News
Saturday
Saturday we celebrated IL6’s birthday. He opened presents (magnetic tiles, a toy crane, books, and LEGOs). We went to Olive Garden for his birthday meal, then he played with each toy. D15 helped put together the LEGOs before Aaron and I played with the little LEGO men with IL6. And, of course, we had cake. It was a cyclops with a cupcake eye. I cooked some jambalaya for the upcoming week and tried a new Brussels sprouts recipe (it was yummy).
Sunday
Sunday was a busy day. I got IL6 up at 6am, as he requested. This time, I carried him to the livingroom, dropped him on the couch, forced him to remain sitting, and pried his eyes open. After all this, I said “It’s 6 o’clock!” Suddenly his eyes snapped open, and he was really happy to be awake.
I went to church with dad at 8:15, then to the gym afterwards. I took M12 to Michaels to buy Christmas gifts for IL6 and D15, and then to Kohl’s to get a sweatshirt. I took dad to Barnes and Noble to buy a calendar for M12’s Christmas present.
After those errands, I was exhausted (mainly from not getting enough sleep), so I took a nap. While I was napping, M12 failed to go to band for the second week in a row. (He may get kicked out). I had reminded him earlier in the day, but I’m still sort of blaming myself.
I cooked shrimp for dinner and exercised on the stationary bike after dinner. Then it was time to put IL6 to bed.
Monday
Monday I had a lot to do because I was behind on all my goals due to the fluctuating mood of the past weeks. It started with a 2.5 hour intake appointment for IL6’s psychology clinic. And after all that talking, we didn’t finish, so there will be a follow-up appointment next week.
Then, I culled my to-do list to things that really ought to be done ASAP while Aaron directed the delivery of our new entertainment center that dad got us. (Our TV is mounted on the wall, but it’s a perfect size to place gaming consoles and IL5’s LEGOs.) Afterwards, Aaron and I ran errands.
Next, I cooked 3 pork chops for M12’s week’s worth of pork chop dinners, followed by chickpea tagine (recipe provided by a friend on LibraryThing). That will be my protein-packed lunches for a week or two.
While Aaron cooked chili for dinner, I wrote a few letters – a Letter Against Isolation, 1 letter to Michigan, and 1 letter to Massachusetts. (I’m way behind on my letter-writing right now.)
After dinner, Aaron and I attended a horribly rambling Zoom meeting about D15 process to get a driver’s license. It didn’t provide much good information – look at the Schoology page, pay $400 or else she won’t get a blue card, and a couple other snippets of information.
Then IL6 wanted to sit in his room for a while, so I read while he played on my phone. (I’m also behind on reading, so that was nice.)
Tuesday
Tuesday Aaron and I took the car to the mechanic. It was making a noise because the brake calipers had gone bad and we had metal-on-metal grinding. ($1200) Then, I saw my psychiatrist. She told me I was on the maximum effective dose on both my meds, but that she was going to raise one of the meds just in case I’m an outlier on effectiveness.
Following that, dad and I went to the gym, and then Aaron and I wrapped presents. IL6 was pretty excited about the presents under the tree and really wanted to know what I got him.
Immediately upon arriving IL6 wanted to play magnetic tiles for quite a long time, then went to sit in his bedroom with me. After a while, he and I did a homework assignment in which he had to decorate a gingerbread man. He made it look like Catnap from Poppy’s Playtime Chapter 3. We put it in a purple bodysuit, claws, ears, and a huge mouth.
M12 and D15 watched videos/TV.
Oh! And we got some good news. Minnesota Care (state insurance) had rejected the kids a while back, claiming that we hadn’t given them the appropriate paperwork. Today they called us and let us know they found the information, and they found the paperwork. So we’ll get thousands of dollars refund from the various bills we paid.
Wednesday
Wednesday, I took dad to his cardiac rehab appointment, then to a sporting goods shop to buy some dumbbells. Next, I called up all the providers at which we’ve paid bills for the kids and gave them the Minnesota state insurance information. That took most of the day.
I had about 30 minutes free, so I finished up a letter to Maine, and then picked up D15 from school (it was very cold out). Next, I picked up M12 from school and cooked dinner (chicken and squash – lima beans for dad, because he’s not adventurous).
I am beginning to believe the story that oatmeal decreased appetite (“nature’s Ozempic”). I started eating oatmeal when I heard that, in spite of it not being appetizing, and my diet has been easy to follow. But Monday I couldn’t fit it in to my schedule, and Tuesday I was really struggling between meals, to the point where I was eating Doritos. So I cooked my golden potatoes early, to calm my stomach before dinner. I’m going to be more careful about getting my oatmeal in.
In the evening, the kids played computer games and watched TV. I read to D15.
Thursday
Thursday I took dad to the gym for his personal trainer appointment. Then I ran some errands, met with the electrician with Aaron, and had D15’s IEP meeting. I think we agreed to take her out of the special education class and let her have that extra elective next year. In the evening, IL6 had a pajama party with the Cub Scouts.
Friday
Friday I had Buffalo Wild Wings with Aaron in order to get out of the house and away from dad. He was being VERY rude. Then I took dad to cardiac rehab. Then I cooked salmon for dinner. I wrote a letter to Indiana, and fell asleep while putting IL6 to bed. I did not get to read to him. 😱
Week’s Photos
Reading to myself
- Behave, by Robert Sapolsky
- Return of the Native, by Robert Hardy
- Warmth of Other Suns, by Isabel Wilkerson
- Carpe Jugulum, by Terry Pratchett
Reading to IL5
- Mobs Rule, by Nick Eliopulos
D14 reading
- Neverseen, by Shannon Messenger (I’m reading this with her)
- When You Trap a Tiger, by Tae Keller
Weight loss
Lost 1/2 pound
Media Completed
This book chronicles the Great Migration of black people from the South to the North. It follows the story of 3 migrants, with historical commentary in between. It is a really good narrative history, with lots of research. I generally read history books that are more academic, but this one was a nice change.
This book is an African fantasy about a kingdom where magic has been stolen by the royalty, and a girl and her friends go on a quest to bring it back. It was really interesting all the way through, and I am excited about the rest of the books, though the ending was a bit drawn out.
Hibernator's Library 