January 15, 2009 7:19am

Ok--

So I am supposed to be studying for the EA exam I am taking in February, but something has compelled me to write. Perhaps because I haven't written since the middle of December, quite frankly on either blogs. With the holidays and Patric's birthday, time just got away from me. And then January hit full force, and I went into study mode...so that is why I disappeared for awhile.

The economy sucks right now...there is no other word for it...we have been able to pay our bills without worry in this new house up until now. I have one client in particular who is being hit by the economy and payment to me is delayed. I have been forgiving in the past because I do genuinely care about them, they were my first client (not sure if they know that or not) and even through their hard times they have paid me before. But, when my finances get really tight, I have a hard time forgiving the late payment, because I DO NOT pay my bills late. Patric and I have been VERY blessed to be able to have all the stuff that we do...not that we don't work REALLY hard for it, but I can totally see the hand of my Heavenly Father in EVERYTHING that we have...even down to my weight loss.

Patric and I had always said that we wanted to start trying for another kid when Josh was 18 months old....well...we did try, and luckily we did not get pregnant. I told Patric I really did not want to get pregnant because I hadn't lost all the weight from my first pregnancy and basically I felt miserable about how I looked. I remember the day distinctly, because we had Brad and Kami over to watch The Nightmare Before Christmas. Naturally, I fell asleep (what else is new) but so did everybody else, with exception to Kami. I woke up and immediately knew the answer to all my prayers...it was to do Atkins. Now---Atkins has had a bad stigma in the public eye because people think all you do is eat meat and no carbs...and quite simply that isn't even possible! Well, I guess it's possible, but I LOVE veggies...so it isn't possible for me. I lost 20 pounds in six weeks, from eating right (lower carbs, less sugar)...of course there was Thanksgiving and various cheat days in there...but I also worked out about 5 times a week during that time period.

Now I feel like I am ready to get pregnant. The weight is off, and then some...I have lost 24 pounds as of this post...I am back to where I was when we got married. I would love to be even less, but I am not dieting as strict as before, because I dont want to shock my body when I have to start eating more balanced meals for any baby that may come along. Patric and I have been trying this month, and I REALLY hope we get pregnant, because I REALLY want an October baby.

Anyway-

Back to the economy--Patric's company isn't doing so well....he wouldn't be the first one to go since he is the only one in the Marketing Department, but it gives his bosses an excuse to not give bonuses and probably raises...and that scares me. I don't know what we will do when baby #2 comes along and what if I suddenly can't keep up with my business and two kids?!? I know things will work out they way they are supposed to...so I am not worried TOO much...but right now I know how much is in my bank account for my business, and it worries me. I also REALLY want to do more tax returns this tax season, but then the other part of my wants to wait until I have my EA to advertise myself more for taxes. I will be doing four new tax returns this year, that I didn't last year...but I may have also lost a client because they moved...I don't know whether they will want me to do their taxes or not...they haven't said.

Anyways---

I guess I better go back to studying. At least this test is not as hard as the first one. I went into the first test REALLY nervous and scared that I was going to fail...but I didn't. And so I need to pass this test on February 7 and then take another one sometime in the summer and be DONE with the testing part and actually put my application in. I REALLY want to have all that done before another baby comes along...and definitely before next tax season.