Good morning chickies, or should I be saying goodnight? This is the only way I get to start the daily, so here I am. Sorry I've been a little out of it tonight, I'm keeping my nephew. Talk about a handful!! Change your mind about having kids for sure. Dd loves him, helps keep him entertained, and keeps her from being so bored and whiny all night. Works out great for me. In exchange, sis is keeping dd Tues. night so I can go to the obligatory office Christmas party.

My bf and I are finally biting the bullet and putting up the tree and decorations this weekend. I decided I really don't want to do it on a week-night, and when he's around he can do all the dirty work! Don't tell on me, okay?

Ya'll have a lovely weekend, I'm sure I'll be checking in later to see what you're all up to!

Quick reply today, It is now 5:25am, getting ready for work. This is a large weekend for us, Friday bowling for DH, shopping for me, Sat., Grocery shopping for DH, work for me, We are going to a pot luck tonight, my DS and BIL are going. Tomorrow I work, DH is going into Halifax with his B to see a Hockey game with the teams that reps. our Country for the Jr. world champs??? I don't know too much about hockey!!
Today is oldest sons birthday, this is a busy weekend
Well all for now,
love tazcat

What a day yesterday was! A very sad day for one family and a busy one for me. I am not OP and have not even tried for the last week. I can not think straight so i am just gliding through life right now. My hands are in constant pain. The doc wants me to see a neuro surgeon, and the rate of degeneration i am experiencing i know they wil say surgery and i can not take time off work to do this the bills will not stand it. si I am doing the least i can with my hands HA as if you can do house work wothout your hands! and every time i yell at the kids about their mess i wake up to find it all over again! I still have not the tree decorated the little ones will not do it unless i am helping and guiding. I did try to get them to do it but they are more intetrested in the TV> and it will be decorated at the middle only and on one side if i did that. so i have all my christmas stuff all over the living room for 3 weeks now and the thanksgiving stuff still up! i have a swim meet today and have no food in the house so that is what i will be doing early today till we leave for the swim meet. then when i get home i hasve to finish cleaning and spend all day tomorrow doing the same thing. maybbe the tree willg et finished sunday! i do not have s single gift wraped. i think if i just put tags on it it will be fun! no after christmas mess. I can stand that! especially since i have to work and hubby does nto want to wait till the next day to do christmas! when i can get it done in a relaxed manner! no we have to wake the kids up earlie and do it then and then i have to leave for work I am not looking forward to this christmas! Oh dear my scrooge is comming out! I have just started my christmas card list as i am doing it when i am at swimming if there is not other things to take my time! like well everything! well I am sorry for griping this morning but i am frustereated i just spend 30 min before coffee to try to find my kitchen which i just found last night and woke up to this mess again!!!

i will take more coffee and get off my butt and start it again!

Sue - I'm sorry that your hands hurt. Promise that you'll at least consider listening to the Drs. Are your kids still young enough to believe in Santa? Maybe you can use the "naughty list" as a threat to get some help around the house. Then you could just tell the older ones that either they help out or all the presents go back? My MIL did that to my husband and sibling one year. She actually took everything back. Might explain why DH is a neat freak. LOL Either way, I'm sending good thoughts your way today!

I'm off to the Drs again. My thyroid glands are swollen and I'm out of antibiotics. My cough is worse not better. When will this end?

Holy Moley, Sue. Are you the only person over 5 in your house? Time to kick some butt, I think. You definitely can't do it all. And what's the scoop on your hands? CTS?

I used to go "on strike" and retire to my bedroom with a book, leaving the troops to fend for themselves (PB sandwiches) and clean up their messes. It worked!

I had a lovely morning without DH yesterday. I finished cards, did some wrapping and completely forgot to make him a pizza for lunch. We ended up ordering from the local pizzeria AND testing the new wine with it. Afternoon nap time!

WARNING! Skip the next part if you are not into puppies!Report from Morna on the pups: The puppies are AMAZING. Their eyes opened early and they are busy lumbering around the whelping box and, of course, eating and sleeping. Hershey won't stay in the box with them any more because of their size and strength but lies patiently beside the box until feeding time (or hangs out with me) throughout the day. As soon as their lapping reflex kicks in we will start feeding them as I think they would try to nurse around the clock (hence Hershey's decision to keep them safe but out of reach until she knows it's their feeding time). They are just incredible and we can't believe how well they are doing. Hershey is enjoying motherhood and all the great treats she is getting! She loves being a Mom big time. We make sure she has everything she wants to eat and favourite goodies too! She has spent more time with us this time than the other litters because of the development of the puppies. She knows when she needs to feed them so she happily stays with me - especially when I am making something in the kitchen - you know about that too!! Sigh! The rest of the pups are fine!

My darn incision is giving me grief. It now needs to be covered up again as it is bleeding a bit since the stitches came out. Damn! It's such a nuisance having a bandage and putting on a surgical glove when I cook or clean in the kitchen. I am a fanatic about food and germs! DH is going to help with wrapping again today - or else go out to buy gift bags!

Right now I'm off to my Vanilla Creme tubby and then will start the day. I am so lazy in the winter - especially on cloudy mornings.

Happy weekend. Take time for YOU, everyone!

Good Morning Ladies

Sue...Im sorry to hear about your wrists, what is it thats causing the pain?

Ruth...I love puppies, and dogs!! The closest I get to owning a dog at the moment is my golden retriever calendar! Some day!!! in the not too distant future I hope.

Dyan, take care of yourself.

Got the final proofs back from the company in FL for the business cards. Ive never been so impressed with a business card before lol. I sent them the pic and the lettering and text I wanted on them, and where to put everything, and when they sent the proof to me, it almost has a 3-d look to them.

Thats it for me, have a good saturday everyone
Robin

hi sue, dyan, ruth, robin-

and sherrie- I see you were an early riser!

I got a lot of stuff done yesterday, and can just relax today. I washed the kitchen floor, and did a quick wipe down in the bathroom and that's it! Not much going on here, just slow progress toward Christmas, maybe do the cards this afternoon.

my SIL came through a hard surgery yesterday very well, and was actually looking better last night than in a few days. She is getting some pain meds, and that may be taking the edge off- her face looks more relaxed. but we have a bad time ahead.

I will do some Christmas wrapping and decorating with my neice here this afternoon, but she is making a gingerbread house at a friend's and doesn't want to leave! Saturdays her mom, my DS works, and her dad is at the hospital, so I will keep her for a while.

Thank you all for your good wishes and prayers for my SIL. I will print them out later and take them to her. Neice and I are going to make get well cards later also, and I'll take them to the hospital. We are hoping that Toni can come home some time next week, with hospice care. She has to have one more minor surgical procedure, but that should be it. I know she wants to come home, and be home for Christmas.

Ruth, I am with you. A day without the DH really helps! Boy Sue, you're going to drop if you don't take it easy! hi to everyone,take care to keep yourself in good shape!

Heating up some chili, see you later...

dottie

Sue SLOW DOWN, GIRL!!!!! I don't think I know anybody who seems to live in such utter chaos as you do. Is your home really in such a turmoil as your posts make it seem? Even when my kids were young and I was a working Mom I can't remember going through what you seem to be enduring. When do you have any "me" time? You really, really need it. Sorry for the lecture but I worry about you.

Dottie I'm glad your SIL is feeling a bit better. It's good that you're keeping your niece occupied. Lots of times young folks keep their feelings bottled up because they don't want to seem "uncool". She'll need a shoulder to lean on.

I spent the morning baking bread (started in the bread machine) so the house smells lovely now. It helps to have some new air fresheners in each bathroom and potpourri simmering as well. I cleaned both bathrooms and now they just sparkle. I still have some wrapping to do but it's mostly all done. Now, if only I could leave the home baking alone.......

without meaning to trivialize anything that's going on in everyone's lives it seems to me the most important thing is BOYFRIEND?? SHERRIE???? WE DIDN'T GIVE OUR STAMP OF APPROVAL TO THIS GUY.. WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HIM!!!!!

so, start dishin!!!!

ok. now. sue.. you sound like you're in an absolute panic!!!! and overwhelmed and miserable. breathe!!! please.

linda.. you're always doing SOMETHING yummy!!!!

and thanks for the puppy update, ruth... it seems all is right with the world. i met up with a young puppy today that someone recently adopted. they were out for a socialization walk, and this pup has a long way to go. she was a stray. and by her reaction, an abused one. she came up to me, and sniffed. and wagged, and when i reached out to her, she snapped and growled in absolute fear. no, she didn't hurt me a bit. but she needs work. at least she adores her owner, who seems gentle and kind and understanding. i hope to run into them again in a few months.

dottie robin taz such busy ladies!!!!

last night, i turned the computer on and then the next thing i knew, it was and hour and a half later, and the cat was sound asleep on my lap!! we'd both passed out. so, we got up and went to bed. she wasn't too pleased about being moved, but she's forgiving., as soon as i was settled, she jumped up and climbed onto me and off we both went to sleep again.

and a very busy day for me as well.. running around. manicures, pedicures. and the past couple of mornings, i've been hitting the mall before work. i'm telling ya, being there by 9 am sure makes a difference!!

The car needs a new transmission. expensive, but nearly as expensive as a new car, so i'll spend the money and be done with it.

otherwise, disorganized, stressed, cranky, you know. the usual christmas stress stuff...

love you all..

Good morning, Sweeties. I woke up thinking it was 2 a.m. as usual and lay there for a while. Finally opened my eyes to see it was dawn. I slept the whole night! Some kind of miracle!

Goofed off a lot yesterday and spent a lot of time whining about my incision to DH. Doesn't do a damned bit of good! However he did take me to the Pub for lunch - wings and salad. Of course after that (one glass of wine), I needed a nap. Oh well, I know Christmas still come s even if the gifts are not wrapped.

Church this morning and then will finish the gifts on the diningroom table. Gail comes tomorrow so I need to do my major tidy.

PLEASE take some quiet time for yourself everyone.

Sorry gutys i was very ticked yesterday when i came down stairs, and yes i was hurting! Yes it is carple tunnel and raynauds. I was lauging when iwas cutting up my chicken for the crock pot. my knife hands was numb from the CTS asnd my left was nub from the raynauds. I had to be very careful so i did not cut off my fingers and cook them too! I would not have seen it as when the raynauds kicks in the circulation stops and i would not have bled untill my fingers thawed out. I will see the surgeon but i can not take the time off from work to have the surgery. i am sure they will send me to PT for some exercises and some braces first but i am really concerned about the degeneration. i was just a bit numb with activity in july and now i am in constant pain. I know the raynauds does not help but the pain in in the joints of the hands not the finger tips Although they do hurt when they get cold. (the reason the out side is not decorated! besdies the time factor)


Actualy yes my house is in constant turmoil. I need a dish washer as i seem to spend atleast a half hour washing dishes every morning and evening. with 7 people in the house Yes they are all over 5 unfortunatly i can not even get them to clean their clotes up from the floor let alone help with the celaning. I have done the strike before and it just gets worse! i have gotten to the point of not seeing my kitchen let alone the counters. i do laundry and it stays on the dinning room table. we have not eaten on the table in 2 months! every one gets the plate and hides in the rooms. and then leaves the dishes in the rooms. i try not to do the dishes so they would learn but then the bring it over with out a plate and the dishes start spreading all over the kitchen and i can not stand that. Yes i am stressed especially since DH was home yesterday and not a thing was done except more dishes in the sink! i did wrap some gifts today so i feel better but i ended up leaving the sink full so that is where i am headding now. then maybe the tree. I need to see the house atleast once before christmas.

Ruth your puppies sound cute!!!

Robin glad your cards came out looking good that does make a huge difference in presentation!

Linda I just love the smell of home baked bread. MMMM it sounds like a plan. i have some meatballs and sausage to make for dinner and some home made reads sounds really good. I know it is not OP but I just can not think about it although i have been suffering from carb overload.

Jiff it sounds like you and your cat need that snooze!

dottie i did a ginger bread house last year it was fun! some thing to try atleast once! make sure you get the frosting that hardens and is just right! it sure tasted good eating it! Glad SIL is doing better!

Dyane this is not the time of the year to get sick!!! take your vits and some eccenacia (sp) i find that really helps

well off for some coffee and to see if i can find my kitchen once again!

Susan, sweetie, I think you need a chick intervention in your house to kick some serious butt! I think that the chick meet should be at YOUR house and we will take care of everything and every one....REALLY REALLY GOOD!!!! Be fun...at least for me!

Well, I think I am finally beginning to relax. Everything here, although it may not LOOK like it is really under control. The tree is up and we will decorate it today. Most all of the present shopping is done and except for the boys' stuff it is wrapped and put in large labeled garbage bags to be pulled out or dropped off at the appropriate places and times. The cards are done and I will be mailing them out tomorrow. AND I am looking forward to a little (ok ALOT) of Christmas spirit this week. You know, the quiet times that you can light some candles, put on some carols, light the tree and wrap presents and make cookies with a bit of time to spare. LOVE THAT!

so.....may your days be merry and bright!!!

(I hear some bah humbugs?)

hope those of you who do not feel well, feel better soon.....really soon!

Ruth! Thanks for the puppy tales!!!

peach
ps LOVE those baskets Jenny!!!! I pine for the big huge hamper!!!!!!

and Sherrie? we need the scoop on the boy friend....you know...things like his credit card status and what not? Does he have a brother for Jiff? Is he neat in the bathroom?

really done!

Hi everybody

Im home relaxing, resting, and about to go curl up with my book. I left hubby at the store. Its just too quiet for both of us to sit there.

No, bah humbugs here ......Im looking forward to the same things Peach, you actually reminded me that I need to pick up some more candles and tea lights for the house.

I seemed to have an episode with my scale....a while ago, I had mentioned that I had cheated and got on the scale, and lost 1 lb. Well, I got on it today, and I had to get off, and get back on, I got off one more time, bent over and looked closer at the scale, and got back on the thing. Im down to 205 from just a few days ago, of 214. Im assuming I read the scale wrong a few days ago!! Because I really dont think its possible to loose 9 lbs in just a few days, unless Id sprung a leak someplace!!

Its been a quiet weekend, my cold isnt getting any better. I need it to lighten up a bit before I get on the plane....otherwise its going to hurt

Have a good one
Robin

Am somewhat mobile and thinking at the moment, just trying to right my internal clock to get through the next week. Today is really the calm before the storm as it promises to be far too busy for words. The first shifts went well, but as expected, today was a little harder than yesterday. No fuss at all, very quiet. Dh was a star taking care of Miree.

My house however, is trashed and needs a major overhaul. That will be tomorrow as the major festivities begin Tuesday. Sorry I haven't repsonded to everyone, just know that I am thinking about you and smiling (or frowning as the case may be) to everyone's posts!

Off to get some more rest and hoprfully I won't be so dull-witted tomorrow. Sweet dreams!

Why is it men can look after the kids...or look after the house...or look after the laundry, the shopping, the car OR the lawn...but they can't do all of them at once as we are expected to do? I really wanna know. Just thinking about Pooky and Sue and some of the other busy gals here...all working moms who always seem to have much more to do than any human should have to do. They are so grateful for the slightest bit of help from anyone in their families. I'm guilty of this too but my hubby is a 12 hour a day workaholic and I'm a stay at home grandma so my situation is different. I really think it's time some of these husbands and kids got their heads knocked together. Why can't a guy look after a kid and do the dishes and vacuum and pick up around the place? Why can't teens put their own dishes in the sink or dishwasher and wash them? Why can't they clean their own rooms and pick up their own junk from living areas? Come on, Chicks. Lay down the law!