10 on Monday

1.  Mimi will be 3 years old, a month from today.  WOW!!  I cannot believe this.  As I was driving on campus this morning, it all of a sudden popped in my head:  my baby girl is growing up so fast.  Time does fly by so fast. We won't be having a birthday party for her this year, since we are going to Disney for her birthday, but "Imaginary Friends Bakery" will be making a Princess and the Frog cake for her.  Thanks Cindy and we can't wait.

2.  In three weeks, Kai, Keon, Mimi, Grammie, and I will be hitting I-95S to Disney.  As each and every day goes by, I am in need of this trip more than anything.  I am so ready to PIG-out on food at Epcot.  We will be staying at the Caribbean Beach Resort for 4 nights.  The room is a pirate theme, so I know the boys will enjoy it.  The goal is to see Tiana and Rapunzel when we go to Magic Kingdom.  Hopefully, it happens this time around.

3.  In three days, I will be going out of town for a few days, for a mini-vacation.  Hopefully this mini-vacation includes a trip to Busch Gardens, as long as the weather cooperates.  Fingers crossed.  I've been looking forward to this trip for some time, so hopefully it will be fun or I will make the best of it.  

4.  The semester will be over in less than three weeks.  Wow!!  So much to finish up, but I am ready for the semester to be OVER.  I will be teaching Organic Chemistry in the fall, CHM-211.  I am looking forward to it, but at the same time, I am super nervous.  But, I will get through it.

5.  "I tear my heart open, I sew myself shut.  My weakness is, I care too much.  And my scars remind me, that the past is real.  I tear my heart open, just to feel."  (Scars-Papa Roach).  I have always loved this song, but lately I think its been on REPEAT for the longest.  But whatever gets me through the day.

6.  I "hate" FB.

7.  I honestly can't think of anything else to say about me and what's going on with me and my kiddos, that I don't mind sharing.  Urgh....  Let me figure out three more things.

8.  Today has already been a long day, but it's now 12:15p, so less than 4 hours until my night class.  And then Jelly Beans at 7p, with "friends" to go skating.  I am a whole new person when I am skating.  I don't think about anything.  Well, I do think about the fact that I don't want to fall or run into the little person that just cut me off.

9.  My new favorite alcoholic beverage is Pineapple Upside Down Cake.  Hoping to have a few in the next few days, but it just depends on my mood.

10.  And finally to 10.  I need to paint my finger and toe nails, but not sure if I will do that today or tomorrow.  Oh well.  If I get to it, then I will do it.  

~ Life as it is ~

April has barely started and it seems like nothing is going right for me.  Between personal issues and school, I am officially burnt-out, exhausted, and stressed.  But "this too shall pass" and everything will eventually go back to normal, it always does.  I guess I will briefly go over what's going on in my everyday life, progress with Mimi, and the lovely "attitude" Kai has developed over the past few months.  

I guess it will be best to start off with the kiddos:

Mimi

Took Mimi to UNC Healthcare Friday, April 8, 2011, to see her Geneticist.  It actually went pretty good.  Her Geneticist is very impressed with Mimi's progress.  She was actually surprised at how much Mimi has progressed with walking, communicating, socializing with unfamiliar individuals, etc.  Of course in her eyes, Mimi will most likely never be "normal", but that's perfectly fine too.  It's just another adjustment to my daily life.  Then, she thought it was nice to mention the fact that Mimi's head is the size of a three month old.  Which is true, but I guess something's I prefer "not" to hear.  But since she last saw her about 18 months ago, her head circumference has grown, so that's a plus.  Her head (brain) size will never be the normal size, but at least it's growing.  She went on into details about some other stuff, but honestly, I think it went in one ear and out the other, because it was a little confusing.

Yesterday (Monday, April 11, 2011), went to Mimi's last transition meeting from IEP to Pre-K and she will be going to the CDC.  I am happy about that.  I did not want her going to Howe and the other school was way off of Military Cutoff and personally, that's just out of my way.  So starting in August, Mimi will be going to school for the first time.  I am so happy for my "Mimi Monster".  They provide transportation to our home, so that will help out a lot.  

There are a lot of goals they have set for Mimi, but figured we'd go ahead and work on them before she starts school in August.  Mimi has trouble walking steadily.  She tends to walk/run at the same time.  So, that's one main issue to work on.  Also, when she goes down a slide, she tends to fall back.  So, I'm in the process of either finding a slide or "cheap" playground with a slide attached to it, to have at my mom's, since I am trying to convince her to keep them some throughout the summer, so I can focus on my research.  Fingers crossed.  She still can't seem to feed herself very good.  Well, she can, but it's more as if she picks over her food with her fingers, versus using a fork/spoon.  Another goal is for me to let her pick out what she wants to drink, instead of just giving it to her.  This will possibly help with her communication.  As of right now when she wants something to drink, she falls out in front of the fridge, until I either giver her something to drink or make her sign thirsty.

Her signing is going ok.  We haven't really worked on it much, but will hopefully get back into very soon.  Especially with my semester being almost over.  But she's doing very good with the ones she know.  So all is well with little Miss Mimi.

Kai

Where to start with the oldest child.  He has become a pain in the neck lately.  His attitude has gotten worse and I don't know why.  He seems to do good at school, so hopefully when he starts school in August too, (not sure where) things will get better.  He'll be in school everyday, instead of just twice a day for a few hours.  

Kai did have an appointment in Raleigh, NC a few weeks ago to have his thyroid levels checked and they were a little off, so his dosage was increased from 44MCG to 50MCG.  His levels will be rechecked locally in 4 weeks.  Hopefully, the increase will calm him down.  

Kai tries to help a lot, but I think his definition of "helping" is not the definition I have.  Instead of helping, he tends to get in the way.  His new thing is, "I'm mad at you mommy", "I don't love you mommy", "I want to go to my daddy's", or "You just don't understand."  There's a lot more sayings, but honestly I don't remember them all.  

He's recently learned how to skate, which he seems to love.  I got him his own pair a few weeks ago, but he wants roller blades.  I told him if he learns how to skate in the regular skates, then in September for his birthday, we will upgrade.  So we will see how that goes.

Me

Life has been rough, but I have dealt with it the best I can.  Yay!!  I've never been good at making decisions or making the right choices.  I really suck at this, so I guess it's something I need to work on.  I say that now, but will it ever happen?  IDK.  Being that I've been dealing with a lot of personal problems, I've kept to myself lately and will probably be doing it for sometime.  It's just how I deal at times and it's one of those times.  But as each passing day goes by, I get better, but I seem to block more and more people out of my life.  But that's how my life goes and I'm ok with that, for the moment.

When times get tough, I find an escape route.  So, I think I'm getting a new piercing tonight.  :)

10 on Saturday

Yes, I am aware that it is 12:30 at night, but when you can't sleep because of your over-driven mind and are in a shitty mood, you get up and catch up on more important things.  Well, that's what I am assuming.

1.  Took Kai to see his Pediatric Endocronologist this past Wednesday and his levels were borderline, so they have increased his dosage from 44MCG to 50MCG.  Hopefully this will help a little bit with his out of control(ness).
2.  Mimi goes and see her Geneticist on Friday, this will be an interesting trip, since she hardly goes to the doctor.  So, it's time to catch up and see what the next step is.  Hopefully, no needles involved.
3.  I'm in the process of studying for my 3rd Industrial and Polymers test.  Fearing that I may have to wing it, because my brain can't stay on track.  But I am devoting myself to quite some hours tomorrow once I wake up, to studying, so hopefully it helps.
4.  I'm realizing my heart is too big for some people to handle now-a-days and I have no idea how that happened.  But, whatever.
5.  In a month and seven days, I will be heading down to Orlando, for our Disney vacation to celebrate Mimi's 3rd birthday.  Oh how the time flies...............
6.  Luckily, I am making progress with my graduate research.  Hopefully I get a lot done this week with it too.
7.  My iTouch is my saving grace when my brain is scattered and my heart can't handle the "stress".  Just hit PLAY and SHUFFLE, and let it do its thing.  I eventually drift off into a new world.  Yeah....Which usually lasts for "not that long", but I will take it.
8.  I got Kai some roller skates last week and now he won't stop asking me when I will take him skating.  Hopefully once I get through this exam next Wednesday, we will hit the skating rink.  Oh how I love skating!!
9.  Sometimes you just need to BREATHE.............
10.  I am still  trying to finish reading "Bringing Adam Home".  Hopefully I will complete it one of these days.

<3