Monday morning

It is Monday. I went to bed last night trying to figure out how to manage Megan's award ceremony at 9:15, Timmy's therapy appt at 1:00, Colleen's award ceremony at 1:15, Jack's pickup at 3:10, and Molly's orthodontist appt at 3:30, somehow getting back home to meet Mick's bus at 4:00. There is a bus policy that special needs kids cannot be left with anyone under the age of 18, which means that Jack or Molly, even though they are old enough to babysit him, cannot get him off the bus. This is not a new policy, apparently, but they are now cracking down so if I am not here to get him off the bus, they will drive him back to the school. I have a neighbor who can get him off the bus, but she isn't always home at 4:00. Anyhow, in the middle of the night, Colleen threw up. And Mick was up most of the night coughing. This morning Kiley woke up cranky but Colleen woke up feeling fine, and insisted she was well enough to go to school, saying she did not want to miss the award ceremony. I knew I had to keep Mick home because he was still coughing a lot. At least this eliminates the afternoon bus issue. There is a fine mist of pollen covering everything outside, and I knew that was causing Mick's asthma problem, and that it was also likely causing Kiley's runny nose and crankiness. And my itchy eyes and stuffy nose (this is important, remember, my sense of smell is not up to par). So, I gave them both Zyrtec, hoping that they would nap early so I could somehow manage to fit in everything that needed to be done (including the extra laundry from Colleen's episode). As we were leaving for Megan's ceremony, Shane's teacher called and said he is receiving two awards this afternoon - star student and most improved. His ceremony is at 2:30. We got to Megan's ceremony. I did a diaper/pull-up check in the parking lot. Mick is mid-potty training. He was fine when I checked his pull-up. We got there a little late, and missed Megan's class presentations. Darn it. We stayed so she would know we were there, and so I could at least take a picture of her with her award certificate. We sat in the chairs, and Mick coughed and coughed. Every time I patted his back, he pushed my hand away and patted it himself. I spent a lot of time helping him to blow his nose, and wiping his face. I had one wipe with me. We got up to throw it away, and Mick spotted where Megan was sitting. Before I could stop him, he ran over to her and plopped himself on her lap. She looked happy to have him there. Her friends were looking at him and smiling. At least, that's how it appeared to me. After about 5 minutes, he came back to where Kiley and I were standing and he indicated to me that he had to go potty. I rushed him to the bathroom - the closest one was the adult staff handicap accessible bathroom. He decided he wanted to use the urinal, which was drinking-fountain height. I pulled down his pants and hoisted him up, resting him on my knee so so that he could reach. Nothing was happening, so I sat him down on the potty, where he pooped! I was thrilled! Until I noticed the streak on my pant leg. The big streak. On my pant leg. I was glad I chose the black pants, not the white ones this morning! I cleaned my pants, and Mick up as best I could, while trying to keep Kiley's hands out of the urinal and the toilet. It was exhausting. When we got back to the gym, the ceremony was almost over, thank goodness. I told Megan to ask her teacher if I could take a picture of Megan outside by the tulips. While we were doing this, Megan told me that Kiley was stinky, too. I said, "What do you mean, too?" She said that Mick was poopy while he was sitting on her lap and all her friends smelled him. Delightful. God bless her, she didn't throw him off her lap or act at the time like this was bothering her. So, we took some pictures, came home, I gave Kiley and Mick lunch, Mick a nebulizer treatment, and they are both hopefully falling into a deep slumber. I cancelled Timmy's therapy appt (still doing well on the Zoloft!), so that we can still make it to Colleen's award ceremony. You know I can't go to one without attending all of them! My pants should be out of the dryer by then...........

Dang these kids! Or, these Dang kids!

I found out today that the kids (the middle ones) broke my rocking chair on Sunday, while Tim and I were out. One was sitting on it at the computer, the other two were standing on the sides of it, rocking it furiously, when one rocker snapped right off. Did they tell me about it when I got home on Sunday? No. I noticed it tonight when I was bringing something downstairs to put in the garage. I had had a conversation with a friend of mine, another mother of 9, on Sunday afternoon about having so many kids. We talked about the wear and tear everything takes, and how it is wise not to get too attached to anything in your house. This was our oldest piece of furniture. Tim bought it for me for Valentine's Day when I was pregnant with Katie. That doesn't exactly make it an antique, but it was special! So now, those kids (and the two we left in charge that day) have lost computer privileges for two weeks. Timmy (who was a neutral party) said he would try and fix it for me. I've decided I want porch rockers for Mother's Day. And Tim and I will be the only ones allowed to sit in them........

Heat melts plastic

If you are ever thinking about using a clean disposable diaper in place of a potholder to take something out of the oven, DON'T DO IT. Trust me.

What's next?!

So, just found out today that the kid who has flat feet, ADHD (or maybe not), learning "differences", and struggles with depression also has SCOLIOSIS!!!! He came home with a note from the school nurse asking that his Dr evaluate him since she noticed during the school screening that one shoulder is lower than the other. I hadn't noticed. The Dr took a look at him, ran his finger down his backbone, and said that he does have scoliosis, and showed me where his spine curves. The good news is, he said it is so slight and insignificant that nothing needs to be done, and it shouldn' t impact his growth or get worse. The Dr said, "If you, his own mother didn't notice, it is minor." Which made me think: do I not look closely enough at my kids? Should I be paying more attention? I wonder what else I am missing? Good grief.

We saw a psychiatrist a few weeks ago to evaluate Timmy's ADHD meds, and to discuss the family history of bi-polar and depression. She read the psychologist's report, and talked first to me, then to Timmy alone, and then to me alone again. She said he shows signs of depression and anxiety, but based on the report she had read and her observations while talking with him, the anxiety is the worst of the two. She concurs with the psych that he likely does not have ADHD, but that his focus problems and difficulty in school may be related to a neurological issue. She also said she didn't see signs of bi-polar, at least so far. So, we have a referral to a pediatric neurologist, who will probably be in DC or Richmond. She did put him on Zoloft for his anxiety. I went home and read up on it, and it is not recommended for adolescents except for treatement of OCD, which he does not have. But she's the doc, right? And, after a week on the Zoloft, I saw incredible changes in Timmy's mood and behavior. He has been much more positive, has gotten up on time and out the door early for school nearly every morning . He is like a different kid. When I discussed that with his psychologist, he said that he would not have recommended Zoloft with the family history of bi-polar illness, but that he is very glad that it is working for Timmy. So, at least for now, scoliosis and flat feet aside, he seems to be on a sunnier path. I am just glad to see him happier. Now we just have to keep plugging away at the school part.

Molly just came in here and asked if I was writing about her. I told her that I wasn't, and she said, "It figures". Implying that she is the lost, neglected and forgotten one! When I asked her if she would like me to write about the drama in her life, she said, "I guess not". Teenagers. God help me!

A day at the mall

I took Molly shopping at Potomac Mills yesterday. We were looking for a prom dress, but came home with some t-shirts for Jack, shorts and a shirt for Megan, and two climbing gnomes that are now on my porch. I had no strong feelings for gnomes before we were house hunting, and read in one subdivision's HOA rules that "lawn ornaments are not allowed". OK, pink flamingos, I can see. But cute little gnomes and such? I was not going to live somewhere that boycotted fairy tale creatures! And so, my realtor friend presented us with our first gnome when we moved in, and they've multiplied since then. I will say the most recent ones I bought are a little evil looking, which I didn't notice till I was hanging them up. One is positioned as if it is looking into Molly's window. We'll see how long that one lasts.........

While I was waiting for Molly to come out of the dressing room at Neiman-Marcus (this is an outlet mall, I definitely cannot afford to shop there otherwise!) , I noticed a man, about 50 years old, exiting the men's dressing room side, wearing Bermuda shorts and a polo shirt and carrying pink plaid shorts and a tank top. He was wearing black pumps with 4 inch heels and walked very gracefully back to the shoe department, where he had left his loafers, presumably. In every other way except the shoes and his gait, he looked like a typical man his age. He had obviously had practice wearing heels. Later, we got pulled in by a kiosk salesman to sample some hand cream and nail products. I'd probably have completely ignored him had he not called Molly and me sisters. Yes, I am a sucker..........He was maybe 24 years old, and had long, shiny fingernails, which he told me are from using the products that he was selling. I'd probably have been more impressed had they been a woman's nails. On a guy, long clean white nails don't exactly advertise manliness!

Molly wanted to check out the sales at Hot Topic. The male cashier had quarter- sized gauges in his ears and his earlobes were flopping around every time he moved his head slightly. I saw several girls in the mall with facial piercings in odd places, like in the divot under their noses, and above their upper lips. I did not see any eyebrow or lip piercings that day, although I am sure there were some there! I can't be the only one who used to look at National Geographic and think that lip plates, and bones through the nose and big holes in the face were fascinating to look at, but definitely not desirable! All I can think of when I see this kind of thing is that one day they will be nursing home patients, and maybe instead of playing cards and shuffleboard, they'll compare tattoos and piercings. Maybe the nursing attendants will pull them around by hooking a finger through the holes in their ears. Bizarre.

Happy Easter!

The baskets are stuffed, the eggs are dyed, the kids are bathed and in bed, and the kitchen is cleaned up. Friends from Camp Lejeune came for dinner tonight. They are on their way to NY to visit family and friends before he deploys in May for 7 months. We know quite a few Marines who are currently deployed, or getting ready to deploy, or getting ready to come home. Such a crazy life we lead. God bless all the servicemembers who so willingly give up so much personal freedom in the name of protecting our nation and its freedoms.

We are going to Williamsburg next week. Hoping we'll get the full family free day pass to Busch Gardens again. We are trying to figure out how we're getting there, since the van is in the shop and won't be ready until Tuesday, at the earliest. We will probably rent a van, since our lodging reservations have already been made for Monday-Thursday, and Tim's leave time is rare and precious! I am looking forward to a nice week with the family.

Happy Easter, everyone!

Love and Marriage

My husband and I are getting ready to celebrate 20 years of wedded bliss. Some days more blissful than others, to be sure, but I could not imagine sharing more than half my life with anyone else. The truth is, I love this man more as each day and each year passes. And I like him, too! He still makes me laugh, he still opens doors for me, he still treats me like I am the only woman he cares about. He takes care of me, he romances me, and he doesn't complain when things aren't perfect. We have a good thing together. I am a lucky lady!