So, the lists are all made and checked. All the Christmas traditions are almost complete. We have visited Santa, carolled, delivered the 12 days of Christmas, read our Christmas book, bought the tree and trimmed it, made gingerbread houses, and on and on. We still have left cookies for Santa and the ceremony of presents, starting with new pjs from "the tree" tonight. We'll be having a quiet Christmas at home, which is fine. Someday I hope to be like another woman I know whose immediate family has grown enough to feel full just with her own brood at home. Someday I'll feel that.
It has been an interesting month for me. I was referred to a diabetic specialist because I have high fasting glucose numbers (106), and upon my arrival at my appointment was told I had type two diabetes, a lifelong diagnosis, and I was being put on insulin shots effective immediately. This was all based on an a1c of 7.3. I was devastastated. However I got a phone call the next morning that there had been a mistake. That an a1c had not been run at all and that I am not diabetic and should not take insulin. Which was a huge relief, and I wasn't at all upset with them. Until later, when I started to realize that they could have killed me. My fasting number at 5am is 70, and if I had additional insulin on board I probably wouldn't have woken up. Thanks, guys. So now I am testing, watching what I eat, trying to figure this out. I do have pre-diabetes, which can be reversed if I make some changes. So it has been a rough month.
Otherwise life is good. I am enjoying a few days at home, not doing much (which is actually driving me crazy). Deon loves to watch movies, so he is perfectly content. Now I am going to go make chocolate covered pretzels and wrap packages. The busy season is almost over. :)
Merry Christmas...
Friday, December 24, 2010
Thursday, October 07, 2010
Family Traditions
I love family traditions. When Aunica was little, a teacher at the adult school put a bug in my ear about creating family traditions. I went crazy, printing off lists, deciding what type of traditions I wanted to create in my own family. I think some of this stems from my lack of family growing up, and my need for roots (just like my need to NEVER move), but that is for another story.
I wanted to write down some of my family traditions I have created with Deon and the kids. There are the daily and weekly religious traditions, daily scriputure study and prayer, morning devotionals, weekly family home evening and church attendence. Then there are the holidays. Homemade valentines. Easter egg dyeing, then hunting in the yard. New outfits for Easter. The Easter bunny brings summer baskets. Fourth of July means parades and sand castle contests, and fireworks in the park. New costumes for Halloween, pictures at Jim's Campus Camera, trick or treating our neighborhood, Booing our friends, a Halloween dinner party. Thanksgiving at our house, with our thankful journal, even if the date isn't actually Thanksgiving. Turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing (that you have have to mix with your hands, also a tradition), homemade cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, Laura's pecan sweet potatoes, and pies, pies, pies. Board games, and hanging out. Christmas means...buying all my presents before December, giving away the 12 days of Christmas, caroling in our neighborhood, a Christmas book, reading the Christmas book every day of December, new pajamas "from the tree", a new ornament for our family and for each child from the ornament shop on pier 39 in SF, pick out a tree together and decorate together, sit on Santa's lap downtown and ride the merry go round. Santa brings the one thing you ask for (this one may not last forever!). Make a gingerbread house, hang lights on the house. Other traditions include birthdays, with cake for breakfast and your choice of where to go to dinner.
Maybe we have more, but this is enough for now. I love this time of year, and all the traditions that come with it.
I wanted to write down some of my family traditions I have created with Deon and the kids. There are the daily and weekly religious traditions, daily scriputure study and prayer, morning devotionals, weekly family home evening and church attendence. Then there are the holidays. Homemade valentines. Easter egg dyeing, then hunting in the yard. New outfits for Easter. The Easter bunny brings summer baskets. Fourth of July means parades and sand castle contests, and fireworks in the park. New costumes for Halloween, pictures at Jim's Campus Camera, trick or treating our neighborhood, Booing our friends, a Halloween dinner party. Thanksgiving at our house, with our thankful journal, even if the date isn't actually Thanksgiving. Turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing (that you have have to mix with your hands, also a tradition), homemade cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, Laura's pecan sweet potatoes, and pies, pies, pies. Board games, and hanging out. Christmas means...buying all my presents before December, giving away the 12 days of Christmas, caroling in our neighborhood, a Christmas book, reading the Christmas book every day of December, new pajamas "from the tree", a new ornament for our family and for each child from the ornament shop on pier 39 in SF, pick out a tree together and decorate together, sit on Santa's lap downtown and ride the merry go round. Santa brings the one thing you ask for (this one may not last forever!). Make a gingerbread house, hang lights on the house. Other traditions include birthdays, with cake for breakfast and your choice of where to go to dinner.
Maybe we have more, but this is enough for now. I love this time of year, and all the traditions that come with it.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Awesome event
Today was crazy. We have some friends that were in a terrible car accident a few months ago, so I decided to put on a fundraiser BBQ. When I told my 14 year old niece, she asked to do it, so that she could use the service hours for girl scouts and young women through church. I was thrilled. It has been a ton of work, mostly for her and her mom. Today was the big day, and I spent all day (as did she and her mom) working on it. Finally, our awesome BBQers came and rocked, cooked a great meal, and we sold 45 tickets, raising $1700 for the family. Isn't that awesome! So many people helped out buying tickets, making donations. So many local businesses, too. Trader Joes, Tahoe Joes, Hometown Buffet, Albertson's, Vons, SLO Fresh Market, Costco, San Luis Sourdough, Smart and Final, Kiwanis Club, San Luis Coastal Unified School District, Wade Brown Construction. I am so thankful for the charity that people have in them.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
GUESS WHAT?!?!?
Deon has found a JOB! Woo-Hoo!!!
He is the newest employee at REC Solar, here in SLO. I feel like the Titanic is righting itself. :) It has been a rough year for our family. I am so excited, and hope this really is the end of that tunnel.
I had a chance to hang out with some very special people in our lives today. Our friends, the Dunnes were in a car accident two months ago, and this is the first time we have been able to see them. It was so nice to see them whole and healing.
My worrisome news is that my father is in the hospital. He fell off his boat, onto the dock and into the water. Thankfully he was able to get out, but he is in the hospital, having suffered a broken vertabre and a punctured lung. It sounds like he will be okay, just a long, painful recovery. I hope we'll be able to get up there soon.
It looks like Deon won't be starting for a bit, so he'll be able to make the Washington wedding, and a birthday trip to Disneyland for Dimitri. Then it is back to the 9-5! Can't say I am sorry about that!
Thanks for all the prayers on our behalf. :)
He is the newest employee at REC Solar, here in SLO. I feel like the Titanic is righting itself. :) It has been a rough year for our family. I am so excited, and hope this really is the end of that tunnel.
I had a chance to hang out with some very special people in our lives today. Our friends, the Dunnes were in a car accident two months ago, and this is the first time we have been able to see them. It was so nice to see them whole and healing.
My worrisome news is that my father is in the hospital. He fell off his boat, onto the dock and into the water. Thankfully he was able to get out, but he is in the hospital, having suffered a broken vertabre and a punctured lung. It sounds like he will be okay, just a long, painful recovery. I hope we'll be able to get up there soon.
It looks like Deon won't be starting for a bit, so he'll be able to make the Washington wedding, and a birthday trip to Disneyland for Dimitri. Then it is back to the 9-5! Can't say I am sorry about that!
Thanks for all the prayers on our behalf. :)
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Firefighters to the Rescue
Well, I just had another exciting parenting moment. The fire department just left my house, after freeing my 22 month old son from his grandma's bedroom. I tried for about 20 min to get him out, using various keys, a paperclip, a safety pin, and, of course, testing all the windows. He screamed the WHOLE time. I called Deon, his brother, Henry and knocked on all my neighbors doors. Finally I gave up and called 911. They sent out the fire dept, and three firemen with axes in their hands showed up at my door, while I lay on the floor singing primary hymns to my son and stroking his toes. When I saw the ax, I said "no, really?" And they said it wasn't for breaking down the door, but for cutting off the doorknob if they had to. Which they didn't. One firefighter (who is a dead ringer for Chuck Liddel-and I KNOW Chuck Liddel) took a screwdriver to the door and popped it right open. To my screaming, half naked (he had taken his pants and diaper off) toddler. Lots of thank yous, and a recommendation to change the locks to an easier one to open. *sigh*
Otherwise, we are doing fine. We are heading out for a big trip to Montana on Friday, that I am trying like mad to get prepared for. Deon's sister lives in MT, right outside where the Battle of Little Bighorn took place. They do a reenactment every year, and we are going to be there for it. I am really excited. Aunica is really into pioneers and Native Americans, so we are incorporating a lot of those sites into our trip. We plan to hit Temple Square and This is the Place in SLC, UT. Then up to Yellowstone, and on to Cody, Wy. While in MT I hope to go to a pow wow, and the reenactment, of course. The trip is short because it is flanked on both sides by girl scout functions. Tomorrow we are going camping with Aunica's troop, our big end of the year celebration. Then we have have to be back for Aunica to start horse camp with her best friend, Erika on the 29th.
Deon still doesn't have steady work, and it wears on our whole family. Aunica has sucessfully completed the 1st grade. Sidda has decided she wants to learn how to read this summer, so we'll see how that goes. We are planning a trip to Disneyland this summer to celebrate Dimitri's 2nd birthday. We just keep plugging along, grateful for our health and each other. Really, the very most important things are going great, and we are very happy.
Otherwise, we are doing fine. We are heading out for a big trip to Montana on Friday, that I am trying like mad to get prepared for. Deon's sister lives in MT, right outside where the Battle of Little Bighorn took place. They do a reenactment every year, and we are going to be there for it. I am really excited. Aunica is really into pioneers and Native Americans, so we are incorporating a lot of those sites into our trip. We plan to hit Temple Square and This is the Place in SLC, UT. Then up to Yellowstone, and on to Cody, Wy. While in MT I hope to go to a pow wow, and the reenactment, of course. The trip is short because it is flanked on both sides by girl scout functions. Tomorrow we are going camping with Aunica's troop, our big end of the year celebration. Then we have have to be back for Aunica to start horse camp with her best friend, Erika on the 29th.
Deon still doesn't have steady work, and it wears on our whole family. Aunica has sucessfully completed the 1st grade. Sidda has decided she wants to learn how to read this summer, so we'll see how that goes. We are planning a trip to Disneyland this summer to celebrate Dimitri's 2nd birthday. We just keep plugging along, grateful for our health and each other. Really, the very most important things are going great, and we are very happy.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Work, work, work
So, Deon and I have found some employment. I have picked up 2 days a week working for a guy here in town. The perfect job, interesting, varied, challenging. Unfortunately, I don't really want to work at this point in my life. However I am enjoying it now that I am getting into the swing of things. I realize that I *am* an intelligent person. I can solve difficult problems and hold a thought for more than 15 seconds. It is very self-affirming to work. The person I work for is great-patient, even-tempered, honest. The pay is good. I couldn't ask for more. In 20 years. *sigh*
Deon has been picked up by his old boss in Paso 2 days a week. Or at least we are hoping for 2 days a week. He works when there is work to do. He has passed the first two phases of the Highway Patrol tests, both the written and the agility. This Thursday he has an interview, then they begin his background checks. That takes four months. ^groan^
In the meantime, he is doing an awesome job homeschooling Aunica. I think she is benefitting from a change of pace, and I probably am, too. She has lost her first tooth, and the tooth fairy left a gold dollar and fairy dust on her pillow. It was *very* exciting. Just goes to show you, sometimes I don't blow it. :)
So, Aunica lost her first tooth ON Sidda's fourth birthday. We had Sidda's birthday party at the SLO Children's Museum, and had a great time. She chose to go to Frank's for dinner. Gotta have a hot dog!
Dimitri is great. Talking up a storm. He is putting words together now (sing songs) and parroting more. He is so dang cute! I just love him to pieces. He is officially in Nursery now, and so am I. I really like working with the little ones. The 18 month olds are still so sweet. Its the olders that give you a run for your money. Although it sure is cool when the older kids actually listen to a lesson (which I keep to less than 5 minutes). Anyway, it is fun in there.
We are well into cookie season with Girl Scouts. Aunica has sold about 175 boxes to date. She is pretty awesome. Booth sales start this Friday. It will be a busy 3 weeks. But what time in my life isn't?
Deon has been picked up by his old boss in Paso 2 days a week. Or at least we are hoping for 2 days a week. He works when there is work to do. He has passed the first two phases of the Highway Patrol tests, both the written and the agility. This Thursday he has an interview, then they begin his background checks. That takes four months. ^groan^
In the meantime, he is doing an awesome job homeschooling Aunica. I think she is benefitting from a change of pace, and I probably am, too. She has lost her first tooth, and the tooth fairy left a gold dollar and fairy dust on her pillow. It was *very* exciting. Just goes to show you, sometimes I don't blow it. :)
So, Aunica lost her first tooth ON Sidda's fourth birthday. We had Sidda's birthday party at the SLO Children's Museum, and had a great time. She chose to go to Frank's for dinner. Gotta have a hot dog!
Dimitri is great. Talking up a storm. He is putting words together now (sing songs) and parroting more. He is so dang cute! I just love him to pieces. He is officially in Nursery now, and so am I. I really like working with the little ones. The 18 month olds are still so sweet. Its the olders that give you a run for your money. Although it sure is cool when the older kids actually listen to a lesson (which I keep to less than 5 minutes). Anyway, it is fun in there.
We are well into cookie season with Girl Scouts. Aunica has sold about 175 boxes to date. She is pretty awesome. Booth sales start this Friday. It will be a busy 3 weeks. But what time in my life isn't?
Saturday, January 09, 2010
Weird
During dinner tonight, Aunica remarked that she has a bump in her mouth, and is it okay if she rubs her tounge on it. I said, huh, let me see. She points to a spot behind her front teeth and lo and behold, there is a tooth back there. Aaak! Her front teeth are loose, but not very. This is not a good sign. Worse still, we have lost our dental insurance with Deon's unemployment, and now have medi-cal, which only one single pediatric dentist in SLO County takes. And he is booked for the next six months. I know, because I have an appointment with him (if I am lucky, they won't promise my kids can see him, even though I explained they have really unusual dental development issues) in April that I made in October. I loved their old pediatric dentist, but it is hard to stomach a $200 visit.
So, I don't know what we will do, but my best advice to Aunica was to start wiggling. :) If it comes out on its own, one less thing to worry about.
In better news, we just got back from a very nice few days in SF with my family. We ate, and ate, and ate, and stayed up too late. My kids were treated to two tea parties (one at Auntie Kim's and one at a very special tea house), more Christmas toys (of the Littlest Pet Shop and Princess varieties, much coveted) and lots of special attention. Family is sometimes difficult, but always a blessing.
So, I don't know what we will do, but my best advice to Aunica was to start wiggling. :) If it comes out on its own, one less thing to worry about.
In better news, we just got back from a very nice few days in SF with my family. We ate, and ate, and ate, and stayed up too late. My kids were treated to two tea parties (one at Auntie Kim's and one at a very special tea house), more Christmas toys (of the Littlest Pet Shop and Princess varieties, much coveted) and lots of special attention. Family is sometimes difficult, but always a blessing.
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