first test results

On my doggy are back, the X-rays showed a mass on either her spleen, kidney, or stomach.  An ultrasound is next... but it looks suspiciously like cancer.  I'm numb. I'm holding all hope that it's not cancer, but just some fat.. but that's unlikely as my dog weighs 25pounds less than she 3 months ago.  I'll update when I know more.

invitations found

and ordered.. yay.  Now to finalize the guest list, and mail the invites asap. Bug will have her "horse party" :o)

Life's realities

Everyone must learn the realities of life.. things are born, they live, and they die... but I'm NOT ready for this one.  Our dog Sasha, will by 13 sometime in May, we think.  She's gone from healthy robust to skin and bones.. seriously you can feel all the vertibrae in her back when you pet her. This is not good. We're waiting on blood work results. I really hope she just needs canned food and more love.. I can do that!!!

again Time escapes from me

I keep losing time, or at least using all of my available time.

Ok, Drew's evaluation is Monday. Tim doubts there's need for therapy, I've NO doubts there's need, I think Tim is having a small issue with his "macho perfectionist self" that part of man that says nothing can be wrong, that's MY child.  He'll be fine once we're moving along with things.

Tori's VT session went really well, her evaluation indicated 3 more weeks needed, mostly working on "jumping" that is going from far away to close up objects with proper focus (both eyes at the same point)... it's fascinating to watch it all.  Next we're having her tested for auditory processing.. I'm sure to some it seems like I'm looking for a label for her, but really I'm just trying to find out if there's a cause for her problems in school or if it really is just attitude (could be a little of each).. she is stubborn, but she's also REALLY smart and for being so smart shouldn't be struggling so in class work. 

Today I'm going to order my announcement, cap n' gown, etc. yup, GRADUATION stuff.. I'm only a little excited (someone shoot me with with a sedative quick, I'm totally floating!!!) I'm GRADUATING!!!! ok, deep breathes... ehehe

Starting the plans for Katie's party, it's to be here, as she "must have a pinata"  I'll get the pull string kind in case it must be done indoors due to weather.   She wants Pony theme, and I can't find the invitations I want.. I'll keep looking but time is not on my side.

 

 

To do list

Mine is long, mostly because I get side tracked, or go past the basic "do"... so I'm always trying to catch up. Today it's laundry, I also really need to vacuum. Drew's at school, I've got both washer and dryer running.. I'll go fold after this.

Yesterdays VT went well, next week they'll evaluate Tori to see where she's at, and if she needs more therapy. She's doing really well though according to the doctors. She's working hard, I can tell that.  No word on Drew's speech evaluation, but they have until Monday next to contact me before I start bugging them. That's two weeks and a weekend.  I didn't scrap last night, instead I took a lovely bubble bath. I really enjoyed that treat. Perhaps I'll work some on it Friday night.  Tonight is choir rehersal so I'll be home too late.  Ok, time to fold.

a good schedule going....

I think C. and I have landed a good schedule for the  next 10 weeks (well now it's 7-1/2)  then my quarter for school will end and we'll change it again, some.  But we've once again managed to make it work!!! 

Yesterdays breakfast was wonderful!!! Had yummy food, and a great chat with my mom. After we ate we dropped a check off at the orthodontist and then hit Michael's. Mom got Beth cross-stitch stuff a while ago, yesterday she got her a basket, needles, bobbins, thread and cloth for a second project, and the directions for that project.  Well, she "had" to get the others something, so Tori and Katie got plastic canvas kits, a star, heart and rainbow, and their own set of water color paints. Drew got paints and playdough.  *I* hit the scrapbook sticker ailse and found 40% off so I went to town. I'm very excited to get started on another book, I've 5 months of Alex's book left to do. I'm hoping to spend a bit of time tonight after tucking the kids in.

Dropped mom off, picked up Drew, lunched, went to school, met the girls, read for school, came home, tucked in my kids, crashed.  Tori has vision therapy today, we'll come home eat dinner, and tuck the kids to bed, then hopefully sit down and scrap a little.  Thankfully school is going smoothly and I don't need a ton of time for reading the given assignments, as I've already read most of them for the Political Science class, and the art history doesn't have a lot of reading. :o)

 

It's Tuesday.. again!

Weeks are flying by. Can anyone else really believe it's the 2nd week of JANUARY 2006!!!?!!!!  I'm amazed how time goes by so quickly sometimes, lectures can last forever, but looking back time has flown!

Things are pretty much the usual here. We had a quiet weekend IN, Friday night I fell asleep reading, sometime after 8:30pm, my love tucked me in... poor thing, we were supposed to watch a movie together. Saturday I went grocery shopping (in the rain), and that was my big outing for the day. We hung out, watched movies and just did stuff.  The kids painted with water colors, played on the computer, and watched movies and read. Sunday we did church, then lunch, a nap, hung out, dinner, I drove Beth's friend home, then came back and we watched 2 episodes of season 1, LOST.. :o) 

Yesterday we went to my in-laws in the afternoon we had playtime and scrapbooking. It was tons of fun!!!  I got 6 pages done in Alex's book. I'm almost finished.  I also got my bday card from my bil and his wife (sil-inlaw?) hehe, they gave me $$ to get more scrapping stuff, YAY! 

Today it's back to "real life" lots of laundry to do. I do get to have breakfast with my mom though, after I drop Drew at preschool, that will be nice!!!

 

update

My thumb is not broken, looks like it dislocated and then popped back in on it's own. the crookedness is due to muscle tension on the one side. I start physical therapy next week.

School.. art history is going well, and IS interesting. the other class Origins OF Liberalism (as opposed to AND) will also be interesting! I'm lucky to have gotten two good classes for my last "big" term at UCI. 

In other news, Drew is having some issues with his speech and that is causing him to be physically agressive in gymnastics class, preschool, and at home. He tries to express what he wants with a toy setting or game, but isn't understood by his classmates, so they ignore him, that results in him totally interferring with the game/toy, for example, he'll sit on the matchbox track/mountain to prevent anyone from using it. At home, he hits, thankfully he saves that for at home, but it's still not good. We're having him evaluated for speech therapy through the school district.  It is not uncommon for a child in his situation to act this way, and generally once the child can articulate their wishes they stop the aggressive behavior.

Tori is doing REALLY well with her Vision therapy, and might even graduate in 2 weeks, to celebrate she decided it's time to read "big kid"  chapter books, so she's giving the Laura Ingalls Wilder series a try. We know it's a little above her grade level, and have a back up series ready if it gets too frustrating.. but so far she's enjoying!!! As is Katie, to whom Tori is reading the books. :o)

I think that's about it from here... Beth has a babysitting gig tonight... ahhh, my baby is growing big, earning her own money and everything. :o)   She's sleeping over at my friends' house and watching 2 kids while my friend is at work for 4 hours. I'm 5 miles away, so if there's any problems I can help. :o)

Now, someone motivate me to do the dishes one-handed... yeah, it's as entertaining as it sounds.

 

skiing was fun.. being run over by a snowboarder was not

Had a great time, Tori and Katie were skiing the bunny slope by the end of the lesson, Next time we go (hopefully in Feb) they'll do 1/2 day classes and then ski the pm with us.  Drew did REALLY well!!! He was fearless, so much so that he scared the instructors. He had a great time, and was skiing down the "kid learner" run by the end of the lesson, he'll need a couple more all-day lessons before he's ready to ski with me and Pawpaw.

So, we dropped the kids off, Beth and Bill's GF M. had their stuff, so they took off together, Bill, Tim, Dad, and I collected our gear from the car, and Dad and I were ready for a soda.. so Tim and Bill went off.  We enjoyed our drink and watched the kids in the first 1/2 hour of their lesson. Then we did the bunny slope to make sure everything was settled and off we went. Had an interesting run.. it's a LONG run, Dad got a little altitude sick at the top.. which scared me, but the lower we got the better he felt. I fell twice, once I just lost my edge, the second one I got cut off by a snowboarder then a second boarder ran over my left hand. I should hear from the Dr. today about the Xrays.. it didn't look too bad at the time.. now it's crooked.. broken?? or dislocated??  I have it braced, hopefully it'll be easy to fix and heal quickly. After that run, Dad and I got lunch, met Bill, M, Tim and Beth, after eating we all agreed to meet at 3pm at the upper deck of the lodge.  Dad and I headed over to the kidzone to watch and photograph the kids. I got to ski behind Tori and Katie to take pictures.. it was cool!!! Got some good shots of Drew as well. I'll get the camera developed asap. And share.

I started classes on Friday, Art History and Origins and Liberalism.  I've had Art Hist. lecture twice, I meet the other class tomorrow. Art Hist. is going to be interesting!!! I'm the other one is too.

Ok, I'm off, time to take Bug to ballet.

What day is it?

Oh yes, Wednesday... had a great playdate.  Tori and Katie seemed to really enjoy.  Drew was hungry when our guests arrived, so I went ahead and fed him lunch and put him down for a nap. That turned out to be a great plan, as it allowed the girls to play, and my friend and I to visit. I got some pointers for stores for age appropriate, trendy kid clothes for Tori and Katie! We enjoyed lunch and hung out.  After they left we loaded into the van to make a last minute trip to the aquarium to meet another friend and her kids. Without Beth we had 7 kids aging from 7-1/2 to 2yrs. It was fun.  Now dinner is sizzling and as I'm starving, I'm avoiding the kitchen lest I try to serve the food 1/2 cooked.

Tomorrow, I'll be 32, and I'm spending the day one of the best ways I know how... with my family. Skiing.  Tori, Katie and Drew will be in classes for most of the day, but we can visit them, and get pictures (which we'll do).  Beth will just ski with us. I can't wait... we got about 4" of fresh snow Monday... conditions should be glorious!!!

 

Give a mouse a cookie...

You all know the story, right?  So I needed to vacuum the floors for tomorrows playdate.  Well then I saw the dog hair on the side of the sofa, so I had to vacuum that.. well being right there I might as well just do the whole sofa, which means lifting cushions and vacuuming under them as well.  When I finally got done Tim asked me if we were having a party.. I said no, just a playdate, but I got rolling.  He now wishes for playdates every week, to get me rolling... stinker.

Tuesday the third of January....

I can barely remember the day of the week at this point. Gotta love vacations.  Tim is back at work today. I'm sad he had to go back already, but glad to get our normal routine going again.. well sort of normal.  The kids are still asleep, all but Katie who did a sleepover, I'm meeting the mom to pick Bug up at Barnes N Noble.. an evil plan, as I've no money for a book..of course don't bother to tell me I've got about 15books here to read, and I go back to school Friday.  Yeah, whose lame brain decided that?!? a University that starts classes on a FRIDAY??? whatever.  2 classes this quarter, one class in the spring and I get to be done!

A playdate is coming!!!! I have a friend and her two dd's coming tomorrow.. the younger is toddling now, so I'll spend some time today making sure the floors are clean, and finding some fun little toys for her. I figured on setting up the polly pockets and My little Ponies in the bedroom for Tori, Katie, and guest. Drew can hang with my and my friend and the yougest guest. At least that's the theory. LOL

Not much else on the list to-do today. pretty much, hang out, clean up, and hang out. Boring, but I like this schedule so much nicer than the run run run I've been in.

 

HAPPY 2006!!!!!

I hope you all had a very merry celebration ringing in the New Year.  We did. As a planned party was cancelled a second last minute gathering came up, so we loaded the troops (and their pj's) and headed to my friend's home. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and frolicked through til Midnight, which we toasted in properly with champagne for the over21, and sparkling cider for the under 21 crowd.

After midnight we came home and snuggled into our beds and slept away the morning. Tim and the kids rose after 9am.. me, I was gifted by my family with sleep.. at 11:30am Tim came in to wake me for brunch. :o)

With no major plans, and rainy whether, we spent the rest of the day lounging and doing "in home" projects... I can now say with glee that I know exactly what is under my bed.

So, happy new year one and all.. May 2006 bring you peace, love, and Joy~