The Last HUGE Hurdle

For those of you who continued on with life after 2008....I have still been dealing with the aftermath of postpartum and PTSD.When my life turned upside down the doctors basically took over for my brain. It was a blessing at the time. However, a lot of medication was involved. Xanex, Trazadone and ultimately 300 mg Effexor XR.

I remember the doctors warning me how addictive Xanex could be so I quite using it fairly soon. At the time I stopped using Xanex I realized it is nice to not FEEL sometimes. I thought I understood how someone could become addicted. I have wanted to go off the Effexor for a while but wanted to make sure I was in as stable of a place as possible. About 2 months ago I started tapering down the dose. Life became more headaches and dizzy spells and nausea. I took my last pill 5 days ago.

It has been awful!! I was talking with a recovering Heroine addict and she said the symptoms are very similar to detoxing!!! Think along the lines of morning sickness meet the body aches of the flu.  I called my doctor yesterday to see if there was anything I could do to help the "side effects" The suggestion was to go back on the Effexor. Isn't this what I am trying to stop? I feel like an addict. My brain literally hurts. Right now knowing this is the last direct hurdle put up two years ago is pushing me forward.

Halloween 2010

 Please pretend you have entered a time machine back to Halloween 2010.....enjoy the pics!!

Jackson has a love hate relationship with Halloween. He gets all excited for the big day then refuses to wear a costume. At least this year he had a Tiger face.

Reuben picked a Ninja Turtle from the clearance costumes the previous year. It took some convincing to remind him he WANTED to be a Ninja Turtle....that was until he got the make-up on.

Jackson - Tiger face,  Allie - Wizard,  Reuben- Ninja Turtle, Emma- Punk Rock 80's Girl, Nora- refusing to put on her Bear costume.

Go big or go home!! Lloyd needed a hair cut...I started doing a mohawk then he took it further and shaved the sides. Needless to say on Sunday morning he had a flat top.

The Tender Mercies of the Lord

Bramblings....

Here is an effort to update what is happening...

Lloyd and Allie both got some of these...

thank heavens we live close to an orthodontic school I didn't realize how many appointments it takes to get the mouth ready!! Lloyd has a full set and Allie has lower brackets and an expander on top for now.

Nora loves her glasses... the only problem is we have lost one pair :(

Reuben stepped on her other pair but luckily they were able to fix them :)

Jackson has started Aikido

I love that it has helped to give him somewhere he can hit and kick and not get in trouble!

He did inform me last week that he needed a new class

he doesn't like sliding on his belly :)

I have been lamenting the fact my children don't ride on this...

my "school bus" decided to have several identity crises

1. Transmission went out - in school parking lot, playground and bathrooms close, called Lloyd, called a tow-truck, I feel blessed because we weren't anywhere dangerous like the freeway!!


2. Transmission "fixed" - until on freeway taking car to Lloyd and the solenoid pack went out, van drove 40 miles and hour back to shop, still feel blessed because Nora slept the entire time.


3. On freeway with 4 kids van over-heated- called Dawn to help, Hometeacher stopped: All the kids started shouting "The Hometeacher is going to save us!" Dawn arrives: Nora starts diving for her and pure joyous screams escape her lips!! Tow-truck arrives (same guy as before...our address still in his gps) I no longer feel so blessed actually I am a bit cranky. I do feel grateful it wasn't any worse!!!

I have to admit I have wondered if having the kids do school of choice is a good idea. I am in the car 3 hours a day, driving or waiting for kids. Then I had an IEP (individual education plan) meeting for Allie. She is making friends, she feel comfortable enough to raise her hand in class to ask for help. The OT (occupational therapist) and SL (speech and language therapist) both called before the meeting to talk to me about their goals for Allie. Allie is happier than I have seen her. She is excited to go to school. How can I not drive her? Jackson still does not like school, but he does like his teacher and generally doesn't hide when I tell him it is time to go to school. Reuben loves, loves, loves school. He even likes to hold a little girl's hand, her name is Emily. I tell him he can't have a girl friend but to be friends with the girls. I love seeing the diversity in the schools. I can't even tell you the different ethnic groups represented. It is awesome!!

Thou shalt not covet.....

but really I kinda do :)

In addition to the aforementioned items Emma has decided to play the Viola, Jackson and Reuben have a Lego Class, and the Heredity class I took, (forever ago) will count for Biology which has me finishing at the Community College this spring. Now I just need to decide if I take the academic scholarship and do the fast track at the University. I would have to take 15 credits a semester... YIKES!!

I will now end my much to long, yet only covered a bit, post. Until we meet again....

Back to School 2010

I instantly became a better mother on Tuesday morning. I love my kids and when they go to school I can't wait to see them!!

Feelings...

If you were going to use a chart to help your children
learn about feelings which would you use and why?
Do you have a different chart you like better?