Update December 21, 2024

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Saturday

Saturday, Aaron and I played D&D and then dad, Aaron, D15, IL6, and I went out to Red Lobster. I fell asleep putting IL6 to bed again, but this time roused myself suitably to finish the book we were reading.

Sunday

Sunday I went through the day exhausted. It started with church with dad, followed by the gym. Then we found out my computer finally went kaput, and we discussed whether to buy another one with Aaron unemployed, since we need two computers for D&D on every other week. We decided against it, and for me to do D&D on my phone. Yuck. We also discussed whether to cancel the basement work (except the necessary electrical work). Dad offered to loan us the money interest-free, and we felt compelled to take him up on the offer to avoid floods at snow melt (if we get snow).

D15 played D&D on Aaron’s computer. I took IL6 to the library, which was fun because we were the only ones there for the first half hour. (I have an after-hours pass because I’m an awesome patron.)

Then I went downtown to pick up M12 from his mom’s. I took IL6, and we listened to the music he got at the library. (This week was Rolling Stones – better than the death metal he chose the time before.) M12 was not impressed with the Rolling Stones, but dealt with it politely.

After that, Aaron took M12 to band and I sat in IL6’s room with him from 4:30 pm till bedtime at 9pm. I started by writing some letters, but then realized i finally had time to catch up on sleep that I seemed desperately to need. I slept from 5:30-9:30, and felt very much refreshed. Besides waking me for a snack or milk occasionally, IL6 was good with this plan.

Monday

Monday I took dad to his cardiac rehab, then Hero to the vet for her annual. She’s lost a pound, so yay! After much procrastinating, Aaron and I agreed that we had nothing interesting to write about the two of us in a Christmas letter, and decided to skip it altogether. Maybe next year I’ll only write about the kids. Then I read to D15 as she cleaned her room. She packed up 4 boxes of books and two medium garbage bags with trash. After this experience, she may throw out her trash instead of leaving it on her floor.

Tuesday

Tuesday I took dad to the gym for his personal trainer workout, and I stayed on the treadmill for 45 minutes. Then Aaron and I cleaned the basement and moved stuff out of the way of where the workers will be in a couple weeks. D15 continued cleaning her room. IL6 played with LEGOs. My friend Liz came in the evening and we watched Doctor Who with D15 and Aaron. Meanwhile, IL6 dumped all his cars out on the livingroom floor, then ran around with a light saber yelling. Later, I helped D15 with a homework assignment.

Wednesday

Wednesday I found myself with extra time because dad cancelled his cardiac rehab. Instead, Aaron and I ran errands. Then I went to the dentist. We ate fried chicken for dinner, then I sat in IL6’s room with him for the rest of the evening. Aaron joined me so we could talk.

Thursday

Thursday I had an appointment with my bariatric doctor. She suggested I meet with a dietician to make sure my restricted diet is getting the right amount of nutrients. She also suggested moving the light box farther from my face to help me not go hypomanic. (Unfortunately I left the box at work, and then called in because of the blowing snow on the gravel road, so I don’t have it Friday – Monday, and I skipped Thursday because I was losing sleep.)

Then Aaron and I met again with the intake specialist at the place I want to get therapy for IL6. His ADHD diagnosis was changed from “unspecified” to “attention and hyperactivity combined” (I already knew that, but the diagnosis is nice, I suppose.) He was also diagnosed with trauma (because of the pooping pain), and we will attack his anxiety about pooping from that angle. That seems a lot better than the approach his last therapist has used, which was “let’s relax and talk about pooping in the toilet” (he simply won’t talk about it). IL6 misses that therapist a lot, but possibly because of her magnetic tiles. Occupational therapy was suggested for IL6, but we already have an OT intake scheduled at another clinic (in January). Two other programs were suggested, one that will be a 6 month wait, and should only be done if little progress is being made. The other program was to discuss what other resources might be useful (that will be right away after IL6’s report is filed). I didn’t expect that much support for IL6, but at this point I’ll take it. This advanced school/clinic may be exactly what we need despite the wait lists.

After that, Aaron and I ran an errand and had lunch together. (We were celebrating his upcoming second interview.) Dad took us to Olive Garden for dinner. Then, Aaron, IL6, and I had a slumber party in his room, complete with a pillow fight.

D16 is worried about a speech coming up on Friday, and is stressed about her room having been emptied for the basement work. We had the electricians out on Thursday and Friday to move the circuit breaker to a safer (dryer and up-to-code) location.

Friday

Friday morning, I picked up IL6 from school and took him to speech therapy, only to find out it had been cancelled, and I either wasn’t properly told, or I didn’t take it off my calendar. So, instead, I took IL6 to McDonald’s and had lunch. Then I took dad to cardiac rehab.

In the evening, M12 and D15 left with their mom and IL6 and I went to a party at his school. He didn’t find the party very interesting, so we came home and sat in his room for the rest of the evening. To my shock and awe, Hero came and sat on my lap for a half hour. I don’t recall her ever, in almost 8 years of life, sitting on someone’s lap. I got photographic evidence.

Week’s Photos

Reading to myself

Mr Ballen podcast
Return of the Native, by Thomas Hardy
Mahabharata

Reading to IL5

Mobs Rule, by Nick Eliopulos
Mermaid You Look, by Andres Miedoso
A Troll Lot of Trouble, by Andres Miedoso
New Pets on the Block, by Nick Eliopulos

D14 reading

Neverseen, by Shannon Messenger (with me)
Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Weight loss

X – 51.1 lbs

Media Completed

Mobs Rule

Desmond and Andres go to the aquarium and wonder why everyone is getting mesmerized by a song. As always, IL6 loves Desmond Cole. It’s his favorite series.

This story follows two cousins in a small town in England. The two each marry unfortunately, and they must navigate their poor choices. The beginning and end were long, but I rather liked most of the book. The ending surprised me, though it shouldn’t have.