An Update ... At long last

I haven't really meant to let 6  1/2 weeks pass between updates.

Yes, a lot has happened.  Can I give the following excuses?
1.  LaRue just doesn't seem to be getting over her cold (and just as soon as we think we are over it all, Marriana comes down again and soon we all have it).
2.  My computer took over a month to get back (it was a LOT of work) - and I went from 176G of information and programs down to 80G.  That's a LOT missing - mostly programs - and most were things I wasn't using, but kept because I got them from Giveaway of the Day - just in case they ever became needed.  I really miss my Sticky Passwords.
3. I've been VERY tired.  I think most nights I get almost 6 hours of sleep.  Once in a while - it's uninterrupted.
4.  We've been very busy.... I just wish I could remember what we've been doing.  Even my dayplanner is remarkable empty.
5.  Dad's been working outside more, which makes nights a bit more hectic, especially if Rhoda needs help (sitting with the sleepers) while she runs to the store.  I sure wouldn't want to take all of them whining to the store with me either.
6.  We've really been trying to get back into a school routine.


So, I'm sure everyone is wondering how LaRue's appointment with the neurologist went.   First, she checked out at her age level (almost 4 months then).  The neurologist was very pleased.  Her EEG test results were normal.  To be scheduled/ or future agenda ... an MRI, a follow-up EEG, and a second visit with the neurologist.  We go back middle of May.

We have now caught (and disposed of) 13 mice.  YIKES.  Most were quite small, so we are figuring we had parents and newly mobile young ones.  Have we got them all?  I don't think so.  But we are gaining on them.  I keep cleaning and moving things ... though not nearly as quickly as I would like, some weekends - nothing happens.

Kendra is on and off with her school work.  I finally sat down the other day and wrote a list out of everything she HAD to finish for me to declare her graduated from high school.  I may publish it later.  If I remember or if somebody reminds me.  I'm going to let her help me choose her curriculum on the few subjects that require it. She is a fast learner and retains close to 90% of what she reads - so I'm going to turn her loose to do more reading and less paperwork.   Tim has agreed to this plan - we feel that if we make the goal hers, maybe she will work towards it more readily.  

Vannan had a bad asthma attack a couple of weeks ago.  She is now on yet another asthma medication.  I was not able to go with her and Tim.  I was pleased that she didn't go down any faster than she did and that she held her own until we got to the doctor to get new steroids.  ...  Her bunny, Stripes, had 7 baby bunnies - one didn't make it.  She is a super pleased little Momma.  She asked, and Uncle Tommy was able to make her a new set of bunny boxes - the ones we had in storage were in pretty bad shape, and too low.  The bunnies are almost 2 weeks old.  .... She's been doing a fair job of keeping up with her school work and chores.  She is becoming a fairly good sewing - still a lot to learn.  She's making Easter dresses for her, and LaRue, sewed the buttons on Joel's shirt that Aunt Cindy made last Saturday, and now has dresses for Marriana and Melinda cut out.  Kendra is also working on a matching dress, but has a LONG way to go on hers.  ..... Vannan has my old Palm Pilot m100 and is using it to keep up with her chores.

I can't remember anything special happening with Joel.  Everybody is his friend.  He loves everybody - except bad people.  And he loves playing with his friends.  Oh, and LaRue is HIS baby (but she belongs to all of us.) He loves Facebook.  He plays Petville pretty much by himself, plays with the animals on Farmville, and arranges the tanks and gives away fish in Fish World.  Recently he discovered Treasure Hunter - and likes to dig.

Some other big news.  Both of my best friends had their babies.  Karen had a boy and named him Stephen PAUL.  He was rushed to the ER because he wasn't gaining color enough - he had constricted vessels in his lungs.  And he has Downs Syndrome.  He only had to stay in the hospital 5 days.   He was born March 13.  .....  On March 23, my other best friend, (ironically that was Karen's due date) had a baby girl.

This morning, Rhoda came to my house - she rarely comes over early in the morning.  It was her day to go pick up Cassandra's kids, Audreyanna (3) and Lathan (10 months).  Kendra sleeps overnight there, and is there in the house if any of the kids wake up while Rhoda is gone (5:30 in the morning).  This morning, she was hit by a truck turning North, from the road that Rhoda was trying to turn onto to go West.  Full impact was to her driver side door.  Because she drives a big suburban and had side impact air bags, her injuries are minimal.  Dad drove it home.  Terry came home from work.  Cassandra brought the kids up and she went to work.  It was a hard day - but we managed pretty good.

Rhoda and I are trying to work more together with the little kids.  It seems to be working - though we've not yet ran a full day on schedule.  But we are excited about it.

And we had a massive hail storm 2 weeks ago on Wednesday.  And Sunday a freak snow storm.  I hear a storm rolling in again - lots of rain - I always pray that the roof holds.  So before the lightening hits, I'll say good night and publish this.