Happy Wednesday......This week has been flying by.  We are always so busy. Today I work and then we are heading to church.  My SIL is joining the bible study with me. That should be fun.  I need to finish reading the assignment during my lunch break.   Tomorrow I work only part of a day and then I am heading to a friend's cabin for a girls day out.  We are having book group at the cabin.  All 10 of us are going.   I plan on going on Thursday and coming home on Saturday others are staying through Sunday.

Saturday night we have plans to go with friends to the Dweebs concert at the catholic church.   Other than that not much else planned for the weekend.   

Erik enjoyed his Birthday last night.  I can't find the cord for my camera so pictures will have to wait.   He had his favorite supper and was thrilled with his present.  We bought him a portable DVD player.   He was pretty thrilled with it, smiling ear to ear.   So each day he will be able to use it once his homework is done.  Hopefully this will be motivating to him.   He wanted a TV for in his room and this is the closest we will come to at this time.  This is easier for us to control and monitor.

Tommy has a field trip today so we have to be at school early.   He is going to the nature center to look at the fall colors and hike.   I love his school.   He is going three days a week this year and is learning so much.   It is so hard to believe next year he will be starting school.   WOW!!!   My baby is growing up too fast.   This weekend we also need to go look for a Halloween costume before things are picked over. 

 Have a great day!!

Erik is 14 today.  He has a couple of appointments this afternoon and then we will be celebrating at home.   Just a small party with just us.   He was suppose to have a movie party on Sunday, but it didn't work out as one of his closest friends was at his dads for the weekend.    So we are still going to do that, but this weekend he is at his mothers.   I pondered and pondered the perfect gift for Erik.   I found what I thought would be perfect, but it took a bit of convincing of my hubby.   Erik is going to love it!  Now to convince hubby of what I want to get Tommy next month!! LOL!!   I tend to buy larger gift for birthdays as we really down play gifts at Christmas as we want the true meaning of Christmas to be the foucs of the holiday.   Books, PJs and socks are a given every Christmas and maybe one small toy.  

So tonight we will have Crab Alfredo and have a cake to celebrate Erik's Special Day!  

A Book Just Finished....

Eye Contact - Cammie McGovern - (4.5/5)

Good Housekeeping Tip From a Friend.......

Always keep several get well cards on the mantel.....so if unexpected guests arrive, they will think you've been sick and unable to clean.

It is after 10:30 and I need to get out of the building and head home before they set the alarms for the night.  Later!!!

Where has all the time gone??  Tuesday already??  It is after 8:00pm and I am still at the office and just finally ate supper.  I will be working for a few more hours.  I didn't plan to work this late, but I had to leave work to tour two nursing homes today for my mother in law.  We found a nice one in Stillwater that she will be moving to, I think on Thursday.   I am hoping once she is situated in the new place things will be less hectic.   I am coming into the busy season for me at work.  I have already scheduled many appointments for October and will be having at least 2 home visits each day and have two court hearing in October already..   Hopefully this year the busy season will end before the holidays and we can enjoy more of the holidays.   I was suppose to go to Erik's Open House at school tonight, but just couldn't since I had to take off for the tours today.   Hubby and Erik's mom went I think.  DOn't get me wrong I am forever grateful for my job.  I have a wonderful employer that allows me great flexibility and just gave me a nice raise!   Can't complain about that!  They also just gave me a new case as the client requested a change in worker. 

Our weekend went so quickly!!   Saturday was filled with many errands.  We had to stock up on supplies at Sams and get Groceries and a few random errands.   In the evening I crawled in bed to watch a movie and hubby went to the neighbors to help with their computer.   Sunday we went to church.  It felt GREAT to be back at church.  So many of our friends came ot greet us and visit.   It is good to be missed.   We had brunch at church than came home and did things around the house.  We made a big supper and my FIL came over to enjoy the meal with us.  I made a great Herb Coated Pork Roast.  I will share the recipe soon!  YUMMY!!!

Tomorrow night is church.  A friend at church encouraged me to join Disciple and be in her small group.   I will be going to that bible study each Wednesday if Tommy will go into a class.  He did attend Sunday school for the first time this last week so maybe we are moving beyond some of his separation problems.  Though he still insists on sleeping with Mamma most nights.  

Thursday I work all day and we have a parent meeting with Erik's counselor in the evening.   Friday I need to drive to Duluth for a meeting and will be gone all day.  That will be the rest of my week.  It is sure going fast!!!  

Next week looks pretty busy as well.   I am only working Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and part of Thursday.  Our book group is going away for the weekend to a cabin up North.  SHould be fun!   There are 10 ladies going!  I think I am only staying until Saturday and then will return home early. 

Do Bad Things....or stressful things really come in threes???  I am hoping not,.....please say a prayer for me, my friends!   I just know in my heart whatever happens it is God's will.  He knows better than I what is best for me.   

Breathe....Breathe.....It has been a whirlwind of a week. 

TUESDAY - First day of school seemed to go ok for Erik.  We had a care conference in the morning at the hospital to plan my MIL's discharge to the tranisitional care center.   I then worked until about 4:00 and then went with hubby to an appointment.   We got home late and took the kids to eat at Subway.   I was exhausted. 

WEDNESDAY - Tommy had his first day of school.  I didn't get a picture...bad mommy!    After dropping him off at preschool I stopped by the hospital to see my MIL.  She was being discharged at 1:00.  I helped her pack up her belongs and get ready.  I went to work and on the way home I stopped at the Transitional Care Center (Good Samaratin) and saw my MIL.  She was still in her hospital gown so we made a list of clothes she needed and I went back to their apartment to get her things.   Then Hubby and I went to drop off her clothes and get everything unpacked for her.    Then we had to race home for confirmation orientation at church.    Hubby and I also signed up for a parenting Teens class at church.   It will run for 4 weeks only, but should be nice. 

THURSDAY -  I woke up feeling terrible, combination of PMS and sinuses!  I was sitting at my computer typing and Josh came upstairs in tears.   His grandma (my ex hubby's mother)  died, Wednesday night.   She had lung cancer and wasn't able to get strong enough to have chemo.   It was incredibly difficult to see Josh in such pain.  In addition Josh's grandfather also was hospitalized for heart problems as the death of his wife was a huge strain/stress on him.  He should be getting out of the hospital soon.  So Josh and I are heading back to South Dakota this weekend so he can be with his Dad and we will be attending the funeral.   I will probably be spending a fair amount of time in the hotel getting caught up on some work.  

I then took Tommy to daycare and then came home for a few minutes and updated the checkbook.   Then I had to take Erik to his psychiaitrist appointment.   The Dr added another medication to assist with homework concentration in the evening so hopefully that helps.    I layed down for a bit and rested.  Josh came in and woke me up.  He said..."get out of Bed, your new bed is here!"   So he put together our new Select Comfort matteress. 

After Hubby came home with Erik from another appointment we ordered pizza.    I did dishes and a bit of laundry and went to bed.  

FRIDAY - I dropped Tommy off at preschool.   I am going to stop off and see my MIL and then head to work for a couple of hours.  I will pick up my laptop and some work to do over the weekend, when in South Dakota.   Then I have to get things organized around the house as I will be out of town until late Tuesday.  Hubby will be home taking care of Erik and Tommy.  Tommy is very upset he isn't going with me, but he didn't know Josh's grandma and I really don't want him at a funeral of someone he doesn't know.   I'm off......

Have a great day!!!

Today is Erik's first day of school.  I will have to take a picture out front of him before school.   A tradition I do with each of my children.   The pictures are fun to look at as you watch your child grows up the door.    This is Erik's last year of middle school.   Next year he will be starting high school.   WOW!!  

Tommy's first day of preschool is tomorrow.    This is his third and last year of preschool.   Next year he will be starting kindergarten at the parochial school. 

YESTERDAY -

We went to the hopsital in the morning and saw my MIL.  She is doing ok.  She did have a low hemogoblin so she was getting blood when we came to visit.   I was able to talk to the case manager from the clinic on the phone and the news wasn't that great.  Medicare only pays for a very limited stay at a transitional care center after that it is private pay.    My in-laws do not have any savings and live on their limited social security.   We will have to figure this all out and what programs such as Medical Assistance could assist in paying for her rehabilitation.   I called the case manager this morning already and will try to get to the hospital when ever she will be visiting with my inlaws. 

We did go to the fair for about 2 hours.   Tommy had been cooped up in the hospital all weekend and we had talk about going to the fair the previous week.  Poor Kid.  It was so crowded that he was scared in the exhibits and would not go in them.  He did go through only one and walked around a bit.  He got one blow up toy.   A very cheap day at the fair.  He wasn't interested in any rides really either.   Maybe next year we will try again, but go during the week so there would be less people.   Tommy hopefully will do better with crowds as he gets older. 

After the Fair hubby went ot pick up Erik.   We then had supper and packed school bags.   After that we went to the hospital again to check in with Grandma before bedtime.  

TODAY

Work, work....stop at the hospital...Work, Work......I am tired already.