I have a head cold. Didn't feel so bad at first, but it's got my attention now. How will I get it together for Christmas and keep up as the driver for the family? Well, my fingers are crossed, so that's a start. Got some unexpected respite lined up for this afternoon. I think I'll get some Throat Coat, to go with the Mucinex and saline nasal spray. I want to use the big guns -- my prescription cough meds with codiene, but then I can't drive. Friday night can't come soon enough.
The kids are well, yay. But they need parents to take care of them. Oh well. At least grocery run is done for the week, we have gift wrap, and many presents have been purchased. If only I could find them. I hate being sick and worried over the holidays.
Looking forward to next week, when I can go back to enjoying the little things.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Special Exposure / Wordless Weds: Snow!
Although our temps have regularly been in the 20s, it's been clear. So disappointing for my daughter, who would LOVE to be out in a snow storm, or at least a couple of flurries. Snow is strange and wonderous for her.
Our schedules at home have had to shift majorly twice daily to get Daddy down to the commute bus in the morning, well before school, and pick him up after dinner. It's an hour's round-trip each time. And on top of it all, I am trying to catch up on groceries, birthday, and Christmas preparations that I never got the chance to do over the past 2 weeks. I made it to the gym exactly once, which is dire for me. Some days the kids have spent 3 or more hours in the van. I am trying to make things as fun as possible and keep the holiday magic going, at least for the kids and I.
How fortunate that our town has a grove of 150 decorated Christmas trees at the Town Green, and that twice nightly, it "snows" in a certain part of the grove. A couple of times I have taken the kids there after a dinner on the go, so they could have half an hour of fun outside before another round-trip down the freeway. The joy on their faces goes a long way to soothing my heart right now:
For more images from the heart, and to share some of yours,
visit Special Exposure Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Special Needs.
... and Wordless Wednesday.
Our schedules at home have had to shift majorly twice daily to get Daddy down to the commute bus in the morning, well before school, and pick him up after dinner. It's an hour's round-trip each time. And on top of it all, I am trying to catch up on groceries, birthday, and Christmas preparations that I never got the chance to do over the past 2 weeks. I made it to the gym exactly once, which is dire for me. Some days the kids have spent 3 or more hours in the van. I am trying to make things as fun as possible and keep the holiday magic going, at least for the kids and I.
How fortunate that our town has a grove of 150 decorated Christmas trees at the Town Green, and that twice nightly, it "snows" in a certain part of the grove. A couple of times I have taken the kids there after a dinner on the go, so they could have half an hour of fun outside before another round-trip down the freeway. The joy on their faces goes a long way to soothing my heart right now:
For more images from the heart, and to share some of yours,
visit Special Exposure Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Special Needs.
... and Wordless Wednesday.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Urban Bankrupt Life
My life is more than a little bankrupt, right now (from the Urban Dictionary). You see, I had more than a few surprises hit the fan about 10 days ago. Not my father this time. My husband. It started with a call from his MD as I was literally in the car, trying to pick up James. And no, he couldn't talk with me in depth and I could not call the school to say I'd be late picking up our son and then call the doctor back -- he was off duty, actually. He was just basically calling to tell me my husband's health was in danger of catastrophically failing and that I should meet him at the hospital. That's all. And a Happy Friday to you too, buster.
Before a week was out, I had panic discoveries of an unpleasant nature at the bank and with some utilities. I asked for financial assistance. I asked for support. I emailed heads-ups about extra crazy chez nous to the kids' teachers, who valiantly tried to support me as I tried to hold our world together with a couple of crochet hooks and one hell of a headache. With a lot of help from some very nice relatives, friends, and neighbours, I've so far been able to do it.
I feel like I'm caught in the middle of a deadly game of He Said, She Said, between my husband and his doctors. I'm actually seeing a lot of validation in the doctors' concerns, yet trying to not just believe anyone. Christmas is coming. The kids' birthdays are happening over the next three weeks. Please, just let us ALL make it through. Please, let's make some good changes and stick with them. So far they have. But how far will this go?
What do you do when your spouse, who is trying as hard as they can to be a good person and keep providing for the family, makes some bad choices that threaten their life and the family well-being? How do you keep a balance for your kids? How fast can your special needs child acclimate to new and bewildering routines? How the heck do you remain calm and not let the children know that one of their parents has been basically flirting with death?
Man, I don't know. I am making it up as I go along.
Before a week was out, I had panic discoveries of an unpleasant nature at the bank and with some utilities. I asked for financial assistance. I asked for support. I emailed heads-ups about extra crazy chez nous to the kids' teachers, who valiantly tried to support me as I tried to hold our world together with a couple of crochet hooks and one hell of a headache. With a lot of help from some very nice relatives, friends, and neighbours, I've so far been able to do it.
I feel like I'm caught in the middle of a deadly game of He Said, She Said, between my husband and his doctors. I'm actually seeing a lot of validation in the doctors' concerns, yet trying to not just believe anyone. Christmas is coming. The kids' birthdays are happening over the next three weeks. Please, just let us ALL make it through. Please, let's make some good changes and stick with them. So far they have. But how far will this go?
What do you do when your spouse, who is trying as hard as they can to be a good person and keep providing for the family, makes some bad choices that threaten their life and the family well-being? How do you keep a balance for your kids? How fast can your special needs child acclimate to new and bewildering routines? How the heck do you remain calm and not let the children know that one of their parents has been basically flirting with death?
Man, I don't know. I am making it up as I go along.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Magic Marker Monday: Christmas Book
James brought home another book from school that he'd help make. Certainly he coloured it!
He needs to read it several times. He is doing a good job and only has two more readings to go before he can turn it back in to his teacher. I love this one because it follows the Brown Bear, Brown Bear book, which James adores and knows already.
For more holiday art and crafts, or to share some of your own,
visit 5 Minutes for Special Needs for more Magic Marker Monday.
He needs to read it several times. He is doing a good job and only has two more readings to go before he can turn it back in to his teacher. I love this one because it follows the Brown Bear, Brown Bear book, which James adores and knows already.
For more holiday art and crafts, or to share some of your own,
visit 5 Minutes for Special Needs for more Magic Marker Monday.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
SOOC Saturday: The Riled One
Our family accomplished a lot on Saturday. There was a birthday party, Santa landing in a helicopter at the airport for a meet and greet, a trip to the huge Salvation Army Center and one final surprise later that evening.
For James, with immense reserves of pent-up energy and some frustration of being completely thrown off schedule for over a week, he loved the row of stationary bikes at the Salvation Army yard:
It was really hard to get him off these machines. Especially after he found they had dial timers. OMG, why did we buy him a bike last year? This is what he needed.
After dinner that night, we took a walk in our neighbourhood to look at all the decorations. I'd heard a rumour that Santa might be making a visit, so we set out for what has become known as Helicopter Santa's House:
Sure enough, he was there! James was overjoyed. He gave Santa the biggest hug and when Santa asked him what he wanted, James said "A space station!"
Once again, it's not Saturday but it's still the weekend!
There's still time to check out the SOOC action at Marvelous Mommy's blog.
Come on over to see more or join in!
For James, with immense reserves of pent-up energy and some frustration of being completely thrown off schedule for over a week, he loved the row of stationary bikes at the Salvation Army yard:
It was really hard to get him off these machines. Especially after he found they had dial timers. OMG, why did we buy him a bike last year? This is what he needed.
After dinner that night, we took a walk in our neighbourhood to look at all the decorations. I'd heard a rumour that Santa might be making a visit, so we set out for what has become known as Helicopter Santa's House:
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| Two Saturdays ago, during a full moon. |
Once again, it's not Saturday but it's still the weekend!
There's still time to check out the SOOC action at Marvelous Mommy's blog.
Come on over to see more or join in!
Sunday, December 04, 2011
It's the Little Things ...
On our way out the door to get in the van to pick out our Christmas tree we saw our neighbours, who have two children a few years younger than ours. We were instantly side-tracked stopping to say hello and visit. We've had moving vans and holiday decorations going on around us, and it was nice to catch up.
All four kids ran back and forth, all over our front years. It was so sweet to see our daughter so tall and grown up, taking their little girl's hand and talking so nicely to her. It made me smile to have their Dad ask James how he was doing, and for James to answer back and have a little conversation with him.
We all admired their son's new scooter, and how well he zipped along on the sidewalk. My husband and I got to talk with other adults. Other parents. It was so satisfying. So often it's the little things that make life happy.
All four of us helped clean up to make way for the tree. My husband and I worked hoisting it up and down from the van like pros. We all relaxed in the kitchen over lunch after installing the tree in the living room.
Yes! And thank you.
All four kids ran back and forth, all over our front years. It was so sweet to see our daughter so tall and grown up, taking their little girl's hand and talking so nicely to her. It made me smile to have their Dad ask James how he was doing, and for James to answer back and have a little conversation with him.
We all admired their son's new scooter, and how well he zipped along on the sidewalk. My husband and I got to talk with other adults. Other parents. It was so satisfying. So often it's the little things that make life happy.
All four of us helped clean up to make way for the tree. My husband and I worked hoisting it up and down from the van like pros. We all relaxed in the kitchen over lunch after installing the tree in the living room.
Yes! And thank you.
SOOC: Out Back
Our cherry tree out back suddenly turned its leaves gold. As the lawn started to collect the windfalls, I seized my camera to record the last bit of Fall colour out back. I'm glad I did, because we've have huge winds sweep through and blast almost all the leaves off the trees this week. It was literally snowing leaves when I drop the kids off in the mornings.
I liked this last photo so much that I tweaked it a bit. Says a lot about a moment in time last week, for me:
Okay, it's not Saturday but it's still the weekend!
There's still time to check out the SOOC action at Marvelous Mommy's blog.
Come on over to see more or join in!
I liked this last photo so much that I tweaked it a bit. Says a lot about a moment in time last week, for me:
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| SOOC |
 |
| Minor colour balance and contrast tweaks. |
 |
| Extreme contrast tweaking. |
Okay, it's not Saturday but it's still the weekend!
There's still time to check out the SOOC action at Marvelous Mommy's blog.
Come on over to see more or join in!
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