So teach us to number our days

11.45 AM Thursday ... 

I was awakened by a little girl at 4.30 AM.  Said girl was back asleep in 3 minutes.  I, on the other hand, was not. ;) 

I made a lovely to-do list (using the principle I learned from Life as Mom that one day's to-do list only fits on a 3" x 3" post-it note). 

But ... the day happened. 

I received a message from the pediatrician's nurse, answering my question, and saying the doctor would like to see the child in question in person.  So I called and got an 8.20 AM appointment. At 7.30 we left and dropped one child off at school, and then drove 20 miles to take the other child to the pediatrician.  On our way, I ate string cheese, a boiled egg, and some dry cheerios.  On our way home, we stopped at Walgreens for some lotion, and at McD's for a cinnamon roll for said child. :) 

Home ... cleared off two surfaces in the living room, sorted 3 hampers of clean clothes and 2 of towels. Put all the towels away ... in kitchen, half bath, upstairs bath, and rag bin.  Swept the garage which was full of corn husks blown in by the wind (& a bonus dead mouse - eek!!).  Called the pediatrician to schedule two well-visits in January.  Called the lab to schedule my December labs.  Replied to one doctor on their portal.  Messaged another doctor on their portal.  Replied to the pediatric hearing clinic in prep for annual testing.  And listened to two podcasts as I worked.

Thankfully at 6.30 AM, I had put chicken thighs in the crockpot.  So, at least we have food that is ready to eat. :) 

Maybe I can get a nap in before school pickup.  And today's post-it note will still work tomorrow. :)

November

We are already into week 2 of November, and why do I feel behind? 

I always have great intentions of working on Christmas card prep in September & October, so that I can mail our Christmas cards the day before or after Thanksgiving.   But ... I have procrastinated taking my computer in to get repaired. 

Our Thanksgiving menu is set for the extended family. It's actually a pretty well-oiled machine.  I decided to purchase the dry ingredients for my portion in my Walmart order this week, and was schocked that Jell-o was $5 for a 3 ounce box, and $6 for a 6 ounce box.  What?!?  

I usually use the whip attachment on my Kitchen Aid to make whipped cream for Thanksgiving.  But, guess what? My other attachment (paddle?) is stuck ON my Kitchen Aid.  Google tells me I can use mineral oil to release it. 

And, in what can only be described as a 2022 problem, my phone is not talking with our van.  Almost daily I find new tips on Google to try to remedy it.  Hopefully one of them will work.  

We are counting on using the Maps feature a week from today when I have not one, but two, appointments in Chicago.  

And by then, November will be half over.  Time flies!

1000 Gifts, Vol. 6, #70

691.  fantastic start to our missions conference month!  (Seriously! The sermons could be preached at Urbana.)

692.  opportunity to teach about missions to a class of 3rd grade Sunday school students

693.  magic paint books for a morning off school

694.  better weather tomorrow and hopes of getting out into the great outdoors for day 4 of this super long weekend

695.  being caught up on the dishes (we'll ignore the laundry ...)

696.  enjoying my Christmas gift from last year almost daily (secretary in family room)

697.  an 8 year old being consumed with magnetic tiles for HOURS!

698.  an amazing double stroller for dolls (or stuffed animals) that LM picked out (for $8) at the kids' consignment store as her bribe for getting her flu shot

699.  a few finds for LG too at both our local (20 miles away) kids' consignment store and the one in his hearing clinic city (70 miles away) last week - over the door basketball hoop, army guys, etc. 

700.  a new week full of seven days with fresh mercies!

 

Nooks & Crannies

I continue to snatch moments to "keep up with stuff."

I have no shame in saying that one of my favorite podcasts is A Slob Comes Clean.  And I am a frequent contributor to a local thrift store, as in the back of our van pretty much ALWAYS has bags and boxes ready to be dropped off if we happen to go that direction when it is open. 

In the past few days I have gone through three of the very deep built-ins next to the washer & dryer, three of the upper kitchen cabinets (six doors' worth), the boxes of tea I had accumulated in a drawer, and the mess that was under the kitchen sink.  

A friend happily accepted the flavors of tea I don't drink.  

The thrift store is getting some old leftover containers.

And some old sponges are in the trash. 

(There was a lot more that got removed, but I can't even remember now what it was.  And that proves my point that I am wasting precious space in our house with things we do not need or even know that we have.)

Which cupboard shall I go through next? Wanna join me?

Medical Marathon

Last Monday I had my monthly 4-hour infusion (at home!!).

Last Tuesday I had a bone scan at the imaging center. 

Last Wednesday I drove LM 70 miles for a doctor appointment. 

Last Thursday I had a colonoscopy.

Last Friday I drove 20 miles to pick up two prescriptions. One was available. One was not. (And I am currently trying to advocate for the doctor's office to be able to send prescriptions to our local pharmacy.)

This Monday I had my monthly labs (& picked up the second prescription).

This Tuesday one child had a provider appointment & both children got their flu shots.  Once again, I tried to pick up a prescription (in the city).

This Wednesday I saw my allergist's PA for a sinus infection (probably partly due to being rundown!)  ~ finally picked up the prescription from the day before ~ and drove LG 70 miles for his hearing test.  (While I was there, our small town pharmacy delivered an antibiotic for my sinus infection to our front door, and hung it on the door! YAY for small town pharmacies!!)

In the midst of all that, we forgot my weekly shot TWICE!  (I still got it, but a day late each time...)

And I made several phone calls trying to appease insurance so I can see a new specialist.  And I emailed the school nurse a copy of LG's hearing test results, so he doesn't have to have a hearing screening at school. 

Next up is receiving the shipment of my next infusion drug and then the next scheduled medical appointment is my 4-hour infusion (over 3 weeks from now).  I, for one, am glad for a pause on medical-related trips!

*Note - if I don't mention "at home" or "70 miles," each appointment was 20-25 miles away.

2023 Holiday Season

Apparently some people start decorating for Christmas on November 1st!  I have always waited until after Thanksgiving, but this year I have already turned on Christmas music on the Abiding Radio app. :) 

While I am currently taking the 1000 Gifts in 3 weeks challenge (looking ahead to Thanksgiving), I'm also considering starting an Advent book now, to ensure I finish it by 12/25. :)

And with the time change this weekend, I'm thinking about stringing the lights in our van, so we can have festive rides home anytime we're driving home after 4.30PM!

And, speaking of light, I might set out my collection of winter/ Christmas candle holders on my kitchen windowsill.  Anything to cheer us up on these dark winter nights.  

We use our Christmas dishes year round, because Jim prefers their feel. ;) 

I don't want to bring the Christmas picture books up from the basement, because we still have Thanksgiving picture books out.  Same with the fall tablecloth.  

I'm already feeling a bit schizophrenic about the seasons.  What do you do?

Waiting Room tribe

Yesterday was Little Guy's regular hearing test (which has now been moved to an annual event!!!).  And once again, I reflected on what a special place the waiting room of our pediatric hearing clinic is.

(Turns out that I wrote about it 6 years ago here.)

The friendly face at the receptionist's desk has been the same since our first visit 8 1/2 years ago.  I overheard her leaving a message with a family in another city about a referral for their 4 month old baby, following up on his or her newborn hearing screen.  She very kindly explained that it was crucial to schedule the baby's 3 hour hearing test soon while he or she still sleeps for long periods.  

LG's first audiologist (who diagnosed him) came to the door to call her next patient, and she looked so happy to see us.  Such gentle love shone through her eyes as she spoke with LG. 

Her patient was a 7 month old boy, whose mom & grandma had driven from a town an hour and 20 minutes away.  I overheard that part, so didn't comment on it, but my whole being wanted to say, "The drive is worth it!  If you need any follow-up appointments, every mile is worth it."  They obviously are madly in love with the little guy and were interacting with him, talking, playing games, etc., and also hoping against hope that he heard them.  

And then LG's audiologist came to the door to get him.  He had 10 miniature action figures and accessories spread out on the waiting room couch, and was very engaged in play.  It's such a comfortable place, and he's very much at home there.  Of course, he walked through that lobby multiple times a day during the 2.75 years he attended school upstairs, and I remember the day when he was a toddler and we did a noisy nebulizer treatment in that lobby.

The school secretary from upstairs popped in to talk with the receptionist, and we had a lengthy conversation about our former carpool friends and about Little Miss.  Walking out to our van, we ran into one of LG's former speech therapists and had another lengthy conversation. 

I miss that place! And am so thankful for the vision of one ENT, and that God showed favor on his vision to make it a reality out here in the middle of the cornfields!