Leaves are turning

Dang... it has been MONTHs since I've updated this thing. Funny how time flies when you're doing nearly nothing.

School was put on the back burner at first because I was so overwhelmed with it. Online classes required a lot of attention and reading that my family was not allowing me to do. I was working on sleep debt a lot during the last semester, due to the fact that I didn't manage my time well. It was then that I realized all Ben has is me. Ota tries to be home, but he doesn't get home until after 6:30 most nights. Then he falls asleep on the couch by 9:30pm almost every night as well. During the semester this was really problematic, since I didn't have Ben in daycare and had trouble setting up a schedule for him. So what did that mean for quality homework/online studying? That from about 10pm to 4am was the only opportune time for really doing anything productive.

Ota and I discussed this. He was going to take care of Ben and do dinner during the week once he came home for two hours. That never happened and we got in a huge argument about it. The thing is, when he was taking care of Ben, I felt I needed to clean up and do dinner, instead of hitting the books.

The answer actually was to have daycare three days a week. It's not much time, but I should be able to carry a load soon. Plus, we've asked the housekeeper to come weekly starting in October. That will help me TREMENDOUSLY.

Okay, enough about my woes.... on to my adventures....

We have had many adventures. In May, Pam and Ted had us over for mother's day. Their family was there and it was fun. Everyone is so nice in Colorado. The next week, Ben and I returned to California for a few days. We stayed with my mom and Larry for a few days, then left for Vacaville. We stayed with Kristen and Kenny before heading home. It was really nice to see them. We had a rough trip, but I think the way home was the roughest. I had a huge project due, so we stayed in Elko longer than planned. Ben loved that they put us in a Suite instead of a regular room. He ran around jumping on beds and couches while I finished my paper. Over all, we learned many ways to cope with each other on the road, including listening to Kids Place Live most the time.

In June we did a lot of unpacking. Ben's room was completely unpacked first, then the kitchen, then the master bedroom and baths. There are still boxes in the basement and garage, but nothing crucial. I do miss my blender though... we needed more Margaritas. The weather here was wetter than anticipated, so we spent a lot of time doing yard work as well. During the morning it was usually sunny, but by 2 or 3 it would storm. This weather continued through most of the summer. We had a tornado warning during June that sent us into the basement. During this time I struggled to finish my school work. I learned 24/7 reference and how to develop wikis.
My knitting projects suffered, but I managed to complete a crocheted blanket (see Sweet Pea) for Llewellyn. At the end of June we visited North Carolina and delivered it. Well, I say completed, but Kimberly actually had to finish weaving in the ends. She was just a month old when we left. I can't wait to see her again someday soon.

July finally brought visitors. Grandma Eva visited for a week and helped out a lot with the yard work. I am afraid I am pretty boring as a housewife now, so she went shopping a few times when she got bored. We did go up to the park on the way up to Estes one day and let Ben run.
Jitka and Chris came at the end of that week. We hadn't bought a bed for the extra bedroom, so they had to sleep on an air mattress. On the way out here Chris became really sick. Saturday night so was I, but I had something I caught from Ben. He had been sick earlier in the week with fevers. Sunday everyone left for home while I was sleeping.
During July we also had a lot of sadness. We adopted a dog named Kaia that we ended up having to put down because she had become riddled with parasites. She was so little and she never had a chance. We contacted the rescue center and they replaced her with another dog, Mouse. Mouse almost died as well, because she not only had parasites, but also distemper. She had other puppies with her when she was rescued and not all of the lived. We took Mouse to a emergency vet who put her on oxygen and heavy antibiotics. The rescue took custody after that and she was cared for by the vet in Ft. Collins that sponsors the center. After a week, Mouse was recovered and able to come home. At that point we offered to bring her sister, Chicken, home with us as well. Today both are distemper survivors and doing well, but Chicken still has issues with bacterial infections.

In August, Helena, Matt, Ota Sr. and the kids arrived. We were more prepared, with beds and bedding in every room and plenty of towels. The kids got to watch 'Rescuers Down Under' the first night. I made brownies that didn't turn out so well. French toast for breakfast. But, then the menu plans dissolved for the week from that point. Like usual, plans changed at the whim of who ever whined the loudest. I managed to still get Ben out to see Ponyo with the crowd. But, then the dogs weren't doing so well, so I had to take Chicken to the vet. Matt and Helena took care of Ben and went to a park. We went to the RMNP (Rocky Mountain National Park) for one day and had a picnic at one of the visitor centers.
My mom and Larry were also going to visit after playing golf in Breckenridge. Mom wanted me to bring the crew out there for a while, but that would have been too much. Helena and Matt took the Alec and Kate to Mt. Rushmore, while Ota Sr., Ben and I went to Breckenridge for two nights. My mom signed her and I up for an art class, which was a nice break from the hectic week. But the altitude was getting too much for me, so we left as soon as we could Thursday morning. Incidentally, my grandma was hospitalized during the week, so my mom and Larry cut their trip short. They stopped in to see the house on Thursday for a few hours. I was SO HAPPY the maid had been there that morning. There is nothing better than coming home to a spotlessly clean house.
Matt and Helena returned Friday. We all went to the Rockies game to round out the week.

Now we're in mid-September. I have completed three projects since visiting Kimberly and am currently working on two.


Sorry.... I'm cutting off here and will come back at another time. This post is WAY too long.... I need a break.