Weather Panic..

Oklahoma is apparently in a weather panic tonight.. They are projecting anywhere from 4 to 18 inches of snow.. Very exacting science here.. Projecting lots of travel problems.. Power outages.. The sort of crap like that.. And being in Oklahoma this causes a TIZZY of mass proportions.. I went to the store.. 2 days ago.. Because we were out of stuff.. And the dumb checker guy was joking about snow and I just thought he was being a fool.. Well.. Turns out he IS a fool who heard the weather, but still..

So then we get to the conundrum of power outages.. And heat.. Ours is electric.. Because.. we like electricity, it's our friend. Well, so I'm talking to my mom and then about 20 minutes later it dawns on her - that she has a fireplace. Well Yes.. You do.. You ALWAYS have.. As do I.. *WE* can't use our.. It's wood burning fireplace and will literally KILL me.. (wood smoke = Me death)  Anyhow.. I just assumed since we live in the same neighborhood... And she's NEVER bothered to mention it in the previous..... 6 years... Hers was also a wood fireplace..



She's "just remembered" hers is a gas fireplace with gas logs.. *headbang* well.. aren't you just special? AND she has a gas stove & hot water tank.. I almost want to go and just hand her a bouquet of obvious..(Sorry mom.. I do..) Not that I won't full take advantage of said things should the need arrive.. But D'uh!.. How do you "forget" that?

Anyhow.. So we shall see.. It's currently a toss up as the weather has currently only gotten cold so far. It's debatable which way it will go.

Down with The Boy

I swear on all that is Holy.. I am going to flog the Boy.. He is literally trampling.. on my nerves.. Literally.. ON the nerves.. So I got a knee injection on Tuesday.. He has kicked me in the last 24 hours in the EXACT location no less that 7 times.. PERFECT shots of the "bad" spot that have made me see starts and want to vomit. I've warned him to be careful, that this is the "ouchy" spot for a few days.. I've showed him.. I've explained to him.. I've flat out yelled at him that I'm going to cut his feet off.. He seems to not care. I'm going to murder his feet.

And he's currently sitting next to my right hip.. BOUNCING.. Had nerve ablation yesterday on the right.. Pain meds and I are not currently agreeing on the desired level of "relief" to be obtained.. Him BOUNCING on said side of the sofa.. Is like little electrical current of pain every wee motion. He's not doing it on purpose.. He's 4 and a boy. BUT OMG.. I need duct tape and a closet...

Not to help matters here at all, but he's whining for "ideas to earn marbles".. Which is GREAT.. I'm thrilled he's motivated by our currency system. They don't get an allowance, they get marbles and use that for a prize when they get 50. He already picked him prize when #1 got hers. And he REALLY really REALLY wants it. He needed 20 still 2 days ago and he's down to needing 3. He really wants it and has cleaned half the house for me. Now, that still leaves me the other half to clean up behind him with. He's 4, can I really expect him to DO a fantastic job cleaning the bathroom? NOPE, But I can give him a marble for a great go get it attitude and the EFFORT to do it even if *I* do a good portion of it.. Now he DID do a great fantastic job cleaning his own room, the toys off the floor, and other simpler chores.. And wow was he speedy..

OMG stop wiggling boy!!!

And he is currently enamored by my "ability to make words go on the computer.." He is also easy to amuse..

The girl on the other hand is outside, gluing sticks and rocks together to "make friends and toys for when she is outside". Right that's going to go well when the dogs eat them.. *rolls eyes*.. And even if it's gorgeous, neither can be swayed to going TO THE PARK to play.. *head bang*  Although after last time's fiasco, I can't really blame them that much.. But still...

Nothing Useful

I have nothing useful to say.. Not.. A Thing.. But.. Apparently you throw a ton of versed.. And a ton of painkillers and some caffeine into me and I feel chatty.. And I can't really walk so good at this CURRENT moment.. (Or bend, or sit, or lay down or well.. exist happily.. )  And can't GO anywhere because apparently if you take your body weight in drugs you aren't supposed to DRIVE and if you can't walk around your house you probably should go on a walk per se.. And napping with flu 1 & 2 well.. THAT'S not happening either.. It's a bit of a conundrum rather..

I like the word conundrum.. It always reminds me of the REDRUM word from The Shining.. The original version with Jack Nickolson. Don't know why exactly is just does... But I have to chuckle at it every time.. And sometimes will use it just to chuckle.. Yes, I am just that twisted of a person.

Buggers and Snot..

Have I mentioned the pure snot-ness that goes around this house.. HOLY MOLY.. I have rinsed SO much snot out of 2 little noses today an entire city could use it as mortar for an entire year.. The good news is they LET me do said activity, 4 times a day each nonetheless. But EEEEWWWWW.. They even have a contest at each de-snotting of "Who has the most ickyist snot" and "Who has the most in the rag" and "Who shoots it the farthest".. The winner gets nothing but the pride of winning. They both either get a marble or a piece of candy.. Because who really doesn't want candy for blowing snot across the bathroom? I know *I* do..  Lets just also say the bathroom has seen lost of germ killing spray lately..


Tomorrow is right hip nerve ablation day! Yay.. unfortunately, childcare is now unavailable due to flu (HAHHAHAH I rhymed..) so it's also becoming Movie Madness Day.. So I can pass out happily-ish on the sofa with drugs.. YAY drugs, because yeah That Hurts..

Flu, the Flu, It may be the Flu...

Cause it's not a cold.. Both 1 & 2 have "something" viral. Something nasty and gross and snot laden. Ok. Well #2 is ALWAYS snot laden but I could write a novel named "A Boy and His Snot" about this one. It's green, it pours, its like have congealed jello only a dark green Jello.. And in some cases.. There is NOT always room for J-E-L-L-O..

Now, the good= They both got the recommended flu shot and boost this year so this IS the "watered-down" version. The better = Because of the amount of steroids and other autoimmune problem I already HAVE while I felt "off" for several days (and I got the recommended flu shot because of said autoimmune problems) and a bit of increased mucous drowning *I* am relatively free. And the Best = Because of our recent behavioral problems and other issues we haven't really been around any one we like to pass this to unknowingly. Because even when my kids are sick, neither get fevers never have. (Like NEVER, it's freaky Dr.s never believe they are sick until they look at them because of that but they are shocked to heck, I think it's kinda funny..)



Now the ugly.. No B.R. I did not send them yesterday because they were acting off. (And yes, I do frequently refer to them as a single unit, because well, let's face it.. A lot of the time they think they are..) And now that's I've realize the true yuckiness I'm glad I didn't. The badder.. I have nerve ablation tomorrow on my right back and had PLANNED to send them for a few hours after that and sleep off the drugs, which may not happen. I can't send them like this. So I may have to institute Movie + Popcorn Morning instead.. We shall see, but it's not looking good for me and my Versed and codeine dreams..

And.. OH wait.. C is NOW complaining.. #1 wee girl, "kicked him inch my inch out of his own bed".. I cry for him.. Ohhhhh ok.. I recant he just went and got me Starbucks.. I must be at least be somewhat kind :)

Oy Vey

Let's just say the past week has not gone well. Meds are in process of now being adjusted for a certain wee person, which in it's self is a special kind of joy. Hopefully just a small shift will be enough for her to get back to being good, but the staggering is going to be hard to get into a pattern of remembering some in the am, some at lunch, some early evening and then some right before bed. That's 4 times a day.. Every day.. I can't remember my own crap, let alone that much stuff. I finally got ahold of her lunchtime meds but getting one of those easy open med reminder things and now that she's older I can just reminder her when my phone beeps at me and SHE can go get it and take it herself.. Might have to get another one in a different color and label it.. BUT.. If it helps, I'm willing to hop on 1 foot, twirl, twist, stand on my head and bark like a dog.. *shrug* I may just complain about it. Mostly because I'm gonna feel like a giant ass loser when I forget and it screws her up..

And SNOW?!??! 4 inches of snow is supposed to visit us tonight. Thankfully I am not one of the 9 million fools who have to visit the grocery store today, I went the other day and we are good for the week, but I've been trying to convince 1 & 2 that it DOES NOT snow that much in OK normally. If it snows 4 inches WTH? It's totally going to make me look foolish, but it's not SUPPOSED to snow this much.

And then while were we at the meds appointment, #2 lost his Ish. His beloved and always present lovey.. Lost IT.. No where to be found.. We got home, he starts going hysterical. Completely not able to be calmed.. No Ish. Called C.. He doesn't have it. Looked in the car. Nope.. It is GONE. Called the clinic.. Yup they have a "weird pieced of brown sheet". To which I can only say "Oh, God bless you, we will be right back for that." Because wow. Ever lost a lovey? Yea, Don't.. It's not pretty. Soooooo Back we go and that place is not nearby.

THIS is why I do it all..

At occupational therapy, Ms. Chandria (T1's therapist) did a little mini eval to mark her progress, to see if any was being made, where it was being made and what needed to be changed. And THIS is why I do it all. This is why I spend my days working with 1 and 2 and swallow the frustrations. Her upper body strength is markedly improved and was able to stay prone on swing for a much longer time. Her hand strength had shown much improved. She is transitioning well. - Now if only her meds worked.. *sigh* But YAY!! The plan in it's basic for IS working.

Now, If It Were YOUR Kid..

This would be REALLY funny and I would SO be laughing at you.. (Well, not really AT you per se.. But wow, I would really find it funny). Because honestly, it's MY kid and *I* find it pretty funny.

Yesterday, at bedtime - past bedtime really - The Girl is in laying ON the floor when I come to check on her picking and picking and picking on her fingers and nails. (It's what she does. She MUTILATES her hands. She's actually completely torn OFF one of her toenails that has yet to regrow. It's one of her anxiety/OCD tic things, but we attempt to get her to NOT do it and move the need to fidget to something more appropriate..) Well, I got to check her and she's wide awake and the conversation goes as follows:

Me: Why are you awake?
T1:  Well, I've been picking...
Me: Ok, well you should stop that and go to sleep.
T1: But I CAN'T, I have to tell you.
Me: Tell me what?
T1: Tell you that I'm picking.
Me: Ok. Well, go to sleep.
T1: I can't, because I'm picking.
Me: *starting to be confused* Right, stop it and go to sleep.
T1: I can't be cause I have to TELL you.
Me: That you are picking?
T1: Yes.
Me: So you can't go to sleep because you are picking and you can't stop picking because you have to TELL me you are picking... *scratches head..* Ok..well Why don't you stop, because I already KNOW you are picking because I have eyes in the light bulbs and while you aren't really supposed to, I do already KNOW.. and then go to sleep?
T1: OOOOHHHHH.. *ponders* Ok!

And she was out in less than 5 minutes. Now, how THIS works I have no idea.

And then just now T1 had an OCD panic attack because: A member of the Lollipop Gang went missing. That's right.. I had to call my mom and spouse at work to see if they had seen or put said creature anywhere. Ever called someone and asked "So, do you know where the Green Lollipop Munchkin is by chance?" It is just about as awkward as that sounds.. Because the answer I get is.. "Ummm the... Munchkin..? Like.. munchkin munchkin? The GREEN one?" It just goes downhill from there in coherence..

But, thankfully, Green Lollipop Munchkin has been safely reunited with all his Guild Friends...

RRRRRGGGG Matey..

I honestly HATE complaining about THIS cause it sounds darn whiny, but I'm going to anyhow.. My hip hurts and my back hurts and I want it to stop.. I mean H-U-R-T-S.. Continuously, a lot. And I've tried EVERYTHING I can legitimately DO to make it stop, to no avail. I can BARELY make it tolerable to walk on the right side today. I'm not talking I took a couple of Tylenols.. I've brought out the big boys and a lidocaine patch and heck prednisone, Advil, tramadol.. (Yep, sure did mix them all and sure didn't help one freaking bit) and STILL it's barely beating it down enough to tolerate.. Stupid nerves.. Now, to be fair, I DO have an appointment to get them re-killed on the 27th - so what, 17days from now? I think those stupid suckers are regrowing. Kinda makes me feel like a pirate with a dumbass peg leg just shoved into my spine.. RRGGGG Matey, Got a cracker fer me wee Polly here?



On a completely different note, or really the same note but a unrelated topic.. Wow it's cold. Super duper freeze your puppy cold. Sure, I mean umm "puppy" as hot dogs not actual dogs.. Sure that's what I mean.. *shakes head..*  I've got the heater in my house on 76 and I'm still freezing, in 2 sweaters, and undershirt, and under a blanket. You know what's GREAT for crappy joints?? SUPER crappy weather.. It's fantastically helpful for that.

And.. I want chai.. Lots of it.. Prepared perfectly. Right now. Now, how I manage to achieve this really rather unrealistic goal since I:
A) Have no chai to prepare in my house.
B) Sure as all Hades Handbaskets aren't taking 1 & 2 out just for a chai cause really THAT sounds relaxing. (Really have you READ any of the previous post OY VEY!).
C) It's colder than a certain one of my "close" relatives whom I purposely avoid at all major holidays. Which is also ironic because I'm cold and I want some partially to become WARM, but it's too cold to get it... Yes, my life IS ironic like that..
D) My back really does hurt enough that it honestly smacks of effort to either make OR get some which is really a bad sign for me and said back. Can't honestly say I hardly EVER get to that point..

Bleck..

So, it is now apparently, blatantly, blindingly, glaringly, ugly like obvious that a certain wee girl's meds are no longer working to their full potential. We are now on day ummm *counts on one hand then moves to the other* 6 I think it is, of playing "Tackle the defiant attacking child". This is really NOT my most favorite game of all times. BUT if I don't hold her she scratches herself and starts breaking things then starts to attack brother and me and it's just easier to get the basket hold going and hang on tight til the boat sinks.. And I can tell the meds are working SOME because the boat does eventually sink, and it only takes 15 minutes versus 3 hours. Now, the bad thing is as the week has been going on, they are coming easier and easier. I don't know if we got a bad batch of meds or if since she just went through a growth spurt she's metabolizing them like freaking mad or if they simply aren't working any more..


But, in any case, the day lasts FOREVER when you have to tackle said child, work through said issues go through the ensuing manic after phase and then repeat the ENTIRE phase about every 4 hours.. I mean.. REALLY long.. And I KNOW she's not doing "this" to be mean, or purely defiant, or to be hateful, or mean spirited.. She honestly loses herself in there somewhere and for whatever amount of time she can't seem to pull herself out of on top. She's LITERALLY not in there. It's hard to be mad at her for that. Annoying, hell yea.. But not mad, how can you be mad at a 6 year old who realizes she's bat shit crazy and is scared she can't control herself? She KNOWS she can't control herself and a little part of her knows that *IF* she acts a certain way, Mommy will take care of it. And she's right, I will. Every time - that is my job.  Not to mention we've made a Meds appointment for sooner rather that later with the guy, while no longer covered by our "in network" insurance knows HER and is the guy who originally got her settled and not the asshole who mocked her. That appointment is in a week and a half from now, and thankfully not a month.


In the meantime, I suppose we just have to hold on and hope she can pull herself together enough to not maul anyone.. Good times, good times..

Wanna Play a Game??

Chances are I'll win! It's called "My charming son/daughter has done...?"

Shall we start with yesterday and my son?

He made the cashier at the Target Pharmacy CRY... Good one son.. Good one.. He pointed and loudly expounded upon how she was fat and her skin was unattractive.. *Face plant*  I'm sure the slightly overweight clerk NEEDED you to point out she was "FAT" and that her "skin was unattractive" because she is black.  There was much talking to about this little incident to say the least. Upon realizing JUST how rude he was, he did feel bad, I assume. I'd  rather it was that than the fear Mommy was going to beat the living snot out of him anyhow, but honestly I'll take either.  He DID, for his own retribution, call and apologize to her. Whether or not it made her feel better, I don't know. But, in this case, I think the action of learning from it was at least worth doing since the damage was already done.

NOW... On to today and wee daughter. Who, apparently, still has no ability to read her own bodily functioning signals. Which.. At 6, one might think a bit awkward. But we just sorta roll with it here and call it all good. Anyhow.. We went to the park.. It was cold, but it's supposed to get MUCH MUCH colder and it was empty and the wee ones weer LOVING the empty quiet park. Until.. *insert dreaded horror music* a bowel tragedy occurred.. We went to the bathroom. Alas, there was no toilet paper, paper towel or even a freaking trash can. AWKWARD! To get better, my darling daughter had left a surprise on the ground which I unknowingly stepped in. *Head bang*  Lets just say the story goes down hill from here and *IF* you happen to be at Lafortune Park any time REALLY soon.. DO NOT USE the women's bathroom.. Just .. Don't.. Pee on a tree if you are out of options, it's safer.


It's be a completely stellar last few days. Completely stellar.

An Experiment

Experiments about here at Bethie's house.. A food experiment for The Boy.. A new scheduling experiment for The Girl.. Things have gotten massively out of control here and need to be reined in, mostly because of the schedule changes from the holidays, but I'm hoping this will jump start them back in place..

The Boy has gotten to the point where he only wants to eat frozen waffles. Which all in all I don't REALLY have a problem with.. But in the grand scheme of it all, when all he's consumed in a week is a box of frozen waffles, some homemade waffles, a few apples, and a couple of bananas and is refusing to eat dinner every night I do start to wonder about this particular food plan. The new plan: Mr. Anti Real Food will eat regular food at Meal times. Now.. Him going from never eating real food at meal times, to this new plan is going surprising well with the added incentive of "If you aren't hungry for this now, then I guess you won't be hungry for your after bugger guns piece of candy.." Oddly, this changes his mind. Nor am I expecting him to eat a lot. He HATES meat. He has NEVER liked meat and has NEVER eaten it.. EVER.. Even when he was tiny as baby food.  But Taking this into consideration I make the portions EXTREMELY small for now. Like stupid small.  Like for lunch today I told them they could have a dessert later for a snack IF they both ate a good lunch and doled out their plates.  He got 3 - 1/4 bites of chicken (really just enough to taste), 6 green beans, and an entire banana sliced.  He's eaten, so far, all the banana's, 1 bite of the chicken and 1 green bean and is trying to wiggle out of the others. T1 has eaten HALF a CAN of green beans, half a banana, and 2 entire chicken strips. It's been 40 minutes. Which is great. He can wait OR watch T1 eat dessert either way is fine with me.. I think that's going to be a great learning curve..



Now T1's new schedule includes a litter of timers all over the house to have everything timed down to the minute. And a written schedule of exactly what we need to accomplish down to the individual item.. It's a time consuming endeavor to say the least. Boy oy vey.. After the last couple of days of fit having, I'm willing to spend time constructively even if it is overly structured..

And T2.. EAT your chicken already... Geesh stop licking it, that does NOT improve it's flavor OR texture..

Schedules and Timers and Meds Oh My!

Soooo holiday breaks aren't really "breaks" around here. They are more like forced marches. Especially LONG "breaks" when things close and everyone else has a different schedule that impacts our. It apparently does BAD BAD things to certain wee folks... T1 has gone from doing fairly well to going to hell in a hand basket all in 2 weeks time. OT is closed for the holidays, daddy is working from home, I attempted to let them have a break from school (which I promptly stopped and resumed OUR schedule), MDO is closed for a few weeks... This apparently has rocked T1's little world so hard that even her meds can't keep up. There have been fits, crying, knashing of teeth, insulting of brother, OCD of crafting, OCD of alone time..

Now I'm having to ration crafts and alone time with timers.. and dole it out like it's a prize.. *head bang*. We've also had to pull the worry journal back out and document each and every minuscule worry because wow are there a ton of them.. Like little leeches gnawing at T1's wee brain..

I had hoped that AFTER Christmas was over, like the presents were opened etc it would get better. Apparently I was wrong. I am NOW hoping that once we resume our normally scheduled programming it will become better. It can ALWAYS get worse, but hopefully we won't have to do a meds adjustment..


AND as a side note.. I am still the only one enjoying the benefit of a clean bathroom all to myself.. And wow.. It is truly enjoyable.. It is almost worth doing the extra work around the house to not have a nasty, grungy, stink, hairy-sink bathroom..