Mischief and Mermaids...

Cookie Sale 2012

2012-01-27T23:30:00.000-05:00

I'm Baa-aack!

2012-01-27T23:22:00.003-05:00

Ooops, I'm starting to get flack from my most loyal followers (Aunt Connie) about my lack of posting. Sorry all. I've just been really busy at work at the moment. To the point where I've gone in on the weekend, and may need to do it again on Sat or Sunday.

Meanwhile, can anybody else see the pics attached to the last couple of posts? I can not, and have no idea why this is happening. Last post w pics that I can see was from new years eve. I don't think this is boding too well for 2012.

Tomorrow, we will be lurking around our local publix, pushing GS cookies again. then haircutting to follow. All is relatively quiet at my parents' house, and my dad is taking his meds. Big sigh of relief there.

I'll try and post a pic from last weekend, when we were selling cookies for the first time this year. Let's see if anyone can see it.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

2012-01-17T23:41:00.001-05:00

A big happy birthday to my crazy father.

He's 84 yrs old as of the 16th.

T was very excited about the cake, which matched the purple in her outfit.

Daisy GS go to the Circus

2012-01-17T18:24:00.002-05:00

It truly was "the greatest show on earth"!

My fav was the man who was shot out of a catapult, while lit on fire, followed by the tight rope performers.

T liked everything. Absolutely everything. Refused to name one thing that she liked more than the other.

Got Chocolate??

2012-01-15T20:23:00.001-05:00

Student of the Month

2012-01-15T20:18:00.002-05:00

Guess who was student of the month, for the month of December?

I couldn't have been more proud.

I suspect that that charity prayer thing might have tipped the scales in her favor.

Go Taylor!!!

New Year Highs and Lows

2012-01-03T20:48:00.002-05:00

The low of the holiday was that after we left the beach, T and I paused to put on our shoes before walking through a restaurant to our car. T sat on the edge of a very poorly designed chair. If one looked at the side of the chair, it would appear to be a check mark...so when on sat in in one leans back so far that one can get sun. Almost laying down but not. Anyway, the base was not big enough b/c when T sat on the edge, it went down and the back came flying up...headed straight for her head. Did I mention it was made out of really thick wood?

My natural reaction was to stick my hand out to keep it from bashing in her little head. Instead, it bashed my thumb. Luckily, xrays reveal no break. They suspect bruised bones. On NYE, I couldn't move my thumb or pick up anything. Oy, the pain.

Anyway, that didn't stop us from a bit of fun. We broke out the sparklers, Dot had bought some stone crabs, and I mixed up my new fav drink: the white cosmopolitan, made with St Germain Elderberry Liquor. It wasn't quite white...more blush...b/c I had to substitute red cranberry juice. Publix doesn't stock the white.

We then watched the Times Square fun all night on TV, and ended up going to bed before the ball dropped.

T never did finish her happy new year sign, so by the end of the night t's signed was 1/2 finished and her mother was 1/2 crocked.

The hang over hurt more than I expected. Not sure if my age or if it was the thumb. So, I say good riddance 2011. Hoping 2012 is a better year for everyone.

Please Mom, Please!!!!!

2011-12-30T21:56:00.001-05:00

...I promise I'll only go in up to my ankles!

Where have we all heard that before?

It was such a gorgeous day to day, that we took off to the beach for a late lunch and to stroll along the water. Did not anticipate going in, as it was a tad too cold for the natives.

Tourists, though, abounded. It was a picture perfect day. Hardly any waves to speak of, the water was crystal clear, not a cloud in the sky, and there was hardly any sea weed in sight.

T had a ball.

St. Anthony's Charity Prayer

2011-12-27T21:36:00.003-05:00

an exact reinactment of T's school performance.... no need to scroll to the end and pause the music that's been playing for years. I've finally put an end to that. Finally, a blog you can sneak at work without risk!

Christmas 2011

2011-12-27T19:41:00.003-05:00

Once again, it was a very Barbie christmas around here...with a few other fun things thrown in.

A new, hot game is bey blades. Basically, they are glorified spinning tops, a game that's been around for over 200 years. While marketed to the boys, girls would enjoy them too.

"They" claim that adoptive parents, especially older ones, tend to over-indulge their kids (i.e. spoil their kids rotten) by buying too many toys. Hmm, I'm not proof of that phenomenon, am I? Surely not!

The last photo is T in her new nightie, courtesy of great Aunt Connie. Fits perfectly!

Dot, T, and I did meals on wheels again, and delivered xmas dinner to my parents and our Aunt. It was like 3 christmas's in one day! While at my parents house (who have sidewalks), T took off on her bike to ride around the block, with her old mom huffing and puffing after her. Literally, the kid can FLY on that thing.

Of all the presents, T announces that her favorite toy is her Barbie horse and carriage.

Christmas Eve

2011-12-27T19:27:00.002-05:00

We were pretty much dancing on tables, fooling around with hoola hoops, and otherwise spreading christmas cheer.

Speaking of spreading, once again T hedged her bets again and didn't take any chances with that old naughty vs. nice dichotomy. Just in case she was falling in the naughty column, we spread some magic reindeer food (dry oatmeal and glitter), to ensure that the reindeer and Santa would stop at our house.

Turns out that trick worked like a charm!

Disney in Dec #3

2011-12-22T02:08:00.000-05:00

Disney in Dec - #2

2011-12-22T02:06:00.000-05:00

Disney in December - #1

2011-12-22T02:03:00.000-05:00

It's quiet....Too quiet!

2011-12-20T19:08:00.002-05:00

Not much happening around here. Its just plain quiet. the reason for that is b/c aunt dot took T off to Disney on Sunday. They are there through Wednesday.

The house is quiet.

The house is neat.

I get to watch what I want on TV

I get to blast my music.

I'm not quite sure what to do with myself.

Reports from disney are that they are having a ball.

I've been doing some christmas shopping and wrapping, all without a little curious person sticking her nose in anything.

2011 Christmas Show

2011-12-14T22:02:00.002-05:00

Taylor's Christmas Show was this morning. Directly after announcements the whole school filed outside to the basketball courts to see the show. The show lasted all of about 10 minutes, and as far as I'm concerned, basically starred Taylor.

I'm not kidding!

This first picture shows the three french hens. only the first and 6th graders participated. The rest of the school and interested parents got to watch.

This second picture shows the 3 french hens, the 2 turtle doves, the partridge and the pear tree. Each time in the song that they said their name, the kids would step forward and do a little dance.

Four boys were the five golden rings. All from the first grade. They were all dressed up in suits and ties. Everytime it was their turn, they would step forward, go down on one knee, and offer up their golden ring. Too cute for words.
The reason I say the show starred Taylor, is that the first thing that happened was she was put on the microphone between the 8 maids a milking and the 7 swans a swimming, and proceeded to read St. Anthony's Charity prayer. Out loud and with lots of feeling.

The show then commenced, and then they had her do the prayer again to close the show. Both times is was so surprised, that I didn't get to film the whole thing. I'll post portions of the show when I can upload them to utube.
At the end of the show, T walked off away from all the kids and her class with the principal, headed toward the main building of the school. T reports she went to the office, so that she could recite the prayer to all the ladies in the office.

That's my girl...first grade and already kissing up to the principal. and with no urging from mom either! Its just innate!

What a fun morning!

2011 Breakfast w/Santa Snow Fun

2011-12-11T21:29:00.001-05:00

Saturday was the annual breakfast with Santa at T's school. It also includes a DJ blasting fun holiday songs, Santa driven in on a Firetruck by hot firemen and paramedics, and the big hit....snow.

This year they got smart, and had two big mounds of snow for the kids to play in. Here's a few pictures of T whooping it up in the snow. Of course, it all degenerated into a big snowball fight that went on for about an hour or two, until finally someone tried to put a stop to it. Unsuccessfully.

If you look closely, you might spot T's love Daniel. Who can guess which one he is?

On the homefront, my mom has bounced back fabulously with my dad home. Its truly a miracle. She is off crisis care and back to her old self. Still a sick lady, but better.

Knock on wood, buy my dad is basically cooperating at the moment. Taking his meds, and has not tried to go out driving (I have his keys). But he hasn't even tried. So far, so good.
Tomorrow, T has a field trip with her school. They are all going by schoolbus to see the play Annie. She is very excited. While she went on field trips with summer camp, this is her firstschool event.

We then have a girl scout meeting tomorrow evening. I've cleaned out my cabinets of canned food to donate to the poor. We'll get a patch for that!

...Three French Hens....

2011-12-06T19:54:00.002-05:00

T has chosen to be one of the three french hens in her school xmas play.

Thank god for amazon, is all I have to say.

It all came tonight, and fits perfectly!

Impromptu Beach Visit

2011-12-03T22:33:00.001-05:00

Nothing like having you dad in a nursing home right in the heart of South Beach, literally 1 block from the beach. When we arrived to take him home, they wanted another few hours to get him showered and dressed. So, we walked over to the beach and had a delish lunch at Nikki Beach. Also had a delish Mojito.

T had a fab time at the beach. We walked out to it. It was really a bit too cool for the beach, but some die hard tourists were laying out. The beach itself was quite rough and surfers abounded. T had a blast running along the shoreline, chasing the water as it receded and letting it chase her as it rolled up on the beach. She particularly like the "sudsy" water.

We observed a few jellyfish lingering in the seaweed, and she got to finally see one in real life.

We got my dad home without incident. So far.

We shall see what the future holds.

Meanwhile, my mom is doing OK, and may actually be discharged from the 24 hour crisis care on Monday if she continues to eat and drink as she was doing yesterday and today.

I'm exhausted and off to bed. Night all!

Dad Home Today

2011-12-02T08:12:00.002-05:00

Well, Icolene returned from 2 days off, and demanded we get dad home. She says mom is less responsive every day. I do note that whenever I have been there the past few days, she has been asleep. Might wake up for a bit, then back to sleep.

So, I went over the the nursing home to begin discharge proceedings. I'll pick him up at the end of the day. We shall see how this all goes. I don't have high hopes at all for him to be able to deal with this and the aides in the house. So, we probably won't be able to go to the basket extravaganza at t's school this evening, as we will be dealing with him.

On an upnote, the parent teacher conference we extremely well. I have often thought T is extremely smart. But then, all parents think their kids are brilliant. That's how it should be. But even given that, I've thought she was particularly smart. Well, the teach confirmed it. So nice to get validation from an unbiased 3rd party!

T is excelling in all areas in school. The kids like the valadictorian of her class, if first grade had such a thing. I'm thrilled and thank god that T's studies is one area of my life that I don't have to worry. If I had to do all kinds of reviews with her at night, I think you'd have to put me in a looney bin, too.

So that's it. Plumber coming this morning, so I will be broke by the afternoon.

Holiday madness is ramping up

2011-11-30T23:09:00.002-05:00

Yep, its officially started. This friday we have a xmas celebration at Taylor's school. This will be our 3rd year attending. We visit t's classroom, eat dinner under a big party tent on the school grounds, and then bid on gift baskets that parents have donated. Its called the Basket Extravaganza. Let's just say that T enjoys it much more than Dot and I.

I was also informed that T's class is putting on The Twelve Days of Christmas at the school xmas play. The kids in her class will sing the song, and apparently act out the parts. T has chosen to be a French Hen. I have been informed that she must dress as a french hen. Basically a chicken costume wearing a can can dress. Why they couldn't inform us of the need for a costume a month ago when all the halloween costumes were on sale, I'm not quite sure. However, all I have to say is thank god for Amazon.

As I type this, quickly speeding to me courtesy of 3 - 5 day shipping is: a black long sleeved leotard, pink tights, a pink pettiskirt (google it and you'll see one), a headband with feathers that stick straight up, and a feathered mask/beak. Cant wait to see what she will look like in this get up.

My slightly older than one year water heater is not working properly. I think one of the heating elements has blown. We've been taking showers at dot's house, my mom's house, and finally at home here tonight. Plumber comes friday to fix it.

I dropped by 2 mo old iphone in a glass of diet coke, as I was sitting in my car. It was destroyed. Luckily, I had the foresight to buy the insurance on the thing. I only had to pay 50 bucks for a new one, vs. 400 (since I won't be eligible for an upgrade discount for another 22 months).

My mom is back in 24 hour crisis care. She's not eating or drinking as she should. she's been on it for 5 days now. Its the not drinking enough that's the problem, so we're pushing liquids on her. Each day I've been over there this week, she's been asleep, which I don't think can be good. However, her vital signs are stable and there is no fluid in her lungs. We're hoping its just a phase that she will snap out of, like last time.

We're planning on liberating my dad from the nursing home next week. I may have to take off most of the week if that happens. Say a prayer that that will go OK, and once home things don't get worse. While I can't let my mom die with my dad not around, I worry very much how he will deal with the fact that she has decompensated so much lately, and the fact that there are more people in the house taking care of her. Ico and the 24 hour hospice aide all day and all night. Hopefully we can keep him medicated and he won't interfere with her treatment. I've started researching whether he will qualify for some medical equipment when he gets out....like a hospital bed and perhaps even an electric wheel chair as he doesn't have the shoulder strength to wheel himself around in one nor the shoulder strength for a walker. We shall see.

So, that's it for now.

Thanksgiving and black friday

2011-11-25T21:48:00.002-05:00

Hi all....hope you all had a great thanksgiving. We did. We were a veritable thanksgiving meals on wheels. Do cooked up a storm, then we delivered to my mom, my aunt connie, and then to marie and john. Poor marie defrosted her turkey, opened it up first thing in the morning on thanksgiving, and discovered the thing was rotten...oy.

She sent her hubby out to buy a new one, and all he could scrounge up on thanksgiving morning was a nice, plump thanksgiving chicken. Luckily, dot had cooked an 18 pound turkey for us, so we had more than enough to bring over there in the evening.

I'd post some cute pics, but I'm having a devil of a time uploading pics to the blog. You may have noticed tha the pics from the last post have inexplicably disappeared.

On Friday, we slept in nice and late, then ventured out to the mall. Yes, we braved the mall. I scored some cute xmas clothes at gymboree. We also picked up the cutest mulan baby doll. I think dot and i were more thrilled with the little baby mulan more than T, as it reminded us both of T when she was a baby. Can't wait for T to open it.

Tomorrow, we have a bowling alley bday party to attend.

Hope you all are enjoying your leftovers!

Here and Now

2011-11-17T07:20:00.001-05:00

Well, I've been a bit busy lately. T insisted on putting out xmas tree up last weekend, and pulled the thing out from under the bed and commenced to assembling the thing.

Dot came over on saturday, and we finished decorating it.

My mom continues to do OK. My dad as well in the nursing home. We're thinking we're going to be springing him from the joint in the first weeks in december, when dot is home to help.
First, though, we'll spend a day there during his rehab session, to observe how well he can walk. I've gotten a report that he's fallen there 2 times, with no injuries. Clearly his balance is still off.

Today, Thursday, will be quite the busy day for me. After dropping T off, I have to drive to north broward for a training. Then leave it early after lunch to drive back down and pick up T, to drive north to leave her with friends. I then have to go to a funeral. Mr. Dimler, the dad of friends who lived down the street growing up whom I've known since I was 3, passed away somewhat unexpectedly. He was in the hospital , released to intensive rehab due to issues of mobility and his knees, then was readmitted and died of complications from an infection. He was about 10 years younger than my parents.

Life is funny sometime. My sissy and I have basically been on death watch for the last 2 years, and its poor Mr. Dimler who the grim reaper catches up with. Never saw that one coming. Guess that's life.

Meanwhile, much excitement at T's school. Her carnival starts on Friday. We've got a wad of discount tickets, money in our pockets, and we're ready to go.

I get the joy of manning the turkey booth. That's a kind way of describing the gambling booth. Quarters are placed on numbers, and a bit wheel is spun. If it lands on your number, you win. Not sure what, though, as I don't think they will be giving out a turkey per spin. Now if my aunt connie were there, she'd pick up the rules with just one glance. have the odds all figured. As for me, it will take me a little while to figure it all out.

Hope you all have a great weekend.

This and That

2011-11-07T20:34:00.003-05:00

Is anybody else out there thankful for the fall-back time change? It was so easy getting up this morning. I wonder how long it will last. I suspect not long at all.

We spent the weekend basically dealing w/ my parents. On saturday, I had additional hurricane shutters installed. The house is now a veritable fortress. Finally. I also had the whole house rewired for cable and the cable company hooked it all up. Finally, each bedroom has cable for the first time ever. So long dish network.

I couldn't wait until I could end their dish network. some SOB salesman convinced by dad to switch and sign a 2 yr contract. They then proceeded to install the most complicated dvr/satellite system known to man. Even I had a hard time with the complicated remote. Never mind my over 80 demented parents who never quite got the hang of a VCR. Adios, is all I have to say. The new cable system is really really simple. They basically now have the "jitterbug" of cable remotes.

Of course, all this may be for naught b/c I got a call on sunday that my mom wasn't really responsive to the aide. Ico call in the hospice nurse, as my mom hadn't really eaten much of anything, and seemed less responsive. I noted that she was very unresponsive as well. For the first time ever, I was getting just a blank stare from her, with no recognition.

So, they put her on 24 hour crisis care, which means they put a CNA in the house 24/7. Her regular nurse saw her today, and continued the crisis care another 24 hours, as the sunday nurses reported that she failed to eat much at all. Clearly, something has happened. Whether it was a TIA or something more is unknown.

Good news is that when I dropped in today, she did recognize me. However the failing to eat remains problematic. We're hoping she snaps out of it soon. On an upnote, her vital signs are good and stable.

As has been explained, she could die in 2 minutes, 2 weeks, 2 months, or 2 years. just know knowing. So, I'm on telephone standby in case she takes a turn for the worse. There is no way in hell I can let her die with my dad still in the nursing home. If she takes a turn for the worse, I'll have to go and liberate him. If this goes on much longer, I'll have to go liberate him. Of course once that happens, there will be no getting him back in there. This decision is what is stressing me out the most.

On an upnote....when I returned to my office today, I found on my desk a lovely flowering potted plant and a balloon saying happy birthday, along with a card. It was from my secretary. Problem is, my birthday is not until February. That OK though, it made me smile and laugh, and I really needed one right about then.

T is in the tub with a plastic glass of diet coke. We're learning all about diffusion and she's busy dumping into her bath to watch it dissipate. Our conversation:

T: can I dump it in the tub?

Me: sure, you can do what you want with it, its your soda and bathwater.

T: can I dump it into the shampoo?

Me: ummm, no. not that. anything but that.

T: can I dump it in the bubble bath?

Me: ummm, no, not that either.

This kid keeps me on my toes!

Halloween Night

2011-11-02T22:01:00.003-04:00

Here's everybody all dressed up waiting to start their night. T was both thrilled with her costume...which she described not as a flamenco dancer, but as a Spanish Princess... but also thrilled to be hanging out with the older girls. I thought she looked damned cute.

Everyone had a pizza party and the adults imbibed in some home made sangria. Yum. Yum.

Due to my back and neck pain, I was a Halloweenie, and stayed in the house as they went out.
The kids were out about 60 minutes in all, when they returned with an injury report. T, in all her melodramatic wonder, was literally crying b/c her foot hurt. She shoes had rubbed a blister on the side of her foot below the big toe. She was distraught. Kept saying this was the "worst halloween EVER!" Oy. She was also making noises like she could never return to school until it healed.

Unfortunately for T, her mom is wise to all the tricks and she went off to school the very next day. She was wearing tennis shoes which are wider, instead of her regulation uniform shoes, but that's the only concession we've had to make.

This last picture is of her class project. we just need to add some glitter to the thing. Its been a tissue-ball-rolling night around here. All the kids in her class are decorating turkeys, that will be used to decorate the carnival booth that auctions off a turkey. that would be the same one that the parents of first graders man during the event. I think it turned out pretty good, and T had a good time rolling and gluing.

that's it for now

Sometimes a girl just needs some chocolate

2011-11-02T19:49:00.002-04:00

I'm thinking I need to rename this blog "Carol's Tale of Woe", as its seems all I have to report are calamities and bad luck. The newest calamity to befall me?

I was at popeye's today and didn't have enough cash on me since I forgot to go to the machine. So i decided to charge the 5.74 lunch. IT WAS DECLINED!

I came home and called them to find out why. Turns out my identity has been stolen. Someone called the bank today and changed the mailing address on all of the accounts I'm on there. They had my name, dob, and ssn all correct. Luckily they were unsuccessful in getting new cards issued on the accounts and it does not appear that any loss has been incurred. thank god they caught it. But, its quite troubling. I'll now have to be contacting the credit card reporting companies to determine if they do anything in the future. Oy. I also need to make a police report of the ID theft.

Ironic, since I was taking statements on an investigation today, that involves a boatload of ID thefts.

Only thing left for a girl to do, is break out the choco ice cream, which I did. Now in my choco-induced high, the good news is that I finally got in to see the othro dr. Based upon an xray, he thinks disc C5 and C 6 in my neck are herniated, and has ordered me to go to an MRI. He suspects b/c the spaces between the discs were markedly smaller than the other spaces. I scored some miracle drugs as well....anti inflamatories and cortizone steroids. After just one does, I'm almost pain free. Its a miracle!

ooops, i'm just now realizing I missed posting halloween. I'll do that later tonight. Again, a night of highs and lows, so stay tuned.

Better and Better

2011-10-25T15:04:00.003-04:00

I'm happy to report that I no longer NEED to use the walker. Still using it, though, b/c the old back is still very dicey. However, I can stand up straight with no assistence. I figure that the walker will not be needed by tomorrow.

Luckily for me, I am able to do some work from home and not burn up all my leave time. So, in between the parade of investigators in and out of my house today and in between drafting arrest warrants, I've been laying in bed with my heating pad. One good thing about my house, is that its so centrally located, that its not a burden to ask my investigators to come here.

My fear from yesterday is turning out to be true....as my back gets better I'm noticing the neck/shoulder issue more and more. Bummer. (cue the Hee-Haw song)

I am very blessed, though, to have a cadre of friends who back me up in picking T up from school. I was able to get her to school today, by asking another parent to walk her in through the parking lot, across the basketball courts, and into the school. Didn't even need to get out of my van.

So, that's the report from rehab central. I'm off to wallow in bed for a bit.

My Newest Purchase

2011-10-24T13:52:00.001-04:00

I'm thrilled with my newest purchase. Its a basket for my walker, that has an plastic insert so stuff doesn't fall through and also that holds a diet coke. Brilliant. I called up the drugstore, and they delivered it today within about an hour from my call.

Why?

Well, at approximately 8:45 this morning, as I was leaving to go to work, I bent over to pick up a piece of paper on the floor. I felt a pop and a tingle in my lower back. Its official. My back is out. Can't walk without a walker.

I don't think it's quite as bad as the first time I threw it out in 2006, as I can still stand straight up...barely.

This is just my luck. On an upnote, my neck seems a bit better. Don't know if that's because it actually is better, or whether it just doesn't seem as bad in comparison to this new malady. Hopefully, I'll bounce back from this fairly soon.

Still Surviving

2011-10-23T06:01:00.002-04:00

T and I are still surviving. T is doing great. Me? Not so much. I apparently suffered a sleeping injury a few weeks ago. First noticed it the first weekend in October. Woke up with a pain in my neck. Figured it would go away in a few days. It didn't. Just getting worse.

I think that a disc in my neck is out of whack, and is pinching a nerve.

I'm popping advil and the occasional leftover pain pill like a mad woman. Pain is in my neck, shoulder, and often goes down my are to my hands, with occasional tingling sensations. The worst part of is all, is that there is no "sweet spot". That position that you get in, that makes all the pain go away. Occasionally it lessens, but it doesn't leave.

Unfortunately, getting an appointment with the prima donna orthopedist doctors is as easy as finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. My appointment is not until Nov. 1. Supposedly, I'm on a list to be called if someone cancels, but so for no word. I am, though, going to call on tuesday and try and get moved up. We shall see.

Meanwhile, my mom still is doing OK and my dad remains in the rehab hospital. No word on how much longer he shall remain there.

I'm in the Clouds....

2011-10-17T08:55:00.000-04:00

...the new apple iCloud system, that is. This weekend was a totally techy weekend. I spent most of our free time on saturday updating my old iphone, in anticipation of giving it to T when I got my new one. Wasn't sure if I could continue to download to it after making the switch, so we were loading it up with games. T was in heaven...or the clouds.

Finally on sunday, I was able to actually buy my new phone. Luckily, I brought my laptop to the store with me, and the apple geeks helped me to set it all up. They now have this new digital back up system, that they call iclouds. Apparently, you send your information out into cyberspace (the clouds), where is securely stored for you in stead of or in addition to your laptop. That way when your laptop is destroyed/stops working/catches a virus/etc., you wont lose your stuff.

at least that's how i understand it. Its all very strange to me. Meanwhile, I love my new phone for the simple fact that once again, the camera has been enhanced.

So, my old phone has been rendered into an ipod. everything works on it but the phone. T is thrilled that she has one too. Unfortunately, I caught her with it under the covers last night, when she should have been sleeping. No more juggling flashlights and books for the kids today. Nope, they just have their ipods under the covers.

Still, they can't get away from that tell-tale "glow" burning under the covers when they try to pretend they were sleeping the whole time. Thank god for that!

Bad Blogger

2011-10-15T08:44:00.003-04:00

Yeah, I've been a bad blogger lately. Seems I'm just a bit too busy. So....what's been going on lately?

Dot turned 50 last week. My parents and I pooled our $$ and bought her an ipad. T was so excited she couldn't stand it, and hogged the thing all last weekend. Everytime Dot would try to do something on the iPad, T would see her, say that she could teach her, would worm her way onto Dot's lap, and take control not letting Dot touch the thing. Funniest thing you ever saw.
We discovered love notes in T's bookbag. Two. She was writing them to Daniel. She wrote her notes on notebook paper, and fashioned them into paper airplanes. She gave one to him last week. It said, and I quote...."Will you be the jelly in my peanut butter sandwich" What does that mean? Apparently, she saw it on one of her cartoons (no idea which one), and decided it was the perfect phrase to express her undying love. Oy.
My brand spankin new laptop computer stopped working. 17 days after purchase. Problem is and unbeknownst to me, best buy return policy on laptops is 14 frinkin days. who knew? I was sick. I went out to the store anyway, and presented it to their geek squad. The kid said they would exchange it. What a relief. Of course, trying to complete the transaction caused a flurry of conferences between the cashier and managers. They were balking and trying to get out of the deal. I kept insisting that the geek squad said it would be exchanged. Fortunately, they grudgingly "made an exception", and exchanged the thing. Finally, a bit of luck goes my way.
I'm jones'in for a new iphone. I'm eligible for an upgrade, and the new one came out yesterday. My battery on my old one is awful, and doesn't last the whole day without charging. I'll wait a few weeks, though, for the crowds to die down. T will inherit my old phone. The phone won't work, but all the games will. So I need to download a bunch of games to it, before buying a new one. She's very excited.
My parents continue to do as well as can be expected. Mom's hanging in there, and Dad continues to cooperate with rehab, while drugged to the gills. Better Living through Chemicals may be the new family motto!

Weekend Happenings

2011-10-03T23:04:00.002-04:00

Hmmm, not much to report. Did errands on Saturday. My dad is one happy guy on the major psych drugs he's on. He actually cooperated with rehab. Remained happy on Sunday. I couldn't go visit today, but will check things out tomorrow. Can't wait to hear what the PT reports.

T lost her 8th tooth on Saturday night, and I had to play TF again at 2:00 a.m. Can't wait for this TF stuff to end, as its getting old really quick!

On Sunday, T and I hung out and trolled the mall. Her suggestion, not mine. Gotta love a girl who shouts in answer to the Q, "What should be do today", yells out "go to the mall"! Just warms my heart.

We had a fab lunch, scored some halloween PJs, and T shopped all by herself in Claire's. Claire's is every little girls dream of a store. Its chock filled with cheap-quality, over-priced accessories and makeup. T went inside, and I stayed by the entrance. After about 15 - 20 minutes of sheer little-girl heaven, T came running up to the front of the store with her intended purchase....and iCarly Diary, complete with padlock and key. T was in love with it, and kept talking about how boys can't read it, only girls.

I handed her a 20, and she forged back into the store, got in line, and paid for the item all by herself. She was very proud of herself. She was doubly proud of herself when I let her get away with pocketing the change. Sneaky girl, reminded me of myself a bit.

Anyway, apparently she brought the thing to school, with the key on a string around her neck hidden in her uniform. Apparently she was taunting all the boys with the key in aftercare. I'm not sure if an actual skirmish of keep-away broke out, but it sounds like it from all of T's reports. She was writing in it this evening that she is going to marry John Paul, from her class. He's her new love. Of course, this is in addition to...not instead of...her old flame Daniel.

You should have seen the look on her face as she was talking about him. She was frickin' glowing.

I'm still a bit stunned.

Still Here

2011-10-01T06:51:00.002-04:00

We're still here. Dad was still at Mt. Sinai for observation and regulating meds through thursday, when I got a call out of the blue telling me that he was discharged and going off to a nursing home/rehab facility for rehabilitation.

I lost my mind. No one told me abount this. No one asked me for input into the facility. No medical person had yet to tell me what my dad's diagnosis was, what were plans for long term care, what are his physical abilities/limitations, etc. So, I had to drop everything and run off to this facility to see what it was about. I had wanted hime to have "acute rehab", i.e. 3 hours per day. Those facilities are less like nursing homes, and more like real rehab hospitals. South Pointe Park was not one of those facilities. It is more like a real nursing home and only does 1.5 hours per day. I was very upset. Miami Heart rehab would not take him back, after the 8 man scuffle with him in the elevator. Can't say I blame them. St. Catherines would also not take him.

Turns out the better facilities that are usually to capacity anyway, don't take patients on the drugs my dad is now on to control his behavior. They don't need to. That's not to say that the other facilities are better equipped to handle patients such as my dad, they're not. They just are not usually at capacity and therefore will take anyone.

I was doubly upset b/c when I visited my dad on thursday, the "edge" was back in his personality. I could tell that he was off or coming off his meds. No one seemed to listen to me and I waited 2 hours at the hospital to speak to the nurse, but she never would speak to me. Couldn't get the doc to call us either. I wanted to scream.

So, they transported him and I started getting calls later in the evening b/c South Pointe was unaware that he was coming there. Oy, the incompetance. I could also hear my dad screaming in the background asking why he wasn't driven home instead of there.

Luckily, when I checked on him the next morning, they had given him his meds and he was once again a happy guy and complying with his medical care. What a relief. I was so afraid that they hospital didn't release him with med orders, and he'd wind up right back there after a fight with the employees of this facility.

So, hopefully things will settle down. I was able to speak with PT, and give them background on my dad so that they can start working with him and discovering his physical limitations....and finally reporting to us.

So, that's that. We're going to go out today to get him some clothes for rehab. a few gym shorts and gym pants. His dockers and nice shirt were either lost in the transfer or stolen. Nice. When I mentioned the gym clothes to dot, her comment was that buying him clothes was very optimistic. She's right. So, we shall see.

Hope you all have a nice weekend.

Guess What T is for Halloween?

2011-09-25T15:38:00.001-04:00

T spied this Spanish Dancer costume today in Target, and refused to consider any other costume. So, its decided....she is officially the Spanish Rose for Halloween. Luckily, the thing fits her like it was custom made for her. We're thrilled.

Now if we could only find a black lace mantilla...a fake/costume one. The real ones cost a fortune.

Still Hanging in There

2011-09-24T09:32:00.003-04:00

I'm still hanging in there. My dad was released from Mt. Sinai hospital to the rehab hospital. I was very hopeful that finally I would get an assessment on his physical abilities and limitations post stroke. 11 days he was in the hospital, and no one can tell me. I asked everyday. There was a new nurse everyday which was very frustrating. No continuity of nursing care. I asked to speak with the physical therapist only to be told that they don't make phone calls. Idiots. All I would get was speak to the doctor. The doctor who has never seen my dad attempt to walk, nor is ever around. When he did deign to call, I could barely understand him b/c he spoke so frickin' fast and it was clear all he wanted to do was hang up the phone.

I asked for the physical therapy report, to no avail. So, I'm thinking, OK. I won't make a scene. I'll wait til he goes to the rehab hospital where that's all they do. He was transferred Tuesday night, and I went to see him first thing Wednesday morning. The nurses report that he was agitated around 300 a.m., wanted to do home, and was given drugs to calm him down. By 900 he seemed happy, in good spirits, and cooperative.

I was also happy b/c they have a team of psychiatrists psychologists who I like on staff, so I was hopeful that I'd get some help or medication to give him on a long term basis, to assist with his behavior issues at home when he's trying to throw the aide out.

Notice its all in past tense.

I got a call around 300 pm that they were transferring him back to Mt. Sinai. He wigged out and decided he was walking out. Never mind that his balance is off and could fall and kill himself. Never mind he was only in hospital gown and underwear. Never mind that the was just wearing little socks. Never mind that he had no wallet, money, keys. Never mind that his truck is parked at home. He said he was leaving, going downstairs to his truck and driving home. He just wants to get home to my mom, poor thing.

Well, lets just say he made it to the elevators, and it too 8 men to get him back to his room. Even they drugs they had there weren't kicking in to subdue him. So, the packed him off back to the ER, where they could use the mega drugs, I guess.

He remains there through the weekend for observation. No word on any release.

So, I'm back to square one. Trying to figure out what his physical capabilities are to make a determination about the future. Can he come home? That's what we hope. Does he need further equipment in the house if he does? Do we need to get another aide in the house if he does?

What's worse, I think the doc is going to yank his driving privileges. Even if we got meds to calm him generally re Icolene and my mom's care, once he realizes he can't drive it will be WWIII. The big one. A frickin' nuclear one. Oy.

So, who knows what the future will hold. I'm not that optimistic that it will be anything easy or good.

Its the little things that count

2011-09-18T08:58:00.002-04:00

Yes, I'm beginning to very much appreciate the little things and find joy where I can. My current joy is my new laptop, which works at the speed of light. What a difference!

Of course, it was a bit of a pain getting it. I had to go to two best buys. They had it advertised on sale for 429.00. Frankly, given the fact that I'm about to get another paycut curtesy of the Board of County Commissioners, I've been trying to economize. New laptop wasn't in the budget. I wanted to pay as little as possible. However, I'm an HP girl. Always found that brand reliable. Plus, I wanted to get one big enough that my over-40 eyes could still see. This one was a 17 inch number.

My problem, is that I believe Be$t Buy is involved in a bit of bait and switch action. It was impossible to find a computer for the advertised price. Instead, they were adding at least another 99 buck for their bullshit geek squad services and in store warranties. In the past, their services/warranties were always a hard sell add on at the register. Now, the computer is supposedly already "fixed by them" and the price is automatically jacked up. Jerks.

Suddenly my 429 computer was 580 with tax at the register. Of course, they had no computer at the advertised price in stock. I walked away sans computer and annoyed. Luckily at the second store, I was able to cause enough of a stink that they reduced the price of the computer by 50 bucks. I didn't feel like wasting any more time or gas fighting over 50 bucks, so I caved.

Still I'm thinking of lodging a complaint with the atty general's office. I wonder if they do this with all their product, now?

Week from Hell

2011-09-17T16:18:00.006-04:00

Well, where shall I begin in reciting and documenting the hellish week I've suffered. And do I really want to b/c really, who wants to read this? But, since ultimately this is a chronical of our life typed my family, here we go...

It all started last saturday, when Ico called hopping mad bc my dad was threatening to throw her out of the house. We go tearing over there to keep the peace, and finally leave around 800 at night. I get a call the next morning that my dad had been falling down during the night.

He fell in the early morning hours, and Ico had to call fire rescue to get him back up. Then, he fell again around 600 and fire rescue was called again. They put him back in his twin sized bed after determining his vitals were OK.

Ico called me around 800 to say she can't deal with him. I go over to find that apparently he had tried to get up to go to the bathroom, and fell. He was lying perpendicular on the bed. It took both Ico and I together to get him laying right in the bed. However, he wanted to walk 15 feet to the bathroom. He could barely stand up, needed assistence standing, and had trouble making his feet/legs work correctly.

I called 911 had had him transported to the hospital. He's been there since sunday. While the cat scan showed nothing, the MRI showed he had a stroke. Luckily its a mild one. They did other tests and determined that his heart is OK and not causing the strokes. Its just his physiology and old age. Of course, if anyone reads this blog, they know he is in denial about the whole thing. Apparently, the hospital has been drugging him up, b/c he's so uncooperative with treatment. They want to release him to a rehab facility. I have not seen him walk since he's been in the hospital. They report that it took a male nurse on each side supporting him for him to go to the bathroom. Not sure if that's b/c his balance is affected due to the stroke, whether its residual from the meds, or a combo of both. I have no idea what the future will hold for my dad. If his mobility is affected, I don't think that Ico will be able to deal with him. Don't know what we shall do. Only time will tell.

In the meantime, the reason for no updates here, is that on sunday or monday night, I spilled diet coke on my laptop. Ruined the keyboard and could no longer type on it. Just bought a new one today.

Friday, I got a call from the hospice nurse saying she was at the house, and no one was answering the door. I freak and go flying home, only to discover all was well. For a bit I was wondering if the fill in aide had just up and left my mom alone, or Ico had returned and was in trouble in the house. Oy.

On the way back to work, to avoid a construction area, I chose to go down NE 2 Avenue. The frickin road was also under construction. I drove over some unidentifiable thing in the road, that blew my time. Literally cut the thing to smithereens. Given the huge noise it made as well, I had the car towed to the dealership to make sure that nothing further was wrong other than the tire. Good thing. Apparently there is all kinds of damage to the wheel and all related parts. Had to put in an insurance claim.

Went to lunch, and the waiter dropped and broke the water glass, spilling it all over us.

I really am starting to think that I'm under some type of jinx.

I have now found that the thing I'm most greatful for at the moment, is aftercare. They do homework. Therefore, between all the hospital visits and getting home at 900, I don't have to worry about T and her homework. Its already done.

Girlie Night

2011-09-10T09:30:00.000-04:00

Friday night was a girlie night. T opened up a bday present she had received. It was a Hello Kitty Makeup set. She loves it and spent the night painting her toes, putting on lip gloss, and slathering herself in body glitter...on her tummy!

She particularly likes the toe separator. The kid's got some snazzy toes!

Live and Learn

2011-09-08T21:23:00.002-04:00

Well, now I understand why most of the little kid watches have plastic bands. Recall from below that my choice of watch was the really cute plainer watch with the snazzy hot pink cloth band.

Well, after a mere 3 days of wearing it at school, that cute pink band has a slight brownish tinge to it...from all the frickin' dirt!

I failed to take into account the sheer amount of dirt that comes along with a hard day at school and aftercare. I doubt that the thing will last the remainder of the month without turning black.

So much for my great sale purchase.

Teeth, braids, and time

2011-09-04T11:43:00.002-04:00

What could these three things possibly have in common? Its just our life.

Big new (in my opinion) is that T lost another tooth. #7. It's on the top, next to one of her two front teeth. She put the tooth in this cute tooth-fairy-holder- thing that hangs on the door. Woke up the next morning and I heard some scurrying around in T's room. And realized that I had fallen asleep immediately the night before, and totally FAILED in my TF duties. Bad, Bad mom. I ran for the cash and back to her room, where she was crying in bed b/c the tooth fairy forgot her. My heart was breaking too. Oy.

After some really fast talking, (lying through my teeth really), and some slight of hand under her pillow, I palmed the tooth and said that T must have been mistaken. Some fast talk about her waking up too early and the tooth fairy just wasnt done yet. Kid bought the whole thing. (insert HUGE sign of relief)

Today, Sunday, T is sporting a new hair style. Dot gave her some braids and she is very very proud of what she considers a big girl hairstyle.

I just think she's cute. But then I'm biased. The child could shave her head when she's rebelling and 16, and I'd still think she's adorable.

So after the TF fiasco of yesterday morning, we headed to the mall. T needed some ear buds (that's what they call ear or head phones these days) for her computer class. While out, we picked up a watch for her. Two watches, actually. She's been wanting one since she's learned how to tell time.

Ended up getting them both at Nordstroms of all places, where they were on sale for 11 bucks. JCP, Claires, and all the rest of the stores had watches for much more.

T, of course, chose the red one. It's a cuff-style with "diamonds" around the face. Mom chose the plainer pink one. I have my doubts that the gang at the catholic school will think the mod red watch is appropriate for school. Of course, given my lingering guilt from the tears of the morning, I caved and she got them both. Loves them. In fact right now, has them BOTH on. Same arm.

That's it for now. No idea what we're doing the rest of the long weekend. We're about to go and check up on my parents this afternoon.

Both Dot and I had to drop everything earlier in the week, as I got a call saying my dad was suddenly deaf in one ear. Had to get him in immediately that day for examination. Doc said its either nothing, i.e. clogged up ears, or its an ear virus. If a virus, he would have to start meds immediately else risk permanent hearing loss. So, off we went and the doc found two huge balls of wax clogging his ears. However, we was continuing to complain of hearing loss. So, Dot the next day had to drop all to take him to the doc. Turns out it was nothing serious, just the wax.

Bright spot in it all was that I was able to score another 5 or 6 packs of hearing aid batteries. I'll be placing them in the mail quite soon.

Friday Nite Fun

2011-08-27T20:32:00.001-04:00

Friday nite after work, T and I headed out to Merrick Park for dinner and strolling the mall. T was particularly thrilled to be given an adult glass to drink out of. Kept saying how she was a big girl now, a first grader, and very responsible.
Mama was thrilled with her big girl glass as well.

T was curious about the limon rind floating in my cocktail.

"What's that in your drink, mama? A french fry?"

After dinner we trolled the mall and spent alot of time in poor Borders bookstore...that was having a big final sale as the store is closing. So sad. That was one of our favorite stores in the place.

Big Transition

2011-08-25T17:18:00.002-04:00

Poor T. In hindsight, I'm not sure that attending summer camp in the same classroom as first grade was such a good idea. Standards of conduct for camp are much looser than school.

Day 1: reprimanded for screaming like a banshee at the boys

Day 2: reprimanded for some type of pushing incident with Amanda

Day 3: T refused to talk about what happened in school, which clearly indicates that some type of incident did occur!

Day 4: reprimanded for classroom conduct, causing the teach to make Amanda (who sits in the middle next to T) switch seats with Rene (the other child in T's row), to separate the girls.

Boy, is first grade rough on a girl!

Classroom Fun

2011-08-22T23:58:00.001-04:00

I was quite surprised that we woke up relatively early this morning, given we've both been waking up late over the summer and strolling into work and camp between 900 and 930.

No more. We were marching into class at 740 this morning!
Here's my big girl!

Sitting at a big girl desk already filled with her books.

I think the teach was quite wise putting T on an end, vs in the middle. Less chance of getting in trouble!
If everyone showed up today, there will be approximately 24 kids in her class. The room is really big and spacious. I was actually quite surprised at how big it is.

Turns out this photo is quite prophetic. T screaming across the room at one of her friends before class. I asked if she got in trouble today, and she confessed to two incidents.

Both involving boys.

Isn't that always the case?

The first time she got in trouble for screaming Daniel's name across the cafeteria. He's her love who is in the 2nd grade. Cross examination reveals he was apparently ignoring her, since there is no way on God's green earth he could not have heard her.

2nd incident involved Anthony. Recall that 1/2 of her old class is now "the other class". Apparently she spied him while both classes were in line outside in the hallways. T reports that she started screaming his name. Also, apparently, to no avail.

Little jerks.

I'm just glad she didn't haul off and punch one of them for ignoring her!

First Day Fun

2011-08-22T23:42:00.000-04:00

Introducing....our official First Grader.....Taylor!!! Hip Hip Hooray!!!! Here we are posing for the obligatory picture on the porch before heading out to school. Her book bag looks almost as big as she is. And its a good thing its so big...

Get a load of these books she came home with today! There are just 1/2 of her books. Luckily rolling backpacks are not banned at T's school like in many schools. Otherwise I doubt T could carry her books. They weigh almost as much as she does! She'd be falling over backwards without those wheels! Luckily, I understand that most of these books...like the math book, stays at school. Only the workbook comes home. We shall see. Apparently, I was supposed to cover these books in some type of see-thru contact paper. Stores are all sold out. So, they're going back to school in the same condition from which they came.

If I can get my iphone photos downloaded, I'll post the pics from in the classroom.

Back to School

2011-08-18T01:24:00.002-04:00

We're still here and surviving. No big problems, just busy. My van finally dried out...without any lingering odor. I took it to get thoroughly cleaned, which included rugs and seats shampooed. Am I glad that's over!

Otherwise, not much to report. Camp is over and school starts on monday. We met T's new teacher today, and she seems really nice. Her name is Miss Morffi. For the first time, the kids have been mixed up between the new classes, so T will be missing lots of her old friends, but making new friends as well. T went with me to the orientation meeting tonight. It was really odd to see her sitting in a big girl classroom at a big girl desk. Wow is all I can say!

So, our uniforms are purchased, our supplies are bought, our pencils are sharpened and we are ready for a new school year.

When it Rains, it pours

2011-08-08T08:20:00.002-04:00

...especially inside my van!

Since we have my mom's car over here, we've been driving it occasionnally to keep the batteries up. We took off to a far away mall yesterday morning. And we returned in a torrential rainstorm. Tropical torrential rainstorm. the only kind of awful rainstorm you get in Florida and all regions south. Rain blowing sideways.

As I approach the house, I spy that the rear sliding door on the van (T's door) is OPEN. Yes, it was open. How it was left open, I'm not quite sure although I have my suspicions. T has a nasty habit of failing to close her door. Although in her defense, its possible that my finger hit the button to open it while handling my keys, although I think that unlikely.

Whereever the blame lies really is irrelevant at this point. I now have a fully soaked van. T's carseat? soaked. The cup holders on it? full of water. The front passenger seat? soaked. The cereal and chip remnants, the likes of which could feed a 3rd world family for a week? a soaked congealing mess.

I'm off today to take it to be thoroughly cleaned, then leave the windows open so that it can dry without creating mildew and mold. Can't park and leave the windows open at work, as some may know I work within 200 feet of the main county jail. I don't relish a recent releasee or one of the bevy of poor homeless souls that inhabit the area, taking advantage of my open windows.

Hopefully, it will dry out before the pm rains come today.

2011 Summer Camp Show - Flamenco

2011-08-07T15:39:00.002-04:00

and finally, the last video from the 2011 Summer camp show. Posted here for all eternity!

Meanwhile, I'm sure that there has to be a better way to upload to youtube, but I'm damned if I know it what it is. These paltry 2 minute videos took about 200 minutes to upload...that's over 3 hours each. Luckily, I could set them all to upload, and then step away from the computer.

So, for your viewing pleasure...

2011 Summer Camp Show - Ballet

2011-08-07T08:43:00.001-04:00

Hmmm, is anybody else annoyed with these videos like I am? I've found that I must have patience to play them twice. The first time, it starts and stops the whole time. But if you click REPLAY, it will play smoothly after that.

2011 Summer Camp Show - K1 Performance

2011-08-06T19:30:00.002-04:00

Here's T performing just with her camp class.

2011 Summer Camp Video - Cheerleading Award

2011-08-06T15:58:00.002-04:00

Since I had no idea T was going to win, I didn't have my camera going. All I'm left with is this after the fact video. Grrrrr.

2011 Summer Camp - Cheerleading

2011-08-06T15:50:00.002-04:00

2011 Camp Show - Modeling Video

2011-08-06T08:39:00.004-04:00

Don't forget to scroll to the very bottom, to turn off the blog music by clicking the big circle, so it won't interfere with the video's music. Enjoy!

Camp Show

2011-08-06T05:22:00.001-04:00

Tonight was the end of year camp show. and what a show it was! We used all kids of gel and spray, to get T's hair to stay in a bun. Dot worked very hard on it and did agreat job.

A friend lent us the red shirt and skirt you see here. T wore this for the modeling portion of the show. Then, changed into a black leotard with that same skirt for the dancing. The bun was required for the flamenco portion of the show.
Before heading out to the show, we paused for a few pics. T was particularly thrilled with getting to wear mama's hoop earrings and necklace. The camp suggested that all the little girls really do it up with the accessories. But for the fact that we were afraid her hair would come down, she would have been sporting a hat as well.
Here's T in one of the dance numbers. For some reason I can no longer download my videos from my camera. Not sure why. If I ever figure it out, I'll post the dance and cheerleading numbers.

....and speaking of cheerleading. Everyone in the camp calls her the captain, and she won the "Top of the Pyramid" award for being the best cheerleader in the camp!

Go T!

The Miracle of Modern Medicine

2011-07-30T08:48:00.003-04:00

I am slowly recovering from my awful throat. I personally think it was strep (official results back this monday). Last Tuesday, the fever came...103.5 at its highest. I was popping advil like a mad woman. And the throat just kept getting worse. By Wednesday, The glands in my neck swelled up and the pain started moving to my ears. I could barely swallow. Even touching the outside of my neck hurt.

Luckily, I got in to see the doc on wednesday. She took a culture for strep and immediately started antibiotics. Like flipping a switch, the symptoms started lessening. Now, fever's gone, and the swelling is down (but not gone). Swallowing is uncomfortable but not painful. As it appoaches time for my next antibiotic pill, symptoms get worse, so I know its not 100% gone, but I'm finally back to feeling like a human being.

Which started me feeling so, so greatful that I live in a time, when antibiotics are readily available and work. What did those poor souls do before they were invented? So, that's that.

We have a fairly slow weekend planned with nothing on the agenda. I'll be busy thanking my lucky stars for the miracle of modern medicine.

...and T remains healthy as a horse (knocking on wood as I type this)!

weekend happenings

2011-07-24T23:25:00.002-04:00

After our drama at the Eye ER, the rest of the weekend went smoothly. On Sunday T went to a Bday party for another little girl in her camp at Dandy Bear. Picture a D@ve and Busters or Boomers for little kids, complete with a jungle gym/obstacle course thing that spans about 3/4 of a football field. She had a BLAST. Pictures to come.

On monday, we start intensive swim class. One week of one on one instruction in a friend's pool. T already knows how to swim, but is a one-breath wonder. She's an excellent swimmer ...that is, until her one breath runs out. I'm hoping that this coming week she will learn to take a breath while swimming.

Also, not this friday but next, if the big end of year show for the summer camp. We're all very excited. T will be reprising her role as the Spanish Rose. This year, there are about 3 Flamenco (or according to T, "flamingo) dances in the show. I suspect my little star will be shining!

More Fun with Doctors

2011-07-24T09:29:00.003-04:00

It's 12:00 a.m. friday night....Do you know where your child is?

Mine was in the Bascom Palmer ER partying with the doctors. Now what, you ask?

Well, I've been meaning to take her to the eye doctor for a while, b/c she is constantly saying that her eyes, especially the left one, itches. Sometimes when she watches TV, she also looks out the side of her eye as if trying to look around something blocking her vision. The pediatrician suggested it might be allergies, so we tried OTC remedies for a few weeks to no avail. Suddenly on friday night for the first time, T started complaining that that same eye was now burning and she couldn't open it. Oy.

Since one of the best eye clinics in the country is literally in our backyard, and since they conveniently have an ER, off we went. We got there about 6:30, and didn't get out of there til slightly after midnight. Not sure why it took so long since there werent that many people there, but there you go.

Nothing big was diagnosed. They said it looked like there were allergies and noticed some irregularities in her optic nerve that may in the future make her more prone to glaucoma in her older age (which calls for monitoring), and gave us a referral to a specialist to sort it all out.

Miraculously, the "stinging eye" cleared up around 8:00 p.m., when T was bored out of her mind from waiting, and after she had lost interest in the 3D magazine and glasses they provided in the waiting room.

One Ringee Dingee....Two Ringee Dingee...

2011-07-12T18:31:00.003-04:00

Hold the phone, everybody!!!! T has learned my cell phone number!

To help her practice, I let her use the home phone (which I'm not bothering making her learn since I pretty much just use my cell phone) and call my cell phone.

Now, she'll sneak and get the home phone, and call me from another room. Usually, her own.

"Hi mama, can I have some milk?"

"Hi mama, can I have a snack?"

Its the funniest thing!

When it Rains, it Pours

2011-07-09T09:43:00.003-04:00

Yep, its raining here this morning. Kind of looks outside how we all feel around here. In a word: shitty. I was sick all last week with a terrible throat and cough. I'm now on the mend. Last night around 1000 pm, the aid called to say my dad was talking trash to her. Nothing nasty, just inappropriate. Dot went over there to sleep. His doc prescribed us some new medicine that we are praying will help the situation. Of course, we have to get it in him first, which will be a HUGE task.

Then, T and I wake up this morning and she's burning up with fever. Also for the first time ever, she is complaining of a splitting headache. we were in the dr office at 800 a.m. I informed them that I had given her tylenol at 700 a.m., and they ask you mean acedominifen? Uh, I don't know, it was tylenol. What brand they ask. Tylenol. I'm now getting the vibe that something is wrong, and so I screech out...but it was children's of course.

Um, turns out both children's tylenol and children's motrin have been recalled. The doc say it must have been an old bottle, which it was. Turns out it was recalled b/c there was no consistency in dosage in the bottles. Some had too much medicine in them, and some had too little. Oy. Who knew? They kindly gave me some children's advil.

The doc deduced that T is suffering from the common cold and not menengitis As some of you may know...I'm freakily paranoid about that disease as I grew up hearing stories of my dad's sister dorothy (of whom Dot is named after). The first Dorothy died in the 1930's at age 13 of menengitis. Came home with fever and all thought she just had a cold. She was dead 2 days later. My paranoia is the poor doc's problem, and poor T gets dragged to the doctor anytime she has a high fever. Her complaint of head pain sealed the deal. A 10 buck co-pay is nothing compared to my peace of mind.

So, since like a moron I promised T a new DS game since she was sick and we couldn't do anything fun today, we stopped off at target. T said she was hungry and wanted a hot dog. I figured the meds kicked in finally, despite being recalled, and she was feeling better. So, we went to the counter to buy it. While standing there, poor T yells that she as thrown up. Sure enough, the poor child had upchucked right in the foodline. Luckily , the store was empty. Poor T, she hasn't thrown up since she was 18 months old. After cleaning that up, we passed on the hot dog, purchased the game, and are now at home eating toast.

Just another day in the life, right?

Rough Week

2011-07-02T09:54:00.002-04:00

Well, we've been AWOL from the ol' blog, as last week was a really rough week. It started on Sunday. My mother almost died. Luckily, we were at the house for our usual Sunday of checking up on them.

We looked at mom, and realized that she was making a really funny face with her mouth. It was like all scrunched up. We tried to get her to say something, but she couldn't open her mouth at all. She then started looking really upset, with her eyes opened really wide. Took her blood pressure, and it was through the roof. Its usually normal. Her pulse was racing was well. We started taking it every 5 minutes, and it seemed to be coming down. We thought she was having another stroke and placed a call to hospice to come out and eval and admit her. It was clear, though, that while she couldn't speak or open her mouth, she was aware what was going on b/c she could blink on command. Well, as she was waiting, her body started shaking...her arms, her legs, her feet.
We said screw it and called 911. Paramedics arrived and discovered her blood glucose level was 17. Dangerously low.

They immediately administered an IV glucose bag and it was like flipping a switch. She turns to the paramedic and asks, "What's your name". Anyway, they transported her and she was admitted to the hospital. Turns out she had a really bad bladder infection which was unbeknownst to us all. No fever or any other symptoms. She was released on Thursday and came back home.

Still no word on why her blood glucose dropped like a rock. We are awaiting all kinds of obscure blood tests coming back. She's on antibiotics to clear the infection, and is otherwise pretty much the same.

Meanwhile, Dot and I are exhausted.

Good news is that we were able to switch out her alternating air mattress that we bought a few weeks ago that never worked. With pressure from some hospital personnel, they exchanged it at no cost for a better one. The better one also has a gel mattress to it, so that if you lose power, she's not laying on the bed springs.

So, there you have it. We're trying to destress from our awful week by going down to the roller rink for a little fun. My office let me go home early yesterday at noon. I headed out to midtown and had a margarita and guac lunch at a high-end mexican restaurant...Mercadito. Delish. I then walked off my buzz blessedly ALONE in t@rget and M@rshall's Home Goods. It turned into a mommy day and I had a fab time...despite the fact that I think I'm getting sick. Isn't that always the case? Once the stress is over, somebody ends up sick. Looks like its me this time as a sore throat is coming on.

Build a Bear Girl Scout Event

2011-06-18T20:31:00.001-04:00

Today was the big year-end Girl Scout event at Build a Bear Workshop. For those who are unaware, its a ridiculously expensive store where one literally builds a stuffed animal, then pick out clothes and accessories for the thing. The girls each were given 30.00 plus a 5.00 coupon...and still I paid an additional 5 bucks. See what I mean?
The girls picked their animal, added a heart, and then took the thing to the stuffing machine to get stuffed. T picked a bunny covered with daisies. Cute. She then picked glass high-heeled slippers and a princess/ballerina dress.

She loves it.
After, the girls had a fashion show with all their dressed up stuffed animals. They were all just took cute.
After leaving the store, we headed off to Johnny Rockets for burgers, fries, Sodas, and ice creams.
We finally got home about 8:15 at night. Exhausted.

But get a load of this rainbow! I just had to take a picture. Hope its a sign of good luck.

I Miss My Baby!

2011-06-16T22:23:00.000-04:00

Just sayin'....

First Day of Camp 2011

2011-06-13T18:11:00.000-04:00

Today was T's first day of summer camp, and from all reports she thoroughly enjoyed herself. Apparently , she had lots of fun "freeze dancing". I'm told that is when you dance and dance, and then freeze when the music abruptly stops mid-song. She also played on the playground and did artwork.

Who's big idea was it that only kids get to go to summer camp? That bites! I could sure use a couple months of summer camp myself! Unfortunately, the only adult summer camp I know of is called the Federal Pen. Why do kids and criminals get to have all the fun?

Stay-cation 2011

2011-06-10T19:10:00.000-04:00

Instead of taking a vacation these last few days, which just really isn't in the cards for a whole host of reasons, we stayed put in sunny Miami and had a stay-cation. I mean, its not like we don't live in one of the biggest tourist destinations of the country!
Dot was working from home these past few days, and also doing a bit of home repair, so we went to her house everyday, to see how it all was coming along, and to take advantage of her pool. T is getting better and better with her swimming. She can now take a few breaths while swimming, which is huge. We're scheduled at the end of july for a week of one-on-one swimming lessons. That should fix her up very well!

Today in addition, we went to the movies and saw Kung Fu Panda II. T really enjoyed it, and didn't really have any reaction to the adoption issues that are throughout the movie. I figured that I better take her first, to see how she would react, vs. letting her go by herself with her summer camp. Odds are they will be seeing that movie this summer.

So, that's been our week. Too bad it just didn't last longer!

Kindergarten Graduation 2011!!!!!!

2011-06-08T11:18:00.003-04:00

Here's a pic of T from the last day of school. They got to wear their graduation tshirt and jeans, instead of their uniform. From what I could tell, real learning ended sometime last week, and since then they have been working on their end of the year show.

It was FABULOUS!!!!

T had two solo parts and remembered all of her lines.

The play was "Magical Me", and lead by the new music teacher. Poor Ms. Gonzalez and her accordian retired last year after over 30 years of service, and the new young teacher took over. A breathe of fresh air has blown in the place, which is a bit of time warp circa 1953. My fav was the class singing sinatra's New York New York, but with all the words changed....If we can make it there, we'll make it anywhere, its up to you, First Grade First Grade!

Here is T's final project that we were working on, can't really tell from the pic, but glitter was the major art medium used. I can't say enough about glitter glue, i.e. glue with glitter already mixed in. No muss, no fuss! ...and no glitter all over my dining room floor!
Here is T receiving her diploma. I'm majorly bummed that I unknowingly cut off everybody's heads. Its my only shot, too!

Here is T with posing a final time with her teacher Mrs. Cabezas. T learned a whole lot, and had fun doing it. Rumor has it that next year is when "real school" starts in earnest. No more playing or messing around.

Looks like we shall be practicing our math skills a bit and our reading skills, to make sure that we don't fall behind.

I'm off the rest of the week, and we're headed up to dotty's condo to go swimming.

Congrats to my little first grader, Mama could not be more proud!

Last Day of School

2011-06-07T20:56:00.002-04:00

Today was T's last official day of kindergarten. Tomorrow is the graduation ceremony and show. We are so excited we can't stand it. I can not believe that this day has actually come. I know its cliche, and every parent says it, but it truly feels like it was yesterday that my baby was climbing out of her crib and high chair, crawling around the house, and otherwise getting into trouble. Where the hell did the time go?

Stay tuned for pics. I'll try to take alot.

Pool Party

2011-06-05T17:24:00.000-04:00

T had a FABULOUS time at the birthday party of friend. They all played in the pool for 3 hours straight. You think T might have been pooped after that?

No Way!

Schoolyard Drama

2011-06-01T21:15:00.004-04:00

T can dish out the drama to her classmates, teachers, and poor old mama as well as any Academy award winning actress. Lets review what happened yesterday in school, and then today....

I arrive to pick T up at the end of the day, to be informed that "she's had a really tough day". Turns out, she scratched John Paul in the back. She claims that she was trying to tag him, and it happened by accident. Problem is, he wasn't playing at the time.

Then, T was accused of something by a mom and another student, that further investigation revealed was false. While in time out after "the incident", T hauled off and shoved Olga off of a bench they were on. T reports that she did it b/c she didn't want Olga to get her in more trouble than she was already in. Oy. Poor T must have been very frustrated and confused at that point.

I'm trying really hard to keep an open mind, and not indict the mom as an overreacting FREAK. If the roles were reversed, who knows how I would handle it. I can guarantee, though, that based upon the same set of circumstances, I would never in a million years claim what this lady was claiming. What would the end of the school year be without some good old stress and drama.

Anyway, T has had a cough for the last week and a half. It got worse last night, and developed a more "wet" sound. T has had what the docs described as a "nervous tick" or "nervous cough" in the past. I figured with the end of school and looming camp, she was displaying the symptoms again. During times of school transition she often starts biting her nails as well. That, though, has not yet started again. Anyway, I figured I'd take her off to the doc to have a listen to her lungs, just to be sure.

Thank god I did. Doc says that she hears something faint and not quite normal in her lower left lung, and asked if I minded if she prescribed an antibiotic to ensure that it doesn't develop into something worse. While the P word was never mentioned, it was clearly implied. Luckily, t is displaying no other symptoms of pneumonia and god knows I dont want her developing it. We shall be starting our liquified z-pac doses tomorrow.

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

2011-05-29T08:21:00.002-04:00

Well, the teachers at T's school cleverly scheduled the last floating holiday on friday...giving them and us a 4 day weekend, not just a 3day weekend. Yippee! A few weeks ago when it was announced, I thought we might do something fun or go somewhere this weekend. That's not happening for two reasons: my mom's medical equipment and I'm broke.

On the equipment scene, T and I spent our day off on Friday at my parents' house, waiting for the medical equipment to be delivered and picked up. As I said in the past, its been a logistical nightmare. My mom needs a hospital bed, an alternating air mattress, oxygen machine, nebulizer, and wheelchair. We ended up purchasing the bed and air mattress.

Medicare will only supply a semi electric bed, not fully electric. Semi electric works the head to sit up, and to elevate the feet. To raise and lower the height of the bed itself, one must use the crank. When caring for my mom, we are constantly raising and lowering the bed's height for various reasons. Our aide Icolene (and I) have bad backs and my dad has bad shoulders. None of us can easily (if at all) use a crank.

Re the alternating air mattress, that combats bed sores. My mom had bad ones after coming out of the hospital and nursing homes. Took us like 10 months for them to close and finally heal. We don't want them coming back, as that's one thing that could potentially kill her. Medicare only supplies an air mattress if you have a stage III sore, i.e. a bad one. Medicare prefers to wait until a patient develops a bad bedsore to supply the mattress, rather than prevent them in the first place. Then, once healed, the mattress would be taken away. We can't have all this switching out of medical equipment all the time. Its just too much. So we bought that as well. $1,500.00 for both: 850.00 for the bed, full rails, and reg mattress, 650.00 for the alternating air mattress. A veritable bargain since one equip. company quoted me a price for the mattress alone of 2,500, and another 1,450. Bastards.

So now, if my mom goes into hospice again, there will be no switching out of beds, as we will own the damned thing and its staying put. That's a good thing.

The reason I'm broke? On Tuesday I was going to work and my car wouldn't start. Luckily dot was in town and after my van was towed in, we drove to borrow my parents 2nd car. A chevy aveo they purchased in March of 2009. It has 2,200 miles on it. It was my mom's car. Dot drops me off, I go inside to chat. I come out and the Aveo won't start. I had to call Dot to return to give me a jump, then drove to sears to get a new battery. My car? needed a new battery (3rd in 4 years), needed the 30,000 service so that they wouldn't invalidate my warranty (the bastards), needed to flush the power steering line and add new, needed new brakes. Despite having a warranty, I dropped 850.00.

I hate car dealerships.

Yesterday, we picked up the car, went rollerskating (T is progressing EXCELLENTLY), went to a birthday party, and got haircuts.

On today's agenda: food shopping and bill paying at my parents, then a small bbq/swim party at a friend's house. Frankly, I'd prefer to just lay at home on the couch, but that's no fun for T, so off we're going to go. Sigh.

Hope your Memorial Day is lots of fun.

GS Yr-end Ceremony

2011-05-25T20:54:00.000-04:00

Tonight was the year end ceremony for the Girlscouts at T's school. Four of the daisies "bridged" over and became brownies. Many brownies "flew up" and became juniors, and many juniors "bridged" over to become cadettes. T got her end of year pin, signifying that she's been a girl scout for one year. She will become a brownie after next year. It was a really cute show. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera, and took this with my phone.

Fun with Firemen!

2011-05-21T19:08:00.000-04:00

Today the Daisy girl scouts toured the Coral Gables Fire Station. They learned about fire safety, they saw where the firefighters sleep and eat, they saw the pole, they got to pile inside a fire truck and actually go for a ride...sirens and everything, and the biggest thrill of the day.....they got to hold the fire hose.

Taylor can't stop talking about it. She had a blast!

Redemption!

2011-05-18T21:27:00.002-04:00

T has successfully squirmed her way out of trouble and acheived redemption. I had to go to a meeting after work at a local irish pub, which meant T had to come along too. We talked about how she had to sit quietly and not interrupt. She was such a good girl I can't tell you. We were there about 2 hours and she was such a big girl. The only interruption she made, was when she asked if I could announce that she had learned how to snap her fingers. Both hands.

T is a champion snapper, and can usually be heard snapping her fingers every few minutes. The whole table was very impressed.

Since she was such a good girl, I announced that she was no longer in trouble. She's happily watching TV now.

Big Fat Trouble

2011-05-17T19:45:00.002-04:00

No, not with my parents. T is the one who is in it. What was I doing last night between 11:00 p.m. and midnight?

I was in T's room on the rug, searching for stick pins.

T got ahold of some sewing items and was playing with them in her room. Probably since I was sewing this past weekend on the vest. anyway, when I realize she's still up, I go in to make her go to bed, and she's laying in bed playing nintendo. Strike #1. I walk around the room picking up misc. things and she continues to play. Strike #2. Only after I find a bunch of stick pins in her shag carpet, does she mention that I should watch out b/c there were some more behind me. Strike #3. SHE'S OUT.

She is unplugged til friday. No computer, no nintendo, no phone games, and no TV. she's in trouble not for dropping them, but for failing to come and get me and report it. She knows how dangerous pins are in the carpet, but said nothing. Purposely. Just ignored me as she played nintendo, while I walked around the room.

Has anyone ever tried to find stick pins in a shag carpet? Its like trying to find them in grass. I pick up like 20 and thought I was done. then I had the bright idea to use a hairbrush to brush the carpet. That worked like a charm. About 30 more pins were found.

I now think that we've gotten them all However, I'm in search of a strong magnet to use, just to make sure.

gotta go, I have a date with Glee!

Nothing Interesting to Report

2011-05-16T19:38:00.002-04:00

If anyone is still even tuning in to this dumb blog anymore, I'd be surprised. With everything going on here, I just haven't been in a mood to blog. My mother is being kicked out of the hospice program, as her medical decline has plateau'ed. That's the good news. The bad news, now, is that its a logistical nightmare. It also means that the hospice doctors and nurses will no longer come to the house to care for her. It all began, of course, during my never-ending trial and continues even through today.

The bad part about it all, is that we are no longer able to take my mom out to the dr. She would have to be taken by ambulance. Because her old treating physician's office is inaccessible to a patient on a bed accompanied by 2 EMT's, we had to find a new doctor. Luckily, we found one that will make house calls and treat her in the home. That's the plus side. Unfortunately, all of the medical equipment in the house: hospital bed, oxygen machine, nebulizer, etc. has to be switched out. Depsite the fact that medicare is paying for it either way, hospice medicare is a different program so therefore the change is required.

I had been hoping to take T on a getaway weekend to disney at the end of my trial, but that blew up as I had to be at my parent's house to oversee the switch last monday. I was afraid my father would get mad and throw them all out if someone wasn't there. Now, due to my work schedule, its impossible to go to disney before a big black out period for our passes for the summer. Next opportunity will not be until fall. I don't have high hopes for that. With my luck, I've just wasted our annual passes.

Good thing I was there, as the equipment co. tried to deliver the wrong equipment. Even as of today, there hasn't been a switch due to back-ordered equipment. The new ETA is this week. Maybe. Due to issues at work, its just so much harder now and more stressful, as it will be really hard to get coverage so I can go over there, and I'm absolutely booked solid all day long through the end of the month.

You wonder what more could go wrong? In the midst of all of this, my father is causing huge problems. Our aide is ready to quit on us, as he's just nasty to her, and screams at her to get out of the house. On monday 5/2, I get a call at 730 a.m. that he was throwing her out. Despite the fact that I was in the middle of trial and had a jury coming back at 10:30, I went charging over there to maintain the peace. I was successful, was able to make it back to court, but was so stressed the rest of the day that I was near-useless. Luckily, my defendant took a plea. I have no idea what would have happened had she not.

We still have our aide for now, but I know its just a matter of time. I doubt my dad will get better and stop. Our aide is getting at the end of her rope. One can only take that type of environment for so long. I have no idea how this will all end up. She'll probably quit, and we'll have to find a new aide...which will require me to go over there and meet them, interview them, probably stay there a night or two. I could go on and on about these problems, but I'm just so sick of it all, I don't even blog about it much anymore. Even that stresses me out. So instead I escape with D@ncing with the stars, @merican idol, Glee, etc. Mindless entertainment is all I can do at the moment. That plus hanging with T.

So...on to better news:

T's iron-on patches on her girl scout vest were peeling off. I confess to being next to useless on the domestic front, and my skills with an iron are practically non-existent. So I broke out the needle and thread to sew a few stitches around the patches. It was the perfect job for a rainy day. I'm particularly proud of the fact that I only sewed the damned vest to the shirt that I was wearing 2 times. That's a personal best!

I just taught my daughter tonight what a wedgie is. Not sure if that was the right move, or not. However, they were talking about wedgies on some cartoon that's probably too mature for her to watch, but I'm admit to being less than vigilent in my TV monitoring. She kept asking, so I explained. Actually, I came to realize that the only way to truly explain was to do it to her...gently... The kid couldn't stop laughing and is now going around the house giving herself ones. She's under strict orders never EVER to do it to any other person, or let anyone do it to her. Only time will tell.

While at the mall this weekend, I got a lead on a piano tuner and a piano teacher, both of whom would come to my home. Anybody have any idea on the age one should start kids with piano lessons? I started in kindergarten or first grade, but the dynamic was way different with me. I had an older sister taking lessons, so by definition, I automatically... desparately even... wanted to take lessons, too. Anybody got an opinions or words of wisdom? I'll probably delay this whatever the recommendations until my parents settle down. I just worry that will never happen for a really long time, and don't want T to miss out. Hard to know what to do.

Remember my house painting and new sod from back in march? Pressure cleaning the house and watering the new sod? I just got my water bill. For 12 years its ranged between 40.00 and 60.00 every three months. The current bill? Frickin' $312.52. NO LIE. I nearly fell out of my chair.

Taylor is still skating around the house every chance she gets...and makes me smile.

Hope you all have a great week.

Mother's Day 2011

2011-05-14T08:36:00.002-04:00

Did I ever mention how we celebrated? It was really sweet. T woke me up, and made me wear a sparkling pink cardboard crown (similar to the old burger king crowns from when I was young). I then had breakfast in bed consisting of a diet coke, and an eggo waffle. Of course, T wanted to horn in on this action, and made dotty bring her breakfast in bed with me. This was a HUGE thrill for T b/c while we don't have many rules in this house, a big one is no syrup in bed...for obvious reasons.

T has been trying to squirm her way around that rule for a long time, and finally seized the opportunity. So, there we both sat, propped up on pillows, eating our waffles and syrup. With Phineas and Ferb (a cartoon) playing the whole time. T then reminded me that cartoon network was having a Scooby Doo mother's day marathon on all day, and we could just stay in bed and watch it.

So add to that her homemade card and a keychain made at school (that's already broke), my day was complete.

What a great day!

Back in Business!

2011-05-11T21:42:00.000-04:00

We are officially back in business. Last weekend we made an encore appearance at the skating rink. T has gotten so good that she actually braved the big kid rink, and didn't stay in the middle section. She's really getting good!

She was itching to go b/c an acquaintance gave her a pair of roller skates. They are way big for her, but that doesn't seem to matter. We took them over to Grandma's house, and she was busy skating around the neighborhood.

She also constantly wears them in the house. Now that she's gotten so good, I don't worry about her falling in the house as much, and breaking her head open on furniture. The kid knows no fear.

No internet due to fried modem for 5 more days. Happy mom day!

2011-05-08T16:12:00.000-04:00

Stop the Presses!!!

2011-05-03T19:50:00.002-04:00

You think news of the long form birth certificate and a certain terrorist's death were big news? I beg to differ!

I bring you news even bigger! After 6 long LONG years, my defendant finally took a plea late Monday. 28 days jail followed by 1 yr of house arrest follow by 4 years probation. Special conditions of it all is that she pay back the damn $$, pay costs of investigation and prosecution, and never apply for or work for an entity that receives grants.

DONE!

Of course, it was not without its drama and the plea was PAINFULLY slow in coming, but at the end of the day, I gave a little and she gave a little. Neither of us were 100% satisfied with the plea, which usually means its a good one. It also helped that I pulled an old prosecutor's trick and had most of my witnesses, (10 of them) lined up sitting outside ready to testify. The defendant's sister came out a few times to see who was in the hit parade of witnesses, and was reporting back to her.

Hasta la vista, baby!

The Incredible Growing Foot

2011-04-26T20:23:00.002-04:00

Seemingly overnight, all of T's shoes are too small. Her sandals are all OK, but the real shoes? too small. I first realized the problem at Easter, when all her dress up shoes (size 11) wouldn't go on her foot. We finally shoved on a pair that I had purchased in Dillards 3 years ago in Tampa. They fit, but just barely.

Today, T went to work with me in the morning. Again, we searched her closet for shoes and even her school shoes (size 11.5) were small on her. 8 days off of school, and suddenly her shoes don't fit. We went rushing out to the outlet mall this afternoon, only to discover...

The frickin striderite outlet doesn't have ANY patent black schoolshoes for girls. None. Zip. Nada. I can't tell you how annoyed I am. Lesson for the future: buy two pairs at teh beginning of the school year, one 1/2 size too big. Luckily, zappos has free shipping and free return shipping, so I'll probably get them from there...if I can find her size. So far, most are sold out.

I wonder if she's about to grow?

Easter Fun by the Bay

2011-04-24T21:49:00.001-04:00

Pool Fun and Another Hunt

2011-04-24T21:46:00.001-04:00

The Hunt Continues

2011-04-24T21:03:00.001-04:00

Every year I get a picture of and I at the hunt. Here's this year's version. I'm surprised she's smiling as she did not like that we were taking time away from her precious hunt. She only deigned to pose since there were not more eggs in the little kid section. So, we moved out with the bigger kids.
Yep, T was much happier chasing eggs in the big kid lot. The kid was in her element!
She was running around the place like a rocket out of control. No egg was safe.
After the hunt we headed of to Sophia and Nicks house for more Easter fun

The Hunt

2011-04-24T20:57:00.001-04:00

As soon as mass was over, we headed over to the egg hunt which was at the school. The hunt for the little kids was in the inside courtyard, and the bigger kids' hunt was in a different area.
Gee, ya think these kids were excited to get there? They couldn't contain themselves.
Before entering we had to pose with their alway hokey, bizarre looking easter bunny. Nick just downright refused.

Easter Morning

2011-04-24T20:48:00.001-04:00

We started out the morning getting all gussied up, and posing for pics. We then left around 9:30 for the 9:00 a.m. mass at St. Rose. If I do say so myself, T looked adorable in her Easter dress. She insisted on wearing the cute little gloves I picked up in the dollar section of a certain store that begins with a T.

The inside of the church was literally standing room only, and there was barely any of that. So, we hung out outside waiting for the mass to end.

T, of course, insisted on posing for pictures. Here she is in a super hero pose.
Here she is pretending to be holy. Awww, how angelic is that!
We both enjoyed our traditional Easter breakfast of juice/coffee and St. Rose donuts.

As soon as church was over, we met up with our friends and headed over to the Egg hunt.

Easter Saturday

2011-04-23T15:55:00.001-04:00

We spent our Easter Saturday at my parents' house this morning. We brought over a lasagna for lunch. Everyone was doing well. Had to do it today, b/c we had to do their grocery shopping and Publix is closed tomorrow. Plus, tomorrow we have plans to make a short appearance in church, easter egg hunt, and hang with Sophia and Nick in their pool. What with Dot and T being away and just coming home yesterday afternoon pooped from their trip, we weren't in the mood to do a traditional easter dinner.

Meanwhile, T came home with all KINDS of loot from Tampa. Ceci gave her a bunch of hair doodads. You can see two of the really cute clips here: a butterfly and a kitty cat. She couldn't wait to wear them.

Now, she's busy putting photos of her last girl scout meeting into her new scrap book. It is an absolutely BEAUTIFUL scrapbook, with pics of Ceci's kids inside. I treasure it. T likes it too, and I've taught her how to scrap...that's why she's so busy. She's also incorporating some Easter stickers onto her scrap pages in honor of the holiday.

Hope you all are having a great weekend so far!

What a Motley Crew!

2011-04-22T17:52:00.000-04:00

Here are the crazy kids. Boy oh boy how they have grown!

The girls got home from Tampa this afternoon safe and sound. Gosh did I miss my girl. The house was just too quiet.
Last night, I went out for happy hour and then dinner at a hip restaurant. I don't think I've done that in years. Had a fab time.

Where's the fire?

2011-04-21T11:39:00.001-04:00

Looks like the girls at are a children's museum in Tampa. It appears as if my girl is a little firefighter in training!

Stock Tip

2011-04-20T17:47:00.000-04:00

Hi all,

I wanted to warn anyone who owns stock in Coca cola fair warning: i suspect the stock will plummet in the coming days, due to lack of sales. How do I know this, you ask?

You heard it hear first: I am attempting to give up diet soda. Specifically diet coke and cherry coke zero.

Good thing I don't own any, or I'd be selling now! I admit that I'm a coke addict...a diet coke addict. I'm doing it with T away so that she won't contribute to or exaserbate any ill effects like headaches.

Meanwhile, news from Tampa is that the girls went to the zoo today. Spent a whopping 47 bucks...and left after an hour or so. They claim it was too hot. So, off they went to an old favorite: the mall for lunch at nordstroms and a movie. No word yet on what they saw.

So, let me voice my gripe here: They go to Tampa, and all I get is this lousy picture today. Um, could SOMEBODY take a picture of all the kids together? Especially since I haven't seen them in about 3 years?? Also one of T with Ceci and one with the whole gang including Ceci and Peter? Hint...Hint....

Tampa Aquarium

2011-04-19T20:11:00.000-04:00

Breaking News from Tampa

2011-04-19T19:12:00.003-04:00

As many of you may know, Dot and T took off to Tampa on Monday, to visit Aunt Ceci and the kids. T is on Easter vacation. I'm stuck at home in an eerily quiet house. So, I've been getting period reports from them.

Ceci mentioned that the highlight of Taylor and Baisler's late afternoon swim, was the lizard that ran into Aunt Dot's mouth. Huh????

I asked Dot what in the world happened, and she emailed me the following first-hand account:

We were around the pool. Me and Cec sitting in chairs, B&T swimming. They get
out and B picks up a net and starts to chase a lizard. It runs under my chair,
I keep talking. Next thing you know it's on my cheek. I open my mouth to scream
and it went into my mouth. I was holding a big glass of water and totally
drenched myself B&T thought that was the funniest thing.

This morning we went to the Aquarium. It's very nice, all indoors. Then went
to lunch, picked up B and then the 2 of them swam. They all just left for Tai
Kwon Do. T just took a shower and we're waiting to go meet the Manville's at
Carrabbas in about an hour.

All I can say to that is....HOLY MOTHER OF GOD!!! This story just so creeps me out. She could have choked to death. What it the lizard continued to run down her throat and choked her? Oy.

Who knew all this fun and excitement went on in Tampa?

Meanwhile, I think that Jordan girls are being plagued by lizards. On the drive home, and big green lizard jumped from my rearview mirror onto my driver's door window....that was luckily UP. I almost wrecked. For the next 20 blocks I proceeded to knock on the window like a maniac with anything I could get my hands on. I suspect other drivers thought I was nuts. Anyway, it finally jumped off my car when I almost emptied my window washing fluid on it.

I wonder if my defendant and her curses have anything to do with this?

Chinatown Miami

2011-04-17T17:00:00.001-04:00

Today we went to Chinatown Miami, in Miami Shores. It was a small street festival organized to publicize a new play at the Miami Shores Children's theater. The old movie theater where Dot and I saw every disney movie known to man. We explained to T that we used to go there b/c there were rarely childrens movies on TV, and there were no DVDs. She just looked puzzled. T refused to pose with any of the chinese dragons that we passed. Instead, she would only deign to pose with Spongebob. Sigh. On an upnote, we ran into lots of friends and acquaintances. didn't know it at the time I was snapping the bounce house picture, but the other little asian girl in it we know from the FCC group we used to belong to. Boy, are the girls growing up! We also ran into Jackie and her son, the hula instructor from T's bday party. The whole thing culminated in a parade, with the girls scouts bringing up the rear. Rain rolled in so we rolled out. Fun times! We're now back home. T is off from school next week, so she and Dot are driving to Tampa to visit with Aunt Ceci and the kids. I will remain home on parent duty. Hope you all had a great weekend.

Egg-stravaganza 2011

2011-04-16T21:47:00.001-04:00

I'm happy to report that the 2011 Egg-stravaganza was a raging success! 24 eggs were boiled up and decorated as much as Nertz's bicycle. We added a few new artistic mediums to our bag of tricks. Egg-toos (similar to tatoos but for eggs) worked well. We also got a stamping kit that worked with limited success. Only Jodie, the only egg decorator with any talent, had any success. The stamps were a flop in Taylor and my artistically inexperienced hands. We also got the roller set, similar to a tiny paint roller. T and I had better success with that device. I admit that I did more observing than decorating. Jodie and Taylor were doing a fine job. Dot did some grilling on the barbeque as we were distracted with our art. I posted this pic to show off my beautiful sod. Isn't it beautiful? I'm shocked that we have been able to keep it alive and thriving. Its coming along nicely. What a difference it makes in the look of one's property. Thinking your house looks a bit shoddy? Add some new sod for instant gratification. So ends our egg-stravaganza 2011. I see lots of egg salad in our future!

Girl Scout Service Project

2011-04-15T22:39:00.002-04:00

Today was our big Daisy service project meeting. We were joined by a few older girls, and picked up refuse and trash from around the school. We also learned all about recycling and how to check a container for the secret recycling sign. Each and every minute piece of trash picked up, including a cigarette butt, was inspected for this secret sign. FYI, it sort of looks like a triangle figure. Go check your milk jug, and you'll see it. Anyway, each girl also planted a seed in a cup, and will be nursing it along. Its supposed to grow into a tree and I was assured that we couldn't kill it...despite the fact that the only things we can grow are succulents and weeds. We ended the night with a pizza party, at a Daisy house two doors away from the school. Now we're home chilling out. We shall be going to bed quite soon, so we can get up, go to target, and buy some egg dying supplies. Happy Weekend Everybody!

Recess until 5/2

2011-04-13T21:42:00.002-04:00

Well, the docs at the hospital admitted the defendant "based upon her reported symptoms"...which of course included a claim of dizziness and a supposed fainting spell. Doc says that it never happened in front of him or the medical staff. All based upon her word. He wants to run tests (sucker). Hmmm, can anyone say LIAR??? Of course, everyone in the courtroom is suspicious, given that corrections has no record of any loss of consciousness. Plus, the defendant was acting fine...up to the point to going to the hospital. If a prisoner passes out, an incident report must be written. I'm going to spend the next few days hunting up all the documentation (or lack thereof) from all the different facilities, and report to the judge on Monday. Trial will continue on 5/2, when the jurors return to court. The lengthy reset date is due to their schedules and availability. The defendant will remain in jail with no bond. On the upside, I'm now freed up for the holidays, to enjoy them without stress. We shall be decorating eggs this weekend, and hunting them next. Also this sunday, there is a Chinatown street fair in Miami Shores on Sunday. Take one guess where we shall be in the afternoon? This friday evening, the girl scout daisies will be picking up trash from around the church/school, as a service project. We will then retire to one of the girls houses, for a pizza party. T is very excited. I was worried we would be unable to go, due being on verdict watch, but now we're free! Hope you all have a great weekend.

Still no testimony...

2011-04-12T18:09:00.003-04:00

we all arrived in court this morning, to be informed by corrections that the defendant is refusing to change clothes or come to court. Now she's claiming medical reasons: high blood pressure and diabetes. Def refused the offer of food. She was taken off to be examined by the in-house jail docs, and we all re-convene tomorrow morning, to attempt to proceed. ...and the saga continues...

And so it begins again...

2011-04-11T22:57:00.002-04:00

Well, today I picked a jury again, and did opening statements again. Testimony should start tomorrow (Tuesday) again, barring any more courtroom theatrics. Since it didn't work, the defendant stopped trying to appear crazy. She apologized to everyone in the courtroom for her inappropriate behavior on Friday, except to me, of course. There were no apologies to me. That's OK. I didn't expect and, nor would I have believed it. I suspect her failure to apologize to me is the first honest thing she's done in a long time. We shall see what tomorrow brings.

Do Over!

2011-04-09T15:20:00.003-04:00

Well, we picked our jury, they were sworn on the case, and the next morning...Tuesday...def starts pretending that she was incompetant. We all knew she wasn't, but because the last evals were almost 2 years ago now, everything stopped so that 3 psychiatrists could evaluate her. As suspected, they all came back on Friday stating that she was malingering...or pretending to be crazy. Unfortunately, a few of the jurors were unavailable next week, so the defense asked for a mistrial, and we are starting over again on Monday. Do over! The last few days were filled with lots of nonsensical courtroom drama. I really should write a book someday. The defense lost their minds when I requested she be tossed in jail pending expedited psych evals, she cursed me and said that everyone I loved would die...according to her dead ancestors and santaria gods. She was contemptuous to the judge, and Marie and I had to run around the courthouse looking for clothes to fit her (size 26), since she was wearing god-awful bright orange prison garb...which is prejudicial for the jury to see. There were none. When corrections hunted some up, she refused to wear "someone else's clothes". In the end, the defense luckily put an end to the farce and asked for a mistrial. The State could not, as double jeopardy had attached. We start over on monday, picking a brand new jury. I went out today and bought a few new trial blouses for under my suits. We also did some roller skating. t is getting better and better. As for the curse, all I can say is that I've got some pretty tough customers lurking way back on the family tree... on both sides. A bunch of IRA militants on one side and good ole' southern boys from the USA on the other. Add in some unknown Chinese warriors and all I can say is my ancestors can take her ancestors any day. Bring it on! meanwhile, blogger is suddenly ignoring my spacing and paragraphs, and moshing it all together as one. Trying to figure that one out. I've just tried to fix it for the 2nd time. Let's see if it worked....

The Saga continues

2011-04-06T21:39:00.001-04:00

...I have yet to put on my first witness, as the defendant is pulling stunts again. We reconvene on Friday. Who knows what the future holds.

Its a Miracle

2011-04-04T19:39:00.003-04:00

After over 6 long, long, LONG years, I was finally able to pick a jury and complete opening statements, in my oldest case. I never thought I'd see the day. During the course of this case, my trial partner gave birth, I flew to china and back to adopt my kid, I threw my back out 3 times, did a swan dive from a judge's bench and broke my foot, my kid went through every single class at the daycare from the infant room to 4 yr old, and almost completed kindergarten, my mom fell and broke her hip and degenerated into hospice, my did went a bit nuts. Our lives have changed immeasurably over the course of this one little case. Hard to believe. Postings may be sparse this week, as I'm a tad busy. In other news, the painter finally completed the job. My driveway is a god-awful raspberry/red color. I didn't have the heart to argue about it. Spent all day today arguing in trial. Dot and I will find a different color, and get some exercise some weekend, repainting it. Luckily, the driveway is easy to paint. Other than that, its all fab.

The Last of the Pics

2011-04-02T17:05:00.001-04:00

Ok, here’s the last of the bday photos, and finally some of T and the cake…at least one wherein one can see her face. Love it!

Lastly, here’s some pinata shots. The thing never broke, just came off the hanger and fell. I told the kids to go ahead and attack. Boy, I didn’t have to say that twice. All the kids did swan dives onto the thing, and it was history.

6 yr old wellness visit

2011-03-31T22:20:00.002-04:00

Forgot to mention, Dot took T off to her 6 yr old wellness visit. No vaccinations except for a flu shot. T apparently slightly failed her hearing test, so we're off to have a more comprehensive hearing test. Of course, it might have something to do with the fact that Dot reports T was a little too busy during the test, trying to snap her fingers...her new favorite pasttime. She was also quite busy waving at Dot and not really concentrating on the test. Not sure why they couldn't retest her, if she was fooling around, but there you have it. Figure I'll go with her, and get my hearing tested, too, since I've always thought I don't hear that well. On an upnote, T continues to grow like a weed. She is still firmly on the 25th percentile for height, at 44 inches. She is still on the 10th percentile for weight. She has broken the 40 pound barrier, and weighs in at a whopping 41 pounds. T has been following the same lines on the chart, since shortly after we came home from china. So, still looking like she'll be 5'2 and 100 lbs when she's 18.