Leaving her behind :(

For our first camping trip of the summer, we decided to leave Emmy behind. We bought a trailer this past winter and we have about 5 4 day trips planned this summer. Well, as per my other post, Emmy never stops. It is going to be a nightmare having her there cuz it isn't like she is going to just sit by the campsite, or sit by the stream, or sit by the lake. Where we camp is very rocky and hilly. It isn't a green meadow. So we decided to leave her with my MIL the first trip in the middle of June. I really struggled with this because they are supposed to be family trips but I think it is for the best. Here are my reasons.

First, the whole trip I will be telling her no, no, no and she will be screaming. At my MILs this will not happen. They are already planning trips to Chuck E Cheese and the park etc. She will probably get spoiled rotten.

Second, the boys are always having activities cut short because of her, if she isn't there they can fish or hike all day. It will be a nice time to reconnect with them and give them some really good attention.

Third, my MIL is moving from Cali to Texas in August. So this will be some good bonding time with her. They are just now starting to get close and Emmy loves her "mama". We also will not have another chance to have any breaks from Emmy after my MIL moves because we don't really have anyone that can take her overnight.


Fourth, I need a vacation. I really do. And although we will have the boys with us it will still be relaxing because they are almost 7. They just fish and hunt for bugs all day. So I can bring a book and sit by the stream or lake and relax. And I'll be there for the big catch and to give them lots of hugs and praise. Also I am looking forward to a nice hike through this valley that is up the road from our campground.

Little Lakes Valley
Here is a link if you want to go on a virtual hike there
http://www.rockcreeklake.com/virtual/llvalley/1.htm

Well as for the cons, I will miss her with all my heart. I have never been away from her for more than 1 night. And it does bug me that we will have a family vacation with out her. But I know that there will be 4 more trips that she will be on and drive me crazy.

Rock Creek Lake, Eastern Sierra Nevada

Rock Creek which runs through our campground.

Things that bug me.

Apparently the way I have been giving my children birthday parties is all wrong.

This is how we usually do one of our kids parties. I buy all the food, clean the house, decorate, prepare all the food, make goodie bags etc etc and spend a small fortune all the while trying to entertain 3 kids. No one watches my kids so I can get any of the above done in peace and Charles is always conviently busy at work. We invite about 30 close family and friends, have the party and Emmy gets a few nice presents. Then I clean up all the mess.

But my SIL and BIL have a way better way of throwing a party. Invite about 70 people. Then have my MIL buy all the food and make all the food. They leave their 1 child with MIL while they run all their errands. They have the party at a park so they don't have to clean up their house. MIL brings all the food and we even helped buy the groceries because she has limited money. They get about 20 nice presents for their child. They spent a minimal amount of money and take home all the left overs.

So I am thinking I should try this sometime. Could I be that inconsiderate? Could I be that oblivious to my own selfishness? Could I have other people throw a party for my child who is my responsibility? I don't know. My BIL and SIL have no problem with it. Why does this bother me so much? I think I just get frustrated because they have nicer things than us but have the nerve to have my MIL spend money on their party. They just got a brand new kitchen, new can lighting throughout their house, season tickets to the Angels . But they have my SIL watch their child for free during the week and are constantly dropping him off without notice. This just bugs me. I need to find a way to let go of it but every time they do something inconsiderate all this frustration comes right back.

Lots of stuff goin on.

Sometimes life just gets so busy it is hard to catch your breath.

So the side cement is done and we have a second quote comming for a gate tomorrow. Charles is designing an iron gate himself and both these places make them custom. So once that is done the trailer can be put on the side of the house.



Next is the grass for the back yard. Charles has to get some new dirt and till it in with the old dirt. Then the sod can be put down. I can't wait to have green grass. It will be so nice.


So today we went to a park to celebrate my nephews first birthday. Emmy was non stop the whole time. She wouldn't leave the playground. I had to strap her in her stroller just to get her to eat or drink water. And it was hot. So she needed more breaks but would freak if we took her off the playground. Sometimes I just don't know what to do with her. She is relentless.

So we get home and Emmy crashes for a long nap and the boys say they want to go swimming. It is the first weekend of really warm weather so we let them. Luckly the water wasn't freezing and the new solar heater we got is working well. They loved it and had a great time. Now I am going to crash. I need to find food for everyone but I really don't feel like it.

DECLINED

I hate hate hate getting declined at the register of a store. For the second time at the same store (Sams Club) I was declined today. Both times we had plenty of money to cover the transactions and both times it was the banks fault.

The first time it was with my Bof A account. They said the computers were down that afternoon. But the cashier didn't know that when she gave me that look of pity. And the people behind me didn't know that when they were rolling there eyes like I was trying to get out of the store with a cart full of merchandise and no money. So my husband called and yelled at the store and said they should have offered me a credit card application so I could get out of the store with some dignity. And they appologized and the bank appologized but I was still shell shocked. My husband was so mad at BofA that he moved all our money to the local credit union. Every time after that day I was a little nervous at the register, even though I had confirmed how much money was in the account before going to the store.

So today I go shopping and I am short on time. I run in and my phone rings and it is Charles telling me to pick up a home theater system while I am there. I say "Are you sure we have enough money?" He says we have plenty. So I go on my merry way and get to the register and swipe my debit card with all the confidence in the world. And what happens? DECLINED. WTF People are staring and whispering and I am turning beet red. So I tell them we have a credit card here can you put it on that. They say I am not authorized on the card and send me over to the customer service desk. So I had to apply for a new card and I was pissed but finally get out, get Emmy at my SILs and get home. So I call Charles and tell him what happened and he is pissed. He knows we have enough money to cover the $350 bill. He knows how upset and embarrassed I was the first time this happened. He is also pissed cuz he knows he put me on the credit card he opened through Sams.

So he calls the credit union and gets some lady that doesn't speak clearly. He finds out through the heavy accent that even if we have thousands of dollars in the bank for some reason our debit transaction limit is $300. So we will be declined even if we have enough money to cover the purchase if it is over $300. Now he is really pissed because that doesn't make sense and on top of it he also has a line of credit so that if we needed more money than what was in our account we wouldn't get overdraft fees. So he is now headed to the credit union to chew someone out. And I am no longer shopping at Sams. He can go and get declined. Not me.

Sensory Processing Disorder.

This blog was first on my myspace blog but I decided to move it here.

I read up about it and the boys have a lot of the symptoms of it. I kinda get excited because we have a name for what is going on with them. So I look at the treatments and a lot of them they are getting from the Occupational therapy they are receiving through the school . So now I am even more excited.

They have made a lot of progress since the beginning of the year. They are writing better and have a lot more motor skills such as hopping on one foot, skipping, galloping, balancing. Michael has been writing more of his homework instead of typing it. This is big because he used to freak when I just asked him to write his name.

So I am taking them to school this morning and I see the OT person. We are chit chatting about the boys and I mention this disorder, SPD. She says that they thought that is what the boys had but they are not responding to traditional therapy. She says that none of the standard treatments are working. She then proceeds to tell me that the boys are a phenominon and that none of the OT people at her work can figure them out. She said their intellegence levels are way above average but they just can't focus. They can't finish their work independantly and can't sit still. They did give Michael and exercise ball to sit on during class to help him since he can't sit criss cross applesauce without being really fidgity. The ball has helped some and he is participating more in class discussions etc but he is the only child sitting on a red excercise ball during class.

So I tell Charles about this. His reaction is that we should stop therapy if they don't have a solution or a cause of their behavior. He is worried that all this singling out and being pulled out of class for therapy is making them selfconscious. They already have a hard time with social situations and he feels that they are being set apart too much. He wants to boost their confidence and he feels that therapy just keeps telling them something is wrong with them.

Well I totally get his point and can see his side. But I am also worried that stopping therapy may be wrong. First of all we have a crappy HMO that won't pay for shit. No therapy is offered. We have taken them to the doc and to a neuropsychologist and they were supposed to have a CAT scan but the group never approved it. The therapy provided is at the schools cost. So we pay nothing. They work with the school and have the boys work tailored to meet there abilities. What happens if we go to the school and say thanks but no thanks. Maybe they won't be as helpful kwim.

So I really don't know what to do next. All I want is for them to be able to function at school, do their work and be happy. Right now none of those things are happening. They hate school and say it is boring. Well it doesn't get any better than Kindergarten. So what do I tell them. Guess what you have at least 12 more years to go.

Killin Time!

Killing time bfor I pick up my boys so I stoll this from Dena's page who stole it from Jodifur's page ..

1. Your Height?
5'6'

2. Have you ever done Heroin?
Nope.. Definitely not something I would have ever done. I find it repulsive. (Ditto Dena)

3. Do you own a gun?
Me personally, No. My husband has two shot guns for hunting.

4. Jodi didn't have a 4, so I'm gonna skip it!

5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments?
Sometimes, I have avoided the doc for two years so I have to go soon. I know he will find something wrong with me.

6. Do you like hot dogs?
Actually yes I do, they are so gross but I love them. Especially on the grill. (ditto Dena)

7. What's your favorite Christmas song?
Santa baby (OMG, Ditto again)

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?
Coffee and water

9. Is your bathroom clean?
Yep, I cleaned it Saturday.

10. What is your favorite piece of jewelry?
Diamond earings and necklace Charles gave me.

11. Do you like pain killers?
Only if I am in pain..

12. Do you have A.D.D
Nope

13. What's your name?
Annalisa

14. Favorite Singer of all time?
I kinda don't have one. I like so many different artists and it really has to do with my mood.

15. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink?
Coffee, Water, Green tea

16. Middle Name
None

17. Current worry?
Too many too list. I am a worrier. I know it does no good but I can't help it.

18. Current hate?
being tired. I haven't slept well in the last couple of weeks.

19. Favorite Place to be?
Local-the beach

20. How did you bring in the New year?
First went to BIL and SILs house for a nice meal then came home and relaxed. No biggy.

21. Where would you like to go?
New York to see family, Italy and meet my relatives, Spain

22. Do you own slippers?
No, I am usually barefoot.

23. What are you wearing?
Jeans and a hoodie, flip flops

24. Favorite Color(s)?
Purple

25. Would you be a pirate?
No, I am not into stealing

26. What songs do you sing in the shower?
None, I am usually thinking about the day ahead.

27. What did you fear was going to get you at night as a child?
Monster in my closet or under my bed.

28. Best bed sheets as a child?
My mom always got me the best bedding sets. I had so many I couldn't pick one but I remember the yellow lace canopy bedding the best.

29. Worst Injury you've ever had?
sprained ankle

30. How many TVs do you have in your house?
3

31. Who is your loudest friend?
Kevin

32. Who is your most silent friend?
Jill sometimes

33. Does someone have a crush on you?
no

34. Do you wish on shooting stars?
no

35. What is your favorite book?
I have so many. I am in a book club and we are reading a book called Bee Season. It isn't my favorite of all time but it is pretty good.

36. What is your favorite Candy?
Dark Chocolate or starburst

37. What song did you/ do you want played at your wedding?
Our first dance was to "The Gift" by Jim Brickman. We also danced to Stand By Me. We had Mariachis and lots of Mexican music. It was a blast.

38. What song do you want played at your funeral?
No Clue

39. What were you doing @ 12Am this morning?
tossing and turning

40. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up this morning?
Another monday ahhhhhh.

All 3

Anthony, Emmy, and Michael. I very rarely get a photo of all three of my kids together. They are always on the move. But a couple of days ago I saw a rare sighting of all 3 on the couch and grabbed the opportunity. The pic isn't the greatest cuz the boys aren't level but all three are together YAY!