Saturday, November 29, 2008
Alex's Play
Mike, Jack and I finally got to go see Alex in "Father of the Bride" last night. It was sooo good! I didn't realize from just reading the script that it would be so funny. Alex did a great job, as did almost all of the other actors. There was only one who had obviously not acted before, but even he did an okay job.
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving was very nice this year. We were disappointed that we couldn't afford to go to Chicago, since this was supposed to be our year to go, as we try to go every other Thanksgiving. The weather was beautiful, it's been in the 50's and 60's for the last week or so.
We went to my sister's house, but my mom and I did all the cooking, since my sister doesn't cook. She did make two pumpkin pies, though. A former neighbor of my mom's also came with her family. Things went well, with no major drama, which is really unusual for our family!!!! My mom wasn't even cranky, like she almost always is on holidays. The only rough patch was when my sister insisted on waiting to have dessert until my niece got home from work. The neighbor family was obviously ready to leave, as their 3 year old was getting antsy and the kids were all very anxious for dessert. Well, we ended up waiting about an hour and then my niece got home, ate her dinner plate in the corner of the kitchen and then headed to her room to talk on the phone and use the computer. I'm still trying to figure out why we had to inconvenience everyone else to wait for that! She barely said two words to anyone and disappeared. Oh well, I guess I should be very thankful that that was the only annoying thing that happened.
We brought the Wii, which kept the younger kids occupied and happy, but my older ones were pretty bored.
The kids were all disappointed that my mom didn't give them their usual Christmas ornament. She started a tradition when Jack and Drew were babies, of giving each of the kids an ornament with the year and their name on it. I guess she just decided that she didn't want to bother anymore or that the expense wasn't worth it. The kids didn't want to be rude so they acted like it didn't matter too much, but they all expressed their disappointment when we got home. Even Drew was disappointed!
Our dinner was delicious! Here is the menu, so I won't forget next year. I didn't forget the candied carrots that I usually make and Steven was upset about that.
Turkey (1 18 pound Butterball turkey and one turkey breast-there weren't enough leftovers for us to take any home, so that was disappointing)
Sweet potatoes with cinnamon and sugar
Broccoli Casserole (note for next year, made two 9 x 13 disposable pans, used 6-2 pound bags broccoli cuts (1 1/2 bags per layer), precooked in microwave, one large Velveeta slices per pan and did not use butter on the bottom layer of crackers)
Strawberry Jello with cream cheese layer and pretzel crust
Cranberry Jello ring
Make Ahead mashed potatoes
Cranberry sauce
Corn
French bread
Gravy
Stuffing
Dessert:
Pumpkin pies
Frozen French Silk pie
Lemon Squares
Cream cheese brownies
Apple-Pecan Pie (no one ate any!)
Whipped Cream
I'm Back!
I have been receiving complaints about my lack of posting lately. I guess I've just been busy and haven't felt much like posting. I still don't, but I will force myself!
Things have been going pretty smoothly around here. Mike has been home for the week, which has been very helpful. He has been working on my huge backlog of dirty dishes. Somehow, I seem to make them much faster than he can wash them!
My birthday was last Tuesday, the 25th. It was a very nice, relaxing day. I had to take Luke for his flu shot, first thing in the morning. We went to the library after and hit the used book sale. Luke hates to read, so he wasn't thrilled with the pit stop, but it kept him out of school longer, so it wasn't too bad. He was very helpful in carrying my $14 worth of books to the check out! I LOVE our libraries because the paperbacks are only .50 and the hardcovers are only $1. I can almost always find a ton of good ones and many are 2007 or 2008 books, not a bunch of old, yellowed junk.
After the library, I dropped Luke at school and then went to WISC to help my friend, Mike, pick up the last of the roller skates for his school. It was really weird to be there again, with the rink gone. It also felt really weird to be walking out of there for probably the last time, on my birthday.
Mike and I went out to lunch, which is a big treat for us. We went to a great Italian place and the total was only $14 for the two of us. The food was delicious, too. Then we headed off the the in-town library branch, where I spent another $8 for books. I now have a stash that should last me for a little while at least! I told Mike that is all I wanted for my birthday, the books and the lunch, but he also surprised me with an electric throw. It is really cozy and all the kids are jealous! I might have to put an alarm on it because I'm pretty sure it will disappear soon.
Things have been going pretty smoothly around here. Mike has been home for the week, which has been very helpful. He has been working on my huge backlog of dirty dishes. Somehow, I seem to make them much faster than he can wash them!
My birthday was last Tuesday, the 25th. It was a very nice, relaxing day. I had to take Luke for his flu shot, first thing in the morning. We went to the library after and hit the used book sale. Luke hates to read, so he wasn't thrilled with the pit stop, but it kept him out of school longer, so it wasn't too bad. He was very helpful in carrying my $14 worth of books to the check out! I LOVE our libraries because the paperbacks are only .50 and the hardcovers are only $1. I can almost always find a ton of good ones and many are 2007 or 2008 books, not a bunch of old, yellowed junk.
After the library, I dropped Luke at school and then went to WISC to help my friend, Mike, pick up the last of the roller skates for his school. It was really weird to be there again, with the rink gone. It also felt really weird to be walking out of there for probably the last time, on my birthday.
Mike and I went out to lunch, which is a big treat for us. We went to a great Italian place and the total was only $14 for the two of us. The food was delicious, too. Then we headed off the the in-town library branch, where I spent another $8 for books. I now have a stash that should last me for a little while at least! I told Mike that is all I wanted for my birthday, the books and the lunch, but he also surprised me with an electric throw. It is really cozy and all the kids are jealous! I might have to put an alarm on it because I'm pretty sure it will disappear soon.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Two hours at the doctor
I took Alex and Shauna for their 6 month ADHD checks this morning. They also needed a bunch of shots. I made the appointment for 8:30, figuring I could get them in and out fairly quickly and they wouldn't miss much school. I hate going later in the day because the pediatrician's office gets backed up so much. No such luck today.
We got in pretty quickly and settled into the room. The doctor came in only a few minutes later and spent quite a bit of time with us, like she always does. She left and we had to wait a half hour before a nurse was freed up to give the shots. Shauna got a DTAP, Varicella (chicken pox vaccine) and a flu mist. Alex got Meningitis vaccine, varicella (I have no clue if I'm spelling that right, but it is something like that) and a flu shot. He couldn't have the mist because he gets frequent, severe nose bleeds. Everything went fine, Shauna was hardly even nervous, which is unusual for her. Alex kept her entertained and laughing most of the time. Then we started to leave the exam room and all hell broke loose!
I turned and took one step towards the door when I heard a huge crash behind me. I turned around and saw Alex crumpled on the floor, eyes rolled back in his head, arms and legs tensing and releasing. I thought he was having a seizure from one of the shots. The nurse was long gone, so I went out into the hall and yelled, "Help, my son is having a seizure or something." There was a dad standing in the hall, rocking a baby, who looked at me kind of funny, but who cares? I couldn't see any medical personnel in the hall, although there were several other parents with toddlers milling about.
The nurse must have heard me because she came running in and tried to wake Alex up. He was out for about 45 seconds and then started to come around slowly. He was terrified when he woke up because he had no idea what had happened. After the nurse got him to wake up, she put a coat under his head and ran to get the doctor out of another exam room. They determined that it wasn't a seizure, that he had just passed out. It took him forever to feel better, though, and they had to keep putting ice on him and having him try sitting up slowly, etc. Another nurse came in and sort of took over (I think the original nurse was new because the other nurse kept telling her what to do). His skin was a gross greenish/gray color and it took a really long time for the color to come back. We ended up being there for about another half hour, until Alex was well enough to walk out of the office. I'm so glad it happened in the office and not after we left.
He is feeling better now, but I decided to keep him home from school because he hit his head so hard on the office floor. He says the pain from the bump is getting better now, too. Now maybe he will believe me when I tell him he HAS to each breakfast.
He is feeling much better.
We got in pretty quickly and settled into the room. The doctor came in only a few minutes later and spent quite a bit of time with us, like she always does. She left and we had to wait a half hour before a nurse was freed up to give the shots. Shauna got a DTAP, Varicella (chicken pox vaccine) and a flu mist. Alex got Meningitis vaccine, varicella (I have no clue if I'm spelling that right, but it is something like that) and a flu shot. He couldn't have the mist because he gets frequent, severe nose bleeds. Everything went fine, Shauna was hardly even nervous, which is unusual for her. Alex kept her entertained and laughing most of the time. Then we started to leave the exam room and all hell broke loose!
I turned and took one step towards the door when I heard a huge crash behind me. I turned around and saw Alex crumpled on the floor, eyes rolled back in his head, arms and legs tensing and releasing. I thought he was having a seizure from one of the shots. The nurse was long gone, so I went out into the hall and yelled, "Help, my son is having a seizure or something." There was a dad standing in the hall, rocking a baby, who looked at me kind of funny, but who cares? I couldn't see any medical personnel in the hall, although there were several other parents with toddlers milling about.
The nurse must have heard me because she came running in and tried to wake Alex up. He was out for about 45 seconds and then started to come around slowly. He was terrified when he woke up because he had no idea what had happened. After the nurse got him to wake up, she put a coat under his head and ran to get the doctor out of another exam room. They determined that it wasn't a seizure, that he had just passed out. It took him forever to feel better, though, and they had to keep putting ice on him and having him try sitting up slowly, etc. Another nurse came in and sort of took over (I think the original nurse was new because the other nurse kept telling her what to do). His skin was a gross greenish/gray color and it took a really long time for the color to come back. We ended up being there for about another half hour, until Alex was well enough to walk out of the office. I'm so glad it happened in the office and not after we left.
He is feeling better now, but I decided to keep him home from school because he hit his head so hard on the office floor. He says the pain from the bump is getting better now, too. Now maybe he will believe me when I tell him he HAS to each breakfast.
He is feeling much better.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Here comes the pain again
I'm having a hard time focusing and getting anything accomplished this week. Ever since I sat for 8 hours to do Shauna's hair last weekend, my hamstring has been hurting a little more each day. Today it is really starting to feel like it was when I ended up bedridden. I am terrified of having to go through that again.
I really don't understand why the pain is coming back. The muscle seemed to be almost completely healed and the pain has been minimal or even nonexistent on some days. I have been doing the exercises and being very careful with my leg. I know I didn't do anything to hurt it, other than sitting to do Shauna's hair. I'm really discouraged and scared.
On top of that, my doctor got a promotion and will not be seeing patients anymore. He has a replacement and I trust that he chose him very wisely, but I would much prefer to see my own doctor about this, especially since he is the one I saw originally. I'm going to have to call and make an appointment tomorrow, even though I hate going to doctors.
I'm also worried because I know he is going to make me start going to physical therapy again and I just can't afford it. We are going to be paying off the bills for the PT I have gotten already for quite some time. I will have to go, though, as that was the only thing that helped last time. I guess I will have to call tomorrow for a PT appointment, too, and just hope that I can work the money part out.
I really don't understand why the pain is coming back. The muscle seemed to be almost completely healed and the pain has been minimal or even nonexistent on some days. I have been doing the exercises and being very careful with my leg. I know I didn't do anything to hurt it, other than sitting to do Shauna's hair. I'm really discouraged and scared.
On top of that, my doctor got a promotion and will not be seeing patients anymore. He has a replacement and I trust that he chose him very wisely, but I would much prefer to see my own doctor about this, especially since he is the one I saw originally. I'm going to have to call and make an appointment tomorrow, even though I hate going to doctors.
I'm also worried because I know he is going to make me start going to physical therapy again and I just can't afford it. We are going to be paying off the bills for the PT I have gotten already for quite some time. I will have to go, though, as that was the only thing that helped last time. I guess I will have to call tomorrow for a PT appointment, too, and just hope that I can work the money part out.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Ugh!
Right now, Jack and Mike are debating which kind of cake is better, one in a 9" x 13" pan or a two layer round cake. Apparently the cake to frosting ratio is better on a 9" x 13" cake, according to Mike. According to Jack, on a round cake, you get the bonus of the layer of frosting in the middle.
They are lobbying to get me to make them a yellow cake with milk chocolate frosting, store bought frosting, not homemade. Men.....Ugh!
They are lobbying to get me to make them a yellow cake with milk chocolate frosting, store bought frosting, not homemade. Men.....Ugh!
Wrigley and Paint
Only two of the cats actually like the dog. They are the twins, Paint aka Mr. Alheeji and Oreo, or the black and whites as we call them. This is Paint with Wrigley. The funny thing is that Wrigley is most attracted to Rebel, the cat who hates him the most!!! She is old (almost 10) and wants nothing to do with a stupid dog. Paint will meow and rub himself all over Wrigley and Wrigley will push him out of the way to go get hissed at by Rebel.
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