I have really missed this place

[Christine in OK]

I don't feel like I've really been here at all since school started. I wanted to give you all a big {{{hug}}} and bring everyone up to date on what I've been up to.

August:
The day before school started (last week of August), my mother passed out and fell, which resulted in a black eye swollen shut and horrible bruising on her knees, face and hands. This led to a week long stay in the hospital for a full mental and physical evaluation. My oldest decided to run cross country, which really led me to worry about overload until the season was over.

September:
With mom, home health visits from various types of home health nurses and social workers, most of which I had to be there for, and the decision that it was time for mom to move to an assisted living center. Then we have the finding the place, the sorting, packing and moving. We've been working on the house, first the concrete, then wait, wait, wait for the other workers. Mitchell's, schedule basically consisted of get up, go to school, run, get picked up by mom, come home, do homework, occasionally swim, eat, do chores, shower and go to bed. Get up, repeat. About once a week, I got to drop everything and drag off to a cross-country meet and stand for an hour or so waiting for him to run, yell and cheer for 15 minutes, and then drive home. Still waiting for the framers to work on the house.

October:
First weekend, garage sale, second weekend campus workday and birthday party for a friend turning 40, then fall break (day trips to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge one day and Lake Tenkiller to visit Grandpa another), then swimming, then Halloween party.
For mom, more cleaning and sorting, and the huge garage sale. Then the round of phone calls from the mad mother who swears we sold ---- and she wanted it (either she told us to sell it, or she had it and just didn't remember where she put it, like her scissors, nail clippers, toilet paper, robe, etc.), or swearing that someone at the new place stole ---- (also misplaced, not stolen). I think she's settled in now, though. The boys and I went Sunday and took her out to dinner for her birthday - she turned 78 on Wednesday last week. Mitchell's final cross-country meet was in the middle of the month. I'm glad the season is over. For some unknown reason I had a temporary lapse and signed them up for a swim meet the weekend before Halloween though. That took up my only free weekend (stupid, stupid, what was I thinking?!). Finally the framers, roofers, painters and guttering guy all at once it seemed; now this place is gorgeous - it literally looks like a different house. We had two new porches added, and they also added a little dormer over the game room window and enclosed the eaves for us. We had open rafters, where you could see the ends of the trusses, which isn't a bad look necessarily, but it gets dirty and is very attractive to wasps and barn swallows. Our house is red brick, and now our gables are kind of a taupe-y brown, the fascia is white and so are the gutters. The roof is "weathered wood". We helped along as we could, especially with the framing. I'm broke but happy! Except for the concrete, everyone that worked on the house was one of our firefighters, so we really feel like not only did we get a good deal, we got good work also.

November is getting dedicated to prep work that I didn't get done the past three months. I still have some peppers to make jalapeno jelly, blackberries in the freezer for jam, and plenty of other fall cleaning and seasonal clothing to switch out. I also have to start figuring out what Christmas will be this year, and after showing the farm tomorrow, if these people don't want it I'm going to call my cousin back and probably come to an agreement with him, just to go ahead and get it sold - I don't want to have it on the market for 6 months before it's sold, I'd like to have it done by the end of the year. I also intend on spending more time here, so I can see what everyone else has been doing!

[Oggie]

Stop it!

You're making me tired. I hope things slow down just a little bit. But, I'm afraid they won't (Thanks giving, end of the semester, Christmas, the stress that the holidays bring for your mother, etc.)

I hope that you have a chance to take a little time for yourself.

[Christine in OK]

Probably why I have a headache today, huh?

Our anniversary is at the end of the month. I may get my mother-in-law to watch the kids for the night and actually go somewhere overnight - wouldn't that be a shock?!

[Melissa]

Sometimes life is just too busy like that. I know I have had a LONG year this year. Things have slowed down and I am able to get caught up on some neglected household chores too. Hope everything gets back to normal for you too Christine.

[Christine in OK]

Originally Posted by Melissa

Sometimes life is just too busy like that. I know I have had a LONG year this year. Things have slowed down and I am able to get caught up on some neglected household chores too. Hope everything gets back to normal for you too Christine.

I would imagine just having that wedding over would be a big gift of time for you, Melissa. Though I know you're still footballing. Is the weather getting cold for the games? I think that's one reason I prefer basketball - it's inside!

Originally Posted by Wind in Her Hair

now I have a headache. hee hee

Its good that you're back - but you gotta learn to pace yerself, Christine before you burn out entirely. Life is an endurance race -not a sprint. Save a little of yourself - for yourself. Its good to have you back!

Hey, I went to the wildlife refuge with my husband and three kids - doesn't that count? <grin!> I mean, if 2 1/2 hours in the car with them isn't relaxing, what is?

I really haven't done much today, can't shake the headache. I did a load of laundry or two, voted, helped a friend pick out material for new kitchen curtains and looked for a curtain rod to hang the curtains I bought for the living room last weekend (bought panels, they were cheaper than buying the material). I'm trying to figure out whether to hang them as panels and put sheers behind them or hang two to frame the window and use the other two to make a valance. I'm kind of leaning towards the sheers actually.

[Shepherd]

Good to see you Christine! You sure have been thru the mill!

That headache might be your body telling you that you need to take a few days off just for you!

[Christine in OK]

I think it's sinuses. It just hit without warning, but it's been windy the past couple of days and doesn't show signs of letting up either. I woke up with that horrible pain you get under your eyes/cheekbones, and just generally all over my skull.

It's much better this evening, down to just a "hangover".

I really had fun poking around the fabric store today, though. They're having a "grand re-opening" sale because they've been remodeling, and I have to hit there again - they have a 50% off your purchase coupon good this week. My friend Leann used hers for the kitchen fabric, I think I need some fabric too!! You know, like something really expensive - I must need to upholster something or make new curtains somewhere, right?

[Melissa]

Christine, our regular season is over. Now they are in the play-offs, won last Friday, and another game this Friday. Brady played on JV, not varsity as he is a freshman, but they still have to dress and go to the games. I have no compulsion to go and watch him on the sidelines though- so I get to stay home! I did listen to last weeks game on the radio because of Tyler and decided I actually know more about football when I listen.

There was a bit of anxiety when they announced that Tyler was bleeding from his head and I had to wait until after half-time to hear that he was back in the game. I went over to the school to pick up Lindsey and Brady after the game and found that Tyler's helmet had come off and another helmet gashed his eyebrow open. After the game his Dad took him to the ER and he had to have 7 stitches.

[Christine in OK]

Wow, that would have been pretty unnerving. I'm glad it was just stitches. My father-in-law played football in High School and swore he'd interfere if I ever let the boys play - 'course, he's a worrywart when it comes to "his" kids getting injured.