Taking a breath, catching up

HOLY COW!  What a crazy few days around here!!!

I got so caught up in the first day of school in my last blog... I forgot to mention our weekend and Hurricane Irene!
We didnt have much damage to deal with (very thankful for that).  We lost power for a few hours...and our house leaked, in the normal spot (which will be GONE in a matter of days!)  We spent Sunday in Harrisburg...visiting my grandparents and doing some shopping (with free entertainment--my mom wanted to come along, and had to get into my truck!!  Needed a 2 step, step stool!!  It was GREAT!)  I took some really cute pics of the pups... and got to chit chat with some of my grandparents neighbors.  I wish we had decent neighbors!!  We also took around the kids pics... got everyone's order.  We stopped at Stacy's parents house on the way up through for a few minutes too.  To show them the pics too.

First day of school rolled around... the kids made it through.  Courtney did (and is still doing) GREAT!  We celebrated with a Dairy Queen trip after dinner!! 
Monday night, as we were getting ready for bed...we let the dogs out.  Sprocket came in with a HUGE wound on his side!  That was an ER vet visit.  He needed immediate surgery to make sure it didnt go through his abdominal wall... and to insert a drain and stitch him up.  What a night long ordeal... that kept me up ALL NIGHT LONG!!  Of  course, I was PISSED at my husband who came home at 1 am, decided to call off work yesterday... and then went straight to bed.  Meanwhile... I was up the entire night with the crying, panting, horrified dog... AND I had a full day of school to do yesterday!  Needless to say, I made it through my day... barely.  I am thankful for an amazing teacher... who knows me and my work... and understood that I was NOT my usual self yesterday.  I felt (and still feel) horrible for my drop off of "give a shit" as the day progressed.
That was the first time in a LONG time that I did a marathon 41 hours of being awake.  And it did NOT agree with me one damn bit!  I was super annoyed with Stacy... I couldnt focus on what my kids were telling me... and I had no patience for anything once I got home yesterday!!  On top of being exhausted... I was dealing with a migraine... and I hurt all over.  It just sucked!!

Stacy had to deal with taking Courtney and Nathan to see Dr K (their psychiatrist)...  since I was at school.  Dr K could not believe how much Courtney has changed!!!  He is so super proud of her too!  She took her Prom pics... and he cant even believe that she went to Prom!  He says she is making SUPER progress... and he got her to admit that she doesnt feel anxious much at all anymore!!!  (But she doesnt like to go shopping if she doesnt have money...LOL).  He is happy and proud that she is switching classes this year... and NOT dependant on an emotional support class room!!!  WOOOO HOOOO!!!  Way to go, Courtney!  Just thinking about this... and all that she has over come and accomplished over the years... makes me cry!!!  I wish I would have stopped listening to the "professionals" YEARS ago... and done what I felt was right.  Maybe she would have started making progress sooner.  I kick myself all the time for this.  See, this is what happens when you have a crappy support system that tells you that you arent doing the right things.  You start to believe the bullshit... and you doubt yourself!  Which is what I did for far too long!!  I guess better late than never is how I need to look at this... but it still pisses me off!
Oh well... Courtney is doing GREAT... and she may have autism... but she is finally starting to see and believe that she CAN do anything... Her Momma and Daddy-O  KNOWS she can... and now she does too!!!  I LOVE to hear her talk about Graduation... and Prom this year!  I LOVE that she is LOOKING FORWARD to things to come!!!

Ok... now... on with today.  I need to recover.  LOL!  I got a good nights sleep... but I am feeling a bit weird still from the pain meds.  I think I will work around the house this morning... then run to drop off Courtney's RX's.  Then I have to pick up a few things.  But, I am really feeling kind of lazy... so that may wait until later when the kids get home.  I am sure they will add to the list of supplies they need anyway.
I put a pork roast in the crock pot for dinner.  Not sure what I want to make with it yet.  I guess I have some time to worry about that.
The tub guy comes tomorrow... he better actually refinish my grooming tub this time.  Yes, I am not over the last time yet.
Monday Derick starts on our house!!!!!!!  I CAN NOT WAIT!!!  I just want our house fixed, completed and back to normal!  Oh... and having my shop done will be AWESOME!  I graduate grooming school next week!!!  Then I can focus on opening my shop!!!  Soooo exciting!!!
We really need to get this piano out of the way... and boxing up stuff that can sit around while they are doing the drywall.  OMG... our main bathroom will get completed.... our living room will be liveable... the shop will be done!  RELIEF!!!  Then our focus can be the root cellar and porch!  And then THAT IS IT!!!  At least until spring.
If our house is done... we will still be able to have our annual "pie party" in Sept!!  It has been our tradition since we bought this house... and I am glad that we will be able to keep with it!

OK... I have tons to get done... if I can keep my eyes open to do it... LOL!  I may need to pencil in a cat nap at some point today.  I am still tired.

I hope everyone enjoys the beautiful, sunny day we are having!!

Hmmm....early BUT good!

Not even 10am... and already turning into a pretty good day!!
My tub refinisher comes on Sept 1st!!  Then Derick is scheduled to come Sept 5th!!  MY HOUSE AND MY SHOP WILL BE GETTING PUT BACK TOGETHER!!!  WHOOOO HOOOOO!!!
In addition to that... I think I have Stacy almost talked into taking vacation that week!  So, he and I can finish the flooring in our bedroom AND the upstairs bathroom!!!!!  We will also be able to spend a day at the Grooming Expo!!!

You have NO IDEA how happy it makes me to have my house back together... even more exciting that my shop will be DONE!!! 
Then I can focus on putting my house back together... and getting my shop set up!!!!!!!! 

Then I can focus on "Apple Season"!!

The kids go back to school on Monday... which means PEACE and QUIET!! 
Tomorrow I am taking the kids around to get some group pictures!!

I am hoping to get some homework done today... AND clipping my OES, Sprocket!!  He is getting clipped AND scissored today!!  Before and After pics to come!!

Life is soooo awesome!!!  I am such a happy camper!!!  Even with the few ppl out there throwing negativity our way!!  Sad, desperate ppl that they are.

I want to thank ALL of those friends that have been sooooo supportive and helpful to us in this adventure!!  All of the thoughts, kind words, information, help and general supportive attitudes have been AWESOME!  THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH!!!

Need a break!

First... I have to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my amazing hubby!!! 
I am getting ready to head out to pick up the things needed to make his birthday dinner AND favorite cake (which will actually be mini cupcakes)! 
Then home to cook and bake... and try to forget about the bit of stress I am dealing with! 
Opening a business has A LOT of good points... but damn, start up can be stressful!!  I opted to buy a new damn table... just one less thing we have to worry about and think about.  Stacy has the frame work of the dividing wall (from my shop and the mud room) up... next the door will go in.  We went out last night and bought the lumber needed to put the walls up around Nathan's stairway... and his door.  The chins have been temp relocated... until the piano is out of here and they can be put in that space.  I also got all of my craft stuff packed up to get relocated into the basement where my new craft area is. 
We still need to figure out how the tub is going to be built up... and get those materials.  Tub refinishers are coming on Friday!

I am getting a little tired of waiting on the contractor!  I want to know what supplies we will need... and I want the work to get done!!  We have to take the nook off the front of the house (Stacy found a really nice bay window on CL to go in that wall... which is sitting outside under a tarp).  We have decided that the porch may just have to wait until next spring at this rate.  Because we cant finish the root cellar until that nook is GONE... and the new wall and window are in.  I am REALLY sick of seeing our living room the way it is!!  The storm damage happened back in Apr or May!!  It is AUGUST!!!  Hell... soon I will rip down the rest of the drywall myself and say the hell with it... we dont need a ceiling... I am getting that use to seeing it this way!!! 

Tooooo much needs done around here... and it all is waiting on someone or something else to get done first!  UGH!!!!

Had a nice visit with Jen last night... before we showed Josh's car and ran to Lowe's. 
Just when I was beginning to think I was the ONLY person in the world NOT taught how to use scissors properly... Stacy proved I am NOT!  LOL!!!  Oh well... another new habit to learn before I open up shop!  LOL! 

OHHHHH.... JOSH GRADUATED!!!   THANK GOD!!!  Of course I was the LAST person to know... because my "mother" thinks she is someone special and held the info hostage.  I guess ppl forget I am his mother... but that is ok, I am over it.  It was her last 'horrah'.  We all know how she likes those power trips. 
I hear she is going to have a "party" for Josh too.  I guess I will be the last to know any of that info... goood thing I had something to do with that decision... wait... I DIDNT!  Whatever.  I know how this goes... she plans, my Grandparents host, my Grandfather pays.  Typical of my mother planning a party for someone.  Cant wait to see how this goes.  Then, I will have to have a party for him anyway... because they wont invite everyone that should be invited.  But, it's ok... it give me extra time... I cant have ppl at our house right now anyway... at least not until I have shop walls... LOL!  AND Stacy has a day off work... which isnt for another 2 weeks!!  Poor guy.  Tomorrow starts 14 straight 12 hour days.

I am just SOOOOOOO glad that Josh graduated!!  Too bad it had to be done in summer school... Thanks to my wonderful mother... who I will forever and always hold responsible.  But that is beside the point.
Now Josh needs to work on a full time job!!  Then he can step slowly into the real world of bills and responsibilities!!  I am just so proud of him!!!

Oh well... time to shower and get this day moving in the right direction! 

Pretty productive day...

I managed to get a bunch done today!!  We officially have a 'linen closet' in our upstairs bathroom!!  I ORGANIZED all of my hubby and kid's hunting clothes and things!!  It's amazing the space HANGING things up opens up!!!  I moved the towel shelves in there... and a basket for extra sheets!  It is GREAT!!  I freed up some space in the laundry room.  I am very happy about this!  Since space just became an issue since we are putting in my shop!

In addition to that stuff... I also made my first major shop order!!  Hot pink dryer... bathing system... towels... shear organizer... It was pretty stressful!!!  I did so much research over the past few days that I gave myself a headache!  Next I need to take the plunge and buy my clippers!!  I think I have decided on which ones I want... but, I need one more night to sleep on it!  LOL!! 
Tomorrow Stacy is calling the tub refinishing company.  Then we will figure out if they will come to the tub... or we need to take the tub to them!!  I CAN NOT wait for the tub to get done!!!

I am getting anxious for Derick to come and hang the drywall in our living room!!  I finish the drywall in the upstairs bathroom.  I NEED some of these projects to get done... so I can focus better!!  I am hoping to have our walls up in the shop... so he can do the drywall work in there too!!  BUT, Stacy is on a 21 day work marathon!  UGH!

Tomorrow...
I need to get back in the kitchen and get some more salsa made!  I picked a BUNCH of beautiful tomatoes this evening!!!

Tuesday is my first day of GROOMING SCHOOL!!!  I am sooo excited and nervous!! 

Emotional crap AND fibro

So I have come to realize that the more bullshit I am dealing with... the more my fibro flares up!
I am on a mission to simplify our life.  I am on a big DE CLUTTERING kick!  If we havent used it in 6 months, and I dont see us using it in the future... it is GONE!  I am on a mission to get some of our projects DONE around here...I have weekend goals set every weekend.
I am downsizing our "fleet".  We traded in our Expedition for a new car for Stacy...which he is VERY happy with.  We gave Josh Stacy's cavalier (since Josh's car is a piece of shit... we are fixing it and getting rid of that heap).  I am selling the Bronco 2.  We are also selling the motorcycle. 

I have a HUGE need to just make life a lot more simple... so I can continue on with other goals. 
I start Grooming School in a month... and I want to go into that a clear mind, and less clutter.  I want to be able to get the "green room" done up for my own grooming business. I also want all of the unfinished projects around our house to get DONE!

So... my list for the upcoming weekend and week:
-DECLUTTER
-Continue with jams and jellies (blueberry is next)
-Finish ALL bedroom floors
-Get our bedroom in order and move our "office" up there
-Get rid of at least 3 more bags of donation items and/or trash

I also want to be able to launch http://www.loveduckfarm.com/ by the end of next week!! 

I am so glad I have this place to put all of my goals out there... so I cant just tuck them into the back of my head and forget about them!!!  I am determined to make progress... and this really helps!

Now to talk about the week we just had...
All in all... it has been a very good week.  Yes, I have been a bit more painful than usual... but I have pin pointed the cause, and am in the process of eliminating it from my life!!  Even if we will take a slight financial hit.... to me, it is worth it in the long run!  I can handle the pain it is causing me. 
Again, I am glad we opted OUT of the 4th of July "family" picnic.  That is just another energy sucking ordeal.  It seems to just bring us down with all of the negative energy we are faced with.  I cant stand the fakeness of some... and the flat out stupidity of others.  And, it isnt just me... My husband feels the same.  We had our own, drama free, celebration with the kids.  And I know it pissed some ppl off... but, it's OUR life... so it IS all about us!! 
Yesterday I took the kids to Little Buffalo swimming with Jen and the girls.  We had a GREAT, stress free day!!   Too bad a storm hit... and we had to cut it short!  I have hopes of planning another trip there before the summer is over.
Other stuff this week...  Stacy gave Josh his cavalier.  I have to add that we are seeing A LOT of growth in Josh lately.  We are both very proud of him... and LOVE spending time with him!!  AND... I cant wait to get rid of his previous EVIL car!!!
Stacy got a new car!  Right out of the show room!!  We traded the Expedition... and got a GREAT deal!  I am more then pleased about that!  And Stacy is tickled with his brand new car!!
Britt and I had our first experience with a rotten egg.  LMAO!!  That is all I want to say about that.
I got rid of 3 more bags of "clutter."
And.... Stacy started to let Sprocket sleep curled up with us in bed every nite!  LOL

Soooo... all in all... a very good week.  Yes, we have been dealing with some "old house" bullshit... but that is on its way out... and I have learned yet another valuable lesson!

Ok... on to get things ready to make more progress this weekend!!!