Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
For your present, I'm putting up a blog post. Yes, the first one since October. So much for blogging more!
It's been an insane few months though. We're mostly settled into the new house, except that Tom and I have decided to rearrange the bedrooms. It'll have to wait till after our company has gone though, so we'll do that sometime in January most likely.
We have Nana and Aunt Kris (one of the girls' Godmothers) staying over for the holidays which is so nice. That also let Tom and I attend the holiday party for my new job, which included an overnight hotel stay. It was so wonderful to get away for a little while. That was the first time we'd ever both been away from the girls overnight. They did just fine too.
November was the month of sick. We'd been going through a progression of various colds, and all three kids had ear infections along with the girls needing breathing treatments. But the big stuff came the weekend before Thanksgiving. Nicky came down with a 24 hour stomach bug. Of course we didn't know it would be only 24 hours at the time, and he rapidly dehydrated from throwing up so much (and the other end too of course) so he ended up in the ER with an IV. Poor boy. Then Lily and I got it Monday, and Tom got it Tuesday. It really was a 24 hour thing though, and no one had it as badly as Nicky had, so that was good at least.
Thanksgiving was a bit subdued, and I can recommend the stomach flu to anyone wanting to avoid overindulging. I didn't get to have as much of anything as I would have normally. That's probably a good thing.
We had my Dad (Grandpa Buz), Grandma Gwen, Aunt Janice and Uncle Frank all over for Thanksgiving. Probably not the best of hosts, but they really enjoyed the kids, and that's the most important thing! Nicky got to go out to Yorktown and the Norfolk museum where he got to visit the Battleship Wisconsin. We all went through the Botanical Gardens holiday light show too. That was the most sight seeing we'd done since arriving!
December 5th we had a nice visit from Aunt Liz and her new fiance (although they made it official after they left) Michael. It was wonderful to see her and meet Michael, and we wish them much happiness! They're supposed to be moving up somewhere in either GA, NC or VA, so we'll see where they land. As long as it's closer than FL!
Then on Dec 9th we welcomed Nana and Aunt Kris for the holidays. They'll be here till after New Year's Day, so we have a nice long visit from them. We actually moved the rooms around so that Kris and Donna can have the downstairs and the kids and To and I are all upstairs. It is what gave us the idea of moving Nicky downstairs permanently (at least till all the kids are able to be upstairs. Nicky will like it, Tom and I will have more room upstairs, kind of turning it into a Master Suite, and I think it will be much easier to get Nicky to bed downstairs. Oh, and clean his room. It's a mess up there, and I just don't have the time or energy to think about it. Having it down here will make it much more likely that I stay on top of that.
So it's been busy. Most everyone is well right now though. Tom still has a cough and poor Nana actually had the stomach flu hit her yesterday (same 24 hour thing though, she's ok now.)
I'm trying to get my computer out more and step away from the iphone once in a while. But it's hard! I love my phone! It does just about everything I want except blogging, paying bills and email. It technically does email, but my home email is getting so out of hand with spam I'm seriously considering starting a new one and consigning this one to be a full time spam collector.
Enough about me. On to the fun stuff!
Both girls are walking completely. They're growing so fast and they're so cute! They talk up a storm, even though I'm sure most folks wouldn't understand them yet. But they have a much higher vocab than Nicky did at this age. They were about 24lbs at their 18 month visit in November with about a 6oz difference between them. They're still so close to identical that Tom mixed them up last night.
Nicky is learning all sorts of things at school. He's progressing well academically, but still struggling with focus and attention. He's being reassessed here in VA so we'll have a meeting, hopefully soon, to go over those results. We all suspect Gifted/ADD or Gifted/LD. Either way, school is a struggle, and yet still a joy and I'd like to keep it a joy for as long as possible!
One problem that has cropped up lately though is that he's apparently got two boys in his class who are calling him names and verbally bullying him. Not violence yet, but bothering Nicky enough to get him mad. And then the boys think it's funny to get Nicky mad. Nicky is so good about not reacting with hitting, however he's turned his anger inwards and has started hitting, scratching and choking himself according to his teachers. This is really upsetting and it came out about the bullies when I asked him what was going on. I've talked extensively with his teacher and we'll see what happens over the next week or so. She was calling their parents though, and that makes me suspect that she wasn't surprised to have complaints about these particular students.
Anyway, sorry for the brain dump, but I needed to get that off my chest. And hey, what better way than to put it out there for the entire world to see?
Also, specifically for my mom, Grammie, I have uploaded a TON of movies, all from November (still have to do Sept and Oct) from my phone to Photobucket. They're in the 2011 November folder for now. Enjoy Grammie! We love you!
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Cruising along
I really need to get back into the habit of posting.
Last spring I ended up with tennis elbow in my left elbow. Later in the spring/summer it started in the right elbow, but since I couldn't afford to go to an orthopedic doctor and my normal doc had already tried injections I just figured I'd live with it.
Well it finally was getting to be so bad that I decided to try going to a chiropractor that several of my coworkers have gone to. One of them even went for tennis elbow and swears it helped him heal when nothing else would.
So Thursday I went for my first chiropractor visit and got acupuncture in my elbows. I've never given much credence to chiropractors, mostly considering them not much more than fancy voodoo witch doctors, but I've been in just chronic pain and I'm willing to try about anything at this point.
It wasn't the worst thing ever, but it was uncomfortable for sure. Not because of the needles. I'm totally unfazed by needles. But the muscles in my arms did not appreciate the invasion so much. They felt like they were tying themselves into tiny knots in there. I suppose that means it was doing something, which sounds better than doing nothing. We'll see if it leads to less pain down the road though. I have two more visits next week.
I'd have taken a pic of my elbows with the needles, but I couldn't really move my hands and arms. Maybe I'll arrange something next time.
One thing that did surprise me was that they do no prep of your skin before poking you. I expected a little alcohol swabbing or something. The chiropractor said that you'd have to do more than a little swab of alcohol to really sterilize your skin, so that is really just an act put on for the patient's peace of mind. Nothing is infected, heck I don't even think they bled, so that must be ok I guess.
On the homefront, Tom had a nice case of a mild stomach bug this week. It put him out of commission Wednesday night and Thursday most of the day. He looked like hell Thursday morning, but I still had to go to work. Nicky's school doesn't even start till 9am, and his bus picks him up at 8:30. Since I need to be at work by 8:30 at the latest I was hard pressed to figure out how to get him to school.
I ended up driving him around the corner to his friends' house, meeting their mom (who is also named Angela, how funny is that?) and asking her to take Nicky with her kids to the busstop and meet him in the afternoon too. Then I told her she could just pitch him over the fence (our backyards share a fence). She was willing to do it, and it seems like it went well. I should bake her some cookies or something because that really helped us out of a tight spot. It allowed Tom to just let the babies do their thing in the living room while he pretty much keeled over on the sofa. It's so nice for Nicky to have friends to play with so close too. They seem to all get along great.
Today we're heading out to find Nicky's Halloween costume and check out some options for draperies in the living room and den. We've managed to keep the kids from obliterating the vertical blinds so far, but I'd like to replace them with drapes before our luck runs out!
Earlier today we played in the backyard. It's so great that the kids can all just play back there without worrying about fire ants! And it is nice and shaded too. We all just love it! I worked on my laptop for a bit while the kids played, and when I looked up this is what I saw:
Yeah, except for the end there it was a lot of fun. They got better at holding on, and Nicky got better at driving:
More movies up here.
Last spring I ended up with tennis elbow in my left elbow. Later in the spring/summer it started in the right elbow, but since I couldn't afford to go to an orthopedic doctor and my normal doc had already tried injections I just figured I'd live with it.
Well it finally was getting to be so bad that I decided to try going to a chiropractor that several of my coworkers have gone to. One of them even went for tennis elbow and swears it helped him heal when nothing else would.
So Thursday I went for my first chiropractor visit and got acupuncture in my elbows. I've never given much credence to chiropractors, mostly considering them not much more than fancy voodoo witch doctors, but I've been in just chronic pain and I'm willing to try about anything at this point.
It wasn't the worst thing ever, but it was uncomfortable for sure. Not because of the needles. I'm totally unfazed by needles. But the muscles in my arms did not appreciate the invasion so much. They felt like they were tying themselves into tiny knots in there. I suppose that means it was doing something, which sounds better than doing nothing. We'll see if it leads to less pain down the road though. I have two more visits next week.
I'd have taken a pic of my elbows with the needles, but I couldn't really move my hands and arms. Maybe I'll arrange something next time.
One thing that did surprise me was that they do no prep of your skin before poking you. I expected a little alcohol swabbing or something. The chiropractor said that you'd have to do more than a little swab of alcohol to really sterilize your skin, so that is really just an act put on for the patient's peace of mind. Nothing is infected, heck I don't even think they bled, so that must be ok I guess.
On the homefront, Tom had a nice case of a mild stomach bug this week. It put him out of commission Wednesday night and Thursday most of the day. He looked like hell Thursday morning, but I still had to go to work. Nicky's school doesn't even start till 9am, and his bus picks him up at 8:30. Since I need to be at work by 8:30 at the latest I was hard pressed to figure out how to get him to school.
I ended up driving him around the corner to his friends' house, meeting their mom (who is also named Angela, how funny is that?) and asking her to take Nicky with her kids to the busstop and meet him in the afternoon too. Then I told her she could just pitch him over the fence (our backyards share a fence). She was willing to do it, and it seems like it went well. I should bake her some cookies or something because that really helped us out of a tight spot. It allowed Tom to just let the babies do their thing in the living room while he pretty much keeled over on the sofa. It's so nice for Nicky to have friends to play with so close too. They seem to all get along great.
Today we're heading out to find Nicky's Halloween costume and check out some options for draperies in the living room and den. We've managed to keep the kids from obliterating the vertical blinds so far, but I'd like to replace them with drapes before our luck runs out!
Earlier today we played in the backyard. It's so great that the kids can all just play back there without worrying about fire ants! And it is nice and shaded too. We all just love it! I worked on my laptop for a bit while the kids played, and when I looked up this is what I saw:
Yeah, except for the end there it was a lot of fun. They got better at holding on, and Nicky got better at driving:
More movies up here.
Monday, October 17, 2011
We're settling in
Finally started taking photos and movies of the kids again!
Sorry for the long lapse, but we've been a bit busy.
You know, moving to a whole new job in a whole new state, getting everyone all here in a whole new house, with a whole new school, etc.
It's been a busy month! But I started my new job on 9/16 (and LOVE it!) and Tom and the kids arrived here on 10/2, and Nicky started school on 10/5. We're settling in nicely now and even last night put the master bedroom together. No longer sleeping on mattresses on the floor! Woohoo!
I have a few photos up for you here.
I'll get movies up when I can.
Thanks for all your positive thoughts and prayers. This move was huge, but we're all super happy to be here, be together, and be healthy!
Sorry for the long lapse, but we've been a bit busy.
You know, moving to a whole new job in a whole new state, getting everyone all here in a whole new house, with a whole new school, etc.
It's been a busy month! But I started my new job on 9/16 (and LOVE it!) and Tom and the kids arrived here on 10/2, and Nicky started school on 10/5. We're settling in nicely now and even last night put the master bedroom together. No longer sleeping on mattresses on the floor! Woohoo!
I have a few photos up for you here.
I'll get movies up when I can.
Thanks for all your positive thoughts and prayers. This move was huge, but we're all super happy to be here, be together, and be healthy!
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Wait a minute, isn't Virginia for Lovers?
I did it. I'm here in Virginia and have been working at my new job for a week! All I'll say is that I absolutely LOVE my new job. It's exciting and challenging. It's where education, libraries and technology collide into a swirly rainbow of happiness.
What? Don't most people talk about their job that way?
Anyway, the sole raincloud in the sunshine that is my new town is that Tom and the kids are not here yet. Tom has been madly packing and single-parenting our brood for the last week. He has had help from both Nana and JM, but I know it's been a very hard week for him. But he is nearly there! Tuesday the truck will be picked up and loading can commence!
The plan is that they will leave Friday and arrive here on Saturday. Officially making us a Virginia family October 1st 2011.
I'm trying not to worry about their trip up too much as there isn't really anything I can do about that. But I will be spending more time this weekend helping to finish up the house we're renting. It's very nearly ready, just needs new flooring installed, the upstairs painted and a few odds and ends taken care of.
Tom and I had our 17th wedding anniversary on September 17th. The day after I started working here. It was our first time ever being apart from each other on our anniversary. Even though we've never been a couple that made all that much of the occasion it was odd to be apart.
I actually realized on the way up here that not only have I never been away from any of the kids for 2 weeks, I have also never been away from Tom that long. I think the longest before was about a week at my Mom's once. I left Gainesville on September 14th and won't see my family again until October 1st. That is a long time to me.
It took me until about the 17th to really start missing them. Till then I was so busy with getting up here, settling in (and settling Benjamin in- I brought Bobo with me), and getting started at work, that I hadn't had much time to reflect on it. But Saturday night I started wondering what they were doing, how much the girls had changed since I left, if Lily had really started walking, how Nicky was doing at school, and how Tom was faring without me. It became kind of lonely.
I know it won't be long in the grand scheme of things. Soon I'll barely even remember the time we spent apart. But right now it seems like a long time. I've gotten to Skype with Tom and the kids twice now, and as wonderful as it is to see them, it also makes me even sadder when I have to say goodbye. Both girls are walking now and the other day they even said "Kenji." Tonight they looked so big on the computer screen, and so happy to see me. It breaks my heart even more to imagine what they think about my absence.
But again. It won't be long, and I have thrown myself into my new job during the day. I have a countdown up on my board that shows how many more days till Nicky arrives. Today it was only 9 days! That will just zoom by! I also found out I can read ebooks on my iphone from my library. That really helps the evenings zoom by too. It'll be the first before I even know it!
And then, we'll have lots of photos for you. Right now I only have the one photo Tom sent me this week. It's Gabi all dressed up in a cute flower outfit. She has a pretty funny look on her face too. Looks like Nicky was pretty bored in the background on this one. I'm guessing they were watching TV.
Here's one of Benjamin on the trip up. It was a long hard trip for him, but he's settling in well now.
He did enjoy spooking the flock of Canadian Geese into the water at the Welcome Center rest stop in North Carolina our second day:
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
This is the sign I have up at work to keep me going:
So that's it. We're very nearly done with the move. And then we can all focus on Halloween!
Oh, and for you mom. Although you've probably seen most of these on facebook.
What? Don't most people talk about their job that way?
Anyway, the sole raincloud in the sunshine that is my new town is that Tom and the kids are not here yet. Tom has been madly packing and single-parenting our brood for the last week. He has had help from both Nana and JM, but I know it's been a very hard week for him. But he is nearly there! Tuesday the truck will be picked up and loading can commence!
The plan is that they will leave Friday and arrive here on Saturday. Officially making us a Virginia family October 1st 2011.
I'm trying not to worry about their trip up too much as there isn't really anything I can do about that. But I will be spending more time this weekend helping to finish up the house we're renting. It's very nearly ready, just needs new flooring installed, the upstairs painted and a few odds and ends taken care of.
Tom and I had our 17th wedding anniversary on September 17th. The day after I started working here. It was our first time ever being apart from each other on our anniversary. Even though we've never been a couple that made all that much of the occasion it was odd to be apart.
I actually realized on the way up here that not only have I never been away from any of the kids for 2 weeks, I have also never been away from Tom that long. I think the longest before was about a week at my Mom's once. I left Gainesville on September 14th and won't see my family again until October 1st. That is a long time to me.
It took me until about the 17th to really start missing them. Till then I was so busy with getting up here, settling in (and settling Benjamin in- I brought Bobo with me), and getting started at work, that I hadn't had much time to reflect on it. But Saturday night I started wondering what they were doing, how much the girls had changed since I left, if Lily had really started walking, how Nicky was doing at school, and how Tom was faring without me. It became kind of lonely.
I know it won't be long in the grand scheme of things. Soon I'll barely even remember the time we spent apart. But right now it seems like a long time. I've gotten to Skype with Tom and the kids twice now, and as wonderful as it is to see them, it also makes me even sadder when I have to say goodbye. Both girls are walking now and the other day they even said "Kenji." Tonight they looked so big on the computer screen, and so happy to see me. It breaks my heart even more to imagine what they think about my absence.
But again. It won't be long, and I have thrown myself into my new job during the day. I have a countdown up on my board that shows how many more days till Nicky arrives. Today it was only 9 days! That will just zoom by! I also found out I can read ebooks on my iphone from my library. That really helps the evenings zoom by too. It'll be the first before I even know it!
And then, we'll have lots of photos for you. Right now I only have the one photo Tom sent me this week. It's Gabi all dressed up in a cute flower outfit. She has a pretty funny look on her face too. Looks like Nicky was pretty bored in the background on this one. I'm guessing they were watching TV.
Here's one of Benjamin on the trip up. It was a long hard trip for him, but he's settling in well now.
He did enjoy spooking the flock of Canadian Geese into the water at the Welcome Center rest stop in North Carolina our second day:
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
This is the sign I have up at work to keep me going:
So that's it. We're very nearly done with the move. And then we can all focus on Halloween!
Oh, and for you mom. Although you've probably seen most of these on facebook.
Monday, September 05, 2011
Wrapping up our time in FL
So so busy! I'm wrapping up things at work as best as I can. I don't want to leave anything to fall through the cracks there. Tom's been assigned Relocation Manager of this move, so I'm trying to leave all the planning of that to him. I told him I don't mind being directed and doing work (we're trying to sort through everything and figure out what is coming and what is getting tossed or donated) but the project management aspect is going to have to fall to him. (I've been able to resist drawing up a Gantt chart so far...it's tough but I need to back off and relinquish control. I can do this.)
Nicky is all excited about the move. The girls have no idea of course, but they'll love it too I'm sure. Kenji will be easy to move, but Benjamin...it's gonna suck. No two ways about it. I've actually put out a call on facebook to see if anyone would like to add him to their family. It's just going to be so hard on him. I'm sure he'll be alright once we get there (I hope).
We have a house in mind, just have to settle the rent/deposit/fees etc and get a move in date. I'll be heading up, likely driving the car, around mid-month. Tom and everyone will likely come up a few weeks later. The house is on the market for a short sale at a whopping 30k. That is 59k LESS than we bought it for. I could just weep. Except for the fact that I am SO glad to be getting out from under the house AND be starting my new job. It's hard to care much in light of the new job! Now we'll just have to see if it actually sells.
Other stuff going on:
Nicky is really enjoying school. He is riding the bus to and from everyday. Loves it! Tom takes him to the bus stop and picks him up there too. They give him a lot of homework which is quite annoying. It's Kindergarten for pete's sake! I do a little with him before dinner each evening, but it's much more important to me that he gets to bed on time (which is going great actually) so I just let it go. I'm not knocking ourselves out to do worksheets.
Lily and Gabi are doing great. Lily is still a little artist. She loves to draw. We went to Nicky's open house at his school and Lily pulled out a chair and sat down with paper and crayons to draw the whole time. Gabi was more interested in walking around with Daddy and Nicky though.
Gabi is able to walk several steps independently now. She doesn't do it a lot yet, but she can. Lily could probably do it, but she isn't quite yet. I think a big factor is that they just don't have the floorspace in our house to require it. Why bother when you can just cruise all over the house? When we move to our new place I'm sure they'll start walking a lot.
Gabi also went poop in the big potty today! We're not really potty-training yet, but she was having a hard time going and I had her ready to go in the tub after lunch anyway, so I held her over the kids' seat on the potty and she went. Very exciting! One of the things I'm so looking forward to in our new place is having TWO bathrooms! That will make training a lot easier I think. Heck it'll make everything a lot easier!
Nicky is actually running a fever today. He took two naps all on his own, so we know he doesn't feel good. His fever broke first after the last dose of children's tylenol, and then again after I gave him one 200mg ibuprofen. I was out of the kids' stuff, so I checked the dosage and at his age that's how much he gets anyway. He has no trouble swallowing pills which just amazes me. I was like 12 when I finally figured it out. I remember medicines being such torture as a kid for so long. But he's already got the pill thing down pat! Should make dealing with allergies/asthma/etc so much easier for him.
The girls are going in for their 15 month pediatric visit tomorrow afternoon. Originally I wasn't going to go (this is my last week of work here after all) but with Nicky sick, Tom's going to need my help. So work in the morning and then they can pick me up for the afternoon appointment.
I can't believe my time at work here is almost done. It's been 7 years since I started working in the library here. That's definitely the longest I've ever been at one place. I think I have made a great difference here in my time though. I've met and worked with so many great people and on so many projects that have had a lot of impact on our institution. I'm definitely proud of my accomplishments here. But it is time to move on. No regrets at all. This is going to be awesome!
Nicky is all excited about the move. The girls have no idea of course, but they'll love it too I'm sure. Kenji will be easy to move, but Benjamin...it's gonna suck. No two ways about it. I've actually put out a call on facebook to see if anyone would like to add him to their family. It's just going to be so hard on him. I'm sure he'll be alright once we get there (I hope).
We have a house in mind, just have to settle the rent/deposit/fees etc and get a move in date. I'll be heading up, likely driving the car, around mid-month. Tom and everyone will likely come up a few weeks later. The house is on the market for a short sale at a whopping 30k. That is 59k LESS than we bought it for. I could just weep. Except for the fact that I am SO glad to be getting out from under the house AND be starting my new job. It's hard to care much in light of the new job! Now we'll just have to see if it actually sells.
Other stuff going on:
Nicky is really enjoying school. He is riding the bus to and from everyday. Loves it! Tom takes him to the bus stop and picks him up there too. They give him a lot of homework which is quite annoying. It's Kindergarten for pete's sake! I do a little with him before dinner each evening, but it's much more important to me that he gets to bed on time (which is going great actually) so I just let it go. I'm not knocking ourselves out to do worksheets.
Lily and Gabi are doing great. Lily is still a little artist. She loves to draw. We went to Nicky's open house at his school and Lily pulled out a chair and sat down with paper and crayons to draw the whole time. Gabi was more interested in walking around with Daddy and Nicky though.
Gabi is able to walk several steps independently now. She doesn't do it a lot yet, but she can. Lily could probably do it, but she isn't quite yet. I think a big factor is that they just don't have the floorspace in our house to require it. Why bother when you can just cruise all over the house? When we move to our new place I'm sure they'll start walking a lot.
Gabi also went poop in the big potty today! We're not really potty-training yet, but she was having a hard time going and I had her ready to go in the tub after lunch anyway, so I held her over the kids' seat on the potty and she went. Very exciting! One of the things I'm so looking forward to in our new place is having TWO bathrooms! That will make training a lot easier I think. Heck it'll make everything a lot easier!
Nicky is actually running a fever today. He took two naps all on his own, so we know he doesn't feel good. His fever broke first after the last dose of children's tylenol, and then again after I gave him one 200mg ibuprofen. I was out of the kids' stuff, so I checked the dosage and at his age that's how much he gets anyway. He has no trouble swallowing pills which just amazes me. I was like 12 when I finally figured it out. I remember medicines being such torture as a kid for so long. But he's already got the pill thing down pat! Should make dealing with allergies/asthma/etc so much easier for him.
The girls are going in for their 15 month pediatric visit tomorrow afternoon. Originally I wasn't going to go (this is my last week of work here after all) but with Nicky sick, Tom's going to need my help. So work in the morning and then they can pick me up for the afternoon appointment.
I can't believe my time at work here is almost done. It's been 7 years since I started working in the library here. That's definitely the longest I've ever been at one place. I think I have made a great difference here in my time though. I've met and worked with so many great people and on so many projects that have had a lot of impact on our institution. I'm definitely proud of my accomplishments here. But it is time to move on. No regrets at all. This is going to be awesome!
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