News
Saturday
Saturday we relaxed at the campground for a long time. Then we went on a short walk, and went to a bar and grill at a nearby town for dinner. It poured rain in the night. M12 couldn’t sleep because of his allergies, so after trying a few different things, he decided just to sleep in the car. He then woke us up at 6am because: “The sun’s up!”
Sunday
Sunday we packed up camp (after letting IL5 and Aaron sleep in to 8:30). The evening at home was pretty relaxing, with not much going on. IL5 was pretty thrilled about the second Desmond Cole book, so I promised to get more from the library.
Monday
Monday IL5 had swim lessons. Aaron met with HR about his severance package, and got a call-back about a job. The gastroenterologist got back to me and said that hospitalization won’t be necessary to get IL5 clear. They want us to give him yet more daily laxatives. I’m not 100% certain giving him 3 Exlax, 1-2 Dulcolax, and 2 tsp of Calm Magnesium a day is good for his gut in the long-term. I read to D14 in the evening.
Tuesday
Tuesday was calm. D14 had a video appointment with Aaron and myself. I had 3 hours to relax – I took a nap and read. Aaron had an interview with a placement company. He also ran errands and weeded so I could rest.
I used to pay myself 25c for every task completed on my to-do list, $1 for every weekly goal, and $2 for every monthly goal. The money goes to my fun budget for the family (and myself). But while Aaron’s looking for a job, I switched to a point system where each dollar converts to a point, and I pay 25 points an hour for time off where Aaron does “my work.” He has kindly agreed to this.
In the evening my friend Liz came over, and we all watched Doctor Who (except M12 and IL5 who were playing Spore and Creature Creator respectively). IL5 was thrilled when the new Press Start book arrived in the mail – I had pre-ordered it months ago. Instantly, he saw the ad for the next book that won’t be out for another several months. He paused his video so I could read the new book to him (usually he only wants to read at bedtime, so I only get to read to him on the three days a week I don’t work nights). So that was fun for both of us.
Wednesday
Wednesday felt a bit long and lonely. I went almost directly from my overnight job to my day job, and didn’t get home till 5:30pm. There’s no one to talk to at either job, due to my clients not really being verbal, and the day job is simply sitting around (though I bring books, work, and cross-stitch with me).
When I got home, I really wanted to stay home, but I also wanted to talk, and Aaron was taking IL5 to soccer. So I went along. IL5 didn’t do what the coach told him to do at all. I’m wondering how he’s going to handle kindergarten. I guess he really belongs in a Montessori that actually follows the original Montessori structure (letting kids pick their educational activity) rather than the college-prep-during-kindergarten structure that so many people associate it with (not sure when the spirit of the teaching structure changed). But we can’t afford a private school, so IL5 is going to have to learn to do what he’s told…which I don’t see happening quickly. I don’t know if he doesn’t hear the instructions (his ADHD), doesn’t understand the instructions (his language difficulties), or just doesn’t like the instructions (personality). Plus he is hyperactive – gets up and runs around in circles for no reason – so how is he going to sit still for kindergarten? Plus his inability to clearly talk. Plus his fear of the toilet. I’m actually scared of kindergarten.
Thursday
Thursday was another long day of going directly from overnight job to day job, and then arriving back home at 5:30pm. Dad was out of bed – he’d been bedridden by a virus for a couple days. We had a quick dinner, and then I started feeling super tired. Then the awful chills. I put on long underwear under my clothes and still felt cold. Finally, I decided the responsible thing to do is take a COVID test so that I don’t expose my overnight client (again). The test had a very faint pink line that Aaron couldn’t see, but D14, M12, and I could see. So I called in to work and went straight to bed.
Friday
Friday I was very sick. Aaron called his mom and they decided we would not have our trip to Oregon in the morning. Aaron started having symptoms by Friday evening.
Letters Written
- One letter Pennsylvania
- One letter Texas
- One letter Massachusetts
- One letter Maine
- One letter Belgium
- One letter Missouri
Reading to myself
- Eye of the World, by Robert Jordan
- Behave, by Robert Sapolsky
- Wind-up Bird Chronicle, by Haruki Murakami
- Alan Turing: The Enigma, by Andrew Hodges
- Mr Ballen podcast
Reading to IL5
- Super Rabbit Boy World, by Thomas Flintham
- Mega Mole Girl Digs Deep, by Thomas Flintham
D14 reading
- Queen of Shadows, by Sarah J Maas
Media Completed
In this humorous anthology Holly and Justine introduce stories which demonstrate each of their points – which are better: zombies or unicorns. I listened to this with M12, and both of us found it funny and refreshing.
Andres and Desmond have another ghostly adventure, this time with haunted bikes. IL5 absolutely loved this book, and its ghosts. He asked me to get more of the books.
Mega Mole Girl must rescue Super Rabbit Boy and all the other heroes of Super World. IL5 has made us read this book to him 3 days in a row.
Games Played
Hibernator's Library 