Only one of my kids would get sick and miss school on the SECOND DAY BACK!

As it turns out Ray saw his allergist yesterday and has a sinus infection which explains why his sinuses were feeling the way they were.

Alex had a sore throat yesterday and this morning when I woke her up it was really sore and swallowing made her ear hurt! Great. Great. Great. NOT. Gave her some liquid Motrin (FABULOUS for sore throats in adults, by the way!!! Seriously!) and had her go back to bed, at least for a few hours. I figured that a headache, sore throat and earache (whatever the cause) + band class = VERY BAD. Instead when the doctor’s office opened, I called and got her in. She has the beginnings of a sinus infection and all that swelling, fluids and drainage are causing her ear pain and sore throat.

Two sinus infections in the house. Both are on antibiotics and should be feeling fine in a day or so.

Phoebe went to school and had an uneventful day it seems. Getting her to talk about it is like pulling teeth. Seriously, she’s six and a half NOT a teenager! She had gym class today and she found out that she IS allowed to bring her roll up sled thing to school. Oh, yay (did you see the eye roll with that?).

I met some friends for lunch and had a really good time. It’s been so hard to get together since school started in September. We used to be “the Friday playgroup” and got together pretty much every Friday all year (having switched from Tuesday mornings in previous years as our kids got older and school started interfering in our leisure activities).

The rest of the day was uneventful as well. Dinner was “fish and chips” per Phoebe’s request. I had planned on making homemade New England Clam Chowder, but thought I’d wait until Alex feels better. Last time I made it when she was sick (with the flu), she ate some, LOVED it, and then promptly vomited it. Aren’t you glad I told you that?

Everyone went back to whatever their normal weekday thing was. Ray went back to work, the girls headed back to school. Our morning went blissfully well even.

My day was REALLY quiet. I missed having people home during the day. (I would not have if they had been bickering and stuff all break.) I finished packing up my Christmas Villages which now sit in bins waiting for transport upstairs (and subsequently to the attic — its a walk in attic from the second floor hall). Later, I picked Phoebe up from school and a little later took her to ballet class (she’s had two weeks off!) and she did really well — focused even.

The only excitement happened about five minute before leaving for ballet when the power went off, the million UPSes in the house complained loudly, the corn stove started to snuff out (and began filling the downstairs with smoke) and the ballet hair wasn’t even done yet! Fortunately it was only off for a couple of minutes and the fire hadn’t gone completely out, so we still had heat (and lights and WATER — its a well). Not sure what the problem was, but it sucked nonetheless.

Dinner was a pork tenderloin I had in the crock pot all day with garlic smashed potatoes, peas and raw carrots.

Not terribly exciting or eventful, but a good day overall.

My girls’ last day of school was December 18th. They go back to school tomorrow, January 4th. It’s been a long break for us this time around (time-wise). It’s also been probably THE BEST break in a very long time. Why? Because while everyone was home pretty much the entire time (Ray worked December 20-23rd), everyone got along. There was no fighting. As much as getting back into a routine and on a schedule of some sort is a good time, I’m sad to see it go.

My niece, Paige, spent a few days with us and today was the day to take her home (there is school tomorrow after all). Phoebe and I took her home and didn’t return until 4:30 pm at which point I discovered that Alex had not even been up out of bed yet (or awake even)! I knew I should have called her a couple of times! She doesn’t even remember the two times Ray went in to wake her or the three times I did (and even had a brief discussion) so she was upset that no one woke her up and her whole day was wasted!

Beyond all that, it was time to get things together for school. Laundry was finished. School things corralled together. Clothes picked out for tomorrow. Showers. All of that sort of thing. And, the best of all… the bed time that stretched out forever with Phoebe. Understandably, she couldn’t fall asleep. That and her room was cold. Oh, and she needed a drink of water. Let’s not forget the bathroom trip. And so on. I think she finally drifted off just shy of 10:45 pm. Was it that she slept in the car for an hour on the way home this afternoon? Doubtful. It’s much more likely because she was up until 11:00 pm (or later) and sleeping in until 10:00 am (or later) most of the break.

Hopefully the morning will go smoothly. I think it will. Tuesday will be the nightmare. For some reason, it’s always the second and/or third days that are the hardest for us.

Cheers!

I know I haven’t been the best at posting for the last, what? Two months or so. A lot of things were going on, some good, some outstanding, and a few things that just downright sucked the desire to post anything right out of me! I think I’m past that hurdle, or at least in a better space now. Yay!

I am looking forward to a great year. A year that will certainly involve huge changes and such, but I expect them to be good. They WILL be good. They MUST be good! I know, we’ll see a year from now, but I am trying to be optimistic!

We had a great New Year’s Eve. We spent it at the cousin’s (Lynda & Mitch’s). There were a lot of people (too much great food) and it was a lot of fun. All of the kids seemed to have a great time and, as typical, we arrived home and climbed into bed just before 3 a.m.

Yesterday, my sister brought her daughter Paige over to stay a few days with Phoebe. They have had a great time and sadly I will be returning her home tomorrow. Polly Pockets figured heavily into the time they were awake! Today they did try to play outside for a little while, but it wasn’t even 10 degrees. No worries, I wasn’t going to let them stay out long. I figured fifteen minutes tops. They were back inside in under ten.

School is back in session on Monday. I’m happy and sad about it. Happy because everyone needs a wee bit more structure to their day than there has been at home over the break. Sad because everyone has been getting along incredibly well the entire time. It’s been great! I’m also sad to think about having to get up way too early in the morning and the potential for the drama that ensues.

Oh, and to get my motivation to post back, I signed up for NaBloPoMo for January… I missed out on November and December (very clearly).