Saturday, February 26, 2011
Hiking Day
Today was a great day. We had quality family time. Away from the house and the TV, and all of the distractions. Since Jacob has been having issues with 'over reading' OCD this was really good for him. We did two trails in about four hours. It is just so nice being in the middle of nowhere, only us, walking around, talking, picnicking in a field, crossing streams. Relaxing. I thought my back would hurt but surprisingly it did not, even though I carried the heavier pack to burn more calories. We even got some sun on our skin!
Friday, February 25, 2011
End of Feb.
It has been a wild and crazy month. This week alone felt like it took forever. Working and just getting a few hours in the evening with the kids is rough. Routines can just be draining.
The weather has been nice. On the weekends we've been able to go visit family, grandparents, and go to the park.
Seems hum-drum, and I guess it is.
Overall I have seen a lot of behavioral improvements, maturity, and owning up to their actions. Jacob forged my initials this week, and his teacher and I had a laugh about that.. but he didn't deny it.
I've reached out about the tennis lessons after several recommendations, waiting on a callback on those.
I've posted a job on a nanny site for summer care and already have 6 responses, will start interviews in April/May. One response was an actual teacher from the area that just wanted something to do for the summer. That would be awesome.
The weather has been nice. On the weekends we've been able to go visit family, grandparents, and go to the park.
Seems hum-drum, and I guess it is.
Overall I have seen a lot of behavioral improvements, maturity, and owning up to their actions. Jacob forged my initials this week, and his teacher and I had a laugh about that.. but he didn't deny it.
I've reached out about the tennis lessons after several recommendations, waiting on a callback on those.
I've posted a job on a nanny site for summer care and already have 6 responses, will start interviews in April/May. One response was an actual teacher from the area that just wanted something to do for the summer. That would be awesome.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Turbotax letdown
I've really always preferred TurboTax. But this year they held out. Putting off the form 8839 to 2/10, then 2/17, and now 2/24!! I gave up and just quickly went over to Tax-Act and fixed it up. I have to paper mail it anyways. So let down. :-( sigh
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Midweek
No clever pictures, no sweet little faces to post. Life has just been shuffling along.
The kids have been trying. They had an exciting weekend kicked off with a birthday party at 'The Cheese" which just completely overloads them. So, we've had abnormal amounts of back talking, bossiness, hitting, meanness to the animals, food control issues, bathroom control issues, as well as notes home from school this week.
So... yeah.. I think the excitement of a birthday party, probably the strong feelings towards their previous family who they got to see,and added to that Valentine's Day party at school.. it was just overload for the kids. Jacob cried in his room last night after he had gotten up after everyone had been asleep for awhile and I put him back to bed and he said he was sad because his family was 'so big'. It was really sad. I am glad he has been on the antidepressant for awhile now.
A few weeks ago we were out and bumped into their first foster family and before we went over to them at the restaurant I asked him if he remembered them and he said, "are they the ones who didn't have a house" (obviously referring to the biological parents). whoa. It really knocked me over and made me realize how little he has this whole puzzle pieced together, but honestly I'm not certain how much of it he can comprehend at this stage. He is a whiz with numbers, but concepts like family relations and all of this I think is just a little beyond him currently.
;/ :P
This weekend we have planned hiking at the battlefield and taking the kids bikes out.
The kids have been trying. They had an exciting weekend kicked off with a birthday party at 'The Cheese" which just completely overloads them. So, we've had abnormal amounts of back talking, bossiness, hitting, meanness to the animals, food control issues, bathroom control issues, as well as notes home from school this week.
So... yeah.. I think the excitement of a birthday party, probably the strong feelings towards their previous family who they got to see,and added to that Valentine's Day party at school.. it was just overload for the kids. Jacob cried in his room last night after he had gotten up after everyone had been asleep for awhile and I put him back to bed and he said he was sad because his family was 'so big'. It was really sad. I am glad he has been on the antidepressant for awhile now.
A few weeks ago we were out and bumped into their first foster family and before we went over to them at the restaurant I asked him if he remembered them and he said, "are they the ones who didn't have a house" (obviously referring to the biological parents). whoa. It really knocked me over and made me realize how little he has this whole puzzle pieced together, but honestly I'm not certain how much of it he can comprehend at this stage. He is a whiz with numbers, but concepts like family relations and all of this I think is just a little beyond him currently.
;/ :P
This weekend we have planned hiking at the battlefield and taking the kids bikes out.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
The Pain
Psychiatrist trying me on two new meds for anxiety, temper, shakes, agitation, and associated pain.
Twice daily and they are knocking me out. I can go 1/2 on one, and I think I will have to. I am encouraged though, getting rid of the old meds which were giving me shakes and bone pain.. which was nothing to mess around with.
Twice daily and they are knocking me out. I can go 1/2 on one, and I think I will have to. I am encouraged though, getting rid of the old meds which were giving me shakes and bone pain.. which was nothing to mess around with.
Friday, February 11, 2011
How best to deal with bossy kiddos..
.. someone please tell me. Hahaha
We did shopping for their little sister's birthday and filled out Valentines, then met Matthew for dinner since he worked late. It was a good day.
I have random thoughts which irritate my family.
I asked Matthew how many times he thought a TV show was watched from start to finish before being OK-ed, and by whom?
Last year I was so fixated on dental anthropology I bought a textbook, read about 16 years of journals, and also emailed back and forth with the author of the book and professor at Cambridge. fun.
This week I've also wondered how many 'messages in a bottle' are floating around out there still, because long ago it would be a sight to find a bottle.. whereas today it would be considered rubbish and thrown out without a second thought.
This morning I started thinking how historically people had to deal with the lack of potable water. Sure, they had to boil it to stave off disease, but really they didn't have access like today. So, it is a fact that most people drank wine and beer,partly because it was sterile. So, I started thinking how throughout history there must have been a lot of people born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Don't you think?
Also, having to explain the word potable to my Mom was fun.
We did shopping for their little sister's birthday and filled out Valentines, then met Matthew for dinner since he worked late. It was a good day.
I have random thoughts which irritate my family.
I asked Matthew how many times he thought a TV show was watched from start to finish before being OK-ed, and by whom?
Last year I was so fixated on dental anthropology I bought a textbook, read about 16 years of journals, and also emailed back and forth with the author of the book and professor at Cambridge. fun.
This week I've also wondered how many 'messages in a bottle' are floating around out there still, because long ago it would be a sight to find a bottle.. whereas today it would be considered rubbish and thrown out without a second thought.
This morning I started thinking how historically people had to deal with the lack of potable water. Sure, they had to boil it to stave off disease, but really they didn't have access like today. So, it is a fact that most people drank wine and beer,partly because it was sterile. So, I started thinking how throughout history there must have been a lot of people born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Don't you think?
Also, having to explain the word potable to my Mom was fun.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
And Other Things
The Dog usually saves this perfect wet print for my foot on her way inside!
Good day today, even though there was some craziness. At least this time it wasn't the kiddos being crazy.. just other people (who know who they are).
Will we have a snow day tomorrow?
The Art of Sleep
So, the kids have had sleeping issues.. that's old news. Tabitha is our best sleeper, but she tosses and turns so much I thinks she wakes herself up. It could also be Jacob waking her up, since he's normally in his room goofing off instead of sleeping.
Actually, I have to admit, this is an improvement. Not too long ago he was stealing cell phones, Ipods, and food in the middle of the night. At least now he seems to be containing his night play to his bedroom.
I bought a motion activated alarm system at Radio Shack. Matthew put it up yesterday, pointing at their doors, high enough where the cats don't set it off. It works great.
The Johnson & Johnson baby lotion that is specifically for bedtime is also nice. I put on both kiddos after showers last night and we had no problems. I stayed in the bed with Jacob until he fell asleep, then moved to Tabby's room to do the same just to get them back on track with sleep expectations. I'm happy with the results, although I didn't go to bed any earlier I enjoyed watching the kids fall asleep.. and the smell of the lotion.
Another new thing in our house is independent showering. I set Matthew in charge of overseeing this because if I were to go check on a kiddo and they needed help getting soap off their heads I would just do it for them instead of simply instructing them. He is perfect for those type of things. And it has been a few weeks since we began this and (correct me if I'm wrong, Matthew) they seem to be progressing with minimal instructions from us.
Soon we will be able to just tell them it's shower time and they will handle it... I'm so proud of them. :-)
Actually, I have to admit, this is an improvement. Not too long ago he was stealing cell phones, Ipods, and food in the middle of the night. At least now he seems to be containing his night play to his bedroom.
I bought a motion activated alarm system at Radio Shack. Matthew put it up yesterday, pointing at their doors, high enough where the cats don't set it off. It works great.
The Johnson & Johnson baby lotion that is specifically for bedtime is also nice. I put on both kiddos after showers last night and we had no problems. I stayed in the bed with Jacob until he fell asleep, then moved to Tabby's room to do the same just to get them back on track with sleep expectations. I'm happy with the results, although I didn't go to bed any earlier I enjoyed watching the kids fall asleep.. and the smell of the lotion.
Another new thing in our house is independent showering. I set Matthew in charge of overseeing this because if I were to go check on a kiddo and they needed help getting soap off their heads I would just do it for them instead of simply instructing them. He is perfect for those type of things. And it has been a few weeks since we began this and (correct me if I'm wrong, Matthew) they seem to be progressing with minimal instructions from us.
Soon we will be able to just tell them it's shower time and they will handle it... I'm so proud of them. :-)
Monday, February 7, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
The Power of Britney
This weekend flew by so fast it was just unfair.
The kiddos went to their Mamaw's and Papaw's house Saturday afternoon and spent the night. Matthew and I were able to have a bonafide date night. We went to Smokey Bones, shopped around a little, then came home to sleep in a house where no little feet would be running around.
I didn't even need any sleeping pills! I was so out I never even heard my sister come in the house. Perfect!
Sunday we got up and out and had a good day of shopping. We had full intentions of going to buy one of those cheap little $30 printers from Wal-Mart. Unfortunately we decided to shop around and went to Staples, where I saw the best desktop tower on CLEARANCE (My favorite word!).
We went to Best Buy and they had one that wasn't as good for almost $100 more, so we went back and bought the one at Staples. Then they said since it was the floor model they would have to keep it and do a system restore, but it would possibly be ready by the end of the day.
So, we went and picked up the kiddos from my parent's house and visited a little. We went to get some groceries and the phone rang. The computer was ready and I had 5 minutes to get there! I left Matthew and the kids with a buggy full of food and ran out to the car and tried to get to Staples. Not far to drive, but the traffic was terrible. I turned on the radio and lo and behold.. Britney's new song. I cranked it up and knew if Britney came on the radio, I was going to make it! Haha. I love her new song.
So, I made it, narrowly, and now I have an awesome computer. We went to Subway to celebrate and the kids were in a fun mood. Dancing machines! :-)
Thursday, February 3, 2011
C'mon Friday... catch up!
Oh this week.. this week. Not been a fan of this week.. at all.
I've had my days mixed up all week.
Sleep has been hard to come by. The kids have been disrupting their own sleep, either just to mess with me or because they just know that 'mom is always up' and they want to get some attention.
The surveyors finished their work. It took almost an exact month. The back line did shift over a few feet, but we actually got more land, because they used a 1949 survey which matched our deed line in the back, gaining us 5 feet in the back. We also grabbed a tree in the front side yard and the line runs well behind our rock landscaping. We were worried we had a ton of prepping to do before the fence installers had a good path. It's just strange, I'm glad it is over. I will throw a massive party when the fence is installed. Conditions of attendance will be helping clean up the junk/brush. There is literally an old TV in the back woods. Lovely.
All of my fellow-adopters and I are all waiting, the Feds still haven't issued the final release of 8839. Turbo Tax says the earliest estimate filing date is 2/17, and we have to mail off a ton of paperwork. But, that will be one delivery confirmation I will gladly purchase.
The week has dragged by, and I am very optimistic about the weekend. My Mom is taking the kiddos to 'the Cheese' and then letting them spend the night, although I've already been warned that I will have to have them picked up 'before Super Bowl time'. Funny. I will enjoy some time with Matthew! We have to start planning for the upcoming summer.
I've had my days mixed up all week.
Sleep has been hard to come by. The kids have been disrupting their own sleep, either just to mess with me or because they just know that 'mom is always up' and they want to get some attention.
The surveyors finished their work. It took almost an exact month. The back line did shift over a few feet, but we actually got more land, because they used a 1949 survey which matched our deed line in the back, gaining us 5 feet in the back. We also grabbed a tree in the front side yard and the line runs well behind our rock landscaping. We were worried we had a ton of prepping to do before the fence installers had a good path. It's just strange, I'm glad it is over. I will throw a massive party when the fence is installed. Conditions of attendance will be helping clean up the junk/brush. There is literally an old TV in the back woods. Lovely.
All of my fellow-adopters and I are all waiting, the Feds still haven't issued the final release of 8839. Turbo Tax says the earliest estimate filing date is 2/17, and we have to mail off a ton of paperwork. But, that will be one delivery confirmation I will gladly purchase.
The week has dragged by, and I am very optimistic about the weekend. My Mom is taking the kiddos to 'the Cheese' and then letting them spend the night, although I've already been warned that I will have to have them picked up 'before Super Bowl time'. Funny. I will enjoy some time with Matthew! We have to start planning for the upcoming summer.
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