December 6, 2008

• Great Plans for the Week-End

  THIS IS THE FIRST DAY OF LIVING LIFE WITH  MY NEW RESOLVE (translated, that means “attitude”)!

  I talked with the girls’ therapist yesterday, showed her my blog and everyone’s supportive comments.  First of all:  SHE thinks you are a great group of people.  “Wonderful friends!” is what you were called.  I think so, too.

  She listened while I purged myself of all the thoughts and feelings inside of me.  In the end, she reiterated again what she’s told me 92 million times, “God gave Luci to the perfect mother for her.  There are only 2 other types of mothers that exist.  Those that beat and (sometimes) eventually kill their children and those that give the child everything she wants to keep her from screaming.  The second type (the “giver inner” type!) raises a self-centered, miserable adult who gets along with NO ONE.  Since I detest manipulation and can spot it a mile away (I was manipulated for most of my life), I’m the *perfect parent* for a manipulative child.  Because, I won’t allow that behavior.”  I guess that’s like my good friend Lori K. who prayed for patience and said God sent her a set of twins to help her learn!!!  Telling Luci the other girls don’t have to play with her because of the way she treats them, is a GOOD idea and I should continue to let Luci experience consequences.  The therapist said, AGAIN, I was doing everything right and by not *feeling* affection for Luci, didn’t mean I didn’t love her.  She said many parents actually visualize themselves doing something harmful to a *difficult to raise* child.  I can’t say I’ve ever considered setting her in a trash can for the garbage man to pick up, but I DO recognize my feelings when they are close to being scary.  And, she said that’s excellent because many people don’t know when to remove themselves from a volatile situation.  I told her she could keep my blog about Luci and even show it to Luci’s medical doctor.  I wanted it to be placed “on the record” that I was making myself accountable for my actions.  I’m not trying to hide the fact Luci sends me way over the top into frustration and anger, and I’m definitely not trying to portray the facade of a perfect Mommy (snicker! – perfect?).  She handed the “blog papers” back to me, and made a few notes in our family’s file.

  I wouldn’t have addressed this issue again, except many of you expressed curiosity about what the therapist would tell me.  My close friend, Tangi, also suggested I send Luci somewhere else to have her fits other than her bedroom or my own.  Someplace set apart for those screamin’ meanies.  I’ve chosen my walk in closet.  Of course, I’m NOT closing the door, but she can sit in there where there is nothing exciting to look at, it IS carpeted with ventilation, it’s more isolated, but still big enough for her to kick and scream without destroying anything.  She’s already been there once today. 

  And, she has been made to sit in “time in” by my desk chair.  If anyone wants to know about “time in” ask me!!!
  
  This was a “good” expression, rather than the frown she had plastered to her face.  She was instantly able to erase the ugly face when my camera appeared.  (telling me much of this behavioral stuff is within her control)

  Rissy was found in bed with JanaLyn.  Rissy was explaing what the “Table of Contents” was in a book and how to look up the page of the story you want to read.  Then, she began to read to JanaLyn!
    
  Rissy wants to be a pediatrician, but I think she would make an excellent teacher.

  She made our dinner last night, Chili-Etti.  It’s a recipe my mother copied from a newspaper when I was about Rissy’s age.  I’ve spoken of it before and maybe even given the recipe on my blog.  Anyway, she literally did everything without my help – excpet *I* wrote out a new recipe card for her box!  She was even able to double the ingredients without my help to make a larger amount.

  Annamarie was in a quiet mood and trying to wake up in front of the TV.  A dumb cartoon that I made her turn off.
  
  
  
  MOVING ON:

  The girls are excited today because I will be decorating our garlands with birds, berries, flowers, etc.  They “think” they are going to “help” me, but it goes much faster when I do it alone.  They will have to be given the job of “judge and critique” regarding “how things look” rather than actively touching stuff!  Believe me, I’ve been through this before!  I speak from experience!
   
  It will be interesting to see how long the bottom decorations stay on the garlands!  So far, Chirper hasn’t touched the garland, but I will have to put the cardinals and white doves out of his reach.  Even Stormy, a 3 year old cat, is tempted by the life-like birds!

  I bought (from the bakery section)  4 boxes of 2 dozen cookies each – oatmeal raisin, chocolate chip, sugar, and snicker doodles – and need to divide those up (6 of each flavor in a box) and freeze them.  I’ve found that to be the most efficient way to buy and finish off cookies.

  I also bought 5 (3lb each) containers of ground turkey.  Three on the top shelf and two on the bottom.
  
  It’s taking up too much room in my refrigerator.  I divide it into approximately 1 1/2 pounds per freezer bag, so each of the original containers yields two bags of frozen meat.  We ate it again last night in the Chili-Etti and you couldn’t tell the difference from it or ground beef.  This is about $1.75 a pound for 85% lean meat.  It’s more economical than beef.

   
  Yesterday, Rissy bought a candle for her room, Mulled Cider.
    
  Normally she picks sweet pea, fresh rain, or something like that.  I was surprised at her desire for mulled cider!  She brought it to me with the matches and asked me to light it.  This is one of my favorite winter scents to burn.

  As I’ve typed, I’ve also fixed orange and cinnamon rolls for the girls’ and my breakfast.  Yum!  I’m really on a sweets binge, lately!!  I also fed the cats and have put out little tattle telling fires.  This is shaping itself into a busy day!!!

  Tomorrow, we are meeting Jesse’s brother, Frank, and Sharon for lunch at Red Lobster.  Her birthday is tomorrow.  We meet in a city about an hour away.  I hope we aren’t made to wait a long time because of the Sunday church crowds.  Frank said he would make reservations, but I don’t know if Red Lobster accepts reservations.  Well . . . what do you know!  His brother just called and said he thought it would be best to get there earlier!  So, that’s what we’ll do.

  Jesse has started a new medication for his migraines (which are frequent).  It is an anti-seizure medicine and some of you may be familar with it.  “Topamax.”  He found a clinic that is free (based on your income and dependents) and was pleased to find his blood work was all within normal range except for a “slightly” elevated cholesterol level that no one was particularly concerned about.  The Topamax is $400 -something a month (I know!  Can you believe it?), but he qualified for a year of free prescriptions for that and Imitrex which IS used to stop a migraine.  Topamax comes with another price – lots of side effects.  This morning he said he had been up most of the night.  I feel bad for him.  Tangi takes the same prescription and said it’s horrible for about 2 weeks, and then your minor headaches begin to fade away, not to mention the migraines.  She said it’s worth all of the initial side effects.  One of his is an upset stomach, so I don’t know how seafood will sit on his stomach, tomorrow.

  More of Rissy’s reading books came from Pathway Publishers last night.  She was so excited!    They are at her reading level and slight above.  A nice challenge.

  Guess it’s time to get off of here and start a project or two.  I lit the fireplace last night and intend to do it again today.  Nice toasty warm atmosphere!

  Be blessed  ~ 

  
  

  • 11:45 am
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