Catch Up

Wow, busy few days for us! Wednesday I went on Duncan's field trip to the Dixie Classic Fair. I think he really enjoyed that I went along. I did something I never do... I paid to let a guy guess my weight, with the caveat to please not announce it over the microphone. Imagine my delight when he guessed under by 45 lbs!! Duncan won a stuffed frog for my efforts. We walked for four hours so I got my exercise in that day! I'll post some of the pictures from that on my photo blog.


Thursday Charles took Connor to soccer practice while I packed for our camping trip to Hanging Rock State Park. It was the fall camping trip for scouts. We left right after work and headed up to Danbury on Friday. Friday night we cooked our own food, a delicious meal of steaks, corn-on-the-cob, and skewers of yellow squash, zucchini, and onions. YUM. Unfortunately we had two injuries Friday night. Mine wasn't as bad -- there were seat sized logs all around, but I kept slamming into one in the dark with my left shin. I have a baseball sized bruise and lump on my left shin. The guys finally avenged me and burned that particular log in the fire. Duncan got interested in a bug that everyone was looking at and reached over and grabbed the glass of a coleman lantern, and has a lovely 2nd degree burn/blister on the palm of his right hand. Say OUCH with me! Despite his boo boo, he and Connor both had a great time. They went on a three mile hike Saturday morning. The webelos 2 scouts cooked breakfast for us Saturday morning (fruit salad, pancakes and sausage) as part of working on their outdoorsman badge. Saturday night the Webelos did skits and songs for us by the campfire. Sunday morning our little group had bacon, eggs and toast for breakfast cooked over the fire. YUM. Then it was time to head home.

Back from camping in the rain

We had good weather until the smores came out at the campfire. We were one of 8 families that braved it in the rain -- we slept dry and comfortable. I got some great pictures from the trip, I'll write more later when my legs have un-stiffened!

Off to Camp in the Rain

Duncan and I are headed out shortly to go camp with the scouts -- a day program at Camp Hanes made especially for the scouts. We'll eat dinner and then camp overnight. On a bright note, the chance of rain has dropped from 100% to 80%, so I'm optimistic.

See you tomorrow!

Bad Day

Why is it when you try so very hard to do the right things by your kids it seems to backfire in your face? I sent Charles to scouts the other night with Duncan -- I just wanted a break, and I knew it wasn't a terribly busy night for that.

Today I talked to our den leader. In the nicest possible way she let me know he had been WILD that night. It isn't entirely his fault -- his medications that keep him somewhat calm wear off by that time of night, and if I give him his nighttime meds sometimes he gets sleepy. Charles was overwhelmed that night so he was no help to her... and she gently hinted that she was wondering if Duncan was the reason why some of the kids in our den hadn't been showing up. It made me feel about an inch tall. I'm sitting here sobbing but I need to get this OUT. It really makes me rethink scouts... for both kids. Duncan isn't average, and he never will be, but it's so frustrating to be made to feel like you're hurting other's enjoyment of an activity (note, I'm frustrated at other parents, not the den leader). Now I'm torn -- do I just quietly fade into the background? Do I medicate him during this rough period (he's normally NO fun at all this time of the spring) to get him artificially calm so he doesn't distract from others? How do I bring a second hyperactive child into scouts?

And while I'm annoyed that Charles just doesn't step up and deal with it, in my heart of hearts I know he's not up to it. So then I'm stuck with can I handle both kids without his help???

This is like karate all over for Duncan... he wanted to be there, but it just got to the point where no one could enjoy it with him there in a class. I don't want scouts to be that way for him, I'd rather fade before his feelings get hurt (not that he has noticed so far)... I'm just so hurt, torn, frustrated...

Thursday Thoughts

WooHOO -- Dexter is using the litter box again!!! He's also now sporting a pretty royal blue collar. So far when we let him out to roam he's coming back in an hour or so when called. We're skeptical about having an indoor/outdoor cat, but he's being pretty stubborn about it. I had to laugh this morning though... we are getting a "wintery mix", mostly snow at the moment. Of course, he was adamant about his outdoor time... until he got out there. He licked the snow... sniffed it... walked around the tree, then hid under the molded slide thing, only peeking his head out to see if he was still getting wet. I think his outside time lasted maybe 5 minutes today? LOL!

Charles is doing well, thank you to those who have asked. HIs finger still has some redness and one hard spot, but otherwise he is very much back to normal. Hopefully that is our last medical emergency for quite a while. I'm afraid Connor might be getting sick though. He's been really irritable and teary lately, and that's normally a sign he doesn't feel well. Only time will tell.

We have a busy weekend coming up -- Duncan's cub scout pack is holding their Pinewood Derby on Saturday morning. Duncan's car this year is done to resemble (as best we can) the transformer Crumblezone. He's getting help from the Uncle of his best scout buddy on it, so hopefully we'll have much better results this year. With 105 boys in the pack, and every car running at least four times, it's going to be a LONG morning.

Sorry I haven't put any new pictures up on the photo blog, but January is just not my best month for feeling well and energy. I promise to try and do better!

Friday Catchup

Let's see... where did I leave off? My dental appointment went surprisingly well -- I was really scared when they have to numb you to clean, but it was a non-event. One quadrant down, two more to go (I don't have to do the fourth one). Dexter sailed through his neutering with flying colors, and has already seemed to chill out a little from our hyper little furrball. He's got a microchip now, and I think he's done on his shots until April. We'll find out at his follow-up visit on 10/17. Scouts went well Tuesday night -- they worked on their citizen pin. This upcoming Saturday they have a community service event, but I'm sending Charles to that with Duncan. Wednesday brought soccer for Connor -- he had alot more hustle (still not really fast but improving), and was a little more attentive.

I feel like I've bled money on the kids this week -- lunch money, book fair $$, field trip $$, scout dues & camping fee... sheesh. At the end of the month are school pictures so it feels like a never ending thing.

Duncan is about 1/3 of the way to his popcorn goal so far. We still have many houses in the neighborhood to hit so hopefully we'll make alot of progress this weekend. He got to go on a field trip to the local fair this week -- his artwork took a second place ribbon this year. I am very proud of my little artist.

Hopefully this finds all my readers well. Have a great weekend!