Taxi Mom

Another day at work. I am very busy, which is a good thing. Just can’t stand the unrealistic deadlines.

The evening was more interesting. Neil walked to karate after school. John came home on the bus. John ate an early dinner, then I drove him into town for his 5:30pm driver’s ed class. Then I went over to karate to wait for Neil to be done at 6:00pm. I took Neil home. Grandma Sharon was waiting for him. She took over Neil’s dinner and homework and I headed back into town for a 7:00pm parent meeting regarding John’s upcoming trip to Germany. The meeting was interesting to say the least. They are offering all sorts of fundraising activities – almost too many in my opinion! Steve did arrive at the meeting from work just as things were getting started. Thankfully at about 8:15pm when the signup sheet for fundraisers began circulation, I had to leave to go get John! I was able to leave without committing to anything! That would be my positive for the day!

Basketball tournament

Today was Neil's 5th grade basketball tournament at the Sports Enhancement Academy in Stoughton. First I must say that this facility is truly awesome! Privately funded also. Neil's team was in a four team tournament - so each team played three games with the most games won being the champions. Neil's games were at 9:15, 11:45 and 2:15. And they won all their games! It was truly a great day for them! They played well and were rewarded with trophies! 

The Lodi Team

Neil and his cool trophy

 I know there can be a lot of running around associated with sports like basketball, but I do it for Neil. And I really enjoy watching him and his teammates play together. They are so much better than just a couple months ago. I will miss this time. (Not sure how basketball will fit into Neil's schedule next year. Hope we can make it work.)

My Day in a Nutshell

Went grocery shopping. Back home by 8:30am and put everything away.

Neil and I drove to the Scout Shop to get his Boy Scout uniform. Picked up a properly sized pair of shorts for John.

Neil and I hit a money wall, found him a pair of pants for his John Hancock costume, filled the car with gas and got back home by 11am.

John and Steve had returned from Solo & Ensemble/Lake Mills.

We all had an early lunch. And it started to snow.

I began laundry and then went out driving with John. We left our dead end road and ventured out on other rural roads. John needs to work on his turns. Otherwise he's doing well.

Worked with Neil on some of his homework. Then him and I began cleaning. And I'm still doing laundry.

Now that break is over...I need to vacuum upstairs. I will make mashed potatoes for tomorrow. I need to start the casserole for tonight. There will still be laundry to do. Neil and I will get food/snacks together for his all day basketball tournament tomorrow. I will need to make alterations to his shirt and vest for his John Hancock costume.

That's a full day!

Cruising

Took John out for his first behind the wheel driving time when I got home today. We spent about 20-30 minutes driving up and down the road in my car, getting him use to how it feels. He's doing well.

Positive comment

Feeling good about what I've accomplished at work today! Got another big project off my desk.

However, the last big project I completed has returned to my desk with changes. Job security, eh?

Breathe

I always need to remember to rise above others negativity.

Lorazepam

Not much happened today. I went to work. I visited with Mom. Her Lorazepam seems to be working. What one of the staff is recommending is to just give Mom the .5 mg dose every morning just to keep the edge off. Because once she starts looping and getting agitated, it’s near impossible to get her to take any type of medicine, let alone something that will help to break the looping. The staff will talk to the Hospice representative next time she’s in to see if the Hospice doctor can change the prescription to “every day” instead of “as needed”.

Here we go!

Today the Wisconsin DMV granted John a Learner’s Permit for driving. His “temps”. I’m so thankful he was able to pull it off. He’s had just a couple classroom driver’s ed session – well, really just one. And he didn’t even crack open the book provided by the DMV until after I picked him up from school to go to the DMV! Mental note to self – when it’s time for Neil, sign him up for the late fall session – not the winter session.

Typically, any DMV business I need to do, I take care of in Madison. But it seems like a lot of people go to Portage. It is smaller and more personable. However the building is very dated (late 70’s/early 80’s) and tired looking…as are a lot of the clientele. It’s a “people watcher” buffet!

John and I didn’t get a chance to go hit the roads. By the time we got home there was just 10 minutes before I needed to leave to get Neil. I’m sure we’ll find time soon enough.

Catch up

I’ve missed a few days! Here’s what’s been going on.

Neil felt horrible Tuesday when he came home. His nose was all stuffed up and he said his throat hurt. Lots of coughing. He skipped basketball practice that night. I had decided Neil would be staying home Wednesday. Grandma Sharon came up to stay with Neil. Neil never ran a temperature. We could have considered sending him back to school on Friday, but…

Another event was going on – no school! Our Republican governor, Scott Walker, introduced a “Budget Repair Bill” designed to deal with Wisconsin’s upcoming budget shortfall of $136.7 million. However, the bill went a lot further than just some fiscal issues. According to one newspaper: “Walker is looking to remove collective bargaining rights except for salary for roughly 175,000 public employees, from school teachers to garbage collectors — although local police, fire and the state patrol are exempt. Any requests for a salary increase higher than the inflation rate would have to be approved by a referendum. … The bill also makes union dues optional for state workers; requires an annual vote by union members to maintain certification and eliminates health care or pension benefits for any limited term employees.” The protests in response to this radical proposal began last Monday. Hundreds of people testified to the Joint Finance Committee about the bill. College students left class. High school students walked out of school. Teachers called in sick. School districts shut down. Police and firefighters — union members actually exempt from the bill’s crackdown — showed up for support. More than 10,000 people converged on the Capitol to voice their dissent.

However, Walker and the Republicans in both the Senate and Assembly refused to negotiate on most provisions of the bill. On Wednesday, Senate Republicans amended the bill, but the changes still left the substance — eliminating collective bargaining for public employees — in place. Walker threatened to fire 1,500 people and take 200,000 children off Medicaid if the bill does not pass, alternatives that are not legally possible but designed to scare people. After the Joint Finance Committee passed the bill, it seemed like a relatively quick path through the Senate and Assembly and on to Walker’s desk to be signed.

But then, something crazy happened: Democrats in the Senate didn’t show up for the vote. And without them in the chamber, the Senate didn’t have a quorum, and the bill was delayed. The Senate did a “Call of the House,” and sent the Senate Sargent at Arms to look for the missing Senators. After checking their Capitol offices and discovering they were, in fact, not in the building, the search expanded. Rumors abounded that state troopers were called in to help find them or that these Senators could be handcuffed and forced to return. It appeared they were just over the border in Rockford and Freeport, Illinois, where Wisconsin law enforcement can’t get them. As of today – they are still missing.

So the boys did not have school on Thursday and Friday. Worked out good for Neil.

Saturday John participated in the 20^th Sun Prairie Jazz Festival with our school’s jazz ensemble. It was an all day ordeal –competition and clinics – wrapping up with a 7:00 p.m. concert which we attended. It was wonderful! I spent most of my day (along with Neil) at the high school helping with the boy scout troop’s dress rehearsal for the next day’s Arrow of Light ceremony.

Sunday was just plain overbooked! Steve and John were at the high school by 9am for the Arrow of Light ceremony. Neil and I went to his second and final First Communion class. We then went over to the high school to help out however we could. Neil’s Blue and Gold Banquet began at noon. (The Arrow of Light ceremony is part of the banquet.) We happily close the book on Cub Scouting and now Neil wants to move on to Boy Scouts. Neil and I finished up there about 2:30pm and headed over to DeForest for Neil’s last regular season basket ball game which began at 3:45pm. As if all of this isn’t enough, we had “weather” – sleet, freezing rain, snow!

Thankfully I had today off. The boys had a two hour late start due to snow. I’ve cleaned and worked on laundry. I need to pick up the boys at 6:00pm from karate and then head over to the elementary school for Neil’s parent-teacher conference.

I will be happy to put my head down tonight!

Foggy weather!

It's Wednesday! Let's see...

Neil has a pretty bad cold - stuffed up and sore throat. He stayed home with Grandma Sharon today. Hope he's feeling better tomorrow.

Sunday, Mom began her prescription of Lorazepam and I think it's making a difference. When I visited her today she just seemed more calm without being exhausted. I told her I had talked to Audrey Schucknecht last night and Mom said "Where did you run into her?" She fluently put a good sentence together rather than her usual "yes", "no", "I don't know" answers. We'll see how this pans out. 

Temps were pretty warm today - lower 40's. It's melting all the snow we got, but it's also producing a lot of thick fog.

Follow up

Checked out the acai berry juice and colon cleansing deals on www.oprah.com and I guess there's really not a lot of truth to the colon cleansing and the acai berry has lots of anti-oxidants, but so do a lot of other foods.

So...no quick fixes here.

Weight loss

Yes, I realize it is Valentine's Day and I just put "Weight Loss" in the title. Don't worry - plenty of chocolate being eaten here!

I have to make this comment though. When I read about these Acai Berry juices coupled with a Colon Cleansing pill to boost weight lost, I'm all over it. But the Colon Cleansing pill scares me. It just sounds like a lot of time spent in the privy. Just saying... And I really want to give this a try. Anyone try this that can comment on it?

Happy Early V-Day!

Not only will we be having a heart shaped pizza tomorrow night, but a heart shaped cake!

What a night!

What a night last night! Initially, things went as scheduled. Picked up the boys from the bus, got them fed and we were out of the door by 5:10pm. I dropped Neil and Dominic at basketball practice. John and I went to the grocery store. Then I dropped John at the library while I ran the groceries home. I was back at the library by 6:00pm. At 6:30pm I took John up to the high school for pep band and then headed back to the elementary school to get the boys from basketball practice. Practiced ended at 7:00pm and we headed back to the high school since John said he would be done at about 7:15pm. I checked my phone at almost 7:30pm and saw a message from John – they were running a little late. Finally he came out at 7:45pm and we were on our way home.

We walked in the door about 8:00pm. I noticed the light flashing on the answering machine. It was Willow Pointe. Apparently Mom had taken a fall. The first thing I did was to mention to Steve that he needs to check the answering machine when he gets home. His excuse was that he had just gotten home. He never checks it. I am the only one. I called Willow Pointe and the Hospice nurse had been there about 20 minutes and had determined Mom was going to need stitches. I talked briefly with Hospice nurse and it was decided that it would be a good idea for me to come down since I have Power of Attorney. Steve is offering to drive me down. I looked around the house and said “Someone needs to be here for the boys.” So off to the Stoughton Hospital I went at about 8:20pm.

It had been mentioned to me that Danita was there visiting Mom also. My first thought was “Why is Danita visiting at around 7:30pm?” Apparently that’s where she hangs out during or after Ryan’s basketball practice.

From the initial phone conversation and conversations afterwards this is what happened. One of the aides was with a resident on the A side of Willow Pointe. The other aide was on the B side, where Mom was. However the aide went to the bathroom. During this time Mom fell out of her chair. She must have been leaning or reaching forwards and out she went, hitting her forehead on the hardwood floor. At the same time Danita arrived, entered through the A side, walked over where Mom was and found her on the floor in a “huge pool of blood” (yes, head wounds do bleed a lot.) By that time the aide was out of the bathroom and everyone began to take action.

On my drive down, my younger brother calls my cell phone. I didn’t hear the phone ring, but saw it light up. I called him back and asked why he was calling. “Because Mom is going to the hospital.” He had no idea why Mom was going to the hospital. I commented about Danita not telling him – he said he was working at Home Depot and was in a dead area but thought he needed to leave since Mom was going to the hospital. I told him Mom fell, had a gash on her forehead requiring stitches and that’s all it was. He repeats that he’s on his way to the hospital – sort of like he’ll take care of everything. I have to tell him I’m halfway there – he says I wouldn’t have to go – I tell him I have Power of Attorney, I need to be there. That shut him up!

I got to the hospital about 9:00pm and of course Danita was there holding Mom’s hand and the Hospice nurse was right there too. Mom had already gotten 5 stitches and the ambulance transport was on its way to take Mom back to Willow Point. Steve showed up about 5 minutes after I did and immediately puts his face right into Mom’s face and starts this baby-talk about what’s happened. That really frustrates me. I signed some papers, etc. Mom was home by 10:00pm.

I had a good conversation with the Hospice nurse (and with the ER nurse for a bit also). First I asked if there are any other wheelchair options where Mom wouldn’t tend to fall out, since a belt is considered restrainment. Mom has fallen backwards, forwards, and even sideways by leaning, reaching, even hopping out of the wheelchair. Neither nurse seemed to have suggestions for that. Another point of conversation was Mom’s agitation. She was very agitated, looping her nonsense words and slapping her right hand constantly. The Hospice nurse suggested Lorazepam (brand name Ativan) which I have heard mentioned before. Mom’s regular doctor is reluctant to prescribe anything like that. The Hospice nurse is going to discuss her observations with the Hospice doctor today. We’ll see what comes of that.

I got home last night at 11:00pm. I got to work this morning at 7:30am. It’s going to be a long day.

Take your pick

We seem to have a lot of things happening all at once.

We are making arrangements for John to get his learner’s permit. Since his half birthday is on a Saturday and the following Monday is President’s Day (DMV closed) we will go on Feb. 22.

Plans for John’s Germany trip are in full swing. The kids are busy organizing their fundraisers. John and Jake will be coordinating a concession/bake sale.

Today John gets his class ring. I can’t wait to see it. And last night John heard from the District Eagle Scout Counselor. He will approve John’s service project with a few minor changes. Now we need to get some funding for that!

Neil has a couple of projects to work on for school. One is an alphabet book about the Revolutionary War. Another is a biography – Neil was assigned John Hancock. Poem writing and dressing up as John Hancock are parts of the assignment.

And then there’s always basketball for Neil. Three games again this weekend. Yikes!

Wednesday already!

Yikes! How did it get to be Wednesday so quickly?!

Sunday was a crazy day of running. John helped at the Optimist’s Super Bowl breakfast from 7:45am-10am. Neil had Sunday school. When we all got back home about 10:30am we had Steve open birthday gifts and cards. After lunch we headed down to Stoughton for Neil’s 2:30pm basketball game, which they won! After the game we hustled back home to change into our Packer attire and gather our food, then headed to Pete’s house for his Super Bowl party. The Packers beat the Steelers – final score 31-25.

I took Monday off to catch up on cleaning and grocery shopping. I drove the boys to school. I decided on rotisserie chicken for dinner and as it turned out I was heading into town as school was letting out, so I picked the boys up and gave them a ride to karate. Spent a better part of Monday evening discussing John’s class scheduling options for next year. It sounds like we have a plan.

Tuesday brought Neil’s basketball practice. I had to pull him about 20 minutes early because the Webelos were visiting John’s Boy Scout meeting. I think Neil liked it. And I don’t think John disliked it that much!

It is very cold this morning - a fur coat sort of day. Right now its 10 degrees with a wind chill of minus 3, but I know the actual temperature was below zero before the sun came up. Lots of drifting on the road I take to get to the highway. Almost drifted shut in a couple of spots!

Good day

The day went pretty well. Neil's basketball team played a good game at DeForest, but not quite good enough. They lost 28-17. After the game, Neil, John and I did a little Super Bowl shopping down by the mall area. After a Culver's stop, we headed home. Dinner. Got my chicken wings marinating. Steve made cut out cookies for tomorrow - star shaped. Called them "Bart Starr cookies". The boys and I banished Steve to the upstairs so we could wrap his birthday gifts. So everything is in place for tomorrow and the Big Game.

Positive Friday!

I finished up two lingering projects at work today!

Neil's basketball team won 26-17!

After the storm

When it was all said and done Madison got 18.7 inches of snow from Monday afternoon through Wednesday morning. The wind pick up Tuesday night and we were under a blizzard warning. Literally the whole southern part of the state shut down. No school. My employer closed for the day. The interstate by Kenosha and Racine was closed for quite awhile. Over 900 cars were abandoned on Chicago’s Lake Shore Drive. Cars and trucks were driving into drifts and getting stuck. Bitterly cold temperatures are following the storm. You certainly don’t want to spend a long time outside today.

The winds are still whipping the snow around tonight and drifting continues. At least the township was smart enough to send a plow out earlier this evening!

It's official

Posted sometime in the last hour or so...

Lodi Schools will be closed Wednesday February 2, 2011 due to inclement weather

All After School Activities and Practices after 5:00 p.m. are Canceled. All scheduled games are canceled on  February 1, 2011

No school = no getting up and going to work for me! Whoo hoo!

Storm threat continues

It's been windy all day. Doesn't appear to have snowed much more.

Many of our regional offices have closed.

• Itasca Office closing at 2:00 p.m. CT due to inclement weather
• Indianapolis Closing at 2:30 p.m. ET Due to Inclement Weather
• Linoln NE office will close at 2:30 PM CST due to ice and snow
• Overland Park, KS office closed at noon due to snowstorm
• Freeport closing at 3 p.m. ET today due to inclement weather.
• Springfield Closing at 1 p.m. ET Today Due to Inclement Weather

This is from http://channel3000.com/

A winter storm that moved through on Monday already dropped 6 inches of snow near Sheboygan with lesser amounts elsewhere. Travel is slow for morning commuters in Milwaukee County, where spinouts and a rollover were clogging the freeways.

However, another blast of winter weather is slated to arrive later on Tuesday. The National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning for southern Wisconsin -- from Fond du Lac to Madison to Dodgeville -- through Wednesday. Wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph are expected with nine to 16 inches of new snow. The blizzard watch for Tuesday and Wednesday includes southern Wisconsin, northern Illinois and northwest Indiana and includes the cities of Milwaukee and Chicago.

Snowfall totals could reach more than 2 feet in some areas by the time the storm system has moved through the region. Forecasters said this blizzard will be similar to one in January 1999 which produced 14 to 18 inches of snow and four to eight foot drifts.

Storm snowfall totals are expected to be about 4 inches to 7 inches from Wisconsin Dells to the northwest. Six to 10 inches are likely northwest of Dane County to the Dells. Eight to 14 inches are possible near a Platteville to Madison to Beaver Dam line and 10 to 18-plus inches are possible south and east of Dane County.

Waiting for the storm

Good bye January - Hello February!

Madison's total snowfall yesterday to this morning was 5 1/2 inches. We are told we are in a lull right now with the peak/worse of the storm beginning late this afternoon/early this evening. The boys' school had a two hour delay - so that means I had a two hour delay also! I can see light snow and it's windy. Bundling up and preparing to hunker down!