Negative!

The Pediatrician's office just called to tell me that Maggie's step test came back negative. Normally I would be happy about that, but today I am not. Why, you ask? Because Declan's test was positive for strep so that means that I have two different "bugs" running through my house! And those portable HAZMAT showers are expensive, not to mention it might not look right if I made the kids strip and shower before coming inside:) Seriously though, I have cleaned and cleaned the house and the kids:) I don't know where or why they keep picking this stuff up, it is going to be a LONG cold/flu season I fear.

Oh, and as if my kids being sick wasn't enough, Maggie infected poor Grayson, so now he hates me:(

All of these illnesses has helped me finish my Christmas List- HAZMAT SUITS for everyone! Do you think Santa will make those?

Monsters School Updates!

We got Declan's report card on Monday. It was good. The grading is done with numbers, 1-4; 1-below 2-working towards 3-meets 4-exceeds standards. He had mostly 3's and 3+. He did have a couple of 2+ though, in the same areas he struggled last year handwriting and showing his math work! The handwriting I fear will hold him off the Honor Roll as both his father and I were C getters in that area:) The math problem thing, is a bit more difficult, he gets the answer, but fails to show his work. He is having trouble explaining his steps, so we will work on that. At least the basic math skills are there so we just need to get him to write down his steps. He is reading awesome, 95% on his 3rd grade level PALS(so that is the level he will read at in school) which he so doesn't get from me as I could barley read until I got into 5th grade- got that was awful! And I really mean I could barely read. I make him read a lot and he is really into these Magic Tree House books, so I am very proud of him.


Killi did not get a report card, I think they only get 3 a year instead of 4. But she has come so far in school in only 2 1/2 months. She barely knew any letters and no sounds and now she knows the names of almost all the names and so many sounds. I'll tell you what, public schools might not be good everywhere in the US, but mine is awesome! Husband and I have had so much support from the staff with Killi it is unbelievable. I am so happy that she is at the school she is with the teacher she has. Not only has she learned so much, but her self-confidence is up because she is able to come home and "teach" Maggie things instead of the other way around:)

As for a Maggie school update, I don't really have one. They make crafts and she is tired when she comes home. The head teacher doesn't complain about her, but because it is a HS program and the HS students are the main teachers, they don't really interact with the parents(I guess we are scary:) But she has an entire year next year to go again before kindergarten, so I am sure she will learn what she needs too, like social skills:) as she is not her sister in that area.

And, That is a wrap on the monsters ans their schooling thus far- hopefully the next update will be just as positive-

Veterans Day

Today husband and the monsters were home with me and I am happy to say that we had a very nice time. We did little work, but spend alot of quality time together. It was nice. A nice break in the middle of the week. A day that was given to us to Thank Our Veterans. So, if risking their lives to give us freedom wasn't enough, my family also got this great Tuesday off. There is no way for me to to truly show how much I appreciate our Service men and women and all they have given to us.

To All Veterans, I would like to say THANK YOU! Without you, my family would not have the life it does.

Good Day Gone Driving

What a busy afternoon I had. My morning started well enough the kids all got off to school and I sat down to do some school work before I headed off to the kids school to volunteer. I never did the school work, instead I watched a show I had on tivo. That was okay though, I deserve 40 min of tv, right?

So, out the door I went at 11 am, showered, dressed and ready to go. I ran to Rite Aid and Dr Tom, grabbed a drink and I was off to school. The front desk was busy this morning, so the time went by quickly. When it was time to leave, I did not moved very fast out the door, but that's okay.

Then I was off to get my littlest monster and a friend's son, who were hanging out with Becca(who agreed to take them because she does nothing but eat bon-bons all day:)However, the children did not want to leave, so I did and left them there, and decided to pick them up after I retrieved the other two from school. That plan was fine until, I had to drop a kid off in my neighborhood before I could fetch the little ones and Declan decided that his throat still hurt. So, the plan was changed.

I picked the kids up, drop the extra off, ran across town to get the little ones, ran the extra home, got the doctor on the phone who wanted to see Declan and Maggie ASAP, so I ran Back across town for the fourth time in the span of two hours. It was not good. I picked the kids up from school at 3:30 and didn't make it to the doctor until 5:00 and I never left the car, just drove across town- back and forth, Loads of fun was had! All I can say is that I am glad gas prices have dropped:)

Good we went to the doctor though. Declan and Maggie have Strep. Yes, that is right, we are again infected! I am not finding this funny at all. Husband met me at CVS and he got the medicine so that I could run the kids to Dr Tom and then home to get dinner made. Because of course, McDonalds would not due tonight, they wanted homemade Mac-n-Cheese. And being the perfect mother that I am(stop laughing:), I came home and made it for them. I am happy to say they all ate so it was worth it, well almost:)

Now I sit here at 9pm, Killi and Declan are still up and I am tired, but they are all off tomorrow so we can have a slow day. Hopefully the rest will heal them. I cannot have sick kids for NC, so the best get moving on the health front:)

Schedules

Tomorrow is Monday, the kids have school. Then comes Tuesday and for the second week in a row, the kids have no school. Then, we have a full week followed by Thanksgiving Break. Explain to me how I, the bad time manager, non-routine follower am supposed to do this? I think I am back to believing in conspiracy theories and that someone is out for me:)

A guess if there is a positive to be found in all this no school stuff, it is that Husband too is off on Tuesday and for Thanksgiving week with me!!! What fun we will have together- Good thing Thanksgiving Week will be filled with lots of other family so maybe we won't kill each other:)

Is This A Joke?

I know you are not going to believe this, but TWO of my monsters are sick AGAIN! Yes, Maggie and Declan both have fevers. Declan is saying his throat hurts and Maggie is just whinny and nasty, oh right, that is all the time, I know is is sick because of the fever:) All I can say is that I am glad they were healthy for the grandparents last weekend and their party. I do have to say that I am not feeling very optimistic heading into cold and flu season. The only positive I can think of right now is that they are children with no underlying health issue that we are aware of and I thank God for that, because otherwise I'd need to be locking them in bubbles right about now:) In fact, I keep encouraging Becca to make one for Grayson as he decided to vacation in the hospital last winter and so far this fall/winter is worse for bugs.

Hopefully I can get the monsters well before our Thanksgiving trip to OBX and hopefully they will stay health while we are there. Other than that, the only thing I can do is refill the medicine cabinet and ENCOURAGE(with a watchful eye:) had washing.

Here Comes The Sun

After what seems to have been days and days the sun is finally shining here today. Not only is the sun shining, but it is warm too- not hot and nasty, but comfortable and sunny:) Oh how the shining sun makes me happy! If only these sunny days were more frequent in Virginia in the fall/winter, but they are not and many days are gray and gloomy and summers are hot and hazy. It is puzzling how not "good" jobs are found in places with perfect weather for me:) Never does a Congressional Affairs job come up for Husband in St Thomas or even The Outter Banks. Boy, if I had been picking a Capitol for my new nation, I would have picked my better weather, who needs a central location:) And DC in not central any more so I say we up and move to a Tropical destination. Well, what a ramble, enough already. It is a beautiful day here and I hope I get to spend a little of it outside with the monsters!


P.S. I was reading my blogging friend, Rebecca's blog, and her dad is very ill- if you could send a thought or prayer her way I know she would appreciate it-