Goodbye 2012

Seems like it has been months since I last posted but it has only been one long week. I am not going to pretend that I can recall the entire past week entirely, instead some highlights. Christmas Eve was very nice. We went to church service at 5PM and then over to Mom and Dad's for dinner. Mom had a sampling of everything for dinner, it was great. The kids patiently waited for presents. Ellie helped play Santa and get the gifts divided up for opening. It was wonderful to watch each of their faces as they opened their presents and see which were their favorites.
Christmas day we stayed at home. The kids opened presents from us under the tree. I was happy to hear a couple were what they truly wanted. Mom and Dad came over for breakfast. I tried a new oatmeal bake that I found online for our vegan option and it was a winner. Dad was sick with a flu and they didn't stay too long. Dean, Lauren and the girls came over for dinner. We made a bunch of appetizers and had a buffet. The kids got to play for a bit before they went home.
We left for vacation on Wednesday morning. We headed to Madison for our 1st night. We were able to meet my girlfriend from high school, Becki, and her son, Eddie, for lunch. We met them at Ella's Deli which is like Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium meets Jewish Deli. There is something everywhere you look and a menu a mile long. We tried fried pickles for the first time and they were a whole bunch tastier than they sounded. Becki led us to our hotel before she left. We stayed at a hotel that had a neat family suite (a regular room plus a bump out with 2 twin beds). They also had a neat pool with a small slide and basketball nets. We went shopping and picked up a couple saucer sleds to take with us up to UBs house the next day.
Thursday we had breakfast and checked out. We visited the Geological Museum on the UW Madison campus before heading to UBs house. We made good time and were there before lunchtime. We went to lunch and then came back to sled and enjoy the snow. UB brought out his tractor and let the kids drive and then use the back hoe to pick up and distribute snow piles. Nick was having so much fun. Ellie liked going down this small hill of snow on her saucer. We watched a couple movies on his projector that night and had popcorn and cheese from the cheese shop. It was very neat that we got to wake up to snow the next morning.
Friday we had breakfast with UB and play for a bit before heading off. We ate lunch at the restaurant in the Dells that had a train that brought the food to the table. It snowed on our journey South. We stopped off in Madison to visit the botanic garden, they had a holiday train exhibit. It wasn't too spectacular but provided a break to stretch our legs. We spent the night in Brookfield. We checked in and got right into the pool which was the best trick we learned this trip...pool at check in = no one in the pool with you. I read about a custard place that we headed to for dessert for dinner. It was very tasty custard and will now be on the list when we travel that way.
Saturday we headed home. We stopped off in Kenosha to visit Jelly Belly and take the tram tour. The kids got their free jelly beans and a little sugar perk. We got home around lunchtime and I got laundry started. Mom got Dad's germs and was sick too (Jo and the boys, too). I made some vegetable soup and bread to take over and cut up a melon. Ellie and I rant to the store to pick up some very basics for the evening and drop dinner by Mom and Dad's house. We picked up some new movies at the store and headed home. We moved things around down in the basement and set Nick's wall mounted Hot Wheels sets up - a true winner.
Today, Ellie joined me for our real grocery shop and some returns. We headed to Meijer with our list and a list for Mom and Dad. We had a cart full of things by the time we checked out. Christmas was reduced to 75% off and we stocked up. We did a quick run into Target to check their clearance - I ended up with a pair of slipper socks for Nick and gift bags to put away for next year. We picked up lunch and dropped it and groceries off at Mom's house. We came home and un-packed. We decided we are going to cancel our cable service. It is really not essential and we don't watch too many of the cable channels anymore. We got our library books and videos together and went on a family adventure. We returned books to the library and got a couple new ones. We went to Abt and bought a new tv to replace the one in the back room so we can get rid of cable. We ran to the video store and the kids picked out some new movies. We came home and Rob and I set up the new tv and the kids played. I played Ellie's new monopoly game with her - it is very cool, the ipad is the bank and there is no need to exchange money. TV installation was successful and we unhooked the cable.
It has been such a long, busy and wonderful week. Rob goes back to work for a couple days this coming week but the kids and I have some adventures planned. Hope everyone had a great Christmas. Looking forward to a new year this week. Visualizing my healthy and continually healing body and the new normal, Tree

Merry, Merry

Feels like it has been weeks but it has only been a few days. Let's see...there has been a ton of running around the past couple days.
Thursday I chaperoned a field trip of Nick's class. We went to the Marriott Lincolnshire to see Cinderella. It was fun to experience it through the eyes of the kids. The bus trip up and back were so much more quiet than with Ellie's group. I did my grocery shopping for Nick's school party afterwards because we were supposed to have a huge storm coming through and I wanted to get it done. I got some of my prep done on Thursday...cut the graham crackers apart, cut wax paper & got paper goods together.
Friday I tried to get some more things checked off my list but wasn't too successful. Nick's party was fun and tiring. The kids made train engines from graham crackers with banana circles as the wheels and popcorn as the steam. I cut bead loaves to look like slippers and stuffed them with carrots and orange slices. I took Ellie and Nick home and we all relaxed. We went to a party down the block in the evening. It was nice to be able to get out and see neighbors and friends.
Saturday we divided and conquered. Ellie had a usability study for a new video game. We went down into the city for that while Nick and Rob went shopping. It was nice to be able to have a girls lunch before heading home. We picked up some movies and prepared for some rest and relaxation, I think Ellie is getting sick. The kids watched a video while I got to work finishing the cookie baking. Rob and Nick went to save Mom and Dad...they got a flat tire and needed to have the car towed because the dealer has the key to unlock the wheel bolts. It was nice because Mom came over and was able to help us with our spritz cookies. We were also able to get out a vegan cookie bar, triple chocolate chip, chocolate thumbprints and vanilla meringues. The cookie elves have officially closed up shop.
Today we switched and repeated, I took Nick and Rob took Ellie. Nick and I went to the Lego store to get Ellie her gift from him. We did a small grocery shop before coming home. Rob and Ellie had done some shopping and were very busy working on building lego houses when we got home. Ellie and I ran out to get the car washed and vacuumed and to finish our grocery shopping. Ellie got to sample all the goods at the store - cheese, quiche, gelato and crackers. We brought dinner home and finished the evening with some reading.
I am taking a blog break this week and will post again next Sunday. We have a couple busy days ahead with Christmas and a visit to Uncle Bry's. Hoping everyone has a wonderful Christmas. Visualizing my healthy and continually healing body and the new normal, Tree

Time Continues to Speed By

Busy day here. This was really my last day without plans and kids until Christmas. I was going to go out and finish up some shopping but stayed in and baked. I ended up baking 5 batches of cookies and 2 trays of spiced pecans. These were all new recipes for me - some turned out way better than others. I made peanut butter and jelly bars, pistachio/cranberry/white chocolate cookies, apricot/pinenut cookies, minty cocoa cookies & cherry/chocolate meringues. I was even able to get a lovely phone call in with my friend, Lee. 

It was Ellie's concert tonight. Dean came to see it with us. Ellie played in the band, danced with her ballet club, and danced with her gym class. It was a nice night and it was great to see the diverse offerings. 

On Monday, I did some shopping in the morning. I got groceries for the week and a couple stocking stuffers. I picked up lunch and went to Mom and Dad's to eat and play with the boys. I was able to get most of my wrapping done before the kids came home. Just a few more things to finish up. Huge deal at dinner on Monday night...Nick tried a veggie meatball and liked it. Major thing because it means we can have one dinner without me having to heat up a veggie corn dog or nuggets for him. 

I went out yesterday and did a bit of shopping. I was able to get all the teacher gifts together and assembled for the kids to take to school. I got all of Rob's co-worker gifts assembled, too. 

I know it is a busy time of year but if you have some extra moments for some positive thinking, I have a couple friends who could really use some positive thoughts right now. Visualizing my healthy and continually healing body and the new normal, Tree

Totally Forgot

Change of schedule threw my routine off and I totally forgot to post.
We spent the weekend truly concentrating on family time. Who would have thought a statement so innocent and casual as, "Mom, would you like to come cuddle with me and watch Polar Express?" could illicit tears and belly flops. The kids and I joined Rob at school for the basketball game on Friday night. We only stayed until half time because it was late.
Saturday morning I skipped my thrift runs and opted for together time instead. I took Ellie shopping for Nick's Christmas present. Nick didn't want to change out of pajamas on Saturday. Ellie and I went to the downtown Skokie holiday event. She got to pet live reindeer and visit with Santa. We got to drop off some food for the pantry, too. It was a great event and once again, I am happy to see our community changing. Saturday night, Rob had to work but Jo, Tony and Matteo came over for movie night. We didn't really watch the movie but it was nice for the kids to play together. We had an appetizer feast and then the kids danced and raced cars across the floor.
Sunday was another laid back, family time day. The kids and I went to Mom and Dad's in the late morning. They got to search for their advent clues and then we just hung out. The kids helped hang some ornaments, we watched a bit of a movie and ate lunch together. We had church Tableaux service in the evening. We met Dean, Lauren, the girls and Lauren's mom there. The service was nice and the kids got a lovely manger ornament for their trees. We went out to dinner afterwards and introduced them to CiCi's Pizza.
It was important to be together this past weekend and luckily, we were able to do just that. Visualizing my healthy and continually healing body and the new normal, Tree

Speeding By

Why is December always on fast forward? Monday morning I got the kids off to school and came back to drink my CT scan prep. Honestly, it isn't as bad as some people have it. My prep is an ounce of liquid that I mix with 20 ounces of clear liquid. I tried it with plain ole water but it sort of tastes like nail polish remover would taste, so now I mix it with a couple ounces of juice and dilute with water.
I got to the hospital and checked in and waited until they came to get me. I was taken back to the room where my initial scan was done. The tech looked at my arms and asked if I had a preference. I said no. She started in my right hand, although she was eventually able to get a blood return, she couldn't get the saline to advance. She tried again, again no success. She called in a PA from interventional radiology. He told me how tiny my veins are and tried up near my elbow. No success. He tried my hand again. He kept trying to fish the needle into my vein...no success. There is a 2 try maximum, so we were onto tech 3. He tried my left arm and was finally able to find a usable vein in my hand. I had the scan and went to Kellogg for my blood work. Luckily, they are accustomed to very small veins and were able to get me mid-arm left side.
I had a mini breakdown at Mom's house because this sucks. I have traveled my journey, people never talk about all these small things that will travel the rest of your life with you...small veins, radiation damage, tingles in my feet. I took Tony to school and then came home to veg out. I picked up our Christmas cards at Costco and was able to address most of them. I took Ellie to the library when she finished her homework.
Tuesday morning, I got the kids off to school and headed back to the hospital for my Dr. Marsh visit. I got the all clean and clear, no evidence of disease...huge sigh of relief. I will see him again in 6 months and then will likely be spread out to a year. I volunteered at school for a little bit before lunch. I finished up my cards and got them to the post office and got my packages that were ready to ship dropped off too. Rob brought home Oberweis brandy ice cream for up to toast with. We went out for dinner at Red Robin to celebrate. It was so nice spending time together and being silly and happy.
Today the kids got off to school and I went over to Mom's to play with the boys and then take Tony to school. Matteo has been playing coy with my all week. I walked in on Monday and he started to cry and quickly made his way to Dad. I walked in on Tuesday and he did the same. This morning I tried to bribe him immediately with chocolate chip cookies. We were friends again before I took Tony to school. I got some packages off to the post office and caught up on some tv. It was Ellie's final Battle of the Books tonight. Unfortunately, he school didn't win the battle but I was proud of Ellie for being int he program the last 2 years and being captain of her team this year. We went out for dinner afterwards to celebrate. Rob came to the meet but had a holiday party to attend after.
It has been a very busy week but a very great week. Visualizing my healthy and continually healing body and the new normal, Tree

Clean & Clear

Just wanted to update with the findings from my scan and blood work...everything is clean and clear, no evidence of disease. I post more tomorrow night.
Visualizing my healthy and continually healing body and the new normal, Tree

Crazy House

It has just been a nut house here. Nick's 1st school concert was Thursday night. If it wasn't for that concert, I probably would have kept him home from school the last part of the week. It isn't that he was contagious, it was more that he was tired, cranky, and a coughing machine. He went to school and it was a good thing because I needed the break. He is on a steroid and is having 'roid rage issues. He easily gets aggravated and has tantrums.
Friday night, Rob had a game to tape so the kids and I headed out to Randhurst. I read they were having a light show, similar to what you would see at Disney World. We got there and had to walk around to figure out where it was exactly. It was a cool show, very much like Disney. It took the side of a building and changed it into a gingerbread house, an advent calendar, elves were popping in and out of windows...it was neat but only lasted 5 minutes. We went and had dinner and then came back home because Nick wasn't himself.
Saturday, I began at Salvation. I am not a motivated buyer right now because my items listed aren't moving swiftly. I did a quick run through and found a couple things. Dad took Ellie down to the Christkindle mart downtown. They went down on the train and walked through the mart and had lunch. Rob went to paint when I got home and I played with Nick. He wanted to stay in pajamas all day and watch movies and that was fine with me. When Ellie got home in the late afternoon, I attempted to get a few pictures taken for our Christmas card but Nick wasn't having it. He immediately took off his sweater that I put on him. He said he was too hot, it was too scratchy, he didn't care if he was in the picture. We decided to try again today. We had a picnic on the floor in the back room while watching Paranorman. It was fun and a bit different.
Rob ran over to a holiday party at a friends house after the kids got to bed. He came home and Nick was calling down from his bedroom. He was having ear pain. I grabbed an ibuprofen and went up to see him. He was crying and said his ear was really hurting him. He didn't have a fever and said it was just hurting, not pounding or stabbing. Right before we went up to bed, he jumped onto the couch and hit his ear in the same place he split it open this past summer. I think he activated his old scar and it was hurting him. Eventually, I thought I got him back to bed and came back downstairs. When Rob went up to bed about 20 minutes later, Nick was still awake in bed. Nick came down and asked if he could sleep with me on the couch, asked what we were going to watch on TV. He ended up going back to bed with Rob.
This morning Rob and Ellie went to church. Nick and I stayed home and played. We unsuccessfully tried pictures again. Nick helped me make corn pudding to take to Mom's for dinner. I got some laundry done. We tried to go to the library but couldn't even find a parking spot. We picked Rob up and went to Mom and Dad's for dinner. Mom made veggie pot pie, cranberry sauce and a salad and we brought corn pudding, broccoli and fruit salad. Dinner was good and the kids over indulged in the sweets.
I have my 6 month scan/blood work tomorrow and then my Dr. Marsh visit on Tuesday. Visualizing my healthy and continually healing body and the new normal. Tree

Late and I Can Explain

So, it has been a jam packed couple of days. Long story short about why there wasn't a post last night...one word, Jagermeister. See, I got your interest, didn't I?
I have listed a couple things on ebay each day this week. I finally have a couple bids on things now, so I will continue listing today and tomorrow. Nick's asthma continued to escalate, requiring a doctor visit yesterday. His nights have been pretty terrible. He wakes up coughing, wakes the house up coughing. We went to see Dr. Schafer, and Nick wasn't even able to get a good blow on the machine. She listened to his chest and he was wheezing. She prescribed Orapred, an oral steroid, and even gave him his initial dose right at the office. She also ordered him a nebulizer. He had a treatment in the office and we have to pick his up. It is basically a better way to get his albuterol (fast acting medicine) into his body. I do have to say, all in all, he had a much better night.
Ellie had her first Battle of the Books meet last night. She was the captain for her team. Although they didn't win their meet last night, they get another chance next week. Ellie was smiling from ear to ear and we were so proud of her. Mom and Dad came to watch and were kind enough to pick up dinner on the way back to our house so we could divide and conquer...Rob went to pick up the nebulizer and I went to another pharmacy to pick up Nick's Orapred and Albuterol. Unfortunately, since it was later in the evening, the nebulizer couldn't get approved by our insurance and the pharmacy needed to order the Albuterol.
I volunteered at school on Tuesday. I got to meet a few of Nick's classmates and work with them individually. Rob worked a basketball game on Tuesday night. I originally thought I would get to the store after the kids got home from school but Nick had the terrible cough and Ellie came home with a backpack full of homework. I asked Rob to stop at pick up a bottle of Jagermeister on the way home...adult cough medicine. He was nice and did. The store, however, did not take the alarmed seal off the bottleneck and I wasn't able to have any. He went back during lunch yesterday and had the alarm taken off and I was able to have some last night.
I told you I was matched again with Imerman. I got to speak with her the other night for about an hour and look forward to talking with her again. It was the culmination of a hot toddy with Jager, Nick's meds making him a bunch more quiet than he has been over the last couple nights and the end of a long day...all adding up that I didn't blog last night. Visualizing my healthy and continually healing body and the new normal, Tree

Happy December

What a eventful end of the week. I am going to start backwards because it seems like weeks since my last post. Rob had an event at school this evening so he wasn't home to help with bedtime. Nick's asthma has ramped up with the warm/damp weather and we did his inhalers and nasal wash before bed. I tucked him in a bit early since he was up later the last two nights. I was called back upstairs about 20 minutes later because he wanted to know what else I could do for his cough. I rubbed him in with chest rub and came back downstairs and washed my hands.
Our Elf on the Shelf made his appearance last night and landed in the first floor washroom. While I was washing my hands, I decided it was probably a smart idea to move the Elf - wrong. About 15 minutes after I moved Elfie, Ellie came downstairs to get me because Nick was complaining upstairs. Soon both of them were down here. Nick apparently rubbed his chest and got the chest rub on his hands and then into his mouth. He went into the washroom to wash his hands, I went into the kitchen to get him some honey (Elfie relocated to the kitchen), Ellie followed me into the kitchen. As I was trying to get them back upstairs...Ellie whispers that Elfie has already moved. I explained he could move anytime after he thinks the children are asleep.
We spent the day with Mom and Dad today. We went over there around lunchtime and went to the St. Nick's craft fair. The kids got their annual picture with Santa. We went back to their house and the kids played and helped Dad start to set up the trains. I helped Mom with dinner while Dad took the kids to the park. We had an early dinner and then we came home to watch the Grinch.
On Saturday, I began with my pilgrimage to Salvation. I ended up hitting both Skokie and Morton Grove but I found some good things. Mom had her annual holiday luncheon. We arrived a bit early to help her out in the kitchen. It was a nice time, good company and yummy food. Rob took Nick with him for the afternoon while Ellie and I were at Mom's. We met them at North for the basketball game in the evening. It was super fun to be in that environment again. The pep band, the pompom routines, the game. Nick helped Rob run cable and get set up. Rob had his first live stream game and it went pretty well.
On Friday, I got the kids off on the school bus and then Mom and Dad came to pick me up. We went to a couple warehouse sales that we went to last year...they weren't nearly as much fun this year. We went to Caputo's for lunch and some grocery shopping. They now have pepper and egg sandwiches on Friday's. They are not as good as Jay's but not as bad as other places. Ellie had a rec night at school that she helped organize with student leadership. We picked her up and headed up to Vernon Hills to the Cuneo Winter Wonderland. Amazingly, it was very empty. We had no wait in line and were able to cruise through at our leisure. They did change it up a bit this year and the kids always enjoy counting the snowmen. We had dinner at Mariano's before driving home and looking at more holiday lights.
On Thursday I went shopping. I used my Kohl's cash to buy a few more presents. My neck has improved, not 100% yet but much better. I have been connected with Imerman again...always biter sweet. Visualizing my healthy and continually healing body and the new normal, Tree