by Sarah | Jan 16, 2009 | All About Kennedy, Crap
The door is locked, the answers behind. The locks tease me by being on my side, but I have no keys for the padlocks, no crowbar to pull away the boards.
Peace is on the other side.
Answers.
I’m begining to think I will never find the keys. I will never see the other side of the door. Nobody has answers – everyone declares her unique. The one and only ‘answer’ we have is not cut and dried – it is confusing and unsure.
One more chance for a key has presented itself – but I hesitate. Should I take the gamble only to end up feeling hopeless and hollow again? On the small chance that this doctor may have that key? I don’t know that I have the energy, or faith in the doctors any longer. They have no more answers than I – and I have something they don’t…I’m her Mom.
by Sarah | Jan 15, 2009 | All About Denver, Crap
I would homeschool Brandon. Because nights like tonight I think he really NEEDS it.
I don’t know where the boy gets it from. But tonight he cried for an hour because we told him he would NOT be going to school tomorrow. There is only a two hour delay (I’m sure because of the temperatures) – but we’ll be keeping him home the full day. We’re doing this mainly because, although he’s 11 (almost), we aren’t comfortable with him staying by himself for two hours and getting on the bus.Â
Somewhere along the line in the years he’s been in school he’s become obsessed with his attendance. I know it’s not our fault – but I wonder if it’s the schools. I’ve seen notes from them on occassion on how some funding can depend on the amount of unexcused absences – and how we all need to work toward perfect attendance.
Tonight he got so upset that I came to the conclusion that I need to keep him out of school more often. He is far too obsessed over it. He will not go without some learning tomorrow…I found some science stuff I had buried that we can do together…but he wont’ go to school. I’ll do it again next month if I have to.Â
I would love to homeschool for his middle school years…I don’t want him to have to face the horrendously cruel nature of the middle school children – he’s far too sensitive, they’ll rip him apart…but I don’t think I have the discipline…and I’d really have no clue where to begin…
Even Archie said (and you can ask him, cuz he reads this blog :P) – “You’re smart enough…I just don’t think you have the discipline.” I’m not in the least bit offended, because I agree *lol* But it doesn’t make me stop WANTING to (really…I do). I have wanted to since 2nd grade-ish – and he’s in 5th now *sigh*. I think my recent foray into doing exercises daily has given me more ideas that it could be possible…but then I think I’m wrong…
Advice…thoughts? Should I start keeping him out more? I won’t ignore his education on those days…but the kid is sooo sensitive and he’s like insanely focused on his perfect attendance. I need to shake it up or something.
by Sarah | Jan 10, 2009 | All About Kennedy, All About Molly, Crap
Because I missed yesterday’s post because of my FANTABULOUS* webhost – you get a twofer today!Â
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First an update on Hell (or potty training).
Yesterday I leared that the secret of potty training is in the underwear. When I went grocery shopping on Thursday night I swung by Wally’s baby dept to pick up some diapers and big girl underwear. At home I knew we had Dora and generics…but I was prepared to get the same – until I saw them. “My Little Pony” underwear. The girls have recently gotten into their ponies so I snatched up a set of them.
Yesterday morning I started. I showed them to Angel and got her on the potty. After a while she went and we got up. She started walking around pinching her knees together within about 10 minutes and went back on. It was on and off for a few hours….but she had no accidents at all yesterday. She went on the potty several times. She hasn’t learned to cue me, we’re still going on on my determination, but she’s on the right track.
To add to the mix, Riley decided she REALLY wanted in on those pony panties…and started sitting on the potty, too! We talked Daddy into going to Wally’s and picking up some for her…and he found TINKERBELL! Riley’s new PJ’s are Tinkerbell, so she’s all over that.Â
So Daddy came home with Tinkerbell panties and a new potty chair so we could do both girls at once. Riley had two accidents yesterday, but overall did well- and Angel had no accidents. We’re going to stick with it over the weekend and pray for the best!
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A brief update here on what’s going on with this.Â
1. For Body Image I managed to work out 3X (so far) this week. I’m heading down to the gym in a couple of hours. I learned that I can do yoga, pilates and the ball alternating here at home, but I crap out on cardio. Going to the gym gives me a way to do that AWAY from here (i.e. an excuse to get away) – without being annoyed by too peppy hosts. Give me an elliptical!
2. For Finances: First week of living on a budget was tough. We aren’t used to saying “No, can’t buy it I have $5 left.” The end result was happy, though. It looks like at the end of the month we’ll have a little cash in savings.
3. For Home & Family: We had sit down dinners I think 3 times this week (I didn’t keep track). I made dinner (taking pics of some of it) and cleaned as I went – the kitchen stayed mostly clean 3 out of 5 days. We had family game night just last night. For the cleaning portion, I found and adjusted for myself a chore list. I haven’t fully put it into effect, but I had Archie laminate it so I can reuse it. It will become a habit eventually, but it’s something I’m working toward.
That’s it for the week. Overall I’m very happy with the baby steps I’ve taken. Hopefully they will continue on.Â
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*And by FANTABULOUS I mean awful, horrible, no good, very bad…I’m very unhappy with them at the moment…and unless I’m granted a free year I’ll be taking the terrifying leap of trying a new host.Â
by Sarah | Jan 7, 2009 | All About Kennedy, All About Molly, Crap
Thus is where we are.
Riley -Â our beautiful, bright, intelligent, STUBBORN almost-4-year-old absolutely refuses to potty train.
Does she know what she’s doing and when she’s doing it? YOU BETCHA.
Does she do anything about it? HELL NO.
So…figuring that her stubborness combined with everything else would keep her refusing until she was darn good and ready we gave up (all except to ask if she’s going – to which she ALWAYS replies “no”)…which leaves me changing wet and poopy pull-ups 5-6 times a day – not to mention paying for them (Oy).
In turn, I look to my youngest. Angel – almost 3 now. We’ve had more on and off success with her than with Riley. We can catch her w/ a dry diaper and toss her on the potty and she’ll go.Â
So this week, amidst all of my other personal goals and challenges I decided that she would get trained – SOON. I’m sick of changing (and paying for) TWO kids in diapers. I’m so over them.
*Archie, honey, this is where you cover your eyes and ignore the rest of the post*
Today I decided to try the no diaper tactic. We’ve tried it before with an epic fail…so today I attempted again with just one kid – Angel.
In return we have ended up spending 90% of the day on the potty – I swear the kid pees every five minutes. We’ve had only two accidents – but I credit that her being on the toilet SO much.
By lunchtime she’d been on the potty most of the morning and gone about 15 times there (but no #2), twice on my floor (I was ready with the mop bucket and a towel).Â
They will retire to “nap time” (i.e. playing in their bedroom) so that I can have a “break” and get some cleaning done…and then I’ll return to it after nap until Archie returns from work.
Tomorrow Angel has school, and I’ll have them start her in school training as well. But I’ll probably be VERY sore and cranky tomorrow (dental work being done) so I doubt I’ll do this tomorrow – but I will return to it on Friday.Â
Oy.
P.S. Keep my BFF Jess in your thoughts today. She goes in for knee surgery at 2:45 and is VERY nervous and scared.
by Sarah | Dec 23, 2008 | All About Kennedy, Crap, Holidays
Win a $75 Gift Card to Ridemakerz at Two Brooms Up!!!
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As the holiday approaches, my concern grows. Will we manage to see a happy and joyous Christmas with my family?Â
Riley has healed, though she is once again PAINFULLY thin (she’s lost 2 pounds in the past 2 months – pounds she didn’t have to spare in the first place). She is joyous and rambunctious and pestering the HECK out of Mommy.
Angel is not yet out of the woods. Despite a brief respite on Saturday at Archie’s family Christmas thing…Angel has still spent much time like this:
Today, after a week of being sick w/ no fever…she spiked a fever up to at least 101.3 by ear (I do not trust our thermometer), and she had a rash. The rash started on Saturday on her face, appearing in such a way we didn’t realize what it was. Today it covered her upper arms and both cheeks. After nap her cheek looked bruised and swollen from it.
Now is when I start to worry. When panic creeps into my consciousness. When at the edges of my awareness is that occassional cough and the definite change in attitude.
Because as much as I love her, Angel is NOT the type to just lie still in your arms for hours on end…which she has spent the past 4 days (at least) doing with either Archie or myself. That’s what worries me most of all.
When will I get my baby back? Will she be here for Christmas? Or are we destined for this to get worse still?
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by Sarah | Dec 18, 2008 | All About Family, Crap
Well, you don’t want to know what I’m drowning in. Let’s just say that since I last left you (a WEEK ago! Holy cow!) I’ve done abut five loads of laundry a day…all bed clothes and towels.Â
Riley was sick first, waking up at 6AM friday in a puddle of puke. Since then it’s been a rollercoaster of up and down healthiness. Angel caught it next, and now Archie has been in bed since yesterday.Â
So far Brandon and I have escaped the wrath of the actual illness *knocks on wood*…but I’ve been so wrapped up in caring for everyone that a blog post just hasn’t been forthcoming. I have no tree. And last night was the first time I washed dishes in days. I’m behind and miserable about it.Â
Presents are not done being sewed. I haven’t been able to get to the store to pick up the last of the supplies for one of them. Brandon’s is done. Archie’s is bought, but the company I ordered from decided that my 3 day ship time was just a guideline…AND that one of the items ordered that was in stock when I ordered was NOW backordered. Who knows if they’ll be here in time.Â
I have a really awesome review and giveaway to post about…and I haven’t been able to do it…and I have plenty of other items to post about (like my evening of freedom to see the remarkable Lion King)…but again…just not able to.
Hopefully some day soon I’ll be able to sit down without a clinging monkey on my lap (Angel) that cries every time I put her down…and that a coherent thought will form.
