Good News, Bad News

First the short versions:

1. Good news: N did not call 911. Bad news: Someone did call 911.

2. Good news: Spring Break starts tomorrow! Bad news: Spring Break starts tomorrow.

3. Good news: All my kids will play a piano recital this spring. Bad news: I had to gently encourage (bribe) a couple of them.

4. Good news: N is responding to sensory stimulation and his speech is improving! Bad news: My floors are responding to sensory stimulation.

5. Good news: My wallet has been found. Bad news: N found my wallet.

6. Good news: Iy got to comb her own hair all week. Bad news: Iy's hair did not get combed this week.

7. Good news: Ev is not sick anymore. Bad news: I need to clean the carpets.

8. Good news: Et cleaned his room. And made it to school on time. Bad news: There is nothing bad about this, right?

Now the expanded versions, if you are interested:

1. The other day, (I have noticed that most of my blog entries begin with "yesterday, last week, the other day, etc.--this is in direct relation to how long it takes me to "laugh" at what I'm posting) I was working out on the elliptical. I had worked hard for 52 minutes and felt like I had another 52 minutes left in me when Iy came down to tell me that N called 911. I thought, "No way" and checked the phone. Heard dial tone and yelled up the stairs for people to Stay. Off. The. Phone. It is NOT. A. TOY. Thought everything was great and kept working out! Sweating good. The phone rings: "This is Tooele County Dispatch..." You know the rest. I assured her we did not need help and then I was a bit angry and yelled for N to get downstairs to see me! NOW! Iy was quick to assist him. Then my brain did quick thinking: "How did N dial 911? N does not know his numbers. Or does he? No, I'm pretty sure he does not. That's why I've been obsessing and fearful for him to start Kindergarten. I'm pretty sure N cannot tell me which number would be ONE. What is going on?" At this point Iy and N are standing at the top of the stairs. Because Iy is helping. I say to N--did you dial 911? He looks down at the floor and says, "Yes." I said, "Really? How?" He, still looking down at the floor, says "Iy help me."

2. I am so excited for Spring Break. We don't have to get up early, wear nice clothes everyday, we can relax, go to the library, the park. Also in my fantasy Spring Break we will clean up all our yard and rake and fertilize the lawn, ready the garden for planting and plant the cold weather stuff, purge the kids' drawers and closets, clean everything everywhere. On the other hand we will all have to spend time together during Spring Break. Even on days like today when everyone is a little moody and defensive and arguing and teasing... And I will not be able to say, "It's OK--Et you come in the living room and Iy you go in the piano room so you won't have to hear him and he won't have to see you and wait 10 minutes until you go to school." I will have to be more creative. Or else maybe we all need a little rest and relaxation and then we will be nicer to each other. I'll keep you posted.

3. Ev played a piano recital last week and it was excellent. Et's teacher is having a baby instead of a recital this spring so I "invited" him to play in one of my recitals. He agreed to do it for a trip to Cold Stone. When Iy heard this deal she INSISTED on playing in the recital. The truth is, Iy would have played ANYWAY. I should have committed her before I talked to Et. Live and learn.

4. I talked with my aunt who is a very skilled and talented Occupational Therapist. She suggested several things that she thought would be helpful for N, which we have spent the last week implementing. We are already seeing progress! Vince and I can see and hear a difference and last night Aunt L babysat for us and said that she could tell a difference and she didn't realize we had started doing different things. Go N! The bad news is that one of the interventions involves tubs full of rice, beans, etc. So far I have a tub of rice and a tub of popcorn (unpopped). So now I constantly have rice and popcorn all over my floors and kitchen table. Oh well.

5. I lost my wallet for several hours this Wednesday. I knew it would turn up, but as more time would go by I would get more concerned. I looked everywhere--several times. Then I called Vince--he was sure he saw it where I thought I had put it. Then I called my mom and dad (they had just been at our house to take my sister to the MTC--YAY Sabrina!) but they couldn't help me. I even called Wal-Mart (the last place I had used said wallet) to see if it was there. It was not. It was very distracting. When N got off the bus I asked him if he knew where it was. He said something I didn't understand and then left. I went back to my reading. He came back a few minutes later with my purse (which I have not used for at least 18 months--I am not a purse person). He had put my wallet in my purse. So next time I lose something I will just have to be patient and wait for the kids to get home from school. Unless it's Spring Break--yay Spring Break!

6. I had a crazy week and so I let Iy comb her hair this week. She likes this because she strongly dislikes anyone combing her hair, which is positively sinful because she has beautiful hair. Whatever. She combed her hair all week. Until this morning because it's picture day which is when I learned that while the front of her hair had been combed the back had obviously not been touched all week.

7. Ev and I had stomach flu the other night. Poor Ev--all the way in the basement with no bathroom--she couldn't make it. She threw up all over the family room floor. Vince is superman--he cleaned it up all by himself because I was sick too. Although, seriously, if the superman is going to offer or even begin to clean it up all by himself and I am not sick I am certainly not going to insist on doing it myself! Love that guy. Now that I am all better I am going to have to rent a rug doctor.

8. This deserves a drum roll. Et cleaned his room. WOO HOO! Lots of applause. OK--he is probably turning red and saying, "MOOOOOM!" by now. If he were reading this. This is big news because for 9 days. 9 DAYS I said to him clean your room because Grandma and Grandpa are coming and they are staying in your room on Tuesday, March 31st. I didn't really say Tuesday, March 31st but that was the day. He knew when it was. So Tuesday morning of March 31st at 7:30 his room was not clean. He had hardly started. And it was BAD. And so I was so fed up that I said, "If you do not clean your room you will not go to school." I know--the school people will hate that I say that to my kid but I will not care because IT WORKS. His room was clean by 8:00 and he was ready for school! I love that he loves school!! Or hates it at home. I guess it doesn't matter which as long as I know what will motivate him. 9 days of procrastination remedied in 30 minutes--Amazing!

There you have it--some of our adventures this week!!