Robert was out the door at 5:40 this morning and the bus arrived right on time...Robert is spending his first day at the career based school. Getting up that early was just well, early anyway, but with the Olympics on late each evening it was just really early. We had plenty of time to spare so we might sleep in about 5 minutes tomorrow. I went back to sleep for about 90 minutes until it was time to get Thomas up for cross country. Fortunately Andrew took him there and I went back to sleep some more.
Robert is very excited about today, and I'm very grateful for that. I am cautiously optimistic that this could be the fresh start and turn around that Robert needs, but I just don't know. We've been through so much, and even though our summer was good, so was last summer and yet this past school year was beyond wretched. Praying and praying that this is beginning of good things!
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
Thinking back to my childhood
I've been thinking back a great deal to my childhood, and wondering how on earth the passage of time has flown by. I'm sounding dramatic I know, and there are so many reasons. My middle child begins high school in just eight days. My oldest child has received his driving permit and tomorrow begins his last two years of school. I just don't understand how this is all possible...not at all. Our dear friends have their oldest child beginning his senior year, and other good friends have their oldest beginning high school...and I remember he and Catherine in preschool together. It all just seems unreal.
Of course I miss my dad, and even three years later there are so many things I wish I could call and tell him. The last several years of his life my sister and I were often his eyes to the outside world. He had become so homebound at the end, and we did shopping for him and just let him know what was happening in the outside world. I think back to such fun we had at my grandparents' houses. We were blessed to be able to live within two miles of both sets of grandparents, and I regret my children didn't get to experience that. They did get to experience grandparents in other ways, with vacations and the lake. Again, it's all just gone so quickly!
Of course I miss my dad, and even three years later there are so many things I wish I could call and tell him. The last several years of his life my sister and I were often his eyes to the outside world. He had become so homebound at the end, and we did shopping for him and just let him know what was happening in the outside world. I think back to such fun we had at my grandparents' houses. We were blessed to be able to live within two miles of both sets of grandparents, and I regret my children didn't get to experience that. They did get to experience grandparents in other ways, with vacations and the lake. Again, it's all just gone so quickly!
Sunday, August 7, 2016
Olympic viewing
As we do every time, we are watching as much of the Olympics as we can. We had pizza Friday evening and watched the Opening Ceremonies. Thomas had a bug bite and took Benadryl, so we were very grateful that USA was an "E" in the parade of nations. Catherine stayed up to see the torch and everything until it was all over. Yesterday we flipped between network channels and caught whatever we could. I enjoy seeing how much the kids enjoy watching with us, and of course we even learn about geography and things as we go through the weeks. I'm so grateful to share these with my kids!
It's August again
August has been, throughout the last 25 years, among the most stressful months of my life. There certainly have been years when it was just another month, but there were many, many years when it was the most stressful month of the year. Even in years when it wasn't THE most stressful month, it was still full of stress many times. The last two years though, have been better, so I guess we were due for some "adventures".
With Andrew returning to coaching, me having my own part-time job, and all three kids doing fall sports, it was a crazy week anyway. Adding in my mother's unexpected hospital visit and Robert's hernia diagnosis, was a little bit of additional stress even though things are turning out okay. On Friday, our neighborhood had a water main break so we were without water for a few hours (we've been under a boil advisory since then). Not a huge deal, except that when the water came back on it blew out our water heater. Fortunately, football practice had just ended when we discovered it so I was able to call Andrew and have him get home ASAP. He and Robert worked quickly and were able to keep anything from being destroyed. We were also able to have the water heater replaced first thing yesterday morning so that worked out well.
Last evening we had some friends over for dinner. We were all so excited to see them as it had been three years. Since the water was hot again we were all clean and I was able to clean the house so things were working out just fine. While Andrew was out grilling, he apparently allowed our sixteen-year-old cat to go outside. Then, he became distracted and lost track of him. Wally wandered off, and for several hours we couldn't find him. Robert was indifferent about the whole thing, but Catherine and Thomas were devastated. Andrew was also distracted because he knew it was his fault, and while I can be philosophical about a cat of that age, seeing my kids like that was so very hard. The kids were trying not to just lose it in front of our company, which made my heart ache for them even more. The younger two were so determined and just kept going out searching the neighborhood. Finally, Thomas found him at a creek in the woods behind our house. The creek is dry because there hasn't been any rain, so they were easily able to scoop him up and head on back to the house. Thank goodness!
I am very grateful that everything is working out just fine. We are very, very blessed. While I'm not necessarily ready for the added stress of the school year, I am looking forward to the routine it is going to bring. It's goring to be CRAZY, but I think we need it right now.
With Andrew returning to coaching, me having my own part-time job, and all three kids doing fall sports, it was a crazy week anyway. Adding in my mother's unexpected hospital visit and Robert's hernia diagnosis, was a little bit of additional stress even though things are turning out okay. On Friday, our neighborhood had a water main break so we were without water for a few hours (we've been under a boil advisory since then). Not a huge deal, except that when the water came back on it blew out our water heater. Fortunately, football practice had just ended when we discovered it so I was able to call Andrew and have him get home ASAP. He and Robert worked quickly and were able to keep anything from being destroyed. We were also able to have the water heater replaced first thing yesterday morning so that worked out well.
Last evening we had some friends over for dinner. We were all so excited to see them as it had been three years. Since the water was hot again we were all clean and I was able to clean the house so things were working out just fine. While Andrew was out grilling, he apparently allowed our sixteen-year-old cat to go outside. Then, he became distracted and lost track of him. Wally wandered off, and for several hours we couldn't find him. Robert was indifferent about the whole thing, but Catherine and Thomas were devastated. Andrew was also distracted because he knew it was his fault, and while I can be philosophical about a cat of that age, seeing my kids like that was so very hard. The kids were trying not to just lose it in front of our company, which made my heart ache for them even more. The younger two were so determined and just kept going out searching the neighborhood. Finally, Thomas found him at a creek in the woods behind our house. The creek is dry because there hasn't been any rain, so they were easily able to scoop him up and head on back to the house. Thank goodness!
I am very grateful that everything is working out just fine. We are very, very blessed. While I'm not necessarily ready for the added stress of the school year, I am looking forward to the routine it is going to bring. It's goring to be CRAZY, but I think we need it right now.
Friday, August 5, 2016
A few medical issues
At 10:30 Tuesday evening I received a phone call from my aunt that my mother had passed out at her monthly card club and was being taken to the e/r in an ambulance. No one could reach my sister so we woke the kids and took off. Fortunately, less than half way there I received word that Mom seemed to be absolutely fine and my sister was there. It turns out my mother was diagnosed with vasovagal syncope...which means she is going to faint sometimes. There are specific triggers that have to do with her health, so it's not necessarily that she is in danger of losing consciousness or anything. Generally speaking, she is fine.
However, Robert has been having some pains. At first I discounted them, but they continued. Robert decided to seek out the athletic trainer yesterday, and after a doctor appointment this morning, it seems as though Robert has a hernia. My extremely healthy child (he was ALWAYS the healthiest) has certainly presented us with plenty of health issues in the last year! He will have to see a surgeon, and we will have to work that in around all of the beginning of the year things. The doctor did clear him to continue running and he can even compete. In addition, there is a chance the recovery will be short so hopefully he won't lose the entire season!
However, Robert has been having some pains. At first I discounted them, but they continued. Robert decided to seek out the athletic trainer yesterday, and after a doctor appointment this morning, it seems as though Robert has a hernia. My extremely healthy child (he was ALWAYS the healthiest) has certainly presented us with plenty of health issues in the last year! He will have to see a surgeon, and we will have to work that in around all of the beginning of the year things. The doctor did clear him to continue running and he can even compete. In addition, there is a chance the recovery will be short so hopefully he won't lose the entire season!
Thursday, August 4, 2016
It's getting real
Today, paperwork arrived from the school. It really makes the beginning of the year seem so very real and right there, and suddenly I am losing my enthusiasm for it. I suspect that is due, in part, to the fact that Robert has to be on the but at 5:45 AM. You read that correctly...that early. Very early. I knew to expect it, but having it confirmed made it all very real. I know that it is only for the next two years as I doubt that Catherine or Thomas will be interested in attending the career school, and even then Robert may be able to drive at some point and sleep in about 45 minutes. The schedule hasn't changed for the other two. Suddenly the craziness of this week seems nothing to losing about ten hours of sleep each week. We'll be okay though...just sleep deprived!
We've been busy
This past weekend we visited my in-laws. We had three days on the calendar with nothing scheduled so that we could make the trip, and to be honest, I'm beginning to wonder if our calendar will every be that empty again. We had a nice visit, and my mother-in-law is recovering decently from her surgery. My mother-in-law asked what was coming up this week and I replied with...
"Six cross country practices, five football practices, three marching band practices, three doctor appointments, two hair cut appointments, three cook outs, two meetings, one overnight sleepover, and of course both Robert and I working."
In addition we've had drama with band issues and because the directors are not able to be at practices, I'm getting to deal with a lot of it. Yippee! We've added a few other things to the mix (some voluntarily, some not) and it's definitely been one of the craziest weeks we've had in a very long time. Andrew and I are getting used to the fact that we just aren't going to see each other very much right now!
"Six cross country practices, five football practices, three marching band practices, three doctor appointments, two hair cut appointments, three cook outs, two meetings, one overnight sleepover, and of course both Robert and I working."
In addition we've had drama with band issues and because the directors are not able to be at practices, I'm getting to deal with a lot of it. Yippee! We've added a few other things to the mix (some voluntarily, some not) and it's definitely been one of the craziest weeks we've had in a very long time. Andrew and I are getting used to the fact that we just aren't going to see each other very much right now!
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