Helicopter Moms

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Tuesday Quickie

Well, I thought I would to be able to post that I am headache free for the first time in over a month... we are close but not quite there. I spent alot of the holiday weekend being lazy because my head hurt. Do check out my photo blog -- part of my cleaning uncovered the missing Tiger pictures I had promised to share, and they are now posted on it.

This is our first week in AGES with nothing to do any night this week -- wooHOO. I could get used to this. It won't last long though. Next week Duncan & I have to go for our swimming test for scout camp on Monday evening, and then we are hitting up Chuck E Cheese with another family to celebrate the ending of the school year Wednesday night (school ends Friday 6/8). The kids won't know about this until we get in the car to go or they will bug us to DEATH about it. I'm also attending field day for both kids next week. The week after Duncan & I head to scout camp, as part of a group of 17 scouts and 9 parents. THAT should be interesting!!

I'll post more later if I get a moment!

Update on Me

OK, enough blog nonsense, I'm sure my readers are ready for some "news".   Thank you so much to all of you for your kind thoughts on my migraine issues.  We started a new drug yesterday, so we'll see how this goes.  For the most part mine aren't crippling, but they sure aren't fun.  I got new glasses last week, bifocals, so I am hoping as I adjust to those it will improve the headache situation.  When I first put them on I thought they had given me someone else's glasses!

We are counting down towards the end of the school year on June 8th.  Connor's soccer finished on 5/16, and I've already signed him up for the fall season.  I am hoping we can work out a half day soccer camp for a week later in the summer to jump start his soccer season next year.  He has gotten his glasses as well, and we have to stay on him to look through them and not over them.  He went back to the ophthalmologist on 5/18, and we have started patching the good eye for 2-3 hrs per day.  He whined ALOT the first few days, but I think we're over the hump.   He goes back to see her for a checkup in early July.

Last weekend was the end of year scout picnic for our pack.   It's hard to believe scouts is over for the year.  We have resident camp coming up in two weeks for Duncan & I, and then we're done until September.  He has been asking about taking karate again.  Last time he was so disruptive to the class we finally had to pull him from it.  There is a new class in town specifically for ADHD kids, but it's pricey, so I've got to ponder that one.  The kids also finished their swim lessons last night.  We are trying to get them in another session this summer, but so far every single session we'd have to miss at least 25% of, so we haven't signed up yet.  I dropped off the forms last night to enroll them in vacation bible school at church for the last week of June.  They had such a wonderful time last summer, so it was a must-do activity for us this year.

We made a trip to Virginia to visit my parents last weekend, and got to see their new house.  My kids really enjoyed seeing them and their cousins.  I enjoyed seeing their cousins too -- they have grown so much!!  Hopefully I'll get the group photo of all six posted on my photo blog this weekend, but I need to double check with my brother and his wife if posting that is OK first.

Dexter seems fully recovered from the tail bite, his coat is weed-free again, and he is really loving the summer weather here.  I kind of miss the winter days when he was inside more, but he seems very happy.

Anyone going to CKC in Charlotte, NC in August?  I'm really looking forward to that, I've signed up for quite a few classes this year.  Last year my favorite classes were from Quick Quotes, so I'm working on finishing up the last of those so I can prove to Michelle (the instructor) that I actually completed them.  I have three QQ classes this year as well!

Blog Nonsense -- Blame Felicia

1. Yourself? Outstanding
2. Your boyfriend/girlfriend? married
3. Your hair? my best feature
4. Your mother? feisty
5. Your father? Daddy
6. Your favorite thing? my camera and/or my computer
7. Your dream last night? none
8. Your favorite drink? diet coke
9.Your dream car? Mercedes
10. The room you're in right now? den
11. Your fear? snakes
12. What you want to be in 10 years?
13. Muffins? chocolate chip
14. Who you hung out with last night? Charles
15. What you're not? shy
16. Time? 2:28 p.m.
17. What you're wearing? shorts
18. Your favorite weather? Fall
19. Your favorite book? romance
20. Last thing you ate? triscuits
21. Your worst vice? talking too much
22. Your best friend is? Missy
23. What you're thinking about right now? scout picnic
24. Your car? Odyssey
25. Your life? slammed

Yet MORE Blog Nonsense -- Blame Melissa, AGAIN!

I am a Sunflower What Flower Are You?

Blog Nonsense - Blame Melissa

Your results:
You are Spider-Man

Spider-Man 80% Catwoman 60% Robin 57% Green Lantern 55% Iron Man 55% Superman 50% Hulk 45% Wonder Woman 42% Batman 40% The Flash 40% Supergirl 37%

You are intelligent, witty, a bit geeky and have great power and responsibility.

Click here to take the Superhero Personality Quiz

Dexter's Impersonation of a Poodle

Yep, a poodle. Charles says I'm insulting HIS cat. Dexter came in Friday morning and complained when I rubbed his tail -- further inspection found a swollen spot about 1/2 way up it. Off to the vet he went, to discover something had bitten him and his tail had started to abscess. So we are now doing antibiotics. In order to drain the abscess, they had to shave most of his tail. I told him this is what happens when you "zig" when you should "zag". We think from the bite marks it was a rodent -- he normally leaves "presents" fairly intact, but there was a shredded rodent on the front porch that morning. It was either that or the garden snake he killed the day before, except the bites were too far apart to be that snake.

Ah well, he's feeling much better and did his best fe-lion impression in the backyard yesterday while tormenting a chipmunk.

Happy Anniversary to ME

11 years ago today I became a Mrs.   Charles arranged for me to attend an all-day crop on Saturday at my favorite scrapbook store, and we are going out to dinner tonite WITHOUT the kids.

I wish I felt better.  Monday I started my first full blown migraine, although I didn't know it at the time.  Lights flashed around my eyes, bad blurry vision, miserable headache.  My massage Monday night helped alot.  I was tired Tuesday, but kind of oblivious as I was on a field trip with Duncan.  Wednesday the blurry vision started again along with a headache, and I was dizzy and stumbling.  YUCK.  Soooo, I've been to the doctor, had a CT scan just to make sure it wasn't anything else, and have some meds for tension headaches to tide me over til I see the doctor again on 5/16.  Lucky me!

I'll post more about our field trip to the Biltmore House in Asheville NC when I feel a bit better.

Blog Nonsense - Blame Melissa

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

What a Week

Have you been to my photo blog lately? Go see my Monday in pictures! Tuesday my friend J. lost her brother after a long illness, so we spent quite a bit of time talking on the phone. Wednesday Connor had a physical (he's normal), an OT appointment, and then soccer. Thursday I tried to go to Charlotte for work and turned around after the interstate was closed due to a wreck and fuel spill.

Today I worked a 9 hr day to make up for time missed due to my blustery day Monday. Connor had an eye appointment and after YEARS of me saying I thought something wasn't quite right, he now has to have glasses. He's farsighted, and a HUGE difference between the eyes, so if the glasses doesn't correct it he'll have to be patched for a while. Duncan threw a hissy fit that he was "the only child in this family allowed to have glasses." We're also in the middle of a medication change for Duncan, and a dosage change for Connor's medicine. I was so tired last night I went to bed at 7:45 p.m. -- I still haven't watched Survivor from last night.

Tonite I tried something new -- Dream Dinners. I am so tired of "nothing to eat" or "nothing to fix", despite a jammed freezer & fridge of food that I've resorted to bribing to get us eating better. Tonite I made Beef Tips for the crockpot, stuffed shells, and an oven roasted pork. I'm ready to eat now!

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!

Quick Update

And STILL I get complaints about lack of pictures -- what a tough crowd!! Here ya go... more!

It's been a long week so far -- we've been very short staffed at work, Connor has croup again, we had tons of rain yesterday, and I'm tired -- I miss my vacation naps!

Vacation 2007

I tell you, some customers are just never satisfied. So here ya go, more vacation pictures.

We're Back....

Vacation was great -- we had good weather until the last day, and everyone had a wonderful time. Dexter missed us I think, though he was well taken care of while we were gone. I have tons of pictures from vacation but I'll post a teaser here til I get more time...

Blog Nonsense - Blame Julie

Your Dominant Intelligence is Logical-Mathematical Intelligence

You are great at finding patterns and relationships between things.Always curious about how things work, you love to set up experiments.You need for the world to make sense - and are good at making sense of it.You have a head for numbers and math ... and you can solve almost any logic puzzle. You would make a great scientist, engineer, computer programmer, researcher, accountant, or mathematician.

What Kind of Intelligence Do You Have?

Sunday Ramblings

I've just spent the last hour catching up on other people's blogs, so I figured I'd better leave something for my readers, just in case!

We had a picnic at the church playground on Saturday with our friend Lisa & her kids -- her hubby Bob is working insane hours lately so they have time on their hands. The kids have really enjoyed the nice weather over the past few days and are actually ASKING to spend time outside. Dexter of course is outside from before dawn til after dark and loving it, coming in only to eat and drink during the day. Last night Charles had to pet both Dexter and Turbo outside before Dexter would come in.

Didn't do a whole lot today -- Charles took Connor to the park for a few hours (Duncan didn't want to go) and then I went to a scout parent meeting tonite -- Duncan has the opportunity to go to resident scout camp for 4 days this summer, and this was the preliminary meeting. I'm looking forward to it, mostly. I will be going too, since Beth needs one adult for every 5 kids. I'll have to get Duncan's clothes & gear pulled together over the course of the spring, but he should have a good time.

We leave on vacation next Saturday -- I have done NOTHING to start packing yet, but I am soo ready to go. No computers (mostly a good thing), and just time to relax and play. I promise I will post again before we leave!

Tuesday

I love my new van!!!  I love my new van!!  I think my husband is unhappy that I've claimed it for my drive-to-work car, but I love my new van!   Even the kids were unhappy about being shuttled to the bus stop in the old car.  Ah well.....  we've been a one car family for 6+ years, so I am really enjoying my independence again.

Did I mention Dexter has been a bad boy and lost his collar last week?   He hasn't brought me any more furry presents lately either.  We did get a laugh though -- he plays alot with the neighbor's cat Turbo when he's outside (Turbo cries to go out when Dexter comes in his yard)... well Sunday Turbo must not have been able to find Dexter outside because Turbo came and sat in OUR window.  The kids got quite the kick out of that.

We went to Charlotte this past weekend to show Dot the new van.   While we were there we got to go see not one but TWO movies -- "300" and "Ghost Rider".   I liked them both, but Ghost Rider was more fun.   Charles liked them both and is out shopping for the soundtracks to the movies.   "300" is pretty graphic in it's fighting scenes, but I'd see both again!

We have been working with Connor on some behavior issues since January, and had made alot of progress.   Well in the last week or so we've had a relapse.  The psychologist warned us this would happen, and told us simply to go back to what worked to fix it in the first place -- but I'm so frustrated!!    His teacher says he is making slow improvement on the ADHD issues at school as well.

I know today is the first day of spring, but we are so busy in spring I feel like summer is around the corner...  we have three weekends with no plans before Memorial Day -- EEK!    There are two scout camping trips (one me & Duncan, one family), vacation, a card-making class for me, scout end-of-year picnic... it boggles the mind.

Friday!!

What a week!   Connor had a his first day of spring soccer on Wednesday -- he's got a new coach this time and I like her.  He was determined to be the goalie (they don't have goalies in his age group) but he had a great time.  I got my "snack mom" duties out of the way, and it was a very pleasant evening.  His weekly OT appointment is on Wednesdays as well, so I think he will be sleeping well on Wednesday nights!  

Did I mention he had several cavities when he was at the dentist a couple of weeks ago?  They wanted to refer us to a pediatric dentist here in town.  They called Wednesday and had a cancellation so we went yesterday.  OMG - he needs serious dental work... I'm talking well into four figures!!!  And they need the entire fee UP FRONT to even schedule it.   So... I'm busy studying our finances figuring out where to squeeze that out.

Speaking of Connor and OT... I bought him a weighted blanket to use at home (he needs the pressure)... well apparently he has been annoying our cat lately as the cat decided last night to christen it... UGH!!!   So I had to take all the weights out and wash it... I was NOT happy.  It was still damp this morning so I get to spend time tonight inserting all the weights back in the blanket.   Crazy cat -- he lost his collar yesterday.  On a bright note the kids actually went outside and searched the yard for it.  The exercise was good for them.  He (the cat) also has a new trick -- our house is a split level, so my bedroom window is about 1 1/2 stories off the ground rather than two.   Dexter has figured out how to jump up into that window.  He also left mouse #6 on the doorstep yesterday.  He's chasing birds too, but hasn't managed to catch any yet, although I saw a robin turn white yesterday when he got close LOL.

Two weeks from tomorrow we head out to Myrtle Beach for an inexpensive vacation -- just getting away and having some pool, sun, sand and ocean time.  Everyone in the family is looking forward to it.  Well, except maybe for the cat, but he'll just have to get over it.

More news later in the weekend (wink, wink) -- stay tuned!

Wednesday Waaaaaaaaaaaa

I'm in better humor about Monday -- we're just going to have to work through this.  I ordered Duncan and his buddy Comfort an item from scoutstuff.org -- a red vest to sew all their patches on so they can display how much they've done in scouts.

Duncan had his fourth grade writing test yesterday, and got an 80 on it, so we are very proud of him.  End of grade testing is such a big deal with the "No Child Left Behind" legislation.  He has a field trip coming up on 3/29 to the state capitol, so that should be interesting.

Today marks the beginning of spring soccer for Connor.  We had a chinese fire drill the past few days collecting all of his "gear" from wherever it had landed in the house since the fall.  I had to buy him new cleats as his feet had grown.  The whole family is going tonite, so this should be fun.  I have camera ready.

It's a busy scrapping week, not that I've gotten going much yet.   I'm participating in two cyber crops at the moment.  One is on my FriendsThatScrap list, a scrapping Survivor game.  Our challenge this week is to use movie, play or song titles as our layout titles.   Also going on is the Winter Blahs Crop over at Scrap Addict.  I'm hoping to get cropping in starting tomorrow night.

Our car is in the shop today having brake work done.  Ugh.  At least Charles is taking care of this one so I don't have to.