Christmas craziness

I don't know why I do the things I do sometimes....I decided on Saturday (5-6 days before Christmas) to make a tree skirt for our 2nd Christmas tree. Now I've known for two years that we have a 2nd tree and that it doesn't have a skirt. But this year I decided to purchase a skirt at Target. But, they were not on sale and I do NOT go out shopping the day after Christmas for 'specials.'

So, that left a few options:

1) buy the expensive skirt
2) go out frequently to see if the skirt I liked was on sale and still available
3) buy a cheap skirt (yuck)
4) or make one.

Guess which one I chose -- of course, option #4. So, Saturday evening I spent time at Hancock Fabrics picking out felt, ribbons, rick-rack, seed beads, bugle beads, colored felt, metallic threads, etc., etc., etc. I had a great time.

Now I'm working to get the basics done on the skirt. All of the embellishments will have to wait until after the holidays, but I will get the fancy stuff onto the skirt. I'll try to post a picture when I get it finished.

Have all the gifts been wrapped yet? NO! I'm too busy creating a masterpiece of a tree skirt! ha Thank goodness I'm the only girl around here. They guys aren't stressed that there is only one wrapped gift. They're guys! As long as there are gifts to unwrap on Christmas Day, they'll be fine.

Thank goodness for small favors!

Back from NC

We had a nice time in NC. I got to meet all of the guys my husband works with on a daily basis. I, and the other Texas employee's wife, was treated to brunch at The Carolina Inn on the UNC campus www.carolinainn.com . Then we visited a cool upscale market called A Southern Season www.southernseason.com. We took in Baz Luhrmann's "Australia" www.australiamovie.net all before the first party on the 15th. Then on the 16th, the founder's wives and the Texas gals had a day at Bella Trio Spa www.bellatrio.com. That night we had the company Christmas party at Acme www.acmecarrboro.com. All in all a nice get away. Now I'm back home and am trying to get ready for Christmas!

Happy Birthday to Me!

My birthday is this week and it just so happens that my hubby's employer decided to have their Christmas party this week. SO...I've gotten a get out of town ticket for my birthday. My mom and dad are keeping my kids and the hubby and I are out of town. This is probably the first time since we've had kids that we've not all been together on my birthday, but I think the kids will survive.

I am out of town without the kids for the first time since March of this year. It's nice to be able to get away. Too much work and not enough play makes D a dull girl.

Thanksgiving

Another year past. My parents were well enough to travel for the holiday and visited relatives in an adjoining state. As a result, my family of four stayed home, alone, and had a nice quiet day yesterday.

I do NOT go shopping on Black Friday and today was no exception. My oldest DS and I went to visit my parents' cat at the kennel. Crazy, I know, but you have to know this cat. He was thrilled to see us and shed about a pound of fur to prove it. I normally don't mind being around cats, as I have one, but today was different. Matlock actually climbed up on my shoulder. Not something he normally does. He was happy to see us, but will be better when my parents return.

I did shop today, from the ease of my chair with the help of my computer and credit card. The DSes are mostly taken care of, as are my parents. Hubby still has to come through with a wish list.

I have signed all the Christmas cards. Now I must spend time addressing them tomorrow.

November

This month seems to be a hodgepodge of stuff.

The election is finally over. I was tired of all of the news coverage, politcal ads, etc. Now the choice has been made and it's time to move on.

My DH's birthday was this week. He's been traveling for work again and the housework doesn't get done when he's away, as I am exhausted by all the to-ing and fro-ing that occurs when he's gone. It's not more than usual, I think it's just a mental thing for me. I know I don't have backup, so my stress level goes up. Anyway, he's home and he's another year older.

Oldest DS's football season is over. His report card comes home this week. Oh, I attended a Blue Shoe concert with DS and the rest of his 6th grade class (6 yellow school buses full). It was interesting to hear two ninety somethings play the blues. We heard David "Honeyboy" edwards and "Pinetop" Perkins play.

Youngest DS is doing well in school. He's a bit frustrated by the after school schedule, but that cannot be helped. I agree 3 days worth of therapy and lessons isn't fun, but it will be worth it in the long run.

I have not done a lick of Bible study this week. our last lesson is tomorrow. I guess I know what I'll be doing all day!

Busy life -- normal life. What a blessing

Finally...

Mom had cataract surgery on her right eye. It's been almost two years since she had the left eye done. There'd been too many crises to attend to in the intervening time period, but we finally got it done!

She's seeing better and that makes me feel better.

Daddy

Daddy has his last 'appliance" removed on Friday. The G-tube is GONE! No more tube feedings. Daddy is now taking in all all of his nutrition by mouth again. That was a long 16 months.

Hooray!

Sick

I've been sick for the past three days. How does one go from being healthy to having a double ear infection and a sinus infection overnight? Don't know how, but I can do it!

DH insisted I go see the dr. on friday. I didn't want to, as I didn't think I was all that sick. But I'm so glad I went and got the antibiotics. Had to miss my mom's b-day today as a result. She's in line to get cataract sugery performed later this month and I am not going to get around her and pass on an upper resp. infection -- something she's very susceptible to.

i guess we'll celebrate later.

must go -- off to rest, so I can be better on the morrow.

Good days

We've had some good days lately. My hubby is back after an overseas business trip; the oldest DS is getting the hang of the middle school schedule and homework; the youngest DS is enjoying 2nd grade. I have had time to sew some. I have made a new skirt for myself and am working on a tunic top now. I still have heaps of projects waiting in the wings.

My parents are both doing fairly well. My dad has been home for 8 1/2 weeks now. Just a few more days and his time banks with Medicare will have both been reset. He's been out of a hospital setting long enough that THAT one has already reset.

I guess my absence at the blog site is due to free time to do other fun stuff.

Joy

I am involved in a Bible Study about the Fruit of the Spirit. There is just one fruit with nine different facets. This week we are studying joy.

As Christans, our joy comes, first and foremost, from our salvation through Christ Jesus. Because we have believed on Him and have accepted Him, our names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. We will live in heaven with Him for all eternity! If that's not enough to fill you with joy, I don't know what is!

I am also filled with joy because I am able to participate fully in the live of my children and my parents. It is an honor and a privilege to walk with them. I am learning that the joy is in the journey, not in the destination. Joy -- what a great thing.

Sewing again

Well, it's been a week since I last posted. My hubby returned from traveling. My oldest DS has bronchitis (found that out on Friday, but I'd known since Thursday night). He's on meds.

We spent ALL DAY Saturday working on the two main areas of the house. There is significant, visible progress. Yesterday I continued the trend and worked on the entryway to the house. My sewing projects are in my formal dining room and have spilled over to the table in the entryway. I probably spend 2 hours sorting through patterns, material, very old mail that was on the table under the material, etc., etc.

I did this so things would look nice when my stamping ladies came over for club last night. But the best reaction of all was when my oldest DS ran through the entryway and yelled out "OH, MY GOSH!" I guess it was really time for a clean up.

As a benefit, I found the material I'd purchased for a beautiful fall skirt. I cut it out and serged it today. The front and back seams are done. Now I must decide if I want to put pockets in the skirt. The pattern didn't call for them, but I enjoy pockets in my clothes, so I'll probably add them. I need to alter the pattern to include the pockets so I don't dread adding them each time I make a skirt by this pattern.

My youngest DS is doing well in school. We are challenged weekly by the spelling words, but the poor guy got my spelling gene and not his dad's, like big brother did.

Tomorrow's a busy day so must head for bed.

Who knows what to call this post

I am just grateful I've made it through another Tuesday.

I am substituting for a friend in a Bible Study class tomorrow, so there were extra things to do today.

I have taken my oldest DS out of private speech therapy until FB season is over. Too many things for him to do and not enough time to do the all.

My great aunt in Colorado died this past Sunday. Too many things here going on to allow me to take my parents up there. It's probably for the best though. My mom is very tired and needs to rest. An 800 mile road trip would not be restful.

I get to go to middle school this week. I have a chance to walk my son's schedule and meet his teachers. I'm interested to see who his teachers are and what they are like.

My parents are saving me this week. I can't be in all places at once, so they are handling some school pick-ups and homework routine supervision. It's great to have help when you need it.

We survived the 2nd week of school

It was a *very* busy week this past week. Monday was a holiday, during which we celebrated my dad's birthday, moved my oldest DS back into his room, and had dinner out with the office manager from NC for the company that employs my DH.

Tuesday hit with a vengance. That is our absolute busiest day of the week. Got everything done that day, but it was a long day. Hubby was giving a talk a a local Ruby users group, so he wasn't here to help. Wednesday went well. Hubby left town on Thursday and returned Sunday a.m. just after midnight. Took today off from church obligations, as DH had to leave today at 3:30 to take a flight out for other work trips. He's a busy beaver.

My great-aunt in Colorado passed away today. She was about 73. She'd been in very poor health, so this wasn't a shock, but it was still a surprise to get the phone call. Due to ALL of the obligations we have this week, plus hubby's travel, I won't be able to drive my Mom and Dad to the funeral. I'm hoping another relative can go and will help drive my parents. We'll see.

This week I have my 6th grader's school Open House to attend and I do NOT want to miss that. I'm working on childcare/home-work supervisor for that evening.

Busy, busy!

Second bedroom painted!

I took advantage of the holiday weekend to paint my oldest DS's room for him. Getting the boys to do the bedroom swap was agreed to, in part, due to the promise to redo both rooms.

I think we did a fine job. The walls are a nice medium blue, not too dark and not too light (to look like a baby's room). We've put in the Indianapolis Colts bedding and have put up all but one of the posters. I ned to purchase a poster frame for that one. We are looking into going to Ikea for storage options. I'm excited about the updates. I think my DS is too. My DH said that he's pretty sure DS likes it, but is too embarrassed to say so.

I'll take my kudos however I can get them.

Painful...

Well, my youngest DS and tackle football were not a match. The coach ended up being correct about the fact that DS might get hurt. No physical injury occurred, but a crushed spirit "dries up the bones" as the Bible says.

DH did the football practice merry-go-round last night. I stayed home to cook,clean, etc.

When DH and the boys got home (at 8:20 p.m. on a school night!) we ate dinner and sent the boys to clean up. DH told me while the boys were gone that the head coach's son and another child on the offensive line were double-teaming my DS and actually body slammed him to the ground -- and the coaches did nothing to stop it. This happened several plays in a row.

My older DS was there to witness that part of the practice. DH said oldest DS was very upset about the way the other players were treating his younger brother. My DH talked to the head coach after practice last night.

When my oldest DS was showered and ready for bed, he actually sat here and cried about how the other boys treated his brother. He felt helpless to defend his brother and he was just SOOOO upset about it.

I talked to youngest DS and he said that he doesn't want to play football. I told him that was fine. But he then said, "but I want to go to practice on Thursday to see if [coach's son] has learned his lesson." I guess a lesson about not mistreating your own teammates. But I told him that regardless of what the other boy learned, there would always be other boys on other teams that might think it's o.k. to play football that way. And the most important thing to me was to keep my DS safe.

So, DH emailed coach after our discussions last night, and our youngest DS is no longer in football.

Know anyone who wants to purchase equipment that's only been used 4 times??

School has Started!

Hooray! Hooray!

I was so glad that both of the boys went back to school today. My youngest DS, the one I homeschooled last year, is in 2nd grade now. When asked how he liked the first day of school, his response was, "I LOVED it!!"

I am so glad to hear that. He told me 2nd grade wasn't as boring as he thought it was going to be.

My oldest DS started middle school today. He said it was BORING! They walked them through the schedule today; told then about grading, infractions, detention, etc., etc., etc.

I did nothing today -- except have the A/C man over to check out the non functioning downstairs A/C unit. Seems we have a leak in the coil. Ugh.

Now we're trying to decide if it's worth it to put in 1/2 the money of a new system, or if we should just bite the bullet and pay for a new system for the downstairs. The existing one is about 19 yrs. old. I'm ready to ditch it and get a new one. If nothing else, it will cost less to run!

Growing Pains

My oldest DS is scared about starting middle school. He broke down tonight and cried that he's afraid he won't be able to keep up with the assignments. I had no idea that he was so stressed about it. We've prayed and talked and cried. Then he got out of bed and came to tell the same stuff to my DH. I guess I'm learning more about what it means to let the boys learn from the school of hard knocks. I want to protect him from the heartaches, but I also know that no amount of talking from me will teach him what one or two mistakes of his own will. Suddenly teething and middle of the night feedings seem preferable.

Unfortunately, this is almost as painful for me to watch as it is for my DS to go through.

Football

Well, both boys have had several football practices this week. The oldest is getting back into the groove. The youngest is playing tackle football for the very first time. We got an email from the head coach after the 2nd practice of my DS's life and the coach was saying he's not sure tackle football is the sport for my youngest.

That's heartbreaking to hear when your child has expressed an interest in a sport and the parents have invested mucho dollars for the equipment. My hubby went to practice w/ the youngest DS tonight. Other dads commiserated w/ my hubby and said there were quite a few kids who 'played' like my DS is, but that was last year.

We are moving forward. At least we are in a league where the players are guaranteed playing time. If my son wants to quit, that's fine. To have a coach watch him practice twice and then say he doesn't think my kid is good enough to avoid injury smarts just a bit.

Update on everyone

Dad is home from the nursing home. Can't remember if I blogged about that recently. He's been home about a week and a half now.

Mom and I visited the lung specialist on Friday. She's to have a bronchoscopy on Monday morning. She'll be sedated and the dr. will look in her lung and do a lavage on the thing that's in her lung. He'll culture what comes out and hopefully we'll have a definitive diagnosis in about two weeks.

My 20th wedding anniversary is this week.

My DSs will both start public school in 8 days. My youngest DS is the one I homeschooled last year. I decided with the continuing health problems of my parents and my exhaustion, letting the school district teach him (for awhile at least) is the best thing.

I think the thing that pushed me over that edge was his comment that he wanted to embroider a set of tea towels like I was doing. To me that screamed "get the boys some other guys to play with!"

Both DSs are signed up for tackle football now. I just pray that their game times do not coincide very often. But that's one great reason to have grandparents in town!

And last, but not least, I have NOT finished painting the boys rooms. The Olympic have interfered w/ my painting schedule. Thankfully the oldest DS is not anxious to have his room painted. I'll get it done -- just on my time schedule.

One Bedroom finished

I have been planning all summer to redecorate my DSs rooms. They needed the updating! But my parents' hospital stays and such have prevented me from working on this project earlier this summer. I have the smaller of the two bedrooms painted now. The new bedding on the bed is just great with the wall color and I have located material to make valances for the two windows! Hooray.

However, I am very tired from the up and down on the ladder. Why are bedroom ceilings so high? My youngest DS is thrilled with his new room and hopefully the older DS will be sufficiently impressed that he'll want to help get the transition going for his room as well.

Something Good!

Last Wednesday evening my mom's car broke down on her. She had it towed to the dealership and they've had it for a week now. Seems that the fellows at the oil change place didn't do their jobs correctly and Mom's engine is now shot.

But God has provided. Mom bought an extended warranty on her vehicle when she purchased it. Her car was STILL UNDER WARRANTY! Hooray! She's getting a new engine free of charge!

Now we just need to get good news re: her CT scan -- I.E. no cancer and we'll be 2/3rds of the way to being home free. Dad's CT is on Tuesday (tomorrow) and if he has no fluid in his abdomen, then he can be discharged and can go home.

My oldest DS is at church camp and I've purchased the paint for both of the boys' bedrooms.

I guess my title should have read "Many good somethings"

Please make it stop!

Yesterday (Wed.) my mom learned that she has a 2 cm lesion on one of her lungs. She is a 2 time cancer survivor. She's also lived under an enormous amount of stress in the last 13 months.

So, she is set to have a CT scan on Monday. My Dad is set to have one on Tuesday to see if he is still collecting fluid in his abodmen. I hope that both of the CTs turn out with negative results -- no cancer, and no fluid.

But yesterday evening, after having dinner w/ me and my boys (hubby is traveling AGAIN!), mom's car started giving her problems on the drive home. A friend gave her a ride home, so I didn't have to get back out. But that left her carless for today. And she had a medical appointment this morning. A friend of mine took mom to that appointment, as I was supposed to be at the nursing home for a care meeting for my dad.

So I picked mom up there and we did all the stuff together that she would have done on her own, had she had a car. The service guys at the Buick house told me this afternoon that "they had loaner cars." Thank goodness we'd not rented a car for mom yet. So, at 5:20 p.m. I'm finally home w/ my boys after a full day of errands and meetings for and with my parents.

Exhausting.

But...Dad will be released from the nursing home next week Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on the CT results.

Back from Galveston

We're back from a week at the beach. Hurricane Dolly hit the Texas coast much further south than Galveston, but she still affected our weather. More cloudy and rainy days that not, but that was a blessing. We'd have all gotten sunburned early in the week if Dollly hadn't arrived. As it was, we all got sunburned on our last day there.

The waves/storm surge were/was incredible. We actually went to the beach on the day that Dolly hit and the waves were huge compared to the first day there. The boys enjoyed standing there and getting hit by the big waves.

I enjoyed the seafood at the various restaurants. Again, Casey's Seafood Cafe wins out www.gaidosofgalveston.com as the best seafood place. Their pecan pie dessert is absolutely wonderful.
They have lots of waitresses from Moldova working there this summer. Just an interesting fact.

If you're looking for a nice get-away, I'd recommend the beach house we rented: http://www.galvestonrentalhome.com. It's close to the beach, not in an overcrowded area and has all the amenities of home. Just take extra soap and toilet paper! They even have a washer and dryer on site and that made it soooo nice. I did not have to come home with suitcases full of dirty laundry! That's a vacation in and of itself.

Life is better

Mom is out of the hospital -- has been since Thursday evening. Dad got moved to a skilled nursing facility on Friday. I spent ALL DAY Saturday helping my mom get my dad settled and getting her ready to be at home on her own.

My little family is out of town for a much deserved rest. We left later than we planned, but we're here now and I'm looking forward to time away.

Next parental update

Mom is improving. The intestinal blockage is easing. She's now on a liquid diet. If she continues to improve, she'll probably be discharged in the next 24 hours.

My dad was going to be released from Plano Specialty Hospital to home, but now that Mom's in the hospital, I've nixed that plan. I have dad being evaluated by 2 different skilled nursing facilities (nursing homes). I'm praying that the facility closest to Mom and Dad's house will accept him so that he'll be very close to home and that will make it easy for mom to visit him.

Once there, dad will receive the rest of his IV antibiotics and will receive all of his therapies (speech, physical and occupational) so that he can regain his strength and return home. Dad will get a PIC-line inserted tomorrow. He's worried about it, but it's a very routine thing. I don't think it will be a big deal.

Must go sleep. Because I only slept 14 hours last night. ha

Parental updates

Tuesday's update:

Dad
----
Am waiting on a call from the gerenterologist to learn why he refuses to increase my dad's nutrition to 10 cans / day. That's what dad needs in order to maintain a healthy weight. I am bamboozled that the dr. will not believe what dad's GP, and dad's nutritionist both say is required to maintain a healthy weight.

Also want to learn how much longer he thinks Dad needs to stay there.

talked with the consulting neuropsychologist. Gave him the run down on dad. He is not going to change any meds. Yeah!

Learned that dad has 42 medicare days left for a skilled nursing facility. This is a good thing.


Mom
----
she has had a bad headache due to Morfine. Got that switched to Dalaudid (sp?) Her xrays this a.m. showed that she is improving very slowly.

I called the gastroenterologist and asked her to consult w/ the surgeon and call me tonight after she'd made rounds.



Also got dental appointments made for both parents for the month of August.

Now I'm off to bring in mail, pick up newspapers, feed their cat, take care of some laundry at their house and leave a key w/ their next door neighboor so they can handle the first 3 items on this list for me until mom gets back home.

Ugh.

And now my kids are grumpy. So am I.

Another Hospital stay?!?

Mom is in the hospital now too. At least I got her at a facility that is across the street from Daddy's. Must go fight the good fight for her today. With occasional trips across the street to make sure Dad is being tended to as well.

Same Song, Second Verse

I am on a merry-go-round and cannot seem to get off.

Today, I went to see my dad at the long term acute care (LTAC) hospital he's currently staying in. I specifically went to give him a haircut since he's soooo shaggy.

When I got there and worked on cutting his hair, the cradle cap on his bald head (it's NOT like the workers couldn't see see!) was SO bad that I wanted to be sick. I left the room and found the head of nursing. I asked her to come to Daddy's room. I showed her his head and the towel I was using to try to clean his head. I told her that Daddy should NOT have to be that dirty. I told her in no uncertain terms that I wanted his hair shampooed. I told her I was NOT happy.

I also asked her to find out from the wound care nurse if Daddy could take a shower. She reported that the wound care nurse said he COULD shower as long as the nurses redress his wounds. I told her I wanted Daddy showered and his head shampooed today.

Well, the tech. came by the room and said since Daddy had already had a sponge bath today, she would shampoo his hair, but would save the shower for Thursday.

What is it about the people who work in these facilities that make them blind (and unable to smell) to the state of the patients?

And on top of it all, I think my mom is getting sick. She was so exhausted that she could not go to the LTAC today. She sounds like she's getting sick. She's doing too much and doesn't have time to take care of herself. I cannot be all things to all people. I'd just like to have my sibling show up and pitch in and help care for our parents. Oh well....

Daddy is to have a CT scan of his abdomen tomorrow to see if the infection is gone. I hope and pray that it is. Then we can work on strengthening him and get him out of the LTAC.

Who'd have ever thought that an appendectomy would lead to all of this?

Missing you

My Nana has been gone for two years today. Since it's a holiday, we all slept late. I woke up just about the time she passed away two years ago. It was odd to awaken and know that that was the time she'd departed this earth. As a Christian, i know that Nana is in heaven and that I will see her again someday. But it's just a bit sad to realize that it's already been two years.

Of course, I'm glad that Nana was spared seeing all that my Dad has been through. That alone would have killed her.

God's timing is always best.

WALL-E

It was great! My best friend (movie music buff) would be so proud of me. I recognized the intro music from the first measure. I even went out on a limb and identified the movie that it was from. I was proven right as the movie progressed.

All four of us went with friends and it was well worth it! No foul language, no suggestive material whatsoever. Just another good, clean movie -- the type that is so rare nowdays!

There was a "take care of the earth" theme in the movie, but I felt it was secondary to the main story. Others might disagree, but I'm a romantic at heart.

Two thumbs up!

We Survived

Well, the single parent stint is over. Thank Goodness. Hubby returned yesterday. We went out for good Mexican food and then the guys all bonded after dinner. I proceeded to come home and go to sleep!

I've not made much headway on sewing in the last week since I worked VBS at our church. I'll get back into it later this week. I'm currently helping my mom out on a quilting project. She has a bunch of sunbonnet Sue's that need embroidery work done on them before she can set the blocks together. I enjoy embroidery work, so I offered to finish off the last few for her. She commented that I could do in one day what it takes her a week or more to do. I said I'd do them for her.

My eldest son came home from SIGS yesterday and said he "had a good time." I knew he would if he'd just STOP complaining! I'm keeping a friend's son today who is in the same grade as Daniel. I decreed it to be a no T.V. playdate and they've been playing with light sabers and such while discussing the finer points of Mario Cart Wii. It's entertaining listening to them.

We're hoping to get a few days of swimming in this week. We are ready to enjoy summer. I think hubby's next trip is vacation with us, so life is looking up here.

Unfortunately my dad is STILL in the hospital. He's been in since 6/12 for an emergency appendectomy. He's NOT bounced back at all and has contracted an infection -- probably MRSA. I say that since he's on gentamicin in order to clear the infection. Mom is taking care of visiting him each day. I have not felt the drive to go to the hospital every day. It's just too reminiscent of my life last summer when Dad tried to kill himself. I cannot go to the hospital every day. Dad's life does not hang in the balance this summer, so I'm going to let mom handle it. Denial on my part? no. I'm just putting my family first this year.

I've purchased all the necessary items to redo the boys bedrooms. All that's left now is paint and the time to do the painting. I'll probably do that next week.

I dislike single parenting

My hubby is out of town on business. Consequently, the upstairs a/c unit has gone in the fritz again. It does not do this when he's home. Seems the a/c gremlins only enjoy inconveniencing ME!

And I'm supposed to be working VBS today. I have a friend from church that can cover for me, but it's the general inconvenience of it all that is the most annoying.

That being said: I have a good a/c man to call; I have the means with which to pay him; I have places to stay if I need to; I have a friend to cover my other obligations today. See -- it's just in the perspective! :-)

The other issue that I seriously dislike is my oldest son's attitude today. We signed him up to participate in the gifted & talented summer program. 4 hours / day, M-F, for 4 weeks. It's not like he has to go to summer school to salvage his grades so he can promote. But you'd think we'd put bamboo shoots under his fingernails.

He is in the foulest mood today. He's threatened to hide and not get on the bus. So I'll get to go to the bus drop off place and wait with him to make sure he gets on the bus. Then I guess I'll have to call the school where he's supposed to go to and make sure he actually goes inside.

If I didn't have the aforementioned a/c problems, I'd probably drive him to the program myself to make sure he goes inside.

We have never asked him to participate in the program before, but have done so this year to make sure he has an opportunity to meet new friends from other schools -- since he starts middle school this year. All of our good intentions may go down the drain because he may not make any friends. I wouldn't want to be friends with someone who has his attitude. I hope he reserves the icky attitude for home so that he can actually make some new friends.

I guess I will survive this too. It's just lousy to have to do so. :-(

Should have done this earlier!

In an attempt to keep our boys from wasting their entire summer in front of the Wii, my hubby wrote a little computer program that allows us to track their time.

First the boys have to earn time on the Wii. We enter time into the program after they've earned it, doing such things as reading, helping around the house, playing outside, etc. Then they use the time to play on the Wii and we enter that as well. Hubby even set up a daily limit for them! I am amazed at how my youngest wanted to read yesterday! He's a hoot.

And my oldest is off at my mom's working on a quilt with her. All of his sewing time counts towards Wii time as well.

The bottom line is that we're so SICK of them doing nothing else, that we've limited time to force them to do other things. I think for this week at least, we've been successful.

Now if my hubby could just hack the Wii so that it would shut off automatically.....

ha.

A great day!

I have had time to do something fun for about a week now. I've been sewing again.

Two weeks ago, while my hubby was out of town, I bought a pattern and material and set about making myself a dress. Even after having my mom help me fit the pattern, the dress turned out too small. Darn it. But if I lose weight it might fit. Bonus? I haven't decided yet.

So, as a consolation prize, I made myself a denim skirt. I'd been wanting one and I had the pattern already. So for less than $20.00 I have a new denim skirt to wear! yea

Today I cut out a pattern with my oldest son who wants to learn to sew. We're going to make a pair of boxers for him.

I made a couple of valences for a friend of mine. I'd promised this around the new year, but she understands my life and all that it entails, so she wasn't in any hurry.

Then I hemmed the denim skirt today and have made a shirt for my youngest son. Well, it's 90% finished. All today!

I had a blast. I got a new serger late this week because they were on sale at Hancock Fabric. I have never had one, but my mom has. After I used hers on my skirt, I was hooked. So, in playing with my new 'toy' today, I got lots done and I have felt very productive.

Also, my hubby and sons have cooked dinner the last two nights. That has allowed me more time to sew, time for them to bond, and it's put much healthier food on the table.

All in all a very good 48 hours!

Summer's here!

We got the annual check ups done on the boys today. My oldest DS is now 5' 9 1/2 " tall, the youngest is 4" 6 1/2 " tall. Oh my. I'm soon to be the shortest person in the house. But that's o.k.

We're changing medication for my youngest for ADD or ADHD. The doctor has called it both. I don't know which to believe.

I'm busy sewing these days. I have made a dress (that's too small) and a skirt (that I had to take up!) and next I'm going to cut out a shirt for my youngest DS and a tunic top for me. Mom is on her way over so we can go to Hancock Fabrics and check out a serger for me.

We're letting the boys overdose on Wii today and tomorrow. Then Saturday we have an outing planned. Next week is a week off for everyone (not the DH though :-( ) and the week after that oldest DS will go to a gifted program for 1/2 days for a month. It'll keep us from killing one another during the summer. Youngest DS and i will do home schooling during that time as well.

I need to purchase curriculum for next year, as I really feel like I"m being led to home school for at least one more year.

We'll see what happens.

Swiftly fly the years....One season following another...

My oldest DS 'graduates' from 5th grade and elementary school next week. I am still in a state of shock over this. I remember walking him up to school on his first day...and having to leave quickly because my youngest DS realized that brother wasn't coming home with us and he was NOT happy -- he started crying. We beat a hasty exit so his tears didn't set off the entire kindergarten class!

My oldest DS is moving to middle school. He came home last week saying that his class had been to the middle school for a tour and "that we met the police officer who stays at our school!" Like that was a good thing. Ugh. I am still mortified that I live in a day and age and place that requires the presence of a police officer to control illegal behavior in a group of 6th through 8th graders! Part of me wants to yank DS out and home school him too. However, we're way TOO MUCH alike for that to be a successful venture. Of course, there are always home school co-ops.....hmm....

My oldest is going to receive a Presidential Award next week due to good grades. I'm very proud of him for that. He doesn't know about the award, but his teacher was nice enough to let me know, so we can all be there to cheer DS on.

DS is signed up for a gifted and talented summer program for 4 weeks this summer. He's not thrilled about it, but it's a way to make sure he meets other G&T kids that may potentially be at the new middle school next year. An opportunity to meet new friends.

I'm worried about DS's best friend. He's a kid that needs more strict supervision ( parental or otherwise ) and has behavioral issues that unfortunately my DS thinks are just hilarious! The friend actually kicked my husband in the shin a few weeks back -- at church! When the parents were informed, DH said that they did not seem surprised or mortified. That's just sad. So, I want my DS to meet some other kids this year!

Unfortunately, DS has procrastinated and has NOT completed his required 100 minutes of reading each week. When the reading log is not turned in, it counts against your 'study skills' which are on the report card. So, DH and I had to come down hard on DS last week. So far he's stepped up and has completed 200 of 900 minutes that have to be read. He's working right now on getting another 30 minutes of reading in today. If we keep up this pace, he'll be able to 'recover' two weeks worth of reading before school is out. We've also told DS that he has to read another 600 minutes for US by the end of June. It is SO doable for him. He just hates having to document what he's done.

Mom's Surgery Postponed again

She's got an infection of some sort, so the cataract surgery is delayed ONE MORE TIME!

Daddy got good news from the ENT today -- it looks like Daddy's healing on his own and no surgery will be required to close the spot where his trach. was! Hooray.

My brother is STILL a putz and is not coming to help Mom. Oh well...if she'd just stop expecting it, she wouldn't be disappointed. But as a parent, I understand wanting to believe in the best of my children. She does this with my brother and I understand it.

I wish he'd prove me wrong and step up....

Working Through it all...

Well, we have begun our spring garage sale. Got rid of some larger toy items today (bikes, workbench, etc.)

The hubby returns from D.C. tonight! Hooray. And the boys are off to my parents to spend the night tomorrow.

I might actually get to see a new release movie before it goes to video.

The house isn't much cleaner, but at least I'm getting rid of some of the unused clutter.

Drowning in junk and other weighty thoughts

As I've said before, it's been a hard year around here.

And when you walk into my house, you see it. We never get all of the laundry done at one time any more. That I'm coming to grips with. I'll just do laundry daily until my kids are grown. O.K. I have kids. They are healthy. They get clothes dirty. I can do the wash -- and so can they (thank goodness).

But...my hobby of stamping cards and other stuff has taken a back burner this year. I miss having time to do that. I miss being invited to be the demonstrator at stamping parties. Of course, I have to get out there and rebuild my business and get new customers who want to have parties. And when will I find time to do that? Who knows!

I never seem to have a single room completely clean any more. I can hire people to clean the house, but NO ONE can clean the house if it's drowning in clutter. And I don't have the drive to get it in order. Depressed? maybe. Discouraged? yes. Wishing that I could twitch my nose like Samantha did on Bewitched? You bet! But we all know that THAT only happens on T.V.!

And adding home schooling to my list of activities and responsibilities this year certainly didn't open up any free time. If anything it created another area in which I can feel inadequate. (And yes I did have to rephrase that sentence so it didn't end with a preposition! Maybe I"m learning something too! ha) I don't think that I have done the best that I could as a home schooler this year. But I have to measure that against "the best that I could do...given that my life stunk this year." And as a good home school friend has told me -- "God knew what your year would be like when He placed it on your heart to home school. Don't worry about it." I need to have that tattooed on my arm or something so that I can see it all the time.

But, my son is able to read now. He is reading for pleasure on occasion. He is still loving math -- which was always a love for him. We do occupational and speech therapy, in addition to musical education -- all of those three are outside the home.

What were my goals when we started home schooling?

1) to teach my son to read.
2) to give him a more relaxed environment in which to learn -- we certainly don't hold to any strict schedule here!
3) to allow him another year to mature and to overcome gross and fine motor skill problems in the hope that handwriting would improve.
4) to work on tackling the speech issues.
5) to get the ADD under control, so that he can concentrate and learn.

If I sit and look back at that list, then I have been successful. I hope that others think so. It's difficult when my mom is a retired public school teacher. I feel the urge and push to put my child back in public school so that I don't make her think that I thought her career was misspent. My choice to do home schooling this past year had nothing to do with her, or her career choice.

This past year was about doing what was best for my child so that he could learn at a pace that worked for him.

But now the 'school year end' is looming. And so are the questions from everyone about "Are you going to continue to homeschool?" At this point I have to say "I don't know." I am trying to decide if it's worth the trouble to have ALL of that testing redone in the public school system (because they won't use the old results -- for good or bad). It's a huge mess that I'd have to navigate once again. And when the testing is done, there's no guarantee that an IEP would be created for my child. Then I'd have to approach the school system about a 504 plan. Sort of a way of getting the services needed, but without being under the special ed umbrella.

OR

I could give it another try this year with a different curriculum. And possibly join a co-op so that we have 1) other friends who are home schoolers, 2) a social outlet for me (see previous post from today), and 3) the opportunity for my DS to socialize and play with other kids.

Why am I so moody today? It's not a full moon. The weather isn't changing, is it? All elementary school teachers would tell you that if either of those occurred, the kids would be swinging from the rafters. And if they happened to occur AT THE SAME TIME! oh my word.

That's what I feel like today. Full moon + weather craziness all wrapped up into one big mess and thrown at me. and that the world hit a bullseye on my emotions.

Ugh.

Lonesome

It seems lately (now that I'm not at the hospital or dealing with a crisis every day), that I really don't have that many personal friends to do things with. Since my Dad's attempted suicide, I've been so focused on my parents and on trying to still be a good mom to my sons, that I have not had much time to interact with my friends. Have some of them slipped away during the past year? I can't say that I feel that they have. I just feel that I've been soooo busy with my family, I've neglected my friends.

That's something that I want to change.

I'd also like to make new friendships and branch out a little. Sometimes that's hard to do with all that has gone on. I sometimes feel that in order to understand who I am now, people have to know what I've been through in the past year. That may be partially true, but I've always been one of those "full-disclosure" people -- for better or for worse. And I guess that's alot to unload on a 'new' friend. Maybe they think I'm one of those high-maintenance people.

My hubby is leaving town for a week-long business trip tomorrow afternoon and I just dread another week with my boys, with no female friends with which I can commiserate during his absence. I guess this blog will be a good place to put my feelings and thoughts when I need an outlet.

Not many people have walked the road I'm on -- at least, not many that I know right now. I would never wish this past year on anyone. So I guess I'm going to try to find a way to branch out some without scaring people off with my recent history.

May Day

It's a good friend's birthday today. It's also that day that the USSR used to trot out all of it's military might for a parade before the rulers in power -- and to attempt to intimidate the western world.

My what 20 years will do for you.

On the home front, Mom is home from the hospital. Daddy is doing very well. I've taken him to two doctors appointments this week. Both doctors are very pleased with how Daddy is doing. The GP is getting home health care lined up so that a speech therapist will go to their house and help dad learn how to swallow food again.

I take Mom to the urologist who did her surgery tomorrow for a post-op check up. This weekend isn't very busy with plans, so we'll probably work in the yard and get all the sprinkler heads working again. My how nice and mundane that sounds!

Kidney stone removed

Mom's kidney stone surgery went really well. She is feeling so much better. Now I just have to figure out how to be 3 places at once tomorrow -- w/ Mom after she's discharged; w/ Dad at a dr.'s appointment; and home with my family.

My sibling said he'd call me tonight and get the phone number for the hospital so he could call Mom. I"m still waiting for the phone to ring....

I'll do bodliy harm to my own kids if they treat me the way my brother is treating my parents. Wish I could do so w/ my brother, but that won't happen.

Ugh.

Sunday

Well, Bible Drill went very well yesterday. My oldest DS got a perfect score. So, he was awarded the Bible that he used in the competition. He's very proud of his accomplishment -- and well he should be.

Mom and Dad's friend has now left town, so Dad is here at my house until Mom is discharged from the hospital and is in good enough shape to care for the both of them.

His nervousness is about to drive me up a wall, but I have GOT to be understanding about it. He has a mental illness. He doesn't do this to annoy me. He just craves structure so much that any little change to his routine throws him for loop. I don't have to ride the loop with him. I need to remember that.

We are a week behind on laundry and kitchen duty. At least mom is well enough that I feel I can leave her alone at the hospital. This will allow me the time to get caught up at home -- especially since my sons are both capable of assisting in all aspects of housework.

I just hope Mom's surgery for the kidney stone removal goes well. The blocked bowel problem resolved itself! Hooray. No surgery was required for that. She just needed lots of meds to keep the pain and nausea at bay.

State Bible Drill is Today!

My oldest DS qualified for the State Bible Drill competition a few weeks ago. We're off to do that this morning. I've asked a few friends to check in on mom at the hospital before noon. I hope she's better today.

It's Been a Busy Week!

On Tuesday of this week, my Dad had his 2nd test done. His vocal cords are NOT paralyzed, so the doctor removed Dad's trach. Daddy was also discharged from the nursing home on Tuesday!

Hooray! Hooray!

On Wednesday evening, I had to take my mom to the ER. She was having severe abdominal pain. It took all night to get her into a hospital room and the doctors suspect an intestinal blockage. Mom's been in great pain and has had much nausea. Thursday she slept most of the day due to the nausea meds and the pain meds.

Today she was more lucid and did not have the nausea. A step in the right direction. The doctors plan on keeping mom in the hospital over the weekend, to make sure she's o.k. because during the CT scan from the night in the ER, they discovered that Mom also has a kidney stone in her right kidney and it's blocking the tube from the kidney to the bladder. At least they found it and we'll handle it during the same hospital visit!

I get one of them out of the hospital and then the other one goes in! Ugh. Dad has been able to stay at Mom and Dads since Mom and Dad have a houseguest right now. She leaves Sunday, so Daddy will be here Sunday night and probably longer.

Maybe my sibling will come help out. We'll see.....

HOORAY!

On Tuesday I took my Dad in for another swallow test. This time the trach. had been pulled out by about an inch. We were having this test done with this adjustment to determine if the trach. was putting pressure on the esophagus and thereby causing the swallowing difficulties.

Dad swallowed with NO problems at all!!!!

So, one hurdle is behind us. Next Tuesday, Dad will have one more test done. The dr. wants to make sure Dad's vocal cords are not paralyzed. I know they aren't, but everything has to be done correctly.

Then, when the Dr. sees that the cords are not paralyzed the trach. will come out!! Dad will get to eat like a normal person again. He is so happy, and so are the rest of us.

If the trach, comes out, he can eat normally. Once he can eat normally the G-tube can come out. Once the G-tube is out, there will be NO more appliances required for daily living. When that happens all of the equipment that Dad needs at night to sleep will no longer be necessary!

And it hasn't even been a year!
I am very grateful that God has taken care of us.

Shoebox Swap Card

This is my card that I've designed for the Shoebox Swap I'm participating in this weekend. It uses all SU products. The recipe is:

Stamps: In the Stars stamp set & Classic Stars Jumbo wheel
CS: Real Red, Confetti White, YoYo Yellow
Inks: Brilliant Blue, Lovely Lilac, Pink Passion, Green Galore
Other: Yo Yo Yellow Marker, Dimensionals, Paper-Piercing tools

You cannot see it on this scan, but the top portion of the card has been wheeled with the Classic Stars Jumbo wheel in Real Red. the large star is adhered with Dimensionals.

Progress!

Dad is to have an in-hospital swallow test tomorrow (Tuesday, 4/15) at 1 PM. Since the company that comes to the nursing home to do this test will NOT remove Dad's trach, the ENT, Dr. Matheny, ordered the test done in the hospital. I'll take Daddy in for the test, as Mom is still sick.

She IS better, but not well enough to be around Dad. If he gets this, I'm afraid it will delay all the test that may allow for the removal of the trach. Mom is upset that she isn't going to be the one to take Dad in for the swallow test, but we have to be practical.

I have done lots of laundry today and I'm still trying to dream up the card that I want to use in the shoebox swap I'm participating in at the Stampin' Up! training I'm attending this weekend. I'm closer to getting the card designed, but I have not had time to play with stamps yet. That's what tomorrow morning is for!

I'l post a picture of the card once I get it made.

The latest...and Spring Fever has arrived.

Well, my family of four seems to be doing well. Tempers are in check, we all seem to be getting along. We spent yesterday working as a family on cleaning out our garage. We need to have a garage sale and the boys have agreed to help prepare and run it with me (in return for part of the proceeds). The hubby helped too and it was GREAT to get rid of so much junk.

Today the boys each had a luncheon at church and activities afterwards. We're waiting on the oldest DS to return and then we're off to visit my dad at the nursing home. Seems they didn't give him his medication on time today and that explains why he called me crying at 1:20 this afternoon. I guess I'm going to have to go down there and knock some heads. I hate having to be the bad guy, but Daddy isn't in the best position to demand stuff, so I guess my hubby and I will go do that. I know that the boys will enjoy seeing dad. I know he'll like seeing all of us.

Mom is still very sick with bronchitis. I've taken soup and other groceries to her. She said she needed help getting some papers together for our accountant. I guess I'll go over tomorrow and get that rounded up for her so I can fax it to the accountant. This is another year that we are (personally) doing the extension thing again. Someday we'll actually get the taxes done by April 15th again. But not this year!

I am in the mood to sew or stamp or paint a room. I guess I'll settle for getting laundry cleaned, planning for my next stamp club, designing my shoebox swap card for this coming weekend, and preparing for the garage sale. If I can get rid of the stuff in the garage, plus the unused toys in the toy room, and outgrown clothes, maybe I'll feel more inclined to see the progress around here.

I'm also itching to plant flowers in the front yard and to create a new flower bed for shade-loving plants in the back yard. I need to get rid of the swing set in the back yard too.

Why isn't my list getting shorter? I guess it's Spring Fever! I'm glad I feel like I have time to even create a list with the expectation that one or two of them will actually get accomplished this spring.

Finally some good news about Daddy

Daddy may get to have his trach. removed!

We met with a new ENT yesterday (Tuesday) -- Dr. Matheny. He says he thinks that the bend in Daddy's esophagus may well be caused by pressure being caused by the trach. SO...Daddy is to have a new swallow test later this week. Then on the 22nd Dr. Matheny will do an in-office procedure to look at Daddy's vocal cords to make sure they aren't paralyzed (I don't think they are). If all is well, then he'll remove the trach!!!!

Daddy is thrilled and so are we! If this works, Daddy may regain the ability to eat normally, which means the g-tube will eventually be removed!

Yeah!

And after rereading my posts, I don't think I've mentioned it here -- Daddy is no longer on Lamictal and he's no longer manic!

Another Yea!

A Perfect Score

Today was our oldest DS's first association-wide Bible Drill competition. He made a perfect score. I am proud of him for the score, but even prouder that he's memorized 25 Bible verses and 10 Key Passages from the Bible.

He had to get 12 out of 24 to go to the association-wide drill. He did that last weekend. Today he got all 24 of 24, so we'll be going to the state Bible drill competition sometime this month. It sounds more involved (travel-wise) than it is. We'll just have to go to a church in east Dallas -- not that far from us.

Many of the kiddos in his group (8) made the grade and will be at the state drill.

I am now certain he can memorize scripture. I just hope he doesn't turn the tables and expect me to know all of those same verses.

The Power of Prayer

I have deleted a recent post that talked about how some ladies from my parents' SS class had been insensitive when they talked about my parents. I learned today that IT WAS NOT TRUE.

I have deleted the previous blog because Mom talked to one of the ladies involved and the record has been set straight. I guess the real problem is the 'friend' that told Mom that this happened.

I'd called a very good friend who knows everyone involved and she & I had been praying that the truth would come out -- that God would work in this so that Mom could know what really happened. God answered that prayer today! Mom is no longer stewing. I'm no longer doubting my ability to judge the character of people I know.

Now we just need to pray for the lady that made all of this up! God know who she is. Just ask God to change J's heart.

That's all for now.

Guilt?

My mom is to have cataract surgery on tax day. She's insistent that she bring my dad home from the nursing home three days PRIOR to surgery. I suggested today that perhaps a delay in his return home by one week would be logistically prudent. She was not open to that suggestion.

She is very angry that no one from their Sunday School class has taken time to visit my dad at the nursing home. Did I mention that she's Very Very Angry?

She is also upset that no one calls to check on her. I think I was purposely lumped into that last group since I didn't call her today. (This is the exact same conversation she used to have with her own mother, which she always told me to NEVER have with her, but I digress.)

But, I was busy working on my own house, finances, and mental health today -- and somehow those are all intertwined anyway.

I am really very disappointed in their SS class members as well. But I can't call them and chew them out for not caring -- or for not caring in the way my mom and dad both desperately need at the moment.

Maybe, just maybe, part of the anger today is fear about Dad's surgical procedure tomorrow.

We'll see.

Recovery

I saw my therapist today and she commented on how relaxed I looked. I guess the two weeks worth of vacation is having it's payoff now!

I am more relaxed. I'm less stressed. And I'm much more pleasant to be around.

Thank goodness!

Vegas

Well, I can now say that I've been to Las Vegas.

My DH had a software symposium there this week. After the summer of last year and having no time whatsoever for each other, I invited myself to go along with him.

We stayed at The Venetian (http://www.venetian.com) as that was where the conference was being held. My, oh my, what an elaborate place. When friends here at home heard that I'd be going, they made suggestions about what I should do to fill my time while my DH was conferencing. I settled on spending a day at the Canyon Ranch Spa (http://www.venetian.com/CRS.aspx). That was the best advice I was given and I'm sooooo glad I took it!

I have come home refreshed, relaxed and more rested than I've been in quite awhile. The hubby and I had time to have conversations without interruptions; we had dinner out with his friends; we took in a show and saw The Blue Man Group (http://www.blueman.com/land_search.php). I also did a lot of reading and had many fiction books on my list to work my way through. I've just about completed the Newpointe 911 series by Terri Blackstock (http://www.terriblackstock.com).

My mom came over and took care of the boys. She was happy we'd returned, as she was exhausted after keeping up with the boys for 4 days. She is set to have cataract surgery on 4/15. My dad is to have an upper Gi procedure this next week. If there's scar tissue discovered it will be removed. If none is found, his swallowing problems will not be fixed surgically.

My DH is off to Scandinavia tomorrow for another week of travel. He'll be at JAOO in both Copenhagen and in Oslo (http://jaoo.dk/ruby-cph/conference/); (http://jaoo.dk/ruby-oslo/conference/). Too bad my passport isn't up-to-date! ha. I couldn't be gone that long with upcoming surgeries for the parental units though.

All in all, I'm glad I got away with just my DH. Seeing his friends from conferences is always fun because they are nice guys, who are so welcoming when one of the wives comes along. Too bad they live all over the country. I guess I'll just have to continue to invite myself along to conferences periodically!

Stamping

I have not posted anything here yet about my hobby of stamping. So, I guess now's the time. I've added some pics of some cards I've made in the past.

Spring Break

It was a break in more than one way:

1) a break from school for my oldest DS
2) a break from the hum drum monotony of everyday life for all of us
3) a break from being on-call 24/7 for my parents for me.

We took the boys and went south this year. We toured the Johnson Space Center and then proceeded to go even further south and take in a few days in Galveston. I'd never been to the beach in Texas before, so it was a new experience for all of us, in one way or another.

We have thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Galveston Island. We've rented a cottage (http://www.galvestonrentalhome.com) and have had a wonderful time. The beach is a two minute walk from the cottage. We were able to cook here and eat when we wanted. The weather cooperated and my DH and oldest DS have the sunburned faces to prove it! The youngest DS and I were a bit more cautious and used the sunscreen! The beach was fun, the boogie boards were broken in and my youngest DS now has memories of going to the beach.

We also took in the new "Horton Hears a Who" movie and enjoyed that too. I'm not a big Jim Carrey fan, so I was hesitant to go see the movie. But if I hadn't known he was the voice of Horton, I'd never have guessed it. As my DH said, the smugness was missing from the voice and I had to agree. Maybe being w/ Jenny McCarthy and her autistic son have shown Jim that there's more to life than being a mouthy so-and-so.

I needed the time away from being the go-to gal for my parents. They've survived the week very well without me and that has proven to me that it's time to let them be self-sufficient in many ways. After last summer, I have to admit that I've been micro-managing lots of their stuff: doctor's appointments, issues at the nursing home, information gathering for the elder care lawyer, etc. I can now cease that. Mom is capable and I have just taken too much on that I didn't have to.

We're all recovering and are getting back on our collective feet. Thank goodness.

This 'break' has done all of us a great deal of good.

Update on Dad

Seems the swallow test Dad had about a week ago is going to result in some surgery. The doctors have recommended that a GI doctor clip the sides of Dad's esophagus and then stitch it closed a bit more. This is to allow the sphincter muscle at the top of the esophagus to do it's job better, thereby allowing Dad to swallow food easier.

If that happens, he may regain the ability to swallow and the trach. can come out. Once normal feedings resume, he could also have the peg-tube (or G-tube) removed.

We'll see.

March....So far

Today (12th), my Mom and Dad went to see the neurologist that ordered & oversaw the Video/EEG study -- where Dad has NO seizures. This dr. thinks that the medication my dad has been on (Lamictal) is NOT a good fit for him. That's what Mom and I had finally decided. The doctor gave my dad lots of quizzes and my mom said he passed them all with flying colors.

The doctor said that in about a month, my Dad should be able to return home -- checking out of the nursing home.

That information was a huge shock to me. My mom and Dad are both thrilled, I'm more worried than either of them. Probably because I'm their only support here in town, and I've just begun to feel like we've found a new "normal" for all of us. But, I cannot be the one to rain on their parade. We'll take it a day at a time and see how it goes.

With the Lamictal no longer in the medication mix, I think my dad will: 1) have fewer "spells" 2) will be less manic -- I say that because the manic behavior showed up after that became the only anti-seizure medication he was taking and 3) may possibly allow us to reduce the amount of anti-psychotic that he is on. We'll have to discuss all of that w/ the psychiatrist.

My DH has been on the road for a week and a half. He had a 40 hour layover here at home over part of the weekend, but it wasn't enough time to do more than sleep and trade out dirty clothing in the suitcase for clean clothes. He's returned and I'm glad of it. I don't like doing the single parent thing. The boys will be thrilled he's back home.

Spring Break is next week. We hope to have some R&R for all of us. We certainly deserve it! After school resumes, the DH has a conference in Vegas. I've never been there, so I've arranged to go with him. 3 days of no crisis management, of no kids following me around, no medical emergencies to handle.

I"m looking forward to it. A friend told me that the spa at the hotel we're booked into does great massages, manicures, pedicures, salt rubs, etc.

I think I'm worth it...Vegas (and spa) here I come!

February

Last month was a doozie.

Starting on Feb 1st through Feb 17th, my dad has "spells" every day. I was certain that he was having temporal lobe seizures -- up to 12 per day, some lasting up to 14 hours. I helped Mom get dad into the hospital so he could be monitored. Then their GP told mom that the time had come to find a placement for my dad. That meant finding a nursing home. Mom and I spent Saturday the 16th visiting seven skilled nursing facilities. The first place we visited was depressing. It was an older facility, low ceilings, dark small rooms and the smell made me want to vomit. Mom was just crying and saying that she'd just take Daddy home and stop complaining.

We found two other facilities that were much nicer that day. Unfortunately, those facilities denied admission to my dad. They were the first of eight facilities, in total, that turned us down.

As of 4 PM on Tuesday the 19th, I was back at square one, needing to find a nursing home. Mom and I visited three more facilities that evening. The first one was very nice, the second facility was much too large and the last was even more depressing than the very first facility we saw. Mom cried after touring that facility as well.

The next day while I was in Bible Study, I received 3 phone calls: 1) another denial for admission, 2) an acceptance and 3) a call requesting dad's information from a facility we'd toured the night before. The acceptance was from the first of the three facilities we'd toured the night before. It was the facility that I liked the most. It's not too large (only 120 beds) and I have older friends who either have their parents there now, or there were there before they passed away.

As anyone will tell you, there is NO place like home. But, when you are at the end of your rope, physically and mentally, knowing that you've found the nicest place you can find for your loved one is a godsend,.

But we were only there for about 5 days before Dad had to go to Denison for a 5 day video/EEG study. He spent five days hooked up to electrodes to measure his brain waves while being videotaped. He did not have ONE seizure! Murphy's Law was in effect I guess.

The doctor's office did NOT give us all the information we needed prior to admission. Dad had to be kept awake for the first 24 hours. This required that mom or I stay with him 24/7. It's hard to feel that Dad was in a good place for the testing when the doctor's office dropped such a big ball! But the net result of the visit was that 1) the dietician changed his nutrition substitute so that Dad only has to 'eat' 4 times per day now vs. the 7 times per day he was doing before the admission; and 2) even with NO seizure medications on board, Daddy didn't have any seizures.

Does that mean that he no longer has seizures? or are the "spells" the result of too much medication? And since Mom said that the "man" who was there in the hospital room with her for those 4 days was the guy she married -- does that mean that the last anti-seizure medication change caused many of the bipolar behaviors we saw?

I am very lost as to what we should do next.

Mom mentioned that "if he's this good, I could just bring him home."

If she does that, I'll just have to wash my hands of the day-to-day stuff and only help in a crisis.

My oldest DS has finally expressed his thoughts and feelings about the past 8 months and he feels that I"m no longer here for him, that I don't care about him and that "ever since Grandpa started having seizures again, this place [our house] has broken down." I have to agree with that last point. Hearing how he felt made my heart break. I talked about it with the counselor, my husband and my Bible Study ladies. They are praying like mad, interceding on our behalf with the LORD.

My DS and I had a breakfast date today. Just the two of us, no siblings, nobody else. Just us. I asked if there was anything he wanted to talk about. He said no. I must maintain the lines of communication with him. No matter how many problems my dad may have, my son(s) have to take priority. My priorities got all rearranged last June 22nd. They must now return to:

1) God
2) my husband
3) my sons
4) myself and THEN
5) my parents.

Then just as I'm starting to feel that I know the order of my priorities, I get a phone call today asking me to consider teaching a senior adult ladies' Sunday School class. I am flattered beyond words that the woman who called thinks I'm up to the task. But right now, life can't be about what makes me feel good about me. My oldest DS HAS to know that he is a priority in my life -- and one of the highest priorities.

LIfe is full of twists and turns. God is in control. I have to remember THAT fact above all else.

What a Difference a Month Makes

Last time I blogged, we'd just met with the elder care lawyer. In the intervening month, I've managed to determine exactly how many life insurance policies there are on my parents. The lawyer has drawn up over half of the legal documents he decided Mom and Dad needed. I've also begun working with my mom to determine what mom and dad's assets are worth. That has entailed finding appraisers who will either come to the house to see things, or to find people that we can take items to for the appraisals.

I've also managed to hire a cleaning lady to help me with my own house. It was a pit after the summer I had last year. She and I are working diligently to get the house back under control. I foresee a large springtime garage sale in my future. It will help to get rid of stuff that we no longer use.

I'm still trying to homeschool my youngest son. He's doing well, in spite of the erratic schedule we keep. His reading and math are on track. I am going to look concentrate a bit more heavily on grammar in the next few months.

My eldest son is almost finished with elementary school. A midde schooler -- gack!

And my diabetes is more under control that it has been in the last few years. I've got a new doctor who is working with me, and how has a supportive, not judgmental, staff. That's always a good thing.