out for taxes, well...he isn't very excited. He is already looking for a part time job as well. As for me? I am just finishing up my time in Maryland. Got a call about an opening at the hospital in Florida I've been applying to. She said she has an opening coming up mid-December which is perfect as I will be there about that time. I booked a flight to go home to Texas to see family and my son before he takes off for the Navy Jan 3rd.

I am just gathering boxes and preparing to leave. I miss Gesi so much but I know I will be in Florida soon, Dec 9th to be exact. Then I fly to Texas Dec 11-16th. Not much else going on with us.....

[Frenchican 13]

Epsonderby, good luck on the job hunting,

Kim, tell gesi he's legal now, he can keep looking for his dream job, don't settle with crappy part times! I know he works with his uncle, but family will understand if he goes to something better!

as for me, My green card should be here tomorrow according to USCIS update. hubby got his passport on the mail yesterday. So now we are ready to go to mexico city in 3 weeks, and we'll stay for almost a month! I am so excited! we'll stay at my parents, travel a little bit. one weekend to one coast, and another weekend to the other coast. but mostly spend time with my family.

I am starting my job hunting on tenure track teaching jobs across the country. hubby can be a contractor anywhere I could get a job. all (nationwide) college teaching opening are between now and january, so I have a lot to do before going home.

[Kim & Gesner 14]

Wow the group really has died down hasn't it?? There used to be pages upon pages of new entries.. now, there is hardly anything new. I know everyone is busy moving on with their lives, working, traveling, etc but maybe people will check back occasionally to catch us up on life.

[iaia 8]

Hahaha, you are right. My interview is in about 2 weeks and at this rate, I will forget about it

Sean's family is coming to Chicago for thanksgiving, is gonna be a couple busy weeks.

I got my ssn already and now I need to go get my drivers license. I'm also validating my degree from back home so I can find "better" jobs

[Kim & Gesner 14]

Gesi is working on getting his drivers license as well, he failed the first test. He even took it in Haitian Creole, lol but he said the words were very confusing. I told him next time maybe try spanish and see if that works. I sent him with his uncle to get an I.D. and he pushed for a D.L because he could get it that day vs an I.D which would take up to a week and now its been 2 weeks and he has no ID, no DL.... lol

Anyway, I am just working, trying to find ways to stay busy.

[iaia 8]

Yeah, I need to go and get the rules of the road for Illinois. I took a couple online test and failed 7 out of 24. You can only fail 4

Went to visit a couple daycares and Damn it is expensive here. $300/week/ kid. Total of $2400 for them full day...

[Dani&Jo 3]

Hey everyone,

It is super quiet - I check by every now and then and I usually have a ton of reading So we got our new interview date on Dec 14th in Fresno. I don't think we could have possibly drawn this process out any longer! I'm working my booty off and am so mentally unfit it is exhausting, and Jo has been training like crazy (he ran a 50km race today!!).

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving week! And Iaia, are your girls okay?!

[iaia 8]

No. Isa fell in the pediatrician office on Monday, head first. Awful. I kept an eye on her and she was doing fine. Saturday my SIL felt a soft spot in her head. Took her back and another Dr sent us for an xray, she ended up getting a cat scan. She has a fractured skull and a clog between the brain and the fracture. She is being kept in observation tonight and tomorrow morning she will have an MRI. If the clog is still growing, she will have brain surgery.

Oh and the hospital that took her cat scan called CPS on us. We are under investigation and we cant take Isa home with us until everything gets cleared. We are being locked in the hospital. Lovely country BTW

[Tanja08 11]

No. Isa fell in the pediatrician office on Monday, head first. Awful. I kept an eye on her and she was doing fine. Saturday my SIL felt a soft spot in her head. Took her back and another Dr sent us for an xray, she ended up getting a cat scan. She has a fractured skull and a clog between the brain and the fracture. She is being kept in observation tonight and tomorrow morning she will have an MRI. If the clog is still growing, she will have brain surgery.

Oh and the hospital that took her cat scan called CPS on us. We are under investigation and we cant take Isa home with us until everything gets cleared. We are being locked in the hospital. Lovely country BTW

Oh my gosh! Are you kidding. I feel so sorry for your child! I hope she is doing better! Keep your heads up, can't believe they are doing that to you, just because she fell!

[iaia 8]

Isa is having an MRI this morning. The neurosurgeon said she probably get clear to go home. Sadly, I have to wait for CPS to clear us up....

[Timon 26]

Isa is having an MRI this morning. The neurosurgeon said she probably get clear to go home. Sadly, I have to wait for CPS to clear us up....

Omg I hope that everything is fine and your baby is alright and doesnt have to undergo surgery. As for CPS I'm sure they'll see it was an accident. I'll pray for your baby

[iaia 8]

She has to stay another night and have another MRI tomorrow morning to make sure the clog is stable. If not, she has to go to the O.R

Good news is that we got clear already from CPS, and they said that claim is something should never happened

[Kim & Gesner 14]

Wow I am so sorry to hear that happened to you and your child, how horrifying!! I am glad CPS cleared it, that's such a scary thing to go through. When my oldest son (19) was just a year old, his dad was putting together a play house with a slide we had bought him for Christmas. Tradition in his family is gifts are opened Christmas Eve so that night, he's building the playhouse, I am cooking dinner and I hear this loud scream. Austin had decided to go down the slide when his dad took a trip to the restroom, well it wasn't bolted yet and the thing collapsed on him. We took him to the ER just to clear any problems due to an internal cyst on the brain he'd had since birth. These people totally separated and questioned us. I was so scared because we did nothing wrong. Three hours later we were cleared and go to go home. He had a bruise on his face but nothing more, thank goodness!!

So it happens. It's scary to go through but at least we know these hospitals are doing their job.

But sadly, several years ago an old classmate of mine dropped his daughter when trying to get her in the top bunk of her bed. She cried, and they checked her out and she eventually went to sleep with nothing apparently wrong. The sad thing is, she died overnight due to massive brain swelling. Had they taken her in, even being questioned, she might have been saved, but he didn't. Due the fact he had been drinking and smoking marijuana, he was charged with involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 50 yrs. He is still in prison fighting his case. He was 24 when his happened, he is now 32 yrs old. This was in Texas where laws are very extreme. I know he didn't mean to do it, it was neglect on his part and I wish he had taken her in to be checked, but he didn't. So if there is a silver lining in your experience, be glad you were cleared and can go home. You did the right thing!!!!

Edited November 18, 2012 by Kim & Gesner

[elbear 2]

My prayers for Isa.

For everyone on this visa journey, I wish you an upcoming very happy Thanksgiving.