News

Saturday

Saturday Aaron took a bunch of stuff to recycling at the citywide cleanup event. Then D13 and I went to An American Tale at aThe Children’s Theater of Minneapolis.

Sunday

Sunday I made some gumbo. It is an attempt to get Aaron to take food to work from home instead of eating at a restaurant every day. We’ll see if it saves us money. IL4 had swim lessons, and M10 had a baseball game. His team has improved quite a bit, but the other team won.

Monday

Monday we had the basement people here jackhammering all day. We’re getting new drain tile in our basement will stop flooding. IL4 didn’t like the noise. D13 had an appointment mid-day, and M10 had baseball practice. At the end of the day, we set up the Slip n’ Slide. IL4 loved it, and the other two kids seemed to moderately enjoy themselves.

Tuesday

Tuesday was a tough day. First, I hadn’t slept all night – finally fell asleep around 6am and was awakened at 7am by the basement team. I wasn’t able to catch up on sleep all day due to the jackhammering. Plus, I had to pick IK4 up from special education to bring him to daycare, because he now refuses to get on the bus. Plus, right around the time they stopped jackhammering, I had a scheduled visit with a friend. Then, by the time I went to work, I could hardly stand. She sent me home 3 hours later.

I was also dealing with the stress of having decided that I shouldn’t take the overnight awake job that had been slated to start in June. On Monday, I had experienced something that seems to happen about once a week: I suddenly and unexpectedly got so drowsy that I struggled to keep my eyes open. This usually happens to me while driving or at doctor appointments. One time, I literally slept through an entire appointment because the doctor was talking to D13 and not me. It’s also happened at the park when I’m presumably active. My psychiatrist thinks I have narcolepsy, but that’s really rare, so I’m skeptical. I originally thought it was a long-COVID symptom, as it really only became a problem after I had COVID, but all my other long COVID symptoms have disappeared. Anyway, the incident on Monday reminded me that when I wasn’t sleeping as many hours when working two jobs, it was happening multiple times a week. It’s highly inconvenient, especially when I have to literally pry one eye open to get to safety while driving. Monday was such an example, and I had IL4 in the car with me, so it was super scary. Anyway, I thought that maybe sleeping irregular hours and not as much due to an overnight awake position might increase these incidents to multiple times a week again. Unfortunately, my sleep doctor appointment has been scheduled out for months, and is slated to happen Thursday this week, but the onboarding appointment was set to happen on Wednesday. So I cancelled the onboarding.

Wednesday

Wednesday I took D13 to an appointment that was scheduled for the following Wednesday. I missed D&D because of that, and was super bummed. M10 had a baseball game. I heard he got on base by hitting the ball twice!

Thursday

Thursday, after getting the oil changed and a tire rotation, I had a sleep doctor appointment. She said that she doubted it was narcolepsy, too. She said they’d start with a sleep apnea home test. Then if that showed an insignificant amount of apnea, they would do an inpatient test in a sleep lab. Yay. Hopefully it’s just sleep apnea, though. That’s an easy fix. In the evening, D13 and I hung out with my friend Liz and learned to cross-stitch. She LOVED it.

Friday

Friday was mostly a good day for me. I ended up stressed out right at the end, but it resolved itself. IL4 had speech therapy (his v’s are going well!) And then an appointment with his pediatrician about his ADHD. We decided to put him on the same med M10 is on. Then we’ll follow up with a psychiatrist when we can get an appointment. On top of that, I talked to the nurse of IL4’s gastroenterologist. She said that the x-ray suggested we needed to try another 2-day bowel evacuation. I’ll do that this weekend.

Week’s Photos

Reading to IL4

• Super Rabbit Boy, All-Stars, by Thomas Flintham
• Super Rabbit Boy World, by Thomas Flintham
• Love Monster, by Rachel Bright
• Super King Viking Land, by Thomas Flintham
• Inspector Flytrap, by Tom Angleberger

M10 reading

• River of Wind, by Kathryn Lasky

D13 reading

• Lodestar, by Shannon Messenger

Crafts

News

Saturday

Saturday I played D&D and then watched movies with D13 and dad. I’m told M10 went white water rafting despite forgetting his goggles at home (he’s very afraid of water in his eyes – I imagine it’s a sensory thing). I’m proud of him for that.

Sunday

Mother’s Day was supposed to be calm, but I spent the whole day worrying about my job. IL4 had swim lessons and M10’s baseball game was postponed due to the rain.

Monday

Monday I felt sick to my stomach, which I interpreted as stress from the job situation (in retrospect, I apparently had a stomach bug). I went to the zoo with IL4 and dad, anyway. IL4 first wanted to walk through the aquarium, but only looked at statues. The sharks were pretty boring to him (well, I should say the statues were that interesting…) Then we went outside, where he discovered the playground. We spent the rest of the time there, and saw no animals.

At the playground, he pooped his diaper. He had been out of diapers for more than half a year, and recently went back in diapers with his GI problems. So I am out of the habit of bringing diapers and wipes everywhere. He didn’t want to go back to the car and change, and dad said he’d watch IL4 while I went back to the car and got supplies. I suggested that perhaps it’s a bad idea to intrust a man who uses a walker with watching a 4 year old who has been bolting and hiding a lot lately. Dad, offended by me “not trusting [him],” tried to prove himself by grabbing IL4. IL4 squirmed out of his reach, and bolted to the play structure. Dad chased him and, in slow mo, climbed up the rope ladder. Nearby moms were looking at me in dismay, but what was I supposed to do? By the time dad got to the top, IL4 had run across the large structure, and hidden in a nook. Dad walked around for about 5 minutes on the structure, looking for IL4, while I sat on the bench and chuckled.

M10 had an appointment and a BSA meeting. I had to pick M10 up on foot for the appointment because I’d accidentally left my purse in the car that Aaron took to work, and I didn’t have my car keys. (This was before the zoo.) Aaron dropped the purse off on his way to the dentist (he needs to replace his Marilyn bridge because of decay underneath, but otherwise had no cavities).

Tuesday

Tuesday was exhausting. I left early for a diabetes lab draw. Then I had an interview, followed by picking up IL4 at school because he wouldn’t get on the bus back to daycare. He was so upset when I brought him back to daycare. He thought I’d take him home like last time. Then I had two more interviews. I have decided to take one of those jobs. It will be an overnight awake position on MWF. At least there will be lots of downtime to rest, I’m told. Maybe I’ll get bunches read.

Wednesday

Wednesday I took IL4 to a feeding clinic for his intake. They suggested OT, and said they were willing to do psychology if I thought it would help. However, they suggested he was unlikely to get much benefit out of therapy until his hyperactivity was addressed. I have already made an appointment with his pediatrician in hopes of getting a referral for the psychiatrist D13 and M10 use.

Thursday

Thursday Aaron and I had a day date for our anniversary. We went to IHOP for breakfast, watched Supernatural, picked up IL4 from school since he’s decided he’ll never ride the bus again and they can’t force him, and grilled for dinner.

Friday

Friday I went through my schedule for the summer and made note of all the appointments that needed to be moved because of my new work schedule (starting June). I have to move all appointments to MWF after 10am, there were about 5 appointments to change, and I made a few of those changes before I ran out of time.

Then I took IL4 to an x-ray to check if his gut was empty of stool, as it should be. Haven’t gotten the news back from the gastroenterologist yet, but the radiologist said he had a “moderate stool load” which is bad because he’s supposed to be running on empty.

After the x-ray, we went to the library. He played with the toys and the computer and then checked out a Leapfrog.

Week’s Photos

Reading to IL4

• Revenge of the Roach, by Todd H Doodler

M10 reading

• River of Wind, by Kathryn Lasky

D13 reading

• Neverseen, by Shannon Messenger

Media Completed

News

Saturday

Saturday, D13 and I went to lunch at Chick-fil-A and then to Gertens to buy flowers, tomatoes, peppers, and green beans. We couldn’t plant them, though, because it was raining. Then we watched A Man Called Otto and Your Place or Mine. M10 had his last show, and Aaron attended.

Sunday

Sunday started out with me squashing IL4’s finger in the door. Because it was all bloody, I decided not to plant our flowers and veggies, despite it being a beautiful day. I didn’t want it getting infected. He then had swim lessons. M10 had a baseball game. They won by 1 point and M10 stole 2nd, 3rd, and home. So I guess that steal actually made a difference.

By the evening, D13 had a splitting headache and was obviously coming down from a fever based on her red face and claminess. (I would have taken her temp earlier, but I was at the game.) I tested her for COVID, and she came up positive.

Monday

Monday started with a rush of snafu squading. I had to make several calls and emails about D13’s covid, including calling the school twice, emailing a teacher, and changing her Little Mermaid audition to video. I had to fill out some forms before sending IL4 to school. Finally, I put him on the bus and rushed over to the grocery store to pick up some vital items. Then I set up D13 for a virtual appointment, and rushed dad to the lawnmower shop and went to the library to pick up a book that she needed to read, but left at school.

After IL4 got home from special education, I took him to urgent care about his smashed finger. It had turned a deep purple as if it had bad circulation. They x-rayed it since apparently they were concerned about a certain type of break that would permanently hurt his nail bed. IL4 didn’t want his hand x-rayed, saying he was scared. We decided I would hold him on my lap, but as we were putting on my protective vest, IL4 bolted and I chased after him, but lost him. I figured out where he was when I heard a dismayed cry of “No! Don’t do that!”

M10 had baseball practice.

Tuesday

Tuesday I voted for a referendum to get more funding to the schools (it passed). Then I had an interview at noon. They no-showed, and at 12:20 I got a call from special education saying IL4 refused to get on the bus to go back to daycare. I went and rescued his teacher. He asked to go home, and I told him I would take him home today if he promised to get on the bus tomorrow. He promised (and kept his promise).

Later, we had an IEP meeting for him. The teachers were talking about how he was more hyperactive and impulsive than before – to the point of bolting dangerously at the street and the staircase. He has also been bolting in parking lots for me. He has also been more anxious and emotional lately. I am concerned that I’ll have to give him ADHD meds if the dangerous behavior continues. I don’t like giving ADHD meds to a 4 year old, but I’m not sure how else to curb the dangerous behaviors.

In the evening M10 and I had a D&D oneshot we participated in. We both really enjoyed it.

Wednesday

Wednesday I was super tired again. I get that way when I’m stressed, and it makes staying awake for D&D difficult. But I mostly managed! M10’s team won a baseball game.

Thursday

Thursday I worked later than usual on the morning, then went immediately to the eye doctor. I hadn’t thought my vision had decreased much, but my right eye did by much more than expected. Then we had a zoom meeting going over D13’s autism assessment. She was found to be normal across the board. She didn’t even have problems that she was determined to have in an earlier assessment. Later, I had a dentist appointment (no cavities), and took IL4 to try on jersey sizes for soccer. He loved the jersey store and repeatedly bolted and hid in the hanging clothes. I literally only found him the second time because I saw the direction he went, and there was nowhere else he could have gone.

Friday

Friday was mostly a good day. I forgot that IL4’s speech therapy was at 10 instead of 10:45 like usual, so missed it. I ran some errands, rescued two bean sprouts that IL4 apparently planted at school, and checked things off my to-do list.

M10 and Aaron left for their whitewater rafting trip, and D13, IL4, dad and I went to Olive Garden. D13 was a trooper and watched IL4 all night while I worked.

Week’s Photos

Reading to IL4

• Game Over, Super Rabbit Boy, by Thomas Flintham
• Super Rabbit Boy Powers Up, By Thomas Flintham

M10 reading

• The River of Wind, by Kathryn Lasky

D13 reading

• Exile, by Shannon Messenger

Media Completed

News

Saturday

So, Saturday was another hard day. First, Aaron got a reminder email for an autism assessment appointment for D13 on Monday. 10am. I definitely didn’t make it because I’m stepmom. They wouldn’t have called me. So either Aaron or his ex-wife made an appointment and didn’t bother telling me. There would be a $300ish fee for cancelling.

M10 also has an appointment at 10am that day. $250 fee for cancelling that. Plus, I have Butt Bazooka Boy (IL4) that day. Aaron has a meeting at 10. Aaron’s ex has an appointment at 9:50. I can’t do D13’s appointment alone because I’m not a biological parent or legal guardian.

After much stress on my part, I decided that Aaron can put M10 on his appointment virtually at 9:45, and then be available by phone at 10 for D13’s appointment (after rescheduling his meeting). I found a babysitter for IL4.

Also, I was wondering why IL4’s been above and beyond crazy all week (his teacher and D13 both commented on it too). I Googled whether laxatives can cause hyperactivity. Apparently Miralax is associated with neurobehavioral issues in kids. So…at least I’m not going insane. It really is him and not me.

Oh. And IL4 has pink eye for the third time in this calendar year.

Sunday

Sunday I wrote a letter to a pen pal in Virginia and had family day. We watched more Firefly (it was Aaron’s choice). M10 had a show. IL4 completed his evacuation regimen (still needs doctor’s approval) and will start the two month “mush and push” regimen. During this period, he will, in theory, learn to poop in a happy, healthy manner. He will be given half a cap of Miralax and some Exlax every day for a couple of months. We found out Monday’s meeting was Zoom that didn’t require D13, but she had another appointment Tuesday. That one was easier to plan. I just moved some stuff around.

Monday

Monday was a good day (finally some relief). The appointment that I’d been so worried about went smoothly because it was zoom, so I was able to put IL4 on the bus, M10 on his virtual appointment, and attend this appointment. After his morning class, IL4 and I did some gardening. I was trying to prune, but he ran around and partially pruned every shrub, then ran to the backyard and tried to plant some firewood in a pot. When he was done with all that hard work, I followed him back inside.

I then made a plan for our vegetable garden. D13 wants cauliflower and sweet peppers. IL4 wants blueberries and strawberries. I want tomatoes. We have some raised beds that I’m going to put some of that in, the rest will go into pots. I decided after all that, we probably won’t have money for flowers this year. I’m not sure I will be successful planting blueberries and strawberries, but I can try.

After all that, I took M10 to baseball practice and then to Boy Scouts.

Tuesday

Tuesday started out with a visit to the vet. $400 later, we know that Polyphemus is healthy, with a healing eye. Then I took D13 to her autism assessment. I don’t think she has autism, but her therapist thought it would be helpful to check. That completed, she and I went fancshy-smancshy [insert name of swanky Twin Cities suburb] bowling. Leather couches and a fireplace and everything. Aaron took M10 to baseball practice while I ran around outside playing “bad guy – officer” with IL4.

Wednesday

Wednesday started out with a podiatry appointment for my occasionally crippling plantar fasciitis (I need to do a better job on my physical therapy). It’s been ok for the past week, but for about 3 weeks before that, there were days that I was strongly avoiding walking because it was so incredibly painful. He gave me a referral for some orthotics, which I’ve been avoiding getting because they cost about $200. But losing money because I can’t work is more than $200.

Then I went on a large shopping trip that I was rather peevish about in the end. I went to the fancy upscale grocery store because I prefer their salmon (I’m squimish about salmon skin, and this store removes the skin). I decided to do my whole shopping trip there because I didn’t want to go to two stores and this store bags the groceries for you (which I love). But the store didn’t have several items that I was specifically looking for, which meant I had to go on another shopping trip the next day. Plus, there was only one lane which was manned, and the line was super long, so I had to go through the self-checkout and bag my own groceries.

D&D followed, which was fun. Then I got a note from my bariatric clinic saying my ozempic would probably not get a preauthorization because they weren’t accepting obesity and prediabetes as sufficient – but that the clinic would try anyway. (I found out on Friday morning that my insurance had approved the preauthorization, though, so I feel better about that.)

Thursday

Thursday was partly a good day, partly not. It was a beautiful day out, which was nice. I went outside to make plans in the garden. I think I mentioned that IL4 wants to plant blueberries? Well we have four raised beds in our yard. Two of them are in the sun, and two in the shade. The ones I want to grow the blueberries in are longer, and they are unfortunately in the shade. On top of that, the soil in all four beds is riddled with landscaping rocks – makes no sense to me. Previous owner was apparently using them as a gate to block off a corner of the yard so her dog wouldn’t get out. So maybe she considered them a garbage heap. 🤷‍♀️

So over the course of the summer, I will empty all four beds and put the rocky soil on a weedy part of the lawn that we plan on mulching with wood chips eventually. I will get rid of the two short beds and move the big ones into the sunny spot. Then I will refill with acidic soil and composted manure. Next year, the beds will be ready for blueberries! (He’d better still want them.) As for this year, we have four pots and a decorative planter. We’ll plant two tomatoes and two peppers, and then flowers in the decorative planter.

Then, I was told that my client is moving into assisted living, and I’ll be out of a job. That was depressing.

Later, M10 had his 5th grade concert. He sang parts of “We Are the Champions” as his solo.

Friday

Friday I had the yearly maintenance done on the furnace. He talked me into getting my ducts cleaned soon (it needs to be done) and tried to talk me into some expensive gadgets to reduce allergies. But it seemed more aimed at dust – M10’s problem is pollen. IL4 went to speech therapy, where he successfully showed off his new v sound. M10 had his D&D session followed by his show.

Week’s Photos

Reading to IL4

• Super Rabbit Boy’s Team up Trouble, by Thomas Flintham
• Super Cheat Codes and Secret Modes, by Thomas Flintham
• Super Rabbit Boy’s Time Jump, by Thomas Flintham
• Robo-Rabbit Boy, Go!, By Thomas Flintham

M10 reading

• School of Fear, by Gitty Daneshvari

D13 reading

• Exile, by Shannon Messenger