10 on Saturday

1. I swear time has sped up.  How is it almost Thanksgiving?  Didn't school just start?  I keep feeling like maybe things will calm down.  And maybe they still will... but it doesn't seem like it.  I took a day off on Wednesday and now I feel very behind.  I feel like my house is dirtier and clothes are still waiting to be washed and a myriad of other things.  sigh.
2.Elijah is doing great in school.  We had a parent/teacher conference at the beginning of October (or maybe the middle) and he is doing great.  And really everything he's needed to work on, we have.  So he's doing even better.  He is starting to read on his own.  He is starting to recognize words and sound things out.  The following is a picture he drew of Rapunzel and the story he wrote on the back.  The translation will follow:

"daytime Rapunzel in her castle, mommy, rainbow.  big castle shining bright.  rapunzel has long hair."

He was very proud of himself and gave this pic to his best bud A.

3. Grace is doing well also.  Though, I'm not exactly sure how well.  She seems to like preschool well enough and loves her teachers.  But she sometimes comes home and tells me that she was mean.  Who knows.  She has a flair for the dramatic and gets unseeable-to-the-human-eye booboos.  She has asked for Bandaids for Christmas.  hehehe.  She is starting to make recognizable pictures.  She loves to draw suns and people.  She still makes up songs.  She LOVES to dance and takes it VERY seriously (as should you!)  She will entertain herself and whispers to herself and her animals fabulous stories.  She is very bossy and becomes annoyingly mad if things don't go her way.  She loves to slam doors and make a scene.  Honestly can say, I'm not looking forward to the teenage years with this one.  She does love to do things for others and will reward you with a beautiful smile if you give her a minute.  heh.  I will post a video as a separate post since apparently Blogger is stupid.  

4. We have started a reward system.  I felt like the kids were watching to much TV, and admittedly, I was using the TV too much.  SO now the kids can earn TV time.  They have a chart with different things on it.  "Staying in bed all night." "Finishing homework."  "Not whining on the way to school."  "Cleaning up your toys." Stuff like that.  They earn a start for each thing they do daily.  At 5 stars they can have one TV show or 15 minutes of computer games.  At 10 stars they can have on 2 TV shows or 30 minutes of computer games.  At 20 stars they get a special one on one date with mom or dad.  The stars are not cumulative.  Once they are used, they are gone.  Elijah uses his almost immediately.  Grace however has been banking hers for two weeks and earned a date.  She wants to see a movie at the big movie place with me.  This has been hard for her.  She LOVES TV.  I have given her the option every day when she asks for TV.  Having said all this.  Last weekend I gave in.  Elijah was sick and I was up almost all night with him.   So yeah, the TV was on a LOT.  But frankly, I was okay with that.  We did watch a special Charlie Brown last week, but other than that the TV was on during the week for less than 15 minutes.  It's good for them and good for me.  They are finding other ways to entertain themselves and that's a GREAT thing.

5. Today is Elijah's last soccer game.  It's supposed to be windy and cold. Ugh.  But there is an awards ceremony afterwards.  I think all the kids get trophies.  I haven't told Elijah about this.  I think his head my explode.

6. Jerry is in class today. He has a major presentation on Tuesday and then things will settle down a little bit... at least with his group.  

7. Next weekend my parents booked us a condo in Myrtle Beach.  It will be nice to get away for a little while.  I think we may splurge and take the kids to the Ripley Aquarium.    We'll see.

8. I still love Zumba and may be able to start going more now that soccer is over.  Elijah decided he didn't want to play basketball, so we will have an afternoon free.  I was thinking of taking the kids swimming and then go do Zumba, but we'll see.  That may be too much.  I definitely want to keep them active and the pool seems a god way to not only do that, but allow them to continue practicing their swimming skills. Elijah has expressed interest in doing a kids triathlon next summer.  He has the biking and the running down, he just needs to learn to breathe while swimming.  

9. We are hitting the mountains for Thanksgiving.  We aren't doing the actual dinner until Saturday, so I"m hoping to have a little date time with Jerry.  We did go out last night to see Shakespeare on Trial.  I haven't laughed so hard in a long time.  It was WELL done, superbly acted, and rather educational!  If you hear of it coming to a threatre near you... RUN to it!

10. There is always more to write, but I guess I should pay attention to my children a little this morning.  It's getting to be that time to get dressed, get in the car, pick up lunch, play a soccer game... and hopefully get the kiddos to a rest a little this afternoon.  yawn.

10 on Monday

• I survived Saturday with Jerry in school and the kids at the beach.  In fact, we had a really good day.  It was hot enough to be in the water, but cool enough to not feel like we were going to bake.  We tried out our new shelter and it worked great!  I even changed clothes in it! 

• I also survived Elijah’s graduation.  We got there in plenty of time to get a good seat.  The kids processed in, the priest said a prayer, the director said some words, the kids sang and got their diplomas, then marched out.  It was very sweet and very quick.  Following the graduation, there was picnic on the lawn.  I went to retrieve Elijah and Jerry took Grace outside and ended up getting a place in line to get food (good thinking!!)  It was a very bittersweet day.

• Last week I took Grace to the library to go to Dance Day.  She had a lot of fun and, of course, had to dress the part.  On Saturday night, we dropped the kids off for a Parent’s Night Out and one of the “teachers” said that Grace was showing them all some impressive dance moves.  I guess we have made the right choice in putting her into a creative movement class next fall at the local Dance Coop.
                               
• Elijah opted to dress a Batman for his “pick a letter and dress as something that starts with that letter.”  I knew it was a toss up between Batman and Spiderman.  Had to do some quick artwork on a t-shirt the night before, but it turned out okay.

• Not to be outdone, Gracie wanted to be a princess.  This is well and good, but we were heading to playgroup.  So Made her a princess.  We went to the park.  I wanted to do a loop first to check for blackberries.  This prompted THIS face:

• On the loop, that Grace went on grudgingly, I found not a few blackberries, but a TON!!  Enough to make 10 jars of jam and have enough left over for at least a pie.  SO yummy.  SO hard to stop picking. Sigh.  Grace and her friend (and mine) got to go out for ice cream when we were done.  The kids were very patient!
• I am so proud of the kiddos.  Both were holding their own on the boogie boards at the beach.  Twice Grace went head first over the front into the water, and twice she shook herself off and went again.  She is going to rock the swim lessons this summer!
• Elijah has learned to read the waves and knows when to jump on and ride.  He very much wants to surf, but I think we have a few more years (and mom’s heart needs that amount of time, at least, to prepare) before this to happen.
• This week has a feeling of a bit of insanity to it.  I have moved up a notch on the C25K, Elijah is home full time now, he is winding down his tennis lessons, Jerry is in class two nights a week, I and Grace have doc appointments on the same day within 2 hours of each other.  But playgroup is going to the beach, we are going to a playdate tomorrow, and this weekend is a long weekend with more beach time and possibly a trip to the zoo!
• Two weeks from yesterday we are heading to Edisto Island.  I’m SOOOO ready.  I’m also ready to head up to the mountains for a long visit.
• Jerry and I celebrated 11 years of marriage Saturday.  We went out to dinner and then to a movie.  My parents are celebrating 41 years today.  They are spending it in a posh Biltmore condo (they won at a silent auction.)  They are an inspiration to me.  May they have many more and may we strive to meet their standard.

10 on Friday

I"m waiting for pictures to upload to various sites and therefore have some time on my hands!
So here it goes:

1. I officially finished work this past Tuesday.  I didn't work for as long as I wanted, nor did I score as many papers as I wanted, but finished and got a promotion as well.  I was selected to essentially be a tie breaker.  When two scorers scored a paper with different scores, the paper came to me.  Pretty cool, but also a little scary...I mean these are GRADES. Alas.  As it did last year, this project made me a little sad. But that's another story...
2. Elijah has kindergarten orientation next week.  I can't believe that he is old enough to go to kindergarten.  If I think about it too much I get all teary eyed.  So moving on.
3. Jerry goes to MBA orientation tomorrow. This includes a professional head shot AND a ropes course. I personally think that to add a little challenge they should make the students do the ropes course in their business casual outfits.  hehehehehe.
4. Tomorrow is also free comic book day.  Elijah is super excited.  Hence Grace is super excited.  Heh. Since we have to drop Jerry off early, we will get to the comic shop early.  I'm hoping the crowds aren't too bad.  I want Elijah to have fun and to be able to wrangle Grace without too much concern for either of them.
5. We have found that driving at night, for at least part of the trip makes life easier for us!  The kids sack out and we get to drive in peace and quiet.  Also, for the most part, the traffic is way lighter!
6. Tonight while unbuckling Grace my fingernail bent and cut into the skin behind it.  It freakin' hurts!!!  STILL!
7. I am attempting the Couch to 5K, 9 week training thingy.  It's going to be interesting.  I don't run.  If there is not a bear, large dog, or small child chasing me, I do.not. run.  But I feel like I am at a stand still with the weight thing.  So, I figure, three days a week, I can get up early and do this.  I can do weight training on the off days.  Really... I can do it.  right?
8. Elijah's class did a Mother's Day tea this morning.  And seriously, super sweet.
9. It was cold for two days this week.  I was not happy about this.  Once the degrees are on the 70s.... so they should stay.
10. I"m tired.  So that's all I'm writing tonight.  I know.  But at least I posted something...heh.

10 on Monday

• Last Friday Gracie woke up and threw up… three times.  Okay.  No biggie.  Sick kiddo.  EXCEPT that I had committed to paint faces and then attend Elijah’s circus at school.  So after a minor breakdown and Jerry working some stuff out at work.  It all worked out.  I went to school with Elijah.  I painted about 40 faces in a little over an hour and watch my kiddo be a strong man at the circus.  I was so proud.  A year ago there is no way he would have been in front of so many people without freaking out.  I made his costume… and unfortunately these are the only pics I’ll post, since I refuse to post pics of other kids without the permission of the parent… and that’s a lot of permission.    He wore Iron man boots with the costume.  He refused the handlebar mustache, but I think he rocked the whole thing.

• Gracie continued to have GI issues through Saturday.  I think that the poor child has adopted my tolerance for allergies.  I think that they work on her GI tract as well.  Poor thing.  Anyway, we stayed close to bathrooms all weekend just to be on the safe side.  We played tennis and played on the playground and got our oil changed.  Thrilling weekend, but we spent time as a family and that’s what’s important.
• I needed to work on the front yard’s flower garden and so after edging the driveway, I let the kids have the water hose.  They had a blast playing with the water.  And while the pollen has become insane, I even let them play in the, um pollen puddle, at the bottom of the driveway.
  
   
  
  
• Gracie has the ability to amuse herself.  She is so outgoing, but can be very reserved.  In that last picture, she is singing a little song about how her hands and feet are in the water.  I tried SOOO hard to get in there and get a recording about it, but couldn’t get it.  She is CONSTANTLY making up songs.  And she wants you to sing them with her.  Which is a little difficult seeing as she is making it up on the spur of the moment.  It’s very sweet though.
• I am addicted to Grey’s Anatomy.  I haven’t watched it on TV, but I have been catching up on Netflix Instant watch.  I’m almost done with Season 5.  I am so addicted.  It’s a little sad.
• My folks are coming on Thursday!!!!!!  So excited.  I’m excited to see them.  But I’m also excited to get to go out with my husband.  YAYAYAYAY!!!
• There are a couple of kids in our neighborhood who run around playing with other kids.  While I’m, not comfortable allowing MY kids do this, it is kind of nice for the kids to have playmates.  These kids are older.  There is one little boy that Elijah has more fondness.  This little boy doesn’t get that Elijah’s heart breaks when he runs off to play with another kid.  It’s a hard lesson.  Gracie gets upset sometimes too, but has become ambivalent when the little girl doesn’t come to play.  I think that Elijah is actually a good influence on this kid… and I’m glad that Elijah has someone to play with.  It’s really interesting to watch this friendship develop.
• Jerry took the GRE last Thursday.  He rocked it!  Now we just have to wait and see.  He should find out in a couple of weeks if he is accepted in the MBA program.  If he is… he starts in mid-May.  EEEK!  I’m so proud of him!!
• I have a doctor’s appointment on Friday.  I am hoping some light will be shed on what is going on with me.  I will definitely write a post about the horrors that have been happening, though I am sending out a warning now, they are not for the weak of heart nor stomach.  heh.
• And finally…. Today, Elijah learned to ride his bike without training wheels.  He did it himself.  He wanted the wheels off yesterday and he taught himself.  He learned on his own, at his own pace, on his bicycle.  Anyway, here’s the video.

10 on Monday

So I am stealing this idea from KFP Blog because I think it will help me with my conundrum of wanting to blog, but not wanting to take the time to write a super long blog... so here it is, and here's to hoping that I'll keep at it.

• Yesterday Elijah was climbing a tree... my heart can only take so much, and our trees are not REALLY the climbing type, but ya know.  SO I had walked away, because I DO believe that kids NEED this kind of play, regardless of my heart.  AND when I heard him scream, I hurdled over the trash in the kitchen and was totally expecting a broken (insert any number of bones) but instead found him covering his eye in pain.  After looking and looking, Jerry saw a bit of something, so we decided on Urgent Care.  Turns out Elijah had a piece of bark the size of a large ant in his eye.  The doctor was amazed that there was no damage to the cornea... and I'm really happy that he is fine and did so well at the doc.
• Last night sucked.  Elijah woke up at 1215 and we didn't get him settled until 230... and then Grace was awake...and didn't go to bed until 430.  Last night sucked.
• Grace never ceases to amaze me with 1) her verbal ability and 2) her musicality.  She will make up a song about anything, at anytime.
• Is tired of waiting and wondering and dreaming... I'm ready for doing.  I am a doer and I need a plan.  It's VERY hard for me to leave things up in the air.  But I AM trying.
• I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up.
• I REALLLLY hope that I am able to take a ballet class next year.  I miss it.  I didn't realize how much until recently.  With Grace going to preschool, Elijah going to kindergarten, and Jerry going to grad school, I feel like there needs to be SOMETHING for just me.  I thought about maybe taking a class of some sort, and maybe I will, but I would LOVE to do something physical.
• I feel like I have be an absentee mother lately.  I feel like I have just been lackluster.  I'm hoping this changes soon...obviously.
• I'm hoping that I will get some sort of answers to my health issues on the 25th.  Fingers crossed.
• Jerry is playing on a softball team with his coworkers.  I can't wait to take the kids to the first game.  I think they (and I) will have a blast.
• I am intrigued by this family and kind of what to try to become more like them.  As with anything, I think there can be extremes, but I feel like this may not be the worst thing to take to the extreme.

So there.  My 10 on Monday.  I kinda like it.

From sick day to sick week…

Sigh.  Last week sucked.  It blew.  I demand that week of my life back.  Elijah was sick on and off.  That was annoying, but THAT I could handle.  On Tuesday, Jerry came home for lunch and sounded horrid.  I asked him not to go back into work… like asking gravity to stop working.  heh. He was going to try to get home early, but because of one thing or another he didn’t get home until almost 8.  And when he DID get home, he said good night to the kids and went to bed.  He took Wednesday off.  Elijah was FINALLY feeling better, but we were working on our 24 hours without fever, so while fever free, we still had to keep him home.  So we GOT OUT of the house.  Jerry needed rest and I needed OUT!  So out we went.  We ran errands, we got lunch, we got OUT! And then it was nap time.  Ahhhhh.  I love naptime in our house.  No one is required to sleep, but they are required to be still and quiet on beds.  At 4 I went into check on Jerry.  Got him some meds and put him back to sleep.  The kids were up and I set them up with a movie.  At 4:45, I went in again to check on Jerry.  I had plans with a friend that evening and I really needed to know if I needed to cancel.  He was sitting on the edge of the bed.  Could I go get him some Primatine Mist?  Sure…but maybe Urgent Care for a stronger inhaler would be better.  He agreed.  I got the kids dressed and threw some things in a backpack to keep them entertained.  I was worried, but really thought he just needed a different inhaler.  I started to worry a little more, when he couldn’t really talk in the car.  And even more when he gasped that he needed a wheel chair in the parking lot.  Still…
2.5 hours later, with me running out of ways to entertain the kiddos… The doctor came out and told me Jerry was on 92% oxygen, had had three breathing treatments, and had a positive Flu A test.  They were sending him to the hospital.  WHAT?!??!?!  Crap.  I REALLY REALLY tried to keep it together.  I failed…but only broke down for a few minutes in the parking lot.  I called my mom.  I called my friends.  I recalled my mom and asked her to please come first thing in the morning.  I went home, fed the kids, and cleaned.  I threw all the sheets into the wash and cleaned the kitchen and folded clothes and got the guest room habitable and waited for news from my husband.  Apparently after waiting for an hour and a half in the ER at one hospital, the ER doc saw him and admitted him…except there was no room there.  So, ANOTHER, ambulance ride to the OTHER hospital and he got a room.  The next morning, a good friend watched the kids while I went to see Jerry.  He looked horrid.  He had called for a breathing treatment, which APPARENTLY only the respiratory therapist can administer, and APPARENTLY telling one that he cannot breathe is not a sign of distress….so one and half hours after he requested said treatment, he got one.  *eye roll*  This sort of “care” continued the rest of the stay.  Alas.  Anyway, he stayed in the hospital until Saturday morning.  I must say that Saturday was one of the better days in life!   I was still worried about him, but on Sunday:


I want to send a shout out to our friends who checked on us and helped us out.  AND A HUGE HUGE HUGE thank you to my mom.  I was very comforted to know that the kids were in good hands and there was no rush while she was here.  My friends never would have made me feel that way by any means, but it is still nice to have your mom when you need her!!!  THANK YOU MOM!!!
Oh yeah, and Elijah…. sigh.  He developed a horrid cough and I was freaked out with the fever at the beginning of the week that maybe he had the flu…even with the flu shot… So we went to the doctor on Friday.  Flu free and doc said that whatever he had he was just coughing the last of it out.  Phew!  Back to school with him on Monday and Jerry went back to work on Monday as well.  I’m glad that week is behind us and that I made it through with a little help from friends and family.  I am freaking exhausted, but it’s a small price to pay for healthy family!

SNOW!!!! A Picture and Video Post!

So yeah, it snowed.  It rarely snows here, and when it does, it RARELY sticks around a WHOLE day!  But this time it snowed, it stuck, and it’s still out there!  We got around 5 inches (after it being predicted that we would get around .2 inches…that’s 2/10’s of an inch… WRONG!) and once it stopped snowing the ice started.  It was a perfect snow day.  Elijah was out of school and Jerry was out of work… So Grace and I were in 7th heaven!!!
Enjoy our day, I know we did!!!