I know it feels like I haven't posted in forever!!  School is out, Bethany is still working at Mc. D's and doing very well -- in fact her manager called me in to let me know just how well she has been doing!!  Big switch from a few months ago when she was not getting hours and was not so happy.

David is basically home for the summer but working at the daycare where Arik goes.  The woman that runs it sees how he loves kids and is good with them, so she asked if he would like to run"Camp David" on Wednesdays.  He also goes in when he gets too bored at home.

David will be in marching band this year, Bethany will not.  She was having a bit of a time with it last year and it was agreed that perhaps a year off would be good all around.

I am working 85 hour weeks.  40 with X, I picked up a new case with a little girl that I do nights with.... 24-32 hrs a week.  She is the cutest thing ever and the family is totally wonderful!!  I have a wee baby that is now 4 lbs 11 oz (started with him about 3 lbs 5 oz) and we are waiting for him to have cardiac surgery so I get to visit 2 times a week until then, and of course we have Guide Dogs (the admin job).

I am still on the fence about faire this year.  I want to go in with a positive attitude, but with all the change I am not sure I won't have any pre-conceived feelings about the whole thing.

Arik is just starting to realize that if he uses words we understand him better -- his favorite at this time is "keekee" which translates to any baked good he can get while grocery shopping -- generally a cookie or cupcake :).  Little dude is also peeing on the toilet!!!  Training is not far behind I am sure altho we aren't pushing anything.

I love my husband who puts up with my OCD  need to work and resulting lack of sleep at times. 

Bought a Wii with Wii Fit...kids have used it -- I haven't had a chance yet.  I eventually would love to get back in a dance studio and I figure this will at least get me started on that long road back.
 

I guess it's about time I update.  Kids party was on March 29 and I think it went quite well.  Both Bethany and David had a great time -- I think one of Bethany's highlights was her Rose Roguing with the guys singing "16 Candles" to her.  David never is happy with anything but his only complaint was the friends of his that were trying to light stuff on fire from the votive candles.

Pictures will be forthcoming if I ever get my act together -- I know Rob Pivarnik posted a bunch and my brother in law that took the pix for me is posting them on Facebook as he edits them.

So about a week before the party I was "late".... Didn't think much of it, however the home pregnancy test was positive.  Long story short.,...the timing just didn't seem right to me in terms of how far along the ultra sound showed me to be and today I got confirmation that from last week to this the embryo only progressed 2 days worth (instead of a weeks worth of growth).  Since we saw a heartbeat now we have to wait until that ceases and then another D & C.  I am fine with this (as I was last year) as I knew it didn't "feel" right from the beginning.

I also picked up another night case.  It's a baby girl that is a bit over a year old.  I am here now and again, very nice parents, close to my house (about 4 minutes by car) and a very easy shift.  Hopefully this will help the money situation a bit -- not that we are having trouble but the party did cost a pretty penny.

Moshe's Prius gave us a bit of a headache.  Apparently the hybrid battery died at 152K miles.  It's a $3,000 item and the warranty is 8 years, or 100K miles.  We are well over the miles, yet I am in talks with Toyota to have them cover a bunch of it since that is one of the selling points of the car -- that the battery "doesn't" die.  And in fact, in doing research, from 2004 thru May 2008 only .0003% of cars (that would be 23 cars out of 768,000) needed a new hybrid battery once out of warranty (ours of course being the 24th).  Nice ratio, but sucky that it was ours that ended up being the lemon.

That's about it from here.  Kids are all well.  Arik is approaching 2 years old on May 7...... Where did the time go!!!

Worked at the home with that infant last Thursday night and was supposed to go back in Friday night.  Got a call in the afternoon that the baby was unresponsive a few hours after I left and was taken to the hospital.   I called in on Tuesday and it wasn't looking good -- the baby passed away on Tuesday evening.  I am sad but not that upset - I guess because we knew it was an inevitability and it just ended up happening sooner rather than later.  At least the little guy is not in pain or suffering.

Already I miss working the extra hours (not just financially either) and am still on the lookout for another case I can do one or two nights a week.  I am compensating for something -- this I am sure of, just not really sure what I am missing.

Plans for the party for the kids is coming along nicely (with BIG thanks to and help from renfairewench ).  My big issue now is waiting for all the outstanding RSVPs to come in.  I know some people think I *know* they will be there, however, since I invited spouses/significant others and kids, there is a big difference in catering costs to have 1 person or have 2 adults and 2 kids (for example).  I also have a mind like a sieve and use the hard copy RSVPs to double and triple check numbers and stuff.  Not that I am completely bitching -- yet -- I did have a return date of March 10.... but still.... I guess I am just getting myself all worked up since I am trying to be on top of things and like most things in life, are being held back by the slowest component. (in this case the USPS getting the things back to me ;)).

I've created a wee monster with Arik.  If I dare try to listen to anything other than faire music in the car (or nothing at all) he points to the cassette deck (in my car) or CD thing (in the Beast) and complains until we turn on something "acceptable" to him!!  I seem to remember Bethany and David doing somewhat of the same thing, but they weren't as young as Arik when they first went to faire so it was easier to reason with them (I want to listen to the news now.... ).

Bethany sprained her ankle however I am proud of her -- since Moshe took her to the ER she hasn't really complained -- even after marching on it for Color Guard and all!!  I am sort of waiting for the other shoe to fall with both older kids -- they have been too stable lately :).

Anyway, that's all from my little corner of the world for the moment.

Things happen in 3s so I'm covered now.

Got sick Friday.  Fever, can't get up out of bed and am going to die sick.  Went to the doctor because I have to work tonight sick.  Was diagnosed with first off, an ear infection and secondly another bout of my wonderful allergy triggered reactive airway disease.  When I am exposed to the allergens that trigger it I end up wtih this wonderful respiratory thing, coughing and hacking up lungs as well as wheezing like a teakettle. 

When Moshe got me to the doctors office and I was in the room trying to get words out between the wheezes to tell the nurse "what brought me in" all of a sudden my lungs just gave out and I remember mouthing "abuterol" "inhaler" and "no air!"  It felt like hours but in seconds there was an albuterol inhaler in my hand and I was trying to somehow remember how to get air IN my lungs.  I apparently got enough of a breath to get albuterol to my lungs and they opened again somewhat.  At any rate, the nurse did not leave the room until the doctor was in there with me (no dying on her shift I guess) and the only thing I left with was a prescription for a z-pak and a couple of inhalers.

Then we had to take Arik to the pediatrician because he too has had the snotty nose and coughing thing.  He just had a virus, however, from having the stupid "AHHHHHH" stick in his throat he decided to puke.... all over me since he was sitting on my lap (aren't I just the luckiest tho....).

We made it home and I collapsed for a few hours until I had to get  up to go in for my 12 hour shift with the wee infant.  Oh, did I mention there is a smoker in his house? (my biggest allergy trigger)  Somehow I did make it somewhat easily thru my shift and came home in the am and just collapsed .  Don't remember much of the weekend, but ....

Sunday night I called X's mom to see if she would mind if I took Monday off to give myself another day to recover.  Not only did she not mind but she then told me that X had been diagnosed with Pertussis on Thursday.  That's right, not only is my respiratory status crap but I may have been exposed to Pertussis on top of everything... thereby exposing my kids and the wee baby too!

Went downstairs to let Moshe know about all this and Arik wanted me to pick him up since I hadn't had much contact with him all weekend.  As I did, I started having a coughing fit and had to put him down on the floor because I couldnt breathe.  Arik laid on his back and decided to pitch a major fit and slam his head on the floor...problem was, my foot was in his line of fire.....

So, today we went to the ER.....

Let's recap the weekend....

Sick as a dog for most of it..... exposed to Pertussis but call to doctors office this morning assurred me that the z-pak will cover if I had it... and ER visit where it was confirmed that Arik broke my toe.

I'm still hacking up lungs but feel much better (although wiped out quite easily today)...now my foot hurts ;)


Oh, and I still have to coordinate with renfairewench for decorating for kids party (I didnt forget!!!!)

Yeah, and 64 scheduled hours working this week plus guide dog ones... and Moshe has to have a yearly "screening proceedure" Thursday....kids with afterschool rehearsals and no late busses.... I have no time to be sick... :)

My boss at my part time job emailed this to me..... I make him kill all the spiders here  -- well, just because I can :).

All I can say is... ick!!!!!

http://onemotion.com/flash/spider/

I am almost finished my 12 hour shift with the terminal twin.  The other one expired yesterday.  Mom is very accepting of the entire situation, and the whole family is very sweet.  This little guy is a real sweetie and reminds me of a baby I liked taking care of when I worked at CHOP.  I am going to try and pick up more hours here - my only problem is that right now I need sleep.  I was going to go to my part time admin job when I finish here, but no way.  I think I'm gonna put Arik in daycare today and go home and just sleep the entire day (why do I feel guilty doing that??).

The invitations all got out on Wednesday.  Now comes the waiting for the RSVPs.  We have no idea how many people are going to accept and come.  The entertainment worked itself out (I figured it would) so that's that.

Bethany's birthday was Monday. I can't believe my 6-week early emergency C-section is now 16!!  Gawd I feel old :(. 

We are trying another IUI cycle again.... I can't express how underwhelmed I am about getting up and driving to Morristown at stupid-early-o'clock for monitoring.  When the nurse called to tell me I have to go on Saturday, I said it was ok - I had a big thick book and was ready for the hours long wait.

That's it for now.  Not going to attempt to fight with the picture thing again.

Some of the people I asked to perform for my kids' party didn't want written contracts -  feeling a verbal was fine with them.  The problem I have is that I wonder then if they feel as "committed" and if something else comes along if they will cancel on me since there is no contract.

Again I am having second thoughts with it as another person is potentially having issues with the date due to another opportunity (my request was first).

:sigh:  I know it will all turn out fine -- I am just stressing and wondering about changing the date again to make it "more convenient", altho I know that this date is probably the best for everyone involved....

The next flight I am on, I want the pilot of the USAir flight that landed in the Hudson commanding the plane.

That's all....

He is a true hero... and it is a complete miracle that there were no injuries/fatalities.

No, I am not dead or otherwise unable to have updated earlier... just procrastinating like no-one's business. Currently it is 2:15AM and I am camped out at Hershey Medical Center with X and his mom. He had his adenoids removed and is on an overnight watch, so here we are and instead of being good and doing the actual work I brought with me (entering checkbooks into Quicken) I have found a way to procrastinate more.... write here !!

The Bar Mitzvah was great in Israel.... kids are great.... will post pix behind a cut from said Bar Mitzvah...  Been trying to put pix behind a cut for an hour and a half... will have to do it maybe tomorrow (today?) when I can fight with the computer and a faster connection......They ARE coming......some are on photobucket under me "Aryiana".... if you are that curious, go look... otherwise... :sigh:...

Have I ever mentioned how I hate computers?.......

Been in Israel since last week.  Sunday in fact.  As we landed at 5PM we were told the baggage handlers were on strike since 4PM.  Long story short, we finally got luggage and rental car and were out of the airport around midnight.  Had a major meltdown while trying to get rental car (had to do with mom and wheelchair that wasn't available because of the strike.).  Will elaborate more when I have more time.

Bar Mitzvah was awesomely cool.  Many pix to share when I get home.  Had a photographer too, so we will have those as well.

Yes, parents are driving me crazy... had a virus one day and was bedridden all morning waiting for the world to stop spinning.  Thank goodness for better living through pharmaceuticals!!  We are getting ready to pack up and leave my sister-in-law's house (been here since Friday for Shabbos) and go to Massada for the night. 

Will write more when I get a chance.