Another new week and not much to show

I did fix the boo boo I made on my Rainforest's design but then haven't had the energy or time to stitch since then. I've looked at it longingly a couple of times but the brain and eyes were too tired and I believe I may have finally learned my lesson about stitching while brain dead, errr I mean tired.

A quick non-stitching question for you folks that have the music player on your blog. Is it me, or do you lose songs off your player? I've just noticed that another two songs have totally disappeared off of it again. Where do they go?? Is there a song heaven for those tired and old (not so old in terms of when they were released) worn out songs??

The good reason (is there ever a good reason not to have stitching time??) is that DH and I have been doing some DIY home improvements to help the ol' pocketbook survive the Florida summer heat. Several windows and shades (and window film) later we now have an almost perfectly cool home without running the old A/C lower than 76. Trust me, this is quite an improvement! I believe that we may have finally gotten rid of the disgusting $280 monthly summer electric bill. (Please, oh please let that be true!!!)

Logan is going to be a nudist when he gets older. He strips everything off as soon as he hits the door after school. I even have to fight to keep his diaper on him. Speaking of which, it's been a fun week of taking him to the potty every 30 minutes but it seems to be working. He's not completely potty trained, he does go on the potty during those times but he still goes in the pull-ups even after being taken. It's a start! Ryan however, as of last night, is offically potty trained!! Woo Hoo!!! He's been insisting on wearing a diaper each night but for quite a while it's been dry. Last night, I had him wear his underwear with his plastic pants and nothing!!! I'm sure he'll want to continue doing that but I have no problem with the pastic pants. He can wear them for a little longer and then I think he'll be a big boy and give them up too.

A new week

I finally got some stitching time in last night on my Rainforests project but I think I may have been too tired when I started it. First, I just have to know, have any of you looked at the pattern, knew which symbol you were stitching but, for some unknown reason, went on to the next symbol but stayed in the same color?????? Yup, you guessed it! I did just that last night. When it was time to go from the c to the z I realized in the middle of my stitching I had gone cross eyed or something and started stitching the z. I needed to frog almost everything I had done up to that point and let me tell you I almost threw it across the room. DH heard my muttering and was giving me the eye so I calmly bit down on my tongue and proceeded to go to another area on the pattern and worked with a totally different color. Not the smartest thing considering what I had just done but all turned out well with that particular color.

Let's see, I did get Katie registered for Kindergarten at her zoned school and filled out the paperwork to request a transfer to Ryan's school. Keeping fingers and toes crossed that we get approved. It will be impossible to go to three different school at the same starting time. Logan ended up being pretty good on the bus toward the end of the year so I didn't have to take him much but I can't see having Ryan get on a bus by himself next year for school. If they don't get to go to the same school it's going to be another hard year of transporting. I'm hoping that they will allow Katie on the bus with Ryan so that I won't have to make two trips to school. Heck, only two will be a breeze but still, I think I'd rather Ryan mature a little and be more independent to a point.

I still need to get my license reniewed. I will be calling for an appointment for next week. There goes my appointment for my mani/pedi. My DH was so very sweet and bought a spa package deal for me to go check out a new place. They were doing a promotion where you can get so much for a small fee. We all know that you can walk in the door with your certificate but it's hard to walk away without a few extras. lol I only have until the end of October to use this certificate so I'm going to have to drag (yeah right!) myself to the shop at least four times between now and then. I'm really looking forward to the haircut! I've been going to Fantastic Sam's lately because it's less expensive and so much more convenient but let me tell you, the quality of the cut is not so great. I'm a bit surprised by that because I've been to another one south of us before and was always satisfied. You just never know I guess.

Still working and attempting to keep caught up with all my chores while entertaining the kids. Still working on our schedule but I think I have one down finally! Going to do a second run on it today to see if it will work as well as yesterday and then "By George I think I've got it!!!" Woo Hoo!!! Only thirteen more days until summer school starts and will have to rework the schedule again but I think I can handle that!

She's alive!!!!!!!!!!!!

A new book that I'm trying to read. It's about a boy/teen with autism.

Current project that I've been trying to work on for what seems forever. I did get to stitch about 20 mins the other night.

2010 Finish

Still not much stitching going on as my carpel tunnel is making it almost impossible to get any stitching done. I'm working on it. I have a couple of wrist braces that someone told me would work if I sleep in them. I use the wrist compression gloves during the day while working as much as I can as well.

I'm also back into working out. I've finally figured out that coffee isn't cuttin' it for my energy boost anymore. I took the bull by the horns last night and went out into our home gym and worked out for about 30 minutes last night. Sad, but true, that is all I could manage for the first time in months. I have been cutting the lawn every week but my DH is too helpful and we work on that together so not much of a workout. I'm not sure if I like that or not! lol Good that he's so sweet and helps out but there goes my guaranteed workout. lol

The kids have been pretty well behaved all things considered. We have somewhat of a routine going on each day. As soon as my work is delivered we try to get outside and get some fun time in the sun for about an hour (with loads of sunscreen on). After that it's time for lunch and then time for Mommy to get work done. After that I try to get the house picked up, dishes done and laundry started.

Vonna a/k/a The Twisted Stitcher gave me some great advice that I plan on implementing starting tomorrow morning. Going to make myself lists for every half hour of things that need to get done and check off as I get them done. This will be especially helpful with Logan's potty training. I need to review the Potty Training book for Autistic children again today so I can get all that I can from these intense sessions. We were doing so-so on the pt during the year but I let it get away from me for these almost two weeks of no school. Can't let that happen or we'll never get the boy trained.

Still so much to do to get ready for school next year. I still haven't made it to the school to get Katie registered for Kindergarten for next year. I have all the paperwork so there really is no excuse. Ok there is, I finally got the final paperwork together on the last day of school after getting Katie picked up. Now, I either take all four with me to fill out the paperwork or I wait until Thursday when DH is home and go by myself. Hmmmm, I wonder which I will choose?!?!

We have ventured out a few times with all four of us to the store. I have to bribe Logan with McDonald's french fries so he'll keep his clothes on while we are in public. I have to say, it hasn't been as stressful as it could have been. Logan is the best behaved out of the four and that says a lot. lol I'm even considering an attempt at taking them to the beach by myself. I'll let you know if /when I get that suicidal. The thought of how to get Katie/Ryan to the bathroom while dragging Logan kicking and screaming from the ocean has kept me from attempting it so far. lol I'll figure it out, hopefully before school gets back in session.

I also have to get my driver's license reniewed this year. Our state changed their paperwork requirements this year. Now, you need your birth certificate, ss #, two proofs of address, your first born son and a quart of blood. Okay, you don't need the last two but seriously, I've been driving for over 20 years so why in the heck do they need my birth certificate now???? I can see for all new drivers requiring all the extra paperwork not to mention the whopping $48.00 fee but for us old timers?!?!?! Really????!!! Of course, par for the course with me, I coudlnt' find my bc even though Mom insists she game it to me. I spent two weeks attempting to locate it and finally had to order it. A disgusting $45.00 later, I will have a certified copy in about a week. I could have paid less than half this but it would have taken about three months to get a copy, if I was lucky. I'm sure Mom or I will locate the original bc any day now. Especially as the money as come out of my account already and certified copy has been shipped. lol

A little funny to brighten up your day

I've added a few songs to my player today. The very first song is one I heard for the first time in a long time today. I finally figured out what Ryan has been singing for the past couple of months. He would start shaking his butt and sing "apple bottom jean jean boots with the fur, the fur!" For the life of me I could not figure out what/where he got this from..... until today that is. I'm not sure where he heard it but one place could be from the television. We watch a lot of TampaBay Rays games. They play a part of this song everytime Willie Aybar comes up to bat when they have home games. Ryan picks up things after hearing them one time so....

Things that make you go hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

UPDATE: Katie informed me that Marie taught Ryan this little ditty which explains the butt shaking a little bit better. I've never seen Aybar shakin' his tush to the music when he's been up to bat so......

The sky is falling! The sky is falling!

I only have to finish the right book border and the bottom border and this is completed!

Here is my monthly SAL from Oakhaven Designs for February. Now I need to post a pic at the group page and request March so I can try to get caught up!

No, the sky isn't falling but I am posting to my blog for the second time within the same month so something is wrong somewhere! lol

I'm in the process of cleaning, doing laundry and trying to get some much needed and deserved stitching time in this week. I've decided that I need my work schedule to be Monday, Wednesday and Friday (or at least two days but with a break in between) as I need the rest of the week to keep up with the messes the kids always make. Today, Ryan is home again with pink eye. I was able to get some drops in his eyes last night and again this morning. Not too sure how this morning's faired with his major fit but I don't see any nasty goo coming out so maybe tomorrow he can go back to school. Shhhhhhhh! That means all four kids will be back in school at the SAME TIME! Gasp!!!! Quick, someone knock on wood!!! Cross toes and fingers too while you're at it, unless your stitching and then just cross both sets of toes for me!!

I did get the playroom cleaned and everything put away and I set up our other cable box in there for the kids to be able to watch Nick Jr, their new favorite channel. I actually hooked everything up correctly and finally figured out which channel to have it on and programmed that stupid remote they give you. That felt like I had accomplished a major feat today, let me tell you!!!! I don't mind them watching Nick Jr as it's all preschool which means learning all the time. PBS Kids and Nick Jr are our favorite kids channels. I do allow them to watch Disney channel but only the smaller kids shows. By the time Marie gets home she wants to watch the tween stuff but I have to say no because she has a load of homework to do. Does anyone remember fifth grade??? Did we really have ALL that homework to do too????

Well, I need to actually get some laundry folded before I can get some stitching time in so I'd better get to those baskets. It's not like the little buggers are going to fold themselves is it??!!

It's April already

and I haven't posted since the beginning of March. What have I been doing for all that time you ask??? Welllll, let me see. The kids are still fighting the allergies, we had some great friends in for a two week visit and the kids had spring break. We had a great time during spring break visiting with the Parker's. We hit the beach one day and had a BBQ at the house on another day. Of course, again this year someone got sick on Easter Sunday. Katie was running a fever on Easter and came down with a wonderful case of pink eye in both eyes! She then shared the fever with Ryan and he was out until yesterday and she was out all week. So much for a break after the break for Mom. Anyone with children knows that mothers can't be sick but always end up catching something because the little ones just can't keep from sneezing or coughing in your face at least ten times while they are sick. So yes, I ended up with the lovely gunk again too. I will be so glad when Katie starts Kindergarten in the fall because the getting sick everytime you turn around phase should be over by now. That's the only downside to never having your child in daycare. They don't build up the immunities until they start school. Things will get better!

What am I doing right now you ask..... (DEEP sigh) I'm listening to my four wonderful well behaved children (COUGH, CHOKE, COUGH COUGH!) fight with each other yet again. I just heard someone call someone else a poopy head. I guess I should be happy it wasn't any worse than that right??? LOL All in all, they do get along fairly well and they totally surprised me when they behaved like (almost!) little angels when we had visitors. I really wish I could have kept little Lucy here with us as they never fought when she was here.

Really, the past couple of weeks (month) haven't been as bad as all that. I did finish my February part of the SAL and I am almost done with my LHN The Bookshelf as well. So, see I did find time to stitch with all that going on. Not only those two projects but I actually spent about 45 minutes trying to finishthe Autumn part of a SAL that was supposed to be done two or more years ago. Yeah, I'm slow but what's that old saying??? Something about being slow and steady always wins the race????

I still have no pictures to show any of the progress because my new camera is acting weird (Operatior error no doubt!) and for some reason I can't load or e-mail anything I pull from it. I'm sure I need to go in and tell it to save the pictures smaller but...... I would have to find the directions and then find time to sit and read it without falling asleep. That may take awhile. Perhaps I will just pull out the old camera and use it rather than wait for the year 3000 and me to figure out the newer camera. I need to get a picture of February so I can get March unless I've already missed that deadline. Hope not!

Howdy y'all!

I haven't fallen off the face of the earth, I swear!! I did however, lose complete track of time. I can't believe that I haven't blogged in almost two months. Whew!

Let's see, hmmm, what's been happening here. Well, I've been ordering as much work as I can and still keeping up with the cleaning etc. (Okay, it's a struggle but I do have the house nice and clean at least once a week lol) My wrists have been hurting so much that I've not even looked at any stitching in about a month. Sad to say that I think I'm now in the worst stitching slump ever. Hopefully, the winter weather will go away as that only makes things worse and I can get back to stitching a little each day. I'm still struggling to finish my February piece for the SAL at OakHaven Designs group. I hope to have that done sometime this weekend so I can get started on March.

The kids have been sick off and on for the past month with all sorts of bugs. Marie's allergies have been so bad that we had to take her to the doctor and she now has a nebulizer for breathing treatments. In sunny Florida, we don't get the normal winter weather (well not the good stuff that kills all the germs). We get cold weather for a couple of days and then some nice warm days. All this does is make the pollen go completely crazy and 90% of the people end up with allergies so bad that they can hardly function. Marie has been suffering from this off and on for years but this year it went from bad to completely off the charts. Now, with the help of the nebulizer, she can finally breathe and cough up all that gunk that settles in her lungs. Poor baby couldn't get it out of her head or lungs and was downright miserable for a while.

Katie is fighting some bug this week that starts off with a low grade fever. It then becomes a nice (NOT!) mid to high grade fever with a headache and nausea to boot. Lovely way to spend the week. The worst part was that the fever would only show up in the evening. The next morning she would feel fine and want to go to school. Apparently, both aides in Ryan's class have this bug and another little guy went home with it the other day. Thankfully,KNOCK ON WOOD, he hasn't come down with it yet and I hope it stays that way.

I'm so far behind in my blogging that I still need to post pictures of Christmas, Katie's birthday, Ryan's birthday and I know there is something I've missed in between all of that too! Hopefully I can get a picture of the one or two finishes I had in December and then a progress picture of the SAL so you can see I did really stitch a little this year. LOL

Hope everyone is having a great week and that the winter weather is finally trying to head back home. We're having a cooler than normal Bike Week but it could wind down with a nice warm weekend. (At least, that is what I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed for anyway!)