We'll see ya when we see ya!

So, it's official. Joey and I will be moving the Woodlands area (Conroe address though) this Wednesday, November 10th. I can't believe how quickly everything has happened since we decided to move 3.5 weeks ago, which can only be attested to the wonderful perfect plan of God! Since we decided to move, I (Amanda) was accepted to Grad School at SHSU for an M.S. in Agriculture Education that will be completed in a little over a year, Joey was offered a position at Huntsville Intermediate School as the 5th and 6th grade bilingual teacher pending he passes the LOTE examination, we sublet our duplex in 24 hours and our leasing company decided to end our lease with no fees so we get all of our deposits back, I transferred with my company to two hospitals near where we'll be living and working full time, and we've made plans already to join Joey's old church there, Faith Bible church, and a home group. I'm super excited for something new, but nervous about what the future holds. It will be difficult for me, as we won't really get to settle in a whole lot living with Joey's mom for a while to give us a chance to pay off debt. All of my pots and pans and other various items will be in storage for an undetermined amount of time. Being crazy organized (I think OCD) it just makes me feel like I'm not really settled down to one place, and I don't really like the feeling of being in limbo-please pray that the Lord will give my soul rest. I am very much looking forward to starting school once again, but kind of nervous as well. I haven't been a student for 2.5 years! Let's hope I can remember how to study well.
Thank you all who came out to enjoy dinner and fun with us last night at Fuzzy's! It was so great to see so many of you again, especially all of our church friends that we haven't seen much of since we joined the Berean Sunday School class. Grace Bible Church, our friends we've made there and through our jobs are what's making it so difficult to leave BCS, but know that we're going where God wants us to go. We love you and will miss you, but promise to visit often! Adios.....

Bye bye College Station

So, for whatever reason our antivirus on our computer now thinks Blogger is bad which is why we haven't updated in  a while, but then I remembered my cool phone.
Now onto the important stuff. The Hensleys are moving!  This has been such a hard year for us on so many levels, but most of all financially. Joey's mom has graciously offered for us to rent a room until we can pay off some debt, find teaching jobs (since BCS stinks in that department) and get back on our feet. Amanda has an interview in two weeks at The Woodlands Banfield which sounds promising, so soonest we'll be gone is four weeks from now.
We'll miss Grace more than anything, and all of our favorite restaurants we've found, and our awesome home group, but unfortunately can't stay in an area that's not going to meet our financial needs when we're treading water. Amanda is planning on starting grad school in January or June, but we're still waiting on an official acceptance. Joey will hopefully be able to find a teaching job sooner than later being closer to a big city, and with school districts that don't go out of the country to find spanish speaking teachers that don't speak english (eye roll). An official move date is still TBD...

And the Official Fertility Trip Begins....

So, I (Amanda) had an appointment with a fertility specialist yesterday, and I have mixed emotions about how it went. First off, I've been using progesterone cream for six months now as a fertility treatment that was easy and inexpensive. The only thing I got from it was acne returned and 20lbs of non-baby weight! Oh, and the cat urinating on my PJs and on the floor by my side of the bed for the first couple of months! (Thank the Lord that stopped) Only good thing from the cream was regulation of my cycles, which has never happened my entire life! My OB/GYN told me yesterday that the cream could have been preventing me from ovulating these last few months, which was very upsetting. So, even with the family history if endometriosis, she doesn't think a laparoscopy is warranted at this time, which I wish she would have been like, "Yes, let's schedule one right away just to take a look!" because that would have given me some peace of mind. The next step for us?
1. Well, she wants to monitor me as I approach and go through ovulation next month.
2. She recommends IUI (intra-uterine insemination). This process is roughly $900 per round! Joey and I have some serious praying and discussion to do with regards to this process.
3. We've been placed into a high risk category since we've been pregnant twice and miscarried both times, meaning if we do get pregnant on our own, she wants me to go on immediate bed rest until I can be seen and wants to see me right away as early as 4-5 weeks for ultrasound. We wouldn't be able to see a heart beat or anything yet, but would be able to make sure that attachment is OK and that a good gestational sac is forming.
Most important thing about yesterday's appointment is that I feel like I was given hope! My doctor is so wonderful and spends like 30 minutes just chatting and getting a clear picture before the physical. (if anyone is looking for a good OB/GYN in the BCS area, go to Dr. Friedman!) She said she has every confidence that we will get pregnant and have a healthy viable pregnancy at some point in time! She's happy that I stay healthy, already limit my caffeine intake and take pre-natal vitamins, (as you should if you're planning on getting pregnant) and that I'm young. I need to pray and get over the fact that Joey is older than me. I feel so pressured by myself since Joey's going to be 32 this year and thinking that he won't want to be a Dad at an older age, or that our kids won't want to have a Dad that's "old" when they graduate or go to college or get married. I know, it sounds silly, but it's something that's important to me, for whatever reason, and something that I struggle with. At this point, we're just trying to pay off debt so we can buy a house. According to our plan with working two jobs, we should have 1/2 of our debt (the non-student loan portion) paid off by the end of the year and may be in a place to house shop by May! :o) This makes me very very happy!
Prayer requests:
Joey is still on the search for a full-time teaching position in TX public school.
Fertility treatment process that has just gotten more involved.
That we would use wisdom and restraint over the next few months to pay off debt.
My sister-in-law and brother: That her pregnancy would continue to go well and that my brother would come to know Christ as his savior!
That my foot would heal quickly-somehow I got two stress fractures on my 2nd and 3rd metatarsal on my left foot, dorsal side. How? I'm not sure! :o)

ECLIPSE!!!!

Joey and I went to see Eclipse last night with another couple friend of ours. I've read all the books and absolutely loved them! Joey, not so much into it, but warmed my heart to the center to have him come with me and share my excitement of the new movie. :o) Now that's an awesome husband!!!

Summer Job News

Joester will be working at both Marble Slab and Old Navy for the summer. Not such great pay at either, but at least it's something that will pay the bills and just for the summer. I told Joey that when I gain weight from eating too much ice cream, then I can go to Old Navy and buy new clothes! :o) He just took his LOTE (Languages Other Than English) test on Friday, so hopefully we'll be hearing good news of a passing grade on that one soon. He said it was a really challenging test, but I have faith that he passed it! Still looking for a teaching job for the fall. What I want to know is why schools must wait until last minute to hire anyone! It would make more sense to get all your hiring out of the way right after school ends so that all that's left to do is planning and strengthening your teaching team, no wasting it doing interviews and such. Plus, then people like us can breath a sigh of relief knowing something is in the works. I digress...
Other than that, same ole same ole around the Hensley Casa...

Just Waiting....

So, summer is upon us, even though it's not quite June 21st. Joey has just finished up at South Knoll Elementary as a Dual Language Aid. I think this was by far his favorite job! The kids were wonderful, parents were involved, teachers helpful and administration actually supportive, unlike his last school district. Unfortunately, as an aid, they only pay you over 10 months instead of the 12 month option, so he's now in the process of finding a summer job. He has a guaranteed job at Marble Slab, but only for very part time. I have to say that my tummy is looking forward to that position, but my waste and rear are not! He has an interview tomorrow at Old Navy, my old company :o), and is hoping to get something there that could potentially extend through next semester as a little side money. He's finished his content test for EC-6th grade and passed, his bilingual supplemental and passed and will be taking his LOTE next week, I believe. This will certify him to teach ESL, Bilingual and Dual Language classes up to 6th grade. The teaching job market in the area is rough though! He's submitted applications to more school districts than I can count on a hand, but has only received one interview. Unfortunately, they gave that position to another person who is already certified, even though he gets his temporary certification as soon as he gets hired. I know he'll make a fantastic teacher, but just needs someone to give him a chance! We just keep praying, but Joey's better at staying faithful than I am. 

It's been really rough for me for the past year. The infertility struggles we're dealing with are affecting me more than I realized. Lately, I've just been angry with God for allowing me to go through so many struggles in one short lifetime with no answers. You would think that after someone goes through things as difficult as I've dealt with that I would get a break one day, but things haven't started looking up for us yet. I know that God will only give me things that I can handle, but I just feel like saying, "You know what?! I don't want to be strong anymore!"  I try to keep my chin up as much as possible and stay positive, especially for all you pregnant people around! :o) I am looking forward to being an Aunt in a little less than three weeks. I get my first niece, Camilla!  

Other than that, Joey and I have just been trying to get creative with things to do around town that don't cost anything. We've explored Lick Creek Park, enjoyed First Friday and Bark in the Park (cause I was working that one), and might go to the last concert at the CS Starlight Music Series event. I've still got my eye set on an island off the coast of Belize as soon as Joey gets a teaching job! I'm so overdue for a vacation that I don't even care if debt isn't paid off yet! 

Hopefully some good news updates will follow shortly...

What's This Blogging Thing About?

So, we Hensleys noticed that some friends have this thing called a blog, and thought we might give it a go. I suppose since we're such late starters compared to those of you high tech folks out there, we should update the world on what has transpired over the last 2 1/2 years! Here goes...
Two weeks after getting married, Amanda started her last undergraduate semester at Sam Houston State University, taking 24 hours of coursework (yikes!) and Joey started his job at West Corporation in College Station, driving 110miles a day, since we were living in Huntsville at the time. Every morning, Joey would get up with Amanda as she left for a full day of class and work afterwards at a Veterinary Hospital, and eventually get ready to leave for his full day of work/training, not returning until about 2:00am. Amanda would come home to their dog and cat, cook dinner, leave a plate for Joey and go to bed after studying. This went on for about 5 months until Amanda finally graduated. We moved to College Station in May 2008 after Amanda graduated from SHSU with a B.S. in Agriculture. Joey was finally spared from driving so far, and reduced his commute from 55miles to about 5 miles. Amanda got a job as Director of Banfield The Pet Hospital in College Station, and the two Hensleys finally got to experience married life where they could actually see each other!While starting life here in College Station, we aquired another kitty, Dude, from Amanda's brother and thus our furry family became three! Joey continued taking classes as they came around from the College of Biblical Studies, still having to drive to SW Houston once a week. Joey's car finally died later in the Fall of 2008 and so the two Hensleys became a one car family...talk about forced into communication! In December 2008, we experienced another life changing event. Amanda found out she was pregnant, even though we were on the pill, but miscarried a few short days later. After having this unexpected gain and loss, we started talking about when to have a family. After much discussion and debate, we decided to start trying on Valentine's 2009. Joey finished his degree from the College of Biblical Studies; B.S. in Christian Leadership in May 2009 and finally got his degree on our wall of diplomas! This was such a momentous occasion for our family as a long road was finally at an end. Joey was told through out life that he'd never make it through high school even since he had a traumatic brain injury, but proved all those doctors wrong as he walked across the stage last weekend to shake the school president's hand as a bachelor degree recipient! In August 2009, the West Corporation received word that their contract with American Express was ending and Joey was laid off. This was a scary time for both of us since an enormous pressure was placed upon Amanda to take up financial responsibilities for their family and Joey was set frantically looking for new employment. Througout the end of the year, Joey worked for the Bank of New York Mellon handling shares of stock for Met Life and working at Santa's Wonderland at night. He finally received an interview at South Knoll Elementary where he was hired for the Spring semester as a Dual Language Teacher's Aid. In January 2010, Joey started his new job doing two things he loves most, working with kids and speaking spanish! Later that month, after several visits with the doctor and SEVERAL rounds of bloodwork, the Hensleys tried a round of Chlomid and found out they were pregnant again! Unfortunately, we miscarried again 24hours after finding out such wonderful news. This was the hardest thing that we've ever had to go through after trying a full year, but was the happiest 24hours of that time. Several more doctors visits later, we're left with no answers as to why we can't get pregnant/Amanda doesn't ovulate very often, and why we can't seem to have a viable pregnancy. Through all the emotional struggles, we try to keep our chin up, have faith and hope and trust in God's timing.
Two years have gone by since moving to College Station and to date, we are living in a duplex in College Station-which is surrounded by three Mulberry trees by the way-with our two cats and dog, Rosie, Dude and Gomer. Joey has just completed one of his content tests to get certified to teach, and has one of two spanish certification tests scheduled in a couple of weeks. He is currently looking for a teaching job in the fall for anything from EC-6th grade. Amanda is still working at Banfield as the hospitals director of pet nursing staff and hanging in there with crossed fingers for Joey's job interests. We also recently purchased a 2001 Camry with only 66,000mi on it (what a find!). We are so thankful to be a two car family again! We're currently using a hormone fertility treatment, but in compliance with doctor's orders this morning, we're going to stop trying so hard for the next 3-4 months, as in not pay attention to BBT, and ovulation tests and all that mess.
More updates to follow as we get used to this thing of blogging...hopefully the next updates will be about jobs or babies!