Holy Cow!

Had a doctor's appointment for Robin at 9:00 this morning, so took Ryan to day care and headed for Mooresville Pediatrics.  It turns out that she has an ear infection and pneumonia, so there was a prescription for an antibiotic to be filled, etc.  Got to looking at the antibiotic tonight.  The original cost of it was $145!  (Meg's insurance took it down to $8...but still!) 

Didn't get anything done at home today.  The running around lasted until almost 1:30, then keeping the bored little girl occupied and quiet took some doing.  When I picked up Ryan at 4:00, we all met Mommy at Sam's Club where we did a little shopping and had some pizza.  (Can't beat Sam's Club pizza!)  Home again, home again...to watch a video and head for the boudoir.

Am looking at leaving for my sister's on Sunday.  Still too miuch to do at home, but need to get in a visit while the getting is good!

God Bless the Children

We had a very nice Christmas.  Santa was good to me!  It bothers me some that Megan bears that burden, but honestly, I was just happy that we were all together.

On Christmas Eve, Robin and I went out to find last-minute gifts.  Ryan and Meg made cookies for Santa.  (I was so relieved that they did that while we were gone!)  Ryan loved it that HE got to crack an egg all by himself!  Meg fixed us a nice dinner.  (She is a good cook.)  Then Grandma had to lie down for awhile.  I was pooped...and when I got up about 1 1/2 hours later, the elves of the family were cleaning up the living room...and the dishes were in the dishwasher.  What a nice surprise!  All I had to do was run the vacuum in the living room to make room for Santa to make his way through the room to the Christmas tree.  

Meg brought out a family gift--a game called Perfection.  We all played and had hot chocolate.  Thereafter, both children went to bed willingly, for a change--but not before leaving cookies for Santa by the fireplace.  Santa's OTHER elves...Megan and me...stayed up late wrapping presents and bracing for the morning.  The rules are that the kids have to wait until 8:00 AM to get up, and no presents can be opened without the grownups there.  Ryan was awake at 6:00, poor baby...and so excited! 

There is always a down side, isn't there?  Robin started with a cough and fever sometime on Christmas Eve day.  (Ryan also has a cough, but no fever.)  Both children went to spend an overnight with Daddy in Muncie after Christmas dinner at Grandma and Grandpa Heffelman's, but Robin still came home with 102.  She won't be going to day care tomorrow.  Meg has to work...so I will do kid duty.  The plan, for now, is to take Ryan to day care and keep Robin at home.  If she can't lose the fever, we will be looking at a trip to the doctor.  She coughs so much that she throws up.  Never fun!

In any case, Christmas is over for 2007.  I think everyone approved.  God bless the little ones.  It's all about them, isn't it?

Christmas Full Moon

'Twas in the moon of winter time, when all the birds had fled, that mighty Gitchi-Manitou sent angel choirs instead; before their light the stars grew dim, and wondering hunters heard the hymn: Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria.

Within a lodge of broken bark the tender babe was found, a ragged robe of rabbit skin enwrapped his beauty round; but as the hunter braves drew nigh, the angel song rang loud and high: Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria. O children of the forest free, O sons of Manitou, the holy child of earth and heaven is born today for you. Come, kneel before the radiant boy, who brings you beauty, peace and joy: Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria.

There Comes a Time...

In spite of the fact that the house is trashed and I don't have my Christmas shopping done, there comes a time to attempt to back off from the stress and just be.  My church today had a largely musical service, with pieces from Handel's Messiah, complete with a mini-orchestra.  My grandchildren's other grandparents sing in the choir, and we needed to go.  I needed to go!  I figured I'd just cry through the whole service...but I only cried through part of it.  When I was in high school, it was tradition for the A Capella Choir to sing The Halelujah Chorus as the finale.  I know that piece like the back of my hand, and even though I can't sing anymore, it was wonderful to hear.  The children enjoyed Sunday School.  (Robin said she LOVED it.)  In any case, I'm glad we went.  (Mommy stayed home to wrap presents.) 

After church, I took the children to a local Chinese buffet.  In the past, behavior (particularly Ryan's) had been horrible, so I figured I was asking for trouble.  To my surprise, both children were totally civilized.  We actually could have some conversation!  We went home and didn't do much.  I did a little shopping while Meg did kid duty.  Later, I took the children to McD's for supper while Meg finished her wrapping.  And that is where my grandparental devotion fell apart.  Meg got the kids to bed and everyone fell asleep first time!  BOTH children wet the bed last night.  (Very unusual for Robin.)  So there was laundry to do before we could even put them to bed...

I have found myself to be emotional lately.  Anything to do with the Christmas story makes me weep...which is my indication that something else is afoot.  Perhaps it is sadness over years past, or the stresses of Christmas present.  I'm not sure.  All I know is that I am pretty exhausted.  I will try to get everything done tomorrow.  <sigh>

I owe so much to so many that I wish I could afford gifts for everyone who has been so much a part of my salvation this year.  (You know who you are!)  In spite of that, please accept my heartfelt thanks for all you are to me and my family...and my best wishes for a wonderful holiday.  God bless you this Christmas, and always!

First Day

I went to bed late last night, so my first day of "vacation" started late when I slept in.  Everyone was up before me.  I am usually the first one up!

I will take the grandchildren to church tomorrow.  The service is mostly music...parts of The Messiah, which is something I dearly love.  I'll just cry through all of it.  Have to take lots of tissues!

Meg is still out shopping.  I took care of the children tonight.  They were good--marathon DVDs, with popcorn, chocolate milk, and quiet times.  Ryan was totally ready for bed when I tucked him in.  His sister was, too.  She just takes longer to give up!

Talked to my sister tonight.  I will probably try to go to Illinois on the 26th for a couple of days.  We have to find if the other grandparents can pick the children up from day care while I am gone... 

As the year ends, I am feeling the tragedies and the blessings.  Sometimes, the tradedies ARE blessings!   We keep moving on!

 

 

I Survived!

Got through the last day of school today.  It was my plan to let Meg and the children go to supper somewhere so I could nap and go shopping after midnight.  Well!  That didn't work.  Meg wanted to talk about her day and some changes at work.  When we got back from Burger King (with the play place), I did take an excursion out.  Bought about $50 worth of stuff for the grandchildren then cruised the Wal-Mart parking lot several times looking for a place to park.  Abandoned that idea.  Thought about driving to Meijer, but there was mist in the air and visibility was somewhat lousy...so I came home to do some housework.  (Three loads of laundry and one of dishes.  MUCH more required!)  Will head out tomorrow to do more shopping.  The problem with doing it this late is that everything is picked over.  I can't help it!

I finally got Robin ensconced in bed at about 11:30.  I could tell she was tired, but she wasn't taking directions.  I think she gets scared.  Don't know what spooks her, but she needs to get over that!

Tomorrow is another day!  Will have at it again then!

Well...great.

The storm that we got over the weekend didn't amount to as much as was predicted for here.  We had about an inch of snow that turned to freezing rain and messed things up...then had about four inches on top of that.  Then wind.  It could have been a lot worse, but was enough to put us out of power for about three hours on Sunday morning.  I woke up at 7:30 AM because the house was too quiet.  I fired up the three oil lamps, and Meg offered me one of my Christmas presents early (some much-needed flashlights).  Fortunately, the house never cooled off enough to make things uncomfortable.  I cooked brunch after lighting the stove with a match.  The power came back on as we were eating.  Yay!

The grandchildren's day care provider pulled Megan aside this morning to tell her that Ryan was saying the F-word.  (This had previously happened with Robin.)  When he was corrected on it, he said, "Daddy says it."  Yes, Daddy does!  In fact, Megan and Nathan finally parted company over an incident when he pushed her and was cursing epithets at her with the children right there....and Nathan and I parted company over an incident only a couple of weeks prior to that when he was calling my daughter an f-ing b**** in front of the children AND me.  I went ballistic, telling him that if he couldn't control his language around the children, he needed to leave the room.  He informed me that it was HIS f-ing house.  And so it was.  So I left.  Not only was he voicing disrespect for me and his wife (my daughter) but he was abusing his children by causing them to hear it.  And now, they are in trouble for repeating his behavior, which is why I consider it abuse.  That makes me really, really angry--especially since his only response to Megan today when she called him to talk to him about it was to say, "I'm surprised it has taken this long."  Huh??  I am quite certain that Nathan wasn't raised that way.  He comes from a wonderful family with steadfast Christian faith and values.  I'm not sure when HE decided it was okay to talk the way he has...

Here is what bothers me the most about this deal: whenever innocent children come up with stuff like that, it is assumed that they heard it at day care or school or on the playground.  In this case, they heard it at home--which makes my grandchildren the ones who are exposing OTHER children to the not-so-nice parts of life, and they are too young to know the difference.  It wouldn't surprise me if parents wouldn't want their children to associate with mine because of this deal.  They don't use the word in our home.  I suppose that means that there is hope that they know it is wrong and can eventually learn the difference between appropriate and inappropriate behavior.  I mean, geez...  We are actually punishing Ryan for saying "poopie".  Now this?

I raced home on my free period today to pick up Robin and Ryan for a district family Christmas party after school today.  They had to sit through my last period class in the meantime and were actually better behaved than my 8th graders!  When we went to the party, there was pizza and salad and cookies and cupcakes abounding...and Santa Claus, etc.  When the administrative secretary took the microphone to say we were going to play some games, the kids perked up.  "If you have a red pencil, come up for a gift."  "Anyone with a paper clip."  "If you are wearing red socks."  "Green socks."  Etc.  At one point, she was offering a gift to anyone who could come up and name the married couples that work for our district.  The school nurse did that.  Then, she asked if one of the couples would come up and sing a Christmas song.  Well!  Robin and Ryan launched from their seats to be a "couple"!  I tried to stop them, but I was too late.  They were instantly on stage.  While the secretary held the mic, Robin leaned into it and sang "Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer" while Ryan just stood there.  It was kinda cute, actually--even if I was embarrassed! 

So went the day.  The children were sent to bed early because neither of them got their naps today.  Neither did Grandma!  I think everyone is finally asleep...which is where I am going now.  I haven't even started my Christmas shopping.  Have you??

 

Here It Comes!

Major winter storm on the way.  Depending on the track, we could get anywhere from four to eight inches of snow, plus blowing conditions, most of which is supposed to hit early Sunday.  This, my friends, will be the third measurable snow before Christmas...and I have to tell you that it makes for a looong winter when the white stuff comes before the holidays!  Now that the children live here, we have to be prepared for all eventualities.  My school district generally calls off school before Plainfield does. 

Meg's piece o' crap car is acting up again.  She really needs a more reliable ride.  If it makes it through the winter, it will be a miracle!

This week has been a busy one.  Meetings, meetings, meetings...plus a major criticism from the mother of one of my students.  I haven't addressed that, yet.  I'm waiting until I can feel civil in order to respond!

Meg did some Christmas shopping tonight.  The children stayed home with me, and they were good as gold.  I let them stay up later than usual.  They played nicely together and even helped pick up some stuff.  Though Meg wasn't home yet, they went to bed willingly.  Shock!

Meg's description of the evening at Wal-Mart sounded chaotic.  She called me sometime after 10:00 PM to say she was in the checkout line, but there were about ten people in front of her.  The combination of the coming storm and Christmas had everyone out and about.  She came home tired.  I went out to pick up some staples after she got home.  'Tis now Saturday morning, and I'm still up. 

Guess I should let things go for the night.  The grandchildren will be with us this weekend and next, so I will need some sleep.  Starting now!

 

Ahhhhh.....!

I have dreaded this week.  So much going on--including the HCARS Christmas dinner--I was afraid I would forget something.  (I did.  Failed to have the club secretary send out a mass emailing about the dinner, so one of my best friends didn't know about it and had to miss it.  Ugh!)  I had made plans for the dinner sufficiently late that I wasn't sure if everything was adequately covered, but it was.  The folks at the restaurant where we dined took very good care of us.  I came home delightfully full!

The best part about the dinner was that it was my swan song as president of the club.  I've done it for three years and enjoyed the majority of it, but there is enough going on in my life that it was time to let someone else take over. 

This morning, however, didn't go well.  Let's see...I was up at 4:30.  Plenty of time to get things done, yes?  I was dressed and had my hair done and most of my face on when I decided to help get the children dressed to go to school/day care.  When everyone launched, I got my school papers together and my lunch, locked the house, and left.  A block down the road, I realized that I didn't have my purse, my school/house keys, or my glasses.  I turned back, hoping that the front door hadn't latched.  It had.  The back door was deadbolted.  All of my spare keys were in my purse...in the locked house.  The neighbor has a key, but it, too, was in my house after the last time I locked myself out.  I couldn't get in via the garage door because I had the garage door opener switch turned off because it is connected to the outside Christmas light.  In a word, I was screwed.  Drove to school and emailed Meg, begging for her to find a way to come home over lunch or something, to unlock the door.  It took all of her lunchtime, and then some....but she did, which saved me.  Thanks, Meg!  She even got home early enough this evening that I wasn't late to the dinner. 

I have at least three other meetings this week, so time is pressing.  I'll try to write more tomorrow.  Right now, my bedmate (who is 5) is still up.  Time to beat her!

Ho Ho Freaking Ho!

I went out yesterday (Sunday) to purchase a couple of those lit deer yard decorations because the grandchildren like those.  I have never done much outside Christmas decorating, but this year (for the children) there is a lighted garland on the fence...and now the cheap-o deer.  Little Ryan wanted to do the hammer.  That means he was to pound the stakes into the ground--the stakes that are supposed to hold the deer up.  Heh heh...he did, and was quite careful about it.  When he wasn't looking, I just stepped on the stakes and put them the rest of the way into the ground.  He never knew the difference!

December is closing in on me!  There are so many dates being thrown around at work for this committee or that thing that I am getting overwhelmed.  Meg's car needs to be worked on to determine why it still isn't producing heat in spite of the new heater core, etc.  I am going to take Wednesday off to do insurance paperwork and prepare for the HCARS Christmas party, etc.  I also have a student who is hospitalized for suicidal depression right now, and I need to find time to go visit her.  She's a neat kid--she just doesn't know it!

My sister's birthday comes up on Friday.  I haven't sent a card yet.  Need to get at that.  She's OLD!  <wink>  Love you, Shari! 

 

Fat

Meg and I have been talking about the overeating deal.  I am the heaviest I have ever been in my life.  She is rapidly approaching an unacceptable weight.  We both maintain that we are out of control.  So what's the deal?

My family enjoyed eating.  My parents, both survivors of the Great Depression, endeavored to provide for us.  Wasting food for them was a sin.  Pie crust--delicious!--was made with lard.  Breakfast meals on the weekends were quite fatty, but the standard by which I measure brunch:  sausage or bacon, fried potatoes in some form, eggs however they can be fixed.  Then there is the rest of the day...and the rest of the week. 

Once upon a time, I walked the track at the park with a dear friend of mine...two laps per day, which was about 2 1/2 miles.  Then things got in the way.  Plantar fasciitis for me...and time.  I have steadily gained weight since then.  Meg has been up and down in weight, always a struggle...but when she puts her mind to it, she loses, big time.  So...why are we struggling NOW? 

I am somewhat convinced that, although being fat hurts my self-image more than anything else right now, that it insulates me from relationships.  Meg is considering that, too.  Perhaps we need new motivation.  I don't know.  I DO know that the both of us have to reconsider our motives and figure out what we want out of life.  I need to lose for health reasons.  Now...how to make what I want fit into the "what I need" category!

This isn't a good time to start a diet...but whenever is it a good time??

Santa Claus is watching.  I need to be good!