Feeling stressed....imagine

Septemeber is going to be a life changing month for everyone in my house....all for the good!

Alex starts a new school, new routine and will need to gain some (unplanned) independence! He is currently feeling more stressed then I am. Alex doesn't deal with change well (and it's been showing in his behaviour as of late). I dropped the ball and forgot to call the school to book a tour, so Thursday night when someone asked who his teacher was I was like "Bleeeeeep". I did luck out and found the new VP at the school when I stopped by! Alex will have a male teacher again this year (mind you only for home room). I was able to get a run down how the mornings will go, where he will get dropped off etc. 

now to work in after school....eeeek

Alex is no longer able to attend a daycare now that he's 12. I was able to find him an after school program that he could attend, was able to find him transportation to it and when I called to verify all the details is when they informed me their program wouldn't start till sept 8....bleeeeeep. So with some major rearrange of schedules between my mom and I someone will be here after school the first week. 

Dalton is good (or so it seems) he's excited to return, he's excited to have a male teacher, he's excited to help Nathan transition into school and he's says he's actual excited to go back to daycare (again so it seems...only time will tell)

Nathan, well he's been ready for a year to attend school. I however am so nervous about this step. They are so many obsticulas we will need to get past to make this a sucess!!!! I pray it goes smooth, especially seeing as I have surgery and am out of town for half of his first week 😳

Then there's me, surgery is just a mear 11 days away. The shakes are going well (finally). I haven't weighted myself since last Sunday but I can see a difference and have had people comment that it looks like I've lost weigh?!?!

They say the more you lose while on opti the less/slower you do after surgery so we will see. I think I finally have everything figured out for my hospital stay....minus a way to get there. The joys of a mid week surgery. I've offered to go up the Tuesday night and get a room so that no one would have to miss work and we would miss all the traffic but still can't find a ride. Said I would drive myself however I would need someone to drive my van home when I'm discharged on the Friday. 

I get people don't like to drive in the city(I'm one of them), however it's literally right off the the hwy. then you can get right back on.  Anyways that's still a work in progress (worse case I will drive myself up and figure out how to get the van back over the weekend I guess???)

So in a nut shell, lots of new thing, lots of changes and lots of stress....so it seems that how my life goes...rely only on myself and figure it out as I go 

  

Now a kiddo update....

If you just read my other post you will see te last week hasn't been the easiest. I'm exhausted, I'm hungry, I'm stressed, and I'm sick of being tested!

I'm coming to the conclusion that being a single parent sucks! Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my kids, I would change my life except I would love to have a second person to actually help with them. 

Between preparing for surgery,working 3 jobs, using 2 daycare/daycamps, dentist appointments, soccer tournaments, getting 2 kids prepared to start new schools, allergies and all the other things I do in a day (cook,clean, laundry etc) IM DONE 

I get a call Friday from Nathan's daycare that he's come down with a fever....perfect!

I pick him up he's running a mild fever of 102. Gave him some meds, had an early night and by Saturday he was fine (or so I thought). Saturday we had the soccer tournament (2 kids, 4 games in 5 hours, plus work afterwords). 

Sunday, I was off to get school supplies with 2 kiddos and a stop at Costco (keep in mind I'm not allowed to eat just drink my shakes). We stop at the mall, go into the 1st store and Nathan is running wild. He's normally in a cart but of course mall don't offer them. So I was able to get him a couple pieces of clothes and we moved on to shoes (I hate shoe shopping!). Dalton was having none of this game, he apparently wasn't feeling well. 

After 45 mins in the store we finally found a pair that he liked. 

Then to Costco...oh how I looth this store. I went for cheese strings....ended up spending over $230. 

New backpacks and lunch bags for all 3 boys, and figured seeing as surgery was coming now would be the time to stock up on snacks. 

Because I had to work and mom didn't want to cook after being out all day they all had Taco Bell for dinner...I had a shake and 2 pcs of celery (which took up 1 of 2 cups of "food" I can eat per day). 

Oh did I mention that while we were shopping I happen to notice Nathan was growing spot....everywhere???

First thought was a reaction, however they weren't in the normal areas. Then I notice that both his hands, arms and belly and legs are COVERED????

Then comes the itching, and more itching. Throw in a dose of whining "momma in so itchy, help scratch me" 

You can imagine the looks we got as we went threw the store. 

Nothing else was wrong....just spots. 

I text a friend asking....chicken pox or HFMD( hand foot mouth)??? We both thought HFMD. Then the spots blistered and started to ooze. Yep all while we were still in the store. 

They just kept coming, bum, groined, legs, feet, face, ears, everywhere but his back??? I was convience it was the poxes

Monday the boys all had dentist appintments, because I'm the annoying mom who pick 8:30am Mondays to take my kids to the dentist I couldn't give tem a heads up. So we go I confine Nathan to one spot...explained to them what was happing and we all agreed because we didn't know which it was we would reschulde him. 

After the dentist I call the GP....have I mentioned how much I LOVE my GP! Yep you guessed it, drop the older boys off to camp and right into the doctor we go! 

Good news.....it's a sever case of HFMD!!!! He was able to go back to daycare today I was able to actual work both jobs today and all would be right in the world....WRONG

Dalton gets up at 10pm crying, he has a headache, his throat hurts and a mild fever ...perfect!

We figure out it's a sinus infection (all symptoms lead to yet another one). Now I will admit I have a well stock of medication in my home (an entire cupboard just for meds) however because we are generally healthy MOST of these meds had expired....like late last year/early this year. See my kids don't get sick durnin regular business hours....it's alway in the middle of the night and it's alway bad. The closest 24 hr pharmacy is a 35min drive away 😱

I gave him a Tylenol, rinsed his nose and ice pack and sent him back to bed. This morning he was good (so he said), I convinced him to take another Tylenol and said I would stop after work and get sinus meds. Well I no soon get to work and camp calls. I explained he had meds this morning and said if his headache wasn't gone in 30 mins I call me back and I would come get him. 

Please remember this is the child who just learned that if he makes himself sick, cries and puts in a big enough show people will call me and I HAVE to pick him up. Thankfully camp agreed to give it  30 mins and we could go from there. 

I heard nothing else from them, I did call them about an hour later and everything seemed good!!!! (Thank you!)

Tonight I pick everyone up, as I'm gettin supper I call for Dalton 3 times...no answer...I go down the hall(his new thing is to not answer when I call)and call again...he's not in his room, not in the bathroom????

I go to check out side and find him curled up on the coach sleeping (I should have taken a picture but never thought). 

Needless to say between 2 sick kids, lack of food, extra stress of working 2 jobs everyday this week....I haven't broke! 

I still haven't eaten anything, I refuse to give in to the stress, I know somene is challenging me to see if I'm truly ready for this surgery and I AM....so piss off!!!!

Hope everyone is enjoying the last week if summer...it's finally warm here again! 

T-6 days till 2 kiddos start school and T-13 days till my baby goes to his first day of JK 😩

T-14 days....

I've made it threw the first week! Only 2 to go😏

I will admit, the first 3 days where HARD! I was soooo sick. Everytime I had a shake I was sick to my stomach, I had heartburn so bad I could have screamed (I cried for a piece of bread) and I've peed more in the last week them I have in years....I'm not even kidding 

I finally found my step, found a combination that I can handle, found heart burn relief and have realized that no matter how much I have to do when I'm tired....go to bed!

And the best part....seeing as I refuse to own a scale I use my moms! I generally weigh myself in Sundays when I drop the kids off for work. Well from Aug 17-aug 24 I lost 10lbs!!! I'm slowing getting my energy back and thinking the next 14 days are going to fly past!

Now to find a way to the hospital😨

T-21 day.....

This is what I choose to be my last supper before surgery. 

Normally I would have a plain potato but tonight I choose to load it!!!

Tomorrow morning I start my shakes....for 21 straight days 😁

4 shakes per day plus I can add 2 cups total of lettus, gr pepper, celery and cauliflower. Which would seem great, but as a dressing for a salad I can only use vinager or lemon juice. 

Thankfully I like cauliflower! I also like the other options too

My logistic is working shakes into my work schedule...oh and a possible 6hr pre op appointment tomorrow (perfect timing right!)

So if I'm a little scattered brained, short or distance it's not you....it's me!

Not only am I prepping for surgery, I just started a new job today (yep that makes 3 jobs) and I have 1 day off between now and surgery (only because the government says I have to have it off)

So remember me while your eatting all your yummy foods and I'm chocking down thick, chalky, gross shakes (in vanilla and chocolate, which right in the package it advises you to add sugar free flavouring to make it taste better!)

Why Monday???

So after an amazing weekend it was back to work 😝

Morning started out great! My bosses wife asked me if I was looking for more work cause her sister was looking to hire a bookkeeper!!! 

An hour later so says

"Is this a pay week?"

"Nope next week is"

"Ok well give yourself a $2 raise"

Seriously??? Who gets a $2/hr raise from a job that they haven't been at for even a year???? Me!!!!!!

Then the bad came, phone rings, it's the daycamp

"There was an incident at lunch" followed by a pause

And we all know, I'm well aware my children are not angels, they have issues and I'm prepared to deal with them

"What happened?" I asked

Keep in mind this is a girl in her late teens/early 20's....and clearly she feltawkward making the call

"Well....pause....Dalton was in the lunch room sittin with a friend (yes I instantly think....oh shit!), they found a metal clip on the floor, and well, ummm Dalton put the clip in the outlet"

"Is he ok?"

"Well ummm, he got electrocuted" pause 

"Is he ok?"

"He seems fine, he's just sitting here now, his fingers are burnt but the swelling is starting to go down"

"Burnt??? Does he need to go to the hospital?"

" I dont think so?"

"How bad is the burn???" I ask

"Not to bad, I don't think (what????)"

" ok well I'm 30 mins from camp, did you want me to come get him? I can leave right now?"

"If you want? He's complaining his arm and hand are tingling"

"I'm on my way"

What you dont see is this conversation took like 5-7mins. 

So I rush back to camp, pick him up, take him to doctors. Yes the burn wasn't bad, just the outline of the bobbypin, but as soon as she said tingling I was takin any chances. 

The doctor checked him, said the blisters are closed, watch them and keep tem clean. He did a vibration test on his hands and dalton says he felt it. 

So lesson for Monday....even if you think your child is old enough and knows better, remind them that you never stick anything in an outlet....EVER!

And it's only Monday :(

Birthday Bash Weekend....then came Monday

What an amazing weekend! Weather was amazing! My kids were beyond well behaved, food was yummy, company was chatty, and the new bed made a night in a tent that much better!!!!

Saturday, we backed up and headed to a local water park (Cedar Park, Bownmanville, On). It a little treasure hidden in the woods! 

They have 3 separate water areas and a dry area to play in.  My parents joined us, as did my best friend, her hubby and munchkins! 

6 kids, 6 adults, 2 coolers full of food!

Yes I'm a bad blogger/momma and instead of capturing the day/weekend on film, I spent it in the moment, enjoying it (sorry)

Saturday night, the boys and I camped in my parents backyard! We never made it "camping" this year, so this was the next best thing. It was the night before the Super moon and the sky was so bright all night we didn't even need flashlights. 

Sunday, was the offical party!

An afternoon of good old fashion fun, pool, tie dying and lots of laughts!

There was 12 kids and 8 adults, all the kids were once again amazing well behaved, new friends were made! 

It's so much fun when us mommy friends  can actually get together with all our kiddos and they all get along! It's amazing to see how quick then

they get into little groups and just "entertain" themself. We could have honestly just sat in the shade all day and the kids would have been content playing. 

My dad and I set up badminton, soccer, woofall ball, some other ball toss game and a game that I can never remember the name off (it's a plastic football type thing on 2 ropes, each player holds a set of handles and pulls them apart sending the ball flying down to the other player) 

We also did tye dye shirts. I'm not sure who had more fun??? I handed out shirts, put all the elastics on the table and set GO FOR IT! The kids ranged from 12-2, the little ones told the parents exactly where they wanted their put and loved ordering them around!!!

I was shocked how many of us had never done this before (always say were going to but then we think of the mess and say ya maybe not!) 

Myself and besties hubby coloured the shirt in the colour and spot the child picked. Again they loved the fact it was all their decisions.  Then we tied them in bags and hung them to dye!  

We are food, and more food and cupcakes. 

The kids opened their gifts ( to hugh excitement) and then it was back to the pool!

As the party was winding down, we unwrapped the shirts and took pictures of each one (as soon as I get copies I will share) they all turned out amazing! Each child loved how theirs turned out. 

Then came the crap part of the weekend, it was time to pack up and come home. Darn work always seems to get in the way!

Today was a post in it's self, so I will post it later!!!

I'm again so thankful and blessed to have the amazing people we do in our lives! I wouldn't trade any of them for the world!

And their filled!!!

Im so thankful for the kind man and his son, who once again came to my home, moved my dirt and didnt charge me arm and leg!!! I will always remember you when I need help around the yard 😘

So there they are!

And with some plants...still have along way to go but it's a good start

I'm in love! I'm excited, I'm relaxing and I'm enjoying my yard 😍

Today, I rearranged the veggie gardens and planted potatoes and asparagus! 

I may not get much this year from any of my gardens this year, but I've learned a lot and will be that much better off next season! 

New planter

As you may have just read, my garden got some new planters this week. My yard has come along way this summer and I'm loving every single moment of it

This is the start, I moved the BBQ out to the front yard, the storage bin to help cover the neibours mess...i mean house. And that sand table is also moved over 

Then we build!!!!

Simple frame (2X4's measuring 8' long X 3' wide x 17" deep!

Add some decking boards,

Multiple by 2!!!

Add a raised centre piece 

(30"x30") it has a fake bottoms so that I didnt have to fill the entire box 

Nathan got in in the action once he got home (note the missing cast!!!)

Look a power tool

The final product!!! 

I'm in love, Im excited to fill them and then sit back and enjoy them for years to come!

In total the lower planters are 16'X3'X 17" and the centre raised piece is 30"X30"x 30"

This was all on Wednsday!

Today I came home from work to this!

The perks of working for a landscaping company!

Nathan said he will fill my planters for me now that he doesn't have a broken leg (note the size of his red pail!) 

Thankfully the same gentleman and his son who filed by veggie boxes are coming tomorrow morning to fill these one too!

The large section will be filled with perenials and the raised section with annual (I think)

This is what I'm planing in doing this long weekend...how about you???

Stay tuned for more photos early this week 🌻🌺🌸 

Garden update!!!

Well it's been 34 days since the adventure began, and we have what looks like over grown boxes of greenery ...lol

I think (keep in mind this is my first time doing this), I may have planted to much per box. There should be 4 different thing per box

I did however get this out of there

A little early but it's actually growing!

I've had 1 tomato, 4 cheery tomatoes and this. I know the packages say 60-75 days till harvest but the boxes look soooo full I'm getting impatient 😜

While we wait, we build some new planters, by we I mean my dad...I helped what I could but he's the type who like to just go with it and as the day went on, I left him alone to finish!

I was going to add to this post my new planter, but instead I will make it it's own!

Stay tunes