Fridays

Friday. I have never understood why ppl get so excited about Friday. I know...the last work day of the week. I would get excited about Saturday! I never had any energy left to celebrate Friday. Although, most ppl grumble about Wednesday and it being 'hump' day. It's all a state of mind. Big deal...it's the middle of the week. Never meant much to me. For some reason, though, Thursdays were hardest for me to get moving. I would go to bed earlier on Thursday nights. Before I became a 'mom', that is. Fridays wouldn't be quite so bad, then.

Today is gray, gloomy, drippy. The temperature has started out in the 50's but is going to drop throughout the day. While Ms. Divine wore a lighter jacket TO school, she carried her winter coat with her.

Happily the allergy meds are working and the coughing has all but stopped and she can breathe again. TJ is suffering the same fate as his sister. So he is using the nasal spray allergy stuff too. And pain reliever. It's all you can do.

I have been contemplating where to put my squirrel feeder. We never took the time to put it up after we moved in last August. I WANTED to put it outside the front windows of the Florida room so I could sit and watch my squirrels eat BUT now we have Max. He would be out there barking at them all the time. So, I may have to settle for putting it out front by the maple tree. We'll see. I still have a couple of months to think that one through.

Today is one of those 'run to the stores' days. ick. I am also sitting here trying to rework my resume so I can get it out to a few places that I found I want to apply to. It is tough trying to get a job in this economy. They are still out there. It's just that you have so much competition for that one job!

okay...back to work...

Achoo!

So...Ms. Divine got sick AGAIN! I get her all well and send her off to school...and she comes home sick. Her throat was killing her and then her head filled up...she started coughing and sneezing....the school nurse said that the throat looked bad BUT at least her tonsils weren't infected! The nurse wanted to send her home BUT the attendance officer didn't want to let her go! (I thanked her later for having my daughter's well being at heart) So, poor thing missed school today.

I was pretty sure it wasn't strep throat...she had JUST finished two rounds of antibiotics back to back. I had a feeling it was her sinuses draining over time...but not sure why. She was on singulaire everyday. She is now on a once daily inhaler to prevent bronchial spasms. But the NP Theresa said that her allergies were working overtime and making her sinuses crazy! I told her, 'But she takes her singulaire everyday!" She said, "That is only to keep the allergies from causing wheezing and breathing problems. She needs another kind of allergy medicine for the head." GEEEEEEEZZZZ!!! So she asked me if I wanted a nasal spray or tablet. Of course I chose the nasal spray. No more pills! She told me that luckily Bethany didn't have a sinus infection becuz she doesn't really know what they would do about that. They couldn't give her any more antibiotics right now (nor would I let them!) She said that if she had anymore then she would end up with the bad bacteria in her body going crazy and REALLY making her sick. I am trying to get her to eat yogurt to help the good bacteria catch up! I really need to find a place to buy some acidopholus tablets...the REAL stuff...the kind that is kept refrigerated.

ANYWAY...Theresa gave me some Nasonex. I said, "We have some Astilen at home." She said, "It would be good to use both." ??????? "Why?" "The Nasonex is for the allergies but the Astilen is for the swelling that is caused by the allergies." Again...GGGEEEEEEZZZZZ!!!

This is what I know...she is getting the vaporub wrap around her throat, she drinks some warm water with airborne in it (which does more the quiet her cough than the Delsym cough syrup) and she took some tylenol before bed. Yes, she used the Nasonex. Tomorrow she will go to school armed with tissues.

She has spent the last 3 months having breathing problems of one kind or another.

I would say she is looking forward to spring but the allergies will continue and that is when MY allergies and TJ's go into overdrive. I am not looking forward to the body aches and head aches and sneezing...blah. I really need to find myself a decent allergy med.

Social Consciousness

12 degrees. 12 DEGREES! This is not right. My goosebumps have goosebumps with pet goosebumps!

With the fall of slush from the sky on Saturday, while on his way to his friend Steven's, out in the middle of, well, not much, TJ hydro-planed in a pile of slush and was thrown off the road into a field. The car with off the road front first and cracked the front bumper and broke part of the underneath shield off. It also has all kinds of 'field' packed underneath. We are hoping that once it warms and we can get it cleaned out that there isn't going to be anymore damage.

I just want it to get warmer. This cold has worn thin with me.

Our pastor's message yesterday was one about making a difference. He said that there are lots of people that attend church that have absolutely no idea what is in the Bible. He said that he is tired of hearing the excuse, "It's too hard to understand." He pointed out that there are lots of various translations of the Bible out there and that there MUST be one that any one person can understand. And it you are too lazy to read, or have a hard time reading, it is all on CD's now.

He also asked, "Is your church experience just social or is it meaningful? Do you make a difference?" Act 2:44-45 says, 'And all believers were together and had everything in comon. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.' He asked what the difference was, then, between socialism and Christianity? God...heart.

Our community has a huge community wide 'garage sale' the first Saturday of May every year. I think this year, whatever stuff we have to sell, we will donate the proceeds to our church food bank.

Our church is having its annual spaghetti dinner/spaghetti sauce competition this coming Saturday. There is not set cost for the meal for anyone...they just ask for donations. Most people are beyond generous. A charity is picked each year to donate the proceeds to. I am not sure, yet, what this year's charity is. I know that a couple of years ago, one of the women of our church, who has always been very active in so many projects, and who had taken in her mother, daughter and her daughter's children, her house had caught fire and burned down. The proceeds went to her and her family. I remember we had a lot of 'extra' things that we had not gotten rid of, yet, so we gave them to her, also. She is a wonderful person who was very grateful for ANY help.

So...are you social...or do you make a difference?

Air Kisses

Ms. Divine had a 'breathing' attack yesterday morning. I plugged in the nebulizer and she had a breathing treatment. It only helped slightly. But, she was managing well enough to get to school. So, I called the doctor's office and reported about her lasted attack. Now she is on asthma medication...for a couple of years, anyway. I guess asthma is one of those things that you just don't know when it is going to start on you.

TJ has had some flu all week. He had a med check up at the doctor's today and the doctor felt that maybe TJ was having an MSg reaction from the Chinese food we ate Monday night...especially when TJ stuffed himself with it at dinner then ate SOME MORE before he went to bed...then threw it all up less than an hour later. The doctor said it takes 3-5 days for it to work out of your system. I am more inclined to believe that Jr. had the flu...since his sister had had it...he never had a reaction to Chinese food before. Then again...he never ATE that much before.

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My house smells like a big orange. I bought some of that orange lysol this time...instead of the lemon kind I usually buy. Then I swept, dusted and scrubbed. Max took a long time trying to figure out if he liked it or not. He walked around with his nose stuck to the dining room and kitchen floors sniffing. Then he had to sniff the woodwork...he finally quit. At least he didn't try to 'eat' anything.

He still gets his van rides. I think I'm going to have to buy one of those 'doggie seats' for him, though. He has gotten so that when no one else is in the front seat, he'll hop up there and sit down just like he belongs there. There is no licking the window or going nuts. He just sits there taking in everything out the front window. This morning, while we waited for Ms. Divine to come out and get in so we could take her to school, I looked at him and gave him an 'air kiss'. He looked at me and licked the air! LOL

So...off I go. Not really anything else to say...life goes on...and on...and on...and if it stops...then you're dead! LOL

So Much for Candy....

Troy had gotten me some Dove dark chocolate candy for Valentine's day...along with a box of chocolate covered mints. I opened up both boxes and dumped it into a basket to set out on the counter. I told him it was nice but he knows what would happen if I ate all that candy...more fat all over me, migraines, and sick to my stomach. I gave it a week before it was gone. SILLY ME! It might have lasted 5 days except Ms. Divine brought her friend Amy home from school with her. Amy stood there in the kitchen and ate all the chocolates in the basket. She said, "I'm sorry but I am starving!"

I have gotten the idea that Amy only comes home with Bethany after school when they are short of food at her house. She said all she had for dinner the other night was 4 fishsticks and a cookie.

Amy's mom works a job and a half. Her 'step-dad' has a job...although I don't know what he does. There are two older step-siblings in the house. I guess when you work your tails off to pay for a house in a neighborhood that you can't really afford, own a boat that you hardly ever use, and buy the kids all expensive cell phones once a year...something has to give. They just don't buy food. So, Amy will come to our place to get something to eat. We feed her well. Yesterday, however, she basically had her head stuck in our refrigerator scarfing whatever she could grab.

I had a migraine from eating chocolate the day before...it isn't the chocolate...it is the drop in sugar level the next day that does it. ANYWAY, Troy was nice enough to 'cook' dinner. We had leftover pizza and spaghetti and Chinese food in the fridge. She picked out all she wanted and he did the nuker thing on it. Everyone ate leftovers last night. From the sounds of it, she stuffed herself well...probably to get her through the next couple of days!

There was one week where she came home with Bethany 3 days out of the week. But now she tries to avoid Max. He likes to jump on her and she has a fit. They have pets at their house but she says she doesn't like other people's animals. Understandable. She doesn't even like Pete the Hamster, either.

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So tonight we are supposed to get the wind, the thunderstorms, then dropping temps and ice. yay. We'll see.

This damp is not good. I am always afraid that Bethany's bronchitis/pneumonia will reappear and TJ is not sounding good. I gave him a dose of Theraflu. It seems to be the only OTC med that works on them. He said it took care of the aches and the running sinuses but he still has a pounding headache.

I do believe he will be putting off his church volunteer work until Friday this week. As long as the Youth Center gets cleaned!

If the ice doesn't get too bad tomorrow, I may be able to haul TJ to the gym with me. There is a stair climber machine that I have to master!

The Dog Pull

Today it was cold but we had some sunshine. A few snow lazy snowflakes, too...but SUNSHINE!

The kids both get back to school tomorrow...although, Ms. Divine is working on some things so that she can be right where everyone else is when she reappears at school tomorrow.

I have been busy trying to get all the dirty clothes done up today (and they don't make that easy around here!). I also scrubbed down our bathroom from top to bottom along with some other sweeping. Our bathroom smells like an orange grove now. Rather have it smell like that! LOL

I also took Max for a 'pull'. I call it that becuz he tries to pull me along. My shoulders ached when we got back becuz I held the leash in tight so he couldn't really go anywhere except by my side. I made him stop and sit a few times, hoping he'd get the hint. But...no. I need to get The Dog Whisperer guy to come to our house and make this dog mind.

One of my friends told me that she didn't use a choke collar on her dog...a dog trainer had suggested a different kind...it is called something like a 'spike' training collar. It has rubber spikes on the inside of the collar that go into them when they pull but the collar loosens right back up when they quit. So, I guess I'll have to find one.

Anyway...everyone seems to be well again. We'll see how long that lasts.

Pammonia

It happened. Ms. Divine has Pneumonia. Theresa (the NP) was making Bethany try and take deep breaths and she complained that it made her dizzy. I said, "and you would know how?" Theresa laughed. Then Theresa said that one of the medications she has to take for a few days will make her ornery. And, again, I said, "And I can tell the difference?" Theresa laughed again. I told Bethany she is my favorite daughter. I got the usual, "thanks. I'm your ONLY daughter." I said, "Not really. I had another one but she was annoying so I sent her away to a special home." Bethany said our home is 'special' enough for her.

As we sat waiting for the xray technician to come and get her, this van pulled up with a mom and her 'son' in it. The 'boy' got out and I said, "What did they do? Put fertilizer in his baby formula?" Bethany said, "So, you think he's a plant?" I said, "Well, he does look a little vacant in the eyes." Her reply was, "mean." What can I say...I'm bored?

The clinic that we went to was brand new...just down the road from her doctor's office...no more driving into Dayton to the Children's Hospital and hour long waits for blood work or xrays. Bethany said, "It smells funny in here." I said, "It's new." She said, "No...it smells like hospital." I said, "Oh..THAT. It is a special disinfectant that all medical offices use. It HAS to be HOSPITAL ODOR scent. Just to make you feel like this is a REAL medical facility."

I think Bethany now wants to go live in that OTHER 'special' home, now.

Over The Hill

The temperatures have warmed up (near 50's..and sometimes actually sneaking INTO the 50's) and the snow is just about all gone. I think Max is happy and sad at the same time...his feet do not get so cold outside BUT he doesn't have anymore snow to eat. I am sure that we will get some more before spring actually arrives.

I have the WORST sinus infection...the kind that hurts in the most amazing way and gives you nose bleeds. When I have that kind of pain in my head I don't have a lot of patience for people. Bethany has been using the nebulizer again as she started complaining about not being able to catch her breath. It is helping.

Troy and TJ went to church by themselves yesterday morning. They came home with a lot of thoughts to share. TJ said it was about the Prodigal Son and Tough Love. Troy said he has some adjustments to make himself.

Last night, instead of the usual Sunday night service, they had something they call 'Souper Sunday'...and yes, I spelled that correctly. Anyone that was interested was to bring a pot of home made soup and a board game. They gathered in the Family Center. Troy made a big pot of butternut squash soup and he and the kids gathered up board games and went. I stayed home. sigh. But this pain is too much for me to stand.

They came home all happy and telling about the soup they ate and the games they played. Bethany met some new girls her age. Troy went up in the youth center with some of the other fellas and showed them how to play pool! LOL TJ played some board game with younger adults...it sounded like a kind of Trivial Pursuit.

There isn't anything much else going on. I am just glad that they are all getting more involved in the church and liking it. At the end of this month they are having their annual spaghetti sauce cook-off dinner. The community is always invited and it is quite the fund raiser for the missionary funds and church improvement, etc.
This year I am just going...I'm not doing spaghetti sauce. I'm kinda being a stick in the mud, huh?

What Makes the World Move

We had a heat wave over the weekend...just enough to start melting some snow, then freeze the slush. It didn't do well for Ms. Divine's health. Actually, I can't blame it all on the weather. Last week they had school 3 out of 5 days and two of those days that they had school were on 2 hour delay. During that week her friend Amber had a nasty flu bug. You would have thought with the amount of school they missed plus the frigid temps that Ms. Divine would have missed all the nasty 'bugs' BUT her friend Amber's mother decided to send her to school on Thursday...she wasn't well enough...she spewed all over one of her classes and her Mom ended up leaving work to come pick her up. Thus...Ms. Divine now has that nasty flu bug and is just not doing well at all. Sunday her face was red but since then she has been a shade of pale that I don't recall ever seeing on her before. For instance, for her lips to be colorless is amazing. The doctor gave her some medicine to help stop the vomiting but it didn't help last night. She is 'emptying out' in two different directions. poor baby!

When we lived in Milford, Ohio, the kids got a 'disease' that I had NEVER heard of before (apparently it is something foreign to Northern Ohio)...their cheeks turned a bright red and their arms ached and the bottoms of their feet hurt to the point that they could not walk on them. I was told by the school nurse that they called it "Slap Cheek".

These two pets here...Max the dog and Pete the Hamster...make me laugh!

Pete doesn't seem to be too afraid of Max even though he is a LOT bigger than he is. Max likes to put his paws up on the sand that Pete's cage sits on and watch Pete in his cage.



Pete will see Max there and go over and put his two front paws up on the wire 'bars' and stick his little whisker twitching nose up there. Max will push his nose closer until they almost touch. Then Pete will go back to his business and Max will get bored and leave.



The other night Pete did something that we still laugh about. He was busy nibbling on a seed log when Max came to watch him. He looked up at Max, reached over into his dish and picked up a corn kernel with his front paws then shoved it through the cage bars and dropped it. He watched while Max 'vacuumed' it up then he went back to eating his seed log. Max left.

Unfortunately with Max, once you do something for him or give him something, if he likes it, he will bug you until eternity to do it or give it to him again. NOW, every time he puts his paws up there to watch Pete, he will start his squeaky whimper because he wants Pete to give him some of his food again!

I have a routine that I do with him on mornings when there is school. I get up, let him out, then he comes in and I give him fresh water and some food. He will go downstairs with me to wake up Ms. Divine. Then he lays in his bed until she is ready to leave. I open the door out into the garage and push the keychain button so the back passenger side door opens, he hops in, I close it, get in the van THEN open the garage door. He likes to watch out the windows at the kids and cars when I take Ms. Divine to school. Then we come home, I pull in, close the garge door THEN open the back door of the van, he hops out and waits for me to let him in the house. He goes straight for the sliding glass doors so he can have one more time to empty himself before he gets back in his bed and snoozes for a couple more hours.

NOW, he wants to go with me EVERY time I go somewhere!

He reminds me of some people that just feel that if you do something nice for them once, you should do it ALL the time. And if you don't...WELL...there is a whole lot of nastiness heaped down upon your head! Suddenly, instead of being a nice person for doing something nice for them when you didn't HAVE to, you are the worst person in the world because you QUIT doing it! They can't be mean enough! I've run across lots of people like that in my life. It ALMOST makes you want to NOT do anything for anyone ever again! I feel sorry for those people. They never seem to get it...that they don't DESERVE to have everyone give to them all the time. That they should be thankful when others are kind enough to WANT to help and be nice.

I've had people reach out and do nice things for my family, or me, once in a while. I am always very thankful to them for putting themselves out and doing something nice. I don't EXPECT it to be done anymore beyond that one time. And sometimes, because I don't EXPECT and because I am truly thankful, they will help more or do something else nice. And if not, that is fine too. They are under no obligation. And I should not be disappointed if they don't keep it up.

Pete did something nice for Max. Pete is a giver. Max is a taker. I love them both equally. And that is what makes the world go around.