Don't stop believing (in the voice of Journey)

Wow. What a week. I'm the type of person who gets more done when there is a lot to do. When there is little to do, I...do...nothing. This week, there was much to do. However, Dave and Dodie were in town until this morning and helped A TON. I mean, Dodie cooks, Dave cleans, and the boys get suckers when they are picked up from brain camp/school (and I'm not the one picking them up.) Whats not to like?

Where do I begin. MANY changes coming our way. This is all a bit pre-mature to announce but I've never been very good at keeping my mouth shut when I should so here we go.

E and I have an "All staff" brain camp meeting next Thursday to go over the brain camp action plan. I will tell you, its announcing the date of Eric's discharge. I don't know when, but it will soon be on the calendar. They will give him a "part time work" permit. In addition, they are going to let the man drive. Yes, that's right. E will be on a road near you, very soon. When stating my concern about this to one of the doctors that I work with, he said, well, he can't be any worse than my 16 year old son, who is now on the road. Wow. Good point. Eric is extra cautious these days and has the life experience that 16 year olds definitely do not have.

All of this good news opened up a whole new ball of mommy wax (whack) for me. My husband is slowly but surely getting his wings back. The time is coming where I will no longer be able to talk about him behind his back to his 1,000 closest friends. I need to let go of the fact that he won't need me as much. A complete blessing? Absolutely. An adjustment? Yes. But a good adjustment.

I am so stoked to be getting my "husband" back but it's going to take practice to allowing him to spread his wings again without worrying my ass off that it will all go awry. I guess it's like watching your 16 year old drive off in their car for the first time or like sending your first born off to college. Your're both ready for it but nervous nonetheless.

Finally, I must confess, I opened a bottle of wine tonight as well. I can only speak for myself but wine makes me a better person. Period.

Weekend Warriors

Things we did this weekend.....



Went to Trader Joes. (along with everyone else is SD)




Hung out with my god-daughter, Siena, whom I love like my own.



Went to the Howard-Fernandez wedding. Lovely.



My lady friends. Xo



Photo booth.



Hudson's BFF Ford.
WWF on the trampoline = front tooth on the trampoline

Blackout

Well pandemonium hit SD late this afternoon when 1.4 million people lost their power (and lost their shit.) I'm not gonna lie, it's a bit scary coming to a 6 way stop with turn lanes and trying to figure out who's turn it is next. I just gunned it closed my eyes and got my ass on the freeway. The 5 actually became quite safe as it quickly turned into a parking lot considering everyone and their mother tried to get home.

At any rate, we ended up having a pretty good night. I told Hudson that we were having a pretend Halloween party and would not be using lights tonight. Only lanterns and candles. He told me that was "the best idea ever" so for now, I'll take the credit.

We made tacos on the grill. We cooked the meat on a pan, heated the tortillas on the upper grill, cut up the veggies and voila! I must say, it was the best meal that I've had during a blackout, at least that I can remember. We didn't get to watch the football game as planned but it was kind of refreshing not having a tv. I think I'm going to enforce 1 night a week, no tv. Maybe even no electricity like tonight, just for the full experience. It's was kind of like camping. Except we had running water and a bed. Awesome.




More preschool shenanigans today. Um, Hudson, you have something on your face..."what mom?" Perhaps his teacher did it while he was sleeping during nap time?




"Camping out" in Hudson's room. (post candle light bath)

Happy wife, happy life.

Ok, so, I just need to clear the air about something. It seems as I've been ranting a lot lately which is not in my nature but I'm trying a new "catch and release" technique as issues come up. I'm trying to address things as they arrive and then immediately let go of them instead of hanging on to resentment. (Something my therapist highly recommended to me.) So basically, if you pissed me off in 3rd grade or before, you're all good. I'm over it. If it was after 3rd grade, you're probably still in the shit house but bear with me, I'm working on it. Anyways, here it goes.

Dear E's friends,
If you are going to hang out with E, please do not drink beer with and/or take him to a bar with you to drink beer. Let us not forget that although he seems fine, he is only 5 months out from a traumatic brain injury. He's not always capable of making good decisions for himself. That would be where you, the Non-brain-injured friend would come in. It's not hard, just don't give to E something that you would not give your toddler. This may mean the time spent with E you are not doing/partaking in things that might tempt him. For example, you would not sit down with a child and eat a plate of cookies in front of them, only expecting the child to eat 1. The same goes for brain injured dudes. I am not condemning nor am I judging as this is all a new experience for most of us. Trust me, I'm probably extra pissed off lately because I've had to give up my nightly glass of wine. (When my therapist asked if I have been drinking too much I said "No, I haven't been drinking at all and I think that's part of the problem." He tried not to, but he laughed.)

Bottom line, do what is right by your friend. If he tells you that you suck, don't take it personally. I can assure you, he'll forget about it tomorrow. Another admirable E quality: he doesn't hold a grudge.
If you're not up for it, call me and I'll be the bitch. I'm pretty used to that by now.
Are we cool?

Ok, now that THATS out of the way....

What the hell am I going to make for dinner?

Henri the dog has been itching like a mo fo lately so I took him to the vet today. After 1 cortisone shot, a week supply of prednisolone, special shampoo, flea medication, and an antibiotic ($187 later), I think he's finally feeling better. Hopefully, he won't be rubbing his ass on every piece of furniture tonight while I'm trying to sleep. For the love of dog!





Oh, and Hud wants to be a "Red Power Ranger" for Halloween.

First day of pre-school....again

Well today was Hudson first "official" day back to preschool. Second year. (And I don't really have anything nice to say about the high maintenance, sneaky, sometimes rude, most of the time complaining, brain injured guy, so I will dedicate this day to Hudson.) So basically, we were pros and watched all the newbie parents taking pictures of their kids on the painted up, old VW bus that the preschool converted into a jungle gym. (pretty much what sold me on the place.) We on the other hand just rolled up dropped off our contribution of glue, markers, hand sanitizer and Dora the Explorer bandaids and were on our way.

Hudson didn't even look back. Old blood (to bro out with) mixed with a little new blood (to show off and possibly make friends with) a perfect combo for a happy toddler (mine anyway.) This makes me think, maybe he WILL be ready for kindergarten next year. A very controversial subject around moms. I chose not to partake in most of it, but having an August birthday makes it impossible to avoid.

On one hand I think, LOVES his preschool and so do we. He has his whole life to go to "real" school. On the other hand, I think, he can handle it, even if he's young and a bit behind at first, he will eventually catch up, they all sort of even out......right?

Then I think, he's a boy. I don't want him to be the last kid in his class to get pubes and a deep voice. If he comes out of high school with a low self esteem because he didn't get chicks and was the dumbest kid in his class who bench warmed his way through sports, I'm pretty sure, I'd HAVE to wear some of that responsibility. Like it or not.

Oh, but then, there is the big elephant in the room that no body wants to talk about. Like saving $12,000 a year on preschool? But I'm sure all of these people really choose to send their kids because they are "talented" and "ready." Bullshit, you want to buy yourself a big screen TV and a trip to Tahiti, (or just get by comfortably.) Just like the rest of us.

Well, Hudson, enjoy your last year of preschool because next year, you might just be entering the real world of kindergarten but don't worry, we'll take you somewhere very special on spring break and I personally, am looking forward to it.







Hudson's 1st day last year.





Hudson's 1st day this year.







E and I left behind.

Crabby Pumpkin

The weekend was a success. We used every last hour that's for sure.
Out for sushi with Uncle brother Matt and his friend, we went to the horse track, ate snow cones and bet (and lost), breakfast, beach, BBQ at our house (20 friends later but fun), 6 mile run with Henri this morning (I almost had to carry his puggle ass home), laundry, 1st rain outside in months, prep for Huds first day back to preschool, 1st pumpkin spice latte of the season, and Anthony Bourdain while the boys nap.

The weekend was not short of a few brain injury moments but we got through it. (Like asking E to come home at 9:30 last night because he snuck upstairs, introduced himself to the guests staying in our rental and then proceeded to help himself to a glass (or two) of wine.) Yep, just a day in the life folks.

I want to be happy and refreshed, ready to start my week but frankly I'm a bit cranky and snappy and just want to.......sneak upstairs and introduce myself to the guests and their opened bottle of wine and finish it off.



Sushi?


Uncle Matt and Hudson


Snow cone


PSL

A Labor of love

Not a bad week. Just a bit exhausting. Have I mentioned the roster of doctors who we see on a regular basis? Neuro-psychologist, psychiatrist, Neuro-Surgeon, Neurologist, Opthamologist, dentist, brain camp, repeat. Then on my work time I am seeing....doctors. I'm not sure if all these doctors are making us feel better or more crazy trying to manage all of these appointments over and above everything else we have going on. Nonetheless, I'm happy that Labor Day weekend is upon us and Labor Day happens to mean the opposite for most of us.

Uncle brother Matt (E's brother) is coming into town today. We (me) are all excited for some new blood and an additional driver. Matt, you get to make the 8 pm (which is like midnight to us) runs to 7/11 for E's ice cream fix.

So, we celebrate the last weekend of summer, which I am secretly excited about. It's not that I dislike summer, it's that I like the fall, more.

September 24th will be the 6 month mark for E since his TBI (traumatic brain injury)
Will we be half way home? Time will tell. I'm not expecting miracles this month, but a drivers license for the man would be fantastic.




Palm trees and pumpkin patches near our house.
A perfect segway out of one season and into another.