Cerebral Palsy 101

So I had a little shit fit the other day. The boy child has been complaining about having a sore back for a few weeks. At first I thought is was due to a busy day at school or the fact that we slacked off his therapy schedule over the holidays and he was just sore after getting back into our routine.

So finally when I had a few minutes I decided I should take a closer look.

I had him come stand in front of me and do some of his stretches and then I had him bend over while I took a look at his spine.

In my next breath I gasped, and tears immediately filled my eyes. I swear to you I could see a curve on his spine. It was right there staring at me. In an instant the painful teenage years of my brother came flooding back to me. The back brace, the body casts and the eventual surgery that had a steel rod (Harrington rod) fused to his spine. The fact that now twenty years later, his scoliosis is so strong he actually has a curve in the steel rod and nobody knows what to do about it.

I swear to you it was there. I could not get through to my doctor, so I called a dear friend of our who is an Osteopath (who has helped us out on many occassions). She could see him. I was not looking for any diagnosis, just a second set of eyes to tell me if she could see what I see and did she think we should visit our doctor.

Thankfully, after a treatment session, where she was able to loosen up his back muscles a bit. We both determined that there was nothing abnormal about his spine.

That day it must have been tension he was holding is his back to keep his balance or the way he was standing on his feet.

I am so very grateful that we do not have to start dealing with the added bonus of another condition so far.

Life with Cerebral Palsy is tricky most of the time and just when you think you have stuff under control it throws you a curve ball just to keep you on your toes.
:)

An email and I cried.

I can't remember if I mentioned it here or not and I can't be bothered to look for it right now.

At the end of August we said goodbye to the boy's Physiotherapist. She had been our therapist for a little over a year, probably one the the longest terms we have had with a physio as we have experienced alot of turn over due to maternity leaves, leaving for husbands, jobs, transitioning to a school age program and worse lay-offs and service cuts.

She was with us this year as were prepared for and experienced a new school year and a major surgery. She was there for us as we rehabbed from this surgery and helped the boy get to a place where he could see that he had more ability than before the surgery. Not easy for a kid who was in full leg casts and a wheelchair for 8 weeks.

She is from the east coast and came here to go to school and ended up getting a job here so she stayed a few more years.

This year however, as she traveled home for several family events and a wedding, she became a little withdrawn. Never with the children, but as an observer I could tell something was off. Without being nosey I assumed maybe a break up with a boyfriend or other relationship or work matters. I never asked.

But by the end of the summer she sat in a annual review meeting and told us that she would be done at the end of August and she was moving back home. I was very upset to say the least. She has been a total blessing to us, she is able to get the best work from my son, he adores her, she is straightforward with me and provides me with any and all information I request from her.

On the other hand I put myself in her shoes and realized how lonely she must be here and how if I live on the coast by the ocean, I'm sure I would only yearn to be back there. Hell I have lived in my region(never more than 15 mins from where I was born) my WHOLE life. I can only imagine her homesickness. So with a brave face for my son and for her I smiled and said how happy I was for her. When on the inside I was grieving.

Fast forward to today when I received an email from her where I could literally feel her happiness with each word she wrote. I won't lie I cried like a baby because I still miss her so much. I think I am fearful that the boy won't do as well or that I will do something wrong without her guidance. Probably because she helped us through an emotional decision (major surgery) and the surgery and rehab was also such an emotional and exhausting time for our family. Maybe that's why I get so emotional. Can you tell I'm emotional? (over use of the word)

We still have no replacement Physio and have been on our own for the last 4 weeks trying to muddle through and create our own treatment program and workout schedule and trying not to FUCK up all the progress that she/we made this summer.

I feel overwhelmed and exhausted that this is my problem but then I shouldn't because hey he is my kid and his success is in direct proportion to what I put into raising him. So with that I suck it up and smile.

I sent her back a great update email with all that the boy is doing and being and accomplishing.

And then I cried again. I miss her so much!

Perhaps, it is the strong fear that brings up the emotions

Biting is not tolerated!

oh my quite the weekend here. My hubby is away on a golf trip with his brothers, they started doing it a few years ago and it has been really good for them so I have no problem with them doing a weekend every year.

My problem comes when my children decide to become possessed with the devil and be a total freaking disaster while I am on my own. Seriously.

It all started out so well Friday bedtime went off with no problems (they were beat from school and activities). Saturday, little angels ate their breakfast, helped with laundry and dishes, we went to the girl's first dance class EVER and we had excellent behaviour and even when we went to the dance store after to acquire some tap shoes things were going so good. A quick stop for lunch at nonnas, then we were off to the dollar store for a few things and a toy each because of such good behaviour, then finally the grocery store where they were again so delightful and helpful I was so proud.

Cut to getting home and all hell breaks lose, the portal to hell(apparently my living room) open up and there was fighting, kicking, screaming, no sharing, and then it happened, while I was hiding away in the boys room putting away laundry I heard it...something like a struggle, some grunting some pushing and then the great cry rang out through the house. I ignored it for a minute but then it got louder and had a more "hurt" tone to it.

What is going on here? I say innocently figuring the girl just got a misplaced hand to the eye.
He said, The girl took my dollor store toy and wouldn't give it back.
I said, so what did you do?
He said, I bit her.
I said, Mr. Full Name of child, THAT IS WRONG! Go sit on the stairs until I tell you to move.

I check out the girl and the welt on her back is already rising. I grab some ice and give her some loving. I look at him and tell him I just don't know what to say.

He starts to cry that she took the toy and wouldn\t give it back.

NOTE: I have them on a sitcker chart for things like cleaning up, being polite, sharing, brushing their teeth, etc.

I confirmed that the girl did infact take the toy, thus explaining why I had heard naa, naa, naa, naa, naa shortly before the crying and screaming.

The end result:

Biting is not tolerated it is violent and it hurts people, sometimes bad enough that they have to go to the doctor ( the boy understands doctors). Taking toys away is not tolerated, this hurst peoples feeling and is not how we act.

The punishment:

No sharing sitcker, how hurray sticker for having a great day, no cookies at dinner time and you have to tell your nonna and nonno why you may not have any cookies at dinner time (we were going there for dinner). No wii and no t.v. tonight after dinner.

Swift and memorable. Did not want them to worry all weekend until their dad came home. But they will have to tell dad about the absence of stickers on their Saturday line on the chart.

Over all I'd say I handled it well. I really did not know what to do. I was so shocked.

What have you done. In this situation??

Freedom... Coming Soon

Well it seems like most of my blogging friends are taking a break, which means I should pick up the ball because I have been on a blogging break for a week or two already.

One Friend is anxiously awaiting the end of school so she can get on with her life and move to a new city!

Another is taking a step back and looking at her life with new eyes so she can get revved up about her awesome life again.

And me well I am just hanging out here with a boy in two casts who is about to burst at the seems with excitement that they are coming off on Tuesday and he will be able to move his ankles again.

We have been marking off the days on a calendar since he has been in casts for basically 7 weeks. The other night he said the cutest most innocent thing. "Mom, Will I be able to stand when I get my casts off? How will that work??"

The truth of it is that it will be really hard for awhile but with hard work and time he will be able to stand pretty well I imagine.

I never realized how tight his tendons were and how they were effecting his posture until he stood up straight for the first time. The kid had grown almost 3 inches if not a bit more. Amazing.

I'll try to keep up the posting in the next little while so my other entertaining friends can tend to their families and themselves and take a bloggie break.

Till tomorrow.

Post Op Update

I should be cooking dinner...

Well we are at 14 days post op and tomorrow we can get him on his feet and see if he can stand in the casts. This should make the whole toileting arrangement go smoother. Not a moment too soon. My chest muscles and lower back muscles are protesting big time! Everytime I breathe it hurts. I was at the doctor last week because I thought I was have heart or lung problems, Not so much...just stop lifting heavy things. Easy for her to say she doesn't have to try to get a 5 year old in and out of bed everyday.

Even scooching him up in his chair or on the couch pulls those pecs and not in a good way.

Now that I have gained some perspective I'm hoping to be able to write a little about this experience for other families who NEED to know what they are getting into.

It sounds all wonderful when the surgeon describes the positive outcomes and that many children are able to walk really well after surgery and rehab.

But they do not do a very good job of describing just how you are going to get through 2 weeks of sheer HELL and then 3 months of rehab to get to the glorious moment of easier movement for the child. Damn Surgeons, such pricks( and ours is a female)(kinda like lady cops, take themselves very seriously)


Suffice it to say it has been an experience, pain, poop, crying and laughing.

If I ever get two minutes to myself again I will tell you about it.

Pediatric Surgery Checklist

Here are a few things that we found very helpful to pack for when we took our 5 year old with Cerebral Palsy in for surgery.

Favorite sleep toy
mini juice boxes (sometimes they don't trust what the nurses are bringing them)
own blanket
own pillow
Extra pillows to prop up parts that have been put in Casts
pull ups (they don't always have enough control)
Children's tylenol or motrin incase they refuse to take the stuff the nurse has in the syringe to squirt in their mouth
Extra towels
Cloths
Wipes
A bucket
Barf Bags

We took him in, in his clothes but we brought his jammies to take him home in

Do a test run on how the child will fit in the car/carseat - Very important! we had to make a last minute call to borrow my parents truck when we realized that the boy and the wheelchair would not fit in the car at the same time. Doh!

Get your rental a week ahead of time so you can test it out, the kids get used to it and you can do the dry run mentioned above. It is worth the extra money.

Take said wheelchair with you. You'll appreciate knowing how everything works and the kid will not throw a fit at yet another new thing.

Read all paperwork very carefully at the hospital - If I would not have gone through our stuff they would have only done the surgery on one side and we would have to go back again. (boo hiss)

Feel free to have the surgeon explain the procedure to you AGAIN so that you know what is going to happen.

if I think of more i will add them.

Gotta go! Patient is calling.

Tendon Legthening surgery

So we are day 6 post op on the tendon legthening surgery for the boy's hamstrings and heel cords. He is pissed. he is mad he has lost mobility around the house.

Couple that with the fact that he cannot sit at a 90 degree angle yet, so we had to get creative with the toilet arrangements. Which involve a "pull up" vs a "diaper" the first time he had to do his business in the "pull up" he was so horrified. I feel sooooo bad for the little guy.

He is complaining less and less everyday which is giving me a little more time to catch up on all things internet, so I should be able to clear the back log of emails and post a little longer commentary on the surgery for those who are searching out these things.

Be back tomorrow. I still have lots of running around to do this afternoon just waiting for my Mom to come over to sit with the kids while I run out to get more pain meds, a small body pillow, cucumbers, and a well deserved massage for mummy.

Till tomorrow!

I wish this was longer and witty - but its all I got .

Time for an update HOLY cow I didn't realize how much time has passed since I last posted.

Tomorrow we head to the Children's hospital to have Bugaloo's surgery done. He is having a tendon lengthening procedure done to the hamstring and achilles tendons in both legs. he will be in full leg casts for the next 6-7 weeks.

I have had to obtain a wheelchair and inform the school and bus transportation and make arrangements for therapy, time off.

We finalized the arrangements with our mortgage finally, no thanks to Scotiabank those lazy greedy bitches.

We had a momentary issue with how we were going to transport the boy on the way home since we are not sure if he will fit in his car seat with his casts on. So we have a booster, we have the car seat and we'll just play it by ear.

I'm hoping to have more time for blogging on Thursday after we are home and in popsicle and ice cream mode.

I wish this was longer and more witty, but this is all I got.

New Product - Illness B Gone

I wish!

Today the bug woke up with Laryngitis, which required some serious fancy footwork on my part. Our babysitter has not been feeling well and so I just could not send him to the sitters or when I knew he was dealing with something. School was not an option because we just got a nice note home from school saying, " For shits sake people quit sending your sick kids here" Well that's not actually what it said. I may have paraphrased a little.

However, hubby was only too happy to hear of my emergency and come to my rescue since he is stuck working outside today and it is a balmy MINUS 22 degress here in our winter wonderland. Can you say darling you saved my life.

So I have a few minutes here before he gets home and then I am off to work where I will have to put in a few extra hours tonight to off set my late start this morning.

I hate when mondays start this way!

How about you? A smooth monday or a rough monday??

-

New Buggy to Push

Seeing as how I was off today I decided to do one thing that would make me feel productive about my day.

I have been trying to search for a new stroller for us. Although the BugaLoo is doing fantastic with his therapy. Even though he is getting stronger and stronger and walking longer and longer. Even though he rarely uses his walker at school anymore (except on those days when it's his turn to take the attendance to the office). There are times when having a stroller for him would make his day and ours more enjoyable. Anywhere there are long distances between destinations, for example; the parking lot and the hospital where he receives his botox injections, the fairgrounds in my hometown, the museum, large all day events like picnics or when we took him to "A Day out with Thomas"

So I started looking today and I really like This Baby. Not sure how economic it will be to ship from the UK but I will check into it. I also found This which will work great and can hold a maximum of 110 lbs.

Time to get dinner started.

Botox, flu shot and Casts for AFOs

What a week we are having. And our week started on Friday. Friday we travelled to our Orthopedic Surgeon's hospital so that she could do Botox injections on the Bugaloo legs. (If your new here you can read about his CP in the CP posts)

This time our appointment was at 2:30pm which meant the Bug could each jello and drink until 10am and we did not have to leave for the hospital until 10:30am. (I'm not sure if this was better than leaving at 8:30 and trying to cram jello into him in the car until 9am). We get to the hospital (1hr 15 mins drive from our home)get registered, pick up our prescription at the pharmacy and then check in at the pedatric day surgery unit. There we (i mean the bug) is weighed, measured, blood pressured, heart and lungs checked out, we answer amillion questions and then...we WAIT. and wait some more and just when you start to get antsy, we wait some more.

Then finally one of us (this time me) gets to carry him in to the procedure room and try to calm a child that is freaking out because they are going to put a mask over his face that is going to make him go to sleep. (that's the hard part) I try telling him a story about the time I broke my arm when I was his age and had to have it fixed and they had to put a mask on my face and ..... he's not buying it. So I hold him while he crys and in seconds he falls asleep and I have to leave my little man there on the table. (It does get easy, not better, but easier)

15 mins later the doctor comes to tell us that she gave him 16 injections, he's waking up and asking for us and a pink popsicle.

We go to see him in recovery and he starts to cry. (this happens every time) We calm him and let him know he is safe. He finishes his popsicle and asks when can we go home. Soon buddy soon. About this time the hunger and thirst kick in. Apple juice, no problem. After an hour, the last set of checks, blood pressure, temp, and circulation, we are given the go ahead to leave. It is now 4:15pm and we are all starving, hubster and I had breakfast but no lunch and split a bag of chips and bottle of water in the waiting room. East Side Marios is right across from the hospital so we decide to go for it. They tell us to take it easy that heave food will make him sick after the anesthetic, but we decide to go for it!

We eat our fill and head home. What a day!

Tuesday I had to take the kids for flu shots and the Bug needed an immunization for school. The kids were soooo good. I can forgive the 3 minutes of full on chaos that ensued when the needles came out. The BUG looked right at the doctor and said,"that was horrible, just horrible". the doc tried to supress a giggle, but the bug caught her and gave her a dirty look. the peanut screamed bloody murder but who can blame her, she was second and already new what was coming.

Whoppee we're having fun now!

Today, we are going to orthotics clinic to get casted for new AFOs since the Bug had Botox and is also growing like a weed.

Today will be alot of waiting, we hope they are on time but will pack lots of snacks and activities since our appointment time is close to lunch and will probably span over the lunch hour.

thankfully this ends our medical appointments until the new year and we can look forward to celebrating the bug's birthday (24th) and Christmas.

Hoping your week is going better than mine. hang in there it's almost over.

Therapy day

Running a tight schedule today. I have to get all the presentations merged today, get all the handouts copies and ready to go into the packages all by noon.

The Bug has therapy today so that means I'm only a 1/2 day at work. Nothing like cramming a full day into a half day.

I have to tell I am just so darn pround of that kid of mine. I can probably count on one hand how many times he has been a pill during his therapy sessions. He works and workds HARD every single session.

The ladder


The Gait Walker


And practicing at home.


So proud! Let me know if you have any questions.

Running

Today is going to be such a busy day. I thought I had better get online and GIT R Done! Posting that is.

Today is a school day for the bug so we packed the library book, the homework book, the lunch, the shoes, the mitts. I hope that was all that had to go today.

Me I have a full day of work today and then a meeting tonight for my Creative Memories team. It should be fabulous! but it will be late and I always dislike those long days at the beginning of the week.

We are kicking out running program in the ass again this week, since a few of us have been sick we have kinda been loafing it for awhile, I think I have been only running once or twice a week for 20-25 mins for the past month. NOT GOOD!

So I'm sure lunch will not be pretty at the office today but we are going to do it!

So I packed my two meals, my clothes my work that I brought home, I sent the email with the work that I completed and now I have exactly 27 minutes to get dressed and do my hair and get The Bug on the bus.

Oh ya and I had better drop the Peanut at my in-laws, who knows what she would do to the house if I left her to her own devices.

I even got a chance to work on a few pages and projects last night. I'll put some finishing touches on and photo them for my post tomorrow.

I just registered for the coolest forum and YOU CAN TO Click Here, its called Art Unleashed by my new friend Karan and her friend Patti.

Have a great day!

I Love Sunday Mornings

Hubby let me sleep in a little, well I guess not really because of the time change, no matter I feel like I had a little more sleep.

I think my theory for Hallowe'n candy is working. The kids are allowed one item after each meal. Yesterday they were like pavlov's dogs gobbling up their food to get the treat. Today not so much. Yesterday we didn't have an huge meltdowns so that was very nice.

However, The bug requested to bake peanut butter cookies this morning so now that we finished that they are having a picnic with their peanut butter cookie.

Now I have to get everyone dressed so we can play BINGO, my they are full of requests today!

I have to go into work this afternoon. I just really want to get caught up before this week from H E double hockey sticks (so 80's) sets in. We are hosting a seminar at work and guess who is in charge? I have final testing to complete on some new monthly reports for our IT department, plus finalize the ticket count for our client theatre night (thank goodness I don't have to do the seating arrangements)all that on top of an abnormally busy month of claims for my regular job. It never rains it pours.

Hopefully I will be able to keep up my posting for
NaBloPoMo. It's always such a fun challenge. Last year not so much. I started out well and ran into post block. this year I am going to give it a go. If you want to help me out leave a topic in the comments and I will give it a whirl.

Not that I like using the T.V. for a babysitter but I love the 20mins of peace that Toot and Puddle allow me on a Sunday Morning. Long live travelling Pigs!

Have a great day!

A Rainbow Moth

My children are complex individuals. We have been busy getting ready for Hallowe'en. the kids are excited and 2 1/2 and almost 5 I think this is the first year they really get it.

The bug started out with wanting to be a spikey caterpillar and then wanted to be a crysallis? that would have been a little tricky and required a LOT of explaining. Luckily he moved on and decided on a MOTH. mmmmmm... In an effort to see his vision I asked What kind of moth. His answer. A Rainbow Moth. mmmmmmmm... In an effort to seek further clarification. What does a rainbow moth look like?

You know... it has wings, with colors and fluttery.

Right I'll get right on that.

turns out when I offered him the chance to paint his own wings all was good and we have an "interesting" costume.

Here's a peek at the action.



And the peanut doing her best Jackson Pollock



HAPPY HALLOWE'EN

Some fun from the weekend

Even though it was raining we had a lot of fun the 2008 Murray Pumpkin Carve. Our dear friends have finally moved in to a beautiful home and decided they were going to decorate their yard with over 40 pumpkins. So this was kind of like the house warming where you invite everyone to come help you paint...but different. Everyone in attendance was REQUIRED (yes required) to carve a pumpkin. Of course this is hubby's favorite time of year so he was happy to oblige, bring his own tools and everything.

He did several some with the kids some on his own. Some how between treats and mini meltdowns I only got a photo of this one.



I think this was the Bugs pick.

Crazy busy I still feel like crap and I only have a few more days to get my design team submission together. Not sure if I'm going to make it or not.

Doing a family tree project tomorrow night with my mom's group. So exciting! Work was a total drag today it took me almost all day just to get my inbox under control. not to mention my personal stuff.

Full time work - job security and health and dental benefits are just SO overrated.

Hello busy Tuesday

I am starting to feel like a hamster on a treadmill. This virus illness is really getting to me. I can't seem to get anything done. I'm doing the "right" thing by going to bed early and getting as much sleep as possible. The TO DO list just keeps getting bigger. I rely heavily on the 8:45 to 10pm time slot to get some shit done around our home.

Today I am working until 1:30
2pm physiotherapy for The Bug
3:30 meeting with Extend-a-family to apply for therapy aide funding
5pm set up for school BBQ
5:30 pm School BBQ - book fair, treasure hunt etc.
7:30 meet a friend for scrap supply swap

Crazy day! I also have to get stamps because I have some bills and forms to send out ASAP.

This is alway part of October, just when you think you should be in a schedule of some kind you're not and you're mad at yourself.

We have baby button's birthday this weekend plus thanksgiving so hopefully after that things will settle down alittle and we will be in a more established routine.

Anyone else feeling the same way!

Friday Post - I'm ill'in - But I have good news!

After the oh so fun bout with Tonsillitis. I am happy to announce that I have a wonderful sinus cold and I'm lubbin it! Work is so busy I can't really take any time off. I am looking forward to a quiet weekend to recoup.

So. Grab a cup oh joe and catch up with me.

My sister went into labour on Monday (my brief day of wellness, thanks fate)and had her baby on Monday night (two weeks early) 1/2 hour of hard labour and 3 pushes (what a bitch)she knows it she owns it and she flips the rest of us off.

So I have a beautiful, no handsome new nephew who was 6lbs, 10oz and he is positively adorable. I wish I could tell you his name but I don't have permission so I will call him Baby B. Not to be confused with my niece Baby Button.

My grandfather is doing extremely well recovering from his triple by-pass surgery, he has experienced a few panic attacks which where scary for him but not life threatening. I would panic too if a doc was holding my heart in his hands and picking and poking at it.

I found these beauties that have solved my problem of Labeling all of the things BugaLoo has to take to school, equipment, lunch containers, hats, sweaters and stuff. I love them! Canadian company to boot.

Held a scrapbooking intro class for a group of parents at my children's treatment centre. It was so fulfilling to be able to introduce these parents to memory keeping and documenting their child's lives and their own thoughts as they work through parenting a child with special needs. Loved IT!

Gearing up for a workshop in October and teaching a session on Christmas cards and tags! Sweet.

Both hubby and I have this cold so far the kids are doing well. The thing I hate the most is no kissing my hubby. We have declared abstinence for a week period to see if we can stop passing this back and forth and clear our house. But I miss him! Sigh!

I still have people search for Buggy info so I am going to post THIS again since it kinda got lost at the bottom of a previous post.

If you are looking for some art inspiration HERE at KAL's is my favorite place to go.

Also planning a book review for Monday or Tuesday. check back to find out who.

Okay I seriously owe you guys a post!

Well first of all I'm so sorry I blew the ole Friday post. No computer not ability to upload photos, no NOTHIN!

So, just bare with me for a little rant and all will be well soon.

DH and I have been sick, that kind of sick where you have a headache and you feel nauseous but you never actually get sick. So together we were just really lazy sacks of shit all week. DH called in sick two days. I managed to make it to work but don't kid yourself people...I had to lay the ole head down on the desk once or twice a day.

Now I think the kids have it a little bit so I hope they don't get it quite so bad.

My Grandpa aka Choo Choo Bob had a small heart attack last tues and was admitted to the hospital, where he had an angiogram and ANOTHER small heart attack (AT THE SAME TIME). Currently that leaves him awaiting a Quadruple bypass operation THIS MORNING. I was able to visit him twice over the weekend and that was a great comfort to me and I hope to him and my Nana. I'm the first grandchild and a big suck hole for my Nana and Pa-Bob. He is 82 years old and in pretty good health, he exercises regularly and eats a fairly good diet. He really has all the factors going for him. If something happens it will be truly a fluke and truly just his time to go. So I wait and hope and keep my fingers crossed that all will be well.

We had alot of rain this weekend and it was all I could do to get out and do the groceries so TOP of the LIST this week is COMPUTER SHOPPING.

Oh anyone out there EXPECTING...my sister is and I found this Cool Sleepy Wrap so I am going to order her one is the dark brown I think.

The Bugaloo is doing well in school and adjusting to the new routine of going full days. He made it through his first two days but on his third he had to have a little nap. So Cute!

Peanut is totally pissed that she has to stay home but I guess that's alway the way for the younger sibling.

We are getting ready for an election here in Canada and I'm sad. I'm sad because voting is going to be such a burden this time. It's like a multiple choice question: Which one of these candidates is the Least Asshole, jerk, two faced, lying , backstabbing, complete idiot on the planet. There are no GOOD choices only the least bad choice. mmmmmmm

Alright that was a little bit of everything to get you caught up and understand the infrequent posts. I'm planning on a great post in the next 48 hours to let you know that Choo Choo Bob is out of Cardiac ICU and on the step down unit and they are sewing his chest back up and he is doing as well as can be expected.

Have a great week all!

Faaaccckkkk! A Friday Post

I think I blew the whole life balance thing this week. First things first I forgot to post a poll for a Friday post topic. So therefore, no Fucking Friday Post! Doink!

It's been a whirl wind week around here not made any better by my fourteen yearold neice who is babysitting. I swear to GOD that girl! She is super with the kids however she a SMALL (read HUGE FUCKING) problem cleaning up after.

SUPER FANTASTIC Bugaloo you re-created Mr. maker's house FABULOUS. Why is there a big fucking orange puddle of paint on my Goddamn carpet! ( I hate the green carpet but that is beside the point. ) OH LOVELY you recreated Mr.Makers couch out of homemade playdough..SUPER! Yes I can see that ground into the chairs in the dining room SWEET. I'm so glad you used food coloring because that won't stain their clothes at all. Now where is the leftover pladough and the containers you made it in. GREAT didn't find those until the next day all hardened in to the containers and I will have to pry out with a chisel. SUPER FUN. You used a TONNE of sitckers to decorate Mr. Maker's Doodle Drawers? I can tell the paper backing of the stickers are ALL OVER the floor. AWESOME!

I can also tell that you had juice boxes, yogurt, granola bars, raisins, gum, and something else that turned in to a BIG ASS pile of crumbs. GOOD GOD!

Whew! Now I have to admit we only pay her 20 bucks for the day so it's alittle over 2bucks an hour But HOLY SHIT! I don't want to hire a restoration crew everyday she babysits.

I don't know how a 14yr can get through life being such a disaster honestly. I don't want to crush her self esteem, I just don't know how to make it clear to her that this is a job she is supposed to be helping me. Not turning my hosue into a disaster zone. I offered her the opportunity to babysit because she was applying to Tim Horton's this would impead her family from travelling to their cottage if she had to work the weekend. So this solved two problems, gave her some spending money and allowed her family to travel on the weekend. How did being nice backfire so badly?

So I am thankful that next week is the last week she is babysitting. Only 2 more days to go. Then I get my cleaning helper back (the neat cousin,too bad she can't babysit).

oohhmmmm!