Hello Fall

 It finally feels like fall.  We had a decent amount of hot days through half of October.  But now it's finally in the 60's during the days.  Aaron took all the window fans down today.  And we've started using the heat.

Both of my parents had surgery on October 27th.  Both went well.  Mom's was quick, everything went as it should, there were no surprises.  Now we're just waiting for the biopsy results.  Dad's proctectomy went well, too.  He's having a much harder recovery.  Issues with his stomach, issues peeing.  He got to go home on Monday, but he's not feeling great.  Even though it was laparoscopic it's still major surgery.  

On the Friday before Halloween the high school near our house hosted a Trunk or Treat for the neighbourhood.  The kids enjoyed that.  Usually the school in just a bother (it's a very expensive private girls' high school), but this is probably the best event they've hosted.

The church was having its Trunk or Treat on Saturday, but it was the same time as Michael's birthday.  Aaron was pretty bummed, as the chili cookoff returned for the first time since the pandemic.  I was bummed too.  That's like the one thing I like attending at the church.  I think the kids' program is coming up, so I'll probably have to go to that.  The birthday party was fine.  The kids had fun, which is the important thing.

On Sunday we got a new tv.  Target had a pretty good sale on a bigger tv than our current one.  And it was time to replace it.  $200 later we were set up..

Monday was Halloween.  Bert was a crewmate from Among Us (some video game), and Bron was a unicorn (for the second time).  First we had the halloween parade at Bronwyn's school, then we went to Bert's school and watched his parade. In the afternoon, I volunteered in Bertram's class while they decorated cookies and pumpkins.  We went Trick or Treating fairly early, 5:30 or so.  Aaron was grumpy that we were the first one's out, I'm not sure why.  Bronwyn just did our street, Bertram went a little further.  They got plenty of candy.  We handed out some, there weren't a ton of kids.  We left the bowl on the porch at the end of the night, and it was empty in the morning, which was fine.  We had plenty of candy without it.

Bertram's school picture came back too

On Wednesday, I got my covid booster.  No issues, a quick appointment.  Except my appointment was actually on Tuesday, but they weren't busy, so it wasn't an issue. In the afternoon, Bronwyn had her dance recital.  She was so cute, I was tearing up watching her.  She's not a great dancer, but she enjoyed herself and did her best.

Today I had my long awaited dentist appointment.  I have been having a sporadic toothache for a couple of weeks.  I assumed I'd need a root canal, because that is often the answer.  But the dentist poked, tapped, and x-rayed, and found nothing.  So I'll just live with it, he sad if it gets worse to come back, and he'd look again.  I suppose if it continues, I could go to the doctor and see if they see anything.
The booster really hit me today.  I didn't have any side effects with my other shots, but I'm wiped out, sore, and tired.  It'll be an early night for me.

Still at home

 Despite testing negative twice, Aaron tested positive with the home test yesterday.  So we all have/had it.  

Today is day 10 for Bronwyn.  So, as long as she doesn't have a fever, she can go to school on Monday.  The rest of us are a few days behind her.  I think today is day 9 for me.  I'm feeling well enough.  I still have a cough and a little post nasal drip, but no fever.  According to the CDC I'm free to roam as long as I wear a mask.  I think I'll go to the library.  I got three books, I read one and I can't get into the other two.

Aaron is still lethargic. It doesn't help that Bertram doesn't sleep well, and Bron gets up really early.

There really isn't anything else to report.  We're all going a little crazy.  I haven't cleaned well in almost 2 weeks.  It's too hard to do with everyone here.  I have been weeding again.  I need to put out some seeds too.  

And then came Covid

 Starting on last Tuesday night, Bron had a fever.  Getting a covid test around here has been next to impossible.  Fortunately, the school district offers free tests for students and employees.  Both kids stayed home. We got Bron tested on Wednesday, and Bert on Thursday.  Bron was positive, Bert was negative. We still kept Bert home for the rest of the week.  Bron was sick on Wednesday, decent fever, tired, little cough.  After Wednesday, she bounced back pretty much to normal.  Friday afternoon, it hit me pretty suddenly.  Tired, achy.  I checked Kaiser, and they magically had testing appointments available that afternoon.  Aaron and I got tested, since the kids had just gotten their tests.  Friday night my fever went up to 102.7.  I took medicine and went to bed.  I was in bed pretty much all day on Saturday.  Sunday, I was probably operating at 75%.  During this time, both kids had low fevers off and on.  And our home tests arrived from Amazon.  Early this morning, Aaron and I finally got our test results back.  I was positive, he was negative.  That was a surprise.  Aaron isn't feeling great, but he tested negative, and retested this morning with the home test, still negative.  So I'm not sure what is wrong with him, but I guess it's not covid.  Which is good, because we're out of food.  He's at Safeway right now.  The other surprise this morning was that Bertram was positive.  Those home tests are pretty great.  (They are the type of test that show if you're still contagious).

I'm still a little sick.  Tired, sore throat, stuffy nose. But really it was very mild in our house.  I assume it's a combination of Omicron flavour, and everyone (except Bronwyn) being vaxxed (and boosted for Aaron and I).  

I was waiting for this to happen, I knew we wouldn't be able to skate by.  Masked are required for both of them at school, but I know Bronwyn isn't the best able keeping hers on.  Plus both kids are always touching their faces and mouths.  

So we're all going stir crazy.  And to add to the craziness, both kids have been up since well before 5.  I'm not actually sure how early.  I know Bronwyn was in bed with Aaron and was awake off and on from 1:30(?).  I went in Bertram's room to sleep and he was up from probably 3(?).  So we'll probably attempt some quiet time.  I got up with the kids, (we got out of bed at 4:45, Bronwyn joined us shortly there after), and let Aaron sleep til almost 9.  I was dozing on the couch, and Bronwyn swallowed a lego.  So I'm not winning mom of the year any time soon.

January post

 I don't want to let the month slip by without an entry.

We watched Biden's inauguration, by we I mean all of us.  Bertie only watched his swearing in, since he was in school. Bron loved all the singing and mimicked the movements.  I LOVED Amanda Gorman's poem.  And I was in tears through much of the ceremony.  Partially because I always get weepy at things, partially as relief that trump is finally gone.  And next time we have a Republican president (assuming s/he is like the other non-trump presidents) I will be happy about the choice.  Though, I am staunchly Democrat, I can now appreciate the sense of decorum and honor for the office the other 44 men had.  

Politics are kind of funny.  Like George W. was not a president I liked, at all.  However, I could see hanging out with him, he seems genuinely nice, and fun.  Plus I dig his paintings.  Whereas I wouldn't want to hang out with either Clinton.  I voted for Hilary, but I don't want to be her friend.  But I want to be friends with Barack and Michelle.  John McCain seemed like a nice guy as well.  

Anyway, blah blah.

 Bron started her ABA a couple weeks ago.  It's going well overall.  She has the same BT as Bertram.  Most days, Alli is at our house 7 hours a day.  Bron loves music and dancing.  There is a Disney Christmas Singalong that she LOVES.  We've started potty training a little, but she's not really very interested, though she has had some success.  She's been sleeping well in her bed, without the crib front.  We've also finally found a melatonin that she likes. 

We got a foldable wagon.  It is a lot easier than the double stroller.  Plus Bertie is really too big for the double anyway.  But now when we walk and he's done, he can ride with Bronwyn without much issue.

I've been working on exercising more since the year started.  Partially for depression, partially to be healthier.  My back has been bothering me more.  Stupid degenerative disc disease. I am on the very young end for DDD.  And there is not a ton that can be done.  PT (which I start tomorrow(virtually, which means no massage, boo)), losing weight, and yoga.  Doctor said if I could lose 10% (about 20 lbs) I should see good improvement.  If I can lose 20% most of the pain should be gone.  I'd like to lose at least 30.  But we'll see, I've never been good at losing weight, unless I was sick.  I'm going to keep moving more, and trying to eat when I'm hungry.  That is tough, because I love eating, just to eat. 

Bertram has been doing fairly well. Virtual school is hard.  His behaviour can be tough.  But it's hard for him too, which is difficult for me to remember.  I can't believe he's almost 7.  And a year ago I was planning a Disney trip.  Maybe someday.  He has been into Minecraft, and Among Us lately.  He is still a voracious reader.  I'm trying to steer him towards books with fewer pictures.  But it's hard because his reading level and interest level don't necessarily match.  He likes, and is quite good at, drawing.  

Covid vaccines are starting to be distributed.  My dad got his last week.  Aaron gets his tomorrow.  The ICUs are starting to have beds available again.  So maybe we're towards the end of the tunnel.  We've currently been "at home" for 320 days.  320 days since going to the mall, aquarium, zoo, or out to eat. I'm going crazy.  I may go to the mall within a couple weeks, I'm getting bored of Target.  The county has been doing really well with mask mandates, and I haven't seen anyone balk at them.  We wear masks anytime we're in a store.  We wear masks when we walk the dogs, but only when we see other people.  We have quite a collection of masks now.

Day 233 and kitchen

 (Blogging from my phone because I can't sleep)

Kitchen progression

Before: empty kitchen

Demo's kitchen

New recessed lighting

The paint colour

New flooring

Arrival of cabinets

Grey lower

White upper

Assembled (farmhouse sink!)

Quartz counters

Looking good

Fridge house

Horrible texturing job

I have been so happy with everything this far, until the texture guy came. My FiL arranged the guy, instead of the designer (problem 1). No one is sure what instructions FiL gave to the guy (problem 2), the FiL went camping and is incommunicado (problem 3). Hopefully, issues 2 and 3 can be solved today. Though, my MiL met with the guy, and I'm surprised she didn't find out the scope of his work before hand. Aaron, being an optimist, thinks it's not too bad. MiL doesn't like it, but could live with it. I hate it. I think it looks like popcorn ceiling, except everywhere.

The remodel has been moving along fairly quickly, which is good, because the whole thing is stressing me out. I don't like it when the house is messy, and I don't like it when things aren't where they go. Plus the stress from zoom schooling for Bert and his ABA, the election/general political situation, covid and quarantine, needing to get cavities filled, and the usual things, I feel like I have been living at a level of high anxiety for too long.

I can't remember what else I was going to talk about.

Day 192

 Bertram had an IEP addendum meeting a couple weeks ago.  He can now "leave" school at 11:45, which helps some.  I think if I had realized in the summer how this was all going to pan out, I probably would have looked seriously into home-schooling or independent study.  Like all kids, especially ASD kids, it's hard.  It's far from optimal.  And since he has ABA (or speech) after school he's just go, go, go.  We may still change ABA to a shorter schedule.   Yesterday he had a great day "at" school, and he did the best he's done in a really long time with ABA, and he did his short day.  I don't want him skipping social studies/science everyday, but if that improves his behaviour that much it may be worth it.  The district has been perhaps hinting about changing up the day with less online instruction, but nothing has come, as of yet.

Bronwyn had the first half of her ASD assessment on Monday.  Nothing to report as of yet, not until we complete the second half in a couple weeks.  She's still reading a lot.  I have a running shirt with a turtle that says "Slow AF".  I asked her to read it, which she read as slow af (the af sound).  I was surprised that she did the phonic

Aaron got into a covid vaccine study, and got his first shot last week.  I think since his arm wasn't sore he  got the placebo,  but we'll find out at some point in the future.  

I've been working on my giant t-shirt quilt.  I have all the large panel's done, and I've started working on the sashing to even out the sides.  My yard project it currently at homeostasis.  It looks great, and there isn't a ton more work, except watering, and occasionally adding a few more seeds.  The actual quilting will be a large undertaking; due to the size and heft of the thing, most of it will have to be hand quilted.  I'm not sure why I quilt.  I don't particularly enjoy it.  I just enjoy the end result... which I guess is enough?

Day 171

 So. Many. Days.

If Covid isolation were a pregnancy, it would be 24 weeks along.  🙈

Last week, we broke out to Half Moon Bay for a little bit.  We would normally go to Santa Cruz, but the fires were still bad over there.

It was cold there.  Or rather, typical of a Northern California beach.  (Air and water temp both 58ish).

Family selfies

Bertram instantly made a friend with a 7 year old named Zoey.

I have no idea why this picture is so grainy.

We took the long way back home, up 1 towards San Francisco, then back down 101.  It was a nice day.

I signed Aaron, Bertram and myself up for two 5k's, because we need something to do.  One is a pumpkin/Halloween "race", the other is a Turkey Trot.  They are both virtual, so we actually made a team with my mom and sister for the Turkey Trot.   ;/'  

Day 135

We moved into the next phase of reopening for a whopping 2 days before everything closed again.  Not sure why the powers that be thought reopening as the numbers rose would be a good idea.  So things are continuing in the same direction.  Numbers keep going up.

School is going to be completely online through (at least) 2 August.  They are expected to be available/on the computer (?) from 8-2.  I was hoping it would be a little more open form like the end of last year.  I'm not sure how it will go, I guess it's supposed to be a mix of online class, individual teacher time, and possibly small groups (online).  (Though there has been some talk about doing small pods in addition to this, but we'll see how it all shakes out).  So, due to this new schedule we needed to change Bertram's time and day for speech.  And his time for ABA will change, and he will likely have to get a new tech, which sucks.  But to keep the same one we'd have to do 5:30-8:30, which is too late (as bedtime is 8).  But maybe the school schedule won't be so rigid, but it's all in flux.  We don't have his class assignment yet, and thus haven't heard from the teacher about her plan.  It's all stressing me out.  And I know this is going to be difficult for Bertram too. 

I stopped taking Remeron. It wasn't helping, and it made me hungry all the time.  I will be trying BuSpar. We'll see how that goes.  I kind of feel like I want to switch the Wellbutrin+Zoloft combo, but the shrink seems to be hesitant to do that.  I feel like I'm in a bad head space.  Like having a base level of anxiety all the time.  Plus, I feel like I'm failing at everything.  And I'm just on edge all the time. 

We adopted two kittens that we abandoned, and malnourished.  (Aaron's cousin's neighbour found them under her deck).  Originally I just wanted the girl, since we've had issues with boy cats spraying.  But they were bonded, so we took them both.  They were born at the beginning of June, so they're about 8 weeks old.  Bertram named the boy Shy-Guy (which is a character in Mario), and Aaron and I named the girl Oona.

Oona

Shy-Guy

They're been confined to our bedroom and bathroom.  They are super friendly and very playful.

Our washer died today, which a barrel full of water and wet clothes.  It was 14 years old. Fortunately, we're in a position that replacing it wasn't a huge burden.  Really more of an annoyance than anything.  But we got a nice LG washer.

We've (Aaron, Bertram and I) have been learning to play pokemon cards.  It's pretty fun.  Bertram keeps trying to cheat, which is weird because he doesn't actually care about winning.

Bronwyn's birthday was a couple weeks ago.  My baby is 3.  We didn't do much for her in terms of a party.  I made a cake, and we gathered on grandma and grandpa's lawn. 

Day 117

The day counting may be coming to an end...?  The county technically reopens, mostly, on Monday.  Most all businesses, except things like amusement parks, night clubs, indoor playgrounds, theatres, etc.We can gather inside with up to 20 people, though, we're still supposed to socially distance.  Any shared public/business spaces require masks; statewide. I'm not sure I really I feel too comfortable gathering, so we'll play it by ear.

School is going to be another thing to play by ear. As of now, the various teachers union have refused to teach in person until conditions are safe. I am all for this.  Our school distract/county put no limit on class sizes (eg: they would still have 28-30 kids) in an enclosed space, without any distancing.  I was already considering doing online learning for Bertram anyway (as much as it pains me), but I'd rather he (and rest of the family) be safe.  As of now, school will be 100% online.  I'm looking into purchasing homeschool curriculum, to supplement whatever is going on.  Bertie said, given the choice, he'd rather have school at home.  So we're still in flux.

It's good I suppose, as I wasn't feeling very comfortable having him return as things are.  I'm not thrilled about homeschooling.  But, we're getting more into a groove with it.  And I can always have him do it during ABA.  

Aside from all that, things have been continuing as normal.  Lots of Switch, too much screen time.  We haven't been eating out as much.  I have gained a lot of weight in these last 117 days (around 20lbs).  So I've been counting calories (starting 3 or 4 days ago), because I just eat, and eat, because I like eating.  I need to exercise a bit more (aside from walking), but I really have no energy, and the kids sleeping has been hit or miss.

There have been so many junebugs this summer.  I hate it!

Successful cream biscuits

Clean baby

They both love to read

Cat face.

4th of July

I die.

We escaped to Saucalito on day.  

Bron made a little family

I cut her bangs.  I didn't do a great job.

Bertram is excited about his new backpack.  Maybe he'll get to use it one day...