Blinking Red 20

Hi, my name's Holly, and I'm addicted to XM Radio.
I seriously LOVE it!  I am currently addicted to Oprah radio (channel 156, Ya'll!), and I listen to Gayle King's show, Dr. Oz, old Oprah reruns (or do-overs), Maya Angelou, Even Laura Berman (only if I'm alone!), and Lisa Kogan (she's only on when I'm almost never in the van).  So Good!  I've learned about trying to hug my boy, even if he doesn't want it, and today I learned about a woman who was learning to cook with Iraqi women, bonding with them during the war.  Current events, health, and family stuff-so far, worth the fee.  (Ask me again in 3 months when it renews!)
Ches may be on the up-swing.  He's out of the bed (thank the Lord), so there's promise.  He went back to the doctor today, and now they think since he broke out with some rashy spots, that it might be a tick-borne illness.  They hesitate to call it Lyme Disease, but they gave him some antibiotics, since testing for the two or three things it could be takes time, and it's easier to just medicate him to see if it helps.  He got some pain pills for the pain and inflamed joints also.
I hate to be negative.  But.  This illness has been really hard on me.  I've made him food, brought him a little lap desk, cleaned up food remains, cleaned the nightstand of Icky Stuff, changed the pillowcase, cleaned the bed of crumbs, straightened up the bed (if he's up for a bath), I'm taking care of the kids all alone, and I'm not getting any sleep since he's watching tv all day and night or shaking out some pills from his bottles or eating, and I'm so worn out! (although last night I took a Xanax and slept like a log, cause one of us had to get some relief!)
So, it occurred to me..I'm wondering if this is how hard it was when I was down and out four weeks ago.  It's tough!  And what goes around does come around..

Ok, I have a sticky situation, and you can advise me.  I have been lazy (honesty: come and get it here!) lately, and haven't listened to my answering machine in almost a month.  I do scroll the call list, but I've felt like I'm under no obligation, due to circumstances.  I've kinda given myself some room.  (and because some of them-maybe only 2-were Ethan telling us he loved us-too precious to delete!)  Well.  I finally listened to most of them on Saturday evening, and there was one from a good friend asking to play.  I have no idea when she called!  It could've been when we were out of town, maybe during the surgery time, maybe she didn't know.  I don't know!  But she asked to play, and said if I didn't want to play not to call back.  (!)  I feel awful!  I would never not call back, but now I haven't called back.  What a mess.  That blinky *20* on there is starting to get to me.  I gotta pull it together and get back in the game.  That Mommy Game of play with people and socialize and smile-maybe I drew the Go To Jail (Go Directly to Jail, Do Not Pass Go, Do Not Collect $200) card, and have just rolled for the third time. (and maybe I'm headed towards hotels..eek!)  So.  What would you do?
I'm off to bed (maybe early?), Woo Hoo!  I just LOVE my bed.  Well, I love it when it's clean and I get to actually sleep in it..

Do you get your hair cut or your hairs?

Well, we are minus 5 flu shots/mists, and minus some hair! We did not get flu shots and/or mists as planned. Our pediatric clinic wouldn't make us appointments for them. They said we cold leave a message for a nurse, and we did. The nurse told us the same thing, and said we could make an appointment and plead our case with a doctor (for Mary Claire's health). We've always been in the first round (for her). So, it does feel weird to be on the outside. I did call Target (and they have flu shots) and Collier's (and they won't have any till mid October). I can't believe we can't go to our doctors! Ches did find some flumist at the student health center, but he's scared to go there since he could catch something while he's there! Lucky duck, they have the flumist there! I asked him to see if I could go as a spouse, but he doesn't think so.

And we are minus some hair as the kids got their hair (hairs?) cut on Thursday. Clay is just shorter, but Mary Claire decided to really cut her hair! It is at her shoulders, where she requested, and so cute. I didn't even put a bow in it today (shock, shock!!). It looks very nice down or in a headband (which we've only invested in three, maybe?). I don't truly think I can resist, but we'll see.

Clay's practice was practically rained out, but he still had batting practice yesterday!

Today the kids didn't have school for inservice, so it was a nice day off, with no games! This morning I got all the sheets changed, worked on laundry and changing out the new dishes I got a couple weeks ago! I'm still not finshed, but there were so many to wash, and I just couldn't eat off of dusty-looking dishes! And then I had to clean out the cabinets, rearrange the cups, throw away the ones, move dishes around since the bowls were different... heehee, a good problem! : ) Then I had a late (after 1!) lunch with Jenifer since Ches had a conference call with the CDC (that kept getting moved later and later...). He had me bring him home some spaghetti and lasagna to eat to get ready for tomorrow! Then we had a playdate at Kendra's house. She's painting a cute cabinet all different colors-her "funky" cabinet. AdOrAbLe! She wanted my advice, although she already has a great start! I'm sure it'll be awesome when she'd done!

Then we ran out for a quick dinner and picked up Ches' number for the Tour de Cure. He got a great goody bag that was passed around the van-and totally got skimmed on the way around! I got a new thin Sharpie pen in orange, and the kids picked out the little goodies. He's ready. He laid out some jerseys trying to decide what to wear tomorrow. It's going to be around 48 degrees in the morning, but up in the 70's by the time he finishes! He decided on a short sleeve jersey with some "arm-warmers" he can strip off halfway. We crafted this lovely invention out of some baseball socks that Clay doesn't like. They go up to Clay's thighs, and he can't stand them, but they were perfect for Ches! We cut out the toes, and his elbows fit in the knee bends. I think they'll help. He is wearing short pants since his legs will be generating so much heat! He said he was going to bed early tonight, but it has yet to happen. Eleven will be early for him!

I will be getting everyone ready alone tomorrow. We need to be at the ball field by 10 (if we skip the soccer game-which I just can't add to my list tomorrow). Clay has two baseball games: a 10:45 game and a 1:45 game. I think Ches will be finishing up between 1 and 1:45, so I'm not sure how we'll work out seeing him at the finish! We'll meet up with him afterwards, but it might be after he's cooled off and eaten. I feel bad when I can't be in more than one place at a time. God's hardest job calling: a mom. You have to accept Good Enough when you want to be so much more! There just aren't enough hours in a day. : P Sometimes I think if I go-go-go all day, I can get more in, but then I'm just T-I-R-E-D!

Oh, and the latest, is Ethan, and his Non-Sleeping. And his fear of his room. He screams and says he's scared. Or, "Scary!!" We are coping, but we are trying hard not to set up impossible standards and problems to get out of later. Ches laid in bed with him last night until he fell asleep, but we can't get into a habit. He never took a nap today, so he went to sleep pretty quickly tonight, but we bought 15 watt bulbs, and put one in his lamp on his nightstand and left it on. He has already woken once, but I went right up (and he was shaking!), and he fell asleep within a minute or two. It'll be a long night.

And Mary Claire is running low. Since Ches is "going to bed early", I'll need to stay up to check her. Lows are scarier than highs. Tomorrow night is our Silent Auction, and the kids will be with a babysitter. I just pray it all goes well. I'll be in close contact, but it seems like things haven't been so predictable lately. I'm sure the biggest is Ethan's bed change!

I'm remembering. . .
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don't forget to thank Him for His answers. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ. Philippians 4:6-7