another nothing update- this time with pictures

The migraine hell lasted 4 days- now in retreat (please God). 

A quick picture when hermano and family called us for an impromptu dinner- I should have realized something was up when the food did not taste good to me.  Food always tastes good to me, so a sign that I was just forcing myself to eat should have let me know my migraine was getting worst, not better.

Bug outside playing the next day- I was medicating every 4 hours at this point and barely holding off the migraine- another sign.

This is how I pretty much spent Wednesday.  Bug also went down with just exhaustion/early crud.  He begged to stay home and he spent the day on the couch with me, a sign he was not feeling well either.

Bug felt everyone needs to see the product placement.  The die.t Co.ke was about all I could drink.  food was just to to get through the day.  I paid for that today by being hungry all day.  Bug was feeling fine today and went back to school.  I went back to work and I am hoping that the migraine retreats.  Of course with snow outside now, at least the rain is gone.  But I will take rain over snow any day.

So we have done basically nothing this week- but I think we needed it.

Love and hugs,
Deb

nothing to report here

It feels like the week has been so long and it is only Tuesday.  I have been in migraine HELL for the last 2 days.  We are getting dumped on by rain- storms sweeping through every few days.  Not that I am complaining about rain, I will take it over snow any day and after being in a drought last summer, rain is good.  it is the pressure change that is bad. 

Bug is going strong- he is here, there and everywhere all the time.  Which is to be expected in a 5 year old boy.  He has had some funny things to say the last few days- but they are TMI (too much information) to share publicly here on the blog.  But it has been hard to keep a straight face while listening to his comments.

The one comment I can repeat is that he is telling me "momma, you are a meanie".  I have about had it with this statement.  So tonight, I told him, I was not mean, I am strict.  I am usually told I am a meanie when I tell him it is time to do homework (4 pm), time to go inside after playing (6 pm), time to eat dinner, usually in response to what I am feeding him, time to put jammies on (7:30 pm) and time for bed (8 pm).  So by telling him I am strict and then having to explain the word strict, he is understanding that we have rules.  let's see how long it takes for him to be telling me all the time that I am too strict.

Lent starts tomorrow.  Since Bug will be learning about Lent at school, I am going to participate.  I am giving up diet soda (did I just say that???) for Lent. Bug is still too young to have to give up anything, but he volunteered to give up candy.  Since he eats candy about once a week, I think he will make it thru Lent.  I am going to be struggling though, since I am drinking about 6-8 diet cokes a day.  Since I do not want to go cold turkey and subject Bug or my work colleagues to my caffeine withdrawal, I am decreasing through this weekend and then will be off caffeine by Sunday.  Then 6 weeks of no caffeine.  time to break the habit again. 

I think that is it for tonight.  migraine is building and I need to turn off the computer and lights and get some sleep so the medicine can work overnight.  Tomorrow is a better day.

Love and hugs,
Deb

Leahy and the Pops

today,  I took Bug to see the Pops and Leahy as a treat.  Bug has been to see the Pops outside and enjoyed it.  This time, we would be at Music Hall, sitting in seats, with good behavior expected.  I was hoping and praying Bug enjoyed the concert.  More on Leahy below.  Bug wanted to wear his tie and then gave me this face when I tucked the tie into his sweater.

At Music Hall- second floor.  Bug liked the chandelier and looking down on the people on the first floor.  We were actually seated up on the third floor. But this entertained him for 5 minutes.

In our seats.  They were not too bad- slightly obstructed view- meaning we could not see the entire stage, but we at the end of row and there was no one behind us, so we could stand up as needed.

This is pretty much the view we had- though we were up 5 rows from this wall.  We could see half the stage.

Another picture of us, after intermission.  Bug loved the music.  he said his favorite part was when 4 of kids of the band came out and did Irish step dancing.  They were awesome.  I loved the toe tapping music.  The Pops played 2 U2 songs (my favorite band).  Bug said he would love to come hear some more music at Music Hall.  So I will me looking for some opportunities to take Bug to hear music.

This is party of Leahy- 8 brothers and sisters.  I really love their music.

 It was a great afternoon.  Bug enjoyed it and was good the entire time.  he could have skipped the intermission, but he was good and showed how much more self control he has now as a 5.5 year old.

He nearly fell asleep in the car on the way home, and I think we are both going to bed early tonight.

Tomorrow, Mam is having surgery, so it will be a stressful day for me as I worry about the result of her surgery.

Love and hugs,
Deb

hanging out in the 'hood

Monday was Auntie Lulu's birthday, but we always celebrate on Sundays.  So Sunday the family was over and we have a party.  Bug as usual, was not into singing.  But Lulu told him that if he did not sign, then....

He could not blow out the candles. 

Wednesday, the weather was nicer and the kids were all outside.  Big M was get a basketball lesson from her dad.  The little kids all decided that watching the lesson was more exciting and fun than riding bikes.  so they sat a watched for almost an hour.

Thursday, inspired by Wednesday's lesson, Bug wanted to play basket ball.  I need to get him a slightly larger basketball.  he was making shots left and right.

Little M was happy riding his skate board/scooter.

It was a good week.  We have rain this weekend, so everyone is inside.  Little M came over today for a playdate, but I neglected to get photos. 

Love and hugs,

Deb

Unofficial Start to Spring- Home and Garden show

The day has finally arrived- the 'unofficial start to Spring"- which is the first day of the home and garden show.  I know after today, I have 3-4 weeks until I can plant potatoes, onions, lettuce, radishes, carrots (though I am not holding out hope for them), and swiss chard.  I might try broccoli this year too- not sure yet.

and we are 8-10 weeks from summer veggies going into the garden.  HURRAH!!!!!!

For Bug, the home garden show is lots of fountains to reach into (which he loves, contrary to how this picture looks).

talking to a lonely goldfish in a fountain

checking  out the 'backyard stream' that he wishes we had in our yard

really trying to figure out if putting his hand in the steam is worth making his momma angry- he decided that it was not worth it and stayed dry.

stomping on the bridge to scare the goldfish/Koi out from under the bridge (at the request of the vendor in this area).  The fish stayed under the bridge unfortunately.  There were about 30 of them under there.

having a great time together at the Home and Garden show.

and the best part for Bug, the play set area that is set up and kids are encouraged to try everything out.  I have to save this part of the show until the last, because otherwise Bug would hang out here all day and I would never get him away.

He did some wall climbing

some more wall climbing, but apparently he needed some hand licking too.

And finally, he had 2 sessions on the trampoline.  The salesman was really trying to sell me one.  But given there is no room in the backyard for a trampoline while the play set is back there, it will not be soon.  I told they guy, Bug has to gain about 25 more pounds before he will no longer be able to play on his play set.  The salesman walked away from me without even looking back.  I had to laugh.

We came home after nearly 3 hours at the home and garden show.  I was so inspired that even though it was only 38 degrees F outside, I did some yard work- my knock out roses in front of the house got some sort of disease and I knew I was going to have remove this year.  Today was as good as any day.  Bug was riding his bike and then decided to dig for worms.  The worms are burrowed too deep right now, but he was determined to find them.  Little E and Big E came home and decided to come over and help.  They had a grand time scooping all the dirt from the pot into the hole Bug dug. 

 It was a good day- Home and garden show, 5 rose bushes taken out- I am going to replace them with daylillies that are yellow and red.  The girls really liked the idea.  Now if the weather would warm up so we could be out there all day.

Love and hugs,
Deb

Random things

Since I heard that Rosa is graduating from the Compassion program, I have searching the house for the original picture I received of her back in 1997.  She was a 5 year old and her picture hung over my desk for years.  Actually I think this was the picture I had of her for 10 years.  I am going copy this picture and the last one of her as part of my last letter to her that I am drafting.  I hope she enjoys getting pictures of herself back from me.  What a change from a 5 year old to a almost 19 year old.

Last Friday, I had to take my car into the repair shop for what I was hoping would be quick, easy and cheap fixes.  At 2 pm, they called to let me know it was none of the above and they would loan me a car for the weekend.  the repairs ended up being nearly $1500.00.  I cannot complain, I have no car payment as my car is from 1997.  But this is not about my car, it is about the loaner car the repair shop gave me for the weekend.  The repairs ruined the plan to go to the zoo on Friday but that turned out OK as Bug was sick and needed the rest. 

The En.clave.

The loaner was referred to, over the weekend, as the "land barge" or the "gas guzzling, piece of crap SUV". Technically it is a crossover, but the gas mileage is awful.  12 miles to the gallon in the city!!!!!!!!!  We did like the styling and some of the features- back up camera, fold down back seats, drink holders in the door in the back seat and the satellite radio.  But we were very happy to get car back on Monday. Even at 15 years old, my car still averages 26 miles to the gallon around town. And add in no car payment, I am perfectly content to drive my car until it dies.

Tommy and Greg from the repair shop. They are really good guys.

Well, I am off to finish a few things before heading off to bed.  I finally have some meds for my sinus infection that has become something more, so I am thinking I might get some good sleep tonight.

Love and hugs,
Deb

School is wearing us both down

This is a picture of the Bug at 5:20 pm today.  Please ignore the lack of sheets on his bed, I did laundry this weekend and his sheets were not put back on his bed.  There really is no reason to put sheets on his bed since he falls asleep on the couch and then ends up in bed.  But I digress.

Bug has been in a mean temper mood the last 2 days - snapping at me, willfully disobeying me, being rude.  I hit my limit today when he threw his school binder down in my office and yelled at me.  So I sent him to bed to rest for 30 minutes.  about 10 minutes later, I heard footsteps in the hallway and when I went to investigate, I found him standing in front of the TV, telling me his 30 minutes were up.  TV went off, back to bed he went and 5 minutes later he was asleep.  I let him sleep for an hour, then woke him so he could do homework, eat dinner, and we could have some time together.  His hour nap did not help, unfortunately.
he lost TV privileges tonight, and he is on the path to loosing them for the rest of the week at this point.  He continued to be rude and snap at me while doing his homework.  Dinner was better since I fixed him 'chicken bones"- his name for drumsticks or chicken legs.

He lost his privilege to sleep on the couch tonight. 

And thru it all he is refusing to tell me what is bothering him or what happened that might be making him scared or angry.  It is hard to learn these lessons and it is hard to be the momma dishing out the punishments, but better now then in 10-20 years learning these lessons as a teenager or a young adult.

love and hugs,
Deb