Another busy week done and gone. Another busy week coming up! It seems that everyday one of the kids needs dropped off at or picked up from some kind of activity!

The kids have a short school week due to the holiday today but the weekend will more than make up for that.

Friday I am volunteering as Popcorn Queen at Aidan's school, taking Tommy to school, making 3 dozen cookies for Zach's band bake sale on Sunday.
Waiting to hear back from the sitter but hopefully will be going to a crop on Saturday!
Sunday is Scout Sunday for Zach in the morning, Aidan's Blue & Gold Banquet in the afternoon, and Zach's Honors Band concert and bake sale in the evening.

It's a constant whirlwind, but I am so thankful that I get to have the life I have! :)

James got back off to Florida for a little over 2 weeks. He's been gone for only 48 hours and I miss him terribly. We got a new table while he was back this time. And figured out some logistics of moving and a new house.
We'll really start the serious search in another month or so but are getting our feet wet and looking at things we think we would be interested in now. We've made a lot of progress in what we want, location, type of neighborhood, etc.

In other news...James' birthday is tomorrow and I have a surprise planned for him that has included the help of 2 of his coworkers! I know he's going to be busy in meetings but hopefully he will find some time to enjoy his day!

Hello, Beautiful!

So, its been a little while, but I'm back!
And I have a new commitment to keep this blog updated.

So much has changed in the last forever since I've posted here.

Still have 3 kids.
Still married to the best friend I've ever had.
Not working anymore! :)
Busier than I've ever been.

Zach is thriving in junior high! He's getting his work done and turned in and is getting good grades. He's active in Scholastic Bowl, school band, Decatur Youth Symphony Orchestra, and Boy Scouts. Most days of the week I'm shuttling him back and forth from activities!

Aidan is in 3rd grade and having a great year as well. His behavior is so, so much better than it has been in the past. The grades? We're working on but getting better at studying at home. He is in Cub Scouts and is anxiously looking forward to crossing over into Boy Scouts so he can run with the big dogs, too!

Tommy started a pre-K program last October and LOVES it! He goes half day and is really showing a lot of progress in the educational realm of it. We didn't have worries before sending him but seeing how much he has learned and is learning amazes me. He knows all the letters and sounds they make. He has been spelling and writing his own name for quite awhile but he is now also beginning to spell simple words. He can do simple addition and subtraction in his head. He is such a little smartie!

James is still commuting between Illinois and Florida. We both still hate it. We are very grateful that he has a job at all (in this economy!), let alone one that he loves as much as he does! It also a blessing that he is able to travel like he does. It wears on him, and I wish it weren't so hard for him, but we make the best of it.

I've been trying a lot of new recipes here at home and have had several smashing successes! I'll be posting a few of the winning recipes here for everyone else to enjoy as well.

Onward with the blogging!!!

:)

Lazy Day

I am feeling so lazy today!

We have had something going on every day for the past week and a half! And next week is shaping up to be just as busy!

Monday - Zach and Aidan both have dr appointments, then Aidan has scouts
Tuesday - NOTHING!
Wednesday - Zach has scouts
Thursday - parent/teacher conferences
Friday - going to get James from the airport
Saturday - going out for my birthday dinner
Sunday - we are going to *try* to make Tommy's halloween costume, and Id like to squeeze in a trip to the pumpkin patch

And then the school and work craziness starts over on Monday.

So today as Im typing this I havent gotten dressed OR showered! And I dont even care! :)
Tommy is still in his pajamas as well.

And we are loving it. (although I do plan to shower when he lays down for his nap)

Also this week Ive applied for a middle school social studies teaching job!!!
Im really hoping that I get it, but dont really expect to. I finished all the requirements for my middle school endorsement but havent gotten my actual certificate in my hand yet. I talked to the Regional Office of Education on Friday and the lady in charge of certification (who is amazing, BTW) is looking into it for me. Seems that I should have heard something by now.
Anyway, I can accept a job without the certification in hand but will have to show proof of the actual endorsement within a certain time frame. Which Im able to do!
I just think that a school would hire someone they dont have to wait around for, ya know?
But on the other hand, I would be entering at just 1 year on the pay scale so would be a lot less expensive than some that apply Im sure!

Either way...cross your fingers and pray those prayers, please!

Good will prevail!

So with all this legal mess going on right now I find myself getting stressed out so easily anymore. That and the mess that is my job.....but I digress.

Before James and I decided to initiate this, we knew it would be a long and bitter uphill battle all the way.
That knowledge has proven to be true!

More 'bad news' yesterday...the depositions have been pushed back.
We are hoping for a reschedule for later in October but havent heard back from teh attorney with a posititve answer on that one yet.

We are doing things the right way.
We tried other options before filing the removal petition.
We have made a very generous offer in terms of visitation.
We have made even more generous offers regarding other terms.
We are doing this for the right reasons, not out of selfishness or spite.
We are handling the struggle to the children the right way.
We are seeking outside help for the chidren.

In short, we are on the right side of this.

Maybe thats why it seems so frustrating at times like this?

Cooking Day

Thanks to my neighbors, who woke me up with their arguing around 130am, I didnt sleep well last night and was up early.

So I decided to make blueberry muffins for breakfast this morning. The boys love them and we havent had muffins in forever.

While I had the fridge open I noticed some cooked sausage and some cut up green onions, both of which need to be used soon or they will go bad. I have a to die for recipe for sausage soup so decided to make that. And while I was making that I figured I might as well go ahead and make a potato casserole with the smoked sausage sitting there in the fridge. Then I fried up some bacon for supper tonight. And since I was doing all of this cooking, might as well make a batch of baked spaghetti and use up that leftover spaghetti in the fridge!

And.....since I had all these dishes, pans, bowls all messed up dirty I might as well add 1 more and have a batch of brownies!

Heres the mess I had during the process...

The muffins (kids got to them before I could get the picture). Isnt that muffin pan GROSS?! I got it almost 20 years ago. It was the first muffin tin I ever had, and for some reason it just bakes better muffins and cupcakes. No. Really. It does.

And here's supper for the rest of the week...plus some!

Sausage soup...

Potato Casserole...

Baked Spaghetti...

Bacon...

Yummy, yummy brownies...

And a horseshoe for lunch...

Things That Make Me Happy

my first cup of coffee in the morning
cool fall days
weekends with no plans
rocking Tommy in his rocking chair
good news phone calls from teachers
iced pumpkin cookies
Disney World
snow days
palm trees
clocking out from work on Fridays
hearing "I love you, Mom"
James calling me "babe"

I love it when things go my way!

So with all the chaos going on right now in our lives, the kids are taking it quite hard.
Zach and Aidan are both acting out at school.

Aidan, with his plethora of energy, has had the hardest time since school started this year. His usual hyper-ness is magnified because of the inner turmoil hes experiencing.

I think everyone at the school is ready to pull their hair out!!!

So we met with our doctor (who I absolutely adore beyond words!) almost 2 weeks ago and he agreed that maybe its time to try some medication. We left a prescription for Adderall.

Turns out insruance wont cover Adderall. So I went back and forth with insurance, the pharmacy, and the doctor before the doctor finally said hed just switch meds.

Yesterday we got the script filled (Methyline ER) and Aidan took his first one this morning.

Today was the most absolutely phenomenal day teh child has ever had at school!
The Dr said we coudl see a change the first day but it usually took several days to a week to notice a change.

Aidan gets a special behavior chart where he earns a smile or frown face each hour based on his behavior (staying in seat and staying on task).  The last couple of weeks he has had, at best, half and half mix of smiles and frowns.
Today he had all smiles.

His teacher said that he stayed in his seat, got all his work done, participated in the discussions...it was like a different child.

The look of pride on his face today will never be matched. Ever.
He was so proud of himself.
I almost cried!

So Im not 100% sure today was solely due to the medication. Its possible but I think unlikely.
However, at the same time, I do not believe that the power of suggestion could keep this child in his seat all day today! I do beleive in a placebo effect and I think some of that played into today.
However, if you knew this child, you would agree that he couldnt manage this on his own.

I feel like Im walking on air tonight!
I am so proud of my baby.
But more importantly, I am so very happy for him!
He is the most sensitive of my children. He wants to do good. He wants approval. He wants to be valued.
His behavior has really taken a toll on his self esteem the last few months.

I pray tomorrow goes as well as today did.
I pray that this medication will be the 'key' to helping him succeed.
I pray that he learns a way to make a peace with the struggles he is facing now that no child should have to face...along with Zach!