The price of getting green

This morning I went with my husband to his lawyer appointment. Now that I am finally 18 (in december) he can apply for his green card. It is rediculous how much immigrants have to go through just to be here legally. I can almost understand why people run across the boarder :). The lawyer first gave us a list of fees totalling $5,000. I honestly thought it would cost a lot more than that, but I guess $5,000 is a lot just to file some paperwork.
Next he handed us a list of things we need to get together to make our case. I had to laugh when I read we had to prove that we were in a "real marriage" not just so he could become a citizen. We need to submit pictures of us together at our wedding, our son's birth, vacations, graduations etc. and then any invitations or cards that were addressed to the both of us. We also have to prove we live together, pay bills together, and like a million other things. I have to send immigration our "Merry Christmas" cards for gods sake.He obviously has to submit legal documents like birth certificates but also letters from his pastor, teacher, and coaches saying that he is a good person. There were probably 50 items on that list, some pretty ridiculous.
The most shocking part about all this, is after about a year of filing paperwork he finally gets an interview. We both have to fly to El Salvador, where my husband is from, and get interviewed. And that's not where it ends. We have to STAY in El Salvador for a YEAR while the paperwork is being processed!! I find this completely insane. At least I'm not at a point in my life where I have a house and steady job. How could they expect people to just pack up and leave for a year. I am free to come back to the US but theres no way I could support myself and my son without him so I will just live there. I have to admit that it sounds like an fun adventure. But its a very fun inconvenient adventure. But I will do whatever it takes to help him get a green card. It's a huge accomplishment for someone from another country because it is such a difficult and lengthy process.

My Belief

So I'm writing this a little late and I see where Amy is going with this. For my essay I'm thinking about writing either about fate or how a young child has a lot to teach if you are willing to listen. I think I will pick the 2nd topic for today.
I believe that you can learn a lot from a young child. You just have to be willing to listen. My son teaches me something new every day. From the moment he was born, I learned that I need to care about people other than myself. When you have a child you have no choice but to let go of selfishness. Any extra bit of money that I might have I spend on my son. Not because I feel that I have to, but because I want to.
As he grows so does his ability to teach me about being a better person. He is entering the "terrible two's" which in itself is a learning experience. One positive thing I was able to bring out of his temper tantrums is his ability to express emotion. When he is mad, the world will know about it. I have also learned for his joy and excitement in the most ordinary of objects. He is one of the happiest children I have ever met. Although many kids are scared of strangers, Angelo says "hi" to every person he comes into contact with. He also notices little things that I am to busy to see. He will be in awe over an airplane flying through the sky, or squeal with joy when he sees a dog running at the park. I think everybody needs to take a lesson from children.

The Unconditional Love of Children

http://www.thisibelieve.org/dsp_ShowEssay.php?uid=6559&themelist=children&yval=0&start=0

I read an essay titled "The Unconditional Love of Children". The tone was heart warming but humorous. The author's voice comes through when she says that she was a dead broke teen working in a day care because "a girl has to pay for all those purses some way". Her voice also shows when she mentions her day-to-day struggles like getting a speeding ticket or failing a calculus test.
I think what shaped her belief was when she realized that no matter how bad she had failed, "her kids" in the daycare loved her unconditionally. When a little boy told her how much he loved her, she realized that all of her hard work in the daycare had been worth it.
She creates a balance between communicating and preaching by adding humor. She talks about "wading through crushed saltines, catching every virus known to toddlers, and dodging wood chips". It makes the essay seem lighter and makes the audience laugh.

Kid thrown into an adult world.

Sometimes I feel like a kid who was thrown into an adult world. A world of bills, rent, work, school (in my case) and nothing fun! I guess I really was forced to grow up faster than most people. I got pregnant a few months after I turned 15, had my son a week after my 16th birthday, then got married and moved out on my own a few months later. I graduated from high school a year early, so now I'm going to college and I'm only 17. I am extremely proud of my accomplishments, I know most kids my age could never do what I have done. I kept my baby, when everyone told me not to. I've had many girls who chose to get abortions come to me crying saying that they were glad I had my son, because it was something they couldn't do themselves. I beat the statistics by not only being a teen mom and graduating high school, but by doing it a year early AND going to college. And unlike most teen moms, I am happily married to the father of my child. But there are times when I wish I could have enjoyed my childhood a little longer. There is nothing better than doing what you want, when you want, and having no responsibilities. Ironically, when I had the chance at that, all I wanted to do was turn 18 so I could have my "freedom" from my parents. I want my son to enjoy his childhood as much as possible and not to grow up too fast. You never know what you've got till its gone. And the grass isn't greener on the other side. (It all smokes the same) haha just kidding!

A difficult decision that no mother should have to make

So I just got back from the Children's hospital with Angelo. Going to the doctor is nothing new for us. Angelo was born with a birth defect called Fibular Hememilia (he is missing the fibula bone in his leg). Because of this, his affected leg is a little bit shorter than his other leg, a discrepancy that will increase as he ages. He also only has 4 fingers on that foot, and 4 fingers on his right hand. This is fairly common in children with his condition. In fact, Angelo was lucky he was born with all 4 of his toes, many kids have only 1 or none at all, making walking nearly impossible. He didn't get lucky when it came to his fibular bone though. Many kids are born with shortened fibulas, but Angelo's fibular bone is absent all together. It is unknown what causes Fibular Hemmelia. Doctors believe it could be genetic, although we have no history of limb defects in our family. They do know it occurs in the 2nd to 8th week of gestation. There are 2 options for treatment: limb lengthening surgery, of prosthetic reconstruction (amputation).
I was really upset about the news his doctor gave us today. It is about time for us to decide which treatment route we would like to go. He gave us the pros and cons of each procedure. Limb lengthening would allow him to keep his leg but because the bone he is missing in essential in forming the ankle joint, his ankle would have to be fused together, making it stiff and unable to move. He could also have knee joint problems. With a stiff ankle and bad leg, it would be very hard for him to play any sports. This procedure will require many surgeries, and he will have to wear a large metal brace for 10 months after each procedure. It is a lot for a child to have to go through. Going the other rout, the doctors would perform an amputation below ankle, allowing him to keep his heel so he could walk even if he wasn't wearing a prosthetic leg. Then they would fit him for a prosthetic and we would be on our merry way. This procedure needs to be done before he is 3, so he can best adjust to life with a prosthetic leg. The doctor told me prosthesis are very advanced. They don't let people with prosthetic legs run with the other competitors in the Olympics because the prosthetics allow them to run faster. At first I said "absolutely not". How could I ever decide to let doctors cut off my sons foot?? I do see advantages to the amputation, but I don't know how I could ever come to that decision. I would prefer to lengthen and reconstruct his leg if at all possible. In November we are flying to Shriners Hospital in Salt Lake City (they prefer the lengthening treatment) to get a second opinion. I want what is best for my son. This is going to be one of the hardest decisions I will ever have to make.

Cider Days

This weekend we went to Cider Days at Belmar. My husband and I took our son and our 5 year old niece Estefany. It was a lot of fun for the kids. That morning, before we left, I went to Safeway and spent $10.00 on apples so we could press our own apple cider at the festival. When we got there we went around to the booths getting free things. Then we took the kids to the petting zoo where they got free pony rides. My niece thought the animals smelled bad but my son loved them. They both enjoyed the pony rides. We took Estefany to the face painting booth where she got a sparkly butterfly on her cheek. Then the kids got to "milk" a fake cow. There was a really cute train that we put them on while I waited in line for the hay ride. At the end of the day we decided to press our apples, and only ended up with a cup of cider. $10.00 for one drink- but it was delicious! We left at 12:30- and boy was I glad we got there early. The crowds were just starting to arrive. I would really recommend Cider Days as a family activity, I remember going as a kid and I loved it. I am glad my son was able to enjoy it too.

Vanished Place

When I was a kid, I lived in New Port Richey, Florida. Our house was painted white with a tacky turquoise trim. I remember catching grasshoppers in my pink tea set and playing outside with the neighborhood kids. I rode my bike up and down the street, but I was never allowed to go past the "big pink tree", an apple tree full of blossoms. We had a huge orange tree in our backyard which made for many juicy snacks. I used to go inside the tree, which was like a big fort. We lived across the street from a river. There were often large turtles walking across the street that the neighborhood kids would lift into wagons and push around the streets. I enjoyed visiting my next door neighbor, Gladice. She was a nice old lady who let me take a trinket from her house every visit. My other next door neighbor, Lauren, was one of my best friends. She was only a year younger than me, and we played together every day.
When I visit Florida every summer I like to go back to my old neighborhood and see what it looks like. It has been quite a disappointment. As I expected, Gladice died many years ago. The big orange tree in our front yard has been cut down, and in place of the tree, between my old house and Gladice's, is another new home. It is faced in the opposite direction of all the other houses on the street. It's backyard is where everybody else's front doors are. It looks terrible. I have to say, whoever bought my old house did a really nice job fixing it up. It is now a pink color, but the yard is lush and grassy. Everyone who used to live there had moved away except Lauren and her family. They came to my wedding in Tampa Florida this summer and I've noticed how far apart we have grown. Her mother is still the nice lady she always has been, but Lauren and I no longer have much in common.