Ears

I've had an ear infection for a week. Maybe longer? I don't know. It's been bothering me for a while, but I chalked it up to referred pain from my post-nasal drip that keeps my throat lightly irritated in the mornings. I managed to get to the doctor and I'm on some antibiotics (and probiotics, and probiotic yogurt) and I'm swallowing horse pills every day. Ten total, twice a day, until Friday. The good news is my ears looked clear, just red on the left side, and I don't have a fever or anything. My throat is just a little red, but doesn't exactly hurt. My anxiety will rise and fall with any twinge because C O V I D. I'm also supposedly getting on Zac's insurance plan in February, but we're waiting on a packet to come in the mail with info. Once that's here, I'm going to look into therapy for grief and anxiety and hopefully find my old self that's buried under this huge pile of emotional mess. I don't really understand why the virus is causing me so much stress when I'm doing my part to socially distance and wear a mask and keep my hands clean. It's almost as though it's opened a door that I didn't know I had.

Zac and I have been looking at RVs and trying to make a decision on what to buy. We both think it'll help my anxiety ease up to do something wild. I'm dabbling in free verse poetry to put my grief somewhere that isn't in my emotional bottle, as well as learning about crystals and essential oils. Just trying to stay focused on things that aren't covid-related. Also, the kids are thriving in school so far. Elias is learning his letters, writing his name, and enjoying school so much, he's asking to do it on the weekends. The big kids are reading more, too.

And that's about it.

Dinosaurs and Friends

A few weeks ago, before I deleted my Facebook account, I came across an AD for a dinosaur adventure. It was affordable and in New Orleans, so I bought the ticket and set it up as a field trip. I'm hoping we can do at least ONE fun thing every month, so this is first. Cole LOOOOOVED it! And it really was kinda cool. We rode through a designated trail in a parking lot and listened to an audio about the different types of dinosaurs.

After the dinos, we headed to Gambino's for king cakes. I'm on a gluten-free diet, but they didn't have any gluten free cakes. However, they had pralines, so I had one I didn't need to share. The boys tried petit fours for the first time and were obsessed. We stopped by Reginelli's to grab some pizza, and then met up with Jessie to visit with her for a little while. She and Grahamm are moving closer to where Sean is by the end of the month. She's also getting married! But not until 2023. So cool. The kids played together and my older two decided to eat some clover from in the yard like dummos. Neither had side effects, but I'm sure their brains shrank a little.

After leaving Jessie's, we headed over to Katie's to see them for a little while. I gave her some matching bedding for her boys and had some coffee. The little boys played together and practiced sharing, though none of them were excited about it. Aliza is getting so big! And her little face is so squishy. I'm happy to report I drove home from New Orleans for the first time ever because as long as I lived in Louisiana, I'd never driven to or from the city.

I'm so glad we got to go out there for a little while. These brief visits are truly special. It makes things feel normal for just a moment.

Snow 2021

It started snowing last night and continued off and on til this afternoon. It's not the fluffy snow, but it's still super nice to see when I look outside... or at least the front yard, ha. The backyard is a bit muddy. The kiddos had a blast today, throwing snowballs and crunching around. This was Cole's first snow, so it's special anyway. He thought it was awesome.

School Year 2021

In the past, I started teaching in September or August and we'd finish up sometime in June. In 2019, I started teaching in September, then found out my kids were skipping assignments and lessons, so I had them restart the school year. We didn't finish until October 2020... A whole year of school. I was so burnt out. I was mad at myself for slacking with Elias, for not being more attentive over the lessons and checking work, etc. So, I gave us all a break, then decided we would start the school year with January. A New Year, a new year. This is 9th, 6th, and Kindergarten, with a tiny distraction who also wanted his picture taken. The day went well, Elias might be left-handed, and I'm hoping for a good first week. I'm doing things differently this time. We're only using Abeka for math since I can't wing it, but everything else: science, history, art, music, language, etc. will all come from the library and other sources. They're even learning their instruments (piano for Jac and recorder for Leah) and foreign language (Spanish). This month we're reading about Martin Luther King Jr. for history, as well as poisonous plants and edible flowers for science. I'm also having them learn about Egypt and for grammar, they're keeping a weekly journal. It's a little more relaxed and I think they'll enjoy it more. Elias will still be in a curriculum since I already bought it and he'll also be learning history and science along with the big kids. He already loves The Magic School Bus.

2021: A year in review 2020

A year in review: 2020.

See also:
2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 and 2009

1. What did you do in 2020 that you'd never done before?
*Experience a pandemic. Have a panic attack.

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions and will you make more for next year?
*I think the only one I kept was weight loss. I lost 20 pounds.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
*Katie had baby Aliza.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
*No.

5. What countries did you visit?
*None... still.

6. What would you like to have in 2021 that you lacked in 2020?
*A normal fucking year.

7. What events from 2020 will remain etched upon your memory?
*Trump is no longer president (yay!), the pandemic, and anxiety is a helluvadrug.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
*I lost weight and got into biking and eating homecooked foods more.

9. What was your biggest failure?
*We didn't buy an RV. I didn't get to go back to school. And I wasn't able to send out birthday cards like I wanted.

10. Did you suffer an illness or injury?
*I had a panic attack that sent me to the ER.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
*Swing set for the kids.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
*Zac got a raise.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
*Jac... he spent most of the year addicted to video games, as well as lying and sneaking video games. We're working on it.

14. Where did most of your money go?
*Barbies... for me. And Christmas... lol.

15. What did you get really excited about?
*I enjoyed the Quarantine Holidays. Those were fun.

16. What song will always remind you of 2020?
*Not sure. I spent most of the year listening to the My Favorite Murder podcast.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
-Happier or sadder? Happier, I guess? It was definitely stressful, but things are getting better.
-Thinner or fatter? Thinner!

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
*Traveled. But not to see people, just to see landmarks.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
*Worried. Yelled.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
*We stayed home.

21. Did you fall in love in 2020?
*I fell in love with my weighted blanket from Zac.

22. What was your favorite TV program?
*The Great British Baking Show.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
*The governor of MS, but only because I didn't know what an absolute shit he is.

24. What was the best book you read?
*Hocus Pocus.

25. What was your favorite musical discovery?
*I hadn't really listened to much aside from 90s grunge and podcasts.

26. What did you want and get?
*A weighted blanket. And Barbies for my dollhouse.

27. What did you want and not get?
*Pajamas. An RV? lol.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
*We didn't go to the cinema.

29. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?
*It was the worst day because my kids were fighting and arguing with me, but Zac and Jena bought me some gifts and I had some time to myself that night. I turned 37.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
*Snow and not a global pandemic.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2020?
*Think 90s grunge/casual.

32. What kept you sane?
*Blogging.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
*Jenna Fisher.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
*The amount of people who refuse/d to wear masks... conspiracy theorists, election day.

35. Who do you miss?
*Everyone.

36. Who was the best new person you met?

*I didn't meet anyone.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2020.

*Don't take hugs for granted.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

*"Oh no. Oh no. Oh no no no no no."