Val's Journal (comments welcome)

[DoeWDW]

Val, isn't trip-planning so much fun??? Sounds like you know what you want and your restaurant choices are wonderful! Congrats on the Illuminations cruise. We did one from the Contemporary to see the fireworks at MK one year - spectacular!

Hope you've had a wonderful weekend. Best wishes for your little one when he starts preschool. You'll feel nervous until you see how much he's growing and learning with all those new friends and new experiences. Then all the nervousness goes away and you find yourself beaming with pride!!

 

[toystoryduo]

Hi Val,

Hope you had a great weekend! How are you doing? I hope all is well with you! Take care!

Tracy

 

[vald1977]

Hi everybody!

I'm so sorry I haven't had much time to post. Just when I think things will calm down they start getting crazy again and today is the one day I should have had some time to post to journals and the DIS was sooo slow this morning I didn't have a chance. Please know that I always include you all in my prayers and I'm sending good vibes your way .

Unfortunately, I haven't been doing so well since I last posted. I don't know what has caused this most recent falling off the bandwagon . At least it hasn't been fast food, just not making the best choices and eating ice cream entirely too much the past week or so . I'm afraid to approach the scale so I haven't done a weigh in. TOM is due in a few days so while I would like to pledge to do better, I don't know if that is likely until TOM rollercoaster passes. I do NEED to do better with the water though so I will make that promise to myself . Baby steps...

DS will probably start pre-school in two weeks. We have a ppt on the 14th and they said he would start the week after that. I should get all the details about how many days per week and what times then. I'm feeling a little better about it. I just can't believe my little baby isn't a baby anymore .

Anywhoo, I'm still knee deep in planning and ps mode for our trip. I booked our sleigh ride today. Here's more info. for Beth:

Wilderness Lodge Holiday Sleigh Rides

Enjoy a leisurely 30-minute carriage ride through the Walt Disney World backwoods from November 30 - December 30! . All rides depart from the Porte Cochere in front of the Wilderness Lodge and will return to the same location every half hour between 5:30pm and 10:00pm (December 24th hours are 3:00pm - 7:00pm). Cost is $30 (tax included) per carriage. Up to 3 adults and 2 children or 4 adults will fit in the carriage. To reserve call WDW-PLAY; Please arrive 15 minutes prior to ride time. For same-day bookings, call 407-824-2832. A $30 fee will be charged for no-shows or for cancellations within 24 hours.

Should be fun ! I'm going to do my best to get to a few journals right now. Unfortunately, I have a wake to attend tonight but will try to get to more tonight or tomorrow A.M. .

 

[Strings]

Hug Val,

The smilies aren't loading. Val with TOM approaching and the stress I know you are feeling about DS starting preschool, you need to cut yourself some slack. I know that once the routine starts up, you will have no problem getting back op. Just keep up the water, and you'll be fine.

Thank you so much for the info on the sleigh ride. Katie will love it. I will definately plan that into the budget. Are you going to CP and MVMCP? I can't wait until next year.

Take care of yourself, and remember, it is ok for a Mom to cry and embarrass her children.
Beth

Me again,

I just wanted to thank you for your support. Your friendship has helped me through some tough times. I really appreciate all of your support.

 

[jodistar]

Hi Val,

Just checking in on you. Wow, the sleigh ride sounds like a lot of fun. I keep on telling my DF that I would love to go to Disney during Christmas.....I told him even if I have to go alone (you should have seen the look). but we have to worry about planning for our honeymoon (Halloween is fun too! too bad we won't be there until next year!)

Have a great rest of your week.

Jodi

 

[toystoryduo]

Hey girl!

How are you doing? I hope that all is well with you and your family. Did you get all of the PS's taken care of yet? I bet you are looking forward to your vacation. I know I'm looking forward to mine.

Hope you have a great weekend, Val! Take good care of you!

 

[vald1977]

Hi everybody,
I just wanted to take a moment to post in my journal as I am feeling very down today. The anniversary of 9/11 is upon us and I thought I would be be okay with that. Well, as I turned on the news and they were showing all of the survivors and families at the site, my emotions just hit me like a ton of bricks . It's such a sad day in our history. I didn't know anyone who perished personally but I can only imagine the fear and panic that they felt as they made those calls home to their families, knowing they weren't going to make it home . I just pray that no one ever has to go through that EVER AGAIN.

God bless you all, my wish friends . Thank you for listening.

 

[jodistar]

I know how you feel Val, I really can't watch the 9/11 Coverage - It bugs me too much and I end up having nightmares; I spent much of yesterday out.

I know it might seem disrespectiveful but I am really not doing it to be disrespectivefull. It doesn't mean that I have forgotten - They are all in my thoughts.

Val, I hope the rest of your weekend is fabulous. I haven't been around to check journals in a while - but I hope to do a lot of it this week.

 

[vald1977]

Hi Jodi,
I usually try to avoid that kind of stuff too but for some reason it was the first thing on when I turned on the T.V. and I watched. It just brought up a ton of emotions in me but I am feeling much better today. Thanks for checking in.

 

[Strings]

Val,

I'm glad you are feeling better today. I understand how you feel about 9/11. I feel the same way, but it is Won's bday. For Katie we celebrate his bday anyways. She is too young to understand why daddy doesn't like his bday. I hope you have a great week.
Beth

 

[vald1977]

Hi Beth! Thanks for stopping by.

Okay, I need to take a moment here and VENT and I'm also going to take a page from Tracy and write up a list of all I have to do in hopes of easing my anxiety a bit. If you are reading this, feel free to skip it.

I have a ton of things going on in the next few weeks and it is all just hitting me today. Plus, TOM is late (I'm not PG -- at least that's what the test said) but I'm usually not late so I wonder if this is stress related but it's making me even more stressed that it's not here .

DS has two birthday parties to attend on Saturday. I am babysitting all week and I need to find some time to get to the store for presents for the parties. We also have an appt. with the school tomorrow and DS has a physical on Thursday. DH will take him to the Dr. for that.

I am having a family party for DS on Sunday so I still need to make a grocery list for that and figure out what kind of cake to do. The theme of the party is Mickey but I'm doing the party as a Brunch so I'm not sure.

Then next week I'm doing a 50th birthday for my mom and she is driving me INSANE!! First she doesn't want a party, now she does, I was going to do a Brunch for her but now she wants catered . Now she keeps changing the number of people she wants to invite. I told her I was hand making the invites and I needed to know just how many to make. Well, she has called and changed the number 3 times now after I finished making the invites . I'm ready to scream. I still need to call the restaurant on Wed. and see how much the food is going to cost me for that plus probably order a cake from somewhere and get her a present. I know I sound like a bratty daughter but I'm not close with my mother (there are issues there) and sometimes she drives me nuts.

Week after that is Ds's friends birthday party with a clown and I need to make sure I have everything for the kids goodie bags, plan a menu, and figure out a cake for that.

Can I just say I am so ready for a vacation? Feels like we have just had party after party after party lately. I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE !!!!!

Okay, I feel a little better now. Here is a list of things to get done today (a la Tracy ):

1.) send out invites to mom's party and DS's friends party

2.) plan menu for Sunday's Brunch

3.) Figure out what to do about a cake for that party

4.) Go through supplies and make sure I have what I need for
each party.

5.) Make a grocery list for Sunday's party

The rest will have to wait.

 

[vald1977]

Hi Beth! Thanks for stopping by.

Okay, I need to take a moment here and VENT and I'm also going to take a page from Tracy and write up a list of all I have to do in hopes of easing my anxiety a bit. If you are reading this, feel free to skip it.

I have a ton of things going on in the next few weeks and it is all just hitting me today. Plus, TOM is late (I'm not PG -- at least that's what the test said) but I'm usually not late so I wonder if this is stress related but it's making me even more stressed that it's not here .

DS has two birthday parties to attend on Saturday. I am babysitting all week and I need to find some time to get to the store for presents for the parties. We also have an appt. with the school tomorrow and DS has a physical on Thursday. DH will take him to the Dr. for that.

I am having a family party for DS on Sunday so I still need to make a grocery list for that and figure out what kind of cake to do. The theme of the party is Mickey but I'm doing the party as a Brunch so I'm not sure.

Then next week I'm doing a 50th birthday for my mom and she is driving me INSANE!! First she doesn't want a party, now she does, I was going to do a Brunch for her but now she wants catered . Now she keeps changing the number of people she wants to invite. I told her I was hand making the invites and I needed to know just how many to make. Well, she has called and changed the number 3 times now after I finished making the invites . I'm ready to scream. I still need to call the restaurant on Wed. and see how much the food is going to cost me for that plus probably order a cake from somewhere and get her a present. I know I sound like a bratty daughter but I'm not close with my mother (there are issues there) and sometimes she drives me nuts.

Week after that is Ds's friends birthday party with a clown and I need to make sure I have everything for the kids goodie bags, plan a menu, and figure out a cake for that.

Can I just say I am so ready for a vacation? Feels like we have just had party after party after party lately. I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE !!!!!

Okay, I feel a little better now. Here is a list of things to get done today (a la Tracy ):

1.) send out invites to mom's party and DS's friends party -- DONE

2.) plan menu for Sunday's Brunch -- DONE

3.) Figure out what to do about a cake for that party -- DONE

4.) Go through supplies and make sure I have what I need for
each party. -- still need to do this one

5.) Make a grocery list for Sunday's party -- DONE

The rest will have to wait.

Edited to update my to do list . Now I feel like I accomplished something today .

Still no sign of TOM. I took a second test today and it came out with no lines . I don't know how I managed to mess up a pregnancy test but apparently I did . DH kept asking if I was sure I followed the directions. I told him they aren't all that complicated .

 

[vald1977]

I'm back from the meeting at the school. DS will go to pre-school three days per week in the afternoons. They have placed him in a room of 5 year olds who go to kindergarten in the morning and to the daycare center (pre-school) in the afternoon. They think it will be good for DS to be with his peers but I'm not sure this is the right fit. These kids may technically be DS's age but they have school experience and may be more advanced than he is. I just don't want to get him into a situation he isn't ready for. The kids will also have been in school all morning so are likely to be rowdy by the time they get to the pre-school. I don't want a bad influence to rub off on my DS. We'll see how it goes.

Still haven't gotten TOM and I'm wondering what the heck is going on there. I took test #3 and it is negative. By Monday, I will be calling the Dr..

I have another busy day. My sorority meeting was supposed to be at someone else's house tonight but the canceled out which leaves me holding the bag. I need to think of some type of dessert for the meeting and also make sure the house is in order. This happens probably 1 out of 3 meetings that someone cancels and I have to pick up the slack. It gets old. People think because I'm home all day I have all the time in the world . I guess the 30 - 40 hours of baby-sitting I do on opposite shifts a week don't count as "work". It gets old.

Anyway, time for another list of to dos since it worked so well yesterday.

1.) meeting at the school -- DONE
2.) tidy house for sorority meeting -- DONE
3.) clean the bathroom -- DONE
4.) make dessert of some sort for the sorority meeting -- DONE
5.) Find paperwork I need to bring to the school -- need to do
6.) get the kids off the bus -- DONE
7.) skim through school handbook to see if there are any questions I need to ask for tomorrow -- DONE

That's all for now. I'm going to try and get to some journals since I have been slacking and then get going on my to-dos.

 

[Strings]

Hi Val,

I hope the meeting goes well tonight. What dessert did you end up making? I wish I had some words of wisdom for you regarding Thomas' school. If you don't think it is a good fit, look into different programs. Katie's school separates the full from the half day kids. There are 2 classrooms.

I hope you get some answers about TOM soon. Could it be stress that is delaying it?


Beth

 

[vald1977]

I got TOM this morning!!! Yay! One less thing to worry about .

 

[Strings]

Umm...Congratulations, I think. Just kidding. It seems odd to congratulate someone on TOM arriving. Have a good one.
Beth

 

[vald1977]

I felt a tad weird getting so excited this morning myself, Beth. I have just never been late except when I was pg so I was imagining all kinds of reasons that there was something wrong with me.

My meeting went well. I found a brownie mix in the pantry so I made that and everyone enjoyed them. For some reason, they always think I make my brownines from scratch .

 

[toystoryduo]

Hey Val!

Whew! You have a lot going on, girl! I hope you can find some time for yourself over the next few days.

I'm glad that TOM came and now you have answers about that. One less thing to worry about.

By the way.... aren't lists great? I love making lists even though I don't always finish them. It's a concrete reminder that I did accomplish something each day. It helps me take things "Step by Step" while I am "Hanging Tough". (I can't remember any other NKOTB songs right now. Can you leave me a list of them in my journal? Yet another list! Woohoo! )

Have a great day Val!

Tracy

Just thought of..... The Right Stuff, Please Don't Go Girl..... That's all for now.

 

[vald1977]

Hi all,
I feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders . I'm making good headway in the prep. for all of the parties, TOM is finally here, and DS seems to be adjusting well to school .
It's kinda late in the day but I will post my to do list for the day anyway just to keep track of what's done and what's not.

1.) Go through supplies for parties and make a list of what I still need -- DONE

2.) Call restaurant and order food for mom's party -- DONE

3.) wrap DS's present for tomorrow

4.) Make scavenger hunt for DS to find his present tomorrow

That's it! It's been a pretty easy going day. DH took DS to his class today and stayed there with him. I couldn't go because I was watching another child. He said DS did really good and he also likes the teacher. It put my mind at ease.

Tomorrow is Ds's birthday! I'm going to have DH stop and get him a donut and balloon to surprise him when he gets up in the morning. I'm also going to do a scavenger hunt with him to find his present. Of course, he already found it hidden in my room on Sunday . Dh told him he took it back though so hopefully it will be a surprise . Hope everyone has a great night .

 

[toystoryduo]

Good morning Val

I am glad to hear that you are making headway with those lists! What a wonderful mom/ daughter you are to make these days for your mom and son special!

to your DS!!!!!

Have a great day Val! Take good care of you!

Tracy