SOOC Saturday: Fish!

Our daughter got a betta fish this year. She's had it 3 weeks and is worrying because she sees green on her fish's home and the live plant in the bowl is looking shoddy. I am clueless with fish. So we went to Caesar's Tropical Fish emporium, to get the 411 on fish & their plants.

Oh my heavens. It was our first time in the store and the kids went wild. There were 3 rooms in the dark, with walls of tanks and fish lit up and full of exciting action. It was better than paying admission to the Aquarium, because (A) it was free and (B) it was just big enough to take the right amount of time to spice up the day, yet not be long enough to evoke the "I'm tired. Can we go hoooooome?" whines. You can bet your boots I'll be coming back here with the kids when I'm going stir crazy and we need a diverting event.

James adored looking at all the fish. He was fascinated by the whiskery catfish, but their long antennae also freaked him out slightly. The fish that looked like they were lit with neon brought out the biggest smiles to his face. I know he wants a fish. But he's not there yet for being able to take care of one.

 Maybe next year, after I've learned from watching his sister and her fish. But shhhh! Don't tell him I said that!

Closing out 2011 by participating in the SOOC action at Marvelous Mommy's blog.
Come on over to see more or join in!

Merry Christmas. Every one.

Christmas morning came early. Mornings usually do where James is concerned. I was able to safely corral him in his room until just after 7, when he emerged and announced "Hi, Mommy. I going to RElax with you!" Once on the sofa with me, he said "I going to kiss you!" And he did, right after he fell on me with loving glee.  Oof!! At over 60 pounds, he's getting big.

Then his real purpose became clear; "I play Caillou on your white computer, okay? Okay" Kiss-kiss-kiss. Giggle, giggle, dancing over to my laptop.

Around 7:40, his Daddy and sister emerged, ready to start their Christmas morning. It dawned on James that Christmas was actually really and truly here. Oh the openings! The talking! The exclamations of "Oh! I love it!! Do you love it, Mommy?/Daddy?" The iPad sucked him in. Already he's managed to take off Angry Birds, a slew of apps, and mess up PhotoBooth. He also figured out the volume and screen controls before I could even think about them.

Then he played with his other toys. His Leapster spelling cards, the megaphone from Grandpa (who's going to get a voicemail of thanks, in the loud Robot voice), and his toy train washdown (carwash for trains). He was ecstatic that Percy came with it. He play acted a play date between Percy and Thomas in 3 different rooms, ending up with himself draped over his new shark bean bag chair. Oh my heart, what a happy Spirit of Christmas present. It's done me a lot of good.

This has been a year with lots of heartache in it. Things are going to be tough for a while yet. I look at our children, especially James this morning, and find some of the brightest spots of hope for the future.

SOOC Saturday: Christmas Eve!

Well, the lead-up to Christmas this year has been challenging and not very fun for the adults. The kids, however, have been popping like corn with anticipatory glee. Which makes things more bearable and puts me in the right mood for Christmas Eve and tomorrow.

It's not even 9am here, and already, we have:

Ah yes, Joyeux Leon to all!

Let's be reindeer!

Last night we started baking cookies for Santa and our wonderful neighbours:

Taste tests proved ... delicious!

Wishing everyone a special Christmas. And if Christmas is not your holiday, may your special days be enjoyed with the ones you love.

Sharing some candid Christmas for my share of the SOOC action at Marvelous Mommy's blog.
Come on over to see more or join in!

Sick

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.

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.

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.

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.