Don't for get to vote!

Look to the right and vote on a topic for my friday post.

Cerebral Palsy Part 4

At a year old, BugaLoo was in regular therapy at KidsAbility Children’s Treatment Centre. He had a team that consisted of a Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist and a Speech Language Pathologist.

We also had regular appointments with our family doctor and the Pediatrician. Every time I turned around I was loading him in the car, the worst part was, no one had any answers of any kind. “wait and see” was the general approach. “We have no way of knowing” was another ambiguous answer we received.

It was also at this time I had to return to work. Now many Moms of children with disabilities struggle with whether or not to go back to work. I didn’t not have this decision to struggle over…I HAD TO go back to work. There was no choice. Hubby was in the middle of an apprenticeship and had 2 more sessions of school to complete. At the time I was making more money than him AND I had full benefits through my company. There was NO choice! We never would have made it financially if I didn’t go back to work. I had already extended my leave from 6

The first day back to work I was fine until I walked through the front door. I started to cry. I was totally overwhelmed. It was 8:30 am and I already felt like I had put in a full day, getting the baby ready and over to my M-I-L’s. I had to detour to the washroom to collect myself. The next hour was casual chit chat with co-workers and showing the requisite photos. 10:30 am was my first meeting with my boss the then VP of Operations. “How are you doing?” he asked. POOF! I burst into tears. Trust me I didn’t want to but I did. “Are you okay?” Again POOF more tears. “I am fine”, I resolved. “Should we explore a more gradual return to work?, do you need some more time?” he patronized me. “No, I am just a little overwhelmed with my schedule… There might be something wrong with Bug they think it might be Cerebral Palsy” I meeked out. This was the first time I had spoken the sentence out loud and the words haunted me… I said this partly because I knew it would buy me some time to collect my thoughts (while my boss weighed the gravity of my remark) and partly to make him feel bad for patronizing me. We then were able to move forward with a discussion about using my vacation time to take 1 day a week off for appointments for the rest of the year (I returned to work in November) and then we would re-evaluate the situation in January with hopefully more information.

Even those this boss was not my favorite and I did not want to share my personal struggles with him. This was the key to keeping my sanity, working full time and taking care of things for my baby. In retrospect I wish I would have realized what a challenge returning to work would be and spoken with my HR department a month or two before returning so that I could have worked out a plan and returned to work with more confidence instead of all the anxiety and trying to keep my emotions in check.

Home office

I have been trying to get my home office/studio organized. I put up shelves, I brought in a few dressers with drawers. I just plain don't have room for everything that I want to do in this room. It's 10 x 12 for crying out loud, it should be okay. But When I put two 6 foot tables in there I effectively cut the space to 7x9 Damn Throw in a desk in one corner and suddenly things are getting kinda cramped.

I would post some photos but I don't have my computer up and running in there yet.

ahhhhh!

Here is an article I found on MSNBC on clutter. Maybe I will try some of those tips to get organized.

I am soooo tired.

My grandparents 60th anniversary party was nice. I wish the Peanut would have been nice then I wouldn't have had to leave so early.

I did get a chance to talk to 2 of my second cousins that I haven't seen in at
least 10 years or so and it was so neat because our kids are all around the same age.

Daddy and the Bug had an awesome time in St. Thomas at Thomas the Tank Engine. Daddy shot a whole role on the 35mm so I can hardly wait to get that developed.

Me and the Peanut did a little scrapbook shopping I was looking for this Tag Curler.

I went to 3 different stores and none of them had it in stock. So I am ordering it from My favorite store. Hopefully it will be in soon. I'm also placing an order with Creative Memories for some basic supplies so that will be exciting to be stocked up for the fall. Then I will have the new Catalogue and product launch in September. Woo Hoo excitement!

Today, Gotta get some work done, pick up my niece at Volleyball camp and get some scrapbooking done. Have a great day!

The BOG... honestly, BLOG idiot.

Hello Friday! So glad to see you. I have been way too busy.

This weekend is my Grandparents 60th wedding anniversary so we will be going to a summer pool party for them. Should be exciting.

Hubby and the Bug get out of it though since they are going on a road trip to St. Thomas to the Train Museum to see Thomas the Tank Engine. They are going to have so much fun!

I think this will be a great opportunity for hubby and the Bug to have some special time together. I am always there and I think they need to have some time...just the guys.

So I will send them off on their adventure tomorrow with a disposable camera and hope for the best.

Hope you all enjoy your day and enjoy your weekend.

Ah the bog calls to me.

I can't believe it has been 4 days, honestly.

So, reflexology treatment on Monday - AWESOME Thanks Jenn

Quick stop at two of my favorite scrapbooking stores 2 Scrapbook Friends and The Scrapping Turtle to look for some elusive paper I need for a project. No Luck Pooh!

Spent the rest of the days with the kiddos making crafty shit around the house. They were pushing my patience by the end of the day I was pretty happy to see them sleeping that night.

Tuesday, back to work and start training my summer student. Yes the irony is not lost on me that it was JULY 22nd when my summer student started to help me out. Double Pooh!

Some quick training a 20th anniversary celebration for a co-worker and then I was off to pick up the Bugaloo for his therapy session.

We met out new Physiotherapist this week since we are losing our PT and our Therapy Aide due to Government funding cuts to Childrens Treatment Centres. Don't get me started whole new post. The Bug seemed to take it well and gave our new therapist a hug at the end of the session so I would say it went well.

Wednesday, more training and working on a scrapping project that I am really excited about. Can't tell you about it for another week or so. It's a SURPRISE.

And now today, the pressure to post was eating at me, so here I am. Sorry it is sooooo lame but I have a few irons in the fire and will have some more posts coming up. Including some scrapbook page designs, another instalment of my thought on disability and some work life balance stuff. Well assuming I have enough to actually write a post about that.

Running is going well although I am not losing any weight my body continues to change shape and my pants are looser, can't complain about that.

Sunday Rainy Sunday

Yesterday was so blistering hot!

We had t-ball in the morning and drove out to Drayton to play, the kids played for a bit but really just wanted to come sit in the shade and have snack. We didn't even fight with them it was just too hot!

So we had a nice picnic snack and then drove home.

then we stayed in all afternoon because I just couldn't face going outside in the infernal heat.

NOW today it raining and neither me or the kids wants to be couped up inside any longer. So I think we are going outside for a water fight because hey...what else are you going to do?

I did read a cool book this weekend


Befriend and Betray by Alex Caine

It's a pretty good read about a guy who infiltrates organized crime groups and helps collect evidence to bring them down. Tough life. Admirable job.

Wow

Geez, I finally had more than a few minutes to look at my blog today and realized how out dated it is so I hope I can spend more than a few minutes here to update a few things.

I took the Bug to Vacation Bible School. So updating photos will have to wait but maybe I can get at a few other things. I am on vacation today but I had my niece come to babysit anyways so I would have time to catch up on a few things. IE the blog, laundry (pooh), and some business stuff because some people owe me money.

I totally missed a crop opportunity last night and I forgot all about it until I climbed into bed. I am so pissed. Sorry L.

So today the peanut was up at.....wait for it.....5:30 AM crazy kid. Then her darling father put her in our room at 6AM ASSHAT! So she messed around in our bed for a 1/2 hour and then I couldn't take it anymore so I got and drank alot of coffee.

So now I have three loads of laundry out of the way - check
Cleaned out some small clothes out of kids room and boxes up - check
Started putting laundry away - check
Posting on blog - check
update a few things on blog - check

Soon I have to go pick up the Bug, then lunch and then this afternoon, we have our meeting with the social worker to discuss promoting self confidence and self esteem and how to help him answers questions that he gets from other kids, adults, teachers and family members.

After that I get to take a quick detour and see my sister for a badly needed haircut!

Whew busy day.

What did we learn about punching?

Heard at my house before dinner last night.....


Peanut crying because she wanted to be picked up in kitchen where her wonderful, multi-tasking mother was making pasta sauce and pasta and steaming vegetables at the same time and said NO and told her to go watch T.V. for a few minutes. ANYWAY...

Peanut crying...
No crying little scuffling..
Bugaloo: Oh no you won't.
Crying and screaming from both children.

Wonderful mother leaps into action, turns down sauce and pasta and runs to living room.

She enters living room to see peanut lying on her back kicking and hitting, Bugaloo who is over top of her punch and hitting! (WTF?)

What is going on here? Stop what you are doing right this instant! (don't know where that came from, but I'm going to thank my mom)

Put one child on each knee. What happened here?

BUGALOO: I wanted her to stop crying!
MOM: So what happened?
BUGALOO: I punched her!
MOM: What the FUCK? you little SHIT are you on GODDAMNED CRACK (kidding)
MOM: Did she stop crying?
BUGALOO: No...(tears welling up in his eyes) She PUNCHED me back! WAaaaaa I'm so sorry Mom I shouldn't have hit her. Waaaaaaa! She hurt me! waaaaaaaa
MOM: Peanut did you punch your brother?
PEANUT: Nods head up and down.
MOM: Bugaloo, I would like to you apologize to your sister.
BUGALOO: I'm sorry peanut, I'm sorry for punching you.
MOM: Peanut, I would like you to apologize to your brother.
PEANUT: I sorry for hitting.
MOM: Now what did we learn about punching?

BUGALOO: It doesn't work.

ooommmmmmmm!

Dinner is served!

P.S. 10 mins later I hear a THUD in the living room and Bugaloo exclaims HEY! Apparently he was practicing his independent walking between our couch and chair and half way through as he passed his sister, she quietly reached out and SHOVED him and he FELL. Another round of apologies anyone!

AAAck!

My house is such a god damned mess I don't know where to start.

So instead I have come here to the non judgemental place of procrastination!

My office/scraproom/creative centre is a fucking mess.

I have two workshops to prepare for and I am BEEEHIND! Luckily I am taking two holidays next week on Thursday and Friday and hopefully I can clear out some of the crap.

Why oh why do we hang on to these things!??

I finally got the kids down for a quick nap because I have been hoping to get at this all weekend and now I just don't want to face it!

Does anybody have some words of inspiration??

Well I had better get my ass in gear as I only have another 20 mins left of nap time.

Funny Story

Once upon a time....

there was a woman in her mid 30's with two children. She worked full-time due to the fact that her employer offered full family benefits and her husband's employer sadly did not.

Therefore this beautiful, organized mom of two, who did not want to stress out her mother in law for the summer created a plan of rotating babysitters. Mon-Wed - Nonna, Tues-Thurs - Niece, Fridays Neena and Papa (at their farm).

One day.... in a torrential downpour (rivaling a monsoon or hurricane)this beautiful mommy tried to pack up her car with kids toys, kids food, kids clothes and kids plus the dog. This went well for everyone except beautiful mom, who now looks like a bedraggled bag lady on the Las Vegas strip who has been on a two week bender.

Never fear.... in her brillant organized moments our heroine packed extra clothes for herself to change into for work and thankfully looks acceptable in a ponytail.

However, after unpacking said kids paraphernalia and said kids and dog. Here is a list of things she forgot.

Bugaloo's glasses
Bugaloo's toilet seat
Peanut's CLOTHES (for shit sake)
Peanut's Rice Milk (we have taken her off of dairy to see if this changes some issues she is having)
Kids' extra shoes

Honestly, WTF!??

The End-

Post Script -

Yesterday I came home to a hell of a messy house. Messy (but happy)children. I did what any respectable stressed out mom would do. I ordered pizza and began the cleaning up process. I load of dishes, two loads of laundry, cleaned the bathroom (because God knows what happened in there). Bathing two children. Showered, washed my hair (at 10 pm) which meant sleeping on wet hair, so you can imagine what that looked like when my husband woke me up at 6:45am! (which really wasn't a factor after all the fucking rain) PPS. I usually leave the house at 7:10 to go out to the farm to drop the kids off on Fridays. Can you hear me! Listen closely.....FUCK!

Big cleansing YOGA breathe OMMMMMM...

The rest of the day will be better. I swear! ( all the time)

Riding the Good Times

I guess late spring was a little depressing in our house. I just couldn't seem to get it together and I had, zero motivation to do anything. Even the blog posts were crappy.

I guess I just needed to get in to the swing of summer because things have picked up in my brain. Obviously the 30 min commute to work on a beautiful day helps.

Today is another beautiful day! So I am committed to running at lunch today even though my legs are a little sore from yesterdays run.

We really need a new bed! I guess that is the main obstacle we face right now. Every morning the two of us wake up with sore backs. Now this wouldn't be so bad if we just had to get a new mattress and box spring but it is never that easy is it? We actually need bedroom furniture, or atleast a real bed. For Christ's sake we are in our late 30's this is our second marriage for both of us... you would think one of us would have a real bed. Not so much!

So we are stuck between a romantic wrought iron style and a darling wood and fabric headboard style that is totally functional because it has drawers underneath and we only need to purchase a new mattress. I am definately sold on the functional piece, but hubby is still on the fence. I gave him 24 hours to decide because damn! a girl needs her beauty sleep.

Next week we have an appointment with a social worker at our Children's treatment centre to discuss the best way to communicate with Bugaloo about his cerebral palsy. He has started to point out differences in people and has asked why certain people walk funny or talk funny or use different equipment. I don't think he has really equated himself as different yet, but I want to be prepared for this discussion when it happens. I guess I am so afraid of saying something that will scar him for life. I suppose I should be satisfied that anything said in love will not scar him for life but the hyper paranoia in me wants professional confirmation of that.

Hope everyone enjoys their day!

Heard in Orthopedic Clinic Appointment

Doctor: Well "Bugaloo" you are really doing well, since I saw you last"

Bugaloo: Ya I know.

Doctor: It looks like you have been doing some crawling cause you knees are kinda rough.

Bugaloo: Yeah sometimes

Doctor: You know, now that you are getting the hang of this walking thing, you need to start walking everywhere.

Bugaloo: Well...sometimes things are sooo far away (holds hands far apart) it goes alot faster if I crawl.

Doctor: Well the more you practice the easier and faster walking will get.

Bugaloo: But crawling is faster.

Doctor: Well I'm the doctor and I'm telling you that you need to do more walking.

Bugaloo: I guess.

Doctor leaves shaking her head and giggling

Mom and Physiotherapist are huddled in the corner trying not to laugh.

Bugaloo: Can we go now?

Monday Madness

Good day all. I would have blogged this weekend but is was too damn spectacular around here. The sun was shining it wasn't too hot. I got all the laundry done and hung on the wash line. the kids played in the sandbox, then waterballoons, then baths. We made strawberry jam. I mean seriously it was a great weekend.

The Bug had T-ball this weekend and I made it there without any travel induced vomiting from the princess. Sweet!

Darling DH when for a motorcycle run with our friend Heather in a fundraiser for her son who also has CP. He had a great day and travelled over 300kms. He was tired when he got home.

This week we have clinic with the orthopedic surgeon from U of WO and then Tuesday we have our 2nd last therapy session with our Therapy Aide before she gets laid off due to budget cuts (that's another post).

I have a few meetings at work this week one for our annual fundraising campaign and the other for a new software program for writing marketing proposals. Woop tee do. Also they should start interviewing for my assistant this week so PRAY they find someone quickly!

Well better get back and see how breakfast is going.

Have a great day! It's supposed to be hot and a little muggy here. Thanks Texas!

Fridays are wonderful!

I am so tired. Well not as tired as I could be because the little peanut actually slept through the night last night!

It is a beautiful day here today and I am going to enjoy a run at lunch time today. Woo hoo. Gotta work off the jello shooters from the weekend. Ha!

T-Ball this weekend with the Bug. He is doing so well.

Clinic appt with the orthopedic surgeon on Monday. Therapy on Tuesday and a Haircut sometime next week. Busy Summer!

Sorry for the short post I'll try to be more informative this weekend.

What a weekend!

Ok
Happy Canada Day! I hope everyone had a great day with the families and enjoyed the fireworks. We DID NOT. Having a 12 year old dog who has grown increasingly skittish to loud noises like thunderstorms and you guessed it fireworks. I have come to dread this day along with the Victoria Day weekend and Labour Day. The August weekend doesn't seem to be quite so bad. Why is one day not enough?? Why do our neighbours think fireworks are for Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and of course Tuesday. I wouldn't be surprised if they kept a little something back to tonight as well.

Our dog has been sedated for the past 5 days, I'm sure if his heart can survive that it can survive anything.

We had a great weekend away on the motorcycle. We do a trip with our group to Windsor every year for the past 8 years since one couple moved there for his work.

Of course we ran into a huge downpour and even some hail. But in the end the clouds broke the sun came out and it was a great night. I think I went to bed at 4AM or something crazy like that!

Woo hoo!

Now I'm back to work for a few days and then I have another long weekend in July that I planned and hopefully I will get some shit done around the house.

Gotta get going!