First week of school is done and over

Harley had a successful week. Only twice a note came home saying he was trying to sleep at school...once he had fallen asleep on the bus (what's strange is that morning he was wide awake getting ready for school!).

They are still in the reviewing stages of work from last year. I am braced for behaviors once they start challenging him, but who knows? Maybe he will surprise me?

We went right back into the 'school year' routine...therapies after school with Creative Perspectives and in-home therapies on the days he doesn't have CP (and Wednesday).

We had our family therapy session with Mike this past week. Only Andrew, the littles and I attended. We discussed how Tyler is beginning to mimic Harley's behaviors more and more and becoming increasingly aggressive. Mike warned us this will most likely get worse before it gets better. Right now Harley & Tyler are at about the same functioning level emotionally and socially - as I've mentioned before Harley's pretty much plateaued at a 4 to 5 year old level on an emotional/social level. He's been at this level for a while, so I have a feeling this is the highest he'll get.

I was discussing his recertification with his in home OT this week. I was asking if she felt he had a short-term memory loss. At first she said no...but as we discussed it she feels that if it's a auditory reminder or request, then yes, he has a memory deficit...So I'm not sure how we are supposed to list that on his recertification - since we are only supposed to list yes or no?

We are starting a 'new' behavior training program here at home for Harley where he earns 'tick marks' for preferred/compliant behaviors and loses them for unpreferred/aggression/non-compliant behavior. It's been working pretty well since Thursday morning...he earns time on my laptop...which really kind of sucks since he plays and navigates the web in such a way it slows my computer down and I am afraid he will click on the wrong thing and get through my virus software:O He's already crashed the computer that DDRC gave him a couple of years back. Hopefully we can figure something else out soon so he has a different computer other than my laptop to use for his reward.

Kelly's first week of school went well...she did her homework, I didn't get any calls that she missed any classes. I think this year will go much better as now we have BIG leverage. She's turning 17 in about 4 weeks and expects to get her drivers license. She's been reminded all summer that she will NOT be getting her license on her 17th birthday because first she needs to prove to me that she can be responsible enough to attend her classes and keep her grades up...besides she doesn't have a vehicle she can drive to/from school, friends around, etc. Right now we are down to one vehicle (my newer van) and I cannot be home without a vehicle more than I already am--besides Andrew needs it to go to work.

Robert's been a challenge. He's been slightly (ok, more than slightly) depressed that he no longer gets to go to school. We DID warn him of this...he's been on a job search but with the economy the way it is it's gonna be a hard, long road and his frustration levels are not the best when it comes to waiting. Voc Rehab is working with him in the hopes that they can find him a placement with the additional supports and accommodations he will need to be successful with his disabilities. His therapist and psychiatrist are still suggesting we apply for SSI disability benefits for him, but I really don't want to give him an easy out to never work...which is the way he will see it if he can sit at home and collect money to be disabled, he would have no desire nor drive to attempt to find work or even volunteer opportunities.

Tyler's new school year has yet to start. He's going to be a 'senior' in preschool this year. They have changed the location of his schooling this year and he will have all new classmates. He usually excels in his school work, I'm just concerned about his behaviors.

Zachary continues to improve on his speech and may or may not qualify for Early Intervention services...it's a tough call at this point according to his speech therapist. He will be evaluated by DDRC in October or November and depending on how he does at that meeting will determine if he begins school in January of 2011 or if he will need to wait and start in September.

We were able to help one family with school supplies this year. No others came forward for help (at least not that I saw). The moderator at the local freecycle started her own private group for helping people and I think she's been denying any requests for that kind of help and referring them to her other group. It's sad because she's made it difficult for people to 'join' her other group if she has a personality conflict with them...so that's really reduced the number of people I can help.

I have a friend who has been struggling putting food on her table and am trying to help her out...but many times she won't take the help. I feel so badly for her and her family. I do not have a LOT of money and cannot help her out with a whole week's full of groceries at a time, but I try to send little things over as I hear she's in need. I wish there was more I could do to help her but I also understand her need to try to find other ways to provide for the needs of herself and her family.

There's many other things I've been working on over the past few weeks and really really want to start updating my blog more often so that I don't have such long posts in the future. I'll try to post more updates on the goings on in our lives in the coming days, but I think I've given everyone a pretty good picture on the things we've been working on this past week.

A trying week ahead of me

Just a taste of what I've been dealing with the last couple of weeks that has kept me from blogging LOL

I have a difficult week ahead of me and can use all the extra help/thoughts/prayers I can get...

I have a sick toddler (Zac)...fever, cough, sounds awful...leaving me sleep deprived as well so that isn't helping the emotional aspects...

Yesterday Robert was at a friends' house. He suddenly stalked in the door and started slamming stuff around...ends up that the 7yo girl (who he is always been very cool with) started to jump on his back..he told her to stop and she didn't...so he smacked her! (her mom is my bff and had spent the night at my house after a loooong girls' night!)...I just don't know what to do to get through to him...he turns 18 in 3 days...the only thing I see getting through to him is jail time...because he's just not getting it...more on that later...

Today my teens come back after spending 18 hours with my ex husband and his parents. They are always very edgy and tense. I don't know what to do for them. Kelly is sick too...sore throat (and we asked her dad not to make her go since her grandpa is dying of a cancerous brain tumor and shouldn't be exposed to any sicknesses), but he refused.

Monday I have to get a blood draw to find out my cortisol levels now that I am not on the prednisone anymore...My pituitary may have been damaged by the pressure on it over the years or by the surgery. If my levels come back low, I will have to have more testing...and probably hormone replacement therapy (my adrenal gland does not appear to be working correctly). We were still hoping to not try/not prevent for #6...now we don't know where we stand on that...we will talk to the dr after the final results come in.

Also Monday I see the neurosurgeon for follow up...last time he didn't even so much as look at me, just asked a couple of questions and rushed out of the room...so I complained...now his bedside manner sucks even more...when I went to the dr last week I found out that the neurosurgeon didn't even have my neurosurgery input into my medical records!! (it will be 11 weeks tomorrow!) He has released me to drive - but I can't turn my head fast without dizziness so I figure driving is probably not a good thing...

Then Tuesday we have to go to court with Robert about his assault charges from when he jumped a girl at school a couple of weeks ago. I am scared he will have this bad attitude he's been having with us and the judge will slap him hard! He keeps playing this "she deserved it" game...we don't know yet if the parents will be pressing charges or asking for restitution (the girl is a pom and he put her in a headlock and punched her in the head a couple of times, then scratched her on the chest to draw blood). He has disabilities and the school psychologist is planning on being there to explain his 'issues' as well as me taking his medical documentations...but still, I don't want him to get off the hook because of his disabilities...then I feel like a bad parent?!

Wednesday Robert turns 18...I am seriously worried that he will get his ass in a sling and end up in jail for hitting someone or acting inappropriately...I just don't know how to get through to him. I've had him in counseling, but he got discharged because he would clam up and sit and draw the whole time...so it was a waste of the counselor's time. Now that he turns 18 everything changes about who he can see (he has to switch to an adult therapist)--and he has trust issues...what am I supposed to do?

Also Wednesday I have to meet with the new special ed director for Harley's school. He was "at the top of her list" when she took over as the director a few weeks ago...she called a special meeting so that she could ask how we best handle his behaviors and aggressiveness...well he has a behavior plan. I asked if she had met him yet...and she responds with once...I told her he is a different kid in person, much happier and joyous than what's on paper...she responds with "not from what I saw"...I guess the school called her out on her first day during one of his behaviors...so I feel that was so totally unfair as her first impression of him was not so good....

Then Thursday I get to do all the follow up on everything else. I still have to schedule Harley's appointments too...he has been having more problems, more seizures (which are creating the behaviors, but they are abscense (sp?) seizures and the school insists he's NOT having them b/c they expect a seizure to be a falling on the floor flailing around...even though he has a health plan that describes exactly what a seizure looks like for him...

So he has to have an MRI and EEG -- but has to be sedated...he has had a brain cyst since he was a baby and they are concerned that it may have grown some and may have to remove it now. (It's at the base of his skull). He's also been going down hill with his physical attributes and has to start on PT and I still have to find an in home OT for him to replace the one who did the illegal restraint on him.

Speaking of that, we are in the process of working with the State Dept of Health on the investigation to see what actions the state may take against her (we are not filing legal charges b/c we don't want to put Harley through the stress of police/court).

Then next week I have to meet with Harley's state caseworker to ensure he still qualifies for the specialized 24/7 line of sight extensive benefits. I have no doubt but that is so hard on me because I have to focus on all the negatives about him during those meetings...I hate having to do that...It always makes me cry!!

I'm sorry this is so long...you are an amazing friend if you made it this far...

Bear with me while I catch up!?

I'm going to try to get caught up on my blogs over the next couple of days. Things have been so hectic and I've been so tired, that I just haven't gotten around to updates recently...

I have to go back out and see what the last post I made was.

*sigh* it's been a looooong Day!!

Last night we had an incident where Harley was mistreated by a therapist...Took 3 hours to calm him down after she left.
Here;s a couple of pictures...I think you can see them?

This morning started bright and early with pain waking me at 4:30am...Dr has suggested that I now take 2 percocets every 4 hours (vs. one every 4 to 6 hours) after calling him to tell him I needed something a little stronger.

Then the continuing saga of reporting and contact with aforementioned therapist...Robert to the bus....Harley off to the bus...Tyler off to Tricia for school...Zachary's birthday!!

Nine o'clock we had Robert's IEP meeting...he's qualified for special ed services after graduation for job training and placement!! WHAAAHOOO!! He's gonna need it.

Got a letter from my doctor telling me I had to reschedule the mediation...currently scheduled for early January...Now he wants me to reschedule for late Feb or early March! That seems so far away but he feels I won't be able to deal with the stress and fully and correctly heal if I don't put it off that long *sigh* now I just gotta wait for my ex and his attorney to go through the roof and possibly file contempt charges on me?! And of course I have to get notice to the judge as well!?

Back home...trying to respond back to the mediator and the computer just won't cooperate. Made a deal with Andrew I would go and get a laptop today instead of waiting til after Christmas sales. I have TOO many important things going on to have the computer constantly freezing up on me.

Oh yeah...Santa Swap (if you don't know about it, ask me what it is about!)...is being advertised on the radio every hour this weekend...Lindsay is out of town til tomorrow afternoon...That leaves me and possibly "anonymous" to moderate the slam dunk of members and postings we are anticipating...but this is something I am enjoying immensely!!

Tricia gets Tyler home from school and she and I plan to go to Walmart because she had heard of a laptop deal for $299...Just as we are about to walk out the door, Harley's school calls and says to come and get him....he is becoming physically violent and they couldn't calm him down...he was still having 'issues' with the incident from last night...Andrew rushes off to get him. He gets home and we discover the 'incident' from last night left bruises on him! I'm hotter than a hornet!!

Finally Tricia and I get to walmart and the lady claims they can't sell it for that price til tomorrow...not good enough...I can't head out into crowds tomorrow, it was hard enough trying to do it today after going to the IEP meeting...She rang it up and amazingly enough it scanned at the special price!! Whoot!! Laptop purchased and homeward bound.

Get a call from Kelly's school...she's failing Japanese and needs extra help. Not very thrilled with the boyfriend nowadays since he's being a butthead, but you can't tell a 16 year old anything bad about her first "love"...even though everyone including her friends at school are telling her how much he's been treating her like dirt and she deserves better. So who's gonna try to cop a tude with me? At least when I told her I didn't need the attitude from her today she knocked it off...

Oh yeah, Tyler went to the museum with school today...he was so excited he got to see REAL (and BIG) dinosaur bones up close...he wished he could've crawled on them like curious george and turned them into a puzzle...darn it! LOL

We had planned to have cake with Zachary for his real birthday today, but he turned 2 today and seems to know it!! He had a bad case of the terrible twos!! He wanted nothing to do with parties or cake today...Good thing his party is scheduled for Sunday!!

Needless to say I've been a ball of nerves all day...I am ready to take my ambien and resume my sleeping spot (on the couch because I feel like I'm drowning if I sleep in bed...even with the wedge pillows LeeAnna gave me :( ). I miss sleeping next to my husband, but breathing is more important...or is it?

I know there's more that's gone on today and I probably have updates for some of what I wrote above...but I'm too ready to go down for the night so it'll just have to wait til I have some time. It seems I will most likely spend most of the weekend on the computer...on my perch on the couch recuperating from today...

Sleep well everyone...Ambien will relieve me til the pain wakes me up at 4 or so...*(sigh)*

Sorry again...no throwback pic today...

Maybe if I can't sleep later...I had my pre op appointments today...I posted updates on that on my other blog (ask me if you need a link to it).

I am super busy trying to get arrangements made for when I'm not home and when I'm recovering. I'm sure you all understand.

I won't even try to promise to post a Flashback Friday pic as we have appointments tomorrow...6;20 Robert to bus; 6:45 Harley to bus; 7:10 Tyler to bus; 10:00 we have our interview and scheduling with our 19 yr old babysitter; 1:00 we have our appointment with the life insurance guy (for Andrew of course, I am not insurable right now :( ); 2:30 Harley's home on the bus; 3:00 Harley physical; 5:45 shadow training with one of our new respite providers...

Those who haven't been on facebook, did you know I got a haircut last Friday? I'll try to get a pic posted...although I don't like the "after" pic as Kelly was far too close with the camera!

Days are getting crazier and crazier

The closer I come to surgery...so I may start going MIA for long periods of time (as I have been). I schedule my surgery on Friday....I have Andrew taking the necessary steps to reactivate himself as Harley's CNA while I am "out of commission". Thankfully my job is the most wonderful place anyone could work and I have enough sick and vacation time saved to get full paychecks while I am out (assuming I will only need 3 weeks total off work). That will cover my health insurance premiums as well..then Andrew will also be getting paid the full check as well for filling in for me and is taking a leave of absence from work for however long the doctor tells him he needs to be available -- but definitely for the days I'll be in the hospital.

Once Friday rolls around I will be busy contacting people in my family to let them know when and where the surgery will be...amazing how family finally starts to find you when you are in "need" of support?! It's nice though since I'm rarely on any of my boards anymore. I have been battling awful depression and anxiety the closer we get to just the scheduling of the surgery.

I'm under extreme amounts of stress with the surgery looming as it is...then I have my Ex starting some crap over those papers I filed waaay back in August! For the past two days I have been working on my finanical affidavits, which has not been an easy task. It's really cut into my Zac & Mommy time as well!

Now Tyler's got such bad diarrhea tonight that most likely he won't be going to school tomorrow...he wants diaper rash cream and wearing underpants even makes it hurt worse his poor little butt is so sore!!

Zachary's had a verbal explosion this week, not only speaking words, but two syllable words and even a couple of really cool short sentences...He has a good 20 words now and I am super excited!! The speech therapist definitely feels that our mommy & me time help a lot with his verbalizations. I am so so proud of my little man..this week he even started to answer the question of how old are you? (and he responds with 2!! -- Not till December, but I'm gonna let him get away with it!) He's back to working on potty training and I predict by this summer my house will be diaperless! Not sure how I feel about that one!

I failed to come back and tell everyone what a great week Harley's had at school! Monday he had a substitute para and started full time on Tuesday...both Tuesday and Wednesday I got reports of him having an "awesome and productive" day!! I am so proud of him too!

My ex called and decided he wanted to spend the weekend with the kids. Robert leaves for his field trip on Sunday at 6:45 AM and is stressing out that his dad won't get him there in time for the motor coach...Kelly is stressing because she doesn't even want to acknowledge her dad, no less spend a whole weekend with him so she is plotting how she can get HIM to disown HER over the weekend. I think it's a bad idea, but she keeps telling me that she's old enough to make her own decisions and I cannot stop her.

Andrew is stressing out about my surgery date also! We're upping his meds in the next couple of days...I'm hoping the leave of absence from work really helps him to destress some, although I think being around the kids full time and trying to keep up with the house will be pretty stressful as well.

i'm hoping someday soon I can get Kelly to give me some pics she took at the Homecoming dance...her first HighSchool formal dance...but she went stag...but still...I want to see the pics...the theme was Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous and she went with a group of her friends (who also came to her birthday party).

Oh did I mention that she broke my card reader on my laptop? That's why I haven't been uploading pics (that and a lack of time!) I have to get my old HP Printer out that has a card reader...

Oh yeah, and we are also still trying to finalize her room...we have to get some insuilation done in there, some patchwork on areas that were water damaged...but we managed to get all the wallpaper down, the room fumigated and everyting in there cleaned, washed and certified bed bug free!!

Well, I've gone on long enough here for tonight...since Tyler won't be going to school tomorrow I should have time to get my throwback picture up pretty quick...thank goodness for my scanner!! LOL

The S*it has Hit the Fan!!

And that is why I've not been here to post...Things have been so crazy trying to get things organized before surgery...let's see if I can do a quick little review of what is going on in our lives other than the upcoming surgery...

You know I'm playing attorney ... and I think I'm pretty good at it...except I had to refile my motion. Got that done and got a nasty call from my Ex's attorney. I won't go into details here but it's looking like we're gonna end up in court having a hearing...

We discovered two days ago that Kelly brought some friends home from Lake Powell this past summer-- BED BUGS!! Thankfully they are only in her room so we're in process of trying to get everything cleaned, disinfected and rewashed. We'll have to replace her mattress...she was planning on redecorating her room anyhow...hoping I can get pictures when that happens as they are planning to have a "paint war" with some friends to make splats on the walls...We'll see how it turns out!

On Monday we met with Harley's new certified behavior analyst and he said some things that raised flags, so I called ARC. Ends up they have violated MANY of Harley's educational rights and we are having a meeting tomorrow to discuss interventions, etc. Oh, on Monday Harley started back to school with an extra hour added to his day...so it seems he's making progress!!

Kelly got her permit and I'm trying to get her some driving time, but things have been so busy it's hard to fit that into the schedule....

Robert is getting ready to go to Glenwood Springs for a field trip with VoTech...he's NOT thrilled about it and copping attitudes because he'd rather "just have the money"..but that is NOT ok...

We've had a few sickies here and there around the house but I've been able to effectively disinfect the house...seemed everyone was getting over it and back to healthy...Until I woke up today with a sore throat and coughing...UGH!

I can't believe tomorrow is October 1st already! With the meeting we have going on tomorrow, I may end up doing a Flashback Friday again this week vs. a Throwback Thursday...we'll just have to see how it goes

Oh and in addition

To the Harley issues we are dealing with, Zachary is sick. could be from all the smoke from the California fires making it worse, but today he had to have a nebulizer treatment. Yesterday and today I got a bfp...timing is all wrong and it may not even be a true bfp...maybe my tumor is producing hcg? I'm going to try to call the endochronologist to find out if it could possibly be that? If not then chances are my treatment will have to wait til either I lose the baby or I deliver whichever comes first.

Tyler starts preschool on the 8th and I found out yesterday that they won't be starting the bussing until two weeks after school starts. At least I don't have to have him there til 8:00 so that gives me 15 minutes more than I thought between the time Harley gets on his bus and the time that I have to have the boys ready, loaded and driving down the road....

Since Harley's not at school today I have to take him to music/behavior therapy. That's the only place I have to go...but I will have to leave here by 1:30 and this "special meeting" is scheduled to start at 12:30. I have no idea what to expect or how long it will last...Then I have to be back there at 4:00 to pick him up.

Tomorrow's a little different. Depends on if Harley goes to school...then it will be a tougher day for me since he and Tyler fight ALL the time! But then we have OT at 2:30, Speech from 3:30 to 5:30 and Parent open house at VoTech for Robert between 5-7. Kelly's open house is tonight. I'm not sure if we can make it unless we take ALL of the kids because it just so happens Andrew's gotta work from 6-7pm.

i better get off my butt and figure out what we are going to do for dinner tonight and tomorrow that's quick and easy...

Smoother routine but still busy, busy!!

I am finally getting into a routine around here with the crazy hectic mornings. Up at 5:40 and Kelly was already in the shower...Woke up Harley (he was actually already awake since he doesn't usually sleep much anyways!)...got myself a quick shower, got Harley a quick shower, make Harley's breakfast...got Robert to the bus stop...back home just in time to give Kelly a hug and kiss goodbye before she left for her bus...got Harley his meds and got his shoes on. I wrote in his back and forth book last night so that took one more thing off my morning schedule..now I just need to stay in that routine!

Now I need to get a load of laundry started -- the only one I have to wash since I've been keeping up on laundry this week!! YIPPEE! Then the littles a bath and then off to Tyler's preschool interview (right at Zachary's naptime). We'll get home just in time to say goodbye to Dad as he leaves for his PT for his knee..and then about an hour of downtime before we welcome Robert & Kelly home. We'll have just enough time for an afterschool snack before we have to leave to get Harley from therapy.

Ahh, but it is Wednesday...which means the last day of off site therapy for Harley. The week will wind down nicely with only 3 visits here tomorrow but not till Harley gets home at 2:30...then we'll have OT & the nurse here from 2:30-3:30 and the speech therapist here from 3:30 to 5:30...

I think since Friday is a low key day we may just hold off and do our grocery shopping then..and start picking up everyone's meds.

I just love the multitasking high energy life I've been granted. I could never imagine my life any other way!

More accomplishments!!

So many things got accomplished yesterday, we'll see if I can remember them all?!

Harley's transportation is FINALLY straightened out and he WILL get door to door transportation starting tomorrow, his first day of school! We went to his school to do a dry run and it went MUCH MUCH better this time. He's much more confident and even ventured off on his own to 'explore' the school.

Tyler is officially enrolled to start preschool in early September. He will be bussed and have a very long day...for a 3 year old anyways...he will leave at 7:15 in the morning and return at about 12:15. I sure will miss having his conversations around all that time each day though :( BUT It will be good for him!! (and ultimately good for Zac!)

Robert is registered with the workforce center - his orientation is this afternoon. They will pay him as if he was working if he maintains good grades in both his high school and votech classes. Then they will help him with job placement and further training if that's what he needs after graduating. He will be able to go to their office and get guidance on how to complete a job application (hopefully it will go better than me helping him since he thinks I don't know anything :)) ). They will pay him for however many hours he spends at their office doing job search. I think it will be a great expereince for him! His high school schedule had to be rearranged to accommodate his VoTech classes in the morning. He's got two classes, that's IT! He's already got all the classes / credits to graduate and has a couple of his favorite teachers as the end of his school year so I think he will be successful!!

Kelly got her driver's permit book to start studying and has already started studying her Japanese for this coming year! She's really on top of it. Of course I still have my struggles with her wanting "snake bites" (two piercings in her bottom lip?) or a tattoo? I'd rather the tattoo than the snake bites....we are still in the "but mom doesn't want either one" stage....

Zachary is growing by leaps and bounds and making more sounds. He's also showing more autistic tendencies. But since he couldn't hear for the first 11 months of his life, I will continue to keep an eye / ear out for what is going on with him. I'll get a lot more one on one time with him once Tyler starts preschool and hopefully we can work more towards the goals we've set.

Andrew got word that there is really nothing they can do for his knee. He was referred to physical therapy and decided against taking cortizone shots for his knee pain.

Me? I'm getting apprehensive waiting for the MRI on Friday.

Just a couple of more errands to do today and then it's time to start sending my kids off to school...Harley starts tomorrow, Kelly starts Friday, Robert has orientation at votech tomorrow and then his first day on Friday. Harley's off school on Friday and goes back on Monday and then starts up with behavior therapies 3 days a week again too.

The morning schedule is nuts. I have to have Robert to the city bus stop by 6:30...kelly has to be out of here by 6:40 to catch the bus and Harley has to be ready by 6:45...so there goes my early morning posting abilities! LOL...once Tyler starts up for school we will have to leave here at 7 to have him to the bus stop in time for the bus and then be back to pick him up at 12:15...Wow, I'm gonna be an even busier taxi...errr...mom!!

A long, long day...

Yesterday we had a long list of things to be done. Be out of the house by 9:00am was the goal. Well, we managed to get out of the house by 9:10 so we were close. It doesn't help that the teens think they have to sleep in because school starts on Thursday / Friday.

As I was getting ready to walk out the door the phone rings. We are STILL trying to get Harley's bussing straight. He is to get curb to curb (AKA: door to door transportation). I have had to go to the director who has had just as many problems with getting transportation to get this done as I have...She told me he most definitely gets curb to curb and she's not sure where the confusion came in. She has now completed the form twice and sent it to transportation and had followed up with them this morning to find out that they STILL haven't gotten it straight. She realizes that Harley starts school on Thursday and that this MUST take priority. She said if I haven't gotten a call by 2:30 today that I am to call her back and she will make a personal trip to transportation and watch them get it done!

We went and dropped off the last of Tyler's preschool paperwork. Then we headed to VoTech to finish Robert's application process now that he's been accepted. I had told the counselor that we would be there at 10:00. We were there at 10:00 and the place was a ghost town...not one person anywhere to be seen! We waited there for 20 minutes and could not find not one person...so I called and left her a voicemail telling her we were going to head to the mall to do some last minute school shopping and to give us a call when she got the message and we would be there in 10 minutes. We headed off to Sears who was SUPPOSED to have the backpack Kelly was looking for. We went all over the place and found not one of the style she was looking for (a sling backpack). We bought Harley a new shirt for school though.

Ok, well online Target has them so we headed to the Target...nope, they didn't have ANY at all (I guess they are only online). Amazingly enough we made it through Target without buying one single thing. While we were in Target, my ex calls and says he came home for lunch and had gotten the paperwork that I filed on Friday. I fully expected he would be angry and go through the roof but instead was calling to ask what he needed to do. He hadn't read them yet but didn't feel any need to read them so he just wanted me to tell him what he needed to file if anything. I told him he pretty much just needs to file a change of address but there's really nothing more since he's already agreed to everything that's in the papers. He wants me to send him a blank of the change of address form so he can get that done and that is all he's planning on doing.

We leave Target and all the kids are grumpy...By now they're hungry and it's almost 11:30 so we stopped and got some dogs and fries since I was short on cash so that's really all I could get for them.

We headed back to VoTech and lo and behold the counselor was there! I hadn't gotten a call, but we got the paperwork done and that's all that matters right? Wrong! There's one more place we have to go to ... right next door to the preschool office we were at at 9:30!! I took their phone number and called them to find out what we needed to bring with us to register him in the Youth Work Force center and was told we would need to bring all the normal credentials (birth cert, ss card, picture ID) but then we would also need to bring his IEP since this will be part of his transition to work program after high school. That's one thing I didn't have with me! So that WAS on the schedule for today...I'll get back to that.

Well, I was supposed to be to Harley's school at 1:00 to meet with his teacher and do another transition training with him..I had called her at noon to tell her it looked like we would be late and wanted to reschedule for later in the afternoon. As we're leaving VoTech she returns the call and hears the kids going crazy in the background. yes, I have all five kids and really don't want to do transition training with Harley with two grumpy toddlers and two grumpy teens. So we rescheduled for this afternoon instead.

Finally, we head home...As I walk in the door the phone is ringing. Upon answering I learn that Tyler was accepted into the one of the last two slots in the preschool program!! I was shocked that they had made a decision that quickly! After all we had just dropped off the paperwork at 9:30 this morning (it was now 2:00). Since they closed our local Headstart in the south area, they will meet us at that location each morning and he will be bussed to the other location way up north! I am so excited, but at the same time realize that this means that I will be going from having five children home all day to having only Zachary home all day! Tyler will be gone for 4-5 hours with the bus ride! I am awaiting a call from the receiving school to schedule an interview and get the schedule!

Harley checks the mail and there's the check from the Ex to get the kids their school supplies and shoes. I still have a number of errands to run as well. Gotta get Harley's meds and the extra bottles for school...gotta get to Kmart to buy Kelly's backpack...Gotta get to the bank to cash Ex's check. So back out we go...for another 3 hours!

Today's schedule isn't much easier and I better get these darned teens up to get on the move!!

Check!

*Papers filed - check!
*copy mailed - check!
*Tyler registered into HeadStart? - check!
*Robert accepted into VoTech Hotel & Hospitality - CHECK!! Gotta go Monday to get his registration finalized and he starts on Thursday!
*Harley's still not getting into the transition class BUT we are meeting with his primary provider today at 1:00 and Monday and Wednesday and his first day is Thursday!
Harley's transportation is still a mess but following up and working on it!!

So at least I feel like I got some stuff accomplisshed today!

Now I'm gonna give you a FlashBack Friday picture beause it's such a sweet pic!

Harley in May 1999 - he's so sweet!

Running, Running, Running

Today's schedule is crazy!! I thought I was exhausted yesterday, but today's gonna be an even longer day!

I've gotta be outta here by 7:15 with ALL the kids...head to another (the last!) school registration, then Harley to camp...then I have to figure something to do for about an hour because we don't have enough time to come all the way homem before going to Zac's hearing appointment! Needless to say this is probably the last you'll "see" or hear from me today. Amazingly enough the schedule for tomorrow is completely empty other than taking Harley to camp....

At least it's not supposed to be TOO hot today...

I can't believe it's almost over?!

This is the last full week of camp for Harley. Monday he registers for school and transition classes...Monday Robert registers as a high school senior!?!? Kelly's a sophmore...her registration is on Tuesday. Also on Tuesday Zac goes in for another hearing test!! Then I get a little bit of downtime...well not really because that's when school supply shopping (which I shouldn't have much as I've been stocking up on all the clearance sales all winter / summer) and some clothes shopping...

BUT I can't believe we are just two short weeks from the end of summer vacation. No tubing trip this year because of the dangerously high waters and many deaths, even professionals due to drowning...and fast waters.

We are going vehicle shopping on Thursday or Friday this week. (Shooting for Thursday since Harley's in camp). The van we bought a few months ago has turned into the Money Pit so rather than sink another $800 and still not have everything fixed, we have decided to just buy a different vehicle using that money as a down payment instead while trading in this piece of crap. Too bad the cash for clunkers program only covers new cars...that would've been quite the deal for us...but a new vehicle is a little more than we want to pay...I'd rather have NO vehicle payment at all...but that's just not possible right now. Now that we have decided that we are NOT adding to our family unless some miracle happens for us we are able to look at smaller, newer vehicles. Now that our children are growing bigger we don't need as much cargo room either...and I feel like we would be better served with bucket seats as the second row to keep Harley at least arm's reach from all the other passengers.

Now, I have a few pictures to share too....
The boys really, really missed Kelly while she was in Lake Powell..this is her first night home....(really her first hour!)

Zac has some of the greatest facial expressions! Since he still does not speak more than just Mom, Dad and sometimes Milk...we count on them (and so does he!)

And as depressed as I've been he still has the gift of making mommy smile

Four more down

Got a call that Harley is going to get an aide on the bus...they also said they would request door to door transporation but were questioning it. We'll see..I'll be calling early next week to confirm that transporation received the 1066.

Tyler's form for headstart is done and ready to be picked up too.

All of Harley's meds are now finally, officially at ONE pharmacy rather than 4 different pharmacies.

Oh and there's a place here in Denver that does "energy grants" to convert your home from gas/electric usage to solar, wind or geothermal...so we applied...the worst they can do is say no right? We should find out in the next 4-6 weeks if we were selected for them to come out and do an evaluation to see if we are good candidates for their program! Wouldn't that be great? Save money on our energy bills as well as teach our children how to live greener!!

Finalized!!

Finally LOL...finalized and sent Harley's 24 hr behavior log...so that's one more thing off my list...

Finalized: We pick up Andrew's vacation pay check this evening...another finally! Now not only can I have my appointments and fill my meds...but I can also continue working on the custody papers and child support request!

Finalized: Got a phone call back...Harley WILL get door to door transportation, an aide and a safety vest to keep him seated while on the bus...

movin' right along...

Tuesday...

hasn't been so bad--nothing like yesterday...got one more thing off my list (Harley's medication form from his school)...haven't gotten the busses figured out yet, but it's still in the works and I did my follow up on it to make sure something wsa happening.

About 4:00 we finally got word that they are issuing Andrew's vacation pay check. We can pick it up sometime tomorrow.

Mentally, emotionally and physically I'm not doing real well. Tyler was up screaming last night so he ended up in our bed. Then about 30 minutes later Zac woke up screaming and I couldn't get him calm...I think it was because Tyler wasn't in his bed because Zac kept looking over at Tyler's bed and crying hysterically! So I ended up sleeping on the couch, Zachary on the living room floor (the only place he would lay with me)...and Tyler in my bed with Andrew. Altogether I think I slept about 2 1/2 hours last night. With Tyler on the loose there's no way I could possibly get a nap in today...not that I didn't try but he proved to me that even a 5 minute power nap was not for me! That's ok...I'll catch up or adjust...

I had a rough morning having my little pity party for myself. I stayed back from posting on the boards and talking to people as much as I could...I sure wish my mental health appointment was tomorrow..but it's Thursday so I just gotta remind myself that it's only one more day and maybe I will get something that will give me relief from the anxiety...My physical symptoms hit me hard this morning and by 5:00 I was staggering like I was drunk...I don't know it could've been exhaustion...I just want an answer and right now the one that the symptoms are pointing at is a tough answer to swallow...but...since nothing's official then it's really nothing to worry about right?

Tomorrow's my last day to finish this week's paperwork...Thursday we have to have Harley to camp at 7:30 AM for white water rafting *gulp* and Andrew wants to take the two little boys, me and him and go on another date like we did a few weeks back. It sounds like fun...but then again it may seem like I'm much less stressed when I go to mental health and they'll be like what are you a drug addict?

Friday sometime Kelly comes home..probably late afternoon. I hope she took lots of pictures...she took my camera so we've been lacking on pics with the camera I have here at home since it's got it's issues. One of these days I am gonna upgrade again!

If only I had more time...

I would update my blog more often! LOL...Things have been crazy with having to take Harley to and from camp each day plus trying to get quality time with Andrew, Kelly, Robert, Tyler and Zachary...oh and add to that the laundry, dishes, family meetings (to talk about how people need to start picking up on their chores because mom is not spelled S-L-A-V-E)...

So after my last entry...we never did go to the fish stores for the koi and instead Andrew wanted to go Yard Saling...We were leaving like the 2nd one we stopped at and BOOM...mom hits (just a tap) a Lexus...only the best ya know? Safari van vs. Lexus is no competition...Not a scratch on the Safari, but a little maybe 1/2" long crack on the Lexus bumper. Terrific!! Thank goodness I was only going like 3 miles an hour (I was backing up and he was pulling in behind me at the same time). So Monday I called the insurance, made the claim and found that between my policy and his (since we both use the same company) will cover it with no deductible!! WHOOT WHOOT!! Oh and I got some awesome deals - I'll show you the best one....

Can you guess how much I paid for this set? $$$$20.

Monday also marked the day I finally got to meet with Harley's therapist with summer camp. She's ok...not cream of the crop but ya know what do you expect for only $40 an hour?! No one is ever good enough for him in my eyes...I'm probably being too harsh on her...Either way she communicates well and makes time to speak with me each day so we can brainstorm on how to best deal with Harley's issues. He's finally got his neurology appointment (did I already mention this?)

Oh yeah, back to Sunday...I had two puking kids (from drainage making them cough so hard they would vomit)...Zachary & Tyler...Zachary had the worst of it. I had to clean the carpet in their room a couple of times, but that's ok, it needed it anyways, just not at 8pm at night! In a way I'm thankful the children were sick because we had been planning to go to the fish store then instead....and of course we would've been there about the same time the tornado hit that shopping center (Southlands)

So I had a couple of sleepless nights as Monday Tyler had it BAD! He came out of his room after sleeping fairly peacefully vomiting down the hallway and all through the living room before I could stop him! I cleaned up the....major pieces....and pulled out the carpet cleaner again (should've never put it away). I started it up and got sprayed in the face (through the attachment), down my arm, all over my clothes and the bookcase in the living room. Sure I needed a shower but that was not the shower I had in mind (and good thing I got a late shower that day!!)...Ends up although it appeared to be set on floor cleaning, the knob had been turned the opposite direction from where I should've been so it was actually still set on attachment...:))

Tuesday was a pretty mild day -- other than in the late morning I was talking to my friend Crystal...who lives in tornado alley Oklahoma (at least it seems she does -- love ya honey!)...Anyways I told her in the history of Colorado weather we had never had a tornado hit this close to the mountains and she say "now you know there's a first time for everything"...(not a question, but a statement of fact)...LOL...So when we took off at 3:30 a storm was chasing us from home to where we had to go to pick up Harley. A bolt of lighting crashed LOUDLY while we were in the van...I nearly had a panic attack thinking I was hearing warning sirens and that Crystal jinxed us (still lovin' ya honey!)...ends up it was a weed eater!! Haha, I needed a good laugh, at myself no less....Kelly went to the dentist and found that in about 5 weeks she will have her braces taken off --actually have a DATE!! It's been a long six years she's been wearing braces!! (since she was about nine years old - to fix her major overbite that was causing speech pediments)...I can't wait to see how beautiful she looks without them considering how beautiful she is with them! LOL

Oh yeah, Tuesday we also took our van for it's followup smog test..and ... it... PASSED!! Whoowhoo!! A $30 oxygen sensor was all it needed...and the mechanic didn't charge us a dime - although Andrew gave him $20 for running the diagnostics on the computer system, it sure saved a lot of time and probably money because we were going to replace a piece (the EGR valve) ... and that part alone would've cost $175.00!!

That brings us to today...Just getting our errands done today that have been suffering with having only one vehicle at a time the past 2 weeks...We left the house at 8:30 this morning and returned at 2:00...what a long day it's been!! In the next 45 minutes, we get to leave again to go and pick up Harley from camp...then it's leftovers tonight....Oh speaking of leftovers?! We found a recipe for Guacamole Salsa in a Cooking Light Magazine...we 'adjusted' it...it got RAVE reviews from everyone in the house...I can't tell ya what the exact measurements are because I didn't bother to measure anything --

2 tomatoes cut into small cubes

1 avocado cut into small cubes

some onion (probably about 2 tbsp)

Cilantro (about 5 tbsps...but that's A LOT! but I recently discovered how much I love this stuff!)

2 tbsp lime juice

salt and pepper to taste

Mix it together and you have the most delicious pico de gallo (sp?)!! Be sure to add the avocado last because it will be mushy if you don't. It's delicious on chicken, tacos, burritos, taquitos....The first night we tried it on chicken (the recipe we got from the magazine) and with the chicken it was a 260 calorie main dish (not bad for being so super delicious!).

If you want the recipe for Chicken with Lime-avocado salsa, drop me a note and I'll post it!

Thursday

So many things going on today!! We register Tyler for preschool today! Harley's transition meeting is today...Robert and Kelly have no school. Harley has a field trip (but I have to stop and get him from school on our way to the transition meeting).

I'll update when I get home this evening (at least I hope to) -- after the OT and Zac and Harley's speech therapy -- about how the meeting went. We get to meet his new teacher, principal, psychologist, the head of special ed (I've only dealt with him on the phone and email)...take pictures and formulate Harley's schedule and behavior plan for next year...OH!! Did I mention that Harley's been approved to have a full time 1:1 aide (6 hrs a day) for next year?! That puts me at ease a little more!

I better run and get Harley ready for school and pack his lunch for the field trip...I'll try to be better about updating my blog...

Oh and as you know, I have TONS of pics I want to share of Zac and Tyler that I've taken over the last couple of weeks...They have been keeping me so busy and the weather has been so gorgeous, we've only had time to take pics, but not upload them yet...

OH and I don't know if I mentioned that Zachary passed his hearing test a couple of weeks ago!? I am so excited that he can hear "normal" and ready to get him talking! (he prefers to sign and grunt though :( )

Preparations for Craziness

Over the next couple of weeks. This weekend has been a whirlwind with so many things going on (and not going on -- such as respite!)....

On Saturday, we're having Tyler's 3rd birthday party...been so so busy trying to prepare for that...of course Harley is having a cow over that because Tyler's birthday is actually on Sunday - I tried to explain that none of the friends will come over on Mother's day so we have to do the party the day before...He DOES NOT like that idea at all...

So after the party, then preparations for Mother's Day start...I told the kids the one thing I want for Mothers' day is a picture of them all laying on the grass in a circle like we did last year...I want to do that every year for Mother's day. Kelly asked, even when we're 30? Yup, even when you're 30!! I really don't care for any other 'gifts'....so it should be a nice, uneventful day -- and hey maybe someone else will do laundry that day ? :)

The following Sunday Harley turns 12! OMG I can't believe he's about to turn 12! One more year he'll be a teenager -- and he can't wait to be a teen because the teens are always telling him he can't do this or that because he's not a teenager yet...they are gonna be sorry for telling him that because I just know the day he turns 13 he will be up their butts to do all those things they told him he couldn't do till he was a teen.

For Memorial Day the older kids are going to Wyoming to visit their dad for the weekend. I'm not worried about them not coming home because they have finals the next day so he'll make sure they get home in time. I'm worried about them though -- Kelly won't be able to use her cell phone up there since they don't have cricket service there...how on earth will this girl survive without talking to her boyfriend or texting her friends for 3 days? Robert is keeping a good attitude and is just curious to see what Wyoming's all about....I worry too about how Tyler, Harley and Zachary are gonna deal with their siblings being gone for 3 days...But we'll make it through...just worry that's all...but that's my personality!

Then we have Andrew's birthday in early June...and then 2 weeks later we have Fathers' Day, then two weeks later we have 4th of July (and Harley's "summer vacation" since he'll be in camp all summer from the last day of school till the first day of school except for 4th of July week!)...Then the week after that Andrew's home for "vacation". I am so looking forward to him having a whole week off of work to destress!

Right after that it will be time to start getting ready for back to school. Wow, just writing this out the summer vacation's flown by...and it's not even started yet :)