673 + 569 Weeks

I have no photos from this week.  I think it is because as the kids get older, they are spending less and less time with us doing photo-worthy activities, which is sad, but also part of life I guess.  On Friday of last week Jeffrey was busy, so for our family time I took the kids to a cafe.  I definitely chose the wrong cafe as far as noise (it was way too noisy!), but the kids and I had a lovely time.  We took our conversation starter cards, and they prompted some very interesting and fun discussions.

So, a few things happened this week.  We quit Taekwon Do.  I didn't want to, and I'm hoping in the future we can pick it up again.  My hip is still sore (I'm going to the doctor tomorrow and getting an X-ray), and I'm done with the stress of getting out the door early on Tuesdays, fighting with Arley about participating, and Carmie's health isn't where it should be and it's hard for her to join in... so until we are better on all three fronts, there's no more martial arts for us :(

I have started doing more for myself lately.  I am trying my best to get a bit of down time every day, and last night I went to a life drawing session.  They are held weekly about 10 minutes away, and I am going to try to go every week.  I fed Arley early and had Carmie get herself a frozen pizza, as Jeff had evening lessons, and I figure if I can make it work once, I can make it work all the time.  It was a really good night, although my drawing skills need a lot of improvement!  It was really nice to be around creatives again.

I don't have much more to say.  The kids have both had behaviour therapy this week, and both had really good sessions with Clint at Chambers Island.  I went to the mall with Mum on Tuesday, which was really nice, just me and her.  Things have been pretty chill, which is always a plus!

672 + 568 Weeks

It has been a bit of a crap week, at least for Carmie.  I mentioned last week that Carmie was sick on Thursday.  She was so sick, all the way through to Saturday morning.  She could not keep a thing down, not even water from ice chips.  It was awful.  She slept with me while Jeff slept in her bed. She's already so skinny, and she got hit hard.  If it had kept going I was going to take her to the hospital on Saturday, but she woke up and was able to keep some custard down, and then she got progressively better as the day went on.  I lost count of how many times she threw up.  Thank God she improved, and she's been feeling much better since then.

Luckily no one else in the family got sick.  On Friday morning while I was caring for Carmie, Jeff took Arley to the aquarium.  Arley loves it there.  They had some father-son time, and came back all smiles.  We haven't done much else though.  Carmie was too weak, and I have bursitis in my hip, so I'm trying to rest as much as possible.  We didn't go to Taekwon Do on Tuesday, or up to Lolo and Dida's.  The kids have done all their therapies and social groups though.  

I have been busy doing the yearly registration reports for the kids' homeschooling.  I have to provide work samples and write a year in review, as well as an education plan for next year, for each kid.  It is rotten work and I hate it.  Carmie has been madly catching up on her writing so I can give a sample for Language Arts.  And getting Arley to do the required homework was absolute hell!  I will be so glad when I hand the reports in!

I have not much else to say except that I cannot wait for this week to be over!

Sweet Carmie when she finally was able to get out of bed and eat some custard

Father-son aquarium fun 

670, 671 + 566, 567 Weeks

I skipped writing the blog last week because I ran out of time, and now I'm so frazzled I can barely think straight.  Carmie has been sick for most of the day and she's just thrown up for the third time.  She is very pale and shaky and can't keep food or drink down.  I've had Chayse here this afternoon because I help him with his homeschooling every Thursday.  Arley has been quite a match for my patience today as well, and we had a behaviour therapist here for half the morning.  We are working on making some behaviour changes in our household, with the culmination (hopefully) being less screen time for the kids, and more independence as well as productivity, and hopefully happiness for all of us.  These won't be fast changes but we are in it for the long haul.

It was Mother's Day on Sunday.  Mum and I decided to boycott Mother's Day, as we realised that it was too much mental load for us when all we really want is no mental load!  We decided no special lunches or morning teas or anything.  Jeff cooked me breakfast and I had a nice day, except for the morning when Arley lost the plot for an hour or so.  Poor bugger, it was pretty awful for both of us.  But once that was done, my day was quite relaxing and pleasant.  

I'm trying to think what else has been going on over the last two weeks.  We have had plenty of therapy appointments.  Arley's behaviour therapist came over at 8:30am yesterday to watch how things go down in the mornings.  I'm sure it was enlightening for him.  Ha ha.  Arley refused to do Taekwon Do last week, but we got him there this week and he kicked butt.  Clint took him fishing for a little while on Wednesday and they caught five fish (thank God!).  Carmie started a new social group on Wednesday afternoons, and she loves it.  Basically some teens getting together and playing board games.  D&D is still her favourite though.

I've been quite arty over the last two weeks.  One day I went to Brisbane to go to the Affordable Art Fair.  My friend Kate was exhibiting, and I wanted to go down to see her, and see the work on display, because I think I'm going to exhibit there with her next year.  This past Saturday I went to a painting workshop and that was really great.  I learnt new techniques and had some quality me time.  And I also finished the painting I have been working on.  All of the kids' therapists have been talking to me (for years) about getting in some time for myself so that I don't suffer burn out, and I'm finally able to do that sometimes, and I realise how much I need it!  I am also getting up early every morning and spending an hour having a cup of tea and getting set up for the day, and it is doing so much for my mental health.

I'm sure there are a million things that I have forgotten to mention, but so be it.  I don't have any photos of the kids either!

Kate and I

Magnolia still life from the workshop

My new still life :)

669 + 565 Weeks

I'm trying to think if I have any news for this week, and I'm not so sure that I do.  Nothing major, anyway.  We had our family time on Friday morning - it was another hit, despite the rain.  We stayed indoors and played games, and remarkably there was no fighting!  We had a chill weekend, and I got a bit of painting done.  We had Taekwon Do on Tuesday, and somehow Arley got sick in the car on the way up, so he was unable to participate (and make amends for his terrible lesson of the week before!).  Carmie and I, on the other hand, had a really good lesson.  Then we went up to Mum's for some Lolo and Dida time.  On Tuesday night Arley had insomnia and woke us all up screaming the house down at 2am.  For some reason he was too scared to get out of bed.  That made Wednesday a bit of a mess for the two of us because we were both sleep deprived.  He did really well though - he went to Caloundra and had his session with Sprinkle, and then I had to take him for a dental appointment.  His teeth are looking SO good.  I can't believe the difference.  He still has quite a way to go though, as his back teeth don't meet up properly (they never did), so he doesn't chew well.  His teeth should all be done by the end of July, so it's not long now.  Carmie had her behaviour specialist come over this morning (Carmie loves her, you should hear their quirky conversations), and then she had a D&D session this afternoon.  She came back all smiles, so happy.  So, no big dramas this week, which is really nice.  We've been spending more time with the kids.  Carmie and I baked a cake together, and Arley likes to lie in bed with me and read.  I hope this continues!

Family game time

Carmie’s Battenberg cake :)