Duck's mom passed away last night. She was 58. Services will be next week, Thursday and Friday. I feel bad for my husband and his family. Mikki was too young and suffered a great deal as she was dying. It is sad and it seems unfair. Thankfully, she had many, many, many visitors in her last few weeks. She knew she was loved, which is good. I am happy for that.

(Tuesday evening during Economics)

FROM B, VIA TEXT: Mom, something really cool happened today at school. Hurry home so I can tell you (and Dad)!

(Later at Home)

FACE TO FACE: I made out! Mikayla and I were walking to lunch and we noticed nobody was in the hall. We stopped, we hugged and then we kissed. We stopped, we hugged and then we kissed, using tongue! Isn't that GREAT!? I kissed and made out!

Me: AT SCHOOL!?

Duck: (Silence)

I don't think it went over as well as B had hoped. We did later ask him if he was happy and how he felt. Then we gently asked him not to partake in PDA at school. It is not allowed and the last thing we want is a call saying, "Your son was caught making out in the hall..."

So, it's okay to vomit, right?

Okay, so I no longer feel as if I've been punched multiple times in the face and I'm upright. This is a huge (and positive) change from the three days I spent in bed and on couch nursing this terrible cold/flu thing that's taken over our home. Thankfully, aside from the hacking and multiple boxes of kleenex in use, I think all of us are pulling out of it. The last documented vomiting was Monday, with B! Knock on wood!

Of course, face, ear pain and nausea, or not, I did have school to attend. I would be lost missing econ, which is truly kicking my bottom and I had both lab and lecture exams in A & P. Good news, I received FANTASTIC grades on my last two papers in English. A "Powerball," worth 4, 4.0 paragraphs, and a "Star," worth 2, 4.0 paragraphs! Woo Hoo!

There are only a couple of weeks of school left for the boys! The two oldest boys are ending the year on high notes, B gets to go to Silverwood with his school, and C has a day-long field trip. M is finishing up his last weeks of school enjoying his best friend, Lauren and R is ready to have his brothers home with him during the day. I'm looking forward to summer! The routine of school days are great, don't misunderstand me, but I love summer! It is less stressful, because our schedules become less crowded. I love the heat here, and the many, many days of sunshine!

Speaking of which, we're heading outside to "chalk up" our driveway while we wait for M's bus...and then, homework!

SEAMUS!



Sorry it's late! I was down for the count... honestly!

OMG! I think I have to apply to nursing school by August 5! I have to talk to a counselor again, like pronto! I won't be done with my pre-req's until end of fall quarter. I wonder if they would still accept me? Classes start January 2010! I was expecting Spring-ish. Now I'm a bit stressed. I need to talk with my Petah. She's done this whole dance before and can probably calm me down... I need to learn how to compartmentalize. I'm too swayed by my emotions, and (usually) not swayed positively! :)HELP, PETAH!

(Damien, frustrated that Duck forgot something he told him...)

Damien: Keep your brain right!

I have my second econ test tonight. After Tuesday's class I was a basket case, she had a mini-quiz (not graded) just to see where we were at... OMG! Hello? I felt as though I hadn't been in class for the last 3 weeks! Where the heck was she getting these questions? Anyhow, I went back through the book and my notes yesterday and most of this morning and I feel a lot better.

My english class has been a surprise as far as the difficulty and amount of work. Plus, the teacher has a real problem with consistency. What's he really looking for? It's anyone's guess.

C's play opens this weekend! We're looking forward to seeing him in it. This last week of rehearsals has been long. The director has asked that the kids be there 5:15 and hasn't excused them earlier than 9:30; last night 10:10! He is a trooper though and is getting up each morning and going to school.

B started his junior league baseball team this week. Practices are t/th, same as game days for his school! He goes from his game to practice! Ugh! Thankfully, he does it with a smile, and has continued his 4.0!

M and R are holding steady. They have been really good with all the car rides they have to endure shuttling their brothers and me around town!

Diet still going well. No cheats. Start exercising this week!

Last week: 4.8
This week: 3.1
Total: 7.9

Yay!

So, it begins... I've got one week under my belt on WW and about 51 left to go. I haven't been tempted to cheat at all and I'm looking forward to being svelte. Down 5 lbs.

M: (to Duck) If you only had one arm and it was the arm you splashed with. Would the song go "Splish, Splish I was takin' a bath?"

Damien: (to Duck) What do you like better? Stupid Burger King or Awesome McDonald's?

I believe the correct answer is "hidden" in the question...

Our family schedule is SO full!

1) Baseball M-F for B.
2) Starting next month, an additional baseball team for B in Junior League.
3) Play Practice 3-4 times a week for C. Performances start 2nd weekend in May.
4) School for B, C and M. Homework.
5) Class 2 nights a week and Saturdays for me. Moving up to 4 nights and Saturdays in two weeks. Homework.
6) McG 2-3 times a week.
7) 50+ hours a week at work for Duck.
8) Up coming school events: Concert, field trip and skating party.
9) Up coming birthdays: M, R and McG
10) Driving to and fro various friend's houses for play dates.
11) Random ortho, dentist and doctors appointments.

Let's just say we've secured a spot in crazy busy land. And although I would not have it any other way, I do want to jump the train every once in a while.

I had my first microeconomics test last night. I was pretty much freaking out before hand, as some of my classmates, who have had this instructor before, said she gives surprisingly difficult exams. In fact, they said they were really hard and we should look for trick questions. UGH! Anyhow, I think it went okay. It took me a while to get through it, the youngin's in my class finished at a much quicker pace, but I wasn't the last one in the room when I left and I didn't feel I had to guess on anything. Of course, we'll see. Either way, I'm learning a lot, which is a good thing.

In other school news, I'm really enjoying my english class. We do get an incredible amount of homework each week, but I'm not complaining. I'm reading poems, both modern and classic and a novel I know I wouldn't have picked up on my own. It's fun and stimulating.

I wish I had enjoyed school this much the first time around...

The embedding on this video is disabled (by request) so, you'll have to cut and paste... If you haven't seen this, IT IS WORTH IT!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luRmM1J1sfg

Idol fans will especially appreciate this wonder!

Damien got mad at me a couple of nights ago. I had asked him if he wanted to sit on the couch with me to cuddle and he said yes. He got his bear and his binky and climbed up on my lap. Soon after getting comfortable, his brothers came around and persuaded him to join "the dark-side" (otherwise known as video games). After about a half of an hour of playing with his guys downstairs, we let everyone know that it was bedtime. Damien got angry and said "But I didn't get to sit with you!" I explained to him that he did get to sit with me, but chose to get up and play video games. He stormed off and got a piece of paper and a pen. He then sat up at the counter and asked Duck (who was in the kitchen) how to spell "Mom, I'm never going to talk to you ever again!"

Duck's mom is in the hospital. She was admitted Sunday for dehydration, she can't stop diarrhea or vomiting, a side effect of her chemo and probably the cancer itself. He talked to his Dad yesterday and got the feeling she is nearing the end. Her last several tests all showed giant increases in her tumor markers, even on the new chemo regime. We've decided to go see her this weekend. It will probably be the last time before she passes and it is very sad.

Although our relationship with Duck's parents has always been strained, I can't say it makes loosing her easy. I do know it has been helpful to Duck in preparing for her death, to know she was terminal from the start. He has talked with her weekly, and made a point to visit more often, but knowing you're going to loose someone and the reality of loosing them are really quite different. And while she has lived much longer than anyone expected, especially her doctors, it still seems too soon. Everyone in her chemo study has already passed. Long ago. She is only 57.

We are leaving Friday, which is Mikki's birthday. I'm not looking forward to the visit. I don't believe Duck is either. It is going to be very difficult to say goodbye to her, knowing it will most likely be for the last time.

DAMIEN SITS DOWN ON THE COUCH NEXT TO GRANNY BONNIE, CAREFUL TO KEEP ABOUT SIX INCHES BETWEEN THEM. HE TURNS AND LOOKS AT HER...

Damien: "I don't touch old people."

Granny Bonnie: "Oh, and who do you know that is an old person?"

Damien: (looking uncomfortable, but deciding to go for it) "You!"


LATER IN THE VISIT. GRANNY BONNIE ASKS FOR A HUG BEFORE DAMIEN HEADS TO BED.

Damien: "No, I don't want to! But, I'll blow you a hug."

He wraps his arms around himself and blows towards Granny.


AFTER GRANNY BONNIE HAS LEFT.

Damien: "Call Granny and tell her thanks for the Bugles and tell her that I love her!"

... depressed. Everything seems like a chore. Seriously, even getting up in the morning. I don't like taking a shower, getting dressed, fixing food, (although, unfortunately, I have no problem eating it) cleaning, doing laundry, grocery shopping, or driving anywhere. I have no desire to socialize, volunteer or be out in public. I'm extremely tired and my energy is zapped. I'm having the hardest time getting my house ready for my mom's visit. I have the desire for it to be ready, just no enthusiasm to actually do it. I wish I could will it to be done without any effort on my part. I'm not looking forward to the next few months of the practices and school, nor am I looking forward to the next couple of years of exactly the same. That sounds like depression, right? Not just a loser looking for an excuse? UGH!

Shadow spent most of yesterday AND overnight at the vet. We are picking him up this morning. Dreading that bill!

NOTE: DO NOT FEED PIG TO YOUR DOGS. PERIOD. They can actually go FROM FINE TO DEAD with ANY form of pork. **This is true even if they've tolerated it in the past. (I put a bit of bacon grease on his dinner at the beginning of the week.) Also, no animal fat of any kind, such as the fat you cut off your steak or chicken. VERY BAD FOR DOGS.

Good treats: carrots, mashed potatoes, saltine and graham crackers.

Happy healthy dogs = Happy happy owners

Duck: Please go back and sit down at the table until your dinner is finished.

Damien: (Silence)

Duck: Damien, stop running around in circles and go eat your dinner. (Meaning around the couch and coffee table.)

Damien: Don't you mean running around in squares?