Month: May 2008

  • Friday Report

    Well, I'm just not sure if Friday was the same, better, or worse than Thursday!!!!!!  LOL

    We left the house (1/2 dressed) at (9:20am) to get Stephanie to work by 10am.  I decided to come home and use those precious 3 hours to do housework (much needed!!!) and NOT spend lunch money at McDonald's.  I got the kitchen completely cleaned.  I emptied the dishwasher, refilled it, and washed the pans that couldn't go in it, dried them and put them away.  Ta-dah!  A clean bar!  Then moved counter top stuff and 409'ed the surface areas.  I'm sure it's cleaner - at least the 409 made it smell cleaner!  I completely cleaned the inside of the mircrowave - yuck!  Jesse must have heated something up in there without covering it. 

    For lunch, everyone had a choice of peanut butter & jelly  or bologna sandwiches and it came with fritos and cheetos and lemonade to drink.  Surprisingly, everyone (including me) chose bologna.

    After lunch, we got hair brushed, changed into going-out-in-public dresses and shoes on, teeth brushed, and I even trimmed JanaLyn's hair.  They play together relatively well, with less scrapping than usual.

    Luci watching TV.

    JanaLyn & Rissy watching TV.  I'm not sure where Annamarie was, maybe watching a movie in her room???

    We were ready a little early, so we left for the therapist's appointment a little early and arrived 15 minutes before their appointment at 2pm.  Stephanie called and said they told her to clock out at 2pm and she was ready for me to come get her.  Our therapist wasn't ready until 2:30!  She's always ridiculously late.  If she wasn't so good, I'd quit using her.  I told the staff I was sorry, but if Luci had a fit the therapist would have to handle it this time, and I told them I was leaving Annamarie alone in the waiting room.  No problem for them.  I left to get Stephanie who was next door at Quizno's sipping a Dr. Pepper.  I think I got her at 2:45 and made it back to the therapy appointment by 3pm.  Actually it worked out well, because the therapist ended up having both girls play together at the same time so she could watch their interaction.

    We left there and went to Wal-Mart.  The children were griping about being thirsty and having to go to the bathroom and I just simply put my foot down and explained they'd just drained the drinking fountain at the therapist's office and each of them had also used the restroom right before we left.  So, NO DRINKS AND NO POTTY STOPS!  There was no more complaining - witch that I was.

    Long story short, Stephanie was shopping for a gift for a little boy's b-day party who's 2 yo brother fell into an outdoor fire pit a few months ago.  He's back from Shriner's and at home until the next skin graft and is a friend of Rob's.  Rob asked Stephanie to go to the party with him, as he didn't think he could go alone.  She agreed and we shopped and shopped for an appropriate gift for the 5 yo boy and a "thinking of you, too" appropriate gift for a boy in full body bandages and a plastic face mask, who's lost two fingers.  We finally finished picking out appropriate gifts and gift bags and were exhausted.  We headed to the food section, neither Stephanie or I needed much food.  Rob called and said he'd had a long day and just didn't think he could make it to the party because he was tired.  Stephanie was furious because I bet we spent an hour with whining children looking for the perfect gifts.  JanaLyn started to cry because all she talked about all day was the party she was going to that evening.  Needless to say, moods changed rapidly at that moment - the children's AND the adult's.

    We did our food shopping as quickly as possible, each going our separate way (using cell phones to locate the other!) and tried to make it through the crowded (by now it's 5pm AND Friday) food aisles as quickly as possible.  We checked out, make it to the 120 degree car, unloaded things into the back and were on our way.  I looked at the clock and asked Stephanie if she realize we had been in Wal-Mart for TWO HOURS???!!!!!  I dropped off Stephanie and JanaLyn and my girls and I headed home.  Actually, there's one more story I need to interject here.

    Annamarie, the strongest, helped carry groceries up the stairs to Stephanie's apartment.  Stephanie came around to my window to give me a hug and thank me for everything and I rolled up my window and put the car into drive.  That's when I looked in my rear view mirror and saw Stephanie waving her arms and Annamarie standing beside her.  Good, Lord!  I'd forgotten to head count!  Annamarie got in, with my most sincere apologies, and she said, "That's okay, I thought to myself, 'Oh good, I get to spend the night at Stephanie's'!"  Stephanie was shaking her head and laughing at me and I yelled out the window, "Don't laugh.  YOU only have one child, I have 5 plus 2 granddaughters!  AND, I'm old.  AND, I'm tired!"

    Jesse was home when we arrived, said he didn't feel well, and he didn't want to eat again.  Fortunately, I had enough leftovers in the refrigerator that weren't growing mold yet, and that's what we ate for dinner.  Every fiber of my being ached.

    I did the "get-the-house-ready-for-the-night" routine, turned on the alarm, and got in bed by 8:30.  I told the girls they had to go to bed at 9pm.  I couldn't stand anymore "Mommy-ing" and Jesse was exhausted besides not feeling well.

    Annamarie rubbed my back and calf & feet areas.  I hurt in places I didn't even know I hurt.  She went off to bed and I turned out the light and immediately fell asleep.  I woke up once in the middle of the night (5:30ish), and barely made it to the restroom (I guess too much lemonade at dinner), but at least I didn't fall this time!!!  I slept until 7:45 this morning and found Jesse had already left to go mow.

    I knew I'd be tired still today, so I prepared (yesterday) to serve an easy breakfast!!!
    Strawberry donut holes and glazed donut holes.  A cream cheese coffee cake and a raspberry coffee cake.  *I'M* no dummy.  I knew I would feel "bleah" this morning!

    Maybe later today I'll have the energy to assemble Marissa's new cherry wood shelves.  I'm working on Jesse's and my laundry right now and still need to dust and vacuum then clean our bathrooms.  But, it can be stretched out over today and tomorrow, if necessary.  All I really want to do is cuddle up with Stormy, the cat!  Well, THAT and eat chocolate stuff!

    I should set up the girls' pool.  I guess we're just using the regular snap set (12' x 18") pool until Jesse decides on a bigger one and shelling loose with the cash it takes to buy it.  Meanwhile, it's near 90 or higher degrees each day and the girls COULD be outside enjoying the water.  And me INSIDE enjoying the quiet!

    Talked with our pastor last night and gave him an update on Luci's behavior.  He thinks we should pray for her again, and we agreed to meet next Tuesday morning.  Our therapist agreed.  Luci's much better, but there are still some issues that need to be dealt with.  Currently I am titrating her (slowly lowering her dose) of the last medication she is on.  We'll see how she does for a couple of months and she can always be put back on something different if she isn't improving.

    Cute story (for me, the animal lover, anyway):  I opened Tango's cover and then her door.  Got her to hop on my finger and said, "Give Momma kisses, pleeeeeeeze."  She shocked me by leaning forward and made a kissing sound on my lips!  Yay!  PROGRESS!  I was beginning to think I wasn't good with cockatiels, like I have been with parakeets, but she's slowly coming around.  I'm sure if we didn't have a cat and ceiling fans running all day, and if we could let her out more often, she'd probably be more socialized.  But, I'm still pleased with what we've done. We've had her a year, now.

    Okay, time to change a load of laundry and make my bed.  Oh the joys of homemaking!  I may have to  raid the secret stash of chocolates I have hidden in my closet!

  • Running on Empty

    I'm sitting here this morning, reading blogs, and enjoying the quiet!  Rissy and Luci are still asleep.  Annamarie is in the den reading a book.  She just learned to read (a few words finally kicked in)  about 2-3 weeks ago.  I have the same books I used back in first grade in 1959 - Dick, Jane, Sally, Spot, and Puff.  Anyone remember those?  "Oh!  Look!  Oh, oh, oh.  Look!  Oh, Look!"

    We picked up her glasses the day before yesterday (she is supposed to wear them all the time) and Rissy got hers, mainly for reading and schoolwork.  The glasses made Annamarie dizzy, so she wore them a while and then took them off a while and then back on again, etc.  She'll have to get used to them, I'm sure.  Now I'll have a reason to take pictures of the girls, again!

    I was so tired of the girls arguing all day.  Luci
    ending up being obstinate a few times and finally spanked when we got
    home and sent to her bedroom for time out.  She fell asleep, so I guess
    she was just as exhausted as me.   Annamarie did everything she could
    to provoke Luci all day long.  It makes me mad because she's eight and
    should know better, but then I try to remember she's actually more like
    a 4yo.  Also, she's usually left behind and gets her feelings hurt
    easily, so I think there is power trip in being able to make someone
    else unhappy and cry.  Just my unprofessional observation!  To top it
    off, Rissy was a "know-it-all" almost all day and I wanted to strangle
    her.  JanaLyn, as usual, talked non-stop.  No kidding.  I think I must
    have been the same way from the stories relatives tell about me. 
    NON-STOP!!!  Talk to the rock she found, talked to her sunburn, talked,
    talked, talked, talked!

    I went ahead 
    (even though my body felt ready for the grave!!!!) and we all went to
    Wal-Mart because I had ordered a bookshelf for Rissy's room and
    received notice that it was ready for pick up.  Stood in line forever
    waiting for someone to help at customer service and after about 20
    minutes someone arrived.  That's when I found out I was at the wrong
    Wal-Mart!!!  Despite my sheer exhaustion, we dropped off Stephanie
    & JanaLyn and drove to the correct Wal-Mart.  Had to wait again for
    help (huge sigh, inserted here, with drooping shoulders).  She told me she could
    call for someone to help me take it to my car, but I remembered it was
    supposed to be 50 lbs and my children are heavier, so I declined
    accepting her offer.  It really wasn't hard to leverage it out of the
    cart and into the back of the Suburban.


    I was so tired last night.  I don't think I fixed dinner (breakfast)
    until close to 8pm.      I cooked sausages, a can of giant flaky buttermilk biscuits and then made scrambled eggs.  Just as we were finishing up, Jesse walked in and didn't want to eat.  I sat the at the computer for a while, but my mouse is being contrary and acts spastic.  It won't go where I want it to and if I click and drag, it stops halfway.  It made navigating on the computer difficult!  I decided I was too tired to be on the computer no matter WHAT the reason and shut it down.  That's when I realized I had to make coffee for in the morning.  Walking into the kitchen made me realize, I hadn't put up the dinner leftovers that Jesse didn't eat.  I was almost in tears.  My heels hurt from walking all day (even though I wear special shoes - I guess they can only work so much magic!) and my whole body was crying.  I quickly turned out lights and did the "get the house ready for bed" routine, went to the bathroom to change into my nightgown, take down my hair (I promise EVERY hair pin was tangled in my hair!!!), and brushed my teeth.  Jesse was 2 minutes behind me and said he was going to sleep sitting up on the living room sofa for a while because his back hurt.  That's the last I saw of him

    I woke up once in the middle of the night needing to use the restroom.  I usually feel my way around the bed and the small sofa we have at the end of the bed.  I'm not quite sure how it happened . . . but my knees buckled under me, and I fell flat on my face.  Fortunately, I went down knees first then face.  I couldn't believe I was that tired!  No mortal head wounds or broken nose this morning, so I guess my fall was cushioned!  My feet still hurt this morning and I'm feeling the overly exercised muscles in my shoulders from lifting the bookcase box out of my car and bringing it inside.

    I have to get Stephanie to work by 10am this morning, unless they cancel her from their schedule again today.  Surely, they wouldn't do that two days in a row!  I have the girls' therapist appointment at two and plan to grocery shop after that.  I'm going to throw clothes on all of us as late as possible and then pick up Stephanie and JanaLyn.   I'm coming back to our house to get bathed and get dressed properly and will have to leave around 1:30pm to get to the girls' appointment on time.  It's a lot of gasoline to come home for just 3 hours, but I just can't think of one thing to do to occupy that amount of time and I don't think I can shovel another McDonald's meal in me!  I can get the kitchen and laundry done while I'm waiting and the girls can watch a movie or do school work.

    Oddly enough, I'm looking forward to staying home this week-end and cleaning house!  Now, you KNOW things are bad when you want to stay home and do chores!!!!

    Happy Friday to everyone!

  • Tiresome Thursday - FOR SURE!!!

    First of all, any of you who guessed who the "flower" photographer was the other day, it WAS Rissy.  She was learning to use the zoom, center and off-center pictures to make them interesting, and when to use the flash.

    Stephanie didn't have to go to work after all, they cut her from the shift last minute this morning.  That's SOOO Bath & Body Works!  It's a shame, too, because it's a nice job and she enjoys the people she works with.

    Anyway, since I had planned to do things up in her area today, I picked up Stephanie and JanaLyn and we spent the afternoon together.  Ran around buying Father's Day gifts, Stephanie's b-day gifts (stuck them in my cart when she wasn't looking), and friend Lori a b-day gift.

    Stephanie was about to go crazy at the end of the day from all the 4 little ones chattering, arguing, making "sounds" just to be making noise, etc.  I told Stephanie that was what it was like when I took her to work and I had the four of them all by myself.  THEN, when I picked her up, she'd want us to all go grocery shopping!  She has a much greater appreciation for me, now!  And realizes why I'm ready for bed around 7:30pm!

    Anyway, I got a couple cute pictures of the girls in the Suburban while Stephanie ran inside somewhere and we waited in the car.  Rissy insisted on taking some of me and then taking more of me when we got home.  They aren't the best - but she's only 7 and this is her first week of photography!

    That's Annamarie, JanaLyn  Rissy squished together.
    Luci sat in the third seat in the way back.

    The next UN-glamorous one of me were taken by Rissy.

    After we got home, she wanted to play with the camera and photograph me (looking like I'd been run through a wringer - I think maybe I had been!!!).  So these are her attempts:

    After the first one, she had me turn to catch my reflection in the mirror behind me.  Pretty cool idea, huh?
    \

    In my opinion, these next ones show exactly how exhausted I felt/still feel.
     


    After this one, I just couldn't pose for one more!  I was exhausted and still had to fix dinner.

    Maybe on another day I'll post some of me at the beginning of the day when I'm not dog tired!

    Nighty, night.  Children going to bed early tonight and me next!

  • Thursday Thirteen #24
    (I have a very busy day tomorrow, so thought I'd post this early.  In a few hours it will be tomorrow, anyway!)

    Thirteen Traits I Have
    WHETHER I WANT THEM OR NOT

    1.  I have a boisterous laugh.  It's never been demure or melodic.  Nothing feminine about "hearty, belly rolling" laugher!

    2. I have a flat head with thin, fine, sparse hair and it's only getting worse as I get older.  Maybe I'm a candidate for Rogaine??????

    3.  I have a passionate love for red meat (medium or medium rare).  I know it's unhealthy, but chicken and fish  just don't do the same thing for me as a steak or roast!  I can feel my red blood cells rejuvenating after each bite of steak!

    4.  I have a gift for teaching just about anything, but often wonder, afterwards, "Why in the world did I sign up for this?"

    5.  I have a black thumb.  I'm not talking about an ethnic group attached to part of my hand; but, the truth be known, I'm a plant killer.

    6.  I have VERY EXPENSIVE taste.  Trust me.  No matter where I am, whatever catches my eye, and I pick up, is almost guaranteed to be the most expensive thing.  Then I have the pleasure of executing self control and telling myself to put it back and begun to hunt for a cheaper version!.

    7.  I have a fondness for all animals.  I'm more fond of some than others; but, I've been known to kiss a calf!!!

    8.  I think barnyard smells (horse and cow manure, straw, hay) smell good - chicken coops, not so great.  I'm not sure what's wrong with me?????

    9.  I enjoy housework.  I try to sit and read or watch TV and relax, but I find working to be more relaxing and enjoyable.  I think the doctor must have dropped me on my head at birth!  Hey!  Maybe that's why I have such a flat head????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    10.  I'm very opinionated.  I DO hope, with age and maturity, I have learned to soften my delivery!

    11.  I'm very intolerant of intolerant people.  Kind of a Catch-22, huh?

    12.  My high level of energy wears most people out. From what I understand, I was born in high gear and have never stopped.

    13.  I never enter an argument unless I'm positively sure of what I'm talking about.  Then, I don't give up.  I'm well read and educated and I rarely speak until I hear someone saying something VERY wrong (due to their lack of education) or something that is just plain dumb!  It's very frustrating when I  KNOW I'm right!!!  I have to control myself or I begin to sound like a dog that has a hold of a bone!

    Who knows?  Maybe I should have been a lawyer, after all!

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  • Wordless Wednesday

    This title always makes me giggle/snicker!  Those who know me (really well) know there is no such thing about Cherylyn being connected to the word "wordless" - not in the least!

    The only hint today: *I* did not take these pictures, but I'm VERY impressed with the photographer's first try.

    End table flowers in formal living room.                        Flowers on my desk.

    Cloisonne egg on a living room table.                             Purple irises on foyer chest.

    Small birds on chest in foyer.                                        Vase in den on sofa table.

    Fern on living room coffee table.                                   Little Luci.

    Stormy.                                                                            Stormy, again.
     

    Luci                                                                                  Annamarie & Luci

    Now, can anyone guess the name of today's photographer?

  • We DID do Something!!!

    Well, we figured out a few things to do yesterday rather than sit in our jammmies all day!

    We went looking for a pool on sale - all sold out (of course) with no rain check. 

    We ate lunch out - I had a salad with pieces of fried chicken on top. 

    Then, Jesse had the great idea of going to the park.  Our city has a wonderful and well-maintained park and we have never gone there, before.  So here is a pictorial of our day.  By the way, the lovely, unflattering picture of me with messy hair in my bathrobe earlier in the day ISN'T how I looked all day.  But, no one took a picture of me to prove I was clean and wearing clothes!

    Keeping with the "Oklahoma Heritage" theme.  There was a wooden covered wagon and wooden horses.

    From there, the girls moved onto the swings and sand box.

    "One, Two, Three, JUMP!"

    Jesse attempted to help each of them learn how to use the rings (something I was never strong enough to do).
    First Luci and then Annamarie.

    Rissy was next - remember, she is the one with very mild cerebral palsy and has problems with one arm and one leg.  She is also the overachiever and hates to fail at anything.

    I'm not being morbid by posting this next picture, because the one after it is the sweetest picture you'll ever see.

    Rissy was absolutely terrified of the rings and came running to me screaming, "I was so scared, Momma!  I was so very, VERY scared!  I tried really hard, I really did,  but I was just so scared!"

    Annamarie got to her before Rissy made it to me and look what happened!

    I had to laugh at this picture.  With so many park toys to choose, guess where they wanted to be?

    We decided to make our way over to the water area and watch the ducks and fish.

    They loved the fish (which they could see swimming through the water) and I was a little afraid they'd lean too far over and fall in!

    A family near us was fishing and Jesse asked if the man minded if our girls looked into his bucket.  Jesse didn't tell them what was in the bucket, just told them to look.  One of the fish jumped and so did all 3 of my girls - about 3 feet into the air!!!!

    OF course, you can't go on an outing without there being at least one child receiving a boo-boo!  My family wasn't the exception.  I'm not as cool as the mom's on the TV commercial for Neosporin spray.  You know, there's a scream and the 3 mom's pop out their tubes of spray and swing it from their index finger??????  I'll enlarge this picture so you can see "BE SURE" to see the mortal wound to her right shin bone.
    Can you see it?  

    I couldn't either!  But,  I  sprayed it with my Bactine and refused to let her know I was also carrying Dora the Explorer bandaids in my purse!

    There was a climbing wall, kind of like those rock climbing walls, but this had square blocks of wood to place your hands and feet.  Luci was very fearful, but also very determined to scale the tall wall.  It took her a while and Rissy was right there to encourage her and tell her, "C'mon Luce, you can do it!"
    She DID make it to the top and Annamarie joined Rissy in congratulating Luci!

    Finally, the time had come to go home.  It was almost 7pm and we had planned frozen pizza's for dinner (Yay!  I was SO happy about not having to fix anything in the kitchen!!)

    Annamarie

    Rissy

    And the mortally, shin-scraped and wounded Luci!

    Everyone woefully left the park, worried about Mom bringing up the rear with her camera!!!
    '

    I took this opporutnity to take pictures of Jesse's new truck.  It's an F-150 Limited and VERY will appointed and quite comfortable - for a pick up truck!
     

    The "extras" on the dashboard make it look like a jet aircraft more than a car!  Yes, that's a navigation system! 

    Last, but certainly not least, I learned something at the park.  Money may not grow on trees, but children do.
    And this just so happens to be a tree producing GOOD fruit!

    Okay - so much for yesterday.  Time to get back to reality - dishes and laundry!

  • Memorial Day Plans

    We've thrown around a few things to do today for Memorial Day. 

    All I know, for sure, is that we each need to take a bath and get dressed - and making our beds would probably be an okay idea, too.  Jesse wants to cook a bunch of meat outside.  Translated that means chicken, hotdogs, and hamburgers . . . leaving me to make the sides.  I'm thinking potato salad (which I really don't want to go to the trouble of putting together) and baked beans.

    As for the most important question,

    "What do YOU think we should do today?" 

    Here is each family member's response . . .

    Jesse's idea:

    MY idea:

    Annamarie's and Luci's ideas:

    And, finally Rissy, who ALWAYS has an idea:

    Doesn't that leave y'all with brilliant and vivid ideas of how y'all can spend your own lovely day?

    Me either!

    Happy Memorial Day to those who actually have REAL plans!!!

  • Hidden Sunday

    Do you ever have those days you wish you could rest and just hide from the world for a while?

    You know?  Squish yourself up really tiny and hide under the china cabinet - where you could watch the world, but the world couldn't see you?

    And even if we couldn't squish ourself that tiny, it would be wonderful just to be able to hide on a chair under the table . . .


    unnoticed, except for that crazy woman with a camera . . .

    I think I want to be "Stormy" when I grow up!!!!!

  • This Has Turned Out to be a Great Saturday

    No wonder I wanted yesterday to be Saturday.  This has been such a nice (and productive) day!  Plus . . . no sign of a headache.  Yippee!

    First of all, my dear friend Shanda had recommended a CD of piano music to me.  I ordered it and it arrived today and is peacefully playing while I type.  It's soooooo relaxing!  "Whisperings" by David Nevue

    The fairy maids did indeed show up today!  In all their smiling glory!  Really . . . they WERE in good moods!

    There was a fifth fairy maid.  But I think she thought her only purpose was to soak up sun from the window.
    I'm not sure she really counts as a "fairy maid" - do you?!

    Some of the transformation that happened:
    The den was restored.

    All beds, including Jesse's and mine have been made.  I still need to put back the sheers and valances on the windows on each side of the bed.  These mini-blinds aren't the greatest.

    Remember my kitchen sink and bar area the other day?  Looky, looky now!!!
    I even ran orange peels down the garbage disposal after lunch to freshen it!  AND . . . that lemonade candle Stephanie bought me is the B-E-S-T.  It's burning over the kitchen sink area right now.

    And last of all, I found two fairy maids washing their dirty feet in the bathtub.  They actually cleaned the tub with Comet after they were finished!

    Things feel better (definitely cleaner!!!) and more under control today and the house sure smells a lot better!

    I got the laundry finished and everything put away.  The girls cleaned the bathrooms with Comet and those Sani-Cloth disinfectant wipes.

    Jesse took JanaLyn back to Stephanie's work to pick up Stephanie and take them both home.
    He just walked in - so I better say good bye - with a HUGE sign of relief!

  • Today is REALLY Saturday!

    I knew it!  I just knew it!  If I waited long enough, it would eventually really be Saturday!!!!  And, it is!

    Not only that, but the "fairy maids" will be here today.  Know how I know?  I have to take Stephanie to work around 11am and I'm bringing JanaLyn home with me.  Stephanie is scheduled to work until 2:30, but is on call until maybe, as late as, 5:30. 

    That's FOUR fairy maids in my house ALL AT THE SAME TIME!!!

    Fairy Maids who can dust the legs of my tables and chairs and baseboards.  Fairy Maids who can sweep floors and clean the tiled floors.  Fairy Maids who know how to pick up toys, and other family paraphernalia, and actually know where things are supposed to go!!!!  If I do laundry, the Fairy Maids automatically make it disappear into closets and dresser drawers!

    Fairy Maids!  Fairy Maids!  Fairy Maids will abound within my house, today!  They DO exist.  The really DO!!!

    All they require is peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, lemonade, Little Debbie snacks, and some homeschooling (yes, I have weird children who LOVE school and LOVE to help clean).

    Pictures to follow later on today.  Once the Fairy Maids arrive, my camera will click away to prove to y'all  they exist!

    I'm SO blessed!  I can honestly say (this time) I "count it all joy!!!!!!"