So many things going on...Pics to follow

Most importantly, Monday was Tyler's 4th Birthday...of course I'll get those pictures uploaded. I'm pretty damned proud of the cake I whipped together (a 3d Monster truck).

We are hosting a big party on Saturday...It will be Tyler's birthday, Harley's birthday (he turns 13 on Monday! yes, already!) and Robert's graduation (he graduates on the 21st)...So we are trying to get our deck built before then. It may not be completely done by then...we are using 'reclaimed' materials...so we need to scrape some parts, sand and put filler in a few spots (according to Andrew) and then repaint it...but as long as it's usable (doesn't need to be pretty yet right?!) by Saturday, I'll be happy....

Harley started with a new in-home OT a couple of weeks ago...one of the first things he did was check her (finger) nails and ask her if she was going to grab him and hurt him like Holly did...then I had to explain what happened with the past OT in December.

We also got word that Harley's aide is considered a 'building support' aide and will not be assigned directly to him only for next school year. Lots of paperwork and phone calls involved, but we are working on trying to get him an aide that is assigned directly to him for next year (and high school, which is an even bigger challenge).

Zac and Tyler and Harley have all been sick...they appear to be over the worst of it, but Tyler still has an awful cough holding on...

I can't believe there's only 3 weeks of school left (for Tyler, Harley and Kelly - Robert's last day of school is on the 2oth, so he has only 6 days of school left! YIPES!). Harley's all registered for summer camp already (has been since February) so we are well on the road to starting summer vacation....

Oh and Patti is insisting on putting us in for Extreme Makeover Home Edition. I guess we will go ahead (actually we already did) the paperwork to get it submitted. Just gotta find someone to do the video now. I doubt we'll get picked, especially with the work we've gotten done around the house ourselves but I guess it never hurts to try?!

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...

Things coming, going and coming up!?

(*more updates on my other blog...hate to C&P the same thing to both blogs :D)

Oh yeah, I am so excited!!! My young'uns are getting a Little Tykes motorized Hummer from Freecycle. My ex-husband's father is picking it up and bringing it down the mountain for us since I can't drive. I can't wait to get some pics of my boys in it!

oh and I got a new camera too (new to me anyways)...for an early birthday present...I have been having so much fun taking pictures of my kids again, my other cameras have just been through too much to take good pics anymore ... I got this one for $100 off of Santa Swap...A couple of pics I took with my new camera:



(does that look like pinkeye to you?)
The flowers PASCO sent me (my employer...the best employer in the world!!)


The next shopping excursion I have NO IDEA what to get...Robert turns 18 a month from today...what do you get for an 18 yr old's birthday? Gift cards are a waste with him...his grandpa gave him a $100 VISA gift card and then this morning he needed to "borrow" $2 to go to his Yugioh tournament...I asked what happened to his $ from grandpa and he was like, oh I bought candy, pop, a $20 video game and it's gone!
Ok, time for more bonus pics taken with my new camera today!

Rob (yes, he DID get a haircut...still not as short as I would like it--but it's not my hair!)

My gorgeous daughter

My nephew Jesse (and my new TV in the background...Thanks Katie & Drew!)

Doesn't Nick look too thrilled?
and can't miss one of mom and Zacherdoodles:

*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)*

When Harley says....

Mom you really need to go to sleep...you know he's planning some trouble. He really has no emotional attachment to tell when you need something or feel something...

Andrew had taken the others out for a while today so I could rest. For some reason I am having sensory issues, when the noise gets too much I am on total overload...BUT he left Harley home because Harley wanted to play PS2 and we figured he would stay downstairs and do that

WRONG!! Harley came a trollin' as soon as he heard them pull out of the driveway...pacing around, acting like he was watching tv, reading the newspaper...I knew something was up!

He went to his room for a while and I actually was able to relax...was about to fall asleep when I heard the rustling of a plastic bag in the kitchen. I called to him...what are you doing?....

Nothing mom...You need to sleep!! I start to get up off my perch on the couch and he starts to scream (talk about sensory overload on my part?!)...you gotta lay down...go back to the couch...go now...I need my marshmallows....

Ahh, I love the way autistics can tell on themselves without even a second thought! LOL

Flu Shots

I know I owe more posts about other things but now we are on more current events.

Andrew, Harley and I got our regular flu shots yesterday. We can't get the H1N1 shots till at least next week. Robert & Kelly go today to get their regular seasonal flu shots.

Tyler and Zac can't get theirs till at least next week because the doctor wants to give them the H1N1 and the seasonal flu shot at the same time. They are not "eligible" to get the nasal spray H1N1 because of Harley's asthma and my upcoming surgery since we are both considered "immunologically depressed systems".

The teens will be home soon and then we have to split to get them their flu shots...then we have head off to get Harley...I still have one load of laundry to finish and a few other things to do before I have to leave, so the rest of my posts will have to wait for another time.

Oh we've been finding more recipes too that I can't wait to share...I've not taken pictures of the 'completed' dish though...but you'll just have to trust me that these recipes are not only easy and quick to make but also delicious!!

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

Nesting? Spring Cleaning? or _________??

I think it's because the older kids moved in...Andrew says it's more like I do when I'm nesting -- and we know that's not possible because I'm not pregnant no less at the end of a pregnancy!! Maybe it's the weather being so beautiful? Got me in the mood for some spring cleaning.... who knows, doesn't really matter...it's getting done and that's all that matters...

I've put all the winter stuff into it's place in the basement, got the laundry room organized...reorganized the front (coat) closet (since I put away all the winter stuff, I had to put the spring stuff in there!)....Got my closet cleaned out....Going to work on Harley's sometime today I hope...I want to get most of the books (and he's got TONS of books!) to the "new" reading nook/office space in the basement...I want to work on the hallway closet again today too...Gotta figure a way to reorganize that...I mean -- WHY would we need SIX sets of sheets for our bed? We don't!! We only use one set at a time...Have one or two spares should be enough don't you think? Gotta move some of the linens (towels and washcloths) to the bathroom downstairs so the kids don't have to come upstairs to the main bathroom to get towels to shower before school each day (or so!).

Robert and Kelly both still had toyboxes at their dad's house and brought them over. Robert still had his set of Brio trains and tracks (he started collecting them his first Christmas!)...He gave those to Tyler and Zachary and they are really, really enjoying playing trains now. The little boys got the "new" toyboxes and now we have an unorganized system in their closet to keep their toys. We keep one small barrel for toys in the living room now...It sure is nice to not have as many toys to pick up in the main walking space of the house!

The garage is no longer cleaned out...it's completely trashed with the move of the kids into the house. Kelly brought all of her bedroom furniture with the auspices of selling it on craisglist so that she can have summer time spending money. We have so many nice pieces of furniture out there, but I can't post most of them on craigslist right now because they are buried and I can't get pictures of them. I managed to get two of her cabinets up on craigslist and had one lady come over to look at them, but then wanted to pay $10 each (we're only asking $20 each for them!). We told her no deal!! They sell for $60-80 NEW and are solid wood.

I was able to sell the extra cat tree we had that the cat refuses to use. I posted it for $30 and got the $30 I asked for...I was planning on asking $20 but figured people always try to talk you down...Well, no one tried to talk me down...I was surprised, but knew it was a good deal. (We didn't pay for it anyways, one of our old neighbors gave it to us about a year ago).

It's not so much that we needed the money, we just needed the space but it sure is nice to make some money in the process of cleaning out the house!

I even got the carpet in the living room and hallway cleaned yesterday. It's been on my list for over a week now, but then got rescheduled till after all the teens left.

I managed to get six loads of laundry done yesterday and all the clothes put away...I have one more load to fold...Then the sheets since I just stripped our bed (housecleaners comes today). My goal is to have all the laundry DONE (meaning washed, dried, folded and put away) by the end of the day today. Oh yeah, and I gotta figure out a way to wash the outside of my front window...it just looks gross!

In the meantime, Zachary is finally starting to walk more...more than 2 steps at a time...I just KNOW he's gonna be getting into trouble with Tyler before we know it!!

Well, I better run if I want to get all my chores accomplished for the day....

Oh yeah, we took our van in for brakes Saturday...Needs some work on the front end too and it's gonna be a total of $800!! -- Good thing that I talked the dealership DOWN by $800 or I'd be one pretty unhappy camper.

I'll try to be back later to catch up on everything else...I know I've been lacking in updating this blog...Things have been so busy! I gotta get my work done though while I still have the energy to do so....

Wait -- one more delay -- I better make breakfast for my sweet husband...he's got an awful cold but somehow I've managed to keep it away from me -- it seems -- so far (I woke up with a stuffy nose yesterday but that's the worst I've gotten!). If I was sick I doubt I'd have the energy levels I've had the last two days!!

*ding ding* round two!

Yesterday Andrew was supposed to go to K's house and move a bunch of the kids' stuff over here...well, K flaked so now Andrew's gotta do it today. I was hoping to take Harley, Tyler and Zachary over to the park near their house and let them spend some time with Robert and Kelly since they won't be coming to my house this weekend....The last weekend they have to spend with their dad!! They were both beaming huge smiles when they left for school on Friday...saying "see you Monday" and "YEA! this is the last weekend we have to spend with dad!!"

BUT

Harley was sick earlier this week...his fever is gone but now he's developed this AWFUL cough! Tyler's got it too...and now Zachary too! I was up so many times last night...not because they were crying, coughing or even awake, but because I had to keep getting up to check on them to make sure they were all breathing...even Harley!! I hate when my boys are sick!!

Still going strong...

Harley's fever and cough that is...his fever's not as high as yesterday, but man that cough sounds awful. So again, no school today -- and since he's home sick today I have to cancel Zachary's speech therapist (They request if anyone in the house is sick to reschedule)....Awww, another beautiful day with bright sunshine and great weather...at least I can air out the house again today!

CSAPs and Fevers and Coughs...Oh My!

This is the week the school wants to ensure ALL children are in schoool for the Colorado Standard Aptitude Tests (or something like that?!)...Figures Harley would wake up today with a fever of a minimum of 101.8 -- I say a minimum because there's not one themometer he will allow me to use...he won't use an oral, the won't let me use the ear one...I want to get one of those temporal ones (and they've come down in price). I have one of those strips you put on the forehead - for a minute - to get a reading...he allowed me to put it on his head for a whole 20 seconds or so....He looks and sounds AWFUL!

Of course, the weather is beautiful so although it looks as though I won't be able to get the boys outside too much today at least I can get the house opened up to let out some of the germs -- and fumes of disinfecting the house before my two little boys (or anyone else) gets this nasty thing....He's got an awful cough with it...I am hoping to wait till his fever breaks to get him in to see the doctor -- I'd hate to expose everyone in the waiting room to this illness by taking him in while he's contagious....

So wish me luck in keeping the germies at bay so we don't have everyone in the house sick by the end of the week!

Sickies

Great, looks like (well more like sounds like) Harley's got a cold coming on. Got him up today to get ready for school and he sounded like he could barely breathe! Had this awful cough and barely any voice (less than usual)...So he's gonna stay home today. Got him a nebulizer treatment already today...

Now...off to search for that darned TV remote so we can watch TV...have I mentioned how much I hate this new Digital TV and needing a converter box? I have two remotes that work with the tv, but the ONE I need to put the TV on channel 3 is missing...the secondary one doesn't have number buttons or a menu button for me to change the setting so that it picks up channel 3 on it's own! GRH!

I'm not feeling well myself today (emotionally)...I really need some good news. This almost ttc stuff is killing me, I should've just kept up with temping!! The countdown as begun--2 months, 8 days till we stop all efforts and Andrew makes his vasectomy appointment :(

After all my braggin'

I ended up sick yesterday - Thankfully it was only dizziness to the point that I couldn't stand or sit up too long and no 'body fluids' to worry about :)

Robert & Kelly did a wonderful job picking up the slack and keeping up with the kids. I have plenty of housework and laundry to catch up on today though since I was pretty much down all day yesterday.

I got the lasagna made though and learned that Andrew has never, ever made a lasgna before!? We're going to have that for dinner today and play Christmas dinner by ear since Andrew's pretty much gotta work all day on Christmas (and get some sleep in there too!).

Got lots to do today, wrapping the 90+ gifts (nope, haven't even started on the wrapping yet) and re-decorating the tree (but we're gonna wait til the de-decoraters go to bed tonight). Oh tomorrow is going to be so much fun with Tyler and Harley and Zachary!!!

Mission Accomplished!!!

Well, most of it anyway :)

The shopping is DONE--no more left for Christmas anyway!!

The makings for lasagna are purchased!

Harley didn't get his bloodwork drawn today because Andrew wasn't with us and it takes as many as we can get to hold him down for that little vial of blood. I sure wish it was easier to get blood from this child!!

So tomorrow we start with wrapping and maybe we'll finally get to make our gingerbread houses tomorrow?!

I'm exhausted, still feeling like I may have a touch of the stomach flu trying to hit me...maybe it's just O symptoms though? The opk is negative now so just need Andrew to satisfy my needs for a few more days to hit the target (at least I hope so!)

*sigh* looks like I may the last of the too weak waders...so I won't have much choice but to share my news here :(

Everyone is back to healthy!

So we have a busy day planned...I need to take Harley for a blood draw (the doctor wants to rule out Prader-Willi Syndrome as a reason for his overeating). It's been really difficult as this child is constant crying he is hungry and it's really hard to keep all the food locked up all the time when there are other children in the house who need to eat...

I still have to get all the things from yesterday's agenda done...I am so happy that (so far) everyone seems to be over the stomach flu...everyone in the house has gotten it (except for me)...and I thought for sure I was feeling the ill effects and early symptoms of it last night so I went to bed at 7:30 and let Andrew and the kids put Zachary and Tyler to bed (am I bad for doing that?)

Andrew has a staff meeting today so it'll be just me and the children...We will have fun!! I can't believe Christmas is only 3 more days!? YIKES!! I've still gotta get the wrapping started (oh, I better add some more wrapping paper to my list of things I need to buy!)

And I am so glad that my O is getting more typical. Now that Andrew is over his sickness I am getting +opk (yesterday and today)...it's the best +opk I think I've had since I got pregnant with Zachary! Oh, I hope this one leads to a bfp in 2 weeks! I hope I can get a New Years' Eve BFP (but that would be a little early..about 10 dpo)...I'll take any bfp as long as it's sticky this time!

There goes that theory!

Kelly and I were talking last night about how only the boys have gotten sick and were hoping maybe it would only hit the males...well Kelly just called and is on her way home...and she is sick now too! Oh as long as I don't get it and everyone is better by Thursday I'll be happy!!

Man it's gonna be another long day!

So much for my agenda for today...

Just as I hit post Harley needed help in the bathroom...It's not his scheduled potty time (usually he goes on schedule)...so I knew something was up...

He says oh no Water Poop (and I'm sure you can guess what that means?) Just as he gets his pants pulled down...

We had quite the explosion...up the walls, down the legs...*sigh* spent the last *almost* hour giving him a shower and disinfecting the bathroom with bleach...

And...

Robert did an amazing job dealing with Tyler and Zachary without losing his temper so I could deal with all I needed to do to clean up after Harley...So I suppose I owe him? I am so proud of him for picking up the slack!

On the agenda

Let's see I have so many things...I wonder if I will be able to get them all done today?

We still have some dough left over from making our cookies yesterday, so I need to get Tyler on cutting some more cookies! I want to make the Gingerbread houses too!

I did finally make it to Dollar Tree and get the stocking stuffers (except that I need some more for Robert & Kelly)....I do still have to get to Walmart and the mall (am I crazy?) and get Robert & Kelly's gift cards--it's been too hard to get out during the past week or so with everyone taking turns at being sick.

Our tree is still not completely decorated...Maybe we'll just do that on Christmas Eve? The things just don't stay on the tree with Tyler, Zachary, Harley and the cats around :)

Just two or three more loads of laundry to go. A shower for me. Cleaning the living room carpet. And of course trying to get laid too! And get Harley motivated on cleaning his room so I can disinfect in there...oh and I think the van needs a good cleaning and disinfecting too!

I wonder if I will manage to get it all done today in the midst of my 'regular' mommy duties?

Wow, just wow...I guess it's a vent post?

There are so many things going on around here...

Yesterday I was hoping to 'get lucky' and maybe have a shot at a bfp this month...well Andrew woke up going at both ends...Somehow this sickness that has been going around the house has hit every male in the house -- Kelly and I are the only ones who haven't gotten it. Keep your fingers crossed I don't get it...It's not like someone's gonna let ME stay in bed for 12 hours with no interuptions!

Scott came over yesterday too -- We tried to get Harley out of the house, but this time of year is so hard with all the routine changes...in five hours that Scott was here Harley spent *maybe* an hour in the same room with him. But Hey at least it gave me another sane adult (well, IDK about the sane part) to spend time with and talk to...

Kelly was a great big help all day yesterday -- helping with the children so that I could get the house disinfected...again....For the last four days I've been cleaning up some sort of body fluids from each of my boys...We've gotta be getting to the tail end of it by now right? I was on my feet from 5am to 11pm yesterday...only have one more load of linens to wash and the living room carpet to clean (oh and Harley's room too, but I'm gonna make HIM do that -- and then I can re-disinfect in there). Well come 8:00 last night Kelly left to go to Jenna's -- That's when Robert decides he will come up out of the 'dungeon' (aka: basement) and starts coping an attitude with me because I told him to quit carrying Zachary everywhere...And then turn around and tell everyone (and I've HEARD him tell people - including his dad) that he has to "help with the kids"...Robert has anger management and anxiety issues...I do NOT expect him to help with the kids...Why does he make himself out to be Cinderella to everyone? GRH!

Anyway come 11:00 last night I went to drop my achy tired body into bed and Andrew tells me I should sleep on the couch? HUH?! I was still hoping to get lucky and he was feeling better by then...I just wanted to sleep in the comfortable bed with my husband and maybe have a shot this time around...I just couldn't manage to get my body to cooperate with changing sheets and disinfecting the room at 11:00 at night though after being up and working all day long...

I understand him thinking the room was full of germs from him being in there all day long, but for crying out loud, I've been cleaning up after all these sick people all week...Shit, I probably would've gotten it then...what's wrong with exposing me to satisfy my needs and desires?? Whatever....

So I get exiled to the couch and cry my eyes out for another hour...figures Andrew would catch me crying so he decides to pull all of the linens off the bed and sleep on the floor in the living room to be "near" me...Umm, ok, I can't sleep in bed because of the germs but you're gonna come out here and pass out on the floor while I sit on the couch and cry? WTF?

Did I get the thing I wanted? No? So this morning I wake up at 4:30 all sore from sleeping on the couch...get the bedroom disinfected, get more laundry folded and another load started up...In the meantime, Andrew is still sleeping on the living room floor...up he gets and goes straight to the shower (no, not complaining there LOL)...

As he's getting ready for work he starts listing all the 'projects' he needs to do...I told him I have a personal project for him too...and he just ignores it and goes on with his list? Finally I told him that I only need five minutes (ok, maybe 10) of his time so that I can at least feel like I have a shot...I can't just quit cold turkey on this whole ttc thing!! And of course, I'm in tears because I feel like I'm just not important enough to make that list?

The dryer just buzzed at me so I guess that's my cue to get moving off this thing...I will come back after taking care of that to add a happier post! I promise!

Gearing up for quite a day!

Harley gorged himself last night ... ate a whole box of chocolate donuts (this kid's getting sneaky and somehow managed to sneak a box of chocolate donuts into his room). It seems he also absconded two bananas, add to that a cheese sandwich with ketchup and some chocolate milk...) Well he vomited it all out! -- just as I was about to drop into bed for the night since yesterday was a crappy day too..

So I have all sorts of linens to wash...including blankets. Thank goodness my washing machine is extra large capacity that way I don't have to go to the laundromat with all these kids! I'll have to buy him new pillows though...those I just threw in the trash!

Tyler wakes me up to SCREAMING bloody murder...saying HOT! He has diarrhea and it burned his butt. Found out that Andrew gave him pear juice yesterday and didn't water it down! This happens every time!

Zachary -- he had shots yesterday...I thought he was just getting just one since he already had his flu shots -- SURPRISE! He got SIX! So he's being clingy (which I really don't mind, he doesn't take time to snuggle much anymore!) -- BUT I have to get some of the laundry done...I'll be doing laundry all day! -- Oh yea and Zachary is fine, but on the way to get his shots, he vomited this wonderful concoction of lunch and curdled milk all over himself, the van seat and his car seat yesterday. He's not handling the switch to regular whole milk from formula well at all! I switched him back to formula for now and we've had no more episodes...Thank Goodness!

Robert & Kelly get to come home today and stay till Friday of next week -- which means they will be here for Christmas!!!

We were planning on starting with our annual Christmas Cookie Bake...IDK after dealing with all these bodily fluids if I'm really up for making cookies all day long...

TMI: (remember how to read invisible ink?)--Ovulation day is quickly approaching...of course Andrew is working extra early hours and so he's been napping twice a day for 3 hours at a time, getting up just in time to go back to work...and he has a toothache...so I guess no bd'ing for us in the next few days this won't be our month after all :(

I somehow twisted my knee yesterday so it's swollen up like a balloon and hurts to put any weight on it...great day to have to run up and down the stairs doing laundry all day!

Ahh, the first day of winter break for the kids...and still I have Christmas Shopping to finish :D