Santa Train

Saturday we all took a trip on the Santa Train. The kids were excited to go in a train and had a great time.

This is the only picture I got of those two.....Little Man was in all the rest of them.

Santa was sighted.

Little Man has a fascination with beards so we were able to limit the damage to Santa's beard to a few strands.  Got a very cute picture which I can't share.

We got home and within a few hours I got sick.  I spent the rest of the weekend in bed listening to all the activity going on in the house.  I do believe that I was missed!  I am on the mend and will be back in action tomorrow.  Sleep study results are tomorrow and I am very curious to see if anything comes from it.

How do you do your Christmas tree?

Looking at our Christmas tree you can see how tall my kids are! 

For those that do a Christmas tree, would you move the ornaments around or would you leave them?  Do you have a separate tree for kids?  Do you do a color scheme or are you a free for all?

Our tree isn't totally done.  I found more ornaments and the kids will be making more so perhaps some will make it lower on the tree.  I don't typically move ornaments around unless I feel that it is in danger of getting broken.

Another Sleep Study

Yesterday I washed, combed and dried Larissa's hair in preparation fro her sleep study. She wasn't allowed to have any product in her hair which made it a challenge. She didn't want me to braid it in any way.

She had to be there at 8 pm and my husband took the night duty.  I dropped the kids off at school in the morning and replaced him for the day duty.  We have done several sleep studies but this is the first day study.

Thankfully for the day study they took off some of the equipment, she did not like the nose part.

For the day study they turn the lights off every two hours for 35 minutes (not sure why specifically 35 minutes).  The room is pitch black and they want them to nap.  For the first session I could hear her have a seizure so I know she fell asleep.  I fell asleep in the second session and went out for lunch on the third.  I also napped on the 4th and final one!  All those naps wore me out.  I think because I was just dozing off when they came in and turned on the lights.

Next week we go in to get the results.  I sure hope that we get some answers.  Larissa has been really fatigued lately, both physically and emotionally. She has asked me to homeschool her again.  I told her to wait until after the Christmas break and we will discuss it again.

Glue everywhere, to include her hair.  We did a quick hair style tonight but I will have to condition it well this weekend.

Mom's Birthday

 My mom had her birthday the day after Thanksgiving, also the day after Sarah's birthday.  Her requests were for a new outfit and a cake with strawberries.  I was delighted that she asked for something specific because I find it hard to shop for her!

 She had a little help with the candle blowing (my husband).

I love this picture because she was looking at the kids on the side and smiling at them.

All the kids came in and sang to their grandma then watched her open her gifts.  Of course, they then ate cake.

I want my children to respect the elderly. They help with their grandmothers care in small ways.  They check her drink when I ask or gather her plates.  They know that when I am preparing dinner plates hers is the first I make to take to her.  They watch how I care for my mom and hopefully they are learning from it.  Actions speak louder than words and they see the actions on a daily basis.

Every night before I head to bed I say to Sarah that I am going to change my mom and then head to bed.  Every night her response is that she hopes that she never has to say that.  I sure hope that she doesn't either.

It is a lot of work caring for my mom.  As a family we can't just decide to take a weekend trip somewhere.  We have to plan any time we are away from home.  I don't know if I would want to put that burden on my own children.  I tell everyone, if you have high blood pressure don't play around with your medications....take them.

I find myself writing more often about my mom and I think that it is a reflection of my realization that at some point I will not be able to care for her any longer.  I see that she is losing weight because she is losing all her muscle tone.  There are days that she doesn't want to get out of bed at all.  She doesn't try to move herself and needs to be shifted to prevent bed sores.  I worry about bed sores (she doesn't have any) and feel that they are inevitable because she doesn't shift herself at all.

Then there are the night where I would just like to head to bed without going and changing my mom.  then I feel guilty for feeling that way.  There are times when I am angry at her because I feel that she could have prevented all of this if she had just taken her medication.  I get mad because she doesn't push herself to move her body.  That all the times that I have gotten therapy out to the house they had to stop because she wasn't showing improvements.  She wasn't showing improvement because she doesn't do the exercises.  Then I try not to think about it because then I feel guilty.  What a circle I put myself in.

Anyone else out there caring for an elderly parent?  I know that I couldn't do it without Long Term Community Care.  They provide the 20 hours of care that my mom receives.  This is such a huge help for me and her aide is such a beautiful person.  She has helped our family in so many ways and is always willing to be there when we need her.  Blessings come in many different ways and my moms aide is one of them.

Thanksgiving 2014

We had a great Thanksgiving this year.  Lots of family and friends showed up, such a blessing.

Every countertop was covered with food, such a blessing.

The kids had their own table, so many blessings.

Family and friends, such a blessing.

Sweet grandbaby.

Sweet desserts.....

Sarah also had her birthday on Thanksgiving.  We have so much to be thankful for this year.  We have had our struggles but we have learned from them and grown.

I have been so busy and have to much to post about!  Perhaps I can take a moment this week to update.

Monthly Under the Couch Cleaning

 Once again we had our monthly Under the Couch Cleaning. No great sums of money were found, however one of the TV remotes was.

Actually this time around there wasn't as much stuff as in the past.  I am not quite sure why! It sure isn't because the kids are picking up better.

Obviously Anthony realized that I was taking pictures.  I was just sitting there so it wasn't obvious.  This was moments before they realized that there was a spider in the last little pile of trash.

A while back it was recommended to me that I use a crib to block the brick steps.  It works great!  One side of the crib is hinged and at this time just hooks in place.  Eventually I will add an actual latch.

Anyone else have a spot that just seems to attract "stuff"?  I have many but the couch is the most labor intensive to clean up.