The Chronicles of a Raving Lunatic

There were a bunch of storms last night, so I unplugged the comp just to be safe.  When I plugged it back in and tried to turn it back on, I discovered that my power supply had died.  Luckily, (my brother) Paul had an extra power supply lying around in his desktop. He switched them out for me, but then my keyboard wouldn't work.  I am currently typing this in charmap. It is a pain in the butt.  I'm going to have him double check the internal connections tomorrow, and hopefully I won't need a new keyboard. Because I be po.

The nurses in the Doctors office actually got the Pharm chick to see me a week early to teach me how to give myself injections. This past week was my first completely self injection. It's very weird. Feels strange. She gave me a bag of syringes, needles, alcohol wipes, and band-aids. And I got a little medical waste container. I have to take that into the office when it gets about 3/4 full for them to dispose. And I just tell them when I'm getting low on the stuff in the bag and they'll give me more. Anyway, he couldn't work it so I get my MTX from them because it's technically a Chemotherapy drug and is pretty dangerous. Like, I have to have my little medical waste container marked with "CYTOTOXIN" so they know what's in it. And a lot of pharmacies aren't certified to carry it. The pills, yes, but not the injections. So I have to buy it. BUT, it turns out, an entire month's supply is only about $20-25. Only, I got a better deal. Seems the Pharmacy couldn't get ahold of the vial size that I was prescribed, so they got me a much larger vial with preservatives (the smaller ones don't, so I have to toss what's left in the vial) that will last me 10 weeks. And it was only $18. And when I went to Meijer to fill my other prescriptions and I gave them my new Rx card, my total for 3 meds was only $16. Score. And from now on I'll only need to go to the doctor's once a month for blood tests and the occasional chest x-ray and my appointment.

I got the costumes done a little late. As in, the afternoon they left, a few hours after they wanted to leave. But it wasn't my fault. Paul was supposed to pick up a few odds and ends I needed to finish, like thread and ribbon, on Wednesday morning before he got home from work. But he decided to come home and go to sleep instead and didn't get to the store to get the stuff until Wednesday evening. That set me back a few hours. Also, there were some issues with Corie's. See, I made Paul's with only a slight guide for the flare of the bottom of the robe. And I had a home-made dress form we made. Well, i didn't have that for Corie. They went to the trouble to make it, but he never went and got anything to stuff it with, so hers was done with a little guide and NO FORM. So it ended up being a little small in front and I had to add some material, but that worked out okay. And then the top of the chest area was too big an puffed out between her chest and neck, so I had to temporarily tack that so it fit. And her collar was a little off. Though, they got that kind of figured out and fixed this morning. Sometime before next year I'm going to scrap the front and just remake it. Paul had to, of course, make a comment that it "looks like a 5-year old threw it together" this morning (Friday) before they figured it out. And he called from the road twice Thursday just to make make comments about being tired because they had to leave late. I hung up on him all three times.

Oh, and to top everything off, Just about the time they were supposed to leave Thursday, they got called into the school. Thomas got suspended for 5 days because he threw a chair at one of the teachers/teacher's aides (not sure what she is). She's 60. Apparently she was limping and had to go home and file Workers Comp because he hit her right in the knee. But, of course, since he's only 7, he doesn't really understand suspension and just knows he gets 5 extra days off school. And he was a horrid brat yesterday and today. I don't expect him to be any better the next two days, either. That's okay, he's already going to be in HUGE trouble when they get home that my constant yelling at him and his grounding is going to be a picnic.

And now, I'm off to bed.

Namely,my (soon-to-be-ex)S-I-L.

I guess I should start at the...beginning. I don't remember if I mentioned anything before, but Neal's wife Kim filed for divorce. They've been separated for a while now and both have dated others. Anyway, at the end of November she filed the papers. Neal has no problem with that. In fact, he was hoping she would so he wouldn't have to spend out the money. Her mom/mom's family hates him so much (for no real reason) they payed for it. Anyway, like I said, he has NO problem with that. But before she did that, or rather, before she told him about that, she went and got a restraining order against him. For her and their daughter. Right before Thanksgiving. She called the cops and told them that he had threatened to take Catilena and go to Michigan and never bring her back. Okay, he said that, once, in the heat of an argument, like a few weeks or months prior. She knows he says things he doesn't mean when he's mad. It's a condition of his brain damage. But she decided to get to him by keeping him from seeing his daughter. Not smart. Even though this old threat was an empty threat, her family backed her up. They had a court appearance on Dec. 1st about it. She tried to tell the judge that she had never meant for Catilena to be on the restraining order. Except she had specifically told him and our cousin (while I was there) that she did. Anyway, they wanted her to get full custody. The judge didn't go for it, since there was no reason and they're still married. But Neal said he didn't care if she had temporary custody as long as he had visitations. The judge agreed. Then they wanted to do the exchanges of her at the police station, trying to make him seem like some horrible monster. She just made herself look bad, since the police station has no parking lot and the only parking spots are on a busy street. The judge told her how stupid it was. Neal suggested the Kroger parking lot. The judge said that was fine. Kim and her family were not happy because nothing went their way. The judge gave him every Wednesday and every other weekend. Not that's actually legal, since they aren't divorced yet. But, whatever.

Anyway, now that you know the backstory... Neal is supposed the have Catilena from Christmas Day until Jan. 4th. Only he doesn't have anywhere to stay with her. He could stay at our house, but we have no heat. We're supposed to, but the heater kind of broke. OH, yeah. Our electric got turned on and we got a tank of propane, but the heater suddenly won't work. The flame and pilot light keep going out. Dad thinks there may be a little water in the tubing. He needs to look at it. So, hopefully soon I'll be able to go home... Back to the story. Neal is supposed to have her for 9 days, but has no where to sleep with her. He tried to be responsible and tell Kim that he can't care for her properly right now, can he keep her for a couple days until he figures out something. She refuses. She is making her daughter be homeless for a week and a half because she doesn't want the inconvenience. Also, apparently her new boyfriend is gone and she's sleeping with some other guy. And letting Catilena see her go into the bedroom with him. Luckily she's only three and confused him for the boyfriend, but still... She's so stupid. She keeps INSISTING that the visitation thing says he HAS to take/keep her when it's his time. She just doesn't get that what it says is that if it's his time, she has to let him see her. So even though her daughter has no place to stay, she's making him keep her. Just because she doesn't feel like taking care of her.

IDK, it's just irritating.

IF PEOPLE TELL ME ONE MORE TIME THAT I'M LYING ABOUT ALL MY PROBLEMS AND PAIN AND DON'T LISTEN TO WHAT I SAY, I'M GOING TO HURT SOMEONE!! POSSIBLY MYSELF. I'M SO FREAKING SICK OF BEING CALLED A LIAR. IT'S REAL PAIN, IT'S REALLY THERE. JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN'T FEEL IT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S A FIGMENT OF MY IMAGINATION! WHEN SEVERAL DOCTORS TELL ME NOT TO DO SOMETHING BECAUSE IT'S HARMFUL TO ME, I'M NOT GOING TO DO IT NO MATTER WHAT YOU THINK!! YOU ARE NOT A DOCTOR, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. NOT THAT IT MATTERS WHAT THE DOCTORS TELL ME, YOU SAY I'M LYING ANYWAY. JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!! I KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR ME, NOT YOU.

And since when do you have to act a certain way if something bad happened to you? How do you even act like you know everything that's happened to me. And just because I don't bring everything bad up all the time to try to get sympathy doesn't mean it never happened. I know plenty of people who've told only me when something has happened to them and they don't act any different. MOST PEOPLE DON'T LIKE CONSTANTLY RELIVING BAD THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED TO THEM!

for about a week now. The kids were on spring break and brother has been working 7 days a week so I haven't had a lot of time online. I can pretty much keep up reading, but not post when I want to. Hopefully soon that will change. Brother and Corie are going to Chicago in 3 weeks and I told dad that I ant the comp set up down here before they leave. Brother has it up in their room, but I need dad's computer desk before he can bring it down. Dad got rid of the nice big office desk it was on.

Busy week last week. Like I said, kids were home and didn't go back to school until the 14th. Three obnoxious boys at home all the time = very little sleep for me. Not to mention Easter. Apparently, Easter is Thomas' fave holiday. The whole week they had off school, every single day, he'd ask if it was Easter yet. Easter day was no fun. Mostly because when I was changing the bandage on my toe, I noticed that something just wasn't right. I called my dad down to look at it and he said it looked discolored and I should probably go into the ER and get it checked out as that's how Uncle had lost his foot. One day he went into the Dr. with a slightly discolored toe, they waited 3 days for it to heal and the next thing you know, he's had to get half his foot lopped off. Yeah. Needless to say, that didn't make me too confident. Then when I was putting on my shoes and Corie was coming down the stairs she's all, "Are you going somewhere?" I tell her where and why. [very put out] "I guess we'll have to take the kids with us to the store then..." [/very put out] Thanks for the concern.

Spent a good 2 1/2 hours in the ER, saw one of the few competent docs there. I have, yet another, serious infection. When she told me they "don't do anything for toe's here, unless it's a fracture", I got the idea it's policy for them to just tell you to see a specialist. And why not. All the ones they suggest you see have offices in the hospital. Anyway, she had the nurse take a culture then scrub and soak my foot, which is more than any of the others had done. She then prescribed me 2 antibiotics and Vicodin. Dad picked up the antibiotics but not the Vic. If it doesn't stop hurting like this soon, though, I may see if him or brother will get it for me when they get paid.

Came home and everyone else was gone. They pulled in a couple minutes later. "We're gonna take the kids to town and spend some time with them." Big surprise, since Easter dinner had yet to be started! So, in pain and infected me and dad had to do most of the dinner ourselves. Oh, and just a little before the stuff we did was ready they came home. "Oh, we have to go back to town because we forget (a), (b) and (c) for dinner. We'll be back soon." 2 hours later and a phone call to do one of her dishes later they come strolling in. Yeah, thanks. No, I'll live and yes, I still have my foot...for now. Thanks for the concern, you guys.

And since Sunday and the doc (one whom Corie trusts as well) said I have to try to stay off my foot as much as possible until the infection gets much better, things have been tense. Monday she did the laundry (usually my job) and put away 1 barely full basket of the kids' clothes and had a fit about it. Then last night or this morning she says "I've been doing everything..." FOR 2 DAYS! Get off your high horse and accept the fact that someone else needs your help for once. God forbid anything should make her life any harder or inconvenience her at all.

And now they're home and I'll have to get off here. Guess I'll have to finish this rant and the other stuff I wanted to say later. As usual. *sigh*

Just a quick little update before I hop in the shower.

Things are better here. Corie saw (after people repeatedly pointing it out to her) how she was being and has been trying not to be so...whatever. Still WAY behind on the internet world. And I miss it and everyone so much. I'm going crazy being out of the loop!

OH! And my Yahoo hasn't let me log in for the last 2-3 weeks. I logged in shortly before that, but now it's not working and it says I can't reset my password online. Hopefully I get a response to my email soon. I NEED to get into my Yahoo. It's my main account.

One of these days, hopefully soon, I'll be getting my comp set up. Even if it has to be in the living room. I don't care. I just want the interwebs back.

Oh yeah! Brother and Corie got married January 9th, though they're still doing a ceremony and reception in May. This was for insurance purposes and to get her Grandmother to leave her alone. Long story.

I've decided ^that^ is Ryan's new theme song. The twins went to the dentist Monday. I guess Ryan was being mouthy and kept telling the hygienist that he didn't have to do what she said and to get her hands out of his mouth. At least once he told her, "I will bite you." And he did. They had to do his x-rays 3 times because he was moving so much. The boy is a freak of nature. He's 5 1/2 and he's got all his baby teeth. Like, including his 6 and 12-year molars. How does a 5-year-old have his 12-year molars already? They weren't concerned about it. He's also got his first loose tooth. That should fall out by this weekend. They also said he should have all his adult teeth before too long at the rate his teeth are growing. He also has 2 cavities. He's going back Friday to get them fixed. Because of how much he moved, they're thinking they'll have to knock him out to do it. They don't want to accidentally drill his gums or cheek. RobbieThomas'* exam went well. Dentist said his teeth are perfect. He was extremely well behaved considering this was their first trip to the dentist and he was terrified for the whole week or two before they went.
*They're changing his name to Thomas as soon as they get the DNA results in a week or so. Gotta start calling him that now.

OMG. I'm about to rip my hair out. Connor is driving me batty. He's gotten to his "terrible 2s" even though he's nearly 4. He's gotten extremely nosey and has this sense of entitlement. It's crazy. And he will not listen to me no matter what. None of my punishments work, none of Corie's, none of brother's. He'll cry and then be good for a little while, then go right back to what he was doing to get him in trouble. I'm about to string him up by the toes.

Brother is on vacation this week. They were going to take the kids to the zoo Saturday, but I just found out that they can't afford it now. They spent more than half the money he had left driving around looking for a certain pipe they needed for the new well pump. Turns out they didn't absolutely need it. Dad just cut it off for them and he's just going to set it about a foot higher in the well. It won't hurt anything. They've been over there everyday, all day working on getting the house all clened and everything fixe and stuff moved around since Saturday. Everyone has to be out of here in 1 1/2 - 2 weeks. It's going to be hectic. Brother wants to start moving things like movies and books over starting tomorrow. Besides a few appointments they have for the next couple of days, they'll be out there the rest of the week. Their zoo trip was supposed to be my break from the kids. WAAAH! No I'm not going to get a break for who knows how long. I'm going to go insane by next week.

Plus, I haven't been sleeping well. I'm tired all day. And my back has been hurting. And I've been having headaches everyday. Yelling at Connor all time isn't helping those. I think part of it is CONNOR these kids getting me so frustrated all the time lately. And Corie turns the A/C on as soon as it hits 70 outside. I get cold and it hurts my joints. I keep telling her that just b/c it's 70 outside doesn't mean it it inside. And she leaves it on all night. The bedroom is a couple rooms away from the kitchen, where the A/C is, and it gets really hot in there at night. I understand that. But then it gets chilly in the living room. It makes it a bit uncomfortable for me. I NEED A VACATION! I can't wait til we're all moved in. I need a real bed again and I can take naps when I do. And the twins should be starting kindergarten in the middle of August. YAY.

Ugh. I guess that's about it for now. I really need to get to bed. I should probably eat something, since all I've had today is some ramen and french fries for lunch but i think I'm too tired. bleh.

So, since Pauly got the phone switched over to cable phone, about 3 weeks ago, the phone and the internet have been going out like crazy. one or the other, sometimes both, will come on for a little bit, but then they go out with no warning. It's extremely frustrating when you're in the middle of trying to post an entry or a comment.

Everyone's sick of it, so he called the cable company and they sent someone yesterday. The guy tested the lines and it seems there are some problems in the lines from the street to the box and the main line in the house. Unfortunately the main line runs through the landlords part of the basement and no one has been home lately. They had him scheduled for tomorrow to fix the lines, but if he can't talk to the landlord he can't get it fixed. Besides, since we're out of here and at the house in about a month, it hardly seems worth all the trouble to get it fixed. As long as the TV works and the phone/internet works sometimes, I think we can deal.

So, I guess this is just a heads-up. I'll be around sometimes, but I may not be able to post or comment much for the next month.

And now, I'm off the make some peanut butter cup brownies. yum!

Just had a storm roll through here a little while ago. Even though we only got wind the power flickered for a moment. For some reason, ever since, I can't get the giant monitor to work. I have now had to resort to a small 1024x768 (I think. That monster has distorted my monitor sizing ability). I hope it's fine and I'll be able to go back to it tomorrow or Sunday. There was no popping or smoke or anything and it was plugged into a surge protector, so I can't figure out what's wrong with it. You can hear it turn on, but the screen stays black. Like I said, I hope that for some reason it will be fine after being unplugged all night.

Note to angel_rock_star: Sorry I disappeared in the middle of our chat. I'll be babysitting tomorrow, but I should be able to get on anyway. Hope you see this.

WARNING: Exclamtion point and possible CAPS LOCK abuse ahead!!

I am dangerously close to having dad come get me and leaving these kids here by themselves! If I was a MUCH worse person, I think they'd be covered in bruises by now! Brother and Corie went to a concert tonight. Well, it was in Detroit, so they had to leave at 3 in order to get there a little early. Well, the kids were good for the first hour or so. Then they suddenly got horrible. They went outside by themselves, got into brother's bedroom and got stuff they know they're not allowed to touch, won't stay grounded, and Ryan just said the F-word to me! Like right this second! They've been SO BAD today that I have a REALLY upset stomach, like I've nearly thrown up a couple times, and I have a headache because of them, too. I know part of the reason they're being so bad fopr me is that we haven't had a breack from each other in about 2 WEEKS. 24 HOURS A DAY! They're fed up with me and I'm fed up with them. I've had a short fuse with them for the last week. I think that I'm going to hide out and probably nap all afternoon tomorrow. I tried to lie down in brother's bedroom for 5 minutes earlier, but they started playing with the NEW phone/answering machine.

I can't take much more of this. I'm about to rip out my hair and I think they're giving me an ulcer. I'm serioulsy close to walking out the door and not coming back and not ever showing my face around these kids again! I NEED A VACATION!! I wish I had somewhere to go for even ONE DAY. I have a cousin that said I could go over there, but she has 2 kids that are 4 and 1 1/2, so it really wouldn't be much of a break. True, it wouldn't be THESE kids, but her daughter, the 4 year-old, is just like them!

And all I got out of this lousy deal was a $5 footlong from subway! And that was my lunch AND dinner.

And now the kids won't shut up and go to sleep! AAAHHH!!!!