Life as it happens with our three beautiful and adopted children, Shayla, Yamira and Manuel: Soccer, Soccer and Soccer

I am not sure if you check in regularly, but if you did, you would know it has been three weeks since I last checked in. We have been going non-stop over hear as usual. Two of the main reasons is that I have decided to start subbing for our school system. When I signed up, I wasn't sure when I would get my first call or if they would call me frequently. I sort of thought I would hear from them in January because a teacher was sick. I figured I also would be called ever so infrequently. Not the case at all. I have been subbing since the second day of school. Not daily, but it sure feels like it is daily.I have done eight or so days now. I love it. I totally enjoy it and it has been a great experience for me. Gone are the days of sitting in the classroom and keeping the class quiet. Not that any class with a sub ever was kept quiet. Nowadays, they expect you to teach. Not teach a full on class like they would, but some teaching is expected. One day I gave a spelling test to a few classes and went over homework using the fancy new whiteboards they have. So I didn't know the kids or the teacher and then I had to take a crash course in how to use the whiteboard and then figure out what I was doing with the whiteboard. It went great though.

The other thing that is keeping me extremely busy is soccer. Soccer for three hours on Saturday and one hour on Sunday. Shayla often has a game on Saturday and then again on Sunday. Yamira and Manny have soccer on Saturdays. Manny goes first and then Yamira goes. So I sit there for three hours. So far it really has been fine as the weather has been beautiful. I love the first half because there are some great people who are sitting there with me. I don't particularly love the second half because there isn't really anyone I know too well to sit with and Yamira really doesn't try hard at all. It is actually fairly painful to watch her play. She said she wanted to play. So I signed them all up in the summer. She doesn't put any effort into it. I get so frustrated. I don't mind if she runs around and gets some exercise in. She doesn't even bother to do that. Just frustrates me to no end because I don't want to sit there another hour and 1/2 for her just so she can put zero effort in. I won't be signing her up again. That is for sure. She is not mature enough to listen to her coaches. She has a really hard time listing to anyone that tries to instruct her whether it be swimming lessons, skating lessons or gymnastics! She can't do her own thing. It is not acceptable. It is disruptive!

So between soccer every weekend and working, I am keeping quite busy! All of those projects I had hoped to get done are still hoping to get done! Eventually, right? So what else have we been up to since the 14th of September. Hmm, let me think for a minute.

That Sunday the kids started Sunday School. They kicked the day off with breakfast at church and then they had a collective group for school that included us parents. Then in the afternoon, Ping had a game.

On Monday, Bill and I were not working. That was a good thing since we had to take Sasha and Neesha to the vets for their wellness check and for the annual shots. I discussed with the doctor how I was concerned that Neesha was thinner. Well I was right. She was down two pounds. So we did blood work. We suspected it was thyroid. That isn't a bad thing as it is treatable and she can totally live with it. So she has now begun taking medication to help her thyroid out. Other than that, both girls are doing well. Sasha is overweight, but that isn't news. That is just how she rolls. In the afternoon, after the kids were out of school, Yamira opened up her birthday gifts. She turned 7 today! She loved all of her stuff. That night I took Shayla to Brownies. I stayed because the Be Like Brit foundation was there to talk about the orphanage in Haiti that was build in her name. She passed during the earthquake that happened there four or so years ago. Our goal is to stuff three hockey bags full of supplies. It is a great organization.

On Tuesday, I subbed for two hours for 8th, 10th and 11th graders. It went quick and was fine. I did a bunch of errands when I left. It was nice to get some things done. In the afternoon it was picking up the kids, doing homework, a fast dinner and soccer practice for Ping.

On Wednesday I had lunch with Meri and Katie at Meri's house. Their kids had a 1/2 day. Mine did not. So I went over for an hour or so to hang out and chat. Then I picked up the kids and we did homework and went to soccer for the littles for practice.

On Thursday I subbed for the school. I then went back to the school for Open House that night. Then on to Finders for a Girls Night Out. Had a great time.

Friday was breakfast with Bobby-Jo at a place I had never been. We had a great time, but it went by too fast as always. I then headed home to do a few things before the kids came home from school. Bill was on call from 6:00 pm till 10:00 pm.

On Saturday, I had soccer for three hours with the younger ones. Bill had to work for the entire day, so I was alone with the three. After soccer, my friend Trisha came over and we went to lunch at the 99 Restaurant. It did not go all that well. To be honest, the kids were really in my face and very poorly behaved. They thought they could do whatever they wanted because Trisha is a fairly laid back person. So they were amped up. On top of that, I didn't feel well due to being around perfume that I am highly allergic to. So I was not in the best mood. Then Trisha shared with me what some people had said about our parenting at a recent cook out she had. So I made a mental note to never attend another cook out at her house. Especially since I was not a fan of her friends that I didn't even know. They could not be bothered to watch their kids. They were allowed to do whatever they wanted to. I call that lazy parenting. They thought I was intense. Whatever! So the afternoon hit a real sour note. I didn't feel that I needed to know that info. They have no idea what it is like to parent my kids. We were there for 30 minutes. I thought the whole thing was ridiculous. After lunch we went to the playground and then had ice cream at Rota Farms. It was a decent day, but it really started off quite poorly.

On Sunday, the kids had Sunday School and then we went to Start on the Street in Worcester. Then we flew home for Shayla's soccer game.

On Monday, I subbed all day as an elementary gym teacher. Oh my word was that tough. The kids were tough. I made it tougher on myself because I took every class out. It was a beautiful day, how could I not? Then at 3:00 pm, I was a driver and chaperon for the Brownies trip to Broad Meadow Audubon for a bug lecture. What a long and exhausting day. I could barely walk at the end of the day. I was grateful to get in the car and drive away at the end of the night.

On Tuesday, I subbed as well. That was only for a half day at the middle/high school. Then I did a bunch of errands. Ping had soccer that night.

On Wednesday, I subbed the entire day. It went great. Unfortunately, I was here, there and everywhere. Getting my bearings was difficult, but I made it through the day. That night Bill took the young ones to soccer and I had dinner at 111 Chop House in Worcester with other mom's who have adopted. It was a nice night out.

On Thursday I subbed the entire day. I enjoyed doing so. I was in the fifth grade that morning and it was enjoyable. That night I took Manny and Yamira to therapy.

Friday was a busy day. I subbed the entire day and then had a physical therapy appointment at a new place. Bill picked up the kids and took them to see their biological dad. That night Yamira had Daisies. So the day was never ending.

Saturday was crazy. Ping had a game, so Bill took her and went. I took Manny and Yamira to their games. We then met at home and went to the Dumplings at WPI for 1 pm. Then at 3:15 pm we left there and went home to change and drove to Taunton for the Autumn Moon Festival fundraiser that we always attend. It was a very long day of running around, but it was an enjoyable day.

On Sunday the kids had Sunday School and then I had Manny and Yamira lay down for an hour as they were exhausted. Then we went to Ping's game.

I didn't work on Monday. Bill did not either. He actually went to a dentist appointment after dropping the kids off for school. I did stuff around the house and then I went to see Dr. Kim about my outrageous legs that are so swollen all the time now. She thinks they could be "fat deposits." I don't agree with her at all. Not because I don't like the answer. I just don't think she knows what she is talking about. She has no clue about Lymphedema. So that muddies up the waters. After having blood drawn, I headed home. Bill took Ping to Brownies since I was not home in time.

On Tuesday, Bill took his final Paramedic test. I met my friend Christine for lunch at Kimballs. That went great. I never get to see her. Lunch flew by as always. Then I headed out to do a few errands before going home. Then it was get the kids from school, homework and the soccer practice for Ping.

Bill worked all day on Wednesday. So I dropped the kids off at school and picked them up. I did a few errands that day and worked a little bit on a spare closet where all my dressier clothes are. Then it was homework and soccer for the little ones. It was a tough day. I got a call from Yamira's teacher telling me how she would not do as asked. After finally getting to the end of her rope, she had to call in the Vice Principal. I was less than thrilled to get that phone call. So frustrating. So it was a tough day. So far, it has been a tough week with Manny and Yamira at school. On top of it all, I wasn't feeling great. Felt like I was fighting a terrible cold. Bill met us at soccer for a short time as he had to go back to the department for training. I took the kids home and put them to bed. When Bill came home, I asked him to look in my throat as it felt odd. I felt bumps back there. He saw nothing. I took a flashlight and saw 7 or so bumps on the back of my throat. I had a feeling it was Hand, Foot and Mouth which has been going around the school. I didn't feel great. However, I wasn't sure what it was.

On Thursday, I was to work at the elementary school. After bringing the kids in, I went to see the nurse and asked her to look in my throat. She felt that it was the same as I had. So I went home. Just as well, I didn't feel great. My head was splitting! No matter what I took, I could not get rid of feeling icky. I did a few things around the house and then I took the kids to their wellness appointments as it was a 1/2 day at school. All three of them are doing well. They were poorly behaved because they had to get a flu shot. All of them were screaming and crying. Oy vey. So we did that first and then we had them do the appointment for each of them. For the first time, Bill was able to go with me. I was able to be in the room with one kid at a time and that was nice. However, when all of them got their shots and we were together, Bill was laughing as they were really hysterical over the damn shot. Then they all laughed because it was done in two seconds!!!! We then headed home as I had an appointment with our financial adviser to go over some paperwork. Then Bill was on from 6:00 pm- 10:00 pm.

I was supposed to sub on Friday, but didn't as I was still feeling pretty crappy. My head was killing and I was a little dizzy. So I did some stuff around the house after sleeping in. Then I got the kids in the afternoon from school. That night I went out with Heather, Renee and Kirsten. We went to Kirsten's house for drinks and dinner. We had a great time.

On Saturday it was soccer for all three again. Bill took Shayla to her game and I took the wee ones. Then we went home and fed the kids. We headed to the West Boylston Fall Festival as Shayla was manning the Be Like Brit booth for Brownies between 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm. So Bill, me and the kids walked around a little and ran into everyone in town. We left a little after 2:00 pm to go to Lancaster where they were having a fall festival as well. It was a decent one. Worth checking out. We then went home and fed the kids and popped them into bed as they were exhausted.

Today the kids went to breakfast with daddy and then stayed for Sunday School. At 2:30 pm Ping's friend and soccer teammate Peyton came by for a play date. We all piled into the car two hours later and headed to their soccer game in the pouring rain. It was awful out. However, they are happy because they won. So I guess it was worth it. Then we came home and Ping took a long bath. Bill took a shower because he was drenched and then Manny and Yamira took a shower. After they all went to bed, I decided to come here and check in.

It is time to move onto the next thing on my list of things to do. I hope you have had a great start to your fall.

Mama Out!!!!!!