Rough Weekend

Strep test came back positive this morning. I'm functioning well so long as I've got ibuprofen in me. I'm even letting Chase's BFF spend the night tonight. Lest you freak out, I know from my ridiculously frequent previous bouts that it isn't super contagious. I worked the church sausage supper with it last year and worked the conference meeting with it this afternoon.

It appears that my big girl is finished with naps. I suspected this day was coming, but it sucks nonetheless. Chase napped until he was five. For 2-3 hours a day, every single day. I knew I was lucky, and I hoped I'd get that lucky twice. Not so much. So instead of 2-3 hours of nap and a later bedtime, the princess is now in bed by 8pm. She's getting the same amount of sleep, just in one overnight chunk instead of split up. I'm trying to be excited about the flexibility of our new schedule, but mostly I'm just sad to see another part of babyhood slip away.

It's been a pretty shitastic weekend all the way around really. I'm happy for my sister and her new job and new house and all of that. But I was not happy with her last night. I didn't feel well, I was having a bad day (see previous paragraph about the nap thing), and she immediately launched into 110 reasons why Christmas needs to be moved up so she can hightail it to Tulsa faster. Mere days after she promised me that our holidays would not be affected by her move. Jamie has hunting trips on the calendar already. And honestly? As batshit crazy as she drives me, with my mom gone, she and Dad are all the family I have left. I can't imagine a holiday without her. I was grateful I'd have this year as it's always been before she moved (see my previous post about hating change), so her complete about face yesterday completely pulled the rug out from under me. On top of the strep, the not-napping daughter...and on it goes.

To top it all off, there was drama at church today. Sometimes I wonder why I try at all. Thank God for old friends who listen to my pity party and love me anyway. I know everything happens for a reason. I'm realizing that my sister's move is a good reminder that my friends are the family I've chosen. Plus, Stacy is moving back--I know Jamie's brothers prefer to spend Christmas Day with their immediate families, but Jamie and I always include his dad and stepmom in our festivities and I will extend that invitation to Stacy this year and the next. And the next...it will all work out.

On the bright side, got a great deal at my favorite consignment store and a super cute rug on sale at Target for Cassie's room. And now the season premiere of Desperate Housewives is on...I haven't watched it regularly, but with Vanessa Williams joining the cast, I'm curious...

Rough Day

I spent the better part of today in bed. I woke up feverish with the worst headache EVER. Jamie took one look at me shivering on the couch, felt my forehead, and sent me back upstairs to bed. I slept until almost three. I've still got a sore throat and headache, although the fever seems gone. I've got an event at church ALL DAY tomorrow, am hoping I can scoot out for a bit to hit urgent care. I'm thinking it is either strep (hence the sore throat) or sinuses (the headache). At the moment, I'm leaning towards strep b/c my advil/tylenol cocktail has worn off and the sore throat is back w/a vengance. Plus, it's that time of year...

Spending the day in bed derailed my granite shopping. Do any of my readers have recommendations? My neighbors just used Granite Transformations, but I want real stone, not the man-made stuff.

Back to bed for me.

Serendipity

Our renters called over the weekend and asked if we were willing to let them out of the lease because they're preapproved to buy a house. Since they signed the lease in July, I was a bit taken aback, but I agreed to it. Quite honestly, I imagine if I hadn't, they wouldn't be happy and if they aren't happy, they aren't going to take care of the place...I'd rather have someone in there who wants to be there. So I threw an ad up on Craigslist, posted a notice on Facebook and waited.

This afternoon I got a phone call from Jamie's sister Stacy. She's moving back to Missouri around Thanksgiving and has been looking for somewhere to live. Since we spent our first six years of marriage there, she's familiar with the house (and landlords). She's going to rent it. She needs a place to live, we need a tenant, what I thought was going to be a royal pain the rear has turned out beautifully! I couldn't be happier. I can't wait to help move her in!

I need that good news today because we got some not so good news at the vet. The beast weighed in at 95 pounds. I weighed him six times because I couldn't believe the numbers on the scale. Ignoring how ridiculously close to my weight that is, it's also a good 10-12 pounds over where the vet wants him. So squirmy Shermy is now on a diet. Good thing he got his own ice cream at McD's last night, because it's going to be a while before he gets another one! (Don't judge me. He's the well behaved child, he actually deserved the ice cream cone. As opposed to the human children, who got ice cream, but didn't exactly deserve it.) Mama may be putting the gym plans on hold for a while since we're going to be stepping up the Sherman cardio & walks. Poor guy.

I think the good rental news totally overrules the fat dog news today. I reserve the right to disagree after stepping up the canine exercise...

PS--Went granite shopping this morning. Decided on black vs. blue. Amy, the interior designer BFF, agrees that black is a better choice. She also thinks that my cabinets are keepers. Am thinking I may have new counters by Halloween! Now I just need to price a backsplash. Leaning towards subway tile, but haven't ruled out beadboard. I'd also like to wrap the island in beadboard, must check on the feasibility of that. Yay for moving forward. Hideous white laminate countertops? Your days are NUMBERED!

Well, they're not fighting...

Chase played his DSi non-stop this morning, until I finally told him to give it a rest! So now he's playing Princesses with his sister. Jamie would be HORRIFIED, but I think it is cute. He had friends over last night and one left the gate open, which resulted in Sherman going exploring. A neighbor we don't know picked him up, and my cell phone was on silent so he spent about an hour in their backyard before it was all said and done. I really appreciate the neighbor doing that, but as an FYI, leaving me a message that you found my dog on the side of the road probably isn't the best way to phrase that...we had a rough few minutes there...

Cass had dance this morning. They combined the 9:30am 3s and 4s with the 10:30am 4s and 5s. So they do acro together, then split up. The younger girls are all together in one room for tap and ballet, and the older girls are in another room. So now Cassie only has about six girls in her class--which is good. She LOVES it and was showing Grandpa how to point his toe this morning. They also did a little barre work. So cute. I'm thinking about asking the other mothers if anyone would be interested in asking them to set up a Zumba class for the moms during class. If we're going to be there for an hour, may as well be getting in a workout, right? Better than sitting...

It was kind of a rough weekend. Chase puked right after my last post. That was unexpected and disgusting. Got some family news that means big changes--I'm trying to stay positive, but I'm a conservative and loathe change. I'm trying. I also got a call from my renters that they want to break  their lease. They're flexible (as they should be because I don't HAVE to let them out of it)--but finding new renters is a pain when you're expecting it. When you're not... Again, I'm trying to look on the bright side. I haven't raised the rent in the 3 years they've been there, so if I price it with the comps I saw this weekend, I can gross an additional $1800 a year. That's a plus. I'm trying to focus on the positives...

Naptime. That's ALWAYS (!) a positive. I'm starting to budget for groceries and household expenses. Jamie the financial advisor isn't a fan of budgeting because he says it teaches you how NOT to be poor versus how to build wealth. I can totally see that. Nonetheless, I got him to agree that whatever I shave off my household expense bills can go towards new countertops.  If I'm really good, I'll have them by Christmas. Of course this little niggling voice is wondering about the sense in putting new countertops on 10 year old cabinets...so perhaps I'll look into cabinet refacing while I'm at it...

SwagBucks

I'm doing SwagBucks and you should too.

Cycle Break!

It never ceases to amuse me that many friends have kids who just started school, and my kids are already finished with their first quarter and off for the next three weeks! We've got lots of plans for cycle break, lots of baseball games scheduled, the usual playdates and sleepovers on the calendar, but I'm most looking forward to just relaxing and going with the flow. Last night Chase had a sleepover, the boys turned his room into a fort with most of the blankets in the linen closet and I loved it. Right now Cassie is playing w/Dora, Cinderella and Kai Lan in the living room. She does love her pretend play. It is almost naptime for her...

I've got two wicked canker sores right now, discovered Canker Cover at Walgreens last night and am a total convert now. I was miserable yesterday, but after using that stuff last night--I'm back to normal today. AWESOME! I was actually back to normal last night after I used it...

I was parent helper in Cassie's class yesterday and saw someone who remembered me from my teaching days. I subbed for her when she had a hysterectomy. 10 years ago. I'm flattered she remembered me! I'm also thrilled to realize that I still love working w/kids that age in the classroom, I was worried that I wouldn't have the patience for it anymore or wouldn't enjoy it anymore, but I really do. So there is another option for me when Cass starts kindy! I like having options...

We did Cassie's parent teacher conference during recess yesterday. Her teacher said she is a "delight." No argument here. She's also at age level or waaaaay above for everything she should be doing, save for articulation, and that's why she's in speech! Another great conference. Thank God for that. I'm having one of those weeks where I wonder what on Earth I ever did to deserve the life I lead...I am blessed beyond measure.

I stayed up ridiculously late the other night to read A Dog's Purpose. It was a very enjoyable (and quick) read. I loved it. If you've ever loved a dog, you should read it.

YAY for Chase!

I really loathe parents who brag about their kids' report cards, about as much as I loathe parents who seem to think that their child's IQ is a direct result of their parenting. So I'm not going to do that. I am going to say that we had a GREAT parent/teacher conference tonight and while I've never been disappointed in one of his report cards, I am super proud of him tonight. That kid really did get the best of his Daddy and me. And for the areas that need improvement? When I figure out how to fix them in Jamie and myself--I'll fix them in Chase! ;)) But hearing, "I've loved having him. He's just a good kid. He cares so much...." really made my night. I've always known he was smart, so I can't take any credit for him doing well in school. But the comments about his character? It's nice to hear from a professional that I don't completely suck as a mother and that I'm doing something right! Even if she doesn't agree w/my decision to let him read Harry Potter...

Cassie's conferences are Friday. Chase's gifted teacher wanted to test her tonight...