Around Here: Week 47 2022

 {November 20-26th}

Carly's stuffy named Link

Our sweet neighbor dog Link

Happy Thanksgiving, from Grandma & Grandpa

Throwback of Carl and his namesake

Listening... to "I'll See You Again" by Jackie Hance after watching There's Something Wrong With Aunt Diane on HBO.  It was a devastating special, and a gut wrenching book. But also, somehow, hopeful, and so good. 

Worrying... so much about my grandpa as he started his lung cancer treatment with Keytruda (which has us worried about side effects) and then as he was at the hospital waiting to start the treatment, he fell, on top my grandma (!).  Then  he also fell at home and wasn't able to get up on his own.  Thank goodness for lovely neighbors who came to help and another lovely neighbor who loaned him a walker they weren't using. It's so hard to be so far away from them right now. (They're about a 7 hour drive away.)

Creating... a Thanksgiving menu and getting our shopping done early. 

Catching... up on laundry after working and driving to Spokane/taking care of Wyatt last week and being without a washing machine for many days. Still so grateful for our new washing machine and the ability to do laundry. 

Staying... home with all four kids on Tuesday.  I was sick, they were sick... We were a mess! We did get in some quality snuggle time, though, on the couch.  First it was just me and Carly and Wyatt. Well, and Piper. Then Jack walked by and said that looked nice, so he moved Piper and laid with us, too.  Then Logan walked by and wanted in on the couch snugs, so he jumped on top of Jack and Wyatt and we all laughed.  There's no one else I'd rather be stuck home sick with than this crazy, fun crew.  They really are the best. 

Making... a homemade cherry pie (from scratch!) with gators (the school mascot) on top, only to drive it to Carly's school for their pie tasting day and remember that homemade items aren't allowed.  I had to laugh. In my right mind, I know this. I know things have to be store bought.  But I hadn't slept in a few days and just forgot.  I told the front office ladies to just feed the pie to the staff then.  Happy Thanksgiving, yall! 

Napping... with Carly on Tuesday and Wednesday as we were both so sick and miserable. Yuck. I hate being sick, and I hate my kids being sick, but the sweet silver lining is all the extra snuggles.

Thankful... for school being canceled the Wednesday before Thanksgiving thanks to ice.  We were all able to stay home and rest, which is truly what we all needed most. 

Opening... a new pair of grey short Uggs from my mom. (Thanks mom!) I am so excited to have them because they'll keep my feet warm and look cute with jeans or leggings during this snowy, frozen season. When I was opening the box, Jack (who has never heard of Uggs) asked if they were called Uggs because they're ugly. I laughed and said no, pulling the little booties out, and he said, "Oh, yep. That's for sure where the name came from." Haha! What a brat!

Sending... my poor husband to sleep on the couch thanks to my excessive, unending coughing fits in the night.  Since I sleep with a CPAP, he said it's easier for him to move than me, so he let me have the bedroom and our lovely bed while he crashed downstairs. Bless his heart. 
He was also sent to the store for sickness reinforcements.  Kleenex, Dayquil, Nyquil, etc. With five of the six of us sick, we were going through those things like gangbusters!

Starting... my master's degree on Thanksgiving day and feeling excited and terrified equally.  My teacher seems really helpful, and the whole program is set up to help you be successful, so I am feeling hopeful that I can do this. Even though it's been 17 years since I was in school! (Calculating that number made me feel OLD. Haha!) 

Grateful... for my amazing husband who did ALL the cooking and baking we were responsible for for Thanksgiving dinner since I was so sick.  He made pies, stuffing, creamed corn (it's a yummy crockpot recipe) and I can't even remember what else.  But he did it all and I was so impressed. 

Sending... Josh and the twins, plus Carly, to Thanksgiving with his family.  Wyatt and I were still way too sick to join in. Instead I hung out on the couch with Wyatt, doing my masters degree homework while he watched a movie. We were too sick to even really be that bummed about it. And we did have Josh leave us a pumpkin pie. Hah! 

Grieving... with our neighbors whose sweet dog Link died after being hit by a car on Thanksgiving when he jumped the fence.  Carly adored Link, visiting him every time we got the mail, and she even named one of her two favorite stuffed animals after him.  Her wolf named Link is a cherished lovey for her, and we both cried when we heard of Link's passing. 

Reading... The Christmas Bookshop and feeling so grateful to have such a sweet book to get me in the Christmas spirit.  It was just what I needed. 

Watching... lots of Hallmark-ish Christmas movies and really enjoying them.  Falling For You (with Lindsay Lohan) was a hit, as was A Castle for Christmas (with Brooke Shields), but Mistletoe Farm was a huge no for me. Hated it.  I also watched lots of Alaska The Last Frontier. I am getting myself caught up so when I watch their new season, I know what's going on. 

***

Reminding myself of this one as I adjust to being
a student, substitute teacher, wife and mother. 

***

Surface Light

 5:03am. The house is asleep.  I'm up with the dogs, letting them out into the dark, snow covered backyard.  The air is so cold it takes my breath away as I open the door to release them.  Shutting it feels instantly warmer.  I approach the kitchen cupboard slowly, still waking up, and choose a mug for my morning coffee.  I warm the water in the microwave, turning on the surface light over the oven so I can see what I'm doing.  The microwave beeps and I drop in a teaspoon of instant coffee grounds and 3 tablespoons of vanilla creamer, stirring until it is a creamy taupe color.  I take to the couch with my book and my mug of coffee, knowing that within the next hour everyone will be awake needing things from me and my day will truly start.  In the meantime, these stolen moments are filling my daily cup.

...

8:41pm. The house is asleep.  I'm downstairs switching the laundry, locking the doors and taking my meds.  As I place each pill on a spoonful of appleasuce (swallowing pills is not my favorite and this childish trick helps), I am exhausted from a long day of teaching.  It's the best kind of tired that comes from a busy, productive day full of meeting the needs of those around me. The lights are mostly off in the house.  The Christmas tree still glows in the living room, but the kitchen and dining room lights are off, so I have switched on the surface light above the stove to see what I'm doing. As soon as the dogs are let out and back in, and locked safely in their crates, I click the light off, giving the downstairs a final once over before trekking upstairs to put myself to bed.  It beckons me.  The morning will come quickly, it always does, so I am going to rest while I can. 

Around Here: Week 46 2022

 {November 13-19th}

{Peep the migrating birds}

Spokane-bound with Wyatt

Being sick for two solid weeks is exhausting.

My fav part of the drive is entering the treeline from the desert

On repeat

Best birthday tribute
xoxo Sister

{Cherished texts with my Grandma}

Can you even with the kitty card Carly picked for me?

And then there's Wyatt's card... Haha!

Logan's note was so insightful for me. 
My giving him freedom (the hardest thing for me to give) means the most.
Love that.

And then Carly's ornament fell off her tree and into my coffee.

Cherished texts from dad

Constantly checking in with Wyatt. 

My sister's love for our dog Grady is next level.
She always brushes him when she's here, and he ADORES her. 
I love it.

Book Club!
In person!

Realizing... the washer is broken.  It won't spin while it's draining, so everything comes out of it soaking wet, and honestly, not very clean since it can't rotate to clean the clothes. The first load it happened to, I laid the soaking clothes out on the back patio and the front porch, draped over our chairs, and they froze/dried in the shapes they'd been laying in.  Jack's sweatshirt stood up on its own. Haha!

Subbing... in Carly's class Monday and Tuesday, and loving her little friends so much.  Sweetest bunch of students! 

Visiting... Josh's parents and seeing their finished house (it looks amazing. I am so proud of Josh and so happy for them!) and accepting their generous offer to buy us a washing machine. I cried when I found out they were going to do that.  I think Jack was as relieved and grateful as I was.  Not having a washing machine had him so stressed out. Haha! That kid really loves having clean cothes.  

Finding... I am super productive on days when I work.  I wake up early and get ready for the day and and the night before, I make sure the house is clean and I have laundry going.  On days when I'm off, I tend to think, "Oh I have all day." And then do nothing.  Hah!

Screaming... when the neighbor cat scared the bejeezus out of me one morning.  
I was all ready to go, loading the car with my purse and sub bag when I suddenly saw something moving on top of the van. It was Spaz, our friendly neighbor cat.  He mewed so loud when he saw me.  Haha! He had come in our garage cause it was warmer than outside, and then he wouldn't get off my van roof.  Logan had to come and grab him. 

Hearing... about a terrible tragedy in the neighboring town.  A father and his three sons were fishing in a little canoe when it flipped over and only the ten year old was able to swim to safety.  The father and his two younger brothers all drown.  Such a devastating loss for their family and community. 

Leaving... Logan home sick on Tuesday after finally sending Wyatt back to school Monday and Tuesday.  Wyatt's has had a terrible, persistent cough since October.  But he was able to go back for those two days this week.  Then he started getting sick again Tuesday night (seriously?!?) and I had to call off subbing Wednesday and Thursday because of how sick he was.  We were able to get a last-minute appointment at his pulmonology clinic (in Spokane, over an hour away) which I was grateful for. I have needed more coffee this week (first for subbing in first grade, then for taking care of a sick Wyatt) than I've needed in a long time! Geez!

Grateful... my kids can make dinner.  When I'm subbing, nothing is  harder than coming home, unloading backpacks, overseeing homework and then having to make dinner.  The fact that Logan and Jack can cook is such a blessing!  This week Logan made chicken fried pork chops and cheesy cauliflower (a family favorite) and it was so, so good! 

Loving... how Carly plays with all the ornaments on our tree. It drives the boys crazy which makes Josh and I laugh because they used to do the same thing. I think I know that this stage won't last forever and that makes me tolerate and even cherish it. 

Feeling... grateful for a stranger who saved my grandpa who was choking on his dinner at Denny's.  Then, after that, someone paid for my grandparents' meal.   The world is full of good people, and I'm so, so glad. 

Meeting... Wyatt's new doctor at his pulmonology appointment and feeling excited to throw out all our old health plans and try some new things for him. We are switching him to 4x daily symbicort (two puffs in the morning, and two puffs at night), plus using symbicort as needed.  No more nebulizer.  Wyatt wanted to throw the guy a party. Haha! He hates his nebulizer.  We are putting him on some crazy-strong steroids for a few days, to give his lungs a boost, then we're going to see how they do.  We'll go see his doc again in four weeks. I really hope this helps, and it gets him back in school. 

Listening... to The Midnight Library on audio while I drove to Spokane and back and enjoying it. Not a five star, but I did like it. 

Enjoying... all the migrating birds right now. I swear it's like we live under the bird freeway.  Everyday there are multiple flocks heading south for winter.  Their sounds and formations make me so happy. 

Sweetly surprised... by my husband who took a half day while I took Wyatt to Spokane so he could pick up the twins and Carly (they were all going to have to walk home) for me while I was gone, and hung the Christmas lights in between! The house looks so festive. 

Heading... to book club (in person!) and chatting about our book and just catching up in general.  It felt so good to be in real life instead of online. And when I got home from that special time with my friends, Josh had hung white lights around our banister on the stairs, and it made me smile so big! Just the most thoughtful little touch that he knew would delight me. 

Celebrating... my fortieth birthday with a day off of work (no subbing) and opening birthday cards from both my grandma and my sister.  My sister's card is one I will remember for a long time. She listed some of the things she loves most about me, and it just meant to so much. 
I watched lots of Alaska The Last Frontier (my current fav) and when Josh and the kids all got home, I opened presents and we had cake and ice cream.  (I made my favorite apple cake and caramel frosting- it was a recipe my Grandma Beverly used- and it's a family favorite.)
I got a GCU sweatshirt from Josh who has been nothing but supportive of my signing up for my master's degree; a mug from Carly that says "Be Kind" filled with my favorite peppermint candies; a candle from Wyatt that smells like candied apples; and cards from each of my kids that say all the ways I am important to them. (Words are my love language).  Lastly, Josh brought home roses for me.  The most incredible white roses that bloomed for days afterward. And his card meant so much. 

Waking... up early Saturday morning and blogging in Carly's bedroom.  Josh was still sleeping, so I snuck my laptop out of our room and into Carly's cozy bed and got to work.  (She was downstairs on her tablet.) Jack was a champ and brought me up coffee and leftover apple cake from my birthday and I enjoyed both as I typed. 

Spoiled... by lunch out with my mom and sister who came to town to spend Saturday with me.  We enjoyed eating and shopping at a local bistro + shop so much.  We got the giggles so hard when my mom was bragging about me to my sister and said, "Shelly made rice. From scratch." My sister started teasing me and then we just could not.stop.laughing. Haha! What my mom meant was that I had made non-minute rice using the pressure cooker option on my instant pot.  We picked out some super cute cookie cutters and a gorgeous red pie plate for me, plus a sparkly decorative Christmas tree for my bedroom. 

Opening... gifts from my mom and sister that blew me away.  My mom got me the most gorgeous leather purse (what!? so lucky!) and my sister got me yummy wax melts and the happiest coffee mug with butterflies on it that says, "Be The Change" among other things. 

Loving... Carly's snuggles lately.  She says she wishes she could hug me forever.  She wishes I could stay in her room snuggling her at bedtime forever.  It's such a tender age, so innocent and sweet. Me, too, Carly. Me too. 

Random Information:

It takes FOUR TIMES as long 

to remediate a student with poor reading 

skills in fourth grade, compared to

redmediating in kindergarten or early first grade.

Read to your kids.

Help them memorize their sight words.

Get them extra help if they're behind.

The sooner the better. 

***