Month: February 2009

  • Today is another Day.....

    I was up at a good time this morning.  I was able to do Tommy's homework with him and review the school lunch menu with him for the month before going to school.  He never wants to eat any of the school food.  Which I suppose is good, but I hate making lunches.  I always forget and then am running around trying to throw something together in the morning. 

    I was at my office by 9:20 this morning and on time for my 10:00 meeting.  Always a good way to start the day.   My van is in the shop so I am driving a 2008 Honda Accord, which is weird.   I haven't driven a car in ages.  My van is getting it's 100,000 mile service and I hope to drive it for at least 50,000 more!!   I put alot of miles on every year, so we will see.  So far it has been the best vehicle I have ever owned. 

    Today the new staff for Erik is starting.  I hired a person to be there today and train her in my absense.  I hope it goes well.  I hope they find all the training info I put together for them yesterday. 

    Tomorrow, Erik can return to school and the staff person will be alone with him for the afternoon.   I have book group tomorrow as well so I won't be home until 10:00 or so.  I am looking forward to and wanting to avoid book group all at the same time.  I think it is the mood I am struggling with, but I would rather not be around any people at all!!  A hard thing to accomplish when you are a social worker and live in a house full of people!! 

    Friday, I am taking the day off as I volunteer in Tommy's school in the morning and than will be training Erik's staff in the afternoon.   I will be home and spend time with the family on Saturday and then return to work on Sunday.   I am so busy and under such difficult deadlines that I have to work every weekend.  I hope to take some time off in April to just relax and rejuvenate. 

    I am in between appointments and hanging out at the local library until it is time for my next meeting.  I am off to get ready to head out!!  After my meeting I have to go pick up my van and return the rental car.  Bummer.....then race hom eand make stuffed Manicotti for supper tonight and watch American Idol, my guilty pleasure.  I just love that Danny Gokey of WI and Alexis Grace of TN!!!!

    Have a great day!!!

    Jen C

  • Life Happens.....

    I know I haven't been very good about posting.  It seems once I find time to post to the blog, something new has happened and it is all old news.   So today, I am home to stay with Erik. 

    Josh, is doing well.   He continues to struggle with the reality of living in a townhome with roommates.  He is dating Amy again so we rarely see him.  Of course I struggle with that, but I seem to be getting better with it all.  He did his his taxes and was pretty upset that he owed money because I claimed him on my taxes.  I think he will handle it all, but life happens.......Josh and Amy did spend Valentine's Day with us as my parents and my aunt/uncle were here to visit.

    Erik was having a pretty good time at home and school.  He had been making pretty good progress and earning more privileges from us.  But, his impulsivity and way of thinking related to his being on the autism spectrum got the best of him and he is suspended from school for three days.   My hubby stayed home with him yesterday and I am home with him today.   We were really struggling to figure out what to do on Wednesday as we both had things we couldn't get out of at work.   Erik's bio mom and stepdad didn't seem to be able to help out either, so my wonderful BIL, Steve took the day off of work to stay home with Erik.   It really has been a win-win situation having my hubby's brother living with us.   It is good for all of us financially and just with assistance with the kids, etc.   I always get so scared when it is shown again that Erik isn't always able to problem solve appropriately.   I wish for him to have more independence, but I want to keep him safe.  Unfortunately, frequently I am only trying to protect him for himself as well as others that try to take advantage of him.   

    We were very sad to say good-bye to Erik's PCA.   She took a full time job elsewhere since she is expecting a baby in July.   We are without staff at this time.  We had two people we were planning on hiring, but one we decided against hiring and the other we are waiting to be cleared to worked in our home.    

    But life happens........  God brought Erik into my life for a reason, so we continue to work on making progress. 

    Tommy has had a bit of an attitude lately.   He has been pushing his independence and not wanting to listen, even with me.   He continues to take piano lessons and is attending Mad Science classes after school weekly.  This Sunday was Magnuson Sunday at our church.  The children of the school sang at each service and the older children did the scripture readings. 

    Hubby is good and has been wonderful about helping with things around the house.  He seems to be under alot of stress due to work.   We haven't been able to go out or spend anytime alone, but we always have wonderful family time. 

    Jen C, well I am really good.  I am blessed to have a job I love, a family to care for and a hubby who I love very much.   As always I have am very busy and overbooked.  I always vow not to do that, but life happens......

    February is a very busy month at work for me.  It is actually very crazy!!  I am working about 45 - 50 hours a week.   I have been going in on the weekends for the last two anyways.  I am sure I will again this weekend as well.   It is budget season and we are getting close to our deadline and I have alot to do yet!!     I was sick the weekend of Feb 6th.  I actually started getting sick on my way home from Rochester for work.    So that weekend was a bust.  I had to call in to say I wouldn't be able to volunteer at Tommy's school on Friday, but I did manage to interview possible staff for Erik even though I was sick.  

    The next weekend my parents and godparents came for the weekend.  It was a very nice visit.   We had a holiday the following Monday, but I went into work anyways.   This last weekend was Magnuson Sunday so I helped with the kids from 8:30 until about 10:00 and then worked the scrip table until 11:30.   After that I stopped at home and headed to the office to make up time so I could be home today with Erik.  

    Last night I stopped in at book club at church.  They were going to be discussing Three Cups of Tea.  I am currently reading the book so I thought it might be interesting.  The club only had 3 other members there.  The author's mother will be coming to talk to a group of women at church in April so I will try and go to that, but I don't think this book club is for me. 

    Today - I am home and I hope to work on the computer most of the day.  I am lucky in that I can work from home.  I plan on writing a few budgets to be turned in tomorrow and hopefully do some laundry, though secretly all I want to do it curl up in bed and read!!   We dropped my van off to be services this morning.   I am having all the belt changed including the timing belt so it will be very expensive.  Later this afternoon we have Tommy's school conference as well.   

    Well that is how life has been happening around our house......

    Hope all is well with you and your family!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

    Jen C

  • library loot

    SATURDAY - 2/21/09

    I was so excited when I got to the library today!!  I had so many books all come in at once, which is good and bad!!   It did feel like it was my birthday.  I could not wait to get home and spend time with my gifts!!!!

    From Last Weeks Loot - I finished, Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah - (3/5)  - I was annoyed by the character Tully.  The book took a bit to finish as it was a bit drawn out in the middle.  

    firefly

    From Publishers Weekly
    Hannah (On Mystic Lake) goes a little too far into Lifetime movie territory in her latest, an epic exploration of the complicated terrain between best friends—one who chooses marriage and motherhood while the other opts for career and celebrity. The adventures of poor, ambitious Tully Hart and middle-class romantic Kate Mularkey begin in the 1970s, but don't really get moving until about halfway into the book, when Tully, who claws her way to the heights of broadcast journalism, discovers it's lonely at the top, and Katie, a stay-at-home Seattle housewife, forgets what it's like to be a rebellious teen. What holds the overlong narrative together is the appealing nature of Tully and Katie's devotion to one another even as they are repeatedly tested by jealousy and ambition. Katie's husband, Johnny, is smitten with Tully, and Tully, who is abandoned by her own booze-and-drug-addled mother, relishes the adoration from Katie's daughter, Marah. Hannah takes the easy way out with an over-the-top tear-jerker ending, though her upbeat message of the power of friendship and family will, for some readers, trump even the most contrived plot twists.

    This Weeks Library Loot - 2/14/09

    year of wonders trail of crumbs father's affairempress

    1)   Year of Wonders - Geraldine Brooks

    2)   Trail of Crumbs - Kim Sunee

    3)   A Father's Affair - Karel Van Loon

    4)   The Empress of Weehawken - Irene Dische

       other side of the bridgegolden grovebirth houseKindness of Str

    5)   The Other Side of the Bridge - Mary Lawson

    6)   Goldengrove - Francine Prose

    7)   The Birth House - Ami McKay

    8)   The Kindness of Strangers - Katrina Kittle

    To see what other bloggers are reading, stop by the weekly Library Loot Event hosted by Eva at The Striped Armchair. 

    Currently Reading...........

    Barefoot - Elin Hilderbrand

    Three Cups of Tea - Greg Mortenson (audible.com)

     

  • HomeBasedMom has some great recipes........

    http://www.yourhomebasedmom.com/

  • Updated Reading Totals.....

    I forgot to update this at the end of the year......but since I was reading again I thought I would see how I did last year.  You can tell that my work has been getting increasingly more stressful, which is shown in the steady decrease in my reading.

    I sure hope that 2009 shows a decrease in stress and an increase in books read!!!

    Jen's Books Read Totals

    Books Read in 2002 -  12

    Books Read in 2003 -  30

    Books Read in 2004 -  20

    Books Read in 2005 -  47

    Books Read in 2006 -  30

    Books Read in 2007 -  35

    Books Read in 2008 -  30 

    Books Read in 2009 -        

     

    Total Since 2002 - 204 books

  • library loot

    Saturday - 2/14/09

    This weekend my hubby went to the library without me.   He picked up my reserves for me!!   What a guy......

    From Last Weeks Library Loot -  I finished, The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry - which I really enjoyed.   (4.5/5)

    From Publishers Weekly
    Starred Review. In Barry's captivating debut, Towner Whitney, a dazed young woman descended from a long line of mind readers and fortune tellers, has survived numerous traumas and returned to her hometown of Salem, Mass., to recover. Any tranquility in her life is short-lived when her beloved great-aunt Eva drowns under circumstances suggesting foul play. Towner's suspicions are taken with a grain of salt given her history of hallucinatory visions and self-harm. The mystery enmeshes local cop John Rafferty, who had left the pressures of big city police work for a quieter life in Salem and now finds himself falling for the enigmatic Towner as he mourns Eva and delves into the history of the eccentric Whitney clan. Barry excels at capturing the feel of smalltown life, and balances action with close looks at the characters' inner worlds. Her pacing and use of different perspectives show tremendous skill and will keep readers captivated all the way through.

    This Weeks Library Loot - 2/14/09

    100_2097

    1. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Mary AnnShaffer and Anne Barrows

    2.   Mercy Among Children - David Adams Richards 

    3.  Barefoot - Elin Hilderbrand - **I have started this on and am enjoying it so far!

    It sure is nice to be reading again after a bit of a slump in my desire to read.   To get inspired and see what others are reading, stop by the weekly Library Loot Event hosted by Eva at The Striped Armchair. 

    Finish Reading........

    The Shack - William P. Young - (4.5/5)

    Moloka'i - Alan Brennert - (4.5/5)

    Lace Reader - Brunonia Barry - (4.5/5)

    Have really been reading some good book lately.

     

    Currently Reading....................................

    Barefoot - Elin Hilderbrand

    Firefly Lane - Kristin Hannah

  •  orgjunkiempm1

    Saturday - 14th - Pasta (frozen) - Ceasar Salad - Garlic Bread

    Sunday -  15th - French Dip Sandwiches and Onion Rings

    Monday - 16th - Breakfast - French Toast/Scrambled Eggs/ Bacon

    Tuesday - MPTP - Chicken Salad CrossiantsGarbanzp Bean Salad

    Wednesday - 18th - French Bread Pizza

    Thursday - 19th -Working Late- Seafood Alfredo

    Friday - 20th - Chilli Dogs/ Chips (Rachel Rae)

    Saturday - Roasted Chicken/ Onion Roast Potatoes

    Sun 22nd - Chicken Parmesan over Angel Hair Pasta

    Mon - 23rd - Beef Enchiladas - Chips/ Cheese Sauce

    Tues - 24th - French Toast/ Scrambled Eggs/ Sausage

    Wed - 25th  - Manicotta with Cheese

    Thursday - 26th - Easy Chicken and Rice

    Friday - 27th- Hamburgers / Fries

    Sat 28 -  Meatloaf/Mashed Potatoes/ Veggie

    Sun 29th - Steak/ Baked Pots/ Veggie

     

     

  • My Day......

    Seems my day has changed.  I had hoped to get to work and get some things done.  Instead I am still in my PJ's and caring for Tommy.  He is home feeling ill today.   He is complaining of a tummy ache.  We have all been sick so I am not surprised.  So my plans for today have changed.   Hubby will be home around noon so I can go to work.

    100_2091

    I have supper ready for hubby to cook tonight while I am working.  I have a pan of beef enchiladas in the fridge ready to go into the oven.  They can have chips and cheesy salsa with it as well.   I don't feel nearly as guilty working late if I have a meal ready for the family in my absence. 

    100_2093

    I am off to cuddle on the couch with my little man.  He is feeling a little warm as well and says he is dizzy. 

    Enjoy your day!!

    Jen C

  • Library Loot: 2/7/09

    library loot

    I found a great weekly memo co-hosted by Alessandra of Out of the Blue and Eve from A Striped Armchair.  This meme encourages bloggers to share the books they have checkout from the library.  Our family goes to the library every Saturday.   This week I was sick, but hubby went to the library for me.  Below is what I currently have checked out from our local library!!

    100_2090

    Audio Books:  The Lace Reader - Brunonia Barry
    All He Ever Wanted -Anita Shreve
    Three Cups of Tea - Mortenson

    Books:  What Can I Bring Cookbook?
    Desperation Dinners! - Mills & Ross
    Desperation Enertaining - Mills & Ross
    Cheat. Fast. Good! - Mills & Ross
    Guide to Minnesota Vegetable Gardening
    A Minnesota Gardener's Companion -