And it's snowing... again. When is it ever going to give up and just let Spring take over? It would be nice, y'know. May flowers and all. I don't care that my yard is entirely covered in dandelions, yellow is better than white. I can't wait to see if my little rose bush made it through it's first winter, I wonder if any of the perrenials I planted last year will come back, I bet we might even get some apples on the apple tree. But snow in April is seriously putting a damper on things. It's hard to believe that Karen's dance festival is two weekends away. It definately does not feel like it is almost May. Sadly, I just chanced a glance out the window and the white stuff is coming down harder than it has been all day. Great big freakin fluffy flakes. Well enough pouting for one day, Cameron has cheerfully reminded me we have a camel to feed. TTFN.

It was time for a change again and since they don't have any camels, why not a cute little kitty blowing dandelion fluff... I still come here every couple of days, not to blog (obviously) but to drop in and see if anybody else has. I'd rather read about everyone else's lives than deal with my own. My kids are my biggest stress source so I hide away at the computer until I have to go and be a mommy. Unfortunately some things need to get done no matter how much I would like to procrastinate. Lets see, I think it has been since before Christmas break... right cause I had just about had enough of the bus. Well that's not getting any better... despite there being a camera on the bus. Maybe it did for a while once the kids knew they were being watched but it didn't last. The kids are good... make that healthy, they are rarely good... for the most part. Cameron hasn't had a seizure in a while. Which just makes me sure we are due for one soon. Trying to get Cameron into the neurologist is a nightmare. When we saw her last April she said to come back in a year so they put him on a waiting list for this April. Since I've been trying to coordinate his other appointment with this one so we only have to make the trip south once, I've been calling nagging them for a date for quite a while now. Finally in February they had her schedule for April but he didn't get an appointment in April, they could give him one at the end of May. Nope can't do it at the end of the month. Besides I booked the other appointment for April Becuase that was when he was supposed to get in. So they put him on a waiting list for June. Now any hope of only one trip is out the window because by the time they have her June schedule in March the other clinic is booked past June. Whatever, we will deal with two trips. Only I called yesterday to see if she had her June schedule posted and she has ONE day booked for clinic appointments in all of June! Needless to say I am not impressed. Granted he is not having problems yet but he is growing like a weed and is going to need his dose increased and I'd rather do it before we have problems than to wait until he has a seizure and then have to call them and say "I told you so". Anyways speak of the devil he is here now demanding I play a game with him so I had better before I have to deal with the wrath of Cameron.

If we can just make it through the next three days. Then the kids will be on Christmas holidays and the daily school bus drama will be over for two weeks. Now not only have my kids been bullied, hit, poked with a fork, called names but now their stuff is being stolen from them and the bus driver is just letting it happen. Then he calls me up and tells me to remind MY kids of the school bus rules. MY kids could follow the school bus rules if they wern't reacting to being treated this way. Aaaaarrgggghh. Where's that brick wall for me to bang my head against?

I'm trying to deny that winter is here, cold, snow and all. So I tried to pick something farthest from what it looks like outside and since my most favorite color is blue (purple is a very close second) I now have blue flowers. It's not helping the situation outside at all though. Anyways I have posted new pictures and I really need to get a little boy to bed so I guess that's all I will get done today. I guess it is better than nothing.

     My son is not exactly playing with a full deck all the time. I lapsed into a forgetful moment the other day and left my rotary cutter within reach. It was in a tupperware container and the guard was on but I had been using it and he had been watching, and he tends to pick up on the really bad stuff (that don't want him to learn) very quickly. So while I was in the kitchen cooking supper he apparently got it out and slid the plastic gaurd down and proceeded to roll it across the palm of his hand. Now, normal kids would scream blue murder but not Cameron. He obviously tried to wipe it off first on the fabric I had been cutting but when that didn't work he came calmly around the corner and said "I cut myself mom". There was enough blood to seroisly freak me out but thankfully the cutter was very dull and he went up his palm instead of across his wrist. Needless to say I learned my lesson because I can assure you he didn't. I asked him "Cameron was that an accident or did you do that on purpose?" and sure enough he says "On purpose". Silly boy. Silly mommy.  

     Well it seemed like it had been long enough, time for another blog. Actually I had tried to sit down a few times recently but either the time wasn't there or the kids wouldn't leave me alone. Or maybe there just wasn't much happenning of any interest. There still isn't really. Same old stuff. The new job seems to be going well. I really like not working weekends and  still being home for the kids after school. School seems to be going well (The school bus- not so much). Cameron's IPP is in place, and there have been no phone calls or stories of being sent to the office. I'll take no news as good news. There is a new guy at the hospital who wants to see him again and we will work on some strategies that might help him... and us. Birthdays came and passed. Halloween was good, Karen was a cat and Cameron was a mouse, by their own choice I might add. We are still sifting through candy and likely will be for months. Oh, and the snow is here, it seems to want to stay. Drat. Well I guess that is it, it's only taken me three tries between everything else to write just this much. Cameron's quilt is almost done, the plan is to finish it this weekend and that is about all I have planned except maybe a few naps as the kids will be at Grandma's. I'm trying not to think about the laundry and the dishes and the pigsty my house resembles. We'll see how long I can hold out on that thought. Oh, no. I looked down. So much for that.  

Well tomorrow is a very big day. I start a new job, the kids go back to school. I have set the alarm extra early because I don't want to be late, the bus is coming earlier this year than it ever has. I think we are prepared though. The kids bags are packed full of supplies, actually neither kids supplies actually fit in their bags so they will have to carry their shoes or lunches or maybe both. Their clothes are laid out, they each had baths. We met with the teachers last week, I hope they both know what they are in for. Cameron know which classroom is his because she hung a picture of a puppy on the wall by his room. He has the end locker, his shoes go at the end of the row and she said she will give him a corner mailbox. All easy to remember. Karen knows what doors to go in and where her class is. Cameron's medicine is packed as are the instuctions for use. I can't think of anything I might have forgotten. Except that it is late and Cameron is still wide awake . All this and I start a new job. As if I am not nervous enough about that, it is all happening the same day. And I've been so bus getting things ready for the kids that I'm far from ready. At least I had a bath today too, I guess that is a start. I think as soon as the kids are on the bus and on their way it is going to hit me like a brick wall. Anyways it is only going to get later and he is still awake so I guess I had better stop rambling on. Wish me luck, I think I'm going to need it. 

When you are repainting a little kids bike from yellow to blue, paint the lower bars first. That way you don't have to worry about NOT touching the freshly painted bars above as you crouch in awkward positions trying not to end up looking like a smurf. And do the handle bars last so you don't stick your newly dyed hair into them as you are trying to touch up the top bar. Finally do not use the end of your paint brush to scrape off a chunk of who-knows-what after you have already painted over it. Then when you do get blue paint on your knuckles (from the top bar) and even the palm of your hand (from the end of the paint brush) do not touch the white cupboard door and the white screen door because IT DOESNT COME OFF!!! 

Well, they are yellow and blue thus the inspiration for my new look. Although it has been a while since I actually wrote a blog I have been around from time to time reading other people's. I actually was inspired last week but then when I sat down to do it the internet was down or some such stupid thing. It is actually very quiet in my house right now... surprising really. The kids must have really gotten tired out today. Oh speak of the devil... I hear one of them in the kitchen. I will be back... ok, lets see. The snow did stop and I did go to Vegas and had a wonderful 4 days. Really the weather the last month or so has been unusually warm. School is out for summer, the kids did well considering. Karen's teacher was wonderful and had nothing but praise for her. We are keeping our fingers crossed for nest year. She is in a split class but this teacher really wanted Karen in her class so that is good. Cameron is in Grade 1 next year and has an aide on a provisional basis only until we get some kind of diagnosis (or not) this summer. Frankly I am really nervous about his appointment as this is our last chance to get a real diagnosis so he can get funding for a steady aide. Anyways they are both in programs for the summer, I have decided to take a little time off this summer so I can have some extra time at home and maybe get my house in order. Tomorrow Cameron and I are staying home and cleaning his room (and the fridge... ewww). And then Thursday I have my first 'me' day. I think I will have a long nap. And call the guy to come give me a quote on building us some steps to the back door. Kinda useful. Although we havn't had any for at least 3 years now. Let's see... I finished my first ever quilt, I bet I could find some pictures too. Oh my I really do think the cat has got the right idea though. Curled up in an upside down ball on the bed, obviously dreaming. Oh well I guess that is about it from here, I'm sure it's not really but I ate too much ground beef back when I lived in England and now I have swiss cheese for a brain. Either that or the kids stole it from me. Lets just go with the Mad Cow theory, my husband likes that one. TTFN.

Have I mentioned that Mondays suck? I't freaking snowing. It has been snowing since yesterday and it is not going to stop until tomorrow. Has anyone reminded kind Mother Nature that it is April and the snow had only JUST gone away? And now today I found myself shovelling out a foot of snow from the driveway. This is stupid. Of course that means the school busses are not running but I can't keep the kids home because I have too much to do at work and we are very short staffed anyways. Mind you today wasn't too bad but tomorrow will be another story. Just please do not let them cancel the Greyhound bus to Edmonton or I will so NOT be happy. I didn't get my nails done (and I'm already packed too) just to miss out on Las Vegas because of a stupid April snowstorm.

However, I have had a few interesting phone calls lately. After I talked to the Glenrose last I talked to the refering doctor's office and they said they would resend the report. So then I called the Glenrose back. They had said that we could have a one hour appt with one doctor at the end of the month but we couldn't swing it. Fat lot of good it would do us anyways but still we booked it for this summer when the kids are out of school. So I called the school and told them as much and asked if we could'n please put in the referral for him to be seen by their people and she said it was early still but she would get it ready. And she also asked if I would mind if she called the Glenrose. Go ahead I told her. So the other day at work I got a call from the hospital asking if they could release info to her. Go ahead I told them. Anyways the school called back and they didn't get anywhere with them either but she had talked to her boss, some coordinator for special needs for the province or such and she says he should qualify for an aide at least for next year and then after that will be based on their guys recomendation so I guess that is better than nothing.And if this guy we see this summer thinks there is reason to assess him further then the Glenrose will do the assessment but I am not going to hold my breath. I'd pass out and miss my plane for sure.

Is another day. Another chance to complete those things that didn't get done today or yesterday or even the day before. Tomorrow I have a meeting at the school to decide what to do next about Cameron. The Glenrose has again told me that they will not do the two day assessment on him, they believe there is nothing there for them to find. He has already had all sorts of tests done by individual doctors that say he has all types of delays and such. What I want to know is why and how they all relate to one another. Each time the person testing him is interested in one aspect of him, I want this assessment by a team of doctors so they can assess him as a whole person, not just one piece at a time. I know there is something there, numerous other people see it too but I am not a doctor and I cannot pinpoint it. So tomorrow I will be calling the doctor's office that made the referral and see if he is back from vacation yet and see if they really did forward a copy of the report to the Glenrose. Why is it when all I am trying to do is get the best for my kids all they keep doing is throwing walls up in my way? Anyways, tomorrow is another day to break the habit of chewing my nails and maybe lose some weight.  Because I don't want to end up diabetic like most of the rest of my family which reminds me I need to go get that tested again. Besides I am going to Vegas in 3 weeks and I want to look good and fit into a bathing suit. And I can't get fake nails next week if there is nothing there to begin with. And finally, tomorrow is Monday and from the wisdom of Garfield, Mondays suck. Well I gues that is it, bedtime for the boy has come and gone and he is still out there watching Treehouse so I had best go be a good mom and get him to bed. And me too for that matter. So goodnight and don't let the bed bugs bite.

 

 

Procrastination is a wonderful thing. Procrastinating is #1 on my list of favorite things to do. At work, at home, dishes or laundry, doesn't matter. So that's my excuse. I've taken up professional procrastination as a hobby. For my spare time (lol like I have spare time). So I put off blogging for over two months (I did however visit other people occasionaly) because I always had an excuse to do it later... I'm too busy, nothing interesting has happened, nobody will notice anyways... which is all more or less true. I am too busy, I should be making Christmas cards and wrapping presents and I have parcels to get in the mail. not much happens that is interesting. Work is the same except really busy becuase it's almost Christmas. Really the only things that change are the kids, oh, and it snowed. Karen is actually doing really well in that she hasn't had any more screaming-and-kicking-for-an-hour-that-she-doesn't-to-go-to-school-and-she-won't-tell-us-why fits. She needs to remember to bring her homework home and she will always have social and sensory issues, but they are not as bad this year so far. Cameron on the other hand is not doing so well. For one thing he has started having seizures again. For another the school is desperatly trying to get his special needs coding changed so that he will have an aide next year. But all they have to go on so far is impaired cognitive abilities. And his epilepsy doesn't count because it is (more or less) controlled with medication and doesn't affect him at school. The fact that the medication itself has side effects and that if we were to take him off it the results would be devastating doesn't count either. I really do think that if they assessed him they would find something else, whether it be ADHD or Autism or something that just might do the trick. But the school's hands are tied, they can't test him til next year, the Glenrose doesn't want anything more to do with him until the school tests him so they said to try Mental Health and I might just get somewhere with them, it looks promising anyways. The thing that gets me is that Karen, who could likely get by without the aide, has one because she is classed as behavioral, but Cameron who really needs one can't have one. It's backwards, I tell ya. Anyways I have to get back to procrastinating now, so I'll be back some other day. Likely not as long as last time though...

September has been a busy month. School started, thankfully that went not too bad. Karen didn't sleep for three nights before, she was so nervous. But things started out well. We have met with both the kids' teachers and the each seem to be in charge of their respective situations. Cameron is going 4 days this year and he was real tired by the end of the first couple of weeks but he is getting used to it I think. Karen, however had the granddaddy of all tantrums earlier this week. She wouldn't get dressed or let me brush her hair, she wouldn't get her coat on and go outside, she wouldn't get on the bus. And she wouldn't tell us the why she didn't want to go so we could just deal with it. So when we finally got her to school after way too much of her kicking and hitting me and screaming at us she calmed down and told us what was wrong. And it was petty too, not something she had to have a collossal tantrum over. She's for sale, y'know.  And we will throw in the other one for free. They come as a set.

On the other hand James and I got to go to BC for a bit of a vacation. It was beautiful and sunny. We got the grand tour and had a wonderful time, too bad we had to come home. Oh and I took lots of pictures. James and I are each a year older since I last blogged and my kitchen finally got painted. It's hard to believe that September is almost over and before I know it Halloween will be here in all of it's sugary glory. Anyways the kids are watching one of my favorite movies ("It seems to me that the frog and the bear are temporarily out of service.") so I had better go watch it with them. Oh, and by the way my cousin's baby is fine, they did a 2 hour 3D ultrasound and couldn't find any tumor. They said they must have just seen something else at the wrong angle. But she already knew that because a few nights before her teenage som had come to her in a "dream" and told her that he was okay. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers, they worked wonders.

 

I had every good intention of having the kitchen painted by now, even by last weekend. Little did I know that even 3 weeks later I am only just finishing stripping the pink peeling wallpaper. I didn't realize that it was vinyl and the chemical stuff wouldn't soak through it. So I peeled the vinyl top layyer off and then used the stuff to strip off the backing. Well the first wall was easy but revealed that the pantry wasn't part of the original house but rather a badly built afterthought. We may still just tear that whole thing down. The wallpaper wasn't hardly even stuck to it. The next two walls were not too bad, the wallpaper came off in strips. Only problem was the mold I found behind the sink. But that took up a whole weekend and I still had one more wall. However I thought "the first three walls were a breeze" and was still optimistic. This past weekend I had to work Saturday but I had James move the fridge and stove Friday evening and thought could do the rest that night and paint on Sunday. Wrong!!! I got about two feet on Friday night, another two feet Saturday night and almost all of the rest of it Sunday before the kids came home. Well there went another weekend. And to make matters worse I broke a few doors off the cupboard when I leaned on them with a little too much weight. And I still have to wash them before I can paint them, which I am hoping to do when the kids aren't home due to Cameron's epilepsy. I'd rather not take any chances with the fumes. Speaking of fumes, they are building an extra room downstairs at work and they were gluing in the insulation last week. Oh man, did it ever stink like fish or something rotton so we tried lighting candles and then it smelled like fish and vanilla cake. So the next day we bought an air freshner and it smelled like fish, cake and "fresh breeze" . Thankfully over the weekend the smell has disipated some. Anyways, back to the kitchen... Grandma takes the kids again on Sunday so maybe this is the weekend that I will finally get around to painting. Maybe not. We'll see I guess.

Lately I have been on a cucumber kick. It all started a few weeks ago when I had the craving for cucumber. Only I havn't been able to satisfy the craving. Because even though every time we go to the store lately we buy a cucumber (Cameron reminds me all the way there "and we're going to buy a cucumber") my son always eats them. This is how it goes: The opening of the fridge, the thud of the fridge door closing, a rather loud snap and then Cameron presents himself with MY cucumber only it is in two halves. "I want some cucumber mom" so I go and cut up half for him and by then Karen has figured out what is going on. "I want some cucumber too mom" so I cut up the other half for her and save myself just a little bit. Well we went to the store today and I bought a cucumber and I'm going to eat it all and that's all there is to it! No comments from the peanut gallery either and you know who you are!

There was a time when Karen I would go for a walk and I would have to keep waiting for her and telling her to "Hurry up, Karen. We are going to be late" or booting her along the sidewalk (more like dragging). This morning I walked her to Adventure camp. Usually we have Cameron along and I have an excuse to  lag behind her or tell her to wait up. Because he is at that stage where I have to keep telling him "Hurry up, Cameron. We are going to be late.". Well today I had no such excuse. She was still speeding off ahead of me and more than a couple times I had to tell her to wait for me. I'm thinking "I'm old and fat and it's hot. Gimme a break will ya" but I can't say that because she has no control over what comes out of her mouth and she would be repeating that to everybody she saw. But that's what I was thinking. I thought just maybe they would tire her out today. Nope. She walked ahead of me most of the way home too. She even had the nerve to say we should go all the way back to the grocery store when I realized I forgot bagels. She wasn't carrying the grocery bags but I offered to let her and then we could go all the way back to the store for bagels. She said she could do without the bagels. Me too.