SHEs Organized

Just ci: before I have to go pick up dgrands at school. They both spent the night, I took them to school (two trips b/c dgd forgot her backpack the first time) and they will both spend the night again tonight. Tomorrow morning I am taking them to a story-telling event in nearby town.

So glad Mr. Dee is back with Mrs. Dee! Praying for improved health now that he is in a place where * maybe * he doesn't see so much work to do!

Kathryn, I certainly feel your pain re: carseats. I am sooo glad ours are out of them. We aren't even using the booster seats any longer, although dgd is probably still small enough for one. They told me their parents quit using them so I took ours out of the car, too.

(((Blessed))) I had a restless night too -- probably because I finished the take-out drink dgd brought home from supper -- sweet tea. I often/almost always drink diet cokes late at night, but I think tea has more caffeine, and causes more trips to the bathroom, too.

LadyM, I understand about the bazaar, too. There is LOTS of flu and RSV going around here, especially with the school kids. I'm amazed that dgd hasn't brought it home to us already.
That's interesting -- our church used to have a ladies bazaar every fall also (also Methodist church). I think we stopped having it long before Covid, though.
And tomorrow, there's some kind of "marketplace" event at the middle school, but I don't think I'll be up for that after the other event.
OTOH, I certainly need inspiration re: Christmas gifts. I seem more at loose ends this year than ever!

Blazing Saddles IS a funny movie, Twins!

Nancy, I know LadyM has mentioned buying phones online before. LadyM? Any tips?

Hope all goes well with your dh's appointment, Cathy! WTG on prep for cleaning lady!

I hope dgd has a better night tonight. When she gets tired, she becomes totally unreasonable. Her temper flares, nothing anyone says or does is right, and she completely throws a fit -- screaming, kicking, hitting, stomping, etc. Last night she got mad at dgs for some strange reason; I was never completely clear on what happened, and it was complete chaos till I got her settled down to sleep.
This morning -- TOTALLY different child.
I wish I could read the signs a bit better to realize when she is getting tired. Sometimes she is the sweetest child in the world, loving and affectionate, sooo attentive to dh if he feeling bad, thoughtful and generous... but ooohhh... other times...
"When she is good, she is very, very good; but when she is bad, she is horrid!"
I told ddil, I dread the day puberty kicks in for her.

DGS, on the other hand, is almost always on an even-keel. He gets frustrated sometimes, mostly with himself, when something he is trying to do isn't working out right, but for all his autistic traits, he is still easily adaptable. "Where do you want to eat?" "Wherever you want to is fine." He gives in to dgd probably too often, just to keep peace. He is normally happy and excited about whatever he is doing -- he has a lot of imaginary ballgames going on in his head, and he's playing ball up and down the hallway and announcing plays and scores as he goes, or he is playing a video game with imaginary political and geographic boundaries and giving constant updates on changes as they happen. He is also very affectionate and kind-hearted, and he pretty much NEVER admits to being tired. I know he was awake past midnight last night and when I turned on the light in his room, he bounced up in the bed shouting, "I've been awake a LONG time!"

I have been blowing and then raking leaves and it started to pour! at first it was pleasant but now it is a down pour!
(yesterday after the landscape company came, our neighbors trees decided it was time to release it's leaves)

waiting for the cleaning company to call me back with dates for my mom's house.
dogs played so cute in the leaves.

waving hi - time for lunch

ok I went down the rabbit hole - I am trying to think what will make the most difference. I have a tendency to plan my day and if it gets changed then my brain freezes.
3:10 my time.Telling my self to: GET TO WORK

dear Lucy hello!!!
I always loved those story telling events! have a wonderful time!!!
I had decaf iced coffee in the evening - I bet your ice tea and my ice coffee just wanted us up!
hope you get a lovely night sleep tonight
praying your d grand daughter falls asleep in a peace filled way so that she feels rested in the morning! it's so hard when they are so so tired!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAV-NWsFwkY interesting video on burn out

Lucylee, I was trying to remember the mnemonic yesterday for HALT. It's don't let yourself get too:

Hungry
Angry
Lonely
Tired

because I was just worn out yesterday after the trip to Costco (and killing extra time there) and then grocery store and then ds coming last night. My back was killing me last night.

So I'd look at dgd's behavior using those parameters? (Yes, I did feel like a kid about to throw a tantrum myself.)

HALT. It's don't let yourself get too:

Hungry
Angry
Lonely
Tired

thank you for sharing this d twins

Dh and I both love this new doctor. When dh explained about not liking to wait to actually see his doctors, this guy told us how to not have to wait for him, which included asking his secretary for the first appointment of the day or the first appointment after lunch. He also said to get to appointments 15 minutes early so we could get the blood pressure check out of the way before the actual appointment time.

We went to Costco on the way home and I did a massive shop (for us) of close to $300! That included 6 cases of "bubly" soda. Highly recommended by 2 of dh's doctors for people with diabetes.

Mobile phone chatter -
I buy all our phones from A-river at prices that are usually less than half of brick & mortar phone store. Over the years I've purchased a dozen or so smartphones and have been happy with all of them. I do my research to know which phone models will have several years of software upgrades being offered. I have done the cost analysis on purchasing phone insurance vs not having insurance. For us it has been cost effective to not pay for the monthly insurance on phones. We also don't purchase the expensive phone cases that come with lifetime guarantees. Phones can be expensive with not only the purchase cost but also the monthly cost to maintain.

Chatter about dealing with children's meltdowns, moods, urges, etc.
I have been very pleased with taking the kids to the counselor. She has taught them so much and has improved their life with very few appointments.
** DD11 meltdowns have reduced 99% using the tactics that she learned from counselor. She now has acronyms that she uses which are a plan of how to deal with overwhelming emotions. This week DD11 stood in front of her class twice and spoke which is something that she has never been able to do. DD11 was so pleased with being able to do this. She explained to me how she accomplished it by using stimming to calm herself enough to speak in front of the group.
** DS14 is learning tactics to reduce his addictive urges that he wants to quit doing. He reports to the counselor what is working and what isn't. They modify the tactics being used according to his feedback. Also, DS14 is learning to not only recognize his anxiety but ways to deal with the stress. Eventually I am hoping the counselor with do CBIT with DS14 for the Tourette tics but that is a lower priority than the skills he is learning now.
IMHO finding a counselor that can work with kids and teach them vital life skills is priceless. Sometimes there isn't any option other than medicating the child to reduce the destructive symptoms and I'm all for that if needed. I am hoping learning these life skills will enable them to overcome their challenges and reduce (or eliminatee) the need for medication.

DH and I went to a tag agency to purchase yearly tag for the pickup he drives.

Thanks LM for the phone in-put.
Today learned I am not going put big bucks for refurbished one.
Getting a phone instead of a chair for my gift.
I need to decide if this carrier is going to keep working or not first so that will take a bit.
I am hoping to get the most memory I can.

Hi. Glad to see Dee's DH made it there safely. Hope the new medicine dose works out.

I left in plenty of time to get there on new-to-me roads. I did drive up to it and noticed some ladies going in so figured I was in the right place. However, the parking was behind me on the other side a bit so I thought, ok, just go around the block and stop ahead and pull in. Somehow I got lost going around the block and traveled through the neighborhood a few times before I found it again. Shaking my head..... DH would have backed up...yes I could have done that, should have. Anyway we had a nice time. Everybody was sharing how life is after the storm. One lady has 2 rooms livable and roof damage, ceilings caving in, fence down like ours, but she and her DH are living with her cousin. Sunny might know who I'm talking about. I felt terribly sorry for her, but she has good people doing all the work inside and out and a friendly place to live.

So our damage is not so bad, our problem is our age which makes the work so much harder and slower. DH is really pushing himself as he struggles along.

After a couple hours we came away. Always look around with fresh eyes when I've been in someone's beautiful home, all decluttered and nicely decorated. Her home was beautiful.

Thanks for the link, Blessed. I've had a lot of stress with this storm cleanup. I should read that book, sound like something helpful. Emotional Exhaustion. That's me with the constantly helping DH, especially after the storm, I'm always worried he will hurt himself and I have to be there helping with a watchful eye. That's exhaustion. Even without the storm, taking care of his medical stuff, the clutter he leaves around everywhere all the time, I do get very tired of it all. Burnout, yeah I'm there often.

As usual, I couldn't sleep much last night and it's a good thing because my alarm did not go off. It was set and I was awake watching...so I must check and see what the problem is. I could have slept through the whole thing.

Got groceries on the way home and because of the lack of sleep I was so tired I couldn't hold my eyes open. I hope I sleep tonight.