Hubby returned from San Diego on the red eye. He got in early, early, early Saturday AM. Mom left around 1pm. I'm so relieved she was here. She is not able to help as much as she used to when JD was a baby, but it was still so great to have her here! JD wouldn't let me do his nose spray, but Grandma could do it just fine. She also read to him most nights while I nursed Matthew down. Dinners were low key, but at least she was here to help clean up.

I was able to get the taxes done, go to my dr. apt., get the deck permit, get the blanket done for sue's baby etc. None of which would have happened if she hadn't been here. It was hard in some ways though. She is not able to go like she used to and gets tired much easier than I am used to. She gets nervous being out in the yard with the kids and gets cold easily. BUT she is still independent and able to come for visits. It was nice having another adult to talk to and plan with. I just see her aging and it makes me sad.

I'm trying to reach out to others more again. I'm realizing that all these friendships/playdates/playgroups have started up at JD's preschool that we are not a part of. I think my depression this past winter is to blame at least in part. I have just not made as much of an effort as I should have. I also need to make more of an effort to get Matthew friends his own age. I tried last week. I asked the mom of one of JD's classmates if we could get our younger boys together while the older ones are in school. She said no. She is too busy. Friday is the one morning they don't have an activity and she wants to use it to clean. She all ready has her son in a play group. I admit I was a little hurt. I guess I should appreciate her honesty, but it still bummed me out.

I'm just going to find the courage to keep trying with others. We were invited to join a Monday play group, but it meets the same time as Matthew's music class. He loves music and begs to go, so I guess it is a non starter.

Now, its off to get M. some lunch. Hubby is working from home, so maybe I can nap with him and Hubby can pick JD up from school.

Great Day and Good Weekend too

Wow, what a creative title. But, if I am going to record the memories of my boys' lives I can't get hung up on a fancy title or I will never write anything.

Galileo's nursery school had a benefit fundraising concert by a local kids' musician Big Jeff. I was exhausted. Up way too late making posters that I had wanted hubby to make last weekend. Also just not feeling well. Not sure if it was asthma, allergies or a cold, but just generally lousy feeling! BUT, I helped decorate the gym on Friday afternoon while keeping my 2 monsters out of trouble and then got there to do what I needed to do Saturday. All the kids and most of the adults seemed to have a great time. Big Jeff did a great job for just one guy, a guitar and a room full of kids. Best of all, we made some good money for the school. Its the first time a fundraiser like this has been done by this school. We did it fairly low key and did great! Sold 130 tix presale and almost 30 at the door. Plus made good money on the snack bar. woo hoo!!

It was a little hard on Galileo. 2 of his friends have gotten very attached to eachother and kept excluding him. One of them is a classmate that he has always had issues with off and on. The other was a classmate last year who he still plays with because his mom and I are friends. It was sad watching Galileo desperate to play with the other kids and not knowing how to help him. I suggested he go sit with another boy. He did and they had fun, but then got too rough in their dancing/playing and the other mother intervened. I probably let it go on too long, but I was thrilled to see him being so physical. Last year, having someone touch him or even wave their hand in his face made him crazy.

Afterwards, we went to an early dinner at a Mexican place that I have never tried. It was great and the boys were so well behaved. We parked right by a shoe store so we got the boys new shoes and got me a pair of sandals. I got a pair of sandals that I now hope I can return. I wore them out of the store though, so I may not be able to.

Today we got a late start, but had an excellent day. Mom is here to help out while hubby is away. I couldn't convince her to go to San Diego with us (hubby is there for a conference) so I told her we would have fun if she came here. It was a gorgeous day. 74 degrees and sunny. I was determined that we have a good outside day because it is going down to the 50's for the rest of the week. Fine temps for the boys and I, but mom will be cold outside. First, though, I knew I had to have new shoes. I have had so much foot, ankle, knee and back pain that I can barely function. No way I could do any of the day trips we want to do. So, we went to the Walking Company in the fancy schmancy mall that I never go to. Many women shop there in their furs and heels. Its just not me. The shoe store was across Versace for god's sake. Anyway, it was heaven. The woman really knew what she was doing as far as fitting and finding the right shoe for people. I came away with 3 Pairs! hubby is going to have a fit at the cost, but it was so worth it!

Galileo was hungry, so we stopped at a taco place in the mall and then ate in the car. Then, we headed up to Fosterfields Historical Farm in Morristown. We got there late so most of the demonstrations were over, but the kids did get to help gather eggs in the chicken coop. Well, I got Maestro's egg, but he came in with me and got to touch it. It was fun! We also got birthday cake in the farmhouse (it was the birthday of the woman who was one of the original owners of the farm), got to milk a pretend cow, see sheep, baby pigs, the mama pig etc. Maestro just loved running across the grass. Mom enjoyed it because it was the same era as the farm she grew up on. Most of the women volunteers were dressed the way her mother used to dress. It was very fun and low key. After the farm we drove by the "castle playground" to see if it was reopened yet. It was, so we stopped and let the kids play. They had a ball. They were cooperative at dinner and at bedtime (for the most part) even if it did take them FOREVER to fall asleep.

Maestro has said and done so many funny things this weekend and of course now I can't remember what. Galileo was quite a pistol yesterday and this AM, but he did great once we left the house. He was so patient at the shoe store while mom and I tried on and bought shoes. I wish I knew what caused the change so I could replicate it all the time. I wonder if part of it was grandma being on him as much as me. She has a hard time holding her tongue instead of correcting his behavior. I have told her she is Grandma. She just needs to spoil them and leave the correction/disciplining to me. She just doesn't seem to be able to do it though. She has calmed down some though today, so maybe it helped.

OK, need to write up my to do list for tomorrow. Then, fold some laundry and get some sleep. tomorrow I have to get a permit for the deck, figure out how to get an extension from the IRS and state, take M. to music, go to the allergist for my asthma (and admit to her I lost the instructions on how to take the prednisone), make an apt with the psychiatrist, and clean the house. I'm sure there's a few more things I forgot.

phew! can't decide if I'm tired or too jazzed up to sleep.

Tomorrow will be low key as far as outings. Galileo is in school until 1 and then I have my allergy apt at 2. Also need to go to grocery store and hope to get waxed while mom is here. Tuesday, we hope to do a day trip of some sort. Probably the natural history museum or the Aquarium. Better get to sleep or to work!

Well, my goodness, I'm not good at keeping up am I. Now its been so long, I don't know where to start.

Maestro is doing fine with the cut lip, I don't think its even going to leave a scar. I'm just bummed I missed the play date with the others.

Galileo is doing very well. I got him to an allergies before the season really hit, and I hope we have him well medicated enough that he will be able to play outside this year and not be miserable. We have spent mucho bucks on dust mite control (mattress and pillow covers) and air cleaners for the bedrooms. Hopefully they will all make a difference. At the first apt., she didn't say anything about getting rid of our animals. At the next apt., she was more sure that they are part of the problem and probably should go.

Poor guy had skin testing at that apt. He was a real trooper. I was terrified. A sensory sensitive, tactile defensive kids getting allergy tests. Part of why I didn't push when the pedi told me he was too young for an allergist. He sat on the exam table telling the doc "I'm going to do a good job!". He repeated it several times. I was very encouraging, while thinking "poor kid, you don't know whets coming". Over all, he did well. He screamed bloody murder, but he let her do the first arm without fighting. He didn't want to give her the second arm, but he did. I squeezed him really tight and he held on to me like the world was coming to an end, but he got through it. He barely even complained about the itching and he had a few huge welts. As I knew, he is allergic to tree pollen.

When the doc came back in the room, he completely turned his back on her. It was funny and a little sad. She came back to talk to me. I had asked to be seen too because my allergies have been acting up and were awful that day. I expected to get a new prescription and to promise to come back for testing after the worst of the season was over. I got 3 new prescriptions and a diagnosis of asthma. I had to get a peak flow meter to test my breathing 2x/day and was asked what I would do if the pets were a huge part of my problem. Sigh......

We went to a kids crafts meeting with the new mom's group I joined. It was great. I really liked the moms and Galileo got along great with the other boys who were there. No tantrums the whole time even though it was late afternoon on a friday and he was tired.

other cool news. We got a tent camper from freecycle. A minister in a nearby town was giving away a tent camper to the first person who could haul it away. Luckily hubby was working from home that day so we were able to go look at it. We had a hitch, but needed the ball joint to fit in it so we drove all over loooking for an auto parts store that had one. We finally found one and hubby made it back to pick up the camper. He and the man had a nice conversation since hubby is a PK (preacher's kid). Hubby is very excited. We both want to go camping with the kids, but were afraid of Maestro escaping the tent, this has a door we should be able to latch and hopefully is substantial enough that Galileo will feel safe. Its very old, but has almost new canvas. There are a couple of holes, but hubby is hopeful we can patch them. I hope we can get it cleaned up and that it is road worthy. Maybe in a month or so we can take it somewhere near by to try it out.

If it does work well, we plan to go to Raquette Lake this summer. This is one of my all time favorite places, but the cabins we wanted to stay in were all booked. I doubt we will get hubby's parents or my mom to come up and camp, but maybe my brother would join us for a couple of nights.

Ok, its late. Tomorrow is a busy day. Maestro and I are checking out a new playgroup and I need to go to the grocery store. I host book group tomorrow night and don't have any snacks.

I can tell from this post that my depression is mostly being held at bay. May that continue!