Back to our regularly scheduled life...almost...

This week started out pretty well. The kids were back in school after a long weekend. Jordan had been sick Saturday with the pukeys for 12 hours, but was much better. Hannah was whining that she didn't want to go back to school, but she did miss her friends. Wednesday night at ChuckECheese went okay, but we were there so early they didn't get to see anyone they knew. It was nice for David and I 'cause we could see them wherever they went, and not have to search through throngs of bodies to locate one of our kids.

Thursday Jordan went off to daycare and Hannah went off to school. I had dropped off her overnight bag at her friend A's house the day before when I picked up Jordan, as she was staying overnight and I wouldn't see her until Friday after school (half-days, so a mid-week overnight was not a big deal). I had one kid for two days.

What a HUGE difference it is having one kid in the house instead of two. Holy cow! It was quiet, peaceful even. Scary thought. Jordan and I went into Ypsi and got my mud-encrusted minivan washed, and he saw the KFC on the way home. He loves their potato wedges, so we circled around and went back and picked up dinner for the three of us (David loves the chicken strips). I wish Jordan would try the chicken strips, but they are the wrong shape and he just knows they are not the nuggets he is used to eating. (Someday I hope to figure out or outsmart this wrong food/shape/dish/color/place thing with food. He will sob if it is not right (and scream if I tell him that's all there is). It's different than a tantrum; its like I'm torturing him by offering him something he just can't possibly eat.)

Later, we read a bunch of books, played bionicles, K'nex, and he got to sleep on the couch since Sissy was on a sleepover.We got up and ready for school in record time, but having Dad home helping was a bonus as well. We made it to school at twenty to 8 which is just ridiculous, but we had to go check in with Hannah-girl and make arrangements for Jordan to be picked up at 11 instead of 11:15 since I had to leave for work and there was a sub (who may or may not be able to handle the grand mal hissy-fit when I left). My plan was to stay with Jordan's class until I had to go to work at eleven, helping out with the substitute teacher and the kids the para normally works with (Jordan being one of them), while the regular teacher did parent conferences and IEP meetings. I love being in the kids' classes, and wish I could afford to become a para and be there all day, every day. I haven't been able to spend much time in their classes this year and am sad I don't know all the kids yet.

We were cruising along in class when my husband called my cell phone. He said I needed to call my boss. Discovered my co-worker was out sick and my boss was trying to do everything (including getting a software release ready to go out). Poor Jordan just came unwrapped. This was a day he had looked forward to (and that I'd been hanging over his head when he was getting out of control). I apologized to the teachers, para, etc and said I had to go "right now". They wrangled the boy so I could go. :( Not a good day. My plan is to go in on Tuesday morning and be there until he gets picked up for afternoon care, and then go to work. I am just not advertising it this time in case another crisis occurs...

This weekend we just spent reading more books (my eBay purchases of kids' chapter books all arrived this week, can ya tell?), playing games, doing puzzles, and watching videos (while mom cleaned, did laundry, etc, in-between). A good time was had by all. This coming week is supposed to be a "regular" week. Maybe we can get the boy to eat something other than Stouffer's mac'n'cheese and PBJs. Could happen...

Holiday Survival

We survived the holidays, but somehow we are still in the aftermath of upset schedules, lack of routine, and general mayhem.

Christmas went pretty well. We actually got a tree up *and* decorated before Christmas eve (no mean feat in this house!), and the kids we happy with their toys, even though it was a LOT less than last year. Jordan is in Bionicle/K'Nex heaven, and Hannah has crafts and Barbie/pony/pink stuff. We lived through another Christmas at my sister's, but were all relieved to come home, and then went to my mom's one day and had dinner and more gifts for the kids.

And then we had our last Christmas with David's mom and brother's family on New Year's eve day. A good time was had by all. And that afternoon, most of the rest of our group of friends (collectively known as "The Horde") arrived at at the same house (David's brother's) to celebrate New Year's eve and spend the night. There were 8 adults and 12 children (ranging in age stair-step from 2yrs to 18yrs). We had an absolute blast. Everyone brought food and games (I finally got to play Scrabble!!), and we ate and played until midnight. We rang jingle bells from the tree and toasted the new year, then I tucked my kids down for the night and crashed. LOL By 12:20 I was a coma. New Year's morning we had a breakfast feast of pancakes, waffles, bacon, sausage, donuts, and custom made-to-order omelettes (thank you Timothy and all!!!).

The kids had a really hard time this year with all the "go here, do that" kinda stuff. Our schedule was totally trashed and even though we started out every morning with a "this is what's happening today" talk, they were whiny and throwing tantrums over amazingly little stuff. Hannah is chewing on everything in sight (still) and Jordan is hiding and retreating into his head a lot (still). They have taken to fighting and screaming in the car now, which mostly makes me want to stop and toss them both out. Jordan cried and screamed all the way to school this morning, and then the two of them fought and carried on all the way home tonight after picking Jordan up. ARGH!

The best is yet to come. Monday was a holiday so the kids went to daycare. Tues and Wed are normal days, but Thursday and Friday are half-days for parent-teacher conferences. Since Jordan is in kindergarten, his class does not meet at all on Thursday so back to daycare he goes. He is even fighting that, and he loves it there. Friday I am going to be in class with him since there is no para that day plus they are having a sub while the teacher starts conferences. Oy! So much for getting back to normal after the holidays!!! Oh, and they scheduled a school Chuck-E-Cheese night for Wed. ARGH! Who plans this stuff?

Hoo boy, its late!

What's wrong with me??

Leaving the kids' school today I wondered "What's wrong with me? Why can't I be one of those parents running over pylons and signs, and turning the wrong way out of the parking lot, nearly causing an accident, to save myself a trip around the block?"

Leaving the crowded grocery store in the rain tonight, I wondered, "What's wrong with me? Why am I putting my cart away when 16 other people couldn't be bothered to move their empty cart 15 feet to the nearest cart corral?"

Why can't I be normal and pull up just far enough in traffic to block someone trying to leave a driveway or parking lot? Why am I driven to make things a little smoother, make people a little happier, do the little things that help make the world go round, when most of the people around me just couldn't care any less?

I want to be like everyone else... or do I?