Just RK

I just got notification that I sold something on CafePress. I had completely forgotten that I set up a “shop,” per se, a few years ago. But someone chose my design out of many options, and I find that so fun!  Partially because I forgot it was on there, but mostly because I actually created the design myself. It’s not a stock image or something.  It was one of the first attempts at image work that I’d ever tried…  and still one of my faves, I must say. So there ya go.  Good times. Thank you R.L. in Ohio for choosing a tshirt with my DS awareness design! In case anyone else wants one….  it’s out there ! This is also kind of funny to me, because now I make shirts like crazy. Another thing I need to update any of you who still come around here about…  I made one for me for Kinlee’s school, and it caught on like wildfire.  I’ve sold 20+ since August, I’ve got over 12 shirts on my hobby table that are waiting to be done, with several more orde...

I want to do something cool this year. I want to gain lots of new followers and make people smile and go, “Hey, I wish I’d written that!”  I want to remember things because I documented them and wrote about them here. I want to have great discussions via all the wonderful comments I receive and respond to. Wouldn’t that be great? I am overwhelmed right now with more tasks than there are hours in the day. More than I’ve ever experienced in my almost 40 years.  Life has spun to a new level of busy and hurried.  Things aren’t necessarily bad, just far more daily commitments than I’d prefer.  Some are by choice. Some are just life.  Combined, I’m just plain exhausted. All areas are suffering… my health, home, relationships, and sanity.  Today I took a first step toward some small bit of improvement.  One day at a time. I will try, though. I will try to post more. I will try to stay connected.

I know I’m busy.  I know it’s been a little out of hand lately.  I’m cutting back, and I’ve been cancelling things.  I’m letting others do things I’d rather do myself, but it’s just not feasible. But today I realized that this evening is my only non-booked evening until November 17.  Not one for the next 3 weeks.  And every day in that span also has AT LEAST one event during the day… not counting the normal drop off and pick up from school.  Many evenings are doubly booked, M  will have the girls one place while I host a meeting in another, for example, or back-to-back events, like one for dinner and one following that one. That’s crazy. And that’s AFTER I’ve thinned out a lot.  And tonight… what will I do?  Well, I desperately need to hit the grocery shopping circuit. But that may just have to wait.  My house has NEVER been as chaotic as it is right now. Piles everywhere, storage that needs to be stored, tons of things that need...

I’m still here. I’m not posting much. Well, here, that is.  I’ve been doing mini-updates and sharing bits of life on Twitter, because it’s just easier from my phone, and I rarely get to sit down and work on my computer. Even Blogger’s app is not all that pleasing to me. So if you think I’m AWOL, check the Twitter box down in the right margin here or just pop over to www.twitter.com/mom2braskakiki for a run down. Here’s a peek at what it looks like, maybe you missed some action… I’ve debated doing the simple update thing here, instead of feeling like I have to post weightier content…  thoughts?  Would that be better than no content? Or should I keep it to the “real” stuff (which is way rare)?

This week I’ll have 2 extra cuties for 4 days.  Tonight … just relax a little and plan when I’m gonna get a few things done. In the next few days… Dentist appt for me Photo shoot for the girls* Three workouts Cheer/tumbling for both girls Swim lesson for Braska An evening shift at the Y (All of the above, except the *, will have to be done outside of the time I have the two extra cuties, in few available waking hours.) Not to mention the dentist appointment for Kinlee that keeps being remembered and then forgotten before it gets scheduled.  Then there’s the big BIG birthday party event in less than two weeks… many hours of work and prep needed for that. And the housework. Oh, the housework. Here’s to a good week!

I was falling asleep during the football game tonight. The game the Bears won! Woot!  But for ME to be falling asleep during football…sure sign that I’m beyond tired in a big way.  So glad for the win though. And now I’m doing my best to make it through the bottom of the 9th to see the Cards win the NLCS and sew up their World Series spot. It’ll be fun to have the World Series in town again in two days. Bring home the win, Red Birds! And we survived another crazy busy, run constantly, overlapping events kind of day.  I need to really stop letting these happen, but what to give up? The job that eats up my weekends that we need for ends to try and meet, the community of local DS friends who are really stepping up to have great events, or the daily chores around the house and for the family.  Tough stuff to whittle down. But the fact that we have so many great things in our life as a family… win. Good night. The Cards just did it. World Series, come on over ...

It’s been a long day. Check out my Twitter page if you want to see more details. Lots of tweets today.  That’s a rarity, but it was one of those days.  Synopsis… Early morning walk in the dark. Cleaning job after dropping girls at Parents Day Out “Thursday school.” Naps. Dinner. Concert. Late night blogging. Very tired. But a good day.  If only the Cards had won… Be sure to see Braska’s school pics if you missed that one… kinda cute.

Apparently everyone keels over after 31 for 21 and can't post another single solitary word! November 1 has to be the slowest blog day on the calendar, at least if you're in my Google Reader . I've been amazed all day at the peeks onto my iGoogle Homepage with my handy-dandy Google Reader widget (no, I am not getting compensation for this commercial) bringing no new posts from anyone. Sure, there have been one or two. But after getting hit with like 80 items in the Reader every time I checked, over 300 a day, it seemed sad today to have a lull. Not that I had time to really read, but still. It's comforting. I admit my addiction. For me the day was about " the trio ," safety and emissions inspection, need for 4 new tires, diapers x3, naps x3, and lunch x3. Throw in phone calls regarding an update on the recent IEP, scheduling the yearly review from the regional center, setting up an interview for a part-time job I haven't even been looking for but that fo...

(This is a scheduled post…so I’m writing it Friday night, but you won’t see it til Saturday.  That’s because I want to be sure you have time to see this post with the exciting news!) Tomorrow/today (Saturday) I will be spending the day at our local/regional DS conference.  The DSAGSL puts this on each year.  I’ve never gone, for a variety of reasons.  But this year, thanks to my buddy Adrienne, I ended up on the planning committee along with Julie . Both of us first-timers, and kind of representing the “moms of younger kids” set.  I also was asked to be part of a workshop with a parent panel on the process of doing the first IEP, transitioning from Early Intervention to the school system.  So tomorrow will be a busy day, one that I am expecting to be exhausting in a few ways, but I hope that it will go well for those who come.  I really hope more are in attendance than what it sounds like there will be.  Julie is picking me up at 7 am. Neither...

For Maggie M--Those cattle ranchers should be so darn proud of you!!! :o) Since I'm following the docs orders at this stage, he said no red meat. None. And he encouraged me to make that just part of the new norm as well. We'll see about that. I love a good steak or vegetable beef soup with nice big chunks. (A certain mother-in-law makes a very nice version.) And a big juicy burger with all the fixin's. Yum! But for now, it'll be no beef. I even gave away all the frozen beef that I had so others could enjoy it. For Mom--No, there will be no deer. Period. Not now, not ever. As for day 1--I made it. I got it all in. Mostly. The chicken and broccoli were good, some of the best chicken I've made, thankfully. With a little assistance, I cleared out the pantry and fridge/freezer of everything that is not something we can eat (I kept a little good stuff for M...he's not really 100%, and he doesn't have to be) and not something Kinlee can eat. Otherwise, it's gon...

Today's got-it-done list ... (Psst...Do you cringe when you see a blog post start like this... like who cares what you're doing today on a boring Monday, RK?!? Feel free to move on... but you kinda wonder now, don't ya?) ~Fed a kiddo. (the quick way) ~Called apartment office to request service since our A/C started leaking water everywhere again. ~Scrambled to get dressed when the doorbell rang much sooner than I'd expected. ~Straightened up the place while they worked on the A/C. ~Fed a kiddo (the long and messy way) resulting in both of us being covered in milk and yogurt. ~Gave messy kiddo a bath. Didn't take time for one myself. ~Put clean kiddo to nap. ~Printed, signed, scanned, and emailed back documents to one IL realtor, one lender, and then a second batch to the lender. ~Vacuumed the mess left by the A/C maintenance guys. Did the rest of the apartment since it was out. ~Called new insurance agent to start that tedious process of insuring 2 cars and 1 house...

I haven't forgotten about this blog, but it's fallen to the side a little as I'm having trouble keeping up with much of anything lately. I have some major life decisions that must be dealt with, a house that's in desperate need of maintenance and cleaning, and plenty of other less daunting things, but I'm not accomplishing much toward any of those things... but hopefully soon. A plan is in place for a few changes, so we'll see how that goes over the next couple weeks. In the meantime, I'm spending my days trying to get enough fluids in Braska to keep her hydrated without overfilling her belly. (FYI...in case you don't follow her blog , we did go through with the G-tube procedure two weeks ago today.) It's hard to know how much she needs since she gives no cues, just sits there and talks while we put the milk right into the stomach. She's still sleeping well, which is a blessing, so that's good. In between milk feedings, I work with her on or...