I feel TERRIBLE!

When I started this blog, I wanted it to be a "scrapbook" of sorts, chronicalling Erica's growth, changes, events, etc. And I'm VERY disappointed in myself for not keeping up with it.

Boo on me.

This was a horrible week. I stayed up late every night watching Criminal Minds reruns on TV. Then I had trouble waking up. Erica wasn't late to school at all, but we had some close calls. And then while she was at school, I was so tired that I didn't get much done.

Now its Friday. I'm looking around my house thinking, "There's so much to do!!!!"

I think what I need to do is write out a schedule for myself. An hour-by-hour schedule. I did that in college, so I know that I can do it. Just gotta start...

Well, I gotta go. Hopefully I'll add all kinds of pictures and updates soon.

Hmm... which costume to choose?

I've fallen in love again with Zwinky. Awhile ago, when I actually blogged consistantly, I would always update my Zwinky person. I really think its the best Avatar I've seen out there. I mean, isn't the girl just so cute?

Anyway, I've been designing Halloween costumes for her. In case you can't tell, the costumes are:

Clown

Robin Hood

Strawberry Shortcake

Pumpkin

Woman of the Woods

Sailor

Fairy Princess

Gypsy

I haven't decided yet which one is my favorite. They all have such good qualities to them!!!

Star Table

Its almost October. Only a few hours away. So I'm changing my blog template to the halloween theme. Yeah for template designs!!!

Next, I have apologies to make. Wow, I haven't been blogging! Its terrible. I really need to catch up. Awhile ago, I did "Make-Up Mondays," where I would catch up what happened over the weekend. Maybe I should start doing that again, but making up for a whole week!

Now to the title of this post...

Erica LOVES preschool!!! I'm so happy for her. And I'm proud of her too. I was really worried that she'd be a trouble maker in school. Not that she's a bad kid; she's just REALLY active and likes to talk alot.

But on the fifth day of school, she came home with great news: She had gotten to sit at the star table! What is the star table, you may wonder. Every day, the teacher picks a student who has been doing a good job. And that student gets to sit at a special table and also gets a special stuffed animal for the day and night. My little Erica got this on just the fifth day of school!!! I was so proud!

Yesterday again she was at the star table. Each time, the teacher wrote a special note for her too. This one said: "Dear Erica, You are doing such nice work. I am proud of you."

And Erica tells me that she's never had to sit at the time out chair.

PLUS, she came home with a special prize. From what I can understand, they each have a calendar at school. And each morning they are supposed to update it by crossing out the previous day. That way they know what that day's date is. And Erica did her's all the right way and got a prize for it. [I'm not really sure how any kid could mess it up. So I'm wondering if its for attendance instead. But I'm not sure.]

I am really looking forward to parent/teacher conferences. Its not for a little while though. But I'm excited to hear more from the teacher's point of view.

Well, that's it for now. Gotta go!

School Daze

Erica had her 1st day of Preschool yesterday. Yeah! Well, almost yeah.

We were all prepared, very excited. Erica went to bed early. Unfortunately, she woke up around 10 PM screaming. She said something was ringing in her ear. And I thought: Uh-oh its an ear infection. She cried and cried and cried.

I called the pediatritian. He said to give her Tylenol. And that if she didn't get better, take her to the ER. Great. Well, I tried to settle her down. We watched Dora while I held her. I did something naughty-- I gave her Benadryl to make her sleepy. Nothing worked.

So at midnight I took her to the ER. I explained first that we'd have to wait a long time but she wanted to. After 15 minutes though, she got tired of waiting. And she was getting drowsy too. So we came home [before even signing in!] and she fell right asleep.

I planned on just keeping her home from school. It was a sad decision to make b/c of it being the first day. But I thought it would be for the best, and that way I'd be able to take her to the Dr when they opened in the morning.

Because of this, I didn't set my alarm. I just slept and slept. Well, at 8:18 she came to me and woke me up: "I'm ready for my first day of school, mommy!" The silly girl was already dressed!!!

I asked and asked if she felt okay. She didn't even remember going to the hospital. She didn't have any pain at all. So I decided to take her to school. Which starts at 8:30. And it was already 8:20. YIKES!!!

She scarfed down cereal and we ran out the door. [All the pictures were taken after school, not before.] I got her there only 2 minutes late. The teacher hadn't started anything yet, so all was good.

Preschool was great. She had a blast. To celebrate, Erica and I went out for lunch. Afterward though, I called her Dr to make an appointment to check her ears, just in case. Wouldn't you know it... she has a serious ear infection. The Dr was surprised that she wasnt screaming still.

So now she's taking medicine. She hates the taste, and hates the eardrops even more. But I don't want it getting any worse.

Right now Erica is at preschool again. Its everyday from 8:30 to 12:00. And since its 11:30, I need to wrap this up so that I can pick her up.

Toodles!

Ugh!

1. I am so tired of hearing about Michael Jackson. Can something else be on the news. PLEASE! Yeah, it was a shock that he died. Yeah, he had a big music career. But is everyone forgeting all the crap he was involved with? And regardless, this news coverage has lasted long enough.

2. Erica's been sooo grouchy lately! Perhaps because of the full moon? Or...

3. Both Erica and I have colds. Ugh. We keep coughing. Not fun.

4. We had a good time at 4th of July picnic. Erica got two baby toads and brought them home. The problem is that the toads arent eating. At least, not that I'm seeing. I gave them dried frog food; they didnt eat it. I gave them mini crickets; they were afraid of the cickets and kept hopping away. I fed them ants; they were afraid of the ants too! I gave them little worms, lightning bugs, dead flies, even blueberries and bananas. Nothing!

5. I'm having trouble with my knees again. Its terrible, getting closer to what it was when I was in college: it had been so bad that I could hardly walk. And then I totally freaked out when my jaw started locking again. I had serious trouble with TMJ in high school, and went thru therapy and surgeries for it. Well, it got better, but never perfect. It stopped locking, but since then I've always had pain and my jaw still always clicked everytime I'd open and close my mouth. STUPID JOINTS! All of my joints are too loose, and that ultimately is whats causing the trouble.

Well, enough ughs for now.