Updates

The kids are still at Dot Dots, having a large time. Charles is seeking out some therapy for his depression over the next couple of weeks, I hope it helps him. Otherwise, we've been pretty boring.

Live Out Loud

"If you ask me what I came into the world to do, I will tell you I came to
live out loud." Emilie Zola

We fired the therapist today -- Charles just isn't comfortable seeing him, and given my concerns, I decided it was best. The kids are at Dot-Dot's house for a surprise vacation, so this should be interesting -- she hasn't had them all to herself in quite a while.

Nothing much else to say tonite, but I did find the quote above recently and thought it fit my personality.

Family Ponderings

Ever wanted to fire a therapist? I can't quite decide if I do or don't... not that he's done anything wrong, but I sure don't know what we are up to. We took the kids with us tonite -- he saw Duncan & Charles, then me & Duncan, then me & Connor. I got scolded for responding everytime my kids made a comment to me, and Duncan told me he was "very angry at us for punishing him". John (the counselor) did note that Duncan definitely has some learning disabilities, auditory processing being one of them (that's not exactly how he put it but I can't remember now), and that we needed to "love him alot" or he'd start rejecting our love. Hmmm..... I feel like I just fell down the rabbit hole. I know my "homework" is to stop explaining when I discipline, just "be in charge", to love my kids alot, but other than that... next step is how do I get control back...

The kids are upstairs right now watching "The Incredibles" -- we bought it after we took them to see it a few months back, and they caught a bit of it in the store. It's amazingly quiet at the moment.

I'll write more once I finish pondering, but I sure don't know if we accomplished anything tonite or not.

Ain't Nuttin' Up

The title refers to a song from the musical "The Robber Bridegroom"... we're having a pretty boring Saturday morning. Duncan came home Thursday; he seems glad to be home but to my dismay the fighting and arguing between the kids seems to have picked up right where it left off. I am hard at work practicing my even tone of voice as I work with the kids -- the four of us have a family counseling appointment on Wednesday. I have hopes it will help. Connor is making marginal improvement on potty training -- he woke up dry this morning, I was so proud. He's also starting to ask to go to the potty. wooHOO.

Dot goes home today -- I think the kids have been very much on her nerves with the fighting. She has been critical of their behavior, and is probably ready for a grandchild-free zone for a bit.

We had another in a minor string of financial disasters -- our brakes were checked a month or two ago, and we were told the brake pads were wearing, but we had several months to go. We've tried several times to get them looked at, but just didn't get there. Thursday night they started GRINDING, so I made Charles have them looked at Friday morning. Sigh... the front rotors were below spec, and had to be replaced -- $324.67. So we'll be eating alot of hot dogs and sandwiches until we catch up. The lawnmower is spewing gasoline everytime Charles tries to start it, and since I treated my lawn this spring, it's growing like crazy. The neighbor said we could borrow his lawnmower, so I can put off that problem for a wee bit.

Well, it's time for me to roust my sleepy husband for his turn on kid duty. Hope you all have a peaceful Saturday!

You Can Quote Me...

"If it has tires or testicles, you're going to have trouble with it. " -Linda Furney

Very true, yes? Sorry, I tend to hide behind humor when I'm down or bored. Here's another one that struck my funny bone while surfing today:

"If you want to sacrifice the admiration of many men for the criticism of one, go ahead, get married." - - -Katherine Hepburn

These all came from here. Instead of working on some of my scrapbooking projects, or even something as low down as h-o-u-s-e-w-o-r-k I'm sitting here rambling. Duncan & Dot have decided he's not coming home this weekend, so we'll see when he actually comes home. Connor had company yesterday, 3 of Penny's kids, and today he's just been chatty and screechy (is that a word?) I have an urge to take the camera outside and play with it, I've been reading some photography articles on the web lately. I tried taking some of Mandy yesterday while Penny & the kids were here, but nothing came out that suited me.

Have a good Sunday, I might write more later...

Saturday Ramblings

"No one, Eleanor Roosevelt said, can make you feel inferior without your consent. Never give it." Marian Wright Edelman

I feel so uninspiring this morning. All my favorite blogs haven't updated since the last time I checked, I'm waiting for some friends to arrive for a visit, and I just feel... lost. Connor woke up in a marvelous mood this morning -- he's busy playing Spyro the Dragon on the PS2. My back is really tight today -- this one spot on my lower shoulder blade has been bad for about a week, but I'm starting to get tension in my neck too. I think the rainy, damp weather is part of it. I keep looking around my house and can't decide where to start. I have more CDs to add to my computer jukebox, I need to finish my other canvas project, I need to determine what pictures need to be printed so they can be added to the scrapbooks... Duncan has clothes that need washing... I could go on and on, and none of that inspires me to get up and DO something. Rainy Saturdays were meant for sleeping!

"... try being the right person."

"Rather than trying to find the right person, try being the right person. " unknown

I went to a humorous quote site on the internet, but this one popped out at me. I sure am trying awfully hard lately to be the right person... hmmmm...

I spoke to Dot today -- Duncan is enjoying his visit with her. We normally talk alot more with her while he's there; I guess all of us need the break from each other. Connor I think is really missing his brother, he had a sob session this morning because we washed his blanket. He went to Kidspot today -- Dad needed a break (and had a dental appointment) and I thought a change of scenery would be good for Connor.

I am really thinking I'm probably going to have to make an appointment with a psychiatrist to talk about a medication change -- I'm still very scattered and teary, which tells me the prozac isn't doing everything it should. I sat down tonite at the computer to kill some electronic blips, and to clear my head with some journal writing. I have the jukebox on my computer playing music and it's very peaceful -- Charles is depressed, so he went to bed early. I thought he had an online gaming session tonite (World of Warcraft) but I guess not!