When I picked the kiddo up the teacher said her morning was very good, she sat on the rug and was part of the class. The afternoon was rocky though. Hhmm.. I wanted a comparison of some sort and asked her if it was as bad as in September? "Nooo..noo.. not that bad.. " The expression on her face and everything told me that as terrible a start as the child had when school started, she's come a very, very long way!

I called the doctor's office. When asked why I wanted the appointment I said, "I had bronchitis, the cough is lingering and now I have chest pains." She gave me an appointment for tomorrow at 11:15 am. My daughter said if I am having chest pains they should have taken me today. She said I should be going to the emergency room.

I'm not dying so I'm not going to the ER.. I am just concerned that the bronchitis is turning to pneumonia again. I've had it ten times. The pain?? I had pleurisy before. The first time I was told I have that I knew I was dying and got told I had what I always thought to be an "old person's disease." They explained it was not an old person's disease it was an inflamation of the lining of the lungs.

News: Don't use Vicks Vapor Rub on children under the age of two. HUH?? I swear mine are alive because of that stuff! Has anyone ever had to eat it? My husband thinks that is just wierd but I was given a dollop of it after it was rubbed on my chest. Seemed pretty normal to me!

They said on the news that there is ONE Portapotty for every four hundred people that will be in the Capital for the Inauguration. They are suggesting you bring your own toilet paper. Needless to say I won't be there. Nope, nope... some things I simply don't intend to give up and one of them is a clean toilet.

My father's wife left my brother a voice mail over the holidays. She thinks the realtor SHE chose in cahoots with her lawyer... and this realtor was picked like, three lawyers ago. She'll never get that house on the market. She wants to change realtors to one of her friends. Uhm.. we were stupid. We did not contest her living there because that is what my dad wished. Consequently, she's getting a huge chunk of our inheritance. My dad did not wish for her to put the house in debt, (it was paid off.) he did not want her to sell it and pay for the debt then split what remains in three.. it was meant for my brother and I. No, she's crazy if she thinks I'll so much as blink an eye without an attorney present. She also wants my inlaws in California to pick up a bedroom set. They are in their seventies.. how are they supposed to do this? Not to mention, where are they supposed to store a bedroom set? Then, she'll let me have my grandmother's stained glass windows after the house is sold. She's looney... flat out looney!

Over the holidays my son taught the Kiddo to tie her shoes. Within two days her mother or other grandmother bought her velcro tennis shoes. So... we are back at not tieing shoes again.

Everything is a step.. lots of hard work to teach her those basic fundamental things a five year old should know. Today, with me hovering over her she for the most part brushed her teeth by herself. I mean brushed not suck the toothpaste off the toothbrush and call it good.

Her hair, still gets into her eyes. It seems to me that the lady didn't cut the bangs far enough over. Or maybe it's just the kiddo and her hair?? Brushing is hit and miss still but she's learning.

As for what motivated the mother to bring her home and not keep her overnight on a school night? Not even my son knows... he opened the door said hello to his daughter and the mother was already scurrying off the porch. I'm not sure if this is his intention but it almost sounded like she couldn't wait to drop the Kiddo off.

In this world the kiddo is no longer simply there she is a part of our worlds. You can't simply turn the television on anymore and call it good. She's learning, she's thriving and this past few weeks she's been quicker to smile than she has been to have a tantrum.. and if she does start a tantrum?? What used to last hours of pure viciousness... kicking, screaming, breaking things, hurting... the last one? She went and lay on her bed and cried for a couple minutes then came back out in a better mood.

When I go to print all this out remember to check all posts as the one I posted just the other day has something in it.

Yesterday was the day we'd planned to have the kiddo spend the night so my son could attend a party at his landlord's house. That was called off because the mother wanted to keep her since her plans fell through.

What really happened is that she never again contacted my son and he couldn't get ahold of her so he brought his daughter here to spend the night with us. We had pizza and reading time, we played cards, she cried cause she wanted the television on when she went to bed however, within five minutes she was out like a light even though I never turned it on for her!! Before I went to bed I peeked in on her and she looked like an angel.

About ten this morning he called and he was in a v.e.r.y bad mood. She simply showed up at his house wanting to pick her daughter up. He was on the phone with my ex-husband at the time. My ex could hear him getting upset because she wants to keep the kiddo overnight tonight... on a school night.

So there he is trying to tell her no and his dad is telling him he needs to take her to court. While my son is thinking he has a pretty good case as time goes on what he doesn't have is money for an attorney. To which my ex told him he shouldn't need an attorney.

This won't be the first time my son has tried to gain custody of his daughter. He can't keep doing this so he wants to make SURE this time.

I called him later and told him if the past is any consolation she'll bring the Kiddo back to him because she can't control her. I've yet to hear if the kiddo got to go home to her dad's house or not.

Not to mention I find more than a little disprespectful to me to not even know if the kiddo will be here in the morning and here on time for me to bathe, feed, dress and get to school.

What simply boggles my mind is that the mother knows the daughter has become much better but we follow a rather strict routine. Why would she want to disrupt that knowing it has bad consequences for her daughter to disrupt her routine??

I'm already dreading the phone calls tomorrow and picking her up ..IF she makes it through school.

UPDATE: Not sure yet if I was right or if he put his foot down but she stayed the night at home and was able to get a good nights sleep on a school night.

Note:: Can it be stipulated that there is no overnight visits on a school night.

My husband is starting to worry so much he's snapping at everyone. As if the economy isn't bad enough alone, he did have a job for this week. The entire week he blocked off for a customer. The job pushed and will have to wait for two weeks but nobody let anyone know so my husband didn't have time to fill the whole week up with work. We paid the boys to do things like... go home, take down Christmas decorations... you know, we pay them but have no income coming in to cover those paychecks.

iChat is going to be cool if I can get it to work. I have a friend of forty years and we tried it today but eh.. we could see each other's face. I could hear him but he couldn't hear me. I made some adjustments after he signed off so maybe next time it'll work!!

My step son, generally simply referred to as my son... gave us a gift card to a favorite restaurant for Christmas. So we took him and his fiance out to dinner with it tonight. She's nice enough but there is something wrong.. not sure. Finally my husband said it's that... 'nobody's good enough for your son' thing. I think he's right too. Ya know, I would have stopped at one child if I'd known about all this fiances, wives, grand children thing and that you still worry.

I guess we have to do the groom dinner thing for his wedding. I told my husband I was rather ambivalent about this because actually we don't have the money. Because four other kids have been told we don't pay for this. We didn't do this for our own wedding. And because I'm not a very sociable type among a group of people I don't even know. And because when you live together.. as far as I'm concerned it's kindof too late for the big wedding thing. Just do the justice of the peace thing and you are just as married with the benefit of money saved that could go toward the purchase of a house!!

I forgot to add this as we were in the middle of trying to get ready for Christmas. My husband, the Kiddo and I were driving somewhere... she said, Dustin broke her mothers make up. She was scared but her mother didn't die this time. Does a child just make this up??

I was looking forward to her spending the night tomorrow. My son's landlord invited him to a party. He asked if I would mind babysitting but really feels as if we do alot already for him. It is his weekend with the Kiddo. The mother had plans and couldn't take her. But those plans fell through so now she is taking her. As my son said, her friends are more important than her daughter. I think the difference is.. she's with him all week and two or more weekends a month. We all would have expected her to do as he would have done and jump on the chance to spend time with her daughter, the little girl that doesn't live with her.

Guess, since he had to get new tires and brakes and is trying to get his car to pass safety and emissions inspection to renew his registration, he's broke. He asked the mother to bring food for the kiddo. The mother doesn't have money for food BUT.. had money to go out with her friends if it hadn't fallen through???

My husband overheard this conversation so he gave him some ham, beans and rice and some quick cooking food.. chicken pot pies, Chef Boyardie..

I know I should feel bad for him but my son was sitting here after work and looked so terribly .... bummed out!

I asked him what was wrong and I got the standard.. "nothing." He got the standard.. "are you sure?" To which there was a long sigh and he turned to me and said, "Mom, I'm BORED! I don't have anything to go home to."

I was trying not to giggle. He's missing his XBOX. We got him a new game for Christmas and he really has wanted to play it!! So, I would try not to laugh because I know I'd be the same way if I didn't have a computer.

Then he said to me his room mate and best friend told him he's taking this worse than his last break up. Okay, loving mother I may or may not be but I did giggle and said, "It's no wonder! You had the game to keep your mind occupied when she left you!"

I sure hope they fix it for him even with the faceplate having been removed.

Talked to my son today. The kiddo went to visit with her mother ... not sure if she went on Thursday or Friday... I talked to my son today, Saturday, and apparently the mother has called and told him the Kiddo is driving her crazy.. she can't control her.

She will have her till tomorrow and then she goes back to regular school schedule.


Okay, hard to write and giggle reading Friday's post!! She has a battery saving problem????

Christmas 2007 we got an XBOX 360 for the Kiddo's father. That is his one stress relief... his video games. He even quit smoking until he let the ex move in... no amount of video games could counteract the stress he was under once she moved in.

Christmas 2008 we got him a new game to play in the XBox. The 28th he tried to play it and got a red light with an E74 message. He called and did all the trouble shooting he was told to do. They said he would have to send it in and for a mere ninety dollars they would repair it.

He doesn't have that kind of money. He's GOT to get tires and brakes on his car and get it inspected and registered this month. The one thing he likes doing was ... gone. He took the face off..only the face to see if perhaps dust was a problem and that was a mistake but I didn't know this until much later.

I called and got a very nice lady who had me on hold forever so she could talk to his supervisor regarding a warranty that expired on Christmas day... perhaps they'd fix it free. Bingo!!! My ears still ring from the music I got to listen to for an hour but they'd fix it free.

She then explained to me the packing instructions and the box cannot have been opened or they will send it back and not fix it.... EVEN if we pay to have it fixed. Excuse me??? If you pay for a service why can't they fix it? But I did not yet think it was a problem until my son walked in. I told him about this free part and he was excited. His face fell right off and landed on the floor when I said he cannot have opened the box.

He had, and a sticker came off. She said to send it in anyway. The worst that would happen is that they'd send it back and not repair it. At all.

So, he runs home and gets his original box thinking it would be better to ship it in that box inside another box. I wanted him to go to the post office but since we had plans he wanted to try UPS first. Here is where the surprise in all this came in.

At the UPS store before I could finish explaining that the numbers had to be on four sides of the box she and doesn't she want to know those numbers she knew where to find it on the shipping paper. It would be... FREE!! Talk about luck!! It was still twelve bucks to buy the shipping material because they have a box SPECIFICALLY made for shipping the XBOX's back in for repairs.

My son and I just looked at each other for a moment before he asked her, "You really have a box made for this?" It was here she explained that they ship out about five a day for repairs. You would think Microsoft would put out a product better than that and if is later found to have flaws that they would recall it or something. Had I not called he'd have paid ninety bucks to have it fixed or not have a game. My son plays it but he also works and takes care of his daughter. He doesn't play it hours and hours on end like.. oh.. maybe I would if I had it.

There are kids out there that have saved for a supposedly good quality machine and they can't afford to have it break. My son MIGHT be leant a game from a friend of his that finally gave up and replaced his with another machine.. Playstation maybe? He's sent his XBox in three or four times for repairs. He has it back but doesn't use it so he might let my son use it till his comes back.

I just hate to see something youngsters... anyone for that matter... pay for something you expect to be of good quality only to find out it's not. Then again, there was a reason I quit using Microsoft prodocts for my primary machines.

On another note.. he thinks his landlord might have a lawyer lined up for him. His landlord has, of course, seen what has gone on. It's FINALLY starting to look far more promising for my son. In April his daughter will have lived with him for a year even if the mother lived there for five or six months, she still collected child support and paid no rent or food. My son did. So far, she's been moved out two or two and a half months with him having his daughter. She still hasn't gotten busted. If my son did half the stuff she did he'd have been busted twenty times over.. I don't get it. The mother is currently homeless. Yep.. it's looking up for him and mostly for the Kiddo!!

Should I have posted this last night? Maybe.... it's never too late to wish someone the best of luck and joy in the new year!

We went to see Alonzo Boden. The first time we saw him was during bike week in Virginia Beach. We were walking down the sidewalk and were given free tickets to a comedy show. My husband loves comedy shows but it was about to start. There was no time for running back to the hotel and changing so we went, I in my T-shirt and he in his tank top, went to the first comedy show I'd ever been to and what luck!! We were seated up front!

Luck, it turns out, is rather subjective?? The first comedian was funny but spent considerable time pointing out that my husband's dress was less than satisfactory. The second one came out and she was sure he he spent his days stoned and he could identify with what she spoke of.

The last one, a very tall man... walked out, picked up the microphone and said, "I'm leaving you alone! You look like an axe murderer and I want you on my side!" This was a joke on occasion through the show and has never been forgotten. So, when I saw he was appearing for New Years Eve I got my husband tickets as a Christmas present.

We have never been out on New Years Eve. My husband doesn't like being out when other people are out drinking and driving. For someone that wasn't fond of being out there driving over two hours.. did I mention that? It is a two hour drive? He certainly had a good time and I am not sure he stopped laughing. As we got in the car he said he was glad I'd gotten the tickets! YES!

Then, I sent my daughter a text message telling her Happy New Year. She actually texted back, several times. Seems the event she had been invited to was formal and she hadn't been let in on that tidbit of information so she was under dressed. A few months ago there would not have been an actual exchange of text messages with her. At best I could have hoped for was... "Ok." I missed her last message and didn't see it until this morning.

The year, despite all of it's downs, a few ups, and lots of stress ended on a really good note. I think this bodes well for the year 2009 my family and for yours as well.. I do wish you all the best!

This was supposed to be saved as a draft and not published as I got called away and didn't get to finish it!! Yes.. I admit.. I'm a dork!

I shopped for him for Christmas. He got three pair of jeans. One pair, which have not yet arrived, are fleece lined for when he's on the bike in the winter months. I also got him tickets to a comedy show on New Years Eve. Nothing exciting but he is very hard to shop for. He wants only tools; which equates to buying me a vacuum cleaner. Or.. he already has purchased anything you can think of that he may want. So, I was stumped this year and we don't have much money so we tried to make Christmas for the children.

He too shopped. I had two neatly wrapped gifts that he set next to him on Christmas Eve... Dang, I can't shake them without him knowing!! The first one was this watch to replace the one I broke when I forgot to take it off before getting into the pool with the Kiddo. Uhm.. I better NOT forget this one!

The second one is one I had for many months read about, watched commercials, and basically drooled over but I would never buy. But, hey.. a person can dream can't they? It was too costly especially when I can go in and get a phone for fifty bucks or less. A white iPhone. I was going to call Friday to make sure I had her number right but I can't talk! Well, I squeak and people can't understand me so before I call anyone on my new phone, I better wait till the bronchitis is gone.. darn. But, eh.. I can play on it alot!

The best Christmas present? The total cost for both items??? Apparently around $250.00. He said he's known what he's going to get for months and for months he's tucked away money, he's collected coupons and he's learned how to sign onto an account I once made then never used so I had no idea what the login information was. Less than fifty dollars was put onto a credit card.

I think that's just... awesome. Even more awesome... is that while I have these two items he swears to me he loves his Levi's. It's okay.. really, I know they are only jeans!!

I can make entries from my iPhone!!
merry Christmas everyone