Finally

So many times this in the past week and half, I have sat down to write something. I had planned on doing my goodbye 2010 post. And a happy new year post was in the works for 3 or more days. Everytime I sat and got to writing, something interupted my thought. So here you'll get a giant random post.

We survived the Christmas break from school and we were both ready for it to be back to school again. I'm going to have to work really hard to find thing to keep Kristopher very busy this summer, or I might be bald by the end of the break. Since school started he NEEDS that routine and structure all day. Or he ends up bouncing off the walls. The little kids routine was totally messed up during that week as well.

More on school. Kristopher is still doing really great in his new reading class. Which I have since found out was the highest level they were allowed to put him in, at a 1st grade level. He does awesome on the reading part, but usually gets an answer or 2 wrong on the comprehension tests. Usually it's something that when I go over it with him verbally, he automatically gets the right answer. I think it's just a lot to take in and not enough time in the class. He only gets a half hour of that instead of the full 45 min to hour.
We also have requested a speech folder. At his appt in December, I mentioned again that he has issues with his L's and TH's. The doctor is semi concerned that the school wouldn't help us out with some therapy options, and the school says they won't do that till he's in 2nd grade because it's developmental issues only. Plus a little to do with his underbite. So, after back and forth for a while, the therapist agreed to put together a folder of activities I can do myself. He's getting better at those when he really focuses and tries.

And I'm still babysitting, and recently started watching a friends little girl for a day or 2 a week so that the other 2 yr old can get more interaction with someone her age. She absolutely loves it and has had a major language explosion. They are so cute playing together and the days they have together are full of tea party and princess play. Very girly and watching them play and talk is so so cute. The baby is now going on 14 months and he also started to say a few things. He now says "cheese" when I have my camera, even if it's not to take his picture, and his really cute word this week was UP. Kristopher was going over his vocabulary flash cards and we got to "up". It was Kristopher telling me up, then the echo of Danielle who repeats EVERYTHING now "up", then the baby in the other side of the room says "UP!" So funny.

And now for me...
I've been mental lately. A lot has been bothering me that I feel would be wrong to totally unload on here. I'm just going through a lot in my head, and haven't been able to get past it.
I don't know if it's a mix of the usual winter blues or what it is. I just feel miserable. I'm going to be ordering my herbs again because that did help me out some. If I can't get relief that way, I think it's time for a doctor appt or something. I'm just feeling like so much is going wrong and things are against me no matter how hard I fight to make it right or better. (and this is NOT marriage related...just so no one worries there) But, I'm still here. Maybe if I push myself to blog a little more, I'll feel better. I just didn't want to turn this into a majorly depressed area.....
I'll end with a happier note now. It's snowing!!! We haven't really gotten much snow this year, and now 2 days of 1-2 inches and it's very much welcomed. My theory is if it is going to be cold, it should just snow so it's pretty out there.

Our Christmas update

First of all, I hope all of my blog friends had a good Christmas.
Here's our pretty Christmas card that I made last week: I waited really late to design the card this year, and ended up not having enough time to order in my envelopes. So, the only people who got a real card, was those who I actually saw. Everyone else got it emailed, or didn't get anything at all. I suck. I just wasn't really into things this year like other years. Maybe next year can be better.

Last Thursday I had a baking day with a friend and a bunch of kids in the house. Thursday night I started feeling kinda off, and Kristopher was not eating and asked to go to bed around 6pm. Big warning sign for me, but somehow I blew it off as he was just exhausted from playing, and full from so much snacking and a big lunch. So, I had Dennis help keep him up a little longer, while I went out and got some more last minute things. He said he put him to bed a little before 8, and at 10 he text me saying I'm needed at home. Apparently he had woken up coughing and gagging but nothing coming up. Lovely. Meanwhile, I was feeling weird, but extremely thirsty. I drank 2 huge sodas while out, and a 20oz water on my way home.
Around 2am, I woke up to that dreaded cough and splat. It's funny how you can wake from a total dead sleep to the sound of your child barfing. Luckily, it was only once, and he felt better after it happened. He has a cold, and it appeared to be pretty much just sinus drainage anyway. He went back to bed and slept the rest of the night.
I however, slept horribly. At 4am I woke up with really horrible stomach pains, and then by 5 was living in the bathroom. I'll spare you the details, but I will just say I avoided the barf side of things, but still wanted to die. Dennis came home early, and I slept the entire day away, minus several million trips to the bathroom. I was also in feverland. Talk about some crazy dreams!
To me, Christmas eve didn't exist this year. I finally felt better and got up for the day around 4:30pm. I drank some ginger ale and had my crackers, and things seemed to be better. We still stayed home though and just rushed to get the last minute wrapping done.
Kristopher wasn't feeling 100% yet, and barely ate at all. He got a fever again around 6pm and was in bed by 7:30. We rushed to finish things and did the Santa deal, and then went to bed by 9 ourselves. Everyone was fine that night.
Christmas morning was great. We were feeling a good bit better, and it was the first year that Kristopher actually woke US up for it. He ran in at 6:30 saying Santa came, and was full of that magical look. I loved it. So, we got up and let him go to town on the gifts. He took the time to read tags and make a big deal out of each thing. His favorite gifts this year appear to be his camera, and his art case. Zoey also was in her happy place with ripping into gifts. Things that were not hers even. I love that dog.

Our new tradition of breakfast after gifts, with my parents, was ruined already. We didn't trust eating real food yet, so we skipped breakfast. My parents came over around 10 and we did our exchange there, (aka round 2 of paper disaster.) I made some lunch, and everyone visited till Round 3 hit. My grandma and great grandma visited. That lasted about 10 mins because I guess people didn't want to be around us with the sickies and all. After everyone left, we rested and enjoyed watching Kristopher play with everything.
Sunday was a much better day, and we were both finally hungry again. I had to make a return, so we ventured out into the crazy after Christmas stores.
Today round 2 of the sickies has re-entered the house. The 2 little people are sick. It's not as extreme as ours, and I'm hoping it just has to do with their colds, and not the stomach flu. Everyone is resting and I'm relaxing and finally going through a weeks worth of pictures.
Oh and sarcastic news, I'm going to be an aunt, for the 3rd time in less than 3 years. Can we say yay for more welfare babies? I'm sooooooo excited for another niece or nephew that I will never get to know. Yippie. This one comes in July. My mom was so kind to hide it from me till after the holidays. I already suspected though due to my sneaky ways on facebook. Conformation still hurts though. But enough of that. Hopefully everyone had a good Christmas!

Christmas-y update

A quick post to say I'm still alive. Things have been busy here. Recap of the happier times in the past week....
Saturday evening we saw santa. Kristopher still very much believes, and I love it. The look of amazement when he saw Santa walk out was just priceless. Funny story too because we got there and there was a sign saying be back at 5:30. He was all worried that it would take "forever". A lady walks over and says how Santa was on a cookie break, and is on his way back. We were the only ones there, so she was trying to get Kristopher to go sit on his chair and when he came to sit, say "dude! where have you been?!" Well, he was shy and afraid of being put on the naughty list, so he wouldn't do it. Not even when she offered him $5. So, after Santa got back, they joked about that and he said because of how good he was, he was gettin 2 lollipops. He spent a nice amount of time talking and at the end, the nice lady handed him $5 anyway and said he was a good sport. It truly made his night.

And then we will add the Christmas concert. Here he is singing his heart out to "Must Be Santa" at his very first school concert. You could hear him in the back of the gym. Anyone who is friends with me on facebook HAS to watch the video that a friend posted. Watching them sing made me almost cry. I don't know what it is but everytime I see him interacting in the school like that, I have to fight it back. I'm crazy. I just can't believe he is truly that old already and doing all this. I wish I could have gotten more pics but I had the 2 little ones along and the baby was not impressed with me trying to take a ton of pictures. At least we have a few good ones.

Monday in review

Today in a very random review. Hopefully a real post again soon.

I quit already with the 2 extra kids. I told her it was too much with that many, and gave her a 2 week notice. Instead, she had to turn it ugly and I was "fired" as of tonight. Oh well.

Kristopher had his first set of first grade homework. He did awesome.

He also had kindergarten homework. Again, awesome.

I don't remember home work when I was in lower grades like that. Weird.

I finally got ink for my printer and more photo paper.

Attempted Christmas pictures of all the kids today.

The littles did great.

Kristopher did not.

Zoey was in on the action.

I don't know if I'm going to do a card this year.

It's very stressful and I feel like I NEED to do one.

We got our first electric bill since turning the heat on.

I think I need a full time job and new underwear.

It was that scary.

I'm ready for bed.

Goodnight.

I've lost my mind

I made a big decision over the past week, and I am starting to second guess myself. I think I may have totally lost my mind.
Sunday I saw a person I went to school with had posted that they were looking for child care. Part time, and the kids were almost the same ages as the 2 I watch now. I've been looking for a little to see if I could find a regular playmate for the 2 yr old, and decided to respond. The girls are only a month apart and both have little brothers. The boys are 4 months apart, with the newest being only 8 months old. I figured I'd give things a try, and it can't be THAT bad. They will only be 3 days a week, and 4-5 hours at most per day. 10ish till 2:15. I do lunch time at 11:30-12ish, and nap time after till about 2-2:30. It sounded really good right??
I was wrong.
Little 2 yr old #2 is totally loud and out of control. It's going to take some time, and I've let her know I'll give it till the end of next week. Day one was horrible, and day 2 was nice improvement but the kid is so loud and wild. I need to see how a few more days would go before giving up, but I can honestly say I know why they've had really bad luck with babysitters.
And another thing that I am kind of annoyed with is the mom drops them off, and acts very concerned over the behavior and loudness. Claims that she has NO problems at all at home, so she has no advice on how to help here. The dad does pick up, and he says yes, she is wild at home, has no volume control, has same issues I'm describing, etc. I feel like I'm being played....
But, since I know it's really important for the other 2 to have more interaction, I'm going to see how next week goes, if she calls back. It's probably just something that will take a few days for her to settle in. Day 2 was definitely a lot better than day 1. She's basically the opposite of most kids. Most kids are shy at first till they warm up to people, and act up when the parents are here. She is good while the parents are here, and really tests the limits when they are not. And she is not shy at all.
But anyway....That's what's new here. I do have something else I've been wanting to get off my mind and just have not had the time to sit down and do it. Look for that in a day or 2.