Saturday.
[x] So. I survived the kids' first week at school. Barely, but I
survived. I'm still getting used the whole thing--two kids in full day,
one kid in half day, one kid at home. I think LF is a little down in the
mouth. Her favorite playmates are...gone. She's had trouble napping the
last few days and I think it's primarily because she's fighting the
tiredness in an attempt to wait for everyone to arrive. Poor, sweet
baby.
[x] Okay, I know this goes without saying, but man...school is expensive. We run a very tight ship as far as our budget is concerned and between the occasional hot lunch and the bi-monthly pizza gig (offered by the school, but paid in full right...about...now), I really overshot our expenses for the month. And while, as most of you know, I can't eat peanut butter (it sucks SO much, but I bust out in some serious hives and itch like crazy), but I don't routinely buy Sunbutter (even though I love it so!). Well, as fate would have it, two kids in Beauty's preschool are allergic so it's a peanut free zone. Listen, I am NOT complaining; it's basic courtesy to accommodate a food allergy as it's basic courtesy to accommodate a wheelchair. But Sunbutter isn't cheap! And of course I have none and forgot it on my most recent shopping trip. I need to up my coffee intake, I think. ;)
[x] Speaking of which, the return of the infamous Pumpkin Spice Latte is imminent. *sigh* This is the first year in which I'm not partaking due to veganism and it bums.me.out. I guess it's better for my wallet and my waistline, but even still...oh, PSL. How you taunt me so! Autumn is my favorite season and you always started me off right. It's a petty complaint, I know...but even still. Boo!
[x] But it's not all bad. I do love following a vegan diet, even if I can't chow down a piece of cheese at will. For the first time ever, I've been meal planning. I'm usually a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of girl, but now with school for 3/4 of the kids...not so much. For instance, on Monday night we're having Tofutastic with the fabulous brown rice bake, a veggie (roastedcauliflower, maybe?), and fruit salad. Bam! I couldn't have told you a month ago what dinner would ever hold, ever. This is an improvement, y/y?
[x] We are still very much getting into the routine, especially in the mornings. When K. is here, we tag team together beautifully. I've only floundered on my own once (the first day of school), but seriously...4:45/5:00 AM comes so very early. On Thursday night, we had a super late "in home" dinner date and when the alarm went off Friday morning, I felt like someone punched me in the face. Not good! Today has been much better already. K. is on shift so he--bless his heart--he always gets up early with Sunshine to change her, feed her, and handle her meds. AND he usually leaves me coffee on the patio. So awesome. In turn, I'll attempt to get this place sparkling from top to bottom, and try to get a jump on the next week. But at least I can do it all in my pajamas. :)
[x] I need a haircut. I need to paint my nails. I need to figure out Sunshine's nursing care issues, Little Flower's Early Intervention debacle, Beauty's "extracurricular activity" conundrum, and Bear's TKD schedule. I need to purchase sunflower seed butter. I need to weed (at least in the front ;) desperately. I want to rip up all the carpeting on the upper level of the house. I need to get Sunshine some better fitting pants for the fall/winter months. I need to order more contacts, reschedule long overdue dentist appointment for both K. and yours truly, find a better way at budget shopping for organic produce, pick up more coconut oil. I want to buy Sunshine more beads for her hair. I need to respond to about a hundred emails, blog for Patch, and trim The Beagle's nails. I need, I want...to stop spinning my tires.
Lately, that's how my mind has been running: this task to this task, that task to another. I need to recenter myself and reclaim the experience of living in the moment. I know that much of it has to do with "growing pains" of the new schedule, but I've gotta pull myself together. I've gotta get back to meditating, I've gotta let some old anger go, I've gotta go with the flow.
Usually, I'm much better at this sort of thing. But I am set on being patient with myself. Perfection isn't an option, but neither is merely "passable". Something to work on.
[x] This morning has been rather peaceful. Sunshine is napping on the couch (on her side--hopefully this will help her avoid suctioning, poor baby), and Bear is watching cartoons while eating cold pizza (it's a family tradition--if we order pizza the night before, the kids are always allowed--school days or not--to have cold pizza for breakfast). Beauty and Little Flower (at least check five minutes ago) are still both.out.cold. Beauty must've been so tired! LF is usually asleep at this time. When K. gets up to go to work, he also changes LF and gets her milk and a snack so she can go back to bed. It works beautifully.
[x] Two amazing events from yesterday:
1. In the drive thru at Starbucks yesterday morning, the car in front of mine bought my latte. I can't begin to tell you the incredible sense of euphoria it brought me. In turn, I bought the drink of the car behind mine. I hope it continued for a long, long time. It will go down in history as the best latte I've ever tasted. Ever.
2. Are you all sitting down?
I hope so.
Do you remember the two angels-disguised-as-people-on-this-earth who, you know, BOUGHT us our wheelchair accessible conversion van?
I know, silly question. Who could ever forget about that?!
Well, yesterday, in that post-euphoric coffee glow, I logged into my email to find an offer of massive assistance for some much needed in-home conversions.
REALLY. I'm not even kidding.
The state is willing to provide renovation assistance--after Sunshine's adoption is finalized (and keep in mind that we still have another four months of fostering before we can petition), but that means a winter without any assistance whatsoever. Not only is it less-than-ideal, it's a little dangerous (being completely honest here). We live in a tri-level built for-ev-er ago and it is probably one of the least wheelchair accessible homes in America. Out our backdoor, there's a patio with one huge (long and wide) step, and then an enormous, rather steep driveway leading down to the street (from our detached garage). Just outside our front door, there are a mass of steps rendering wheelchair access utterly impossible. We really wanted to get the back door ramped, at least to get through the winter. I wasn't looking forward to hightailing it down the drive. It's a hard pull even when it's 80 degrees and sunny, let alone when it's raining or snowing or sleeting or a solid sheet of ice, etc.
We ultimately wanted to the state to agree to swapping out our rec room (which was once a one-car garage) windows with a sliding glass door and adding heat to the room. It would be a straight shot down a short sidewalk to get to the bus.
Ramping, renovation, and more...the two angels have offered to take care of it all. And then some.
I'm honestly clutching just writing that sentence. I have that enormous lump in my throat just sitting here, thinking about it. I can't wrap my mind around because I can't even begin to understand this.
Maybe it's because we're always financially stretched? Maybe because I can't believe there are people in this world with such beautiful souls?
Sunshine's life got off to a rough start at the hands of someone else's doing, And now...two people who have ALREADY done so much...are STILL working to make her days a little safer, easier. And make our lives safer and easier, too. They have NO obligation to us. None. They owe us, they owe Sunshine, nothing.
A beautiful humanity in this world--this world which is sometimes dark and desolate--is still there, shining through. It's a sunshower. It's something I don't understand, but I feel like it's a miracle unfolding itself before my eyes.
I mean, you guys...they already bought us a van.
I just can't believe there are people in this world this selfless. But I can't write about it anymore since I'm already crying. But...yeah.
[x] Okay, off to finish my coffee and clean this place up. I have laundry to tackle, cinnamon rolls to bake, the duties of motherhood, and the like. I wouldn't have it any other way.
<3
[x] Okay, I know this goes without saying, but man...school is expensive. We run a very tight ship as far as our budget is concerned and between the occasional hot lunch and the bi-monthly pizza gig (offered by the school, but paid in full right...about...now), I really overshot our expenses for the month. And while, as most of you know, I can't eat peanut butter (it sucks SO much, but I bust out in some serious hives and itch like crazy), but I don't routinely buy Sunbutter (even though I love it so!). Well, as fate would have it, two kids in Beauty's preschool are allergic so it's a peanut free zone. Listen, I am NOT complaining; it's basic courtesy to accommodate a food allergy as it's basic courtesy to accommodate a wheelchair. But Sunbutter isn't cheap! And of course I have none and forgot it on my most recent shopping trip. I need to up my coffee intake, I think. ;)
[x] Speaking of which, the return of the infamous Pumpkin Spice Latte is imminent. *sigh* This is the first year in which I'm not partaking due to veganism and it bums.me.out. I guess it's better for my wallet and my waistline, but even still...oh, PSL. How you taunt me so! Autumn is my favorite season and you always started me off right. It's a petty complaint, I know...but even still. Boo!
[x] But it's not all bad. I do love following a vegan diet, even if I can't chow down a piece of cheese at will. For the first time ever, I've been meal planning. I'm usually a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of girl, but now with school for 3/4 of the kids...not so much. For instance, on Monday night we're having Tofutastic with the fabulous brown rice bake, a veggie (roastedcauliflower, maybe?), and fruit salad. Bam! I couldn't have told you a month ago what dinner would ever hold, ever. This is an improvement, y/y?
[x] We are still very much getting into the routine, especially in the mornings. When K. is here, we tag team together beautifully. I've only floundered on my own once (the first day of school), but seriously...4:45/5:00 AM comes so very early. On Thursday night, we had a super late "in home" dinner date and when the alarm went off Friday morning, I felt like someone punched me in the face. Not good! Today has been much better already. K. is on shift so he--bless his heart--he always gets up early with Sunshine to change her, feed her, and handle her meds. AND he usually leaves me coffee on the patio. So awesome. In turn, I'll attempt to get this place sparkling from top to bottom, and try to get a jump on the next week. But at least I can do it all in my pajamas. :)
[x] I need a haircut. I need to paint my nails. I need to figure out Sunshine's nursing care issues, Little Flower's Early Intervention debacle, Beauty's "extracurricular activity" conundrum, and Bear's TKD schedule. I need to purchase sunflower seed butter. I need to weed (at least in the front ;) desperately. I want to rip up all the carpeting on the upper level of the house. I need to get Sunshine some better fitting pants for the fall/winter months. I need to order more contacts, reschedule long overdue dentist appointment for both K. and yours truly, find a better way at budget shopping for organic produce, pick up more coconut oil. I want to buy Sunshine more beads for her hair. I need to respond to about a hundred emails, blog for Patch, and trim The Beagle's nails. I need, I want...to stop spinning my tires.
Lately, that's how my mind has been running: this task to this task, that task to another. I need to recenter myself and reclaim the experience of living in the moment. I know that much of it has to do with "growing pains" of the new schedule, but I've gotta pull myself together. I've gotta get back to meditating, I've gotta let some old anger go, I've gotta go with the flow.
Usually, I'm much better at this sort of thing. But I am set on being patient with myself. Perfection isn't an option, but neither is merely "passable". Something to work on.
[x] This morning has been rather peaceful. Sunshine is napping on the couch (on her side--hopefully this will help her avoid suctioning, poor baby), and Bear is watching cartoons while eating cold pizza (it's a family tradition--if we order pizza the night before, the kids are always allowed--school days or not--to have cold pizza for breakfast). Beauty and Little Flower (at least check five minutes ago) are still both.out.cold. Beauty must've been so tired! LF is usually asleep at this time. When K. gets up to go to work, he also changes LF and gets her milk and a snack so she can go back to bed. It works beautifully.
[x] Two amazing events from yesterday:
1. In the drive thru at Starbucks yesterday morning, the car in front of mine bought my latte. I can't begin to tell you the incredible sense of euphoria it brought me. In turn, I bought the drink of the car behind mine. I hope it continued for a long, long time. It will go down in history as the best latte I've ever tasted. Ever.
2. Are you all sitting down?
I hope so.
Do you remember the two angels-disguised-as-people-on-this-earth who, you know, BOUGHT us our wheelchair accessible conversion van?
I know, silly question. Who could ever forget about that?!
Well, yesterday, in that post-euphoric coffee glow, I logged into my email to find an offer of massive assistance for some much needed in-home conversions.
REALLY. I'm not even kidding.
The state is willing to provide renovation assistance--after Sunshine's adoption is finalized (and keep in mind that we still have another four months of fostering before we can petition), but that means a winter without any assistance whatsoever. Not only is it less-than-ideal, it's a little dangerous (being completely honest here). We live in a tri-level built for-ev-er ago and it is probably one of the least wheelchair accessible homes in America. Out our backdoor, there's a patio with one huge (long and wide) step, and then an enormous, rather steep driveway leading down to the street (from our detached garage). Just outside our front door, there are a mass of steps rendering wheelchair access utterly impossible. We really wanted to get the back door ramped, at least to get through the winter. I wasn't looking forward to hightailing it down the drive. It's a hard pull even when it's 80 degrees and sunny, let alone when it's raining or snowing or sleeting or a solid sheet of ice, etc.
We ultimately wanted to the state to agree to swapping out our rec room (which was once a one-car garage) windows with a sliding glass door and adding heat to the room. It would be a straight shot down a short sidewalk to get to the bus.
Ramping, renovation, and more...the two angels have offered to take care of it all. And then some.
I'm honestly clutching just writing that sentence. I have that enormous lump in my throat just sitting here, thinking about it. I can't wrap my mind around because I can't even begin to understand this.
Maybe it's because we're always financially stretched? Maybe because I can't believe there are people in this world with such beautiful souls?
Sunshine's life got off to a rough start at the hands of someone else's doing, And now...two people who have ALREADY done so much...are STILL working to make her days a little safer, easier. And make our lives safer and easier, too. They have NO obligation to us. None. They owe us, they owe Sunshine, nothing.
A beautiful humanity in this world--this world which is sometimes dark and desolate--is still there, shining through. It's a sunshower. It's something I don't understand, but I feel like it's a miracle unfolding itself before my eyes.
I mean, you guys...they already bought us a van.
I just can't believe there are people in this world this selfless. But I can't write about it anymore since I'm already crying. But...yeah.
[x] Okay, off to finish my coffee and clean this place up. I have laundry to tackle, cinnamon rolls to bake, the duties of motherhood, and the like. I wouldn't have it any other way.
<3
Posted by courtney at 8/27/2011 8:03 AM 
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: back to school school routine beauty bear little flower sunshine k. cha-ching starbucks pumpkin spice latte vegan partnership awesome husband love marriage living in the moment beauty in the breakdown pass it on the kindness of strangers in the drive thru the two angels amazing people in this world amazing people in our lived so blessed awestruck gratitude beyond measure renovations wheelchair access so very thankful
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: back to school school routine beauty bear little flower sunshine k. cha-ching starbucks pumpkin spice latte vegan partnership awesome husband love marriage living in the moment beauty in the breakdown pass it on the kindness of strangers in the drive thru the two angels amazing people in this world amazing people in our lived so blessed awestruck gratitude beyond measure renovations wheelchair access so very thankful
Thats so amazingly beautiful! You are so very blessed from your amazing children & fantastic husband it only seems right that these angels should come along to assist in your happily ever after!
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