Really!

There are just four more days of school left and I hope Elijah can make it these last four days. He has been "on it" all weekend. By "on it" I mean just pushing every button that I have. Pushing me to the brink of madness. He can be unrelenting in his arguing and disrespectfulness. I am just hoping he can get through these last four days of school. All I could think was "Really, really....you have to act this way!"

I had a little "come to Jesus" with him this afternoon and behavior seemed to improve. However, I hate having to get into this mode to get his attention. I am hoping he can have a pretty good last four days of school and that we survive this summer.

When are you going to leave?

"When are you going to leave?" These are the words that I hear from Elijah each weekend morning after I get up. Most weekends I have my mystery shops to complete and he stays with Jacob and plays on the Wii. He has such a limited amount of time on the Wii that he prefers that I leave so he can play. I remember the days when he didn't want me to leave! He would prefer that my partner and I go out dancing every weekend so he can have his electronics time! I am at least glad to see he is over some of his anxiety about me not being with him at all times.

I am hoping to cut down on my mystery shops this summer to spend more time at home with him and Jacob. Of course, Jacob is into his own stuff and really could care less at this point if I spend time with him. I'll have to see what plans I can make that might entice him to come off with us. Elijah is my movie buddy, so I think we will try to see a few this summer. I need to enjoy my boys while I can. Jacob will be 16 and graduating in two years. Elijah is 12, but I know he will grow up quickly too(at least I hope so!). I want to have a fun summer and hope my boys will want to spend time with me and not ask me to leave!

Two More Weeks until Summer Break

Both the boys and I have two more weeks until summer break! We are all ready for it. Of course, we will be a little busy during that time. I have a three day workshop about 30 min from home in June and then I travel to Houston in July for the Statewide Conference for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students. My partner will keep the boys while I am gone for statewide. I think that will be an interesting experience for all three of them and probably for me! Thankfully, Jacob is old enough to help babysit Elijah. I will pay him to babysit during that time and to help his step mom with Elijah so she can work during the day.

Jacob is taking driver's ed for three weeks and we have to go and camp out at the DMV to get his permit. He then has to wait six months to get his driver's license. I will have to make him an appointment some time after he finishes driver's ed to take his driving test in six months. YES, you hear me right, make an appointment to take the test. I have hear the horror stories of parents and kids getting in line at four in the morning and still not getting to take the test. The DMV only does so many driving tests a day and if you don't make it, well then you have to come back. He turns 16 in July, but he isn't just chomping at the bit to drive yet!

We are not going on vacation at all this summer, really. We will probably go see my mom in Marshall for a few days at some point. I hope we can go to the movies and do some fun things in the area! We also have a membership at the recreation center in town so we will be visiting there often. I plan on staying on my weight watchers and losing as much weight as I can! My partner plans on teaching Jacob and I a foreign language!The boys have a few doctor appointments, but nothing too exciting.I will also be doing my mystery shopping, but have VOWED not to sign up for a billion shops and never be home. I like the extra money though and that money allows us to do some of the fun things we want to do!

Freeze the Cheese!

One of Elijah's medicine's makes him very hungry. This has resulted in locking up food in my bedroom and also putting a lock on the freezer. Every afternoon he has two tortillas with two cheese slices for a snack. I leave it all in the fridge and he heats it up himself. Well, he started eating the cheese slices in the fridge and we were going through cheese quickly. I also worry about him putting on too much weight. We finally took the cheese and started freezing it it with two slices put together. I used parchment paper to separate the cheese into two slice groups and then put them together in a ziplock bag. It has actually worked out quite well.

Now fruit is always available and shockingly enough, Elijah chose an apple for a snack the other day. I was quite proud of him. I am thankful for the medicine, but I hate that it has caused him to gain so much weight. I guess you have to weigh the pros and cons of medication. Right now he needs the medicine so he can't function, so I just have to make sure I monitor what he eats!

I am also monitoring what I eat and have started back on weight watchers. I lost five pounds during my first week! I am very motivated this time around!