Some weeks ago, a lady at church gave us a big box of shoes their boys grew out of. The box sat in the hallway for a very long time but I dealt with it yesterday. I grabbed the shoes that will probably fit next summer and then took them to the Salvation Army. We found a $20 that will do for a computer chair for awhile. Perhaps not the most perfect, but decently comfortable and maybe a little more resistant to destruction. But if not, it was only $20.

We got the kids registered yesterday, for homeschooling. The lady said we'd get the best funding if we did a teacher-directed program, plus for a mother who is a newbie, I can get an idea how it works without being responsible for everything all at once. Maybe next year, it could be a parent-directed program.

So now, I guess the ball is now in their court for awhile. We wait for things to happen from their side. But at least the process is started. Yay.

Little Miss was mopey today. As this whole experience is foreign and unfamiliar with her, she was feeling unhappy about not going to public school and seeing Miss Benson again. Which I kept pointing out that she wouldn't have Miss Benson this year anyway, but oh well. I backed off a bit and let her have some space to grieve and be upset. There is absolutely no point at pushing the issue and getting her riled about it. Besides which, I don't have any of the official stuff yet to use with them.

Maybe once it's here, we can establish a routine and have a structured day. I think M would function better if there was a predictability and a routine of doing things, knowing what to expect for the most part. We'll have to give each other time and space and a chance to ease our way into this and get used to it.

J is really flying with his reading lessons. If  I can maintain this daily amount of lessons, he might be "graduated" from the reading lesson book in a month or two. Then we'll start breaking out the little kid books and having him read his way through them, with some help from me. It will open a whole new world for him and I think he's kind of excited about it.

The Jehovah Witness ladies came again today. I let them in the house this time, as it looks a bit better from the mad tidying we did yesterday. So we had a decent chat. I feel like I should build a friendship with them and not try to hammer them with refutations to their unsound doctrine. Doing the latter would only chase them away and solidify their own "rightness" in their minds. But actually, it would be just nice for me to have adult acquaintances to chat about life with and have (a few) common viewpoints anyway. Just at face value.

Anyway, we're going to go for a walk soon. The kids are antsy from being cooped up all the time. So am I. So a walk would be welcome. It's a bit warmer today, what autumn weather should feel like.

1. Call local homeschooling teacher again, until I get a live voice. Get the kids registered.
2. Find out what curricula and school books and supplies I'll be needing to get and get it.
3. Do some tidying and chores in the living room to make it easier to teach and learn without the distraction of clutter, and tripping on things resulting in broken limbs, stubbed toes, and strong words that needn't be said.
4. Shop around for a proper computer chair before weakened kitchen chair does the splits while someone (most likely me) is sitting in it.
5. Shop around for less expensive van repair jobs.
6. Build a shopping list so we can go get another week of groceries later this evening.
7. Tentatively make self a daily schedule that I can get to work.

Those are things I can spend the next few days on. I was shown a website with free worksheets I can print out. Very resourceful and for all sorts of grades and subjects. I printed out a couple dozen sheets, a small pile for each kid, to work on for the next couple days. At least until we finally get the ball rolling, officially.

This morning, I did a ten minute walk before I used Wii Fit. I really need that warming up before I dive in. I did 20 minutes of exercise today, and perhaps I can work my way to 60 per day again. I'm also working on waking up a little sooner each day, until I'm at 6:00 am.

It's getting a little easier and the dawn simulator really helps. Especially now that I'm starting to get up a tad sooner than the sun does. I really just need to get up earlier so I can have some time without kids around.The light box helps too, I haven't been as tired. Still a little bit, but not too bad.

Got to get cracking here. Time's a-wasting!

PS. I think M is on her way to tying her shoelaces. She and her pa had a shoe tying session and the light went on. She has done it on her own a few times. Now she just needs to practice.

It is time to re-establish habits for me. It might take 21 days to start one, but only about 3 days to completely erase it again. Although, I don't think 21 days was enough for me. The only one that stuck with me all summer was the one that I did every other day and took me 42 days to progress to the end of the habit chart.

Anyway, back to Wii Fit every day for me. Back to daily Scripture reading. I have so much August to catch up on, that I've written it off (partially) and making a fresh start with September readings. I'll still try to read August regularly though, so I can get all caught up. Of course, I have to finish copying and pasting the reading plan for the last quarter of the year. Thank goodness I had done September before I stopped. Now to just finish the last two months.

Back to getting up early at 6:30 am and work my way to 6:00 am if I can. My sunrise clock helped me wake up. The fact that I took melatonin early so I could fall asleep earlier helped too, so I don't feel so tired.

Upon coming downstairs, I treated myself to the rays of my light box for probably an hour or longer. I'm going to get back into a schedule. I need one to be productive. Since I'm homeschooling, I have to motivate myself to stick to one. I usually rely on outside motivation to do things, knowing that someone else needs me to do XYZ. If I'm the only one who needs XYZ done, I'll procrastinate longer or indefinitely.

I did go for a walk before Wii Fitting this morning. I needed the warm up so I didn't strain my muscles. I also stuck to the simpler exercises that didn't stretch or strain any one set of muscles or anything. Just the stepping, a little hula hooping, and some of the balance games. I put in 15 minutes worth. I'll work my way up to longer periods slowly, again, as if I were doing this for the first time.

I have to finish sharpening blades today. I've faced all of them and topped two out of five, included the dreaded triple chip blade. It didn't intimidate me this time, I know my way around it now. Yay. Then I'll get the blades back to Paul's Floors tomorrow.

Unfortunately, M has learned how to make paper airplanes for herself. I say unfortunately because she made three of them and all three of them are chucking them nonstop around the living room. *sigh* Steady, T. Steady.

Our divine gift in the form of a tax refund has lasted until today. We really tried not to spend it very much. But I needed what was left to pay the rent for this month. Just in time too, that G's first full paycheck from the new job is due on Monday or thereabouts. Maybe, just maybe, we're going to make it now. No time to let down the guard, though, against frivolity or careless spending.

I'm really ticked off that Vision channel has dumped Touched By An Angel. We've been waiting stinking ages for them to release the DVD sets and they are SLOW. Half a season at a time and nearly 2/3rs of a year between each release. So it was nice to watch them on TV on a daily basis. But they dumped the show today. That just so bites I'm going to be grumbling about it for a long time to come. I don't want no stinking Dr. Quinn. Yuck. Give me TBAA. *whimper*

I can release my Simba from his gigantic Zip Lock bag today, perhaps. I've had him in there with a whole whack of dryer sheets and occasional squirts from Febreeze. After two weeks, and occasional new dryer sheets, hopefully the old cigarette stink residue is gone. I can't cuddle with my old toy if he's going to make me choke on cig smell. I was going to wash him in the machine as last resort.

I'm sad about something. I was putting on my winter boots today, because it's wet and raining. My old sneakers have a hole in them and I didn't want to get them wet and soaked. As I was zipping up my boot, half of the zipper yanked out of the ... zippee? I don't know if the teeth are damaged, but getting them back in the dealie looks challenging. If we can, no problem. If we can't, big problem. I'll be needing my winter boot regularly soon, in a month or two. My favorite boots, too. *sigh*

Well, I have to finish those blades and they won't sharpen themselves while I type. So, toodles. And even though it's a dreary, cloudy, and cold (43°F / 6°C) day, I'm not doing too bad. Thank goodness for light boxes.

Been cloudy and gloomy all day, and only 45°F (7°C) today. Plus, it's Sunday. I need a nap. The rain accentuates the yellow patches in the grass. They weren't too prominent but now I see them clearly with the rain.

I feel the brain fog trying to settle in. It's harder to think. I'm so tired, I want to yawn. I want to yawn so much that my eyes want to water. Nap nap nap! But I have not the luxury. Making supper before hubby leaves for work.

I switched to an autumn layout for LiveJournal. Uploaded a squirrel mood theme, too. Squirrels seem so... autumn-ish. I'm so tired, I can barely manage to type out my thoughts. I'm doing it two or three sentences at a time.

Couldn't fall asleep quickly last night. I knew that summer was pretty much over. That Impending Sense of Doom™ (as another SAD sufferer put it) wouldn't let me relax.

That's about all I can type out right now. My brains are about to... something. Can't think of the word.

Here I am, sitting and waiting for the griddle to heat up. I'm making pancakes this morning. Strawberry pancakes. While I'm not a coffee drinker, I'd sure love to have a pot of it brewing. I love the smell, plus the memories the smell brings me. Like when my dad had some going on a Saturday morning and made breakfast too. A pleasant and happy memory.

I have another batch of blades to sharpen (5 of them). Most of them with lots of teeth. Which equals a bit of $$$. I think I shall call all the flooring, etc folks that I have a connection to soon and see if they'd like to give me more business. These are folks I've talked to and have sharpened for, but I don't have their business. I think that's a way for me to start since I have such a problem using the phone.

I found out this morning that public school starts on Sep 2. I hadn't known all summer. Hopefully, I'll be able to get the kids registered in the homeschool today so I don't have a knock on the door next week. Or if I do have a knock on the door, I have something to show them.

Our gas was cut off a couple days ago. This morning comes the realization that our hot water heater is gas-powered. So no warm shower for me tonight. We can address the problem though. I have my child tax benefit check, and it's finally been beefed up to reflect our teeny income. We got a Harper check too. And G made an interesting discovery, we have a check from the government of Alberta too. Not too sure what that's about, but with all these, we can pay both the rent and some bills. Yay for that!

It has been windy for the past two days, and it will be windy again today. It brings the fall with it.

It's raining right now. Very dark, cold, and wet. It's only going to get to 13°C (55°F) today. Very likely the rain will turn into thunderstorms. There was a cold wind in the air last night, while we were out together - the first of G's four nights off. Sweaters would have been welcome.

I sense that summer is packing its bags and heading south (of the equator) for the winter. It leaves me again, for another year. My 31st year in a row, I suppose. Although... compared to Whitehorse, the summer didn't leave Yuma all that much. Hee hee.

M needed new shoes because her toes were cramped in the current ones. Much to my delight, we found her a new pair at Wally world for $11 last night. And the tag had them marked as $16. So a nice little deal there. We got her shoelace shoes for the first time in her life, and we'll teach her to tie them. About time, hm? Yeah. She learned how to read an analog clock, so she can learn to tie laces.

We did go out last night, as it is our only time that we can collectively be together. Between late afternoons and nights. Normally, I'd not go out when it starts to get dark, but oh well. I finally, after months of craving for it, got a chocolate dipped ice cream cone from Dairy Queen. A small one. It was heavenly. I enjoyed and savored every moment of it. I haven't had one for a couple of years.

I will shop around for quotes on my van. $1,200 is not something we can afford at this time. I need to find someone who says it can be whacked back into shape as opposed to having to replace the whole thing. At least, I need to make the effort to find such a someone. Failing that, we will probably scrounge around the wreck yards and see if we can find a replacement from the same make, that is in good shape.

But not today. Today is a day that I won't leave the house unless it is urgently needed.

My girl has had a sore throat a few times in the past few days. My littlest boy has been coughing a bit, and I hear the crud rattling around in his chest. The other two children seem to be coming down with bronchitis or a cold, or something. Isn't that lovely?

I had a dream about my grandpa two nights ago. I nearly posted about it yesterday, but was distracted by the whole van thing. But even now, I don't think I want to go too deeply into the details I do remember. The simplified version is that he was sitting next to me and we were having conversations when it finally dawned on me that he was an illusion, a dream. Because there was no way to see him anymore, in reality, he's been gone for some years now. So within the context of the dream, I was starting to freak out a bit, and sob at the fact that I realized that the image of him was a mere illusion. My dream ended at that point.

Kind of makes me mist up just thinking about it. Too bad the rational part of my mind had to intrude on the dream and not allow me the presence of my grandfather, even if it were not real. It felt real at the time so why not enjoy it while it lasts? Oh well, just a dream.

 


You want HOW much to repair my van's panel? Which child ought I sell to be able to afford your services? *faints*

Dang, that sucks.

During the night, I had a dream about Chuck Mangione. Playing his brass instrument. The only place I ever heard of Chuck was on "King of the Hill." I never knew of him before that. The weirder part comes from not having watched King of the Hill for years. Perhaps 7 or more years, and I didn't even watch it that much. But I woke up from the dream and Chuck's name kept popping in my mind until I fell asleep again.

What a random and obscure "file" in my memory to be showing up in a dream. Go figure that one. But I looked him up when I woke up and he plays the flugelhorn. His signature song is "Feels So Good."

Another dream I had later in the night was a tad upsetting to me. Only a tad, though. I was standing in a residential zone, near a school building. I was with my boys. In retrospect, the area reminded me heavily of my hometown. There was a cool breeze, not a pleasant coolness either. But the kind that makes you shiver. There were yellow leaves on the trees and blowing around on the ground (that was the upsetting part). Perhaps my earlier dread about the upcoming fall season influenced my dreams.

When I woke up to my alarm at 6:30 this morning, I realized the light was subdued. It wasn't pitch black or anything, but considerably darker. The clouds had something to do with it, but also, the sun is getting noticeably later in its rising in the morning. The time has come to use the sunrise function on my dawn simulator again. I don't use it during the summer, but it's time again.

I type this as I have my SAD light box on. It's been a little too cloudy and I'm feeling tired from the subdued sunlight. It rained all night long. The light from the light box is warm and cheering and I think I'll leave it on for awhile. The irony that I was griping about the heat a few days ago is not lost on me.

I'll spare you all the unpleasant details. The summarized version is this: 3 children, 1 adult, almost 0 time to self during waking hours. Very very frazzled and depressed from the circuses today.

We went to the collision center again today. Three thirty in the afternoon seems safe, right? I mean, who has lunch that late in the day? We walk in, and I ask the gal at the desk if he's there. She has this sheepish and apologetic look to her face and said that he was having an uncharacteristic late lunch today and had left at 3 pm. I literally did *headdesk* on her front counter. I took a business card so I have the phone number and will call in advance next time.

I figured out the problem with my Wii and I have fixed it. Troubleshooting is a good thing. Yay for me.

This, by the way, is the song I will play on Sunday. With my recorder. Perhaps someday I shall get a real recorder instead of cheapo plastic kid's toy. Or maybe a penny whistle or even a flute or something. Something a little more dignified (if a penny whistle counts as dignified).

Toodles.

A couple weeks ago, I bought rechargable battery packs for my Wii remotes - not 3rd party products, either. I thought it would save money on having to buy batteries. It worked just fine for awhile. But now I cannot get the remotes or the Wii to talk to each other. I turn on the remote and it blinks a few times and then turns itself right off again. Both remotes do this. I do not know why, but I cannot play with the Wii at all this way. I will look into this issue and see if I can solve it. Otherwise, I guess I'll have to switch back to regular batteries.

I discovered that practicing for offertory is extremely difficult now. I used to play my keyboard upstairs on my bed in the evenings after G got home from work. I suppose I'll have to do it on G's evenings off, although his next 4 day stint is starting tonight. I've blown it for this week. I decided instead to play my recorder instead of my keyboard, and play something I've played before, though it's been many many months (almost a year) since I played it last. If we wind up going to church without G, at least with a recorder I won't need help hauling it into the building.

Two thirds of August is kaput now. There are no fall colors outside yet (whew), but I think I'm feeling a touch melancholy today. Perhaps it will pass soon, but I sense that autumn is getting ever closer. *sigh* It could just be the cloudiness. Will I ever be cured of SAD? I guess the only cure is (another) relocation. Moving from Whitehorse was sure a great improvement. But not a complete cure. I still dread autumn and maybe I will for years to come.

I'm so very glad I'm not in Whitehorse right now. I KNOW that the leaves would be turning visibly yellow by now. The fireweed are dead or dying. Their summer was cold, cloudy and rainy this year (I watched). It's only 10°C there right now, and it looks likes it is going to rain most all day. Might rain here, too.

Let's see, what is some positive things I can put in my blog? There are a few, but a little too personal to talk about. Suffice to say, the thing in question was pleasing to me. It was all I could think about for quite some time.

That's about all I can write about. I'm feeling quite sleepy as I fell asleep late. G and I watched a movie together last night. Jurassic Park - haven't watched it for a long time. I love that music too. I have the soundtrack on tape, but not on CD. Maybe someday I'll see if I can get it on CD or buy it online or something. Long live John Williams music. I want to get a hold of Raiders of the Lost Ark music too. Whee!

*must not think about how tired I am and how much I wish I could have a nap*

The other positive thing that I can think of is that I'm over the bronchitis, more or less. An occasional cough shows up now and then, but I'm pretty well overall. That's quite a happy praise.

Well, I finished sharpening the blades. It was easier this time. While I know the basics pretty well now, I picked up a few nuances this time, to make things a little smoother and easier. I like that. Four blades, three of them with 24 teeth. One had 80 teeth and a high bevel (35°). I am just pleased with how smoothly it went. *beams*

I had also decided to take my MP3 player down to my workstation. I can't wear headphones, but I used my little speakers instead. Can't really hear it while the motor is running to the whetting wheel, but I can hear during the tedious (and long) times when I have to get all the angles Just So. I think that also helped the time go smoother.

I am taking a small break from my Lion King moods to try out these fab new tiger moods. Made by my favorite animated pixel mood theme maker, sapphire_heaven . She posted them just today or last night. :) I personally prefer orange tigers over white, but that's okay. White ones are cute too.

I drove to a car body shop to see if the can give me an estimate for a repair. Their man was out to lunch so I'll have to try again later.





Slowly, since winter, the door would squeak as it was opened. We didn't really know completely why, but we saw the edge of the door rubbed against the edge of the panel as it opened. The door went from squeaking to making a "gronk!" noise when opened and a gap started growing.

This past week, when I was driving me and the children around, I've avoided opening that door altogether. But that gap got bigger anyway, worsening over the past few days. The door really has to be yanked open now. No genteel tug will do it. I have a hunch the whole panel might have to be replaced, but that's what I wanted to find out today. I hope and pray that it is affordable.

I have offertory to play at church this Sunday. I must choose a song to play. Gee, I'm kind of tired. I wish I could have a nap. I'll go have a cookie instead.

Dude, it got to 37°C (99°F) here today. Gah! I spent some time in the basement because it's cooler down there. I have some blades to sharpen and I think I'll start work on them tomorrow morning.

I took the children out again today. Henderson Lake. We saw seagulls, ducks (with lots of little baby ducks following the parents), dragonflies, butterflies, and pondskaters. Or water skimmers. Or whatever you want to call them. Buggies that sail across on water without difficulties. And a nice breeze to keep the mosquitoes away.

We came back home when we ran out of water and the thirst was becoming unbearable. Next time I got out with them, perhaps I'll take extra water so we can stay out longer.

My brother sent me some kites, and my Pa sent my big stuffed Simba lion. I got it as a gift on my graduation from high school (at my request), and I thought I would like to have him again. Haven't seen him for over 10 years. So 10 out of 13 years since I got him, he's been out of reach. He can keep me company at night when I lack husband in my sleep.

I think I'm going to have a tall glass of cold milk and then hop in a cold shower. Eeeesh. Hot stuff. Bleck. I could use a day of snow. *blink* Did I just say that? Yes, I guess I did.

On the way home from Henderson Lake, we drove past Exhibition Park. All the carnival rides were visible and I guess the midway is open for business tomorrow. I sneer in its general direction. Too 'spensive.

Laters, folks.

This time, I know exactly why I'm bored. These are G's days off, but from my perspective, he's still "gone" for most of the day.  I need adult interaction. More specifically, I need husband interaction. I need to go out and do things with him, just like we always did. Or do things at home. Whatever.

My love language is quality time. I do not want to imply that I feel unloved because our quality time is diminished. But I definitely feel lonely and bored. We need to do something once he's up this late afternoon or evening. We did not cuddle very much because it was stinking hot yesterday, and will be again today.

I took the children out yesterday. We're definitely tired of being cooped up in the house. There is a "spray ground" over in West Lethbridge, and they played in puddles and sprayers and sprinklers and so on. I joined them too. It was a nice cool refreshing time, and they got to be active for the first time in what feels like ages. G was still asleep when we came home. I thought he might have been up by the time we came back, as it was late afternoon. But no avail.

I wish one of my bestest best friends were here, or even just a friend I've known for ages, like a Whitehorse friend. Or my Pa. Or someone. I'm sorry, I'm starting to cry. I better post this now before it gets uber emotional again.

I guess I'll take the children out somewhere. I need to do something to help me ignore the loneliness. A nice walk might help.

G got his final paycheck in the mail, and it included vacation pay, too. We can take a small chunk of it and go to Calaway Park. They have a deal going on. You buy four tickets, and the fifth one is free. Buy it online and it's only $58. Considering all the things we haven't bought for months (like DVD sets, restaurants, fast food, things like that), I think that expenditure could be justified. Especially considering how much the Whoop Up midway wound up costing us last summer. I think we nearly spent twice that aforementioned amount, and it was definitely not worth it in retrospect.

It might not be as fun as Galaxyland, but it's closer and cheaper, and just what the family could use. We haven't had a real vacation for eight years and this might be the closest we can get for awhile. But i guess it would be pertinent to recover from this bronchitis first.

I think we're more used to G's schedule now. It really isn't as bad as I thought it would be, or maybe I'm more resilient than I gave myself credit for. Plus, I think the children understand how important it is to be quiet. That doesn't always mean they are quiet, but they try harder and I show my appreciation for it.

I've been reading deeply into some used books I bought online, about homeschooling. They are big thick books about learning differences, temperament differences, method difference, curriculum differences, etc. I think part of what will decide which method and curriculum I use is based on the children themselves.

My son J, for instance, probably wouldn't do so well with a lot of worksheets (ignoring for the moment that he doesn't know how to write yet). He is a wiggly learner. Very kinistetic (sp?) and active. He needs work that doesn't require a long time of sitting and writing. He should still have some, yes, but that shouldn't make up all of it or he will not learn very much. He'll just keep feeling frustrated all the time, and so will I. So I need something that will suit him better.

Now that we're starting to recover from this illness, I can get back to giving him reading lessons.

I figured out how to un-bored myself yesterday. I popped in Labyrinth in the DVD player. I wound up watching the movie-making documentary instead of the movie and I got to see Jim Henson. When a well-known public person dies, I do grieve oftentimes. And then life goes on. But that would have to be one person that I still grieve over now and then, even after all this time. Kermit and Ernie just don't sound the same without him. I loved the way he made movies. Oh well.

I also am getting in the mood to watch Raiders of the Last Ark. So those will help with the boredom. I think I'll go out with the kids today. The boredom is outweighing the desire to stay at rest and heal.

Anyway, that'll do for now. Toodles.

I'm bored. I think I've hit one of those zones where I'm bored by everything. Even writing this blog is boring. I know I know, I'm a boring person and that's why I'm bored.

If husband was home, I'd say, let's go for a drive. Maybe get an ice cream. Or something. Let the kids play on the playground. Maybe I'm bored because I'm bored of being sick. Though it hasn't been too bad for the past couple days. Maybe I'm also bored because we're all cooped up in the house for days and days waiting for me and my boy to get over being sick so we can get active again. Now, I know that they are definitely bored of that.

My shoulders are also hurting from this chair and so I don't even want to sit at the computer anymore. Dang, I hate being uber bored. I guess I'll go.... do.... something.  Or other. Gah.

Yesterday was less good for me, health wise. More coughing and more cough drops. Today, less again. I have an overall feeling of improvement though, if some of the details aren't great. Or whatever I'm talking about.

I so wish I could figure out how to look through all my LiveJournal comments, received and given. But it looks like I can only look at the latest 100. I guess I'd just have to search the hard way. Not a big deal, though.

I gave myself a humongous leg cramp in my calf this morning. A knot of muscles. I was laying in bed and repositioning myself. I stretched my leg out and SNAP! Pain! G started to rub it and I raised my leg a bit. All of a sudden, it cleared up and was feeling better. Still quite tender though, and perhaps vulnerable to another cramp if I don't take it easy. So I shall.

G goes back to work tonight. We have now finished our first round of both working and "weekend" days. It wasn't too bad, actually. It was in the sense that I was miserable and nonfunctional, while having non-sympathetic children. But if this illness clears up, it'll be easier.

We used some of the money in the gift cards given by anonymous donors to buy groceries last night. I wonder when G's first paycheck will arrive.

I phoned the home schooling group that I had emailed a couple weeks back. They're sending me handbooks and other information I need to know before I get started. And it isn't too late for me to start, either. Thank goodness. Although I will probably run out of time soon to notify the public school officials so I don't get that Knock On The Door. I will have to go through that.

I haven't used a lozenge for a number of hours now, and I haven't been coughing my poor brains out most all day. *slips brains back in from previous coughing* EDIT: amending to add that I am now sucking on another Ricola - but it's still the first in hours.

I had enough energy to make a real supper tonight too. Baked chicken, homemade country gravy (needed more milk - a bit too thick), mashed potatoes, and Hutterite-grown local broccoli and cauliflower with cheese sauce.

Nummy. I couldn't finish it all, though, as I think my appetite still isn't quite back up to snuff. But it was a great meal.

If I continue on the upswing, that will be exceedingly good. I believe G only has one night home left, and then another 4-night round of working. It was very miserable to be so doggoned sick, and unable to have any help at all.

I did get to have a nap yesterday, at last, to catch up on diminished hours of sleep.Until, that is, little B decided to knock on the door to wake me up to make supper. >_< He does that a little too much, knock and wake me. It annoys me, but what can you do?

My homeschooling books arrived today. The books that will help me see what I'm in for should I finally go for it. Also, what would come after I that choice made. It's all good, I like to research into things.

Maybe I'll get a good night's sleep tonight. Oh yeah, and I finished my "sick" mood for my latest mood theme. I guess I might not get to use it tonight, but I had fun giving it a little tweak:




Ah, I guess I should go to bed soon. Have some more reading to do though.

We won't be going to church this morning. We intend to be selfish with our germs and not share them with the congregation. Pretty petty of us, I know, but I guess that's the way it is.

My throat hurts. It hurts from the coughing, and it hurts from the constant presence of sickness crud. That stuff is so thick in my chest that I can feel it rattle around when I cough, but none of it ever really makes it up high enough that I can cough it out. Frustrating.

The coughing gets worse for me when I lay down. I finally asked G if I could have some of his Robitussin. That helped so I could get some sleep. I still haven't had a solid night's sleep in a week.

I dread mornings lately, when I know I have to get up and face a very long day (mostly alone) with the kids again. This is the second of G's four days off. I am enjoying it, though not to the fullest since this bronchitis has knocked me over. But it's still good to have him home.

In other news, the Jehovah's Witness lady came by the other afternoon. I was surprised because after what seemed like a long absence, I had assumed they washed their hands of me. Not so - just off-timing as she'd tried coming over a few times before and missed us. Anyway, she noticed I wasn't up to snuff and after tad amount of small talk, I bid her good day.

I'm almost done painting the pony. I finished painting over its body, and now I have to fix its eyes and add symbols to its hips. Not to mention sealing it, so the paint is more scratch-resistant. It took many many coats of paint to make the new color look even. Whew.

My fingernails could use a trimming. See ya.

I'm hot again tonight, but not with fever. Just with hot outdoors. I hauled all three kids with me to the doctors after all, so G could get all his sleep. The man gave us prescriptions (me and J) without looking us over. I guess he just took our word for it that we caught G's bronchitis. Anyhow, I asked at their pharmacy, before they filled the prescription, how much it would cost.

I subsequently had only J's prescription filled and put mine in my pocket. Trying to save money here, you know. I'm kind of treating myself anyway, and we'll see if it works.

G has the next four nights off, after tonight. Yay. I need one-on-one time with him. I nearly broke into tears this morning after he retired for bed. (Considering my crud-laden throat, it was more of a choked pathetic whimper.) It wouldn't be so bad if I were in better health and could fend for myself. But it's so hard to function.

I'll slip the kids another bit of melatonin so I can get to bed early tonight. Maybe I'll have a tepid shower, too. I'm so hot.

I went to bed at 9:15 last night. I gave the kids some melatonin too, to ensure that they'd conk out quickly and give me peace. I was still very feverish when I went, so I had the fan blowing at my face. Then the phone rings. It's G, saying he forgot to set the DVD thingy to record a movie overnight.

So I had to go downstairs and figure all this out, while I was half-delirious. I wound up setting it for 12:05pm instead of 12:05am, and it recorded until it was full. Also left the television on. I was so out of it. I had another Motrin and my fever broke at 10pm something. But my water mug was empty (a rarity for me), and I went back downstairs to refill. That's when I noticed the TV was still on.

I slept until 7:30, and it was G who greeted me in the morning rather than the other way around. But I really wanted that sleep and even now, I wish I could go back for some more.

Oh boy, my body is so sore today. It feels like I jogged around the block several times or something. My back just is really sore. At least my neck was merciful to me yesterday and didn't give me many aches. Just one, I think.

My chest is still cruddy though. We'll go to the doc's this morning. I think the best solution is for me to take J and have G stay awake at home with the other two. It would be too much work for me if I take them all with me. It would be too much work for G to drive me and the kids there.

At least I don't feel as hot, but I think it's supposed to get up to 31°C today. That will not help.