Shhhh, Don't Tell Taylor...

I'm planning a surprise for my kid. Close readers of this blog realize that we live in the frickin' armpit of the country...ooops...I mean sunny South Florida. Despite this, my sweet daughter has never been swimming at the beach. Many who live within a mile or two of the beach, never step foot on it. That's us. T has played on the beach 2 or 3 times, at sunset.

I admit that I'm a bit chicken about undertows and all. That's another reason. Anyway, I plan to remedy this woeful lack of socialization this weekend. Hot on the heels of T's hula party at camp, we're headed down to Key Largo on Saturday. Pennekamp State Park. We'll play on the beach (which has much less waves and no undertoe), perhaps rent a canoe and paddle around in the mangroves (taking care to slather ourselves in bug repellant so that the skeeters don't pick T up and fly off with her), perhaps picnic on the beach, and have yummy sea food for dinner.

That's the plan, at least.

Pray that reality doesn't ruin the whole thing with my dad wigging out. If he does, it will just have to play itself out, as we'll be about 2 hours south. Que sera, sera...my new motto.

So, (if I can successfully crop out Dot or I, who will be donned in our Orca suits, from the pictures), you may get some pics. Meanwhile, I may hunt up our old Doris Day album for inspiration:

When I was just, a lit-tle girl...

I asked my mother, what I would be...

Will I be pretty, will I be rich...

Here's what she said, to me....

Que sera, sera

Whatever will be, will be

The future's not ours, to see..

Que sera, sera!

What will be, will be...

Strange Happenings

Today was such an odd day. As some of you know, every day I go on a "pill run", work allowing. I usually pick up something to eat for my dad, take it to the house, make him take his meds, fix his TV, throw out fraudulent sweepstake mail, then return to work. I do this everyday that I can. Often, I'll take someone with me to avoid his screaming sessions about his objections to the guardianship we got on my mom.

Anyway, often I'll pick up something at a Wendy's drive through. While going there, I pass by a restaurant called Jimmys, that says on the window that they deliver for free. Its the old Lattas rest on NW 7 Ave near their house. I've been meaning to stop in, to pick up a menu for a couple weeks. They serve total diner-fare. Anyway, for the first time in probably 40 years, I stopped in. It was later than usual, around 2:00 p.m. And who do I notice sitting inside?

My dad.

He hasn't been there in years either, yet there we both were. He had just ordered when I got there. When I asked what, he said a burger for him and a steak to take home to my mom. I had to remind him that she's in the nursing home. I gestured to the waitress to cancel that order. By the time we had finished, he had forgotten that he had ordered it. Anyway, we have lunch, then go back to his house, where I gave him his meds.

While there, the mailman arrived with a certified letter from the attorney on the guardianship. My dad asks what it is, and I say "don't yell". Its a motion in the guradianship to make sure that when mom dies, the money is immediately transferred back to you, to avoid probate. He says that he doesn't like that guardianship stuff, to which I reply that I know, but we did it to protect mom. His response?

Well, I'm all for anything to protect your mother.

That was the last that was said on the subject.

Ahh.... Shades of my old dad coming through. He's always been the most generous man I know. And kind. Would do ANYTHING for my mom, my sis, or me. I guess that's why its so upsetting when he goes off the deep end. I hate this disease. I just have to guard against thinking that controversy over this is over, as when I least expect it, he's going to wig out again. I know this. Sigh.

But, it was really nice to have my dad back, at least for today. I'll take what I can get.

As I said, strange happenings...

Guess where T is going on friday?

The Luau Party at camp. I stopped of at the party store to pick up a few essentials...

Throwing a bone...

...to T's rabid fan (our Aunt Connie), who is craving a T update. Gotta keep T's most loyal fan happy! So, here goes:

• We're the happy owners of a whole new set of school uniforms and school shoes in a bigger size. First day of school is 8/22. How'd that happen so fast?
• T has gone to Chucky Cheese (which I've refused to take her to on general principle) with the camp, and reports that she had a FAB time.
• T has also gone to the movies again. She was thrilled, and feeling quite grown up.
• My mom is doing OK at the moment. Went for a colonoscopy, but I don't think they were able to do it. Apparently the "prep" didn't work. 'nuf said!
• T has figured out how to use the remote on the TV, to change the channels. Now, everytime I leave the room, I come back to cartoons.
• Medicare runs out at the nursing home mid-August, so we have some really big decisions to make re my mom and what we're going to do with her.
• That's all I can think of, for now. Hope you all have great night!

Camp Dust-Up

Some type of dust-up occurred at camp today.  When asked if she was a good girl, T started looking quite guilty.   Said she hit Gabriel with her jacket.  Teacher said it was with the jacket but in the eye.    T gives absolutely no explanation for why she did it, when asked by either the teacher or me.

 

So, T’s restricted from the computer and TV tonight.  We’ll see what tomorrow brings…

Testing Windows Live Writer

Testing…1, 2, 3

Testing 1, 2, 3

Testing some more

She's Scored!

Yep, my little girl has scored hugely. Apparently when we were younger, somebody boxed up and saved our Dawn dolls. Dot found them squirrelled away and recently dug them out for T. She's thrilled. Interestingly, they have the exact same bodies as the miniature princesses we bought her a couple years ago, so they are all interchangable. Only difference is that the dawn dolls have real eye lashes. What a blast from the past.

T is thrilled.


The clothes need a little work. Snaps are coming off and the little elastic hoops for the hooks are also almost all broken. That's OK, though. She doesn't seem to care.

We also found some of our old barbie doll clothes. So, there's definitely a 1970's theme to the barbie fashions in this house. Too funny.

Busted!

Yes, I've single-handedly busted a one-child crime wave that was sweeping through T's class. ...and I didn't even need my prosecutorial experience to do it.

T often takes a toy to camp. Usually a doll. One Friday she took Tiana, and didn't come home with it. When questioned, she said that she lent it to her friend Rachel, who would bring it back on Monday. Monday came and went, and no doll. When quizzed, T said that Rachel claimed that her mom cut the dress by accident. A day or so later, T said that Rachel claimed that her mom broke the doll.

Well, I was highly suspect of these flimsy excuses, but decided to use it as a learning opportunity, that sometimes when we lend things to friends, we don't get them back. The next week T takes 2 barbie dolls to camp. Comes out of the place with only one. When I ask where the other one is, she says that Rachel is borrowing it.

No frickin' way.

I tell the counselor that I'm concerned that Rachel has now taken a 2nd doll. Miss Sabrina goes in and retrieve's T's doll from Rachel's backpack, and says she'll talk to her mom. Rachel was claiming that she had already returned Tiana to Taylor. If that was the case, its one kid's word against the other's and nothing they can do. Apparently, though, Rachel's mom was spoken to.

The next morning at drop off, Miss Sabrina calls me to her desk where an array of toys are laid out. A veritable treasure trove consisting of : Tiana, 3 other barbies, a little purse, 2 stuffed toys, and a few things I wasn't sure what they were but they were definitely toys. The Motherload. I'm asked if any of the other toys are T's. Fortunately, they weren't. Apparently T isn't the only little kid that Rachel has been preying on.

My question: How in the world did Rachel's mom never notice that her child is coming home with toys that are not hers? Oy.

I'm in Love

No, I haven't met a new man, and yes, I'm in love with someone or I should say "something" other than my beautiful girl.

I'm in love with my TV.

That's not too wierd, right? It has the most beautiful picture EVER. Just in time for an all day marathon leading up to the season opener of The Closer. Yippee! What a difference between plasma and dlp or even lcd. The only con I can see is reflection from light on the screen. Luckily, I don't have a bright house. If there were windows opposite from it, or even on each side, I would not recommend. However, my living room is more like a bedroom. Just one window that usually has the blinds shut to keep the hot sun out.

Meanwhile, my sissy and I are sick to our stomachs, b/c the final court date on my mom's guardianship is Wednesday. We're busy preparing.

Weekend Wrap-Up

So, the weekend is coming to a close and we have nothing exciting to report. I've been using my exercise bike and love it. Problem is I'm just so darned out of shape that its crazy. Was on it yesterday for 30 minutes at levels 3 and 4. All was fine, but then hours later my back was hurting. Don't know it it was related or not. Sigh.

T and I had breakfast at the diner, then went to the children's hospital chasing copies of xrays, MRIs, and reports. We were semi-successful. Have to drop that stuff off to the ENT specialist. Appt isn't until 8/18, unless something opens up sooner.

We then went off to best buy b/c my living room TV is on the blink. Really, is everything in my house falling apart lately? It sure feels that way. I had one of those big DLP Tvs, and the lamp continually burns out. the bulb is anywhere from 120 - 160.00, depending on who has it in stock. I've replaced it a few times already. The last time was a couple month ago. Friday night it burned out again. It was also making a strange electrical buzzing sound. Last thing I need is worrying about my TV exploding or otherwise catching on fire, so off we went to the electronics store. Found a plasma on major sale, so we scored! We've set it up and its working like a charm. Today, I'll be delivering the old one to recycle it. Good riddance!

Went to the home to visit my mom. She wasn't having such a good day. Her leg was paining her, she had a low-grade fever, and is scheduled on 7/21 for a colonoscopy. They think she's bleeding somewhere and want to take a look. Apparently the oxygen levels in her blood are falling, and she's severely anemic.

Then, we dropped in on my dad to give him his meds, and then were off to dinner at my Aunts house. Her son, our cousin from up north, was visiting, and we had some yummy pizza. It was real nice seeing them both.

New Exercise Bike

No, despite what everyone might think, this is not a picture of my wildly expensive coat hanger. Its my new exercise bike! Delivered today. I'll be using it in the next couple days, after my back gets a bit better. I'm very excited about it.

Back in the day...some 20 years so so ago when I used to actually workout was was quite a bit skinnier, I used to love the exercise bike at the gym. My fav. Hopefully, it will get me into a bit better shape. Can't hurt, right?

We had a very quiet weekend, and just did our usual. Visited the parents (luckily with no drama), dodged raindrops, trolled Target, and generally relaxed hoping my back would heal.

Have a Safe and Happy Day

We're off to have some pool time between raindrops, then will visit my mom for a bit. For tonight, we tend to forego the roadside explosives, and prefer to watch fireworks on TV...in the cool air conditioning.

Hope you all have a Safe day!

T in Recovery

Here's my sweet baby after she came out of the MRI in recovery. She looks so peaceful, doesn't she?

Who knew the HELL that was about to ensue?

She's Back!

Yes, my sweet little mischievious girl is back to her old self. She started acting more normally around 11 p.m. last night, when we went to bed. Slept through the night and reported no lasting affects from the drugs. She was up and dressed early this morning for camp, as today was the petting zoo and pony rides.

T reports that she rode the boy pony all by herself, and it was ok b/c girls can ride the boy pony, too. Now, we just await the results sometime early next week.

Hope everyone has a great 4th of july.

I'm an IDIOT

So, as you all know, T had her MRI today. We were off bright and early for our 830 appt, and arrived at the requested 730 a.m. I figured that the test would take an hour, and we'd be home by 10:30 at the latest. T might nap a bit, and I'd take her off to camp. I knew this would be the case as T responded so well when she had tubes and was under general anaesthesia. She bounced right back and was walking and talking, etc., 1/2 hour after she got to recovery.

that was not the case today.

T wasn't out due to general anaesthesia. She was out due to drugs. She was so cute going in. Smiling, laughing, blowing kisses, slurring her words. Quite the happy drunk.

After the procedure? Like Jekell and Hyde, she was CRAZED. Can you say DRUG RAGE? Oh.My.God.

T then passed out again, and I had the bright idea to put her in the carseat and get her home. I had no idea that should could not walk. I soon learned it seconds after pulling out onto the road. T squirmed out of her car seat in her rage, and was walking around the van...banking into all kinds of things b/c she was literally drunk on her feet. and mad.

I quickly backed up and called Marie and Jen, who came and rescued me. The nurse came back out to bring t back into the hospital, as I can't carry her with my trick back, and wrestled with her until she passed out again. Oy.

Ya think they could have warned me? Even if I didn't have a trick back, I should have had someone with me to sit with T in the back to make sure this very thing didn't happen.

So, we're home now, and T is still passed out in my bed. I'm about to go in there too, as my back feels like its going to go out from all the wrestling with her.

They say she'll be under the influence until about 9 tonight. Sigh.

Taylor on drugs....its an ugly picture.