8 days till no school!

Weekend

Another competition for my daughter. On Mother's Day, of all days. R and I left town on Saturday...we were supposed to leave at around 11:30 am. But, we didn't get out of town until about 1 pm. I never leave town when I plan. Anyway. We went to the lovely city of Reno, The Biggest Little City or something like that. I think I don't like Reno. In fact, I know I don't like Reno. It is an ugly little town, and it makes me feel dirty. I don't like it. We walked down Virginia Street and I was nervous the whole time. Let's just suffice it to say, I don't have the desire to live in Reno. R competed in the Sierra Grand Resort. It's a nice casino/hotel. They are rennovating it, so it was kind of hard to get to where we needed to be. But, the area we had to compete in was great. R got a 2nd in her hard jig, which moved her up to Prizewinner. She is now Prizewinner across the board, and still striving for that darn 1st in a hard shoe. Irish dance competitions (feis) are confusing at best.
R and I got home at about 6 pm Mother's Day. I drove home feeling like my head was going to explode out of my ears! I woke up Sunday with the beginning of a sinus infection. Elevation isn't good for clogged ears, in case you didn't know. I was miserable! When we got home I was completely exhausted! My One Tru Love wanted to take us all out to dinner, so I showered, took some Tylenol, and loaded the family up for a Kalico Kitchen dinner. We had a nice dinner. The kids were good. We got home at about 8:20, and the last time I was aware of the time it was 8:36. I had to sleep.
Today continues the countdown to the end of the school year...17 more days!
My One Tru Love leaves for Las Vegas Wednesday, he should be back late Friday night. That is definitely going to make this week go fast!

Busy...Fun

What a busy, fun weekend we had. My baby M is 7 years old, as of Friday, May 4. I can't believe he's that old. I can't believe I am through having babies.
Last week was Teacher/Staff Appreciation at our school. We had such a spoiled week. We got breakfast one morning, and flowers, and goodies, and Jamba Juice, and massages and a wonderful luncheon on Friday. What a nice week. (Which reminds me I need to write a Thank you note or two!). Friday, as previously mentioned, was my youngest child's birthday. He wanted a party, but, with the luncheon and another surprise party to go to that evening, we had to postpone it. Which is fine, because it gives me two more weeks to procrastinate.
Saturday, my daughter was in the local spring parade. Which she didn't want to walk in. She complained and whined and fussed about it the whole time. She looked great out there. And, I got to see two girls from our school who are Native American, dance. I loved it. And they were so excited to dance for me.
Let's see, Cinco de Mayo! We went to a friend's bar to watch a local band perform, and that was fun. My One Tru Love wasn't feeling well, so I took him home early, and then I went back and I had a blast! It was fun, and I didn't get home until 1 am. OH, did I mention I forgot my house key? 1 am and I am opening the window trying to wake up the boys (who were having a sleepover) in the living room. It brought back those high school days memories.
Then, Sunday, Spiderman 3!!!! I loved that movie. It was fun. I took the boys and R.
Now, we're getting ready for the next relaxing (NOT) weekend. R is competing in Reno. We're leaving Saturday late morning for that and won't be back until late Sunday night. I am a little disappointed that I won't be seeing my boys on Mother's Day. I'll be with my daughter and my mom, just not my boys.
But, overall, even with all of the running around, I had a great weekend. I spent it with my kids, and I guess that is what makes it great.

Something's Bugging Me

I read tracey's blog http://tracey-justanothermommyblog.blogspot.com/2007/04/too-much-freakin-nature.html (since I don't know how to link it any other way...here it is). I had to say something about it.
I am the mother of a survivor of molestation. T was molested at age 5 one time by a neighbor boy (young teenager at the time). It was a five minute time period when he was out of my site, and an awful thing happened. Fourtunately, it wasn't as awful as it could have been. Fourtunately, I noticed that he was no longer in our backyard.

What I wanted to say, what has been bugging me since reading the comments to tracey's blog, is this...I don't feel sorry for the molestor. I don't care if he (or she) is tagged with a lifelong label. Guess what?! My family is forever changed because my son was molested.

I did the right thing, when I found out what happened. I went to the Sherriff's department, filed a report. I got counseling for my son, I went to the interview with the DA. I did all of the right things. T did all of the right things. He told the truth. To the deputy, to the DA, to his counselor. We have prayed for help in forgiving the molestor. We have done all the things that you can do when something horrible like this touches you.

We are different, because of a five minute period of time, in June 2000. We will never be the same. My son had a piece of his soul murdered. He wasn't raped (Praise the Lord), he was violated. His trust in himself and other people was taken.
The registry is just an eye opener. It is a tool. It may or may not save a child from being victimized. But, it is only a tool. I check that darn registry obsessively. I run my children's coaches, dance teachers, guitar teachers, anyone who has contact with my child...because, all it took for us was five minutes of me not knowing...I know, especially based on our experience, that it happens, no matter how careful you are. But, at least I am informed.

Seven years down the road, we still battle the monster called molestation. It has placed it's ugly stamp on my son's heart. He will constantly feel different, because of what was taken from him. But, he is a survivor. He is not a victim. He survived. He forgives daily. He forgives the molestor. He forgives me. He forgives his dad. Mostly, he forgives himself. Even though we have told him from the beginning that this wasn't his fault, he blames himself. He has to forgive himself, he has to tell himself that he is good enough. Five minutes robbed him of so much. Five minutes broke his heart into a million pieces. Pieces I and My One Tru Love are constantly trying to pick up and put back together.

My son is so much more than what happened to him. He is talented. He is tender hearted. He is a hero (Trish, we can leave that for another post). He is a big brother. He is loving. He is forgiving. He can conquer anything.

I'm tired of being told that I should feel badly for the bad choices people make. I'm tired of hearing that more money needs to be poured into rehab/counseling for offenders. I want to see real consequences. I'm a bit biased...our monster never paid. He never felt real consequences. Maybe that is something I need to let go, and forgive, and move on...but I want to see that there is a consequence for evil.

Craziness continues...

Wow, the last two weeks have been crazy around here. Our school began state testing (what fun.) two weeks ago, and I have been immersed in testing ever since. I can't wait until Thursday when testing is DONE (make ups right now!).
R competed in San Francisco nearly two weeks ago. She competed on the 22nd. She did well. She took a 1st, 3rd, and 5th. She is competing again on Mother's Day in Reno. If she gets another first she raises a level. She is really excited about that.
Friday my baby will be 7. I can't believe he's that old already. I keep forgetting he isn't a baby anymore. But, I guess he'll always be my baby. I was trying to throw together a last minute birthday party, but that fell through with the incredibly busy weekend we have in front of us. R is marching in the city parade this Saturday and I have an appreciation luncheon on Friday.
I have a confession to make...
I overloaded the washing machine Sunday night. I took the weekend off from laundry (not my most brilliant idea) and at 8 pm decided I should wash some darks...I loaded the washing machine. And, when I say I loaded it, I LOADED it. I overheated the washing machine. It shut off and wouldn't work for several hours. I got in trouble....because I hadn't washed My One Tru Love's uniforms for work yet. So, at 9:30 in the evening I was at the laundromat washing one load of uniforms. The washing machine is working fine now, and I think I learned my lesson...don't overload the washing machine.
I am doing well with my no caffeine-no soda life. I haven't had caffeine (other than the small amount in decaffeinated coffee) and no soda since April 5! Wow! Almost a month of being a caffeine free-soda free woman. I don't see much of a difference in me, other than I don't have to have a cup of coffee in order to function properly. I am trying to drink at least 64 ounces of water everyday (which means I am peeing about twice that amount!). Now, all I have to do is start to exercise. I realized that in the last 19 months I have lost 32 pounds. I am only 6 pounds off of my goal weight, I think that exercise (or I could hold out for another bout of illness) may get me where I want to be. Oh, who cares! I like how my clothes fit now...who wants to exercise?
Well, the boys have homework! I have to go be a mom!

3 things meme (Thanks Trish)

Ok, here goes,

Three people who make me laugh:
1. just another mommy blog
2. four plus four equals ten
3. something about parenting

Three things I Love:
1. My One Tru Love
2. My kids
3. Being a mom

Three things I hate:
1. laundry
2. dishes
3. staff meetings

Three things I don't understand
1. Meanness
2. math
3. according to my 12 year old boy, my 12 year old boy

Three things on my desk:
1. Computer
2. C's inhaler
3. Reader's Digest

Three things I would like to do before I die:
1. Hold my grandchildren
2. Hold my great grandchildren
3. Have enough money

Three things I am doing right now:
1. Listening to SpongeBob on TV
2. Helping my daughter figure out her ride to the movies
3. Thinking

Three things I can do:
1. Multi-task
2. Crochet
3. Solve conflict on the playground...

Three things I can't do:
1. Knit
2. Keep my house clean
3. Drive a motorcycle

Three things you should listen to:
1. Irish music, it makes you feel happy
2. Children's laughter
3. Friends

Three things you shouldn't listen to:
1. Whining
2. Tattling
3. Gossip

Three thinks I would like to learn:
1. Spanish (fluently)
2. Organization
3. I don't really know....

Three of my favorite foods:
1. Tacos
2. Chocolate anything
3. Baked Potatoes!

Three shows I watched as a kid:
1. Emergency
2. Dukes of Hazard
3. Charlie's Angels

Three regrets:
1. That I listened to my mom and took secretarial courses in college instead of nursing.
2. Not moving out of my parents house to be on my own (went from being a daughter to being a wife)
3. Can't think of another one...

I don't think I know three bloggers to tag...so....that's it!

Spring Break/Back to School

Spring Break was not the greatest for me and my boys. My daughter had the time of her life in LA being spoiled rotten my my aunt and uncle. It sounds like they had a blast. They spent two days at Disneyland, a day at the Huntington Beach Library visiting museums and art exhibits. R loved it, then they spent a day at the Tea Gardens, a day at the mall, a day at the Reagen Library, a day at Solvang, and visited the beach. She got to go visit my cousin in his assisted living home. He was glad to see her and get a breath of fresh air. We, here at home, were dealing with my grandma's illness and surgery.
Thursday I decided that the boys and I needed to get out of the house. So, we made a trip to the park. My oldest son went to the lake with my in-laws. So, C and M and I went to Caper Acres. We had a great time. I took the ripple blanket afghan I am working on for M's best friend, and crocheted while the boys played. It was a really nice day, not hot and not cold. I was feeling a little tired, so we went home and I took a nap. Overall the day was great. At about 11:30 pm I woke up not feeling so hot. I figured out in short order that I was getting a bladder infection. I have only experienced 4 of these in my lifetime. Which, in my humble opinion is 4 times too many. At any rate, I decided to drink tons of cranberry juice all night and flush it out of my system. I woke up in the morning feeling worse. I spent the entire day Friday feeling awful, but trying to convince myself that I was getting better, as I drank water constantly. T had band practice, so I took him, and then got more water and drank and drank and drank water. I went to pick up T and was feeling like I was going to die, my friend LS told me that I looked horrible, and told me that I needed to go to the dr. because it sounded like my infection was spreading to my kidneys. I am rather stubborn and I hate to take medicine of any kind. Probably because I spent the first five years of my life taking every antibiotic known to man at the time. I went home. I talked to My One Tru Love and told him I wasn't feeling well, he told me that if I needed to go to the dr. then I should. So I laid down for two hours. Then, I realized (as my hip and back were aching and my insides felt bruised and sore) that if I didn't go to the dr. then, I was going to end up in the hospital. I had been monitoring my temperature all day and had been normal. But, by the time I got to the dr. I was running a temp. I had the beginning of a kidney infection and a massive UTI. He put me on one of the big guns, gave me some Pyridium (Gosh, I love that stuff) and sent me on my way. He said that I had done a good job of trying to flush it out of my system, it just was bigger than I thought. I went home and felt like garbage for a couple more days.
I went back to work on Tuesday, still feeling a little beat up, but feeling much better than before. Now, I am officially off of antibiotics, and feeling like a normal person. I decided that since caffeine and soda can contribute to UTI's I decided to cut them out of my life. I quit coffee while I was sick, so I didn't really notice any adverse side effects. Soda isn't so hard. I found the sparkling water at Walmart again. No calories, so sugar, no sodium, but has some carbonation, I decided that could do for any soda fix I needed or wanted. I really don't want to be that sick again.
The kids are back to school and counting down the days to summer. It isn't that far away. I am looking forward to some time with all of them.
My One Tru Love and T are out in the rain shooting today, so I have C, M, R and her best friend over, while I try to get my house respectable enough for an overnight babysitter next weekend. Aaagh. What was I thinking? I have so much to do, so I am sitting here on the computer...go figure. I have laundry up the wazoo, and a messy bedroom (all my clean clothes are stacked neatly on top of my dresser). My kitchen still shows the remnants of our strawberry pancake breakfast. Oh me oh my. I have work to do. And R and her friend want to go to the movies at 2. Well, I guess I should stop talking about it, and do something about it.