Our Last 2 Weeks....

This spring, Claudia has developed a bad case of seasonal (we hope) allergies and asthma. She's been on an inhaler, one antibiotic and one steroid and now another inhaler. The week after she finished the antibiotic, she was still coughing so I called the doctor's office again and was told to take her in for a chest x-ray. She had bronchitis. Poor kid. Now she is back on the second inhaler, not coughing, but her nose if running like a leaky faucet.

William's been healthy. Yay! He is learning to ride a 2 wheeler. He's doing pretty good with cruising, but turns are an issue. The neighbor's hostas have taken a beating.

William (and parents) had Kindergarten Round Up last week. We went to his school, listened to the principal, teacher, nurse and PTO president speak about the school and then filled out 10,000 forms. William got to visit his classroom (there's only one kindergarten) and tour the school. He was really excited, especially when he found out that his friends, Zeke and Thomas will be in his class next fall.

We've been going on preschool field trips the last 2 weeks. William went to the nursery and planted a firecracker sunflower. This week he went to the bus barn and rode the big yellow school bus. This was lots of fun for him. Too bad he's going to be a walker for the next 9 years!

Today Claudia's class went to the library. She had a great time until she found out that she was not permitted to check out books during the field trip because "not all her classmates had Valpo library cards and therefore could not check out books". She thought the rule was wrong and protested with a growl. As if we aren't at the library regularly anyway.....

Both kids are still taking swim lessons twice a week. Both of them (especially Claud) have developed a mean backstroke. They can swim the length of the pool in record time (both follow in their cousin, Jordan's, footsteps). They are still working on the front crawl and sidestroke. Both love their swim lessons. Me too. After class, I shower them and then drop them off at the childcare room so that I can work out by MYSELF. I found the afternoon is the best time to hit the gym because there are only a few people there and I don't have to worry about running into anyone except for the young muscular guys who regularly hit the weight room.... makes the hour pass just a little bit faster.

Last week I had a locksmith here to replace a few locks. We needed a new cylinder on our back door and 2 new deadbolts on the 2 front doors. The guy showed up and started working. I noticed his fly was down and wasn't sure if I should say anything. I didn't, but was kind of creeped out. He must of noticed himself because he eventually locked up his own goods. What a relief! Anyhow... now I am the proud owner of 3 new locks and 6 new keys... one of which immediately went to my neighbor, Jeff, for safekeeping. If it wasn't for Jeff and my extra house key, I would spend a lot of time sitting on the back deck waiting for Brian to get home.

Next week Brian will be flying (via corporate jet) somewhere on the east coast (can't remember)for a meeting, staying at a lovely hotel, sleeping all night and eating yummy food with ADULTS. Hmmmm..... no jealousy coming from me.

The week after that, he will be traveling to Bloomington, IN for his final week of leadership development classes that he has been taking since January. Unfortunately, this is also the last week of preschool which means he will be missing Claudia's special play day and William's graduation. The kids are going to be crushed.

Lastly, Claudia informed me today that she wants to plant a guacamole tree in the yard. Sounds like a good idea to me.... as long as she also plants a chip tree and a margarita tree next to her guacamole tree. That would make for a tasty, carefree summer.

And then there's my joke of the day.... I was discussing laundry with Claudia's preschool teacher, telling her how much I hate carrying laundry up 2 flights of stairs. She said I needed a dumbwaiter. I told her I already had one and pointed to Brian. Ha! I crack myself up!!!

Oh, one more thing. I received my EOB from my insurance company. So far I owe the Mayo Clinic $2800.... and all they gave me was a pair of ugly hospital socks!

To My Neighbors....

Dear Neighbors,

Hmm.... Where to start...

You're a Buttmunch!

Since you brought it to my attention that you do not like my dogs and their barking, I believe that it is my turn to let you know what really irks me.

First, there's your teen son. He's an idiot. He is not perfect as you like to believe. The underage drinking parties (yes, there has been more than one) are getting annoying. Cops shining flood lights in my windows in the middle of the night is not cool. And running from the cops from his own home.... not too smart. Lucky for him that you have enough pull in our town to keep his name out of the paper. I bet the other parents weren't too happy when they read their kids' names in the Police Blotter minus your son's.

Also, he drives like Helen Keller ON CRACK. That "special" finger our neighbor gave him for almost crashing into his car on the corner is nothing compared to what I like to do to him. He floors the car every time he pulls out of the driveway, never looking for walkers, pets or other cars. He only turns onto the street at high speed and on two wheels. Perhaps it's time for a repeat driver's education class?!

That little landscaping business he's running is just peachy. He must be making enough money to buy all that beer for his buddies. But, that trailer he parks on the street.... It's an eyesore. Can't you store it with your other numerous cars?

Then there's your daughter. She is very popular. Did you know that when you go out of town, she likes to host sleepovers? Yup, as in overnight guests of the opposite sex. Funny... just when I start to recognize one guest groggily walking to his car in the morning, a new one shows up the next day. She definitely gives new meaning to community service.

Lastly, your home is ugly. I am not impressed that you have completely remodled, added on and put in $500,000 of marble. It's still ugly. You're landscaping sucks too. Ground cover on the parkway? Really? Did you think it would actually grow? And because of your addition, you chose to give up your backyard. It's not my fault that Snoopy's barking is amplified by your large brick driveway and the L-shape of your home. Bad call on your part. Brick does not absorb sound and the L-shape traps noise. Duh.

In regard to my dogs, yes, they do bark. They're dogs. They're terriers. It happens. Although it is generous of you to offer to purchase shock collars for my pets, it is not necessary. The older dog was abused by her previous owner. Shocking her for barking is equivalent to kicking her. Perhaps every time she barks, you can run across the street and kick her. It'll save you some money.

And I am so relieved that you stated that you are not irritated by my children, even though they make more noise than the dogs. I was afraid that you would offer to buy shock collars for them too.

Your comment about people walking down our street to visit with our dogs "because everyone thinks they are so cute" is true. People like our dogs. Our dogs only bark at people they don't like. Hmmm....

So... screw you neighbor. Your threats don't scare me. I don't care that you are one of our town's elite, that you are a member of every committee and board in town and I don't care how many generations of your family has lived here. You still suck and your threats are falling on deaf ears. My dogs will continue to bark. They will go outside. They won't be shocked for doing what dogs do. And that case of wine I sarcastically offered to send you to "take the edge off", you're certainly not getting it!

Your Neighbor

Feeling Better

We're finally on the mend.

I took both the kids to the doctor last Tuesday. William had fluid in his ear and some "icky" sinuses. He was put on Claritin and antibiotics. Claudia was wheezing and put on an inhaler 4 times a day, Claritin and antibiotics. She seems to be feeling better, but still coughing. I also took myself to the doctor and was put on antibiotics and Zyrtec D.

Today, an Itemized Statement of Charges from the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida (due to my emergency visit...that's a story for the near future) arrived in the mail totalling $6649.00. They haven't filed with my insurance yet, but even after they do, we still have to pay our $3000 deductible before anything is covered. There goes any future travel for this year.

Off to swim class.....

Home

We're back home from our wonderful (minus my emergency visit to Mayo Clinic) trip to Florida.

Unfortunately, everyone has been sick with coughs and colds. I have not slept more than a few hours a night for the last 3 weeks due to the cough and my brain has turned to mush. And, because that is not enough to make a person crazy, Brian is out of town for the week and I get to play "single parent".

Hopefully I will find time to post some pictures from our trip soon.

Ta-Ta For Now!