Jan 10, 2011

Went to dads and did his pacemaker check over the phone.  Everything went okay but when I had to put the magnet over his pacemaker to stop it, I could feel his heart start pounding and I could actually see his skin moving from the force of it.  I now know for sure (in my heart) that if he hadn't gotten that pacemaker he wouldn't be alive today. 

Starting Over

Well here I go starting to blog again.  I originally wanted to write about being a stepmom but alot has changed in my life since then.  Michael has graduated and now we just have to 2 kids at home.  Sean is now 12, almost 13 and Mariah is now 18 and a legal adult.  Ofcourse Mariah is still blind since she was born without eyes and they haven't figured out how to do eye transplants yet.  She will be going to school until she is 26.  Mariah is still a child at heart and has a long road of learning ahead of her.  My Dad, well that may be the topic of choice.  He is 88 years old and has dimentia now.  He still drives and lives alone.  I visit him atleast once a week and call twice a day to see how he is doing.  Having a father with dimentia can be trying at times.  He likes to be independent but his confusion at times warrents me to step in to the rescue once in awhile.  Dad's been getting lost lately and can't find his way home.  He has done this twice and the police have called me to come get him.  I don't mind getting him but seeing him like that is really rather sad to say the least.  He is like a little kid sometimes.  It's hard seeing someone you love, who took care of you declining. 

Halloween Cider

A great warm-me-up drink for after trick-or-treating

Hot Spiced Apple Cider

1 qt apple cider
3 cinnamon sticks
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
8 1/4" thick apple slices(remove seeds)use for garnish

In medium sauce pan, bring to a simmer cider, cinnamon sticks and ppumpkin spice

Remove from heat and let stand, cover 5 minutes. Pour hot cider into mugs and top with apple slice. Additional cinnamon sticks can also be placed in each cup for extra cinnamon flavor.

Fun Fact to impress your step children: Reported from a National Retail Federation survey....90% of parents sneak goodies from their childrens trick-or-treat bags

Scared of Spinal Surgery!

Nothing going on right now. I am trying to prepare my mindset for this surgery! I am scared SHI*LESS! Sounds like it is going to hurt. Although I am also optimistic too! I am getting so fat from this lack of exercise(and boredom) I can hardly wait to be active again. God! do I miss it! I miss having fun with the kids and shopping without pain. I'm scared of it all but also I can hardly wait to get it over with! I'm not looking forward to getting back to work though!!!LOL Only the money part cause I am getting so broke and the sick pay I am recieving is such a pain in the butt...they are always putting me underreview and stopping the payment so that I go months with out money comming in. It's work that won't let me back in...that should settle it you would think!!!!! Just pay me!!!!!! for crying out loud! I've worked there 13 years you think that would count for something. I have certainly put in enough hours to be able to recieve the freaking sick pay!!!!! What a bunch of JERKS!!!!! If they don't do me right after this surgery and all this crap I have been through I am going to get some aid from a Lawyer. I think it is only in my best interest to do so. Although by then I will have to find one that will ask for their fee after winning the case....I'll be destitute by then

New Halloween Traditions for StepMoms

Fun and Unique Halloween Traditions you can share with your stepchildren

Many children have two families. The family they have at Mom's and the family they have at Dad's.
Whether StepMom and Dad have the kids for Halloween or not you can start some fun Halloween Traditions with the kids on your weekends in October and make Halloween a month long celebration.

Here are a few of my favorites

#1. If you don't get to take the kids trick or treating this year you can make a fun day on your weekend by dressing up in costumes and having a scavenger hunt looking for candy and Halloween trinkets hidden around the house and yard. (Halloween Tattoos are a fave at our house)

#2. You could have a pizza party night by making your own homemade pizza or buying pre-made and fixing it up to your taste. You could make it scary by decorating the table and kitchen with Halloween decorations and eat by pumpkin light. Setting up your carved pumpkins and lighting them all around the room. Playing a scary Halloween tape or CD could really frighten things up!

#3. Have a Scare-A-Thon-
Set out bowls of popcorn and candy. Gather around the TV turning the lights down low and watch scary kid friendly movies. Let everyone stay up past regular bedtime.
A few great movies I suggest would be: The Night Before Christmas and The Corpse Bride by Tim Burton. For the older and less faint of heart kids Stephen Kings Silver Bullet. note* if renting movies you may want to reserve ahead of time to be sure the movies you want are available on the night that you want them.

#4. And ofcourse- an oldie but a goody and everyones all time favorite. Carving pumpkins. Whether you have the kids this Halloween or not set up an evening to go to the local pumpkin patch and let everyone pick out their perfect pumpkin. Take your new pumpkins home and carve them together. note* stepmom and dad if your kids are small have them draw a face on their pumpkin and then you carve it out. If you are anything like me you collect the pumpkin seeds. Wash and dry them. Place them on a cookie sheet sprayed with cooking spray. Spray the seeds with butter flavor Pam and lightly salt. Bake them at 250 degrees for approximately 30 minutes or until seeds are crispy and golden brown. Check them often as to not burn.

Fun fact to impress your stepkids:
Samhainophobia is the fear of Halloween

I recommend:
This link for Halloween craft ideas. visit: www.familyfun.com use the word Halloween in their search feature

The New StepMom Experience

Ah.....When I first met the children. Wow was I nervous! That was about 3 years ago and I remember it very well. Mariah was 10(blind since birth), Sean was 5 and Michael was 12. I was lucky. They were very accepting of me. I was scared to death. I had very little experience with children. Not having my own and being the baby of the family by 10 years I was more like an only child. I guess this could have been a recipe for a disaster. But alas.. kids, being the accepting beings that they are; took me under their wings and started their slow and nurturing training to form me into the less selfish, more patient and understanding person I am growing into today. The rewards have been unbelievable.

to be continued.....

Slowly getting things going

Well I am starting to get more comfortable with the features of this blog. It is taking me a bit of time though. It certainly is a learning experience.

I've been thinking of topics to do with family and especially issues dealing with being a StepMom. I guess one of the biggest issues would be just adjusting to the family life. If you are a single woman whom has never had children you are in for a bit of an adjustment. Many times the children from a divorced family have many issues in accepting a new mother figure into the family. Many children are fearful of their father becoming attatched to someone other than their mother. In a new divorce situation this can be very hard for all involved.

to be continued..... ps...sketching is my favorite hobby and I will posting lots of my drawings here!