Decisions, Decisions
Life with Arion has been really stressful lately. He has been thinking of joining the Army all summer, but he has also been dragging his feet to get things done. I have been telling him to have a back-up plan just in case they won't take him. You see the Army is funny about ADHD. They definitely want you off meds. Arion has been off for quite a while. There are other issues, i.e. weight. The recuiter has advised Arion to lose weight and he has, but not that much. So I talked Arion into registering for the local Community College. The main issue is health insurance. If he's not a student, he can't stay on our policy. So we signed up at late registration and Arion set a date for the Army physical. Now the problem. The school called and said they needed payment NOW. If we didn't make the payment Thursday night, they were going to drop him. So after a long discussion with Jim, Arion and myself we decided that he would stay and complete this semester at the Community College. If the Army did agree to take him, he would go in under a delayed program. This means the rush was off for the Army and Arion will get another semester under his belt. Now we just wait and see how the physical goes. I'll let everyone know when we get the result.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Squigglypoucht
You could also call this Arion's Speech Therapy, Part II. As some of you know, Arion loves to teach Brandon new stuff. It's just that most of the time, it not anything that's really useful. This time is no different. He has now taught Brandon that there is a part of his body called a Squigglypoucht. My spelling might be off, but the word is made up anyway, so who's counting. Now when Brandon pokes Arion in the stomach, Arion says "Oh my squigglypoucht". Then Brandon will reply "I got him in the squigglypoucht". GREAT. Now Brandon wants to know what a squigglypoucht is and exactly where is it. God help me.
You could also call this Arion's Speech Therapy, Part II. As some of you know, Arion loves to teach Brandon new stuff. It's just that most of the time, it not anything that's really useful. This time is no different. He has now taught Brandon that there is a part of his body called a Squigglypoucht. My spelling might be off, but the word is made up anyway, so who's counting. Now when Brandon pokes Arion in the stomach, Arion says "Oh my squigglypoucht". Then Brandon will reply "I got him in the squigglypoucht". GREAT. Now Brandon wants to know what a squigglypoucht is and exactly where is it. God help me.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Suprise at Dinner
Last night we went to Brandon's favorite place, the air port cafe. As you eat you can watch the planes land and take off. It's just a small local air port, but it's the one Jim uses and it's close. We all order, nothing strange, the order comes. I ordered soup and fried mushrooms. Brandon got the usual, cheese sticks. Not normally an entree, but he eats them. I ask Lauren if she would like to try the mushrooms. She is starting to get to the point that she will try new things. She ended up handing it to Brandon. Now, as some of you know, getting a child with a sensory disorder to eat is something of a challenge. It's not just the taste, it the feel. Getting Brandon to try new things is next to impossible. And even if you can get him to try, most of the time, he doesn't like it. Well I almost dropped over when he popped that mushroom into his mouth and chewed it up. No comment. I looked at Jim. I asked Brandon what he thought. No comment. I gave him another and he ate it too. I guess he liked it. He wouldn't eat anymore, but of all the things that I thought I might be able to get him to eat, fried mushrooms was not one of them.
Last night we went to Brandon's favorite place, the air port cafe. As you eat you can watch the planes land and take off. It's just a small local air port, but it's the one Jim uses and it's close. We all order, nothing strange, the order comes. I ordered soup and fried mushrooms. Brandon got the usual, cheese sticks. Not normally an entree, but he eats them. I ask Lauren if she would like to try the mushrooms. She is starting to get to the point that she will try new things. She ended up handing it to Brandon. Now, as some of you know, getting a child with a sensory disorder to eat is something of a challenge. It's not just the taste, it the feel. Getting Brandon to try new things is next to impossible. And even if you can get him to try, most of the time, he doesn't like it. Well I almost dropped over when he popped that mushroom into his mouth and chewed it up. No comment. I looked at Jim. I asked Brandon what he thought. No comment. I gave him another and he ate it too. I guess he liked it. He wouldn't eat anymore, but of all the things that I thought I might be able to get him to eat, fried mushrooms was not one of them.
Friday, August 22, 2008
I Hate Ants
Last night I came home to find my kitchen invaded with sugar ants. I HATE ANTS. They are everywhere. So I start cleaning and spraying. I KNOW SHANNON, chemicals in the kitchen. So here I am, trying not to get the ant killer near anything related to food, while cleaning everything and throwing out anything else. I ended up emptying the spice/baking cabinet. I have lived in this house for 12 years now and I have never pulled everything out of this cabinet. In the end I ended up throwing out almost half of what was in there. Of course this morning I came down and the ants had now found a ice cream bowl that Brandon had left out. Oh well, I have all weekend to re-clean everything and continue to kill the little buggers till their gone.
Last night I came home to find my kitchen invaded with sugar ants. I HATE ANTS. They are everywhere. So I start cleaning and spraying. I KNOW SHANNON, chemicals in the kitchen. So here I am, trying not to get the ant killer near anything related to food, while cleaning everything and throwing out anything else. I ended up emptying the spice/baking cabinet. I have lived in this house for 12 years now and I have never pulled everything out of this cabinet. In the end I ended up throwing out almost half of what was in there. Of course this morning I came down and the ants had now found a ice cream bowl that Brandon had left out. Oh well, I have all weekend to re-clean everything and continue to kill the little buggers till their gone.
God Help Me
As mentioned before, I was stung by a yellow jacket and was put on steroids. OK, let me tell you, if you are having problems with menopause, DO NOT GO ON STEROIDS. The last four days have NOT been good. Last night at about 4:00 am I realized it was the steroids. Let me explain. For the last four nights I have been having problems sleeping, usually not a problem for me. I have also been having more then the usual hot flashes. The last two night have got my legs killing me from the leg cramps that hit just after the crazy nightmares. I'm so tired that I just wanted to crawl up in a ball and hide from the world. All I can hope is that it will start to wear off since the prescription has now run out.
As mentioned before, I was stung by a yellow jacket and was put on steroids. OK, let me tell you, if you are having problems with menopause, DO NOT GO ON STEROIDS. The last four days have NOT been good. Last night at about 4:00 am I realized it was the steroids. Let me explain. For the last four nights I have been having problems sleeping, usually not a problem for me. I have also been having more then the usual hot flashes. The last two night have got my legs killing me from the leg cramps that hit just after the crazy nightmares. I'm so tired that I just wanted to crawl up in a ball and hide from the world. All I can hope is that it will start to wear off since the prescription has now run out.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Take A Look At My Bounty
They laughed at me when I said I wanted a garden. I got my pots and planted my stuff. So far it's been fun for the kids to see the stuff grow. Before today, we have picked one or two things, but nothing much. Today we had our first big harvest. Not bad. Two tomatos, 1 melon and 5 carrots. I know it sounds funny, but I told Jim I would be happy if we just got some tomatos out of the deal, so I'm pretty happy. The melen is about the size of a softball. Here take a look.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Back From Vacation
Well we're back from our Staycation. We had a great time. To save money we stayed at my brothers house in Delaware and did day trips together. The kids had fun hanging out and it was great to really have some time with my brother and his wife. The house they now have is great and very roomy. During our stay we went to a museum, a potato chip factory, Fort Delaware on Pea Pod Island and took a 4-6 hour canoe/kayak trip. To finish up our week we had to leave Rick's and head back home for a minor league baseball game that my work was paying for. The only problem with the whole week was I got stung on my toe by a yellow jacket on Thursday and by Saturday, my foot was really getting swollen. I ended up calling the doctor and going on steroids. Right now, my toe is just really red and itchy. Here are some pictures of our fun.
The Kids outside the museum
Lauren and Sarah in the eagles nest
Matt and Brandon watching TV
Fort Delaware
Checking out the Big Guns (Brandon kept calling them Canyons)
Small Gun demonstration (very loud)
Kids line up to enlist
Brandon plays dominoes with the Prisoners
Canoeing on the Brandywine
Look, Uncle Rick finds a dead snake, what fun.
Brandon gets his rowing lesson.
Brandon prefers this way.
Brandon with a mascot.
Lauren hanging with some friends at the game.
Well we're back from our Staycation. We had a great time. To save money we stayed at my brothers house in Delaware and did day trips together. The kids had fun hanging out and it was great to really have some time with my brother and his wife. The house they now have is great and very roomy. During our stay we went to a museum, a potato chip factory, Fort Delaware on Pea Pod Island and took a 4-6 hour canoe/kayak trip. To finish up our week we had to leave Rick's and head back home for a minor league baseball game that my work was paying for. The only problem with the whole week was I got stung on my toe by a yellow jacket on Thursday and by Saturday, my foot was really getting swollen. I ended up calling the doctor and going on steroids. Right now, my toe is just really red and itchy. Here are some pictures of our fun.
The Kids outside the museum
Lauren and Sarah in the eagles nest
Matt and Brandon watching TV
Fort Delaware
Checking out the Big Guns (Brandon kept calling them Canyons)
Small Gun demonstration (very loud)
Kids line up to enlist
Brandon plays dominoes with the Prisoners
Canoeing on the Brandywine
Look, Uncle Rick finds a dead snake, what fun.
Brandon gets his rowing lesson.
Brandon prefers this way.
Brandon with a mascot.
Lauren hanging with some friends at the game.
Thursday, August 07, 2008
The Good and Bad News
The good news is that both the guys have lost weight. The bad news is not as much as they had hoped for. Neither one is going to continue, but both have promised to continue to eat healthier. Arion and I have had discussions on what he should switch to for breakfast and lunch. I think I will continue to make 2 veggies and 1 fruit with no starches for dinner. As of yesterday, Arion was down 10 pounds. Jim is down 11. The diet said they could lose up to 10 a week. So they lost about half of what was expected.
The good news is during the diet Brandon discovered that he liked cantaloupe. The bad news is when I tried to send some to school, I was told that he could only eat it at home. Truly a Brando's World thing.
The good news is that both the guys have lost weight. The bad news is not as much as they had hoped for. Neither one is going to continue, but both have promised to continue to eat healthier. Arion and I have had discussions on what he should switch to for breakfast and lunch. I think I will continue to make 2 veggies and 1 fruit with no starches for dinner. As of yesterday, Arion was down 10 pounds. Jim is down 11. The diet said they could lose up to 10 a week. So they lost about half of what was expected.
The good news is during the diet Brandon discovered that he liked cantaloupe. The bad news is when I tried to send some to school, I was told that he could only eat it at home. Truly a Brando's World thing.
Friday, August 01, 2008
Do I Really Look That Old????
Yesterday, one of my tenant came into my office an upon seeing the picture of Lauren as a baby asked if she was my GRANDDAUGHTER. Holy Shit. Do I really look that old. I calmly told the woman that it was my DAUGHTER. I tried to be polite, but I really wanted to shout at her. For crying out loud. I am only 43. I know it possible for me to have a grandchild, but really. Do they have to rub it in. Couldn't she just have asked who the beautiful child was?? After Brandon's comment the other day I am starting to get a complex.
Yesterday, one of my tenant came into my office an upon seeing the picture of Lauren as a baby asked if she was my GRANDDAUGHTER. Holy Shit. Do I really look that old. I calmly told the woman that it was my DAUGHTER. I tried to be polite, but I really wanted to shout at her. For crying out loud. I am only 43. I know it possible for me to have a grandchild, but really. Do they have to rub it in. Couldn't she just have asked who the beautiful child was?? After Brandon's comment the other day I am starting to get a complex.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
