Most everythings is ready and we are awaiting out guests to start arriving.   I am using my nebulizer and that means I can go on the computer while I neb!    It has been a busy morning.   I made two batches of cookies and 3 kinds of candy this morning.   Then we made 7-layer salad and meat and cheese trays.    So the food is ready.  My SIL and MIL are bringing Lasagna.   It is a joint effort of the meal.  

I still need to do a quick pick up of the toy area as it will be really trashed after tonight! 

All day long today my nephews have been calling asking for gift suggests for the boys.  LOL!!  It is so sweet now that the older nephews have jobs and stuff, they buy gifts for their cousins.  They are really sweet, kind young men!    I enjoy them very much.   Josh bought gifts for all our immediate family.    So there has been alot of secret wrapping going on.    Erik and Tommy went to the dollar store with their own money last night and picked out gifts for everyone on their lists.   Tommy bought gifts for some of Josh's friends and Santa too.  Too Funny.....I really try to teach them about giving.   Tommy and Erik both wrapped their own presents.   They really had fun with it.    Tommy even mentioned while wrapping about brining gift to baby Jesus, so he is understanding the true meaning of Christmas more and more each day.  We have read some great books this year too!   Thanks to our Advent count down. 

We had Josh's car towed to the dealership this morning.  Hopefully it won't be too expensive to get it in drivable condition.   I am not sure if we will be able to afford the needed body work right now or not.  We will see.  I told Josh he had to take it to get two estimates for the body work.   I want him to do some of this and at least learn how to do these things from this experience.  You know me always loooking for the teaching moment it every event.  Hvae to prepare them to be responsible adults. 

Josh has been a great help with getting ready for the party today.  He and Erik cleaned off the ice for Grandma to walk.  Josh made fudge with me and cut meat and cheese.   He is a great helper sometimes

Today is the last of the big parties for the holidays at our house.   We have 25-30 people coming over to celebrate Christmas.  Last night I made 4 lasagna's to freeze.  I am giving "dinner and a movie" as a gift for my single male relatives and busy moms.   I bought them a gift cert for blockbuster, micro popcorn, candy and made frozen lasangas.    I think they will like it.   The lasagna is so easy to make, in 45 minutes I have 4 ready for gifts. 

This morning I am doing a ton of baking before everyone gets up.    I am off and running!!!    Have a great day! 

Just got back from dropping off Tommy, picking up X-ray from the hospital and browsing at one of my favorite stores, Lakeshore Learning Store.   I found the gift the preschool wanted and some things for Tommy.  We are still working on homework with him in the evening when Erik does his homework.    We all have a quiet time and read, etc. 

Good morning....I am not going into work today, but have a lot to do around here.  I am going to take it at an easy pace though.  I slept in and feel pretty rested.   I still need to neb this morning.  

My allergist called yesterday and I requested to go to a pulmonolgist.  He wanted me to go to the one in the Health Partners group.   But he is way out in Brooklyn Park and I just didn't want to do that.  I saw him two years ago after I came out of intensive care.   But I have an appointment on Monday with a pulmonoligist of my choice.   Actually I found out she was one of my pulmonogists from 2 years ago when I was in the ICU.    She is very close and the Dr's at the ER said she is very good.  So today I have to go to the hospital and pick up my lung x-rays from Wednesday night's ER visit.   I go to see the pulmonologist on Monday afternoon.  I also see an ophthalmologist on Monday in the morning.   I am glad to be going to the pulmonologist so soon.   My Dr bumped me up to 40mg of predisone until I see the pulmonologist.    I hope she is able to get me off predisone!  I have been taking it for 2 years and it isn't a drug you should take long term.   I am concerned about the side effects. 

Other things I should do today is:

• pay bills/budget - DONE
  
• Menu/Shopping List and Groceries - DONE
  
• Wrap Presents for Our Christmas Party Tomorrow
  
• Go to Hospital for X-rays - DONE
  
• Go To Library and Get Erik a book -DONE
  
• Pick up Meds at CVS -DONE
  
• Lakeshore Learning for Preschool Class gift - DONE

Tommy had his Christmas Program last night.  I didn't think he would go up in front of the church, but he did.   I was very impressed.   He almost made it to the end of the program.   About 4 songs in he started crying and I went up front and told the teacher.  She talked to him and he said his tummy hurt.  He gets tummy ache like mom and Josh when he gets nervous.  So I went up front and got him.   He didn't even want to stay for the cookies and stuff afterwards.  He just wanted to go home.   So we did.   I don't ever force him to do things that make him uncomfortable.  We try them and do as much as we can.  I am impressed that he went up.  There were over 200 people there...the church was full.   Next time will be better.   Both Tommy and Josh are shy about things like that.  Erik was pretty out going when he was younger and didn't have a problem with that sort of thing. 

Tomorrow is our Family Christmas party.   I have been getting a few calls about people bringing a guest.  So I made sure I had a few extra gifts for those who show up with others.   I feel strongly that everyone should feel welcome and have a gift to open.  So I usually have a stand by stock of boxes of candy or something for those unexpected guests.    We always have an open door policy at our home.  So tomorrow we should have between 25 and 30 people over for food, fellowship and gifts!  My nieces and nephews are starting to have girlfriends and boyfriends so I have to plan for them too!  Our family is growing, growing....and growing.....I love it!    We are all close and it is such a blessing!! 

Well the previous post I saw I had typed last night, but didn't hit post.  Is that any clue about how my day went yesterday.   I made it all my appointments yesterday, which was a blessing.  On the way home I had an asthma attack while dirving.  I used my emergency albuteral and kept driving home.   I got to the turn off to the hospital, but I decded I would go home and nebulize and I would be fine.  I had already called my Dr. 

Got home used neb and wasn't getting any better.   Talk to allergy nurse and she said call 911 and get to the hospital.   I had my son call hubby to see where he was.  He was turning onto our street so he got home and took me to the hospital.  Of course if you come in the ER with respiratory distress you get right in don't stop at addmission.   They gave me some Predisone in an IV (160 mg) and the respiratory terapist saw me.  He was waiting and waiting for the pharmacy to send down a neb solution of Xopenex.  I said I brought my own meds in...could I just neb with my own xopenex??  I can't believe how long it took to get the meds to the ER.  I used my own so I could breathe! 

The ER docs recommended a pulmonologist that is suppose to be very good.  I have been on predisone for 2 years and I seem to be getting dependent on it and can't lower my dose without going into distress.   So I was only seeing an allergist to manage my asthma so I will be making an appointment with the pulmonologist.   If the ER folks say someone is a genious, that is the Dr I want to see.  I need to get my asthma under control and I don't think my current Dr can do it. 

After I got back from the hospital, my hubby had to return to work until 10:00.  Josh was at work and I was home alone with Erik and Tommy.  Erik did his homework pretty good for me, but once downstairs took advantage of the fact that I couldn't walk up and down the steps.   But I did go down when it was time to turn off lights.  He had lied about what he was doing when I called down to him earlier and I was not happy with him for taking advantage of me when I was sick.  I will let hubby deal with it. 

Off to see if I can get an appointment with the Pulmonoligst and need to check in with my allergist.  Later!

Remind me to NEVER type the words, what else could happen today ever again!   The day got increasingly worse.....I don't even want to talk about it.   I am off to bed.

Our morning excitement??   I have spent the morning getting AAA to tow my son's car out of the ditch.   Big snowfall over the night and he isn't really that use to driving in it.  They were all ok and the car isn't damaged.  But they can't get to them until at the latest 10:16, so he has a long wait.   The other kids were pick up by a parent and are on their way to school. 

Erik...midterm grades came.  Not good at all.  Removed the window in his room and couldn't put it back on and didn't tell anyone and it was left off over night/a whole day in this freezing weather!   That should help alot with the heating bill!

Tommy....still has a cough and isn't feel much better.  

Me...I have to go to work today and tomorrow.  I have 4 either IEP meetings or school visits today all over the cities.  YIKES......drive slow and carefully is my motto for the day.  My breathing is getting worse....just two days of work that MUST get done, then I can be sick if I want.

What more could happen today????  Maybe I shouldn't ask that out loud!!!

Who was it that mentioned Su Doku on their site???  Lori was it you???  Thanks!   I saw a book at the bookstore while shopping and it looked fun!   I printed a few books from online to get me started!  A new addiction???

http://krazydad.com/sudoku/

My week is moving right along.  I am not sure if that is good or not.  I still feel like I have alot to do.   Today Tommy has a in-center field trip and goes into school an hour later.  So I am home more this morning.  I didn't sleep in though since I have a few things I wanted to get done with the extra hour.  

PLANS FOR MY MORNING

• 7:30 - Do Kelly's Missions:  Clean Bathtub and Counter in Upstairs Bathroom (trying to get back to doing Flylady- fell off the wagon a bit)
  
• 8:00 - Do Dishes/ Sweep/Pick up Kitchen
  
• 8:30 - Shower/ Iron Clothes and Get Ready for Work
  
• 9:00 - Laundry - Put Away
  
• 9:30 - Get Tommy Ready to Leave

TAKE TOMMY TO PRESCHOOL AND GO TO WORK - I will need to work until about 7:30 tonight before coming home.  Oh well....plenty to do!    Last night I made my list of what must be done before the end of the year.  I have 7 more visits to make which isn't bad considering I have probably around 160 to make through out the year in addition to my other work.   I have three plans that need revisions and hopefully the four I turned in last night will be back to me without reivsions.  Wouldn't that be nice!  

Tommy still has a bad cough.  My chest is tight and I have been using my nebulizer once a day or so.  I have a machine and home and at work so I am covered. 

Gotta scoot - Chat with you later!  Have a great day! 

Hello - Well I am calling it a night and heading home.  It is about 10:00pm and I wrote all my plans and will to the revisions on the 3 I have on my desk tomorrow.   I spent a fair amount of time this evening mapping out how to get done what I need to by the end of the year and still have time with my family for the holidays.   I am on coverage next week so I can't take any days off anyway.   I plan on flexing my time alot the 27th thru the 30th, since the kids don't have school.   A real perk of my job! 

I also updated my calendar - I really need to get back to doing my Flylady Zones.....yep I see I am thinking about my News Year Resolutions already!!  It might be time to relook at last years again! 

Have a great night!