Plum Crazy Millers...where purple, passion and peace reside.

I actually came home from J-man's soccer game to day to NO MESSAGES on my phone. Blissfully quiet around here... I'm freezing my a$$ off...but it's quiet. Last night was a huge success funwise...maybe not so much moneywise...but all went very smoothly. My lovely friend Lisa from Design-a-Blog has been busily designing some festive skins for me this week while all my craziness is happening so check them out!! My winter one has put me in the mood to go shopping!! Hmmmmm....wonder why?

School is fabulous. If I can figure out how to post a short movie from my camera you can see me acting in our short skit of The Scarecrow's Hat. I was the Badger (hick from Alabama)...I have no idea what came over me but I fell into this southern drawl-shaky-witchlike voice thing. Whatever, the kids laughed...me too ;0)

I have to get my scanner working to post some more Key West pictures from Fantasy Fest and my honeymoon. I haven't forgotten...just a little late.

It's good to be back! Til tomorrow then!
Peace.

Ever notice how any emotion can be defined by "choking"? When you're sad, you get "choked up", when you're scared it feels as if someone is "choking you", when you're angry you want to "choke someone". When you're excited or happy ...well okay, maybe no choking issues there but you get the picture. Everyone here in the past week, EXCEPT me, has been choking in some fashion. The Hubs had strep and was choking on flem, J-man had an -itis of some sort, not really bronchitis or tonsilitis but coughing -itis nonethe less. He was home from church and school last Sunday and Monday coughing like a seal and a low grade fever. None of the over the counter meds worked so we headed to the Pediatrician. The doctor gave him a steroid for swollen bronchials and a cough expectorant with codeine to help him sleep!! Yay! Then....

J-man #2 started with a spiked fever on Wed and we ended up in Urgent Care at 7 p.m that night with his tonsils so swollen and fever so high they told us to sleep with him in case he stopped breathing and to call 911 if that happened. Thanks!!! It turned out to be the same virus as his brother but he had the infection. Still no idea what it was just that his throat was almost completely blocked and he could barely breathe.

We are all fine now. On the road to recovery and my stress level will come waaaay down after next Friday's Halloween Festival. We've already brought in over $5000 in raffle ticket and candle sales and we haven't even had the Festival yet! My head is swimming with things I need to keep up on, but still managing to stay sane. I just can't wait to have my life back!

Hoping to have some time tomorrow to visit everyone. Our 11th anniversary is today so I will hopefully have some time to write about our meeting, wedding and honeymoon. We spent it at Fantasy Fest in Key West which has been cancelled this year until Wilma passes through. Our friends down there are locals and staying weather the storm...so please keep them in your prayers. Thanks! Peace.

my stress was for not. I am embarrassed to say, that I was a victim of hearsay. I finally decided to stop listening to all the gossip and go straight to the horses mouth. I asked the principal what the meeting was about today. She told me these two women were coming to talk to her about and afterschool program!! Not boycotting the fundraisers! AAACCKK!

I was so embarrassed and felt really stupid. I apologized to the Principal and called the parent in question. I should've trusted my gut about her, she was mortified when I told her what had happened. In the beginning of the conversation she was telling me how many people including herself, threw all of the most recent forms and letters straight into the trash can...by the end of the conversation I had her heading up the Spring Fling at the end of THIS year to raise money for the beginning of next year and new playground equipment!!!

This was the same woman who said she was going to tell everyone not to come to the Halloween Festival because it sucked so bad last year,( it didn't, but that's beside the point) and she ended our conversation saying this year's festival would be a great hit, she'd donate time and bake sale items and whatever else she could do to help!

It's done thank God!

~~~~~~~
No Angie I don't dislike you because you don't like the PTO. If I had to do it again..I wouldn't get involved either!! It's not an easy job and I don't envy anyone this position. If anyone has a good idea on how to get every single parent to donate $20- $50 to the school. Let me know!! I want to know why the county didn't budget for a new playground, flagpole and updated library for the school as well. We were K-1 and are turning K-5. A lot of our teachers are switching grade levels and no one knows the exact occupancy date of our newly renovated school. In the meantime..our principal is not focusing on this year..she's leary of spending any money in order to save it for next year. Well what about the kids that are here now? We have $ I'm spending it on the kids. That's what all this crap was about in the first place!!

I'm not taking anything else personally. You all gave me some excellent advice. Thanks I will take it to heart.

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It's been raining for over a week now. Do people hibernate? I can't seem to wake up!

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I just realized it's Thursday..I'm supposed to do my Thursday 13. Oh well, maybe next week!

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just don't piss me off!! I'm a very patient person. I will do anything you "ask" me to ...but "tell" me and my defenses go up. Pick a fight and I will win...not without a lot of tears and blood shed first though.

Did I mention I'm PTO President this year? Yeah, well, it never ceases to amaze me the lengths people will go to to prove their way is the right way or the best way or the only way.

For those of you who may not know. PTO stands for Parent-Teacher-Organization. We have a board of 9 people and two teacher representatives. Myself and the V.P are the only two members left from last year's board. NO ONE...not a single solitary person from last years group of parents offered to join the board this year. All our new members are Kindergarden parents. (our particular elementary school is only K-1..but that's another story). We sent out nomination sheets last year and 2 out of 220 came back. The V.P and I were those two people. So...anyone and everyone who wanted to change, bitch, support...yada...yada...yada this fine group of people, had every opportunity to do so. Did they? Nope.

Not until recently. Two parents showed up at our meeting last Monday night and brought down the house. Where is our money going? Why are we buying little candy crap for teachers when they need classroom supplies, who needs spirit wear, why are you buying things for the library when they should get that stuff from the county. They called me at 7:30 yesterday morning (holiday for me btw) to ask for a "prospectus of last years expenditures"' You wanna whosie whatis from huh?

Okay, first off. I don't do well when I can't answer things knowledgeably. Second, I was IMMEDIATELY put on the defensive which put me into a highly emotional state and fuzzed my brain so I couldn't think. I don't know the answers to half these questions and wait...everything we are doing is supposed to be helping our teachers and kids not pissing people off right.? And third, why me? It's only freakin' October this is our FIRST meeting that parents were invited to!!

Basically they want a breakdown of what we made last year, where we made it and what we spent it on. They want to boycott all fundraisers. Huh? And we are supposed to make money how?

My head is spinning...I can't help but take this personally because I'm the one leading the pack so to speak. BUT had ANYONE called me about ANY of this? No. I'm hearing this from people who care about me and are concerned that I'm going to be buried alive by this woman. She's meeting with the principal on Thursday.

As far as I'm concerned, until I hear from the principal herself, it's not my deal. I just need to find a way to become emotionally unattached. Knowing me I'll either start to scream and cry or say something really bitchy, sarcastic and mean. Both of which are not good things.

Part of me just wants to offer up the job and say "Here, if you think you can do a better job, have at it."

But you know something? I don't really think she can, nor does she want to. I have not yet heard of a single thing that might be a solution to our problem of 3 fundraisers in October.

And for those of you who want to jump on me about that...let me explain. We do all our fundraisers, except for one in the Fall, so we have all our $ up front to fund the programs and field trips for our kids. The county pays for one a year...that's it. We do a candle fundraiser where we make $2.25 on every one we sell..they are $7 a piece. We do a notecard fundraiser that comes out early so that families can have them to use as Christmas cards or gifts. Your child draws a picture on a card and they are sent away to be printed. Your end result is a set of cards with your kids artwork on them. Great gift idea. And finally this Halloween Festival, in which we have vendors, a Haunted House, a silent auction, a live auction, dinner, a concert, games and prizes. Tickets are $4 a piece, max $12 for a family. Bake sale items are for sale as well as food. Everything else is included in the price of the ticket. That's it.

We need a lot of volunteers and donations. Local businesses donate items and $ as well. It's a lot of fun and we make a ton of $.

That's it. Done until May. ALL STRICTLY VOLUNTARY!!! You don't have to buy a damn thing! You could also just write a check for a particular amount and be done!

If I thought people would write us a check for $50 and be done for the year that would be fantastic. We wouldn't have to do fundraising or all of this work. But that will never happen. I am so open to new ideas, but no one wants to be supportive at this point they just want to tear it all down. They want it THEIR way without any of the work that goes along with it.

I know this is just one parent out of many, but this is a small town and even though we're a board of many. I'm in charge and it's me they will blame when things go wrong. I just don't know what to do. I know I can't make everyone happy, but it pisses me off that one can get to me like this. I guess I'll just have to wait and see.

Thanks to all of you friends that have virtually and realistically listened to my rants. Your advice is taken to heart and I will do my best not to let you down.
Peace.

I'm an optimist so I'll start with the bad news first.

Bad News: My friend Scott's mom lost her battle with cancer this weekend.
Good News: She's finally at peace.

Bad News: My car failed inspection
Good News: I'm getting new brakes.

Bad News: The Halloween Festival is only 2 weeks away and I'm hyperventilating.
Good News: I found someone to do our Haunted House!

Bad News: We spent 4 hours in Urgent Care this weekend because my hubs had a 103 fever
Good News: He has strep throat and was able to get antibiotics right away. And head to the Bahamas for work today feeling almost 100%.

Bad News: The hubs is in the Bahamas...without me with a bunch of Texas swimsuit models.
Good News: They are whiney and too high maintenance for him!

Bad News: Today, my day off is almost over and I still have planning to do for the coming weeks.
Good News: I only have a two day week to plan for because we have a field trip to the pumpkin patch on Thurs and we had today off!

Bad News: My sister and her husband came in from The Rockies for a week long visit to PA not VA. Time share deal, see the colors and hike a bit.
Good News: They made the six hour drive down here yesterday just to see us!

Bad News: Momma K and I went to lunch today and she wouldn't let me pay.
Good News: Momma K and I went to lunch today and she did let me vent about all the craziness going on right now and was a very sound ear! It was fabulous to see her and she gave me a very cool beehive candle and matching towel for my birthday. I love candles!

Bad News: I have to stop writing now because work is looming over my head.
Good News: uhh...hmmm...well crap. Nothing good about that now is there?

Oh well. See you tomorrow!

Apparently, I'm not terribly. Got these an email recently and from what I can tell via snopes and urban legend research, they're the real deal. Take it for what you will. I just thought it was cool.

The pictures attached are used to test the level of stress a person can handle. One teacher said, "I felt like they were all moving...but slowly. Kind of like, they were breathing." The slower the pictures move, the better your ability of handling stress. Alleged criminals that were tested see them spinning around madly; however, senior citizens and kids see them standing still. FYI ... None of these images are animated - they are perfectly static!
Let me know how stressed you are!

Check this out especially if you're a prankster and like to mess with people's "heads" ;0)

Happy Fall Harvest and plenty o' Pumpkin pickin's to ya!

that if you have a great class...your kids are really good.
And if you have a bad class...you're a bad teacher?

To everyone who came to my party!! It was the most purplelicious day I've ever had! Monty even wrote me a poem: She gave me a choice of a gift...a car...cash or a thoughtful greeting...and of course I chose the *ahem* thoughtful greeting and here it is!

ME! It's a Plum Crazy Party Day in Millersville. Wanna join? Hoss, you can wear orange ;0) I'm on the 9th anniversary of my 29th birthday..I figure this way I'll never have to turn 40. I found this birthday calendar that tells you all kinds of interesting things about the day you were born. Here's mine:


You entered: 10/2/1967
Your date of conception was on or about 9 January 1967.
( Parents really don't do these things do they?)

You were born on a Monday under the astrological sign Libra.
Your Life path number is 8.
The Julian calendar date of your birth is 2439765.5.
The golden number for 1967 is 11.
The epact number for 1967 is 19.
The year 1967 was not a leap year.
As of 10/1/2005 10:23:54 AM CDTYou are 38 years old.
You are 456 months old.
You are 1,982 weeks old.
You are 13,880 days old.
You are 333,139 hours old.
You are 19,988,323 minutes old.
You are 1,199,215,434 seconds old.
There are 364 days till your next birthday on which your cake will have 39 candles on it.
Those 39 candles produce 39 BTU's,or 9,828 calories of heat (that's only 9.8280 food Calories!) .
You can boil 4.46 US ounces of water with that many candles.
In 1967 there were approximately 3.7 million births in the US.
In 1967 the US population was approximately 179,323,175 people, 50.6 persons per square mile.
In 1967 in the US there were approximately 1,800,000 marriages (9.3%) and 479,000 divorces (2.5%)
In 1967 in the US there were approximately 1,712,000 deaths (9.5 per 1000)Your birthstone is Tourmaline
The Mystical properties of Tourmaline (note the color!!!)

Pink Tourmaline promotes female balance and protection. Green Toumaline promotes male balance.
Some lists consider these stones to be your birthstone. (Birthstone lists come from Jewelers, Tibet, Ayurvedic Indian medicine, and other sources)
Opal, Jasper
Your birth tree is a Hazelnut Tree, the Extraordinary Charming, undemanding, very understanding, knows how to make an impression, active fighter for social cause, popular, moody and capricious lover, honest and tolerant partner, precise sense of judgement.
There are 85 days till Christmas 2005! I'd better get busy!!

Thanks for stopping by ;0)

To a very special guy...He's 75 years young and still full life, love, spit and fire. Don't mess with him or he might just eat you! He'll make you laugh, cry, pee in your pants and spit nails, but if you help him "make his pile" he'll probably pay for your burial plot. Run on over to his place and give him a big ol' sloppy wet kiss and slap on the cheeks ;0) Love ya Hoss!! Hope you have 75 more beautiful years...you should be up to about 1000 reads a day by then huh?

Someone else is having a birthday tomorrow...check back to see who!

Seems like I have about 2 hours of "free time" a day anymore. The problem is, it's after my kids go to bed and I'm usually exhausted. So, the way I see it I have to make a choice, do work which is never ending, spend time with the hubs which has been an easy choice since he's been out of town more than not lately, watch tv (thank whomever invented Tivo!), read blogs, post a blog or go to bed. Well lately it's been work and then bed. Most of the family is all sick, that transitional-season-change-cold thing, and I've been living with a perpetual sinus headache. My oldest almost missed the bus because we didn't wake up until 5 minutes before he was supposed to leave. And working is fun why?

Actually, as crappy as I feel right now, I have always loved working with kids. It doesn't matter the age and I'm finding this preschool thing a breeze. As much work as it has been planning, rearranging scheduled and running my own kids, it's been worth the headache. Yesterday I had 3 parents tell me that they are very impressed with the things I'm doing in my classroom. They did not expect such a warm and friendly academic environment. (Why not?) Their children love coming to school and can't wait to do whatever it is I have planned for them next!! One mom expressed to my director that she couldn't believe I took the time out to single out her child and give her a weekly written update on how he is doing. I was floored. It's amazing how the little things mean so much to parents. The truth is, it's a tool for me to force myself to notice what's going on in my classroom and what I need to change or keep up. I really am only doing what I would expect from my own child's teacher. Maybe I have high expectations, and I really thought in the beginning I was doing too much or more likely too high level thinking for them, however, most of them rise to the occasion. What this has taught me is that I was better able to assess each child's level of development, thought processes and idiosyncracies. At this age, kid's brains are like sponges. My goal is to throw as much "stuff" at them and let them take what they can from it. I've never bought my children age appropriate toys...I've always gotten things I think they can learn from, taught them what to do with it then let them explore and grow with it. I am thankful for my Special Education schooling at this point because I have, in a month, figured out how each of my children learn and why they act the way they do. Who is shy, who is immature, who is brilliant, who is left-handed ( I have 3 by the way!) Do you know how hard it is to cut left handed with right handed scissors? Try it sometime. Who is tactily sensitive, who learns auditorily, who may have ADD and yes, there are stereotypical signs at this age although they usually grow out of them by age 7 or 8 if it's developmental and who may be colorblind or developmentally delayed. Who is clueless because they have Nanny at home and 4 other children to compete with, who has already given up because their lives are in upheaval from a tenative move and mom out of the house.

It's amazing what you can pick up on when you know what to look for. This is my gift and I feel alive! This job, while easy to do, is time consuming and a balancing act, but definitely getting easier. It's all the more rewarding to hear that what I'm passionate about is being appreciated by those who have the most input in these kids lives. I think I'm doing something right ;0) I miss my friends and I'm slowly attempting to work them back into my life. They thankfully understand. I miss you blogfriends and hopefully in time you will understand too. Remember the time thing I talked about earlier? Well I have Friday's off and most evening's free. I'm hoping to post as often as I can, maybe 3 times a week ;0) I can't lurk, not in my nature. I'm the one who handwrites all my Christmas cards to include a personal message. It's just who I am.

I am finding that all I have to do is stay organized...whoda thunk?

Today I had asked J-man #2 come clean up his trains. Several times...finally I walked into the room where he was sitting and he looked at me with a scowled face.

"What up? Didn't you hear me? I asked you to come clean up your trains."
*sigh* "Yes, but mommy...I don't think that's a good choice."

I died laughing and went to pick up the trains myself. This time. ;0)

is the pile of catalogs that came in the mail on Friday!

Christmas is coming the goose is getting fat.... AHHHHHHH!

But first....Sorry I didn't post yesterday...the last two times I've tried to post anything...blogger was "Closed"!!!

There is very little I can't tolerate when it comes to my kids and I am infinitely more patient when it comes to other people's children. BUT..you knew that was coming didn't you? I. can't. stand. babytalk!! My son says Yewwow (yellow) and wowwipop (lollipop) you get the idea, pronouces L's with a W sound. He's three..it'll come. But if I repeat "Yellow" the way he says it, he gets angry and says "No, Mommy it's "Yewwow!" Still comes out with the sound mix up, but he knows my pronunciation is incorrect. My point here is that even though they may be saying a word incorrectly, they are hearing it properly. So when I hear mom's and dad's saying "Banky" and "Baba" for "blanket" and "bottle" it drives me a little nuts. How the hell are they supposed to pronounce it correctly if you don't?

Now, this is not to say I don't love to hear them speak this way when they are little. It's the cutest damn thing on the earth when they try to say words like "hospital" and "helicopter" and add about 20 extra syllables to it. But to hear a grown up speak this way...well I've made my point.

Grammar is quite another issue. I hated diagramming sentences in school. I never understood more than the basic parts of speech and although I try very hard to speak correctly...it's not always the easiest thing for me. When I do learn certain things, however, they have a tendency to stick.. For example...did you know that you feel bad? Not badly? You wouldn't go around saying "I feel sadly." or "goodly" or "angrily" would you? Bad apparently is a feeling and not an adverb in this case. You can "do badly" however, just in case you were interested ;0)

So, one of our first lessons was a grammar lesson of similar quality. As we were finishing our art projects kids would raise their hands and say "Done!" or " I'm done!" and to these statements I would calmly say "Cakes are done, people are finished." For three days, time after time, I would repeat this, to the point where I began to think they weren't listening to me because no one had changed their phrasing. Until I heard this story from my assistant.

"Done!" said Emma.
"Cakes are done, people are finished." I replied.
"That really bugs you doesn't it?" said Mrs. L.
"No, not really. I'm just aware of it so why teach them incorrectly? We started that on Monday when you weren't here. Sorry, I should've told you." I said
"Oh, don't worry, I figured out quickly when I asked Robert if he was done and he replied:

"I'm not a cake!"

I love teaching.

J-man #2...you know the self-proclaimed "big boy" at 3? Told me this yesterday...

"Mom! I opened the door and smashed my toe on the corner and it really hurts!"

"Oh, honey come here, let me kiss it and make it better."

I grab said foot and give him a big Mwah! smooch..

"But mom, kissing it won't make it better. I need a bandaid."

I think my heart's broken. *sniff*

Okay...Change #942...the hubs started his new job. Same company, different department. Now, we knew there would be a bit more travel involved in this particular job, but we weren't prepared for him to leave a week after he started! Last week was spent in Las Vegas at a Gaming Show in the midst of lots o' flesh and fame. He spent lots of time working, no time playing, BUT standing really really close to celebs such as Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of KISS who were there promoting there new slot machines and Ed Mc Mahon who was there doing whatever Ed MacMahon does at those things. I think he met the ex-boxer Larry someone (Holmes), the only guy to ever knock-out Mohammad Ali...not a boxing fan can you tell? Anywho, it looks as though we will not be seeing a lot of my wonderous better half as he has his "No more than 40% travel per year" planned in the first 4 months of his start date ;0) Wahooo! NOT! So now the balancing act comes in...new job for both of us, school stuff, church stuff, extra curricular activity stuff, holiday stuff, and whatever other stuff I can come up with to do while he's out working his a$$ off. I guess I can't complain...it's just going to take some getting used to. At least he comes home with cool presents and funny stories. I leave you with the first of many I'm sure....from a conversation on the plane ride out. Between my husband, his co-worker and another couple on the plane...

W was sitting behind the hubs and apparently taking great interest in his head. She decided to give him crap and said "Mr. Miller, you have many gray hairs." " Well, I didn't have a problem with them I started working with you W.

The couple next to him started laughing...the wife of said couple said something sarcastic to her husband to which my hubs replys, "What's up with these women giving us so much crap?"

Husband of the couple says, " Yeah, it's a good thing we're going to Vegas where the women know how to treat a man!"

Wife says sardonically, " Well honey, if you paid me maybe I'd be a little more exciting " ...;0)

Made for an interesting plane ride needless to say... I got a Hard Rock Cafe t-shirt out of the deal and a mail-order bride catalog LOL! What happens in Vegas ...stays in Vegas.

Change number 274...Iraq has finally gotten it's nasty little fingers into my life. Right here, right now. It's bad enough to hear about the tragedies over seas, you sympathize and it tugs at your heartstrings, but let me tell you when it happens to you..it's too surreal for words. Last weekend we said goodbye my nephew. He's just gotten engaged and leaves in a week for Iraq. He will be part of the Special Forces Unit that is involved in search and rescue. You know the guys they show jumping out of helicopters and rushing in with rifles blazing while they drag the wounded and the dead out of enemy territory? The one who's head is sticking out of the back of the Hummer firing the machine guns at piles of trash to make sure there are no surprises waiting for them? That would be him. Obvious a bit more information than I needed to know going in. At 22, he's just a baby. Newly engaged and his next birthday quickly approaching in November. Despite all of this, his attitude is amazing. He's prepared to fight for his country and do whatever it takes to help his fellow countrymen. He knows he'll be scared, but his faith in God and his fellow soldiers keeps him strong. He knows he'll be away from loved ones for at least a year and he's prepared to die if that's what is meant to be. He believe's that God has a plan for him and while he doesn't plan to put himself willingly in harm's way, when his number's up...there's no turning back. I have to support his decision and his willingness to fight for my freedom and everyone else's that lives in this beautiful country we call home. I have to support the war efforts because I am an American and we're there. It's happening. There's no going back now. But I sure as Hell don't have to like it or agree with it. You couldn't pay me enough money to be the President of the United States right now, nor to run in 2008. I have sent many a prayer to loved ones over seas and I am asking for the same favor in return. For me, my family and all of those who are there fighting for us. They are all heros in my eyes and I just hope and pray that they come home to us safe and sound and as quickly as humanly possible.

Thank you...God Bless.

Have you ever noticed that when things change things get weird? So much in my life has changed in the past two or three weeks and I'm just now getting used to it. I literally haven't had time to turn on my computer let alone read or write anything. I finally have a break so here it goes...

Change #1: J-man has started 1st grade..has homework 4 days a week, dropped his star but then got 5 stickers in a row and earned a popcorn party. I will be doing math groups in his class starting next week. Started out rough but seems to be on the right track... Went to his Back to School Night last night and was able to meet the other parents in his class, talk to his teacher a little bit and see what he's been doing over the past two weeks!! We looked at a his daily journal writing and already I've noticed an improvement from the beginning of the year until now. He colors in the lines, his drawings are recognizable as something specific and I almost didn't believe that it was his work! He loves his teacher, but school isn't so "fun" anymore ;0) This is actually a good thing because I know he's being challenged and learning something.

Change #2: J-man is completely potty trained!! Wearing underwear to bed and everything. In the last week he has become a self-proclaimed "big boy". He stands up to pee and the "Binky Fairy" came recently too. We were at my sister-in-law's and he couldn't find his pacifier. He brought up the fact that the Binky Fairy must've come and he was a big boy now. He went to bed that night no problems, woke up the next morning and said "I'm a baby!" he wanted his pacifier back...my husband was quick to say "If you a baby then we need to put you back in pull-ups."

"NO! I'm a big boy!" and that was that. We've had two binky free weeks and no worse for the wear! Yay!

He's also started preschool and his day was my first day as well. I cried. Totally caught me off guard...and thank God it wasn't until after I left him crying in his class room down the hall from me that I thought to myself "My baby's going to school!" then I lost it. I did thankfully pull myself together before I got back to my classroom to me the parents of my own class a bit teary eyed but together nonetheless. They were also very understanding..Thank God!

He's had a great week and loves his teacher who smothers him with tons of attention and kisses and hugs. I couldn't have asked for a better school. I know I made the right decision.

Change #3: The Hubs has jumped in feet first into his new position at work and has been in Vegas all week at a trade show. He has several more trips planned in the coming months which will be a transition for all of us. We are finding that he has some flexibility and it pays to be very organized with our schedules in order to not miss anything going on with the kids and still have time for us. This has been the hardest week because everything happened at once. As I mentioned before, I can't imagine being a single parent and adding the stress of a divorce and switching families onto of all of this. My heart goes out to you all who are handling it with grace...I can only begin to appreciate your strength and flexibility.

Finally change #4 -1,009: I'll write about tomorrow because it's long...

Thanks for all you words of kindness and support...I have never been so tired in my life. Good news is it can only get better from here right?

Til tomorrow then....