Well, in my opinion, the house just looks great! I can't wait to have people over! It seems like there might be a little less room in the living room, but I don't really care. I think it looks good! Tomorrow is the appt. with the psychologist for Kaleb. Should be interesting. Either he has been a little better the last couple of days, or God is better equipping me to handle him. Don't get me wrong...it has still been difficult to try to manage his behavior, but it has been less 'dangerous.' It doesn't help right now that they all, including Kaleb, have colds...so of course he is more whiny and less patient than usual. I can tell he isn't feeling the best because the girls are running around and playing 'school' and Kaleb is just watching cartoons. Kind of unusual for him. But the girls are funny. Abbey is wearing Katherine's backpack and Katherine is taking her around to different rooms, like she is dropping her off for school. It's cute.



I need to get a couple of prescriptions filled. The kids are out of their cough syrup with the codiene in it, so we definitely need some more of that--it helps their coughs too. Ha ha.



Tomorrow is the day before Thanksgiving. Where does the time go? It flies by. It seems like forever since my sister was out here for Thanksgiving last year, but at the same time it is hard to believe it is here again.



I need to get Kaleb out of my closet now and see what the girls are up to. Guess I should start thinking about lunch too. So many of the quick and easy things to make are so messy. I hate getting the kids all messy before taking Katherine to school. It annoys me. Uh oh...Katherine is crying. Must be a mommy now.

My feet are just KILLING me! I cleaned most of the evening. Am still at it. But the fun thing is that for the first time in almost 2 years of living in this house, we rearranged. I think it all looks cool. I just wish it wasn't after midnight and that I didn't still have to sort through all the junk on the table so the kids can eat breakfast in the morning. I thought I'd sit for a minute before going back to tackle some more.



So here is what we did. We have officially made the giraffe room our bedroom. It's kind of like a suite...the room is so big, so we not only have our bedroom stuff, but we also have the infamous pink chair and a love seat. Wouldn't it be great if I could turn the sun room into a master bath? Now that would be awesome!



So, what did we do with the computer and other couch? Well...we moved it to the room where our bedroom used to be. Yeah, we still have to come in here to get clothes out of the closet, but I think it will be worth it. Kris wasn't sure at first what he thought about my ideas, but he likes it now.



The other change we made is to the living room. It is so difficult to really rearrange in there, espcecially since we have this huge sectional couch thing. There's only one place you can really put it, which is why we have not rearranged since we moved in. But we took the middle piece out, and switched the living room around too. I like it actually. It does gives us less room in there, but it looks cool, more of an intimate setting.



I'm really tired right now. I should get back in there and work on the table. I am hoping that now that the rooms are rearranged a bit, it will be the boost I need to get the laundry done and the rest of the house cleaned up. I still have to figure out when I am going to go to the grocery store. I was going to go tonight to get stuff for Thanksgiving, but got carried away with changing my house around. I think Kaleb's room will be next. We moved some stuff out of his room, so I am thinking about moving his bed and dresser around. We'll see. It would force me to clean his room!



I've been so distracted and discouraged lately. Kaleb has just really worn me out. I think I am getting out of that--hopefully. I need to do so much stuff, but have lacked the desire or motivation to even begin. But I am hoping tomorrow will be a better day. Kaleb and Abbey go to the doctor in the morning for their check ups. I think they both get shots but I am not sure about that. Kaleb might be spared...we'll see.



Ok, time to get back to work so I can go to bed in my new huge room.

So today I am toying with the idea of driving to Indiana tonight. Either that or leaving at 7am and going out there tomorrow. My sister told me that tomorrow my mom is having the family Thanksgiving dinner. She knew we couldn't all afford to come out there for it, but I really need a break. So I am considering it. It would be kind of cool if all of us showed up out there, (Kris and the kids) but I/we haven't decided if we want to do that or not. I thought we wouldn't have enough money...but I think that we would be ok financially. Hmm....so many decisions. Another option is to take Cindy with me rather than going by myself. But then again, I know the kids would love the chance to see their cousins. I am also thinking that if all 5 of us went out there, surely there would still be enough food. Hmm....



So, I thought that rambling on about it would help me to decide. I am leaning towards all of us going. We could leave tonight and still get back Saturday night and be here for church. I have to be back Sunday anyway to pick up the bridesmaid dress for my sister's wedding.



Now I'm just frustrated with not know what I want to do. I guess I'll wait for Cindy to call me to figure out what her plans are this weekend.



That was really boring wasn't it? But I guess I don't really care because isn't this kind of like an outlet?? And you can stop reading anytime you want to. :)



Kaleb has been ok today. I'm really stressed. I feel tense all the time. I am hoping that some time away would give me what I needed to make it through next week. I feel really distracted all the time now. Unfocused. Or rather, unable to focus. I am having trouble doing anything around the house-laundry, cleaning, etc...

It has been a really long week. Well...really the last month has been long, but this week has seemed so stressful and difficult to get through. It is actually kind of depressing to me that today has barely started and there is still tomorrow to get through before the weekend.



I took Kaleb to the pediatrician on Monday. He seemed to think that my concerns were valid and suggested that I take Kaleb to see a child phsychologist. He didn't think there was anything physical going on with him.



Tuesday night at counseling Kris and I asked Karen about it. She recommended a lady that takes our insurance...she is a Christian and specializes in working with young children. We have been praying for Kaleb quite a bit. We are thinking that maybe he is sensitive to spiritual warfare or something of the sort. I think the prayers aren't really helping him so much but they are helping Kris and I, I think, to stay focused and try to trust God with how to handle Kaleb.



Today for no reason he just started taking his cereal and milk out of his bowl with his fingers and dropping it on the floor. I just calmly took his bowl and spoon away and out came the anger from him. He screamed in his chair for a while and then got down and knocked his chair over, on purpose. He screamed and yelled and made these ugly noises at me, and then suddenly, he was fine. I don't get it. And recently (this week) he has started to draw these questionable pictures. He is obsessed with his lower body, which the doctor said was not unusual for his age, but twice now I have caught him drawing picture with 'boy anatomy' and he talks about it and laughs as he is drawing them. It's just weird.



There is a fear deep down that Kris and I have, that someone has done something to him. The thing is, we can't figure out who or where or when. We don't leave the kids alone too often and when we do it is usually just with Cindy and Dean, and the thought does not even enter my mind that one of them would be doing something. Kris either. I know that none of us have done anything. And maybe no one else has either. I hope that is the case. But these signs he is displaying and the obsession...it's all just kind of weird.



Anyway, I have an appointment to meet with the psychologist next Wednesday. I hope that I can survive with him until then. On the positive side, Kris only has 3 days of work next week with the holiday and all.



My sister and her fiance are coming into town next Wednesday. That will be fun. We will spend Thanksgiving together and then my sister and I will have our annual (we started last year) stand out in the cold to get some good shopping deals the day after Thanksgiving. That night, as long as we can find a sitter, Kris and I will take Jenny and Raju to the casino, kind of like a bachelor/bachelorette thing for them. It should be fun.



I need to find a stress reliever. I feel so tense and have for the last couple of weeks with Kaleb. It has been very difficult to stay home with him. And yesterday Katherine's teacher told me that for the first time they have had to get onto her for not paying attention at circle time and she has gotten in trouble. I really think it is because of the situation and tension in the home with Kaleb and his behavior. I think it is sad. The fact that she is now being affected during school by it...something is just not right. Hopefully we will get it figured out. I know that God is in control of all things and that He will guide us. I just hope that He gives me extra strength in the process.

Well, I decided that since Jenn and Dacia have started blogging again that I would too now. It seemed like for a while I was the only one blogging!



Life has been rough the past month or so. But by God's grace things are getting better and my relationship with my husband has never been better! I want everyone to know, though I can't go into details about it, Kris was my hero last weekend. He stepped up, was a man, and led our family spiritually and it was awesome to see and renewed my love for him.



Kaleb has something wrong with him. It isn't physical at all. The past 3 weeks he has been so angry and defiant. This is not just typical 3-year-old behavior and anyone that tries to tell me it is can come and live at my house for a while and see for themselves. Kris and I just aren't sure what it is. He has something, maybe emotional or chemical going on with him. At first I thought maybe it was just him reacting to my emotions as for a while I had been in turmoil emotionally. But I have come out of that and the behavior and unreasonable-ness has continued. It is barely 10 in the morning and already we have been through 2 screaming fits, the first of which he got physical and was scratching and kicking me. I can't handle him. I don't know what to do with him and have two times now put him in the sun room and locked the door (I have stayed right there watching him) to keep from hurting him. It's pretty bad. I thought I would be able to wait until next week when he has his routine check up at the doctor, but after this morning, I called and he is seeing the doctor today at 2:30. Something has to change. Kris and I are helpless with him and don't know what to do. Continued prayers would be appreciated, that either God would miraculously take away whatever is affecting him or that the doctors would be able to figure out what is wrong and how to help him. He is just not himself. These moods come rapidly...and then can last as long as a half hour and then immediately he returns to his calm normal 3-year-old boy self. It's strange.



I guess that's all for now. Will update later after I find out what the doc says. Hopefully the appt. will prove helpful and not discouraging for me.