Nursing Homes, Fifth Grade Angst, and Weight Watchers All At Once...

Well, the shorties and I just got home from the nursing home.  We went to see my mom who has Parkinson's and dementia. To be honest, my mom's illness has been progressively worse the past 2 years or so, so she doesn't really know my youngest kids. My dad comes by and sees them, so Emi and Simon know Pawpaw immediately. But with my mom it has been really hard. The wheelchair scares Emi. She doesn't make a good connection with her. But at the nursing home, their lobby has coffee and cookies available, so we have been grabbing a cookie or two as we go in to keep the shorties occupied and seated. Now when we pull into the parking lot, Emi actually says, "Grandma Cookie!" Ummm, that's ok, right??? I feel bad when we visit because my older kids had the chance to know my mom before the illness took over and have memories of playing and hanging out at their house. Emi and Simon will never have that, and with such a small extended family, I feel really bad for them.

It's been a bumpy week so far, the school issues we had with one of our older boys finally just came to an ugly head and we had to have him reassigned to a different classroom. It really has been so hard for him (and me, who am I kidding) this year, this is my child that simply loved school, always looked forward to it, and then 5th grade came and he was in tears weekly. I am hoping for nothing but sunshine and rainbows for the rest of the year. :) Did I mention they placed him in his twin brother's class? Yeah.... Maybe the rainbows are pushing it. Those two could not be more opposite. So I worry that class together and home together is going to be a strain, but it really was a better choice than where he was. Maybe I'll have to resort to bribes. I already emailed the teacher a total suck up email. I did mean it, she has been a phenomenal teacher for Aaron, but I was a teacher, no one wants another student when you're at 25 and it's a twin. Poor thing. At least she's young. I'll have to shower her with gifts.

Billy and I got over our Super Bowl food coma relatively well. We felt kinda sluggish Monday. Gotta have those days though where you just have fun, enjoy food and family and then get back on the horse. I gained 4 pounds. Oye... But as of this morning, (I know, I have a scale obsession) all but a half pound was gone. I assume a lot of it was salt/water retention. And we're right back on track with points and today I plan on starting Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. Now, is that 30 days in a row? I'm not sure I can keep that promise. I will try though, my almost 40 year old hips and thighs are begging for help. Have a good one!