A Little Of This, A Little Of That

I don't want to jinx anything, but I think I'm starting to get in the swing of things already.

I did forget to mention, in all the busy-ness we've been going through, that I took Maya to the vet last week.  She's had some problems with her back legs.  I should also mention that she's a big black lab, so arthritis is pretty common.  I guess I just didn't know what causes the arthritis.

I guess a long time ago, back as a much younger dog, she tore her ACL in both knees.  I asked how that even happens, and she told me it's common from running or jumping and especially common in labs because they do more jumping that a lot of dog breeds. After those injuries, she got arthritis in the knees.  Because we didn't know at the time, we weren't able to get the problem fixed before arthritis and any surgeries now won't stop or fix the arthritis.  Sometime in the last week or so, she tore what was left of the ACL on her left hind leg and wasn't putting any weight on it.  The vet put her on pain meds and an anti inflammatory as well as an allergy med for what they think is either chiggers or fleas.  They thought fleas originally because of the location of the bites and missing hair, but because we haven't noticed fleas in our home, and they couldn't find any actual bugs on the dog, they said they very well could be chiggers especially since the only times she goes outside now is to go out to potty and come right back in.  She breaks my heart. She goes back in two weeks to get X-rays and for us to figure out her new plan of action that will be filled with glucosamine chondroitin and anti inflammatories for the rest of her sweet, hopefully long, puppy life.  She's been doing really well since starting her meds though.

I've been busting my hiney on these invitations for Ben's birthday.  I really do like how they are looking though.  I set a deadline to get them mailed out yesterday, but it didn't happen.  I think I have most of them done though, so hopefully they'll go out today and tomorrow.

Yesterday, I mended my husband's shorts and Sydney's doll, but today I get to mend their giant teddy bear who has a popped seam on the back of his neck leaving a gaping hole for his stuffing to fall out of.

I feel like I spend so much of my time in the car lately.  I'm driving kids to school, soccer, and dance, going to the store, driving to Kansas City for family, or just whatever extra event we are going to.  I just feel like it never ends.

I bought some new car jams to help out with some of the boring car trips and repetitive radio.  Thanks to Starbucks and their highly addictive cd collection I am now equipped with a little of everything, from Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton, and Smokey Robinson to British folk, Hawaiian, and Reggae.

Ben is always asking for Taco Tuesday, so tonight, we're doing plain old boring tacos and chicken tacos.  I like to cook the chicken in the crockpot in salsa or rotel all day long.  It makes it shred really easily and is very delicious, so that's what's happening in our kitchen right now and has been since I got home from Ben's school this morning.

I just can't wait for dinner.  I have my first PTO meeting at Ben's school this evening.  I'm excited!  I've said from day one that I wanted to be as involved as possible in everything my children do.  With having the little kids around, volunteering at the school during school hours doesn't happen a lot and with all of their extra curricular activities, it's difficult sometimes to attend everything, but I'm doing the best I can.

I'm so excited!  Last week, I bought these two cookbooks, but haven't had much opportunity to look through them.  I'm hoping to find a little time, today or tomorrow to look through them so I can try some new recipes.

Scotland is getting so big so fast too.  She manipulates things with her hands so well and she rolls from front to back and back to front.  She has the most adorable laugh, and is now exploring her exersaucer. She's also trying really hard to sit up on her own.  Little baby sit ups are adorable!

We are dealing with some respect, listening, and discipline issues at home with the three older kids, but we are working on fixing them.  Lots of tantrums and groundings are happening here.  Some days I find myself completely frazzled over it, but others aren't so bad.  I'm hoping we turn the corner soon.

Alright, it's getting close to time to pick up Ben from school, the UPS man just dropped off a delivery at my front door (hello Amazon addiction) and I need to feed Scotland before we go to Ben's school. Shawn leaves for St. Louis and Buffalo, NY tomorrow morning extremely early, so I may be back sooner rather than later.