A dim Sunday

It is Sunday and actually quite dreary......

OK..... soooooo..... There has been no winter in N. Idaho, the land of ID!!!!

We went out on the bikes today. We rode to Krispy Kreme Doughnuts in Spokane Valley via the 53. We did well except for a careless driver who wanted to pass opposing traffic in our lane.... My brakes work as does Phil's middle finger!!! Ouch! We are less tolerant of stupid people on our bike, that's for sure!

My gloves were too tight which made the first half of the ride painful. I know better. I prefer to ride without but still a little too cold for bare hands!!!! Wore suede gloves home.... AHHHH! Much better!

I am so ready for riding!!!

So, it has been 2 days..... Dylan has been much better! We are just sticking to our collective guns! It is hard raising an "only child" with special needs. As a matter of fact, it's damn difficult when they get to be his age. We love him so much and the kindest thing we can do is set boundaries.

Two new CASA cases. One abuse, the other neglect. I hate dopers! I hate dirtbag selfish people who inflict their addictions on their kids. The abuse one we can fix. I am sure the Dad didn't mean to do it.

Taking back my home!

I had the ultimate epiphany tonight. The tail has been wagging the dog! Oh my gosh! Has it ever!

In case you haven't guessed it already, I am speaking about my wonderfully funny and sweet grandson, Dylan..... Absolute light of my life..... Who is also spoiled and over indulged by yours truly! A little help from my husband too!

Dylan's massive toy collection has begun to take over our house. Part of the problem is Dylan's OCD and his attachment to his toys. Dylan can tell you when and on what occasion he rec'd a particular toy. He knows who gave it to him or whether he bought it at Walmart, Target, Toys R Us or on eBay. He has such a deep attachment to these toys that it is next to impossible to dispose of anything. Anyone who has ever been in my house knows just exactly what I am talking about. He collects "sets" of things and wants EVERYTHING saved for his kids. He has severe anxiety attacks if you try to make him get rid of something. Also, although he is pretty rough on things, God forbid there be a mark or a scuff on anything. Mr. Clean Magic Erasers have been a Godsend when it comes to removing minor marks. I have also become quite the expert at color matching things with Sharpie markers or model paints.

It all came to a head tonight over putting his Cars toys in individual Ziploc bags. Dylan had put each individual toy in a Ziploc then wrote the name of the toy on the Ziploc. It was time to pick up and start getting ready for bed. Dylan has begun to argue and was particularly boisterous tonight. On top of being loud and argumentative he threw a couple of items out of frustration.

Phil was getting upset and I finally had had enough. It was if I'd been Godsmacked! I very quietly and firmly told the little scoundrel that I was taking back control and the "tail was no longer wagging the dog". It took about an hour and lots of angry voices and angry body stomping, kicking, bargaining (on his part) without budging me. He lost some privileges, but, all in all everything got done.

I know that setting boundaries is the most loving and kind thing we can do for Dylan. He knows we love him. We want the best for him. We know that Dylan can control his temper in most instances. He has a long way to go but if we can work together and be firm in our resolve we can take back control of this house.

I pray one of us lives long enough to see Dylan into adulthood. I want to be around for all the grandkids but Dylan will need some extra guidance. Phil and I are all he has to rely on. Other than his mother in Spokane, no other family live close by.

Doctor Visit

OK, so I went to the doctor today totally expecting bad news. You see, I USED to be a diabetic but, thanks to gastric bypass, I am in remission. The good news is my FBS was 109 and my HgbA1C was within normal limits. Great news! Bad news is my weight has crept up. I won't say how much but I will say regaining my weight is one of my greatest fears.

I never really wanted to be super thin. A size 10 or 12 is fine. I am not under the illusion that being thin will solve all of my problems or make my depression go away.

I have to say that seeing pictures of people I went to school with has helped with my perspective. Everyone looks great to me!! Notice I didn't say "they don't look like they have aged". We have all aged but everyone looks great! I am not the only one who has gained weight or looks OLDER than their senior photos.

Anyway, the nurse practitioner gave me my 30 days to lose 4 lbs. I am also to keep a calendar and keep track of exercise - 30 minutes a day. Walking, stationary bike, Zumba!, dance classes - anything! I took the dog out for a walk when I got home - 30 minutes! The dog isn't used to it! Poor thing!

I love the Skecher Shape-Up shoes. I have 2 pair and they are they most comfortable things! I feel like I my posture is better and the thicker sole makes them super comfortable. Altho' a little expensive at $110, they feel well worth the price. So..... 30 min a day!

The days are getting longer..... I need the sun! Days are getting warmer too! We have had next to no snow but I am OK with it!

I am OK with everything, I guess....

OK! Leave me a comment if you are following this BLOG! I write for people to read, otherwise, I would just keep a journal. Actually...... I am suppose to keep a journal!

OK.... So today I got caught up on a few things, made Valentine cards and mailed them, etc., etc.

My Check Engine light is being schizophrenic. It can't decide on or off. Will see in shop on Thursday!

Parker Toyota is still awesome! They take very good care of us there! Thank you Joe, Kevin and the service guys!

We are now trying to decide when exactly we will make another attempt at going to Andros! It looks like mid to late June!

Today

OK, so I finally talked to Todd today. He is OK as OK can be...... Holding up OK under the stress. We sent money so he can buy necessities. Trust me, it is no fun. If you don't understand, send me an e-mail and I'll es'plain it to you or read a couple of earlier posts.....

Went out and about running errands, getting stuff straightened out with the new truck. Check engine light goes on if the gas cap is screwed in wrong. Light finally went out again after the system rechecked it's self and realized everything was OK. Sheeeesh! Trying to outfit truck with all the necessities I normally have in a car/truck. Kleenex, baby wipes, gum, hairbrush, pen, pencil, paper, etc., etc. Truck goes to Best Buy on Wednesday to have XM installed. New DVD system will be $600 so I have nixed that for now. Dylan didn't use the one in my last car! I really didn't want another car payment but I have had 3 at the same time so I am doing good. The other one is on Phil's bike.

Speaking of bikes...... We rolled ours out yesterday afternoon in about 43 degrees. I wore my chaps, leather jacket and boots. Couldn't find leather gloves so I wore suede which I can already tell you, is not the same. My face and my hands got cold! (Am I repeating myself?) I think like the groundhog, it'll be another 6 weeks before I roll mine out again!

After some subtle hints from husband not liking my hair longer, I went and had it all chopped off AGAIN! Nine months growth-Gone! Poof! Next, time to figure out how to cover the gray that is color-resistant. Any hints!? Anyone?

Gonna try to find time to make all my Valentine cards this year. Tomorrow is the last day for me to get them out so I have got to get them done....

I mailed out a box to Mandy, 2 mooched books, I'm doing good. Also finished a hat for our favorite Toyota salesman.

That is all for tonight, I guess.

I remain supremely blessed!

Superbowl Weekend

OK! Well, it has been a fairly uneventful weekend. We did go and buy a 2010 Tundra. Traded in my Scion XB for a truck. We have missed having a truck!

No real response from my post about being used. I posted it on Facebook. No one is that dense! We move on, I guess!

Took bikes out when it was about 42 degrees. Wore chaps, leather jacket, boots and suede gloves. Only thing that got cold was my face and hands. Dylan rode behind me for part of ride and in sidecar for rest of time. we will figure out how to get dog in sidecar when it warms up a little. Rode into CDA and back. Will wait until it gets alot warmer. Probably March or April. I rolled it out in April last year when it was 40 in the AM and rode home in the 70's.

Still trying to decide what to do with my hair.

Catching up!

Hello to all-- I haven't blogged for forever! Some catching up to do!

First of all, everyone is fine. All of us are healthy!

Veronica married her husband, Mark Ebel. They now have a son, Matthew, who is about 17 months old and absolutely adorable. Veronica works a few hours a week at Safeway in Spokane and also helps Mark with the shop, Ebel's Auto Repair, on Nevada in Spokane. Mark runs a clean shop and stands behind his work.

Alexis is doing well in 2nd grade and is a big help at home. She spends every other weekend with us. She continues to bond with us and also gets some special "just Grandma and me" time.

Amanda and Loren continue their world adventures. They are currently divemasters at an all inclusive resort called Small Hope Bay Lodge on the island of Andros in the Bahamas. They both enjoy the thrill of underwater exploration including caves, wrecks and "blue holes". We hope to visit as a family in June.

Bridget has rec'd her RN and is now in school for her BSN and has said she would like to be a Nurse Practitioner. Her family is doing very well.

Tyler is currently in Iraq at FOB Endeavour. He doesn't like Iraq very much but does enjoy military life. He completed Ranger School last year and we surprised him by attending his graduation. Tyler is working on his college education while in Iraq and hopes to apply for OCS when he returns to the States. Tyler's wife, Chrissy, continues to work on her BA and take care of little Nevaeh. They currently live on Ft. Benning in base housing. Chrissy is currently home-schooling Nevaeh.

Todd continues to have his difficulties. He is currently incarcerated in Florida after violating probation both in Florida and here in Idaho. He is currently completing his sentence in Florida State Dept. of Corrections. We fully support his desire to change and hope he can make the needed changes in life. Todd's children, Nicole, TJ and Tristan, are living with their mom, Michelle, in Pensacola, FL. They a wonderful, active a precocious kids. We expect Todd to be released from custody at the end of September 2010. at that time, he expects to stay in Florida and try to reestablish his life and support his children.

Mike lives in Allegany, NY with his wife, Misty. Mike's children are doing well. Mike still works for Zippo and Misty is an RN.

Phil has lost all of the weight he needed to lose and then some! He looks great and feels a ton better. He bought a new motorcycle last year and I now ride the 2002 with a sidecar. Dylan rides in the sidecar or behind me if Alexis is with us. We plan on riding a great deal this coming summer!

Phil, Dylan and I plan to go to visit Amanda and Loren in the Bahamas this summer. I was supposed to go this month but it just didn't work out for a number of different reasons. We will try again..... Also, Dylan will attend TESH summer day camp for 6 weeks so we will be busy!

I am doing well. I am still fighting the battle of the waistline due mostly to my poor relationship with food. I have struggled with it all my life. I had gastric bypass in 2007 which was a great deal of help and definitely the right decision for me. The surgery is NOT the cure-all for obesity but it is a great tool. I just need to get my act together and continue to modify my eating habits. I am addicted to SUGAR. I have been addicted to sugar all my life. It is to me what heroin is to a junkie. No melodrama here!! (LOL)

There is other news, BIG news but it is not ready for publication as of yet. Nothing sad, I promise!

Until then, I ask for everyone's thoughts and prayers!

Love to all!