Benjamin is one game away from being the league champions in baseball. He is sooooo excited.

Bob ordered our new cell phones from AT&T yesterday ;o) and he ordered our furnace and AC!!!! It should be here over the weekend or early next week!!!! Of course, he's still not talking to me...I'm getting all of this info via text messages and emails...don't ask!

I'm still feeling like crap, more mentally than anywhere else. It's rainy...

I have decided I will get one of the jobs at University of Montevallo (read: five miles away from the house)! If I believe it, it will happen, right? This will allow me more time with Bob, the boys, and sewing all these projects I have.

I have started on my Memorial/Independence Day projects: Patriotic table runner, napkins, decorated kitchen towels, coasters, and pot holders!!!! I've also been recruited for another clergy cassock. Then of course, I still have Ms. Traci's alterations, skirts and shirt. UGH! I need to make more of my time.

Had a good Mother's Day with two new beautiful flowers and Benjamin's sentiments from school: "My mom is cute! My mom should be mom of the year because she says goodnight when I go to bed. My mom can help me tak out the trash. My mom can help my dad work and help me do my homework! My mom helps me get ready for school. My mom is nice!!" Such a sweetie!!!!

Benjamin has invited me to his Mother's Day Tea in his first grade room tomorrow. I'm sure it's going to be so sweet. I'm taking the camera since I never have any pics of me and the first born. Benjamin's my soft heart...he will stand up for me no matter what. Bob will call me mean; Bug will stand between me & Bob and fight about it with him. I hope he stays that way when he gets older.

I know I'm easier on him than Cohen, but it's just because Bob is so hard on him and easy on Cohen...I guess because Cohen is exactly like me/Benjamin like Bob. So guess it's obvious to be attracted (NO, not THAT way) to the one you're married to...

I can't wait to post pictures on here and Facebook :o) He is going to be such a proud peacock to have his Momma there to celebrate tomorrow. He likes showing me off to his friends.

I'm in the middle of a religious debate with a pastor...see the point in this??? Yeah, I don't either. But I'm not one to quit or not give my two cents.

Well, Benjamin's been rained out of his Opening Day and going to miss the make up since we'll be in Ohio. Looks like we're going to have practice cancelled tonight as well.

I have my first staff meeting in 45 minutes, that should be a blast.

Went to the dr yesterday. Apparently I'm not taking in enough fluids for a normal person, but I am also on a diuretic, so that's makes it even worse. Dehydration is making me miserable. Gotta find a new rheumatologist to do x-rays of my neck and spine.

Etsy is going well for me. I just completed one T-shirt quilt with another close behind. I have been drafted (and loving it) to make dresses, skirts, and shirts for my bestie, Traci. Of course, I've sold more already!!! Oh, yeah, and the pastor I'm in the debate with...I'm making him a clergy robe for him to preach in....Guess the Anti-Christ is fine as long as they're functional, huh? I've been learning how to make banners via some free software on the internet, so my Etsy shop has a couple different looking banners now...www.quiltedmemories4u.etsy.com.

Friday we're leaving for Ohio. Bob's dropping me off at my friend, Becky's...she's getting the Outstanding Woman award for Clinton County due to her work with the Humane Society...which I still do the books for...and I get to see Sheryl; she's my sounding board and usually a pretty good one that keeps me out of trouble.

Well, this is Bob's first day as a stay-at-home dad. The economy had gotten bad enough that we decided it would be good to reduce daycare & gas costs. Plus it'll provide him time to do some well-needed rehab on the house. THIS may be the year we get heat and AC PEOPLE!!!!!

Benjamin is now med-free. I'm not saying it's the easiest in the world, but I hate stifling his creativity. I just read an article on "unschooling" children at unschooling.com talking about embracing the crazy side and running with it for a while. You think Einstein would've been half of who he was if they kept telling him to follow the rules????

Cohen is in heaven. He is so excited to be staying home with daddy (i.e., the one wrapped around his little finger).

We're spending my birthday in Ohio. Ms. Becky is being celebrated and Ms. Sheryl is being invaded by me. The boys are going to Bob's family's...hehe, free me!! I can't wait though; I haven't seen these two best friends in over 2 years!!!!! Hopefully I can get in some other people while we're there but we're not staying long...Benjamin's on Spring Break & has a baseball game Monday. So, we'll leave Friday and on our way home Sunday.

New job's going OK. Still pining for the jobs at University of Montevallo....hello!!!! Less than 5 miles from the house, hook me up. All you praying people out there need to start for me!!!!!

With the economy taking its toll out on every industry, Bob and I decided it’s time for him to be a stay-at-home dad at least for a few months. We are hopeful by June 1 the stimulus package will be approved and the buying of cars starts again at least to get us through to the winter. June 1 is the first day of Summer Camp at their Elementary School. They can go there together since Cohen will be in KINDERGARTEN this fall!!!! Ahhhhh, no more daycare payments!!! Cohen is very excited about the decision. Of course, Cohen has Bob wrapped around his little finger, so he coddles him a bit. He stayed home with him almost eight months last year when Bob was laid off, so he knows how it’s going to be being back with dad full-time. During Benjamin’s baseball practices/games, each week Cohen and I are going to check out a book from the library on how to draw. His Papaw in Ohio gave them a wonderful art supply set for Christmas one year. So he and I are going to learn how to draw some different things. He’s gained homework every night. One reason was because Benjamin does, so it wasn’t fair Cohen would lollygag around the house, turn the TV on, etc. Another reason was because he reads and writes upside down and backwards! So every night, I use a highlighter and write his name, letters, numbers, etc. on a writing pad; he then traces the highlighter with a pencil to see how to write correctly. I’m sure there will be a couple nights we stay home and do Mom-mom/Cohen things (laundry, he loves to help with laundry and Mom-mom trying desperately to get two quilts done in a little over a month). I got an Etsy request to do two t-shirt quilts. So I’m going to start putting those together soon since I need to have them back to her by March 28. She’s getting married on 4/4/09 (which will be our 11th wedding anniversary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and wants to have that as her gift to her new hubby.

Benjamin is not too happy about the new arrangements. He likes being social at school (or just not punished at home). I feel so sorry for this child. If there’s something Bob and I fight about most, it’s the raising of Benjamin. Between ADHD-Impulsive, outbursts, misunderstandings and his ability to be nothing but literal, we have a hard time explaining things to him and get him to understand why things are the way they are. Benjamin will be riding the bus to and from school (which is NOT happy about). But he will have practice three nights a week until games start; then two games a week (one always on Saturday) starting March 23.

This will give Bob a chance to work on some of the projects which have been stalemated at home. I’m hoping to be able to put away money each week, so we can buy things he needs to finish projects we started so long ago. He will also be able to run Benjamin to all his baseball practices and games!!!! He will also be able to have the house clean, dishes washed, laundry done and put away and I can actually start enjoying my weekends!!!!

I'm just in a mood to screw off, so I decided this is as good of a time as any to post. I start my new job on February 2, 2009!!! Gwen (my new, ultra-cool boss) already has a project lined up for me. My office is on the 5th floor with a wall of windows and a DOOR! Yes, you heard me, a door!!!! Don't have that at the City! The pension I've collected since starting with the City will be used to buy a NEW FURNACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You see that y'all. Heat in the winter, air in the summer...I don't know what I'll do with myself...

I started on Wellbutrin again today in conjunction with my Prozac; don't worry, I haven't killed anybody...yet! I'm hoping it will help me lose weight again while I'm at it.

Benjamin's been bumped up on his medicine and doing well so far. I keep thinking I'll be able to figure him out one of these days, but I have yet to be successful. Benjamin is a literalist; this doesn't help me when he learns important historical events at school. The other day we were in Wal-Mart (we live in the South remember) and he said, "What do you think I am, your slave?" Needless to say we had a conversation later about certain topics learned in school.

Cohen is coming into his own right. He gets fascinated about the subjects he learns in school. I can't tell you how many times I've had to answer the question, "Is this healthy?", in response to something on his plate or about to go into his face.

Bob's still waiting on the other car dealership to call. Don't know if's the best deal in the world, but hey, ya never know until you try.

I took Benjamin to the psychiatrist today for his ADD/Impulsive bi-monthly check-up. He's increased his meds to reduce the impulses, hyperactivity, and anger issues. The child is always on the go. I wish I had just a portion of his energy. I could get so much done!!!! I think I'm ADD and if Bob's ADD, you get SUPER ADD!!!!!!!!

I've also come to a realization that I hate bowling. Do you know WHY I hate bowling? Because I'm not good at it. I don't want to be good at it. It annoys me. This is exactly how I construed parenting before I met Bob. I am envious of people who thinking motherhood is the best job in the world. I am not a hand-holder or ego-stroker. I don't like cleaning up after people who can't/won't do it themselves. I don't like having to be a psychologist and figure out what works to make them do what I want them to do. I hate spending money on things they are just going to break or disrespect (but can't figure out how to get them to do the opposite...see psychologist comment).

Guess it's a good thing I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow!

I ended up pissing Bob off on New Year's Eve night since I ended up asleep instead of doing "other things". I just spent most of the day in bed yesterday with a sore throat, body aches (which really aren't abnormal for me), "stomach issues", and head/neck ache...this pissed Bob off again. Today, Benjamin and I are doing our annual celebration of his birthday by going to the movies, out for lunch, then whatever else he wants for the day. I cannot believe he is 7 years old today. I try to think back on where I was seven years ago, and it's almost a blur now.

I have another appointment with my rheumatologist on January 7 for another round of shots in my hips. I'm hoping he can start looking at my spine & neck; not making me wait until he gets done torturing my hips. I wake up at night when I turn over 'cause it sounds like a cement mixer in my neck. Grinding and scraping....I think I wouldn't have such interrupted sleep if I could sleep through turning over.

Still have to make an appointment with my family doctor to review my MRI, blood counts, etc. since my last visit and the addition of a number of drugs. I have also found a new website from the National Institute of Health which accepts 100 patients each year which have undiagnosed issues. The doctor submits them and their history and they pick. However, even if you don't get picked, a number of times they will relay messages back to the doctors to provide possibly avenues of treatment. These are added to the file just in case they are picked next year!!!! I will be review this as soon as possible with my GP! Any bit of information is better than nothing at this point.

I went to pick Benjamin up from school yesterday as usual. I was signing him out when I heard this horrendous scream that only a mom knows is her child. I turned around to see Benjamin with his hand to his head, tears streaming down his face, and the teacher in absolute terror. He'd apparently taken a header into the cement block gym wall creating an instantly bruised goose egg. Two things make this a major issue: 1 - Benjamin is a pussy when it comes to pain; 2 - The teacher's reaction made him panic.

This is not the first time we've experienced this exact incident...of course, the first time he was two, at a wedding, and apparently drinking wine from the head table. He took a header into a steel door jam when he lost his footing. Bob and his mom freaked. I had to take him outside away from them all to be able to assess the damage...what's your name, how old are you, can you stand up straight? I ended up having to take him to Children's Hospital ALONE (Bob was the DJ at the wedding, and I didn't need a 3-month old Cohen making things worse). He was fine.

Yesterday finally turned sensible when I got the teacher removed from his sight. The panic in her eyes was making him cry harder. I took off my sweater, wrapped the ice in it and stuck it on his head as I convinced him everything would be fine. I made sure to give detailed descriptions of what the process was going to be in order to see if he was following directions or disoriented. He got a drink of water and walked out fine. I'm either an insensitive bitch or can handle chaos.

The first child is always good to convince you to have another one, hence Cohen. Benjamin was the most perfect child. He slept through the night at seven weeks, he was a joy to be around; then came Cohen. Cohen was a fairly easy child as long as you didn't try to give him a bath.

Benjamin grew into a decent child except for all the symptoms he possessed of Asperger's Syndrome. We took him to a psychiatrist to figure out how to parent with such an issue. He decided we'd wait and see on the autism since he was on the cusp, but there were definitely traces of ADD and ODD (Oppositional Defiance Disorder). He prescribed Tenex which is used to be only used for blood pressure.

We've gone through some tough spots, especially with behavior & around a full moon. But this year has gone well. He did get in trouble for spelling sex with magnetic letters (which they threw an absolute hissy about...at least he knew the definition -- to our disbelief).

But the past couple weeks have been different. Benjamin has been great! He's gotten green squares every day for 12 days; we gave him a VW hat he was wanting, he got a special dinner & dessert, and money. But Friday was going to be the best day, we were going to eat Sundays and watch "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" since trick-or-treat was from 3-5 here. But when I picked him up, he informed me of his RED square. He proceeded to tell me how he got caught saying, "Look at this sh*t" about his lunch and then lied to the about it. So needless to say the family night was ruined. GRRRRR...I was soooooooooooooo looking forward to ice cream and chocolate syrup. So, Benjamin went to bed after dinner and Cohen, Bob and I watched Charlie Brown without goodies 'cause we were all too tired to dip it out.

Maybe tonight....

Benjamin was laying in bed Wednesday night and said innocently enough, "If Obama gets in the White House, he's going to put in a basketball court." My jaw dropped to the floor!!!!!! I have a two-prong theory on this...ONE: I minored in Peace in college and had my mom for a mother, so my days of seeing color have not even started, TWO: Once I moved to Alabama, I am convinced my father was of-color. The hair, the rhythm, the love of music, etc. Not that it makes a difference, except in hair care products (I have finally found my happy place with curls with the help of ethnic hair products).

Anyway, here I am appauled at the reference wondering if the school is making racist remarks to my impressionable little boy. (Yes, there are some areas racism runs rampant down here.) Anywho, then he starts spouting off the requirements to be president, the requirements to vote, asking Bob and I questions as if my mouth could drop open even farther. The child is in FIRST grade!!! He asked if we were going to run for president when we were old enough, if we are going to vote since it is our obligation to our country, who we're voting for and why!

HELLLLLLLLOOOOO!!!!! You are 6! He proceeded to tell us that John McCain's daughter wants to put more art in the White House if he's elected. They both have two daughters and are married. I have sent a note to his teacher inquiring about the remarks and also suggesting they should have a mock election. He asked if could go into the booth with me when I vote so he can "experience the freedom bestowed upon us by the Constitution". Good grief...

By the way, he's decided he would vote for Obama, but he's confident McCain is going to win. If he's right, he and I are playing the lottery on the 5th!