It's Been a Good Week

The title says it all. We've had a pretty good week here at Chez Swizzle.

It actually started getting better last Friday. I took Miss Smarty Pants' advice and set the timer for 15 minutes several times during the day to get things done. I'd used Flylady.com before, but I just thought of it as a way to keep my house clean. It never occurred to me to use it as a way to get me off my butt and out of a funk. They don't call her "Miss Smarty Pants" for nothing!

We had friends come over and play Rock Band (a usual Friday night). My friend has been having similar, yet different, issues to what I've been having. We went upstairs to make things while the hubbies and kiddos stayed downstairs playing. It was nice.

Saturday night, Mr. Swizzle and I went out without the girls. We went to a fund raiser for the Montessori school that is attached to our church and where Twinkle went from age 2 - Kindergarten. It was fun, with dinner, a silent auction, and a live auction. The live auction was particularly fun for me because I bought something that will always be dear to me - in a "what would you grab in a fire" kind of way. My friend, J, who we lost at the end of last year, painted icons. The proper term is actually "wrote" icons, but to be clear, paint is involved. This is similar to the work she did. Anyway, at the auction on Saturday, J's husband had donated one of her icons for the live auction. Apparently, not everyone in the room was aware that I was going to have the highest bid, and that they need not try. They did figure it out in the end. The icon came home with me and is placed where I see it every day. I'm thrilled and honored to have it.

On Monday, I discovered this lovely site. Apparently Twinkle is quite motivated by stickers and earning points and reward certificates. We made a "chore" chart that also included behaviors. All week, if she's talked back, all I've had to say is "Are you talking back?" (using the language on the chart). She says, "Oh, sorry", because she wants the virtual sticker rewarded on this program I've downloaded. Sweet. We've also limited her TV time and made a chart for that. Anytime she is having trouble listening, especially at home school, I tell her that I've asked her once, I'm now giving her her one chance and if she doesn't do what I ask, time will be taken off of her already limited TV time. So far, so good. I hope she continues to be motivated this way.

Tuesday, I took Sparkle to the doctor because she's been sniffly and a little congested. This is actually quite against my nature. Usually I think if a kid has a cold, there's nothing to be done but get through it and build up their immune systems. Who needs a doctor? But, Sparkle has had 2 asymptomatic ear infections in the 9 months she's been home. This is changing my opinion. Tuesday I figured why not have them peek in her ears. And yes, she did have some redness and irritation in her ears. The doctor was a bit more concerned with her breathing. She admitted it was hard to tell if the rattly sound was in Sparkle's throat or her chest. They took her pulse ox which registered at 90. They did this same thing back in August and were freaked that it was at 99 (not 100). So, we did a breathing treatment in the office which brought it up to 96. That's when the nurse told me that they usually admit the child to the hospital if it's under 92. Yeeshk.

She is better now, though she sounds worse because she's actually coughing gunk out of her chest now. Poor baby. One of these days I'll pick up on these things when they first start.

Last night, I was a major geek and actually recorded the Democratic Presidential debate. I'm more excited this year than I've been in a while about politics. It's so rare that the candidate hasn't been decided by the time the Texas primary rolls around. The primary is March 4, but I just couldn't stand it any longer and went to early voting today. Mr. Swizzle almost talked me out of it by telling me that the early voting votes are not counted until after the votes cast on primary day, therefore mine wouldn't be one of the ones counted the day of. But, I figured, what if I am ill, or Sparkle is ill or I get hit by a bus before March 4. Obama needs me....

So, I've been rambling. All of that to say that all in all, it has been a good week.

Thanks for all the advice and for "listening"on good days and bad.

EDITED TO ADD: Oh, Jeez Louise! I can't believe I didn't include what ended my weekend perfectly and started the school week perfectly. The FABULOUS Duchess and I went to get pedicures. It turned into pedis and manis and boy did the time fly! We were trying to figure out other ways they could pamper us to avoid having to go home!