Today is Grandparents Day at the kidlet's school. My parents came back from visiting my aunt in Arizona to attend, driving all night and in a snowstorm to try and get over the pass before they closed I-5. They left their house at 6 am to make the hour plus drive and beat the traffic. My mom called me a little after 7 am from a local cafe where they were eating breakfast to say they'd come by and take Finn to school since the activities start at 8 am.
Mackenna broke down into tears when I told her she couldn't go to school this morning. She's still got that glassy eye look and her cough doesn't sound good. Two years ago she and her brother were both sick on Grandparents day and missed all the fun.
A few minutes later, Finn walked into my bedroom, dressed in school uniform, with flushed cheeks and glassy eyes. He'd been coughing most of the night, his throat hurt and his skin felt warm. Yep, he's got a temperature.
My parents arrived right after that to find out all the efforts they'd made to make it to Grandparents Day were for nothing. Neither of the kidlets would be going to school today. Neither of them wanted to stick around long and be exposed to the germs. I totally understand this at their age, but it was so hard for the kids. I feel so bad for all my parents went through to get here, but there's nothing I could do except apologize, which I did. I had no idea Finn would get sick too.
Now I'm just waiting for the trifecta. Rose is complaining of a sore throat, but I don't know if it's an attention getting sore throat or the real thing yet. No fever though.
Needless to say, sick kids needs lots of attention so that's what I've been giving them, but I've gotta admit, I'm starting to freak out as everything else has been pushed to the back burner. I look at what I need to do and it's totally overwhelming: a proposal to write, 8 RITA books to read, page proofs for RESCUED BY THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS that have a due date, two tree skirt panels to embroider for son's class auction project, wood burning to learn, a 50 x 40 wood mirror frame to be traced and wood burned so daughter's class can paint it. I can't even talk about the house right now. The only thing that's been done is laundry.
I'm trying to squeeze in things as I can. Yesterday, I managed two chapters of the page proofs (called AAs - author alterations), a chapter of a RITA book and an hour of wood burning practice. Baby steps. Gotta remember that. I need to break it all down and make a To Do list. Some chocolate might help!
Hope your Thursday is better than mine has been so far! What have you got going on?
Thursday, January 31, 2008
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15 comments:
I know how to woood burn, if I were there I'd give you a hand. Sorry to hear 2 kids are now sick and that a 3rd may be starting. I'm sending you good thoughts (and thoughts for the energy you're gonna need) for your day, you're going to be busy! Best of luck with everything and I'll be thinking of you.
(My Out-laws would have stayed and gotten sick and I would have been the one telling them to go home! Your parents know these things happen. Don't beat yourself up over it.)
Thanks so much, Brandy. xoxox
Any tips on the wood burning. My lines just aren't smooth enough. I'm going slow, and I got one that looked good but the others aren't there.
Oh NO... Poor you. Sick kids are the worst, and THREE sick kids??
And your folks!! Oh man, that's dedication. Do they have awards for that kind of grandparenting?
Hang in there... and, I find to-do lists helpful. I especially love the crossing off part. Put EVERYTHING on it... "fixed breakfast", etc., cuz you get to cross off more. *G*
*hugs* on the continued sick kiddos. And I don't see that you have anything to apologize for. You didn't MAKE your kids get sick. These things happen. Your parents are old enough to know that. :)
Thanks, Marianne. I just need to find time to write my To Do list. LMAO!
Hugs much appreciated Tori. And I know it's not my fault he got sick, but they went through so much to get to Grandparents day and even left my aunt's early due to the weather that I just feel bad.
Off to woodburn for a while and see if I can make my lines smoother!
Hugs on all you have to do. Snatch time as you can. But make sure you get some rest yourself so YOU don't get sick. I'm a phone call away if you need me, but I'm not sure what I could do on your list. You can just gripe in my ear and I will give you loads of sympathy.
She will get better, they will all get better and unless the house is becoming a biohazard, leave it alone until the rest of your to do list is under control. Can you put the kids in hubby's care this weekend and just attack the list like crazy?
Thanks Amy! If I had time to call I would. On top of everything else, two of my kids asked to be homeschooled. Um...I'll look into it was all I could manage to say right now. I'm registering them for school next year and will look into it as time allows.
I am making progress with my wood burning so that's one thing. A few more days of this and I may be ready to attempt the mirror. If you're interested in seeing my inspiration for the project, check out www.sticks.com. Go to the product catalog, choose mirrors and look at the medium size ones. Can you believe I choose to do this having never wood burned before? Or even considered the time it would take? Insane, I'm telling you. I have 17 squares the kids made as well as a design on the top that another mom is doing. I'm so not artistic, just crafty.
Hubby knows this weekend is going to be a catch up one. We were supposed to be skiing, but sick kids have cancelled those plans. We have one birthday party for Rose to attend on Saturday and a couple dance things if Mackenna is up for it. Other than that I will be reading, reviewing and woodburning. I'm going to save the embroidery for our drive to Seattle that's coming up!
Just remember not to stop in place too often when wood burning. I hope the kids feel better this afternoon. Don't forget to breathe!
So sorry to hear about the kids. My two are both having naughty days and so I am feeling rather exhausted from dealing with them today. Added to the fact that I am not feeling well, let's just say that I am counting the minutes until hubby gets home and give me a break.
Ack - Melissa, good luck with getting everything done! It seems like everyone has been having a rough day. Mine has been pretty bad - I have to edit an article tonight that goes back to the author before its sent to the publisher. I also have readings to finish (I'm a law student), things to write for school - classes (from the summer- eep!) that I'm behind on, and the case I was observing went way over, so I didn't get to the bank in time, and my rent is due tomorrow. *sigh*
At least I don't have to deal with poor little sick children - good luck with that. I hope they all get better quickly!
Melissa, I'm so sorry Finn is sick as well and Rose may be joining them. Let's hope they get better soon.
I'm just curious, but why do the kidlets want to be homeschooled? I think it's a great idea if you're able to manage it.
A to-do-list will help you alot and I like what Marianne said, put everything down so as you cross something, you'll feel that you've accomplished a task.
I'm sure your parents understand that kids get sick. Why don't you do something special for their effort?
How are the kidlets doing this evening?
Brandy - I figured that out. I also figured out how to use the tip and sides of the pens more efficiently!
Thanks Cherie. Hope your naughty two have settled down and hubby is giving you a break! Feel better, too!
Good luck with your school work and readings and article. Sounds like you have a huge amount on your plate, too, limecello! And thanks.
Thanks Dru. As for the homeschooling. One realized, as I was helping her for her finals and even teaching her a couple of new grammar chapters before our vacation, how much more she learned one and one. She also did well on all her finals so she thinks she would learn more and do it more efficiently if she was at home. The other one just prefers being with me. No real reason for homeschooling other than that.
As for my parents...My mom's already called a couple of times to check on the kids. We're planning to take them out to a really nice place in Portland once everyone is better and their back from their next trip. They travel a lot so we don't see them a lot.
As for the kids, Rose is fine. No fever and once she got some attention her throat magically stopped hurting. The little devil!
Mackenna is doing better, but still has those glassy eyes and cough. I'll keep her home again tomorrow since all the area Catholic schools are getting together for a big Mass followed by lunch and that's just too many new germs in one place for my comfort level. And she won't be missing hardly any school since it's a big field trip day.
Finn's fever keeps rising and he's seems to be going downhill. No school tomorrow for him. The nurse said it was too early to treat him for anything so I'll watch him pretty close tonight. I got him salmon and asparagus and bread to dip in olive oil for dinner tonight. All are faves of his so I hope that makes him feel a little better.
Thanks all for the support. Sorry to be so whiny and complaining, but it's been a tough week! I still haven't even finished my trip report from Disneyland. I've yet to download the photos from the last two days!!! That's so unlike me!
You are not being whiney! That's what we're here for cyber-support! *G* Hugs to you ALL.
Oh goodness - it makes me glad that I'm over those kind of days - although I miss having young ones around. Be sure to keep up on taking care of yourself too - mom's can't get sick! With luck Rose or anyone else won't catch it.
Oh gosh, 3 sick kids! You do have your hands full! I send many wishes to you and your family that they all feel better really soon!
My husband caught the cold that is going around a month ago. He is fine now. I was lucky not to catch it from him! Now I am waiting for spring here in our frozen, cold area of Northern Indiana next to Lake Michigan. We had 6 inches of snow again last night with more predicted tonight! Just wonderful! I want spring and soon!
Lots of hugs to you and your family!
Michele L.
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