I’ve taken a deep breath and became determined (starting yesterday) to start the new week fresh.

I baked cookies, the week before last, and froze most of them.  It was a kitchen nightmare for a while.  Flour flew everywhere.  I tried to hurry and dumped too much flour in my Kitchenaid mixer, the faster I dumped, the more it flew.  I was almost in tears.  My back hurt so bad and the girls were asking question after question – nonsense questions.  It was so overwhelming.  And, such a mess to clean up.

I don’t know if the damage in my back will be permanent, but I realized I may never be able to stand for long periods of time, again.  But I’m not letting that stop me!  I have a plan!!!

I’ve decided (at least for this year) to make dough one day, then bake the cookies on the next day.  This year, I’m not even thinking clearly about what type of cookies to make.  Of course, I want cookies we don’t normally make throughout the year and then . . . they have to be relatively easy . . .  shortbread cut outs? . . . pinwheels in red/green dough? . . .   and my grandma’s lemon cookie, rolled in nuts with a candied cherry pressed on top. 

I found an interesting candy, this year, called church glass – made with multi-colored marshmallows, melted chocolate chips, and nuts.  Looks easy and my husband loves colored marshmallows! Probably one of those treats he never had as a child!

Luci woke up yesterday and threw up.  She was sent (immediately) back to bed and far away from me.  I’ve pulled out the disinfectant wipes and asked her to please wipe down the faucet and toilet handle after she washes her hands.  I’ve successfully avoided all illnesses this year (well, I guess . . . if you don’t count cancer!!!    ) and I have no intention of ruining my record! 

I really thought she’d be better today.  She was in bed all day yesterday with saltines, plain dinner rolls, and ginger ale or apple juice mixed with water.  She told me she threw up once in the middle of the night.  Sigh!  I had planned to finish school work in two weeks.  In fact, I laid in bed on Saturday and figured out how to make it possible to do only two more weeks of school.  The girls know they’ll have to work hard, but agreed they liked the idea of only two weeks left.  Luci told me she would do her school work in bed today, so she doesn’t get behind.

Everyone else is doing well.  Jesse went back to work today.  Stephanie has a doctor appointment up the street from me and said she’d stop by when she was finished and before she had to pick up JanaLyn at school.  It’s been quite a few weeks since I’ve seen her.  We mainly try to chat on the phone once a week.

Jesse’s birthday is Friday.  He told me not to buy anything because he was a buying an expensive present for himself.  That’s always good.  I think we both appreciate not having to second guess what the other would like for a gift.  I don’t think we are very good at picking out gifts for each other!  We will still need to buy some b-day cards and I might as well buy something for Christmas for him.  I had things from Wal-Mart I wanted to  order online, and two of those things are already unavailable!  A friend told me she would take me into town this week and I think I can do everything in two hours.  I know I don’t have much more strength than that and I don’t want to push it!

Yesterday didn’t get off to a very good start.  I made a wonderful new recipe of a blueberry coffee cake for breakfast.  It bubbled over the sides.  Burned the bottom of the oven AND set off the battery smoke detectors AND called our alarm service and the fire department. (rolling my eyes).  It happened a second time, but we had the windows and doors open and managed to fan the smoke away from the alarms.  What a stinky mess.  AND, the cake wasn’t finished baking.  Jesse took a pair of tongs and, holding wads of paper towels, mopped up the mess on the bottom of the oven, I put the glass pan on a cookie sheet and we finished the baking.  It was worth it.  The cake was delicious – one I found in the newspaper last week.

I cleaned the oven last night while we slept!  It was all sparkling clean this morning.  So, another fresh start!

                          
                                            Luci’s cheap version of American Girl dolls.
                                I guess having “someone” in the bed next to her, “also sick,”
                                                   makes it not quite so lonely!!!!

I was berating myself for burning down the house and then bleaching all of Annamarie’s clothes (the child that is so hard to find clothes that fit) all in one morning!

Despite the rocky start to the week, I have a good attitude and a bunch of “try hard” in me today.  I will hold up my head, put a smile on my face, and forge forward

despite the rocky start!

Be Blessed  ~

Such a hard time (loosing my dad and brother within weeks) and having to face a holiday, just a few days later.  A holiday  I was no longer looking forward to celebrating.  I didn’t think I’d be able to pull off a dinner, entertain company, nor (truth be told) did I even want to try.  Such a deep, dark depression settled over me.  Depression isn’t anything I’ve ever dealt with very much in my life.  Things haven’t always been easy for me, but I’m not prone to depression. 

This year was hard.  VERY hard.

Because of family who swooped down upon our house and, like angels, bore the load of work, making sure I only did a few things, Thanksgiving was a lovely holiday.

My wonderful sister-in-law and brother-in-law came Wednesday afternoon and the baking began. 

Rissy showed Uncle Frank and Aunt Sharon around the kitchen and I was repeatedly told to, “Get out!” of the kitchen!

                       
                                                 Sharon & Frank (Jesse’s brother)

Wednesday night, Rissy and I mixed up the turkey dressing.  No, I take that back.  Rissy mixed it and this year I tried to measure ingredients to make up a recipe card for her of “Mom’s Turkey Stuffing”  She did a great job.  She remembered everything she’d been taught from years past. 

She and I made the fruit salads Thursday morning, then Jesse’s mom and Frank & Sharon did everything else.  I was barely allowed to wash a dish or dry the clean dishes.

  
There was food galore.  A ham AND a turkey,  Jesse’s & Frank’s mom made some Mexican and “down home” recipes the girls and I weren’t accustomed to eating.  His Mom made two types of corn bread dressing, and fidel – a Mexican pasta with neck bones.  Frank made cabbage and neck bones and Jesse’s famous hot sauce was present in the buffet line of food.

There was so much food.                                                   I made 2 horrible pecan pies and one pumpkin pie!!!  

I had to throw away the pecan pies.  Mixing them is no big deal, but knowing when to remove them from the stove is a different story!  This year was my first attempt.  I’ll learn!  Now, I’m determined!  The pies were stored in the garage – what we called “the overflow room” for food!  There was food on the kitchen bar.  Food served from the top of the stove.  Rolls, butter, and salt & pepper on the table.  Food EVERYWHERE!!!!

The three girls set the table with my good silver and we used our everyday clear glass plates.  I made it as easy on myself as possible, but things were still very nice.

We have a Thanksgiving tradition of cutting out construction paper leaves and then handing five leaves to each person.  They are asked to think back on the year and write down five things for which they are grateful.  The leaves are placed on the table with the written side down.  It’s done anonymously, but some leaves were obvious.  They are used as part of the table’s decoration while we eat dinner.  In between dinner and dessert, I usually read the leaves and it always brings smiles and laughter. 

This year – a few tears.

Anyway, to finish my story . . .

There was a ton of wonderful food (not counting my disastrous pecan pies!  LOL!!!) and I was sure we would be giving leftovers to departing guests and still be stuck eating turkey for the next 2 weeks!

         
                        I’ve never fit so many people into my tiny kitchen as I did on Thursday! 

Everyone licked their lips, surveying the food, and made solemn declarations of how they weren’t going to make a pig of themselves this year! (snicker!)  

Uncle Frank and Daddy helped the little girls with their plates – filling their requests for this or that! 
 

                               
                                                Food was dropped, and spilled everywhere, but . . . 
                                                  there was plenty left and it was never missed!

         
                                           Jesse gave thanks before we served the food, then
                                             everyone began to seat themselves and “dig in!”

It was my pleasure to “politely” try all of the food cooked and served!

            
                                            My plate before 

                                           
                                                                                   and after!!!!! 

Jesse’s mom went home yesterday evening (Frank & Sharon left in the morning) and like everyone else across the country, we had leftovers for dinner!  And, I’ll be making a turkey casserole for tonight’s dinner to use up the dark meat.  Oddly enough, most of  our Thanksgiving banquet has disappeared.  I never thought we would eat through it all – but we gave it the all American, good college try!

I will take it easy today.  I’m going to plan the girls’ school lessons between now and when they break in December (until after the first of the year).  My ultimate goal is to only teach two more weeks of school.  If they work hard, I think we can do it.  Only two more weeks of teaching sounds wonderful to me!

        
                                              What’s left of the destroyed Thanksgiving table!

With free time, I can concentrate on relaxing and enjoying this season.  I really want to move slowly and take in as much as possible. 

We haven’t made a huge deal out of Christmas, but this year we are going to do more than we’ve done in the past.  Over the next few weeks, I will read poems and stories to the girls about old fashioned winters with long ago families, where homemade simple gifts were exchanged, and the fireplace or cookstove roared with heat, warming hearts and bodies. 

I’m going to bake a bit (cookies) each day to put in the freezer.  Probably mix the dough one day and bake the dough the next.  Then, the plan is(!!!), haul it all out and eat like a pig!  I’m trying a new candy recipe this year and will also make my yearly fudge.  If anyone has a white fudge or even blond fudge with nuts recipe you could share, I’d appreciate it. 

The decorations in my house will be much more simple this year.  It hurts to reach and I’m not going to try to do as much as I’ve done in the past.  The garlands will, most likely, contain only red berries and white doves.  Several asked and so I’ve taken before and after pictures and will take final pictures and post them.

So that’s the week we’ve had around here.  A heavy heart lightened by thoughtful friends and generous in-laws.  I’m feeling better.  I am so thankful for all of your kind, kind notes and messages to me.  You’ve made me smile and appreciate Xanga all the more!

Be Blessed  ~

May you have a wonderful and thankful day, enjoying family, turkey, fattening desserts, rest with no one to bother you, or “whatever” you end up doing today. 

Please enjoy yourself and find SOMETHING to be glad and thankful about.  Believe me, no matter how difficult of a holiday it might be this year, there is always something to find that we can be grateful for and give thanks.

Be Blessed  ~

CHERYLYN

This last weekend, I received word that my oldest brother had been admitted to the hospital earlier in the week.  He had the flu (H1N1) with pneumonia complications.  However, he began to improve greatly after IV fluids were given.

He’s lived a good life with Downs Syndrome and our family has been blessed for many, many years with his sweet disposition and warm hugs.

He died early yesterday morning.

I’m grieving.

I’m worried about my mom.

This is a lot for a person to bear – two deaths in about 5 weeks.  My being absent and so far away from the rest of our family makes me feel helpless, along with my grief.

Please understand if I don’t post much this week.

It’s all a bit overwhelming and the concern for my mother’s well being is looming over me.

Be Blessed  ~

There was some confusion at my appointment about my IV prescription.  The chemo room people knew I needed it, but technically could do nothing without the right paperwork.  A 20 minute IV following some lab work turned into about 2 hours.       The good part of that experience was that I met one of my old college professor’s sons.  The lab tech.  He was an all time favorite teacher and his son said he would tell his dad about me.  He said his dad has a great memory for people.  So, that was kinda neat!

==================

With the older girls at their therapy session, Luci, Jesse and I went to a small Wal-Mart grocery store across the street from the doctor’s office.  We had a bit of time left before having to pick up the girls, so we leisurely strolled up and down the grocery store aisles, looking for things we might have forgotten to put on our list the other day.  AND, at the same time, we were trying not to spend any money!

I splurged and bought one pomegranate for the girls to see and taste.  They can’t go through life without a memory of AT LEAST ONCE IN THEIR LIFE eating pomegranate seeds!
                                       
                                                     This was marked down from $2.00 to $1.50 (EACH!!!)
                                                                for a bunch of little edible seeds!

=========================

                               
                                                 Today’s breakfast muffins.  An oatmeal Jiffy mix.
                                                          One with chocolate chips added;
                                                     the other with cinnamon & raisins added.

Luci is finally feeling better, today.  Her stomach pain and headache lasted 2 days, instead of 24 hours.  She is still a little sensitive this morning to food, but she ate the muffins I made for breakfast.  I told her no milk or orange juice until her stomach is 100% better.  She opened a bottle of apple juice, instead, and did alright.

======================

The girls have just finished their chores and my turn will be next!   On Saturdays, they clean out their school bins, vacuum and dust their rooms, and have a few other little things to do in their Chore Packs.

          
Annamarie cleaning her school bin.                        Annamarie’s artwork on her mirror.

Jesse has gone to help a friend.  He won’t be gone all day and I’m glad.  He was supposed to continue helping his friend install a new heat and air system in our neighbor’s house.  It’s drizzling and they can’t poor the cement pad for the a/c unit.  The heat is running, but they need to finish the a/c part of the job.  I guess they will try to do most of it tomorrow.

That’s it from Okie-land!

Be Blessed  ~

It started with me petting Stormy and ended up with me laughing so hard and begging her to stop!  I was holding my stomach because it hurt so much from laughing, my face had turned red, and, after she quit, I think I saw gold light bulbs in everything I looked at for the next 30 minutes.

I put those photos randomly throughout this post.

========================

We accomplished so much, yesterday!  I paced myself and did quite well.

We started with taking Stormy and Little Bit to the vet.  Stormy doesn’t have a fever and we are supposed to collect a stool sample and run it by the vet’s office today (a joy and pleasure!).  He gave her antibiotics for the bug in her intestines and another pill to stop the diarrhea.  I HAD TO SHOW MY LICENSE AS AN ID FOR HER PILLS!!!!!

 
He said it wouldn’t clear up quickly, as her digestive track has been upset for a long time and it would need to be brought back into balance.

Next was Little Bit’s exam.  The vet guesses him to be 1 1/2 years old (just like they said at PetSmart) and said he is a full blooded (EXPENSIVE) Yorkshire Terrier.  Not a Silky Terrier.  He said Silkies were larger.  Little Bit weighed about 4 1/.2 pounds.  At least somewhere around that – he kept moving while on the scale.  He got his doggie shots (which made him yelp)  and was loved by all at the clinic!

We had to bring the animals back home before running errands.  We all came inside the house, took a potty break, and loaded up back in the Suburban.  It was a little after noon and Jesse suggested eating first – a good idea, since none of us had had a decent breakfast.  We ended up going to a buffet at Golden Corral.  I ate salads only.  Luci complained about her stomach hurting and I told her to slow down.  Uh oh!        Her stomach?

I had a few tastes of some chocolate desserts,  made Luci choose something other than chocolate (just in case), and then we were ready to shop.

                                      
                                                                Beginning to get silly!

We only had to drive across a busy street to get to Wal-Mart.  There was a motorized cart available (yay!!!) and I had typed our grocery list (some Christmas shopping was on it, too) in the order of the sections in the store.  I was determined to make this trip quick and as organized as possible.

Jesse detoured the girls through the pet section, “looking for dog treats,” while I headed to the children’s art section to slip a few things in the cart.  I had picked up a waste basket (Luci had broken our bathroom waste basket) and slipped things into it to hide them.

I found a few things for Nikki, picked up a new pair of black slippers for me, and then we met up in the food section.

My list was written starting from the back of the store and going forward.  It was really efficient and made a huge difference in our shopping time.  Scanning up and down the skinny list (skinny paper) is guaranteed to make us overlook something each and every time.

                                Rissy’s posing suggestion:  “Left side! Now, right side, Mom!”

I think we got everything we need for the Thanksgiving dinner.  And, each week, we continue to chip away at purchasing little gifts here and there for Christmas.  We needed a few school supplies this time and the shopping time was clipped from 3 hours (last time) to 2 hours this time.  I was so sure we could do it in an hour and a half, but I guess that’s a lot of square footage to cover – the Wal Mart Super Centers.

 
          Try holding your lips in a kissing position while stifling a laugh!  These faces are the result!

Unfortunately, while we were in Wal Mart, Luci’s stomach ache crescendoed and she vomited 3 different times (in the restroom).     Rissy took care of her, while we “quicker than quickly” finished up our shopping.  I figured Rissy was the best caretaker, since she had the same bug earlier in the week!

We came home with Luci holding our new waste basket on her lap (just in case) and unloaded all of the groceries.  So much for shopping for Annamarie’s shoes and Rissy’s shampoo/conditioner. 

Jesse got the boxes down from the attic (the red and green ones, hint! hint!) and I was VERY grateful  Guess I won’t have to climb up there after all!!!

                                           
                                                                 Beginning to fall apart!

THEN, he offered to take Annamarie to our local Payless Shoes to look for black dress shoes.  What a guy!  Rissy went with them and he called to say they bought Annamarie a pair in size 4 and size 4 1/2.  That’s a CHILDREN’S size 4.  I don’t know why she didn’t fit into the fancy shoe store’s children’s size 5 1/2.   Maybe it’s a racket – designed to make your child buy adult shoes (with the triple price tag on them) earlier!  Anyway, he said the shoes were on sale – Buy one, get the second one half price.  For $20, he bought 2 pairs of black Maryjanes!  Go Jesse!

                                    
                                                                          Enough!

We have to take the girls for their therapy appointments today and I have that IV infusion at the same time.   Jesse will be running back and forth between the two places.  He is usually bored, so maybe he can go to the market across from the girls’ doctor’s office and pick up the ginger ale, too.  Hopefully, if Annamarie gets this bug, we will all be well by Thanksgiving!

No plans for the weekend.  I’ll try to rewrap the garland we use in the formal dining room’s doorway with some new lights.  Last year I had white and clear lights mixed on it and many of them didn’t work.  If you are using only greenery, you need a lot of lights or the green looks black at night when the house isn’t lit up from the sun.  Big, dark, looming, “branch looking things” over the doors – not my idea of merry and bright!!!

It would be great to get some of the greenery with only lights up this weekend.  Then I can only worry about school and my pies next week. 

Oh!  I also have that cookie dough to bake – guess that will be on Saturday.

      
                                                       Enough!  Now, I mean it! 
                                                               Pleeeeeeeze!

That sounds like a lot to do, but I have today and the weekend to run errands and do some baking and decorating.  We need to cut out our fall leaves for the Thanksgiving table.  I kind of wanted to know how many people were coming so I don’t go crazy and cut too many leaves.  I normally give 5 leaves to each person, figuring surely a person can think of five things they are grateful for, over the past 12 months!

I know I can!

Be Blessed  ~

===============

We are taking Stormy to the vet this morning.  She’s had diarrhea for a couple of months (comes and goes) but now is vomiting.  The vet closes at noon – has a morning walk in clinic.  We’re trying to hustle around here.

I’m trying to keep the girls moving.  I had a bath last night.  It’s easy for me to dress, pencil some eyebrows on my face, and put my wig on.  I’ve never gotten ready so quickly in my whole life!  A head of hair that is always brushed, styled, and ready to go . . . what a deal!

================================

The pork dinner was yummy yesterday evening, but I was so extremely tired after all I did yesterday. 

Jesse was a doll and washed up the dinner dishes for me.  I had totally spaced after eating and went back to lie down on our bed.  Then I heard the “kitchen clatter” and remembered I hadn’t cleaned the remainder of the food from the pans, etc.  He told me to go back to the bed and he would finish up.

                         
                                           Is that my sifter you see in the lower left corner?

Yes, indeed!  Yesterday afternoon, I mixed up the dough for the chocolate crackle cookies and a double batch of dough for peanut butter cookies.

That little activity almost drew my life to an end, yesterday!  LOL!!!!   I was almost in tears, I was so tired and I couldn’t stop because the kitchen was a mess.  I HAD to clean up.  The girls took turns asking me questions (one after another) and I felt like my emotions were going to burst.

I realized, even with the Kitchenaid Mixer, I’m not in any shape to do any holiday heroics, this year.  I’m glad I found this out BEFORE Thanksgiving day! 

 Seriously, I was almost in tears as I finished the second batch of dough and my temper was short fused.  Flour was everywhere.  I mean EVERYWHERE.  There was a dusting on the upper cupboard doors, a dusting all over things on the bar, and the lower cabinets and floor were like snow.  To speed things up, I added too much flour (at one time) to the mixer and it spewed flour everywhere.

                        
                                        This is as far as I got.  Dough in the refrigerator.

I made the announcement to the girls that we would eat very little of these cookies and most of them would be put in the freezer.  If I don’t start now and freeze things, there won’t be holiday cookies and candy.  I’m just not that strong, yet.

===================

I must go.  We are going to do our grocery shopping after we are finished with Stormy.  We have to bring her all the way back home before we do anything else. 

Maybe we’ll find some shoes for Annamarie today, too.  It’s on our list, as well as, Rissy’s shampoo and conditioner that comes from Sally’s Beauty Supply.

Tomorrow I will have my IV of bone stuff but no doctor visits.  They will have to call me later when they figure out what to do with me (I *do* have other appointments in my life!) and the two doctors who need to see me.  I doubt anything will happen until the first or second week in December – which is fine with me.  As you recall, I don’t care for the radiology oncologist much at all.

Okay . . . really going this time!

My back’s aches and pains are much better – so, it’s not like I have an excuse for being lazy. 

I just don’t wanna do nuffin’!!!!

I think I’m in a holding pattern.  Can’t do anything about the evergreen garlands (wrapping them with lights and hanging them) until Jesse goes up in the attic to retrieve things.  I told him if he didn’t get the boxes down by tomorrow evening, I was “going up there myself,” which is more of a threat, than reality.

==================

Last night’s pork roast dinner didn’t come to pass.  It wasn’t exactly thawed enough and I just plain didn’t feel like going to that much trouble.

Psalm 103:5(a)   “. . . who satisfieth my mouth with good things . . .“

I took the easy way out, last night, and made baked chicken breasts

Rissy popped open a tube of Grands Buttermilk Flaky Biscuits and we called it “dinner.”

After putting dinner on the table, I didn’t feel much like eating.  My stomach wasn’t feeling great – not horrible, just not right.  AND, I had another one of those not so lovely overheating spells (hot flash???!!!).

Luci complained of stomach pains, too.  She was sent to bed after doing a little bit of school work and only ate rice and a biscuit for dinner.

Praising God that this is a short lived bug and not knocking any of us over with a full blown stomach virus.

Rissy is fine now.

In fact,

                               
                                              She fixed me breakfast this morning. 

Scrambled eggs and 2 slices of toast, one with jelly and the other with cinnamon & sugar.  I ate it  and drank a hot cup of coffeee, here at my desk.

THANK YOU, RISS’  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

=======================

We invited Jesse’s mom for Thanksgiving dinner (she said yes) and his mom’s sister & husband (Jesse’s aunt and uncle).  He will call the aunt and uncle today.  He spoke with his older brother last night and told him to not bother with a turkey, we’d do that here.  He and his wife will bring the ham they planned on making and they’ll help with whatever side items when they get here.  We should have 5 or 7 adults and our 3 girls.

I think I’ll make pumpkin pie and a pecan pie (a first for me).  I hear it really is very easy – it just seems complicated to me (don’t know why).  We can buy the fruit salad fixins at the store this week.  Of course, you need to make those last so they are fresh.  Jesse’s mom said she’d bring “her dressing” and some mashed sweet potatoes.  Rissy will make “our” dressing and stuff the bird.

Other than the turkey & our dressing, and setting the tables, I’m hoping my job is the lightest ever.  I have always worked like a dog for big family meals and I’m trying SO HARD to not do that, these days.  It’s a whole new way of life for me – sitting down and relaxing while others work!!!  Sounds down right WEIRD!!!  But, I shall try!

==========================

I’m going to cut out construction paper leaves again this year and have everyone write (on the back of the leaves) something they are thankful for over the past 12 months.  I scattered them around the dinner table’s centerpiece last year and it added a nice touch when we read the “leaves” after dinner.  It was the perfect little break we needed between dinner & dessert!

Speaking of art: with my extra time, I did something totally unexpected, yesterday afternoon.  Annamarie and Rissy were painting at the kitchen table and I asked if I could join them.  I had no idea what I was going to paint.  And, by no means am I a good painter/artist.  I started playing with a tree (not knowing what KIND of tree) and this is the end result after an hour and a half.

       
                LOL!!!!       Now, y’all don’t jump at me at the same time to ask for signed copies!!!!!

And, YES, it is on the refrigerator door, held with magnets!!!!  I can’t remember the last time my art work was on a refrigerator door.  In fact, I don’t think my mother ever *did* that when I was younger.  I definitely didn’t inherit her gene pool of artistic talents . . . not in painting, anyway!!!

The whole thing was extremely relaxing for me.  The girls couldn’t understand why my picture wasn’t done in 3 minutes – the longest any of their paintings has ever taken them!  I gave a speech about not letting the colors get mixed up in the paint kit.  I had to do a lot of wiping on the yellow and white cubes and some of the darker colors weren’t easily recognized!!!  They stood mesmerized as the painting came to life.

I’m definitely not a Thomas Kinkade!

======================

Be Blessed  ~

Yesterday didn’t go exactly as planned.  In fact, it went nothing like I had planned!

We were 30 minutes late getting started on our schooling.  Luci was being “impossible” and Rissy was hugely distracted.  I sighed and pushed forward.

Rissy looked at me with those doe-like brown eyes and said, “Mom, I think I’m going to be really sick.”  I told her to get to the restroom quickly.  She ran.  I followed.  She threw up twice. 

And so the day started . . .

Rissy was sent to bed with a throw up bucket and ginger ale.

======================

I returned to the table and Luci went from impossible to out of control. 

Many of my new friends don’t know that she has been diagnosed with Oppositional Defiance Disorder – screaming outbursts and fits, in a nutshell.  We’ve prayed and prayed about her condition.  We’ve prayed for Godly wisdom  when dealing with her.

I sent her to her room and continued to push onward with Annamarie and school.

Luci came back, had another HUGE attitude problem and was sent back to her room. 

This time she was over the top, standing on her bed, screaming threats, growling between gritted teeth, and jumping up and down on the mattress.  I sighed and decided she needed a nap (or something) and when she came out of her room again, I told her she was excused to her bedroom all day, as well as excused from school. 

More screaming.  I prayed.  I always pray, but sometimes I pray more.

Yesterday, I prayed MORE.

Her problems have been going on since her birth and I have become rather immune to the screeches and growling.  Yesterday was no different.  I figured she needed the seclusion of her room (calm, with no stimulation) and we needed a break from her in the rest of the house.

It’s been through the grace of God that I have been able to separate my emotions from her outbursts.  It’s not that I don’t care – I just have learned to feel an enormous calm rather than the desire to beat her or some other form of punishment (to make ME feel better).

   
                                                        (Little Bit with his new sweater)

We checked on Rissy frequently, and she, eventually, moved from ginger ale to saltine crackers. 

Annamarie and I were able to spend some “alone time” together.  We prize our “alone time” with each other in our family, since we have so much going on all the time and there are “lots of people” – also, we do everything together as a family.  We had some precious time together, she and I.  We talked a great deal about the improvement in her behavior (she had become a habitual liar – a BAD one) and how proud God and I were of her accomplishments.

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I still haven’t made my recipe of cookies.  Everything is out on the counter and ready to go.  Everything is ready – except for me!
  

No worries.  Eventually, they will be baked . . . AND eaten!

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I opened up the Target boxes that cluttered the foyer near my desk area.  I was amazed that such large boxes held such small items.  The boxes were full of that plastic air pouch stuff – you know? looks like pillows full of air?  I think there was more of the packing then items ordered. 

Annamarie’s doll was pretty (Target’s knock-off version of American Girl) and I think she’ll be pleased.  She broke the leg off of her American Girl doll (it used to be Stephanie’s doll    )  and, in retrospect, I should have never given it to Annamarie.  She isn’t careful with things – mainly due to her inability to perceive and judge.  She will be 10 in March, but is more like a 4 year old (in a young lady’s body) and I forget sometimes that she lacks ability to understand many things.

I also cleaned my desk of the photo albums and small box of loose photographs.  Yay!  I can see the top of my desk again.  Besides those two things and the usually muddling through school – with only one child in class!!! – I think that was the extent of my day.

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My youngest sister called last night and we talked for a little over an hour.

Jesse came home from work and, immediately, went across the street to help install the furnace in the neighbor’s house.  He came in around 10:30p and ate dinner.

We talked while he ate and I told him about my dad’s memorial ceremony – according to my sister’s conversation.

I told him we needed more firewood brought in.  Also told him the wood was smoking badly yesterday.  I think it was the same wood we brought from the old house 5 years ago. 

The bird alerted me to the smoke when she shrieked her alarmed sounding chirp over and over, again.  I had to open the window a crack to encourage the smoke up the chimney.  It didn’t exactly make for a warm room! 

Anyway, Jesse brought more wood in this morning before leaving for work.

I took a late bath (11:15pm) and fell into bed and, shortly after that, I fell asleep.

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I think Jesse has to go back tonight to do more work on the neighbor’s furnace.  At least the neighbor has heat,now.  With the cold temperatures and the blustery north winds, it’s down right cold.  Even Jesse mentioned the cold and he is NEVER cold!

I have a pork roast thawing for tonight’s dinner.  I may save it until tomorrow night.  It depends on if Jesse will be able to eat with us AND how everyone’s tummies feel.  Mine hurt Sunday evening and I’m guessing Rissy and I had a little bug.  She says she feels just fine today.  Headache and body aches are gone. 

We washed our hands like crazy yesterday and I asked Rissy to use a disinfectant wipe on the toilet handle and faucet handles after using the bathroom, each time. 

Lysol was sprayed in all rooms, continuously, to kill whatever was lurking!!!

School will be short today.  Each child is being paced according to the “Thanksgiving Lesson” in their textbooks.  Rissy has the most math to finish before we break after next Tuesday.  We’ll see how Miss Luci Lu does, today.  She apologized profusely yesterday evening after awakening from a long nap. 

Be Blessed  ~

That’s a quote from the National Weather Channel’s web service!  It’s *really* 37° right now, and I don’t know that I feel a whole lot better with that bigger number!  . . . . 28° . . . 37° . . . .It’s just plain C-O-L-D!!!  Obviously their is a wind – a brisk wind, blowing today.

Everyone is snuggled in warm clothes and sitting in the den around the fireplace.  The chill of the morning is a kicker and is the first real “chilled morning” we’ve had, so far.

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I am rereading a book I’ve owned for a couple of years.  It’s a short, but GOOD, one.  I brought it out to the den last night to curl up with in the corner of the sofa – the end closest to the fireplace(!!!) – and enjoy reading!

      
                                                Rissy has “my spot” this morning!
                                           (Notice her sweatpants under her gown?)

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Jesse is helping a friend put in a new furnace in someone’s house (the neighbor across the street who also has cancer) and was gone a lot this weekend.  He had a garden job (take out a bush, suck up leaves, move some dirt) on Saturday, then, on Sunday night, he and our heat/air friend looked at the neighbor’s house.  The started tearing out the old unit and building a platform (box) for the new unit, which will arrive today.  I can’t imagine their house with no heat.  It really is quite nippy outside!  When Jesse gets off of work this evening, he and his friend will install the new furnace in all its glory!

     
                      Luci has the right idea.  Sweat pants and a spot close to the fireplace!

I’ve been playing the “Music of the Season” cable TV channel during the day for background music.  We love the early start on Christmas music.  We make sure it’s turned off when Jesse comes home.  He just doesn’t get into “the season” as early as us girls do!  Everyone is humming through their chores singing “O Little Town of Bethlehem” and “Joy to the World” and it’s coming from every corner of the house as the girls scatter about, here and there!

       
                 As you can see, the homeschool corner (in our kitchen) is also the indoor “wood pile” -
                                                   nothing like dry logs close at hand!

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Today I will clear off my desk of photo albums.  I’ll put mine back in the garage and leave Stephanie’s two albums out to be labeled. 

And the Target boxes . . . Oh, the Target boxes!!!  I need to either wrap them, or put them in the garage!  I’d like to wrap them and be done with them except for ribbon. 

I simple don’t have the strength to stand over the dining room table and wrap box after box this year, like I’m a department store’s “Holiday Village!”

I have two doctor appointments at the end of the week.  One on Thursday (a follow up with the radiation oncologist) and Friday morning (with the regular oncologist and the chemo room for my bone medicine IV) which will be the longer appointment of the two. 

We will make the most of those two days, being out and away from home, and try to finish buying whatever we need for Thanksgiving, for sure.  I imagine this weekend, and the early days of next week, will be dreadfully crowded in the stores.

We had invited Jesse’s nephew and his wife & four girls from Florida, but we never heard from them, so I guess they aren’t coming.  Jesse’s brother & sil (from SE OK) are coming, and I think we will invite his mother and his aunt & uncle to join us.   Everyone can help by bringing a little something, and I’ll take more of a back seat, this year, in the kitchen.  Rissy has watched me carefully for the past two years and I think she can make the turkey stuffing with minimal help from me.

Meanwhile, I think I’ll hang out by the fire for a while and go over the school lesson plans for today.  This is our last full week of school.  We’ll only have school on Monday and Tuesday of next week. 

Rissy is in the kitchen making pancakes for her sisters and I’ve been eating her leftover oatmeal muffins, as I type. 

Later today, we’re going to bake a new cookie (new to our family, anyway) and test it.  It’s called Chocolate Crackle cookies.  Looks interesting.  If they turn out well, we may make enough to freeze for Christmas.

Now *that* is really planning ahead!

Be Blessed  ~