Hard times have hit the Larson family. Tim had an aneurysm about 3 weeks ago, and although he has been making slow strides forward in his healing, he now has meningitis, which can be a deadly and/or debilitating illness.

Vicki got fired from her job over a week ago, had an appeal hearing, but has been told the firing stands. She is now looking for work, and thankfully she does have a few good leads. She is very sad and worried, and is trying very hard not to hold resentment toward The Everett Clinic. Brad, however is very angry (I'm sure it's worry and fear manifested into anger). Vicki and the girls have no insurance as of right now. This is probably one of the biggest concerns. Vicki is starting the job search and working on a resume'.

Just found out that my 15 year old step-niece is pregnant. oh my Lord...

My best friend is about to become a grandma, her daughter's pregnancy is at a worrisome state and she can't work now. I just went to her baby shower Sunday and saw her new place (with boyfriend) Monday, but all I can feel is sadness and concern.

My life with my Jeff and my Kian is so great...but it's hard to keep all of this sadness, anger, fear, worry, concern, and grief out of our happiness. My heart is breaking for all of my loved ones.

sick of the sickies!

Ok, I've had enough! A few weeks ago, Jeff and I both had NASTY colds at the same time. Started to go away...then, Jeff got icky sick on Valentine's Day. Only lasted about a day, no barfy, just icky. Thennnn...I get sick that Saturday night, felt like I got run over by an ICE truck...had the chills like nobody's busines. Woke up in the middle of the night to barf, with the chills, notsomuchfun! The next day, Sunday, I begged Jeff to stay home from work. But, he couldn't. So, I cancelled church at our house and laid around watching Kian wreak havoc on our house. Jeff made it home early from work, I took a nap and a shower, and bam, started feeling better. BTW...2nd President's Day weekend IN A ROW that I have been poopy/barfy sick!!! ugh!

Today, a week later...Kian is SUPER fussy! ALL day. Tried to nap him FOUR times! Only successful ONCE! Yesterday, he needed a nap in the morning, but we were headed to grocery shop. When we came home, he went down for a nap before noon...epic fail! He only slept about an hour, and we were headed to to JCPenney for family portraits at 3:20...he pretty much needed another one...right about then! Well, he made it, the pictures are OK, and then we headed to dinner at Red Robin. The fish n chips that Jeff and I were so looking forward to were a let down. Bummer. Kian LOVED his cheese pizza and mandarin oranges, though!

Found a new canine tooth in Brayby's mouth just before happy bedtime with daddy! No wonder!

Work last week...epic fail. I'm hoping for a fresh start tomorrow. I need to figure out how to help these kiddos behave without raising my voice...I hate raising my voice.

Snow dayzzzzz

What a week it's been! Non school day Monday, then four snow days. Darnit, I was looking forward to our crazy, weird, short week, and then next week as well! Oh well, it's been interesting!

I've been home with Kian for 4 days straight (well, he had a little time at Bethy's on Monday) and it's been interesting, to say the least! Yesterday, Wednesday, was a wild roller coaster of a day here in this home! Kian was adorable, sweet, funny, happy, mad, infuriating, and adorable! I have no idea what order these things happened, but here is a bulleted list of our ONE day!

• while I was trying to help him down the stairs (while holding hot tea) he accidentally let go of my finger and fell down. Since I was holding tea, I tried to stop him...with my foot...which backfired, and I almost sorta pushed him down the stairs. He barrel rolled, recovered quickly, no injuries!
• I have started trying to put him on time out for pushing the power button on the VCR...it makes the tv all snowy. After putting him on timeout about 5 times for this, he started going over to the VCR, pushing the button and RUNNING to the time out spot on the stairs!
• As I sit in the chaise in his playroom (the only way he'll play in there) holding my hot tea, he thinks I'm his personal jungle gym and climbs all over me. I have nowhere to put the tea, so it is spilled on me!
• We went outside to shovel the driveway so daddy could come back home. Kian is a very good boy and plays close by while I shovel. Doesn't take me too long. Then we migrate down 2 houses to Alexander's house where he is playing in the snow with his mom and dad. Kian gets to sled for the first time, down their driveway! He is indifferent, but I think he liked it!
• Bethy (daycare) says Kian has been napping for 2 hours in the afternoons lately, since she got him down to one nap. Not for mama! 45 min.-one hour was it.
• Mamma doesn't even get to use her laptop at all during the day because Kian thinks it's his toy...lots of buttons to push!
• We go to the neighbors house to visit, and we have some hot cocoa. Whoops, she leaves her chair out at the table. Kian climbs up, grabs the placemat, cocoa cup and all, and down it goes. Chocolatey cocoa all over him, the floor, and a broken mug! Thank GOD for hardwood!
  
• He loves to push all the cushions off the couch and jump into them...adorable-but I get tired of picking them up!
  
• He also loves to climb the stairs, open our bedroom door, and BOLT into the bathroom-where he is NOT supposed to go. He will not listen when I call him out of there. He earned a little spankin' on that one! He recovered quickly, trust me! I think I hurt his feelings more than anything!
• he found a small slinky downstairs and a bottle of nail polish (I store the slinky on the polish and fidget with the slinky while watching tv) and played with the two for at least 20 minutes (inside a little ottoman that opens up!)
• he's starting to throw the ball for Maggie...but he throws it AT her...still cute!
• Since a new baby has started at daycare and there is now a swing around, he has figured out how to crawl into the one we still have in his playroom. He crawled into it, swung with a big ole grin, fell out a couple of times, and had a ball!

So goes my day with Kian! I was relieved when daycare was opened back up on Thursday, and I've never had so much fun picking up, dusting, vacuuming, and just generally straightening up the house...knowing it would stay that way for at least a coupla hours!