Mr. Frogman LIves Up to New Name!!

Yes Mr. Frogman is living up to his new name splendidly! He has most recently grown at least another inch. He eats like there is no tomorrow and the grocery bill has almost doubled. It's all good though. I know it is going to happen.

Recently he blacked out in school falling over after sitting in his chair for about a minute. Was mom a bit freaked? Yes! So was he. He didn't know what was going on. I of course picked him up from school and came home to be mom and let him know everything was going to be okay.

We of course called the doctor and made an appointment. He was seen. They relate it back to blood sugar and his possibly had crashed as it was right before lunch. So each day I send in a healthy snack with him to school between breakfast and lunch. So far though he has not had another issue. I thought he was taking a snack each day already but he told me that he would get it after school instead of taking one to school. **Sigh** Now he tells me. So now it breakfast, snack, snack, lunch, snack, snack, dinner, snack, dessert. (Not really but the way the groceries are going it seems like it).

As we went into the doctors office he complained about what the doctor said. She said they were going to have to do a blood draw. He looked at me and asked, "What is that?" I explained that they were going to hook up a hose to his arm and drain out everything until he looked like a flat dried up prune. He laughed and then after a good laugh looked at me and said, "Seriously mom, what is it?" I looked at him again and explained what they were going to do. He scrunched up his face, "Awww Man! I don't want that!" He asked me then, "Are they going to poke my finger too?" I told him, "I don't think so but I am not sure." He seemed okay with that and laid back down on the table. We started laughing and talking about things.

When the nurse came in to take the blood draw he looked at her and asked, "Okay, how much am I donating today?" She laughed and said, "Only these 3 tubes." I have not seen Kirby go white like he did at that moment and squeak, "Okay." They get all done poking his arm without a sound from him and taking the blood draw removing the needle, he states in a very grown up voice, "That wasn't so bad." Then the other nurse walks in and has to check his blood sugar by poking his finger. He whined for the next half an hour over a finger prick verses a needle shoved into his arm. Amazing.

After his appointment we went out to breakfast and then off to school he went. He scowled at me when he found out I was taking him to school instead of taking the day off. Unfortunately a day off is not in my plans for a bit but it could happen. One day perhaps....Just Maybe. :)

Mr. Frogman gets a new Name!

I have got to change Mr. Frogmans name to a new name. I have finally found one that fits him. He has grown so much in the past year and his appetite has grown with him. He eats..and eats...and eats. Its good to see but yet I wonder. I limit him to what he can have and what he needs, and of course an occassional bit of junk food.

Lately though he has been the first one done at the table each night for the past month. Usually everyone around the table is talking so I don't always notice how fast he is eating or how big the bites. However, this past week I have been taking some extra time to watch and decided Mr. Frogman needs a new nickname.

I have decided that it will have to be KIRBY. Yes just like the cute little guy in the video games. Not only that but just like the vaccuum cleaner too! Yes, Mr. Frogman sucks down his meals like a vaccuum. I was able to catch him at it with his face down to his plate and his lips in a suction fashion so he could suck down his food. I can't believe he can clear a plate that fast.

There should be a world record competition for that some place! I bet he would win too! We aren't at the table five minutes and he is done. I have to get him distracted and talking to make him slow down. He asks for seconds and I have him wait 10 minutes so he doesnt over fill himself. Amazing what he will eat and then come back for 30 minutes later.

I would have named him Hoover but his dad's dog was named Hoover and he is still there. I didn't want to conflict with anything. Very shortly I am going to make him a T-shirt that has Kirby on the back...no one will know but him and I...Well, except you too! but I know you won't say anything :)

Time Again!

The days are getting longer. The snow hasn't stopped falling. We have 6 inches of snow on the ground one day and 2 days later its sunny and the snow is gone. The kids have to make up yet another day of school at the end of the year. March 15th is fast approaching and corporate taxes are not yet done. April 15th is fast approaching and my personal taxes are not yet done.

You would think I would have time to accomplish all of this again. Not yet...but I am working on it...

Right now I am a bit focused on man trouble. The man I want doesn't know I exist so I keep it to myself. There is a man in my life that really wants me and I won't commit. His heart is in the right place but to me it is not quite right. As much as I care very deeply for him as a friend I can't get past that point.

I have girlfriends trying to hook me up with their male friends and that is just not working. Too old or too young. I can't win. I am tired of blind dates or meeting them at a convenient lunch meeting. How do you tell your married friends not to set you up with their single friends? Maybe just like that.

I can get dates just fine on my own. Getting them is easy. Making sure the person is a right fit is a different story...You don't like them and they like you...You like them they don't like you...no chemistry...both of you deciding that you are definitely not compatible.

This online dating thing stinks...how do you honestly meet somone who is right for you over email? Over IM? Over not speaking and understanding tone, intent, interpretation through unspoken words?

I don't know. Whatever happened to running into someone? Meeting over coffee? The dating world has greatly changed. A few months ago I was grocery shopping. I started a conversation with a man just out of the blue trying to be friendly...we were looking at the same item. As we talked I continued to shop. I had a lot to do...maybe he was watching what I was choosing and how much to guage if I was single or what...but we kept talking and asking questions. I had been avoiding a particular aisle for a while as I didn't want to embarass him by going down it and it was the final item I needed. I tried a few times to end the conversation but I could see that wasn't going to happen. As I strolled down my final aisle and started searching for what I needed he proceeded to mention we should get together sometime. As I reached for that dreaded box of womens personal items he asked me to dinner. He came to realize what I was shopping for at that moment. He didn't miss a beat. He asked if I was available in a week. I'm sure to make sure I was over whatever it was for the current week.

We did go to dinner and it was good...however, we were not a good match for one another.

So back to my issue. I do want someone in my life, I am in no hurry but it gets awful lonesome being alone.

Maybe with Mr. Frogman gone this weekend its tougher. I am not sure as to why it just is. I sure miss the not so little guy when he is gone.

Life's Twists and Turns

Life changes...

I have friends that I am not getting to spend as much time with as I would like to. I feel as though there is a growing distance. I have someone in my life I want more with but I don't know how to say it or if I even can.

One friend is flying to California to an interview and if he receives a job offer he may move. I don't get to see him a lot now as it is, life keeps me busy but if he moves I will see him much less. It's hard to have friends go a further distance away. The friendship remains, but it is farther apart.

Another friend lives 100+ miles to the north of me. He is having part of his foot amputated this next week. It's amazing how you don't have time for people. Everything else seems so important when things happen you realize how unimportant some things are and how important other things should be in your life.

I've met a few new people lately in order to expand my social life. It's not in with the new and out with the old. It's keep the old and integrate the new. I am thankful for the friends I have and the new ones I have met. It is interesting how life brings changes that makes people think about what they have and what is truly important to them.

Thank you to all my friends, Wolfman, Intimidator, Sightsee'r, Casinodude, Little Red, Jolie, Trucker; you mean a lot to me and I want to let you all know that. No matter where life takes you I will support and stand by you in all that you do. Love you All!!

It's Been a Month Since the Day!

It's been a month since the day the first diagnosis came in. I was diagnosed with Chicken Pox. Down and out for almost a month thinking I had the flu. The doctor tested me for pregnancy (not likely even in the slightest unless it would be the second coming of Christ), to all sorts of blood and lab tests, being subjected to poking, prodding, stabbing, cutting and finally to be told I have chicken pox. Oh Lucky Me!

I get through that to finally feeling better, to find out that since my immune system was compromised I have developed a bacterial infection that requires a very strong antibiotic to fight it. Come to find out I am allergic to sulfa based antibiotics. Unfortunately for me there is no other antibiotic that can fight this. As I am battling hives in places around by body where hives don't belong I find out that I need to be very cautious with the longevity of the antibiotic. They have put me on it for four weeks. The final downside to all of this is that now I am on IV antibiotics to counter all the symptoms of a syndrome that can occur from taking prolonged antibiotics with an allergic reaction. Only 2 more doses and I am done. Then it's a wait and see game.

Mr. Frogman and I have made a point to do homework each night together so I have some down time and he gets all of his homework done and all late or missing homework in and is ready for the next trimester in school. This is the final portion of the school year for him, the down hill slide into Junior High. He has been such a trooper through all of this but I know it is wearing and trying for him too.

He recently shared with me he has a crush on a young lady in his class. We were spending some much needed time together and he told me about all of this. His dad makes fun of hijm every time he mentions anything about a girl.. Mr. Frogman bought her a red rose for valentines day. He has been practicing what he is going to say to her. It is so cute I just want to laugh, but I can't. He keeps telling me how much love hurts and there are days he thinks that she doesn't even know he exists. They are friends and he doesn't want to hurt that friendship. Smart Kid...Takes after his mom :)

Mr. Frogman has been a trooper through all of my being sick and in/out of the doctors. This has been a trying time for him. Although he has come through very strong.

I often wonder how much he suffers for everything I have to endure. Is he getting his childhood taken away with all that I have to deal with? Am I giving him enough? Am I doing enough as a mom? How much does he really understand? I know it's enough and I know I am doing the best I can but I often wonder if my best is enough lately?

As he gets older he amazes me with his maturity and understanding. In the past year he has grown up so much. He has grown about a foot in the last year and stands almost as tall as myself. Emotionally he has grown immensely too. From thinking girls are gross to now being intertested. It was almost yesterday they had cooties.

Amazing how they grow! Learn! Blosson!

So much happening...So Little Time...

Welcome to 2007. So much happening so little time!

Between work, corporate taxes (and more taxes and more taxes and even more taxes), the book I have been working on for the last few years. I received a response from an agent! Yes the book needs more work, yes I need to find a new editor, my full time job, preparing Mr. Frogman for Middle School or Junior High School. Starting all the meetings.

I'm not sure how much fight I have at the moment. This winter has taken its toll on myself, all of us in the house, my now lack of vacation time and needing a vacation away desparately...Some place warm, blue skies, beaches, HEAT...Okay that sounds good :)

Soon, very soon that is going to become a reality.

What brought the vacation idea on? Sitting at work today doing my normal daily mundane tasks, my computer, I have noticed every time I go into a particular screen runs particularly fast, hard and loud. It sounds almost like an airplane taking off. I was thinking of how many times Iwould have to go into and out of that screen for my computer to get me to Hawaii or Mexico. Which would it get me too faster? Then I got to researching the distance from Home to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico or Honolulu, Hawaii.

It has been almost 7 years since I was last in Hawaii in March of 2000. My ex's and my 10 year wedding anniversary. We spent 2 weeks in paradise. It was also the year my marriage started to fall apart. Amazing how you can go from wedded bliss to singleness. Amazing...Hindsight is definitely 20/20. Oh well, I am still thinking some place warm...

I have been thinking about an adult only get away to Disneyland! Taking a friend or two and just the adults heading out of town. Of course we will take the kids later. Mr. Frogman has been to Disneyland twice already and is going with his dad possibly again this summer.

But going to the Happiest place on Earth would be a great thing at this point after this pointedly cold and ugly winter. Although the snow (again) is beautiful its getting long and being forced to take vacation is not quite how I want to spend my vacation time.

I am going to research a bit more and see if there are any good deals I can find! I am sure they have a few out there that I can take advantage of....It will give me something to do when I am bored at work with nothing to do. It's amazing how much of doing nothing will zap your energy levels of wanting to do anything. It leaves me a lot of time to get stuff done for everything else, both on corporate taxes, personal taxes for all who request that I complete them for them, reading (I haven't had much time for that recently), writing, editing, and spending time with Friends and Family.

Mr. Frogman needs my attention so I will sign off for now. Have a great night!

Stupid Stories of the Week!

There have been 2 very stupid stories of the week. I can blame it on the full moon or I am just bored at work and let my mind have some momentary time off. I think my cohort in crime coworker Lady Leah at work had her moment here 2 weeks ago. Mine was more so stupid or they can be compared and both be equally stupid.

During the second day of our power outage at work (it was a Monday). I brought in fresh baked banana bread and real butter for us to enjoy as we sat at work not doing much of anything. As we sat and enjoyed a quiet breakfast, Lady Leah and myself, laughing and joking and spending time that we normally don't get to catch up on things. Finally we were sent home.

Day 2 of the power outage we again sat talking and serving banana bread. As we sat in our heavy coats and teeth chattering I started again to slice the banana bread, I opened the butter and looked, hemmed and hawed a bit and said, "Well, I don't think the butter is going to spread like it did yesterday. It's a bit cold." Lady Leah looked at me and non chalantly commented, "We can wait a bit until the butter reaches room temperature."

I dumbfoundedly looked at her as my teeth chattered and I held a cup of hot cocoa close to keep my hands warm and started to chuckle. I picked up the butter knife, tapped it on the cube of butter, looked at her and said, "Well, Lady Leah I think it is already at room temperature."

She and I started to laugh and her face turned red. She stated that she couldnt believe she had just said that. I couldn't either. We laughed about how she said her brain had gone on vacation a few hours early as she was headed out of town the same day.

We still get a good chuckle out of that now and then.

Today at work I sat bored the second half of my day. As I sat there wondering what to do next, work is light this month. I was a bit concerned I was only answering training questions, I know Lady Leah wasn't feeling well and was having a hard time focusing on remembering all the details of her job. I was a bit concerned when I went to call her I had my head set upside down and was concerned that she would be able to understand me if my headset wasn't the right direction. LOL I don't know what brought that on.

Time to turn the brain on and keep it working....**Sigh** I can't believe that I even had that type of thought. Onto the weekend where my brain can take a real break...

Happy New Year!!

Ok...Ok I am a few days late. Happy New Year Everyone!!

I made no resolutions this year at all. I have failed in the past so I figure why set myself up for failure. In stead I have set realistic goals for the next year and I am well on my way to accomplishing them. I will have to post my picture of the road of life for you here in the near future. I get many laughs from it and from people who like to think about it I get compliments.

I will have to redraw and scan it in here soon. I am not able to duplicate it like I did the first time. **Sigh** Oh well. I will add it to my blog soon.

Have a great night.

Storm Stories Coming Soon to a Blog Near You!!

I will have storm stories from the past week for you coming very soon.

We were very priveledged during this last storm to only lose power for an hour and a half before the storm began.

However there was a price to pay for this. My office has been out of power for 6 days. Without power I am unable to do my job. I have unfortunately not been able to work and have been forced to take time off.

I really enjoy the time off and able to spend time with family. The paycheck however will suffer greatly.

The price to pay. Many people complained about not having power at home and how they had to go to work to get warm. I had to leave a warm home to go to a job that was not available.

How backwards is that?

A few more days at home and then back to the work grind again. My office now has power. My "Monday" on Tuesday is going to be drastically busy. Without being able to do any work for a week I have to catch up on all my daily tasks. It will take me about 2 days to get caught up with all the everyday work I still have to do. Even with the holidays we are still very busy.

Enjoy the holidays, time with family and friends! 2006 is an excellent year.

2007 will be even better!!

'Twas...

'Twas 2 nights before Christmas and all through the place,
People were buzzing it looked like a race.

Stockings were hung on the bookshelves with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas wouldn't leave coal in there.

Kids were playing, arguing and such,
Mom and dad were in a rush, rush, rush.

Getting presents wrapped under the tree with care
Dad trying to keep mom from pulling out her hair.

While cooking dinner there was a loud cladder
I ran outside to see what was the matter.

There on the ground in the cold rain
laid dad on his back in terrible pain.

He fell down making a huge cladder
we found him on the ground next to the fallen ladder.

We rushed over to him to find out if he's okay
"No worries, no worries," we all heard him say.

As he limped across the yard pulling lights behind
We could hear him cry and we could hear him whine.

"These stinking lights, why, why, why?
Oh they need to go up or soon I will cry!"

Cookies and fudge were cooling in the kitchen,
Children were lurking and drooling hoping they were finger licking.

The house was clean the dishes done
Now the whole house was ready for fun!

What do you do 2 nights before christmas?
Unsure of this the boys were restless.

In hopes that Chistmas would come a day sooner
Or they would go crazy could they get any loonier?

Will Santa find us? Will he be here?
Of Course, of coures he will!

He won't forget you or me
Take a good look at our tree!

With everything ready, wrapped, packed and cooked
I settled back with no more time booked.

This holiday seemed busier than most
No longer the director, no longer the host.

After the weary day I layed down to rest
We know the kids all gave their best.

The kids were filled with worry and strife
wondering if they had done everything right.

Just about to doze all snug and warm
Dad tried to turn on the charm.

When I said, "No, I have a headache tonight."
He rolled on over and turned off the light.

"Merry Christmas," he grumbled,
"Merry Christmas, Yeah Right."

Storms, Storms and more storms...

First it was the snow...then it was the rain....finally it was the wind...

If you are from the Pacific Northwest you will know what the weather has been like. As I previously talked about it taking 7 hours to get home one night. Then the rain storms that came through that dumped a ton of rain in a very short time.

Finally last week it was the windstorms including the downpouring of rain. We had anywhere from 60-90 mph gusts depending on your location. As I stood looking out the kitchen window and watched the window bow under the pressure of the wind thinking, "Is it really safe to be standing here if the window should shatter?"

We lost power for about an hour and a half before any portion of the storm started and havent lost power since. We have been very fortunate.

The downfall to all of us being fortunate is that the workplace life is unfortunate. My office has been without power since Friday of last week. Up to this point in time we do not have power and without power I am completely unable to do my job. No one is sure as to when we will have power restored. We are being told before Friday, I hope so. I have used 1/3 of my vacation time to make up for lost hours this week. **What a challenge**

I get to work at 8am and then by 10:30 am with our teeth chattering they finally send us home, realizing the power isn't going to come on. We are asked to stay close (not sure where the whole area is out of power) or with in cell phone calling distance. If we don't hear from them by noon then to head home for the day. Of course each day we did not hear anything so we headed home by noon. Today it was 9:30 in the morning and we were sent home. I didn't hesitate, I was out the door and on my way home within 10 minutes of the announcement.

Wooohooo!! On my way home to clean the house! Kinda sad when that is my only thought...although the most of the house cleaning is done before the weekend and family coming into town.

Only 1 Day left....Until...

Mr. Frogman is going to be with his dad through the holidays. Another year getting through with smiles and telling everyone that things are okay when inside they really aren't. The one person I want to actually spend the holidays with won't be there.

It makes for a tough 2 weeks. We will have a heck of a christmas when he gets home. He and I both know this and it will be a sweet homecoming this year.

He leaves tomorrow. **Sigh** We are enjoying one more evening together.

6 Days and Counting!

Only 6 days and counting. It's a challenge keeping Monkey Dude Jr. in line. He keeps challenging Santa with his behavior...It's constant in the negative. We are trying to keep him on the up and up. We wrote him a Santa warning letter.

It's a wait and see game. I keep telling him that I hope that Santa wasn't looking when he did the things he did.

We are finding out the Monkey Dude Jr. is ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) he loves things in order and in a routine and schedule. Amazingly enough when tht happens we have bliss. Any changes, however, and we get bloody hell. **Sigh** Starting over again with child #2.

They are worth it though.

Mr.Frogmans Thought for the Day...

You have to keep the train moving forward or it won't continue working...

It's going to take me a bit to decipher what his meaning on this thought is or to find out what good laugh he has in store for me if I can't figure it out. :)

So Many Things So Little Time! (again)

There are many things happening all at once. Maybe it's self imposed stress, who knows. I am avoiding health issues at this time. I need to wait until after the Holidays when Mr. Frogman is at his dads and I will address it all at that time.

Taxes and business stuff is really weighting things down...Business equipment going down and out of commission when you least expect it.

Arguments with Mr. Frogmans dad. He is autistic and his dad does not believe there is anything wrong with him. A battle with ignorance. So many things so much misunderstanding. Between him and his fiancee having 5 kids between them, and they think there is nothing wrong with Mr. Frogman, as well as their 1st grader who does not know any of his letters or numbers or basic sounds and they keep pushing him onto the next grade. They tellNo me they are frustrated and they fight and push him to learn but he just isn't picking it up. So as I watch their lack of patience and his inability to make connections I am seeing a child being, in my opinion, set up for failure. Even if I stand up and say something it will fall on deaf ears.

Her kids can do no wrong and they don't believe Mr. Frogman should be in special ed. I laughed. Mr. Frogman is mainstreamed in school. He has some school services but not the special ed. If his dad was more involved in his life he would know this. If he were involved in the IEP meetings he would know what it is all about.

Just tonight they again told me I baby him...well, I don't believe a 7 year old needs to be treated like a teen ager or a young adult. I believe kids need to be kids. I know they need to learn independence and over time life skills. But I don't believe a 12 year old should be doing laundry for a family of 7. Maybe a load now and then but not for everyone all the time.

My final frustration of this is that Mr. Frogmans dad tries to punish Mr. Frogman at his dad's for his room being a mess at my house. How fair is that? I finally had to lay down the law tonight. I told his dad for the final time, I am no longer your wife, your girlfriend or anything else to you. If you want to control something control your woman, but you will not decide what will or will not be done in my home. I don't come in and do that to you. I expect the same. If you are unable to keep that separate then you will not be allowed in my home. He tried to explain that he had a right. I told him no the only right he had was to pick up his son every other weekend. He had no right to decide what, when, why, how for our son. That was my responsibility, he gave up most of everything when signing the final documents. Call this my frustration and anger speaking and this is not even the full extent...

Is stupidity a disease???

Cut backs...

My company like most in the 4th fiscal quarter of the year have been making cut backs since the beginning of the year. Cutting costs and saving where they can. Consolidating branches and resetting areas and job requirements. This is normal when the mortgage industry slows way down and interest rates rise.

Like any company they are looking to keep costs low and customer service and clientele up. There are many aspects to this as many of us know. It's late for me and I have to be up at 4:30am to get Wolfman on the bus. But as my office has gone through the many changes we joke about what is to be cut next.

The company used to purchase paper plates, plastic forks, spoons, knives and paper towels. As I get these notifications from the higher up powers that be, I notify my office accordingly so that no one can complain that I am not doing my job or not ordering the necessary supplies. Most recently they have stopped allowing us to order the paper plates, forks and spoons. I notified everyone via email and of course I received back all of the groans and grumbles via email.

As a joke one of my co-workers responded with the following question:

"When is our drying rack coming in?"

I had to email her back and ask her what the drying rack was for.

She emailed back replying, "To dry our used papertowels for re-use."
I chuckled when I saw the next email from my manager informing us of the following:

"Paper towel drying rack is on back order but should be expected to be put to full use within the next two weeks."

Another co worker proceeded to enlighten us with the next possible cut backs. They were going to make us work by candlelight and mirrors. I laughed at this and explained that mirrors would be too expensive, since we had such a seasoned staff that had so many awards hanging on office walls they would have to use the candle and refracted light making it reflect from medal tag on each award to metal tag to the location they needed light. If they wanted it brighter they would have to put a little more shine on those engraved plates.

If our corporate office knew what kind of thinkers we would have some issues.

Who knows what they will think of next to cut back....

My only serious worry about all of this is that they may cut back jobs. Not that I am concerned about finding work. I am not...But the hassle of looking for another job before I don't have one is not my preference. Yes I am trying to avoid using the dreaded unemployed word...

Especially at this time of year....I don't think they would at this time of year but to save money any company would do what they had to do...**Sigh** not something to think about at this time.

The Day Has Finally Arrived!

Yes! The day has finally arrived for Mr. Frogman to take off his splint and move to a wrist brace for his arm for another 2-3 weeks. He will get to take it off the week of Christmas. What a great present! To be able to have no hinderance in his day to day happenings. I am very excited for him!

Now he will be able to finally take out the garbage and recycling again as well as help with dishes. No more listening to how difficult it is for him to wash his hair in the shower without help. He gets very embarrassed if Mom even talks about helping him in the shower.

**Sigh** Back to the way things were...Finally....

Happy Birthday Mr. Frogman

I am a bit late in posting this...

Happy Birthday
Mr. Frogman!!

Mr. Frogmans birthday was on Thanksgiving day. I didn't forget I spent the time with him instead of posting. He reminded me that I hadn't wished him a happy birthday on my blog and it would make him feel special if I did.

So Mr. Frogman Just for you sir...
I love you!!

Should I add lots of hearts and hugs and kisses too?!

Another day of patience....

Three weeks ago Mr. Frogman fractured his left arm at a Boy Scout camp out. He came home telling me it was sprained. He had it checked out by a fire fighter. Okay, I thought if it still hurt in a day or two we would make a doctors appointment and have it checked.

He wasn't home from the camp out 2 hours when, while I was working in the yard, he walked out very angrily. He came up to me and stood on one of the large landscaping rocks that embodied one of the beds around a tree in the yard. As he dramatically and emotionally explained to me that Monkey Dude Jr had tackled him and knocked him down to the hard floor where he landed on his arm yet again and telling me how badly it hurt. As he was animatedly trying to tell me his arm motions caused him to lose his balance and fall head over heels onto the ground literally doing a summer sault and then landing face first in the grass.

As he stood up I couldn't help but laugh at the entire front of his body covered in freshly cut grass, leaves and dirt. Mr. Frogman is not a small child. He stands about 5'6" if not a bit taller for a now 12 year old. I couldn't hold back the laugh since I wasn't sure if he was spitting out leaves and dirt (he wasn't actually), he was making a disgusted face and brushing himself off amazingly even angrier. It probably didn't help that mom was laughing. I know laughing wasn't the right thing but it stopped the potential down fall of emotions that would have quickly followed.

Since he had yet again hurt his arm I had to take appropriate action, we iced it down again and of course wrapped it up so that he could keep it still. The next morning he informed me that he needed to go and see the doctor. I was certain his wrist was sprained. He kept telling me that it was broken. I went to work and scheduled a doctors appointment only to be told I would have to take him to get x-rays since our doctors office doesn't have an x-ray machine. Off we went to get x-rays. Scheduled a second appointment with the doctors office to go over the x-rays.

We got into the Dr.'s office at 5:00pm and waited and waited. 2 hours in I asked when we were going to be seen. They informed me that the late evening appointments were on a time basis they would fit us in. I was frustrated by this time having waited this long and having 2 boys becoming more and more rambunctious. I was under the impression that we had a scheduled appointment time. The boys hadn't had dinner and were getting very wiggly. Even our wiggle activities weren't working these boys were ready to run. I finally had to have Wolfman come and get Monkey Dude Jr and pick up some dinner. This brought some relief to the situation. With Monkey Dude Jr gone. Mr. Frogman and I sat down to wait a bit longer to find out the results of the x-rays.

Lo and behold not 5 minutes later we were led into a room to talk to the doctor. The doctor came in and tried to lighten the blow. After Mr. Frogman recounted his story 2-3 times again they finally came out and told me that he had again fractured his arm on the growth plate yet again. So there we sat again joking about it until the doctor walked in again to set his arm in a splint. She looked at me with a glare over Mr. Frogmans head after he was seated in a chair. I truly didn't care. Mr. Frogman was starting to get agitated as it bothered him that he had to be in a splint for 4-6 weeks.

The doctor walked out and asked me to join her in the hall way before she wrapped his arm. She was upset because she didn't feel that I was taking this seriously. I looked at her and suddenly the smile left my face. I looked at her and made it very clear that I took this very seriously. I understood the severity of what was going on. My one statement that shook her was that, "Obviously you know nothing of children with Aspergers and my son. You haven't read his file eigther or you would know that I have to keep him distracted since you didn't read his file. He gets perturbed and agitated under flourescent lighting. You have had him cooped up in 2 different rooms for almost an hour with only flourescent lighting. I have to keep him distracted with humor, since it's easy to make him smile and laugh, or he will start to panic and get angry. Which would you prefer? To wrap an arm of a child smiling or laughing? or to wrap an arm of a child who can't sit still for you? Now you have a choice, you can wrap his arm with our humor and ways of keeping him calm or I can leave you with him in a very serious tone and have you deal with a child who will soon be agitated." The doctor looked at me and then told me she would rather have the humor. I walked back into the room with my son and smiled and asked if he was ready...He asked me, "ready for what?" I looked at him and said they needed him in a body cast and we were going to leave his feet and arm pits exposed. He asked me why. I told him so we could tickle him anytime we wanted and he wouls have to live with it. "Awe Mom, they would never do that," he giggled. "Okay lets get this over with, let's get it wrapped up." He really regretted those words when the doctor told him he had to keep the splint on for 4-6 weeks.

Today Mr. Frogman is counting down the days until the day he can take the splint off and only wear a wrist brace. Tonight before bed he announced only 3 more days left to take this stinking splint off. I am not sure if he was being literal or if he was calling the splint stinking out of spite.

Only a few more days...

Happy Thanksgiving 2006!

Thanksgiving, a time to enjoy family and friends. Talk about a good day. Nothing like taking a half of a day off of work to make all the desserts for family. I cook desserts each year for my family. Everyone brings something. I bring many things. This year I cooked but yet I cheated a bit as well. I make all the pumpkin pies for my family, plus many other desserts. Ok I said that many times.

I made 6 pumpkin pies, bought one huge "death by chocolate" chocolate cake from Costco, and made tons of cookies. Ok so I cheated there a bit this year too...

I bought Otis Spunkmeyer cookie dough and Wolfman did a great job baking them up this year since he had the patience to deal with an oven that wasn't working. I managed to bake pumpkin pies in the oven since you really can't mess them up unless you burn them.

I had planned for about 30 and we had several people no show this year. Without any kids for the holiday it made it only the adults. Mr. Frogman spent the holiday with his dad and returns on the Sunday following. Monkey Dude Junior spent the holiday weekend with his great grandparents in Portland. Leaving Little Sister, Wolfman and myself home with no one to take care of but ourselves. I finally got to get some sleep!! Some much needed long awaited only one night of 8 hours of continuous uninterrupted Sleep!

Thanksgiving consisted of all of my siblings, my grandmother, Wolfman and Little Sister, Sight See'r joined us this year as well. It was a small gathering but a good one.

Good Food, Good Company...It was all good!