A day in the life

The kids had their biannual dentist visit this week.  It was fortunate that Aaron was off of work that day, because it's hard to manage the two of them at the same time (God bless you people with 3+ kids!).  I took Bertram, because he responds better with me, and Bron doesn't really care much.  Last time it was a struggle to get anything done.  Bertram was apprehensive, and asked a lot of questions.  But he did great.  He let them do everything they needed, except for x-rays, which we'll try next time.  He is going to need braces, which we had assumed. So we have an appointment with the orthodontist in a month.  He has his heart set on Invisaline.  I'm fine with that, because tooth hygiene is way easier without metal braces.  But I'm worried he'll lose the retainer (or whatever it's called), because he's not sure responsible with stuff.  We have good dental, which includes orthodontics, so I'm not too concerned about cost.  Though, in reality, I have no clue how much it costs.  I guess we'll see.  Both Aaron and I had braces.  I got my first set (to correct my overbite) in 3rd or 4th grade.  Then the full set until I was 15.  I was/am really good about wearing my retainers so my teeth still look nice.  Anyway, he was very compliant, and I was happy with his behaviour.  (I had told  him that if he wasn't well behaved he'd have to go back to school after the dentist, but if he behaved he could have the rest of the day off.)
Bronwyn's appointment was fairly quick, because she was a little combative.  Aaron had to hold her, and pin in her arms and legs.  But they checked her teeth, and gave her fluoride treatment (which is what I wanted most for her visit). 

We didn't have ABA that day because our tech was awaiting a second negative covid test.  We decided to go for a hike.  We did the same route we did a few days previous.  Bron was not into it that day, and went very slowly.  We got to the trailhead (about a mile), and turned around.  She had to be carried the whole way down (which is better than up).  Bertie did well on the hike and wanted to continue (like we had the other day), but it was not meant to be.

Rough Day

Much of today was difficult.

I woke up at 4:45, and went to the track at 5:50ish.  I walked, and listened to the radio, me time.  I came home a little before 7.  Bertram was awake, so he and I ate breakfast, and he watched one cartoon.

Then I told him we were going on an adventure.  The county parks department puts on this sort of photo scavenger hunt for the summer.  I thought he and I could give it a try, especially since I want him to spend more time outside.  It was going to be pretty warm, so we headed out early, and went to Quicksilver Park.  He seemed amenable, until we set foot on the trail. Then he whined almost the whole way.  He wanted to go home.  He didn't like it.  He was too tired.  We did take some pictures.  But I practically had to drag him.  And, I actually ended up carrying him on my shoulders.  It wasn't very long, maybe .8 miles, nor was it very hilly, but he had a terrible time. So, I didn't have a great time.

On the way home he whined more.  When we got back, I sent him down the street to grandma and grandpa's house.  I cleaned the kitchen, and folded some laundry.  Then showered, and went to get him.  Somewhere around that point he said "oh damn it" for the third time that day and lost all his screen time for the rest of the day.  Then he turned on all the lights, and refused to turn them off, so I sent him to his bed.

We had the sibling class in the afternoon, across town.  So we went in that direction earlier in the afternoon to avoid fighting traffic to get there.  We went to the mall, he wanted to ride in the stroller, which was fine with me.  He didn't do too bad at the mall, I just had used up all my patience that morning.

He had been talking excitedly about the big brother class for almost a week.  When I told him it was time to go there, he started whining again.  He was tired, he wanted to go home, etc.

We drove to the Santa Clara Kaiser, and found parking without too much trouble.  He whined most of the way to the class room about not wanting to be there.

When were we in the class, he was the nightmare kid.  Wouldn't be quiet, wouldn't answer when he was spoken to, didn't follow directions well, didn't participate.  I was very close to walking out the door and talking him home.  But we stuck it out.  (After the class he didn't want to go home, but "somewhere else").

The drive home was awful.  I have no clue how people commute.  The hospital is 9 miles from our house.  It took us an hour to get home.  An hour.  I gave him a bag of Goldfish to snack on.  He dumped most of them into him lap.  We stopped at Maccas to get lemonade (hot day, I'd drank all my water, I needed something cold, and I was cranky).  I got him a small, he drank it as we drove.  Until we were about two minutes from the house, when he decided it would be better to (purposefully) trip the drink upside-down, all over the car's seat.  At that point I lost it.  I kept asking him why he did that.  And then I was crying.  We pulled in, and he went directly to time out.  Aaron cleaned out the car as best he could.  Then while he was in time out, he said oh damn it again, so I sent him to his room again.

I've been dismissing his behaviour, because he's 3, he's tired, he doesn't feel well, whatever.  But Aaron pointed out: how often is he the worst kid in the class? The answer is most of the time.  So I'm at a bit of a loss.  I felt like we'd been disciplining him adequately, but he's just been really defiant.  We'll tell him not to do something, he'll look right at us and do it.  There is an immediate consequence, but it doesn't seem to matter.  There is another class called Parenting the Spirited Child (or something like that), so we'll sign up for that, and hope to get some direction.

This week

• Aaron was gone to Camp High Sierra (a boy scout camp) for the week, so I was on my own.  Sometimes I enjoy the quiet, but I miss him.
• I managed to take the dogs hiking twice this week, because it wasn't too hot.  One day we did the short loop at Quicksilver.  The other day we hiking part of Sierra Azul with my dad.  Zelda was dragging along.  I'm not sure if she wasn't feeling well, or if she's just getting old.
• Janet and Dennis got the tree in front of our house cut way back.  It looks great.  And I'm no longer worried about its limbs breaking off into the street.  The pile for street pick up was huge!

• I took my Humira yesterday.  It always smashes me after I take it.  And I made a mistake: you're not supposed to take it if you're sick.  If you feel ill, you're supposed to take your temperature before taking it, which I didn't.  Usually after I take it, it kicks my butt for a couple days.  No exceptions this time around.  Also, it knocks the immune system down a little, so I usually stay home; avoid the germ playground that is church.
• I want to revamp my wardrobe.  I hate most of my clothes.  I went to the outlets in Gilroy yesterday.  It was largely a bust.  I found one shirt I liked.  I really hate the clothes for this season.  A weird combination of neon 80's and fringe/hippie/gypsy.  Bleh.  I want basic, but cute, with maybe a vintage flare.  My follow up was to shop more today, but I'm sequestering myself to avoid germs.
• I made a couple things off of Pinterest this week.  Homemade Frosty Paws (dog frozen yogurt treats), and marinated baked tofu.  Both turned out great.  Yay me!
• I miss my sister and my mom.
• I dragged myself to Safeway this morning.  I'm trying to make the house inviting for Aaron's return.  (If I were returning from a week at boy scout camp, I'd want a big choice of food, a clean house, and a nice bed).  We now have a well-stocked fridge.  I don't like going to Safeway, it's expensive and crowded.  But I didn't want to drive far, and Safeway never closes.  I went at 8.30, thinking I'd beat the crowds; I didn't.  And I forgot how expensive it is.  Trader Joes and Sunflower are specialty, but they're way cheaper!  But I did get things that Aaron will like: lunch meat, Mexican coke, diet soda, frozen pizza, bread, apples, baby carrots etc.  Oh and cereal!  I was actually able to buy cereal by his specifications (which is don't pay more than $2 a box).  There was a sale on Kelloggs for $2 a box.  And I bought myself two lobster tails on a whim, they were also on sale.  But they didn't have lima beans.  I've been wanting them lately.

This and that

Things have been pretty good lately.

On Friday at work, one of the patients gave the owner a huge compliment about the whole staff.  That was awesome.  After work, Aaron and I went to dinner with Jomanda, which was great, because we hadn't seen them in a long time.  (Well, them as a couple, I'd seen Amanda not too long before).

Saturday was our first day of doing food pick up for church.  Our church had a Food Kitchen with donated items from Whole Foods, Fresh and Easy, Zanottos, and maybe some other places.  Some of the items are "spoilage" (close to the sell by date), some are over-stock and brand new, and a few dented cans, or torn boxes.  One of the amazing old ladies started this a few years ago, and it's expanded enough that hey can give food to the three congregations that meet on Sundays and an additional opening on Thursday morning for the community (though, I suppose they could come Sundays as well).  Typical items include: all sorts of fancy bread (various bakery loafs, and expensive healthy breads), cold case items (picnic salads, pre-packed salads, soups, puddings, etc), fresh made items (pizzas, sandwiches), produce, baked goods (pies, krispy kremes, cookies, etc), dairy (milk, yogurt, cottage cheese) and non-perishables (canned goods, cereals, different flours and baking goods, soy milk, rice, etc).  It's a great program.  It's helped us out quite a bit.  A few different people go to different stores on different days.  Aaron was asked to go to Whole Foods on Saturdays at 5:15.  (It actually turns out 5:30 is better).  The store will bring out cart loads of things that would otherwise be tossed.  For example, we got milks, that have a sell-by of 6-5.  Also, the various delivery trucks will give you things too.  We had several bread trucks give us quite a bit of bread.  We filled up my car (and will be borrowing my dad's van from now on).  The perk of doing this (aside from being charitable) is that you get first pick of the food.  (We were told the verse from Deut. 25:4: Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn).  So we got some, and some for Aaron's folks.  And since we'll be using my dad's van, I'll bring him a couple things too (he requested nice bread, kefir (though I'm not sure I've seen kefir), and cold case goods.  


Aaron can't do it every Saturday, but I can.  And I don't mind getting up early.  Plus my FiL volunteered to go when Aaron couldn't.  So I think it'll be pretty good.  The key is to not make the employees (or delivery guys) wait for you, and to always be nice, and say thank you.  (Since it's actually easier for them to throw it away).  So I'm pretty excited about this.  It helps the community, creates less waste, and stretches out food budget.


After getting up at 4:30 to do the Food Kitchen, we headed out to Big Basin to do a 12 mile hike.  It's my favourite hike, but it's hard to plan.Skyline to the Sea Trail to Waddell Beach 
One Way. 

What to see: Spectacular views! 
Location: The Whole Park, Mid Park areas, Pacific Ocean. 
Trailhead: Across the street from Park Headquarters, at the large Redwood Trail Marker, cross bridge at Opal Creek Comfort Station, turn left. 
Length: ~12.5 miles~20 kms 
Time: ~6 hours 
Elevation: ~+/-1000' 

As you can see from the map, you need a car parked at "A" and another car at the read star.  As you can also see, it's not a quick or easy drive to get from one to the other.  A guy my dad works with organizes it, and we get to tag along.  I'm wiped out today.  Super tired, stiff, sore.  We went to sleep before 10, (it's 8.30 now) and Aaron is still asleep.

In the bad news column, I think Yoie might have a UTI, so I'm going to call the vet when they open at 10.  She's peed in the house more than usual.  (Once right in front of me).  And last night she asked to go out, and peed 4 drops.  So not good signs.