Home, Sweet Home

Apart from the last post, I have not updated the blog on how its going down here in Houston.

The kids are doing great. Zoey is really thriving at school. Her new school is not as aggressive as TICA, but in some way, she is doing better here and her curiosity is peaked. She is soaking up everything like a sponge. She has made a little friend in Abby, who she played with all Thanksgiving day and they are in Primary together. She is doing really well, and now knows not to tell people that Mom and Dad slap her. (Since that whole fiasco, she has come home twice saying that her teacher hit her because she didn't like her shirt. Gotta love five year olds.) Liam is my little buddy during the day. Zoey is gone basically from 8 to 4 every day, and our house is very quiet. Liam is still a little copycat, and is in love with the movie 'UP', that grandma so kindly bought for them when she came to visit.

Damon is totally rocking it out at his new job as the boss man. I am really excited to meet his team, and host the Christmas Party.

I am adjusting fairly well, and have made a few friends here. I went to see New Moon with the group of gals from the ward, and they are all really great and welcoming. We have been looking at building a home, and also at some re-sales in the area. I am liking Cypress, TX a lot, if we get the right house. There is still so much research to be done I don't know where we will end up, but at least we have a start, right? Texas is its own animal. Here are a few observations I have made.

Texas is very flat.

Texas houses are really REALLY cheap

Texas food usually revolves around a smoker and a deep fryer, and some BBQ sauce

Texas strip malls are rarely without a donut shop, a taqueria, a Vietnamese nail place, a Hispanic hair place that charges 3.99 for a hair cut, and a Tai place

Texans are big into trucks.

Texas people (in general) are Rubenesque

Everything is bigger in Texas is a very true statement.

Texas is lacking in health food stores. The entire Houston metro area has 2 (thats it, 2) Whole Food Stores

Texans are extremely friendly

Texas has its own section of merchandise at Bed, Bath and Beyond.

Wal-Mart rules in Texas. (and Sam's Club. Costco only has 3 here. I have given over to the dark side and got a Sam's Club membership)

Texas is its own little world.

But we are making it our little world. I bought some Salt and Pepper shakers that have a wroght iron texas star on them.

(I will post more on Thanksgiving, and photos of the house in a few days.)

24 hours

24 hours go by and usually are uneventful. But this is most likely the worst 24 hours I have ever had.

I got a call from the school counselor. About Zoey. She first asked if Zoey was a foster child. I replied, "No?" Then she said Zoey had told both her and her teacher that both Damon and I had slapped her. Also that she had said that I was a mean mommy. She proceeded to explain that Zoey had said that she had a new Mommy and Daddy and Grandma, and that she thought that Daddy was nice, Liam was nice, and Grandma was nice, but Mommy was mean. I explained to her that we had just moved to Houston, that everything was new in Zoey's life, even up to the car we drove. She was not only adjusting from the HUGE move, but also from half day to full day kindergarden. That wasn't good enough explanation, and she said that she was going to interview Zoey tomorrow, and if she said the same things, that she was going to call CPS.

I lost it. Sobbing. She took it as an admission of guilt. She ended the conversation with "Have a nice day!"

Just the mere accusation of slapping my child was so unfounded and false, but now I felt like I was a convicted felon. I have never been so disrespected in my life. And I have never felt so helpless. I know no one here. I have no one to call. The closest relatives we have live 8 hours form away.

Damon was out in San Antonio training a rep. I was alone. I called him, I called my Mom, I called my Mom-in-Law, I called my uncle Scott. All of whom gave wonderful and unique advise. My uncle Scott is a school psychologist, and gave the best advice on how to handle it. Be Aggressive. Damon drove home and we put together a game plan. We were at the school at 8 AM the next morning ready to talk to the teacher, counselor, and the principal. I had on my game face. Or so I thought. The principal was not in for 2 days so we first talked to the assistant principal. I got in there and started to explain the situation. Things were going well until the counselor came in. She came in, repeated what Zoey had told her, and then was silent. Did not tell us the questions she asked Zoey, did not explain why she thought we were abusing her. Just sat there staring at us with her toad like body and beady eyes. I lost it. I was so upset. I reamed her in front of her boss. Letting her know she isn't a thorough counselor, and that I knew she was "just doing her job", but not in the correct manner. Threatening CPS on the phone before meeting me, or calling her old school, or our pediatrician in Colorado to see if there were any complaints. Completely unfounded. She didn't even know Zoey had been at the school for 4 days. We left getting no where, and still facing that jaded troll of a woman questioning our daughter with no supervision. She wouldn't even allow the session to be recorded.

We got home and I fell completely apart. I thought I had done that before, but this was something completely different. I was living my reoccurring nightmare of my children being dragged away from me by some black force and I am paralyzed, can't move, talk, breathe. Totally helpless watching my kids taken. Then my Mom and Damon gave me some tough love and the real game face came out. I needed to be strong for Zoey. I needed to protect my daughter, and the gloves are comin' off. I honestly didn't know I could be that strong. My Mom talked to Scott and he told us to go to the big wigs. The Superintendent and the Head of the Psychology department, and the school psychologist. I was calm. I was precise. I did it. It worked. And they all wanted the name of the counselor (most common response? "Oh yeah, she's new), and apologized up and down for the CPS threat. Dr. Horton (the big wig) told me that there isn't any warrant for a CPS report, and that it should have never been brought up. I talked to her at 2:30 pm. By the time I picked her up at 3:40, Damon got a phone call with a profusely apologetic assistant principal, telling us that they are not investigating the matter further, and the second meeting with Zoey is not necessary.

Its over. I can breathe. Zoey is good. We are working on telling the truth.

Like I said. Worst 24 hours ever.

Welcome to Texas.

Kansas

yyeeeaaahhhh, I'll pass on that one...



(Damons company gives him an aircard. Its AWESOME. I am blogging from his laptop in the car outside salida, kansas. So cool.)

Phew!

We are out of the house. Its packed, cleaned, and empty. HUGE thanks to Monique and JD, who spent all weekend helping us move and clean, and another BIG thanks for all the help from the ward.

We leave Wednesday for Katy, Texas.

I can't believe its finally here. The kids are excited and Zoey tells everyone we are moving to "TEXAS!" She is happy about the prospect of having a pool.

Texas, here we come!