We have been planning to re-do the living room at some point, but were still recovering from (basking in the glory of?!) creating Dan's attic bedroom.
Well, you can only tolerate so many episodes of Jersey Shore.
The girls and I spent snow day number 4 (number 4!!!?!?!?!?!!) ripping out the living room carpet and trying out some paint samples.
http://www.behr.com/Behr/home#channel=INSPIRATION;view=3;vgnextoid=45d93dba0ff8b110VgnVCM1000006b0910acRCRD
Above is our inspiration--on the website it looks very subdued. In our living room it looks..."chooka chooka POW" as Aidan exclaims when she looks at the brighter orange sample. Scott and I are still going back and forth over the lighter vs. the brighter. Hmmmm......! So many possibilities!
In the meantime, we also took out a window left over from the sun-porch addition. For having a 15x20 ft living room, we have very little actual wall space with all of the doorways and windows. Scott has big plans for a new giant MAN TV. I was thinking "built-ins".... but.... giant MAN TV is okay too--think how amazing Mike "the situation"'s abs would look in 100" HD?
(er....) ;) wink!
Today the girls and I started the tedious job of sanding the floor. It was a pretty gutsy move: ripping out carpet that is probably about 10-15 years old in a house that is over 80 years old. Who knows what we would find? Lucky us--the original hardwood floor is in pretty decent shape. Pretty much all it needs is a general sanding and a good cleaning before refinishing. There is one small spot under the main window that was cut out presumably from water damage and is patched with plywood. We are going to switch out that area with the floor boards we take out for the corner stove/fireplace we plan to put in later on.
It actually seems like a fairly uncomplicated project--with lots of room to grow. I am excited about the corner stove/fireplace, and the orange color will allow room for some really fun accessories!
Weather, weather, weather:
Five inches of snow today, and then an ice storm this afternoon and evening into tomorrow morning. If we ever get back to school, I am going to have to double up on rehearsals! It is supposed to be exam week, so Alannah is taking a break from sanding to study. Scott is on his way to Home Depot for more sand paper and supplies, I am going to find coffee, a brownie and something other than the Little Shop of Horrors script (or Jersey Shore) to curl up with!
At some point I need to plan Scott's birthday dinner--he never wants anything special, but we did make him some cards and found him some football shaped Oreos to take to work and share! Aidan is going to clean out his truck and Alannah promised that she would "disappear" tonight--it was a very well delivered, funny and sweet offer--100% pure, lovable, Alannah.
A little "cease fire" is probably the best gift to give any of us! :)
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Oh the weather outside is football
Greetings fellow snow-bunnies!
We have enjoyed a past couple of days enjoying the winter weather ups-and downs. Our yard looks like a strange, tumultuous ocean--or planet--with churned spots, wandering trails, odd shapes poking up out of the landscape. Upon a closer look I can make out an overturned lawn chair, an odd assortment of a dozen or so sleds, sticks, icicles and.... urp... dog leavings. (ewwww) A quick head count assures me that none of the unidentified lumps is a child left out in the cold. I could have also told that from the scum of half-dried hot chocolate leftovers smeared all over the kitchen! Gotta love January in the Northeast!
It was a football weekend in the Team-Graboski home--if you hadn't figured that out already. A nail-biting, seat clutching yet spectacular showing of football genius on Saturday with the Steelers overcoming all odds in the second half against Baltimore. Amazingly enough, not sustaining any major injuries. I woke up with a massive headache--admittedly, we did have half of the neighborhood over for a party--but not from any imbibing: just yelling! Aidan was keeping a "bad word" tally and charged everyone a fine at the end of the game. She collected about $15--I will let you ponder how much each word cost.....
Last night Scott and I went down to support all the Jet's fans that own Mario's restaurant. (in Ct--I think every decent town has a Mario's) It was a good move as the place was hopping with both Jet's and Patriot's fans. The owners/managers are a lively bunch of brothers and cousins from Montenegro. Every exciting play you could hear all kinds of shouting (presumably in Serbian, and not all of it sounded positive: Aidan could probably have picked up another $50?!) There was a lot of good natured joking from the Patriot bound natives. We left at half time, so I can only imagine how much fun was had at the end of the game when the Jets won 28-21. (As far as I can tell, no post-game crimes were committed as the morning news was quiet and I never heard any sirens or anything) THAT was a good game as well--Scott and I tried very hard not to wish horrific injuries on any of the players, but it was tempting!
Scott is on the rampage now to get tickets to the game in Pittsburgh next week. I'm not going--the last couple times I was present at a Jets/Steelers game, the Steelers lost abysmally. I will spend a nice quiet weekend with Susie and Dan....baking cookies or arranging flowers. I won't even watch the game. While Scott was on the phone with various Pittsburgh buddies, his cousin mentioned that she might have a couple of extra Super Bowl tickets available on the off/awesome chance the Steelers make it to Dallas.
I think that sounds like the makings of a fabulous honeymoon, don't you?!
;)! wink!
We have enjoyed a past couple of days enjoying the winter weather ups-and downs. Our yard looks like a strange, tumultuous ocean--or planet--with churned spots, wandering trails, odd shapes poking up out of the landscape. Upon a closer look I can make out an overturned lawn chair, an odd assortment of a dozen or so sleds, sticks, icicles and.... urp... dog leavings. (ewwww) A quick head count assures me that none of the unidentified lumps is a child left out in the cold. I could have also told that from the scum of half-dried hot chocolate leftovers smeared all over the kitchen! Gotta love January in the Northeast!
It was a football weekend in the Team-Graboski home--if you hadn't figured that out already. A nail-biting, seat clutching yet spectacular showing of football genius on Saturday with the Steelers overcoming all odds in the second half against Baltimore. Amazingly enough, not sustaining any major injuries. I woke up with a massive headache--admittedly, we did have half of the neighborhood over for a party--but not from any imbibing: just yelling! Aidan was keeping a "bad word" tally and charged everyone a fine at the end of the game. She collected about $15--I will let you ponder how much each word cost.....
Last night Scott and I went down to support all the Jet's fans that own Mario's restaurant. (in Ct--I think every decent town has a Mario's) It was a good move as the place was hopping with both Jet's and Patriot's fans. The owners/managers are a lively bunch of brothers and cousins from Montenegro. Every exciting play you could hear all kinds of shouting (presumably in Serbian, and not all of it sounded positive: Aidan could probably have picked up another $50?!) There was a lot of good natured joking from the Patriot bound natives. We left at half time, so I can only imagine how much fun was had at the end of the game when the Jets won 28-21. (As far as I can tell, no post-game crimes were committed as the morning news was quiet and I never heard any sirens or anything) THAT was a good game as well--Scott and I tried very hard not to wish horrific injuries on any of the players, but it was tempting!
Scott is on the rampage now to get tickets to the game in Pittsburgh next week. I'm not going--the last couple times I was present at a Jets/Steelers game, the Steelers lost abysmally. I will spend a nice quiet weekend with Susie and Dan....baking cookies or arranging flowers. I won't even watch the game. While Scott was on the phone with various Pittsburgh buddies, his cousin mentioned that she might have a couple of extra Super Bowl tickets available on the off/awesome chance the Steelers make it to Dallas.
I think that sounds like the makings of a fabulous honeymoon, don't you?!
;)! wink!
Monday, January 10, 2011
Boar's Head 21 take II a major success, what does next year hold?!
This weekend marked the 21nd annual Boar's Head Festival for our church and artsy community. For those of you just tuning in, The Boar's Head Festival is a musical and theatrical celebration of Epiphany--Renaissance style. Approximately 100 people: Adults, children, musicians and live animals fill our church to re-create a live nativity: Wisemen, kings, sprites and all. It also marked the second year we personally have been involved. Alannah and I sang in the choir last year. We did this year as well, adding Susie as "family gentry" and Dan as a shepherd. (He got to carry the dove and feed/brush the donkey, goats and chickens!) Three performances later it is Monday--everyone is back home and basking in post production glory. Thank you to Grandma and Grandpa for bravely dodging New England storms in order to get everyone back and forth safely and on time!
Who knows what will happen next year?
Aidan is under a lot of pressure to join in the fun--she IS accepting a lead in the Spring play at her middle school--she can't keep using the stage-fright excuse. Grandma Gray was campaigning for a choir-loft guest spot in "Gloria". Even Scott showed he could tend the donkey--like a pro: The donkey needed a little help after she helped out during the children's sermon Sunday. (trust me--you go through the trouble of driving to Goshen to rent a donkey for the weekend, you use it as much as you can!) After the children's sermon, the donkey was a bit keyed up. Scott volunteered to sit with the donkey so Pastor Mike could continue on with the service. He sat with her during the Joys and Concerns, and then walk her the long way around the sanctuary back to it's pen in the fellowship hall.
(Heh heh....I can just see/hear some of those Owego Presbyterians clutching and grasping....a live donkey living in the fellowship hall, walking through the sanctuary, eating hay off the choir loft steps!)
;) wink!
It is cold and blustery here, with a lot more snow expected Tuesday/Wednesday. All of the storms so far are blowing in up from the Long Island Sound--for once the Northwestern Mountains are not to blame. I learned this week that CT is covered by 4 different weather alert systems. We are "governed" by the agency that covers Albany, NY. (that is how close we are to NY.....) Our TV weatherman is always pulling his hair out because none of the weather services ever agree, and they never report simultaneously. In the end we just have to wait and see what happens. And stock up on milk, bread and toilet paper!
Who knows what will happen next year?
Aidan is under a lot of pressure to join in the fun--she IS accepting a lead in the Spring play at her middle school--she can't keep using the stage-fright excuse. Grandma Gray was campaigning for a choir-loft guest spot in "Gloria". Even Scott showed he could tend the donkey--like a pro: The donkey needed a little help after she helped out during the children's sermon Sunday. (trust me--you go through the trouble of driving to Goshen to rent a donkey for the weekend, you use it as much as you can!) After the children's sermon, the donkey was a bit keyed up. Scott volunteered to sit with the donkey so Pastor Mike could continue on with the service. He sat with her during the Joys and Concerns, and then walk her the long way around the sanctuary back to it's pen in the fellowship hall.
(Heh heh....I can just see/hear some of those Owego Presbyterians clutching and grasping....a live donkey living in the fellowship hall, walking through the sanctuary, eating hay off the choir loft steps!)
;) wink!
It is cold and blustery here, with a lot more snow expected Tuesday/Wednesday. All of the storms so far are blowing in up from the Long Island Sound--for once the Northwestern Mountains are not to blame. I learned this week that CT is covered by 4 different weather alert systems. We are "governed" by the agency that covers Albany, NY. (that is how close we are to NY.....) Our TV weatherman is always pulling his hair out because none of the weather services ever agree, and they never report simultaneously. In the end we just have to wait and see what happens. And stock up on milk, bread and toilet paper!
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Beautiful Day
Got to enjoy a day in Sophmore Biology with a bunch of really great kids. Beautiful snow started fluffing down outside around 9:30, and kept up until noon!--totally un-predicted by the usually overly prepared weathermen. The sun was glowing behind it: picture perfect. Previously bleary teenagers cheerful and excited about science!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Drama-women SUPREME--we should be a new superhero duo
Alannah's most recent therapist made the observation that Alannah and I were "rather dramatic". I felt a little ruffled by the label.... although.... she has a point. (?!?!?!?!)
Speaking of drama--the happy drama is that I am now full force into directing Play II. THAT is fun drama--the kids are getting into it, my artistic team is starting to get things together. I am teaching A LOT no thanks to the flu raging through the last of the substitute teachers that haven't flown off to Florida for the winter! (First year I got a flu shot--guess that was a good move) Most of us are happy (resignedly) to be back to work and school following a more or less wonderful holiday break.
The best part was having Susie and Dan here for a week. Mom and Dad were the heros and brought them up and stayed with us since we couldn't leave Alannah's hospital program for our original plans to visit Pittsburgh. We ice skated, fished, sledded, watched movies and...ATE.
A LOT. But all of you who know us are not surprised! We had one wonderful amazing day when we got to have all of the kids together along with Scott's girls.
Oh yeah.... SCOTT AND I GOT ENGAGED!!!!! That was mom's Christmas present as much as it was mine. We will get married sometime this Spring. Maybe. Hopefully. I think?! HAHAHA.
The unhappy drama is Alannah. I haven't written very much about her on this blog, mostly because she ends up being the center of things so much as it is. The blog was kind of a sanctuary for the normal part of our family to exist. A gentle edit for the sake of Scott, Aidan, Susie and Dan, Angela and Kennedi. We are a joyful, God centered family--I don't want to lose that focus on what is really important in the big picture.
Having a child with a mental illness is tough. Medications help. Intervention from good people and services help. We read all the books, we take her to all of the specialists. We put her in a great school. We go to family therapy, group therapy, church. However, the illness takes over periodically and hits like a tsunami, and she chooses to just ride the wave right over all of us. There are no drugs, people, services or magic wands that make it stop, go away or get better. We flounder, sputter, grasp...what else is there to do? No one has better options for us at the moment.
She has had a rough year to say the least. Two hospitalizations toward the beginning of 2010 got her back into regular therapy, then another ER trip began special in-house treatment twice a week with a team of specialists. THAT didn't work so she was back in the hospital earlier in December. That landed her in a partial hospital program for ten days over the holiday break. Now she is in a 3 day a week intensive treatment program. She goes half-days to school now, and half-days at the hospital M-W-F. Adolescent psychiatric services in our area have been pretty decent. Anyone who has ever had any experience with this particular service system will attest that it is abysmal at best, so we are feeling pretty fortunate for what help we are able to get. We also only have to travel about 15 minutes--a huge difference from the 2 hours it used to be in NY.
Of course, while we are working hard to follow the instructions of the 10+ professionals working on Alannah, the success is really up to her. This is where things get depressing. She is still stuck on feeling that everyone ELSE is wrong, and not her. It is like living with a giant 2 year old. In "Honey I Shrunk the Kids" this was cute--this is NOT cute. If she can't/won't change--we have some scary decisions to make. Not a pleasant place to be as parents.
However--we cling to what we are sure of: Extraordinary things happen to extraordinary people. (thank you, wonderful quote from the most recent Narnia movie!) She is a creation of God, as is her illness. Somewhere in all of this are clues for each of us as to what our greater purpose is; how we will use these gifts to honor and praise God. I don't always feel that way. I fight my own inner rage and frustration. I need to take breaks from her periodically in order to keep myself strong and healthy--like writing on here!
THANK YOU to all of you who pray for us and her. While you are at it, pray for all parents and families who are blessed with mentally ill adolescents. Pray for better medications, better care systems, better health care options--too many insurance companies don't cover enough. Count your blessings for all the healthy children you have or know!
Speaking of drama--the happy drama is that I am now full force into directing Play II. THAT is fun drama--the kids are getting into it, my artistic team is starting to get things together. I am teaching A LOT no thanks to the flu raging through the last of the substitute teachers that haven't flown off to Florida for the winter! (First year I got a flu shot--guess that was a good move) Most of us are happy (resignedly) to be back to work and school following a more or less wonderful holiday break.
The best part was having Susie and Dan here for a week. Mom and Dad were the heros and brought them up and stayed with us since we couldn't leave Alannah's hospital program for our original plans to visit Pittsburgh. We ice skated, fished, sledded, watched movies and...ATE.
A LOT. But all of you who know us are not surprised! We had one wonderful amazing day when we got to have all of the kids together along with Scott's girls.
Oh yeah.... SCOTT AND I GOT ENGAGED!!!!! That was mom's Christmas present as much as it was mine. We will get married sometime this Spring. Maybe. Hopefully. I think?! HAHAHA.
The unhappy drama is Alannah. I haven't written very much about her on this blog, mostly because she ends up being the center of things so much as it is. The blog was kind of a sanctuary for the normal part of our family to exist. A gentle edit for the sake of Scott, Aidan, Susie and Dan, Angela and Kennedi. We are a joyful, God centered family--I don't want to lose that focus on what is really important in the big picture.
Having a child with a mental illness is tough. Medications help. Intervention from good people and services help. We read all the books, we take her to all of the specialists. We put her in a great school. We go to family therapy, group therapy, church. However, the illness takes over periodically and hits like a tsunami, and she chooses to just ride the wave right over all of us. There are no drugs, people, services or magic wands that make it stop, go away or get better. We flounder, sputter, grasp...what else is there to do? No one has better options for us at the moment.
She has had a rough year to say the least. Two hospitalizations toward the beginning of 2010 got her back into regular therapy, then another ER trip began special in-house treatment twice a week with a team of specialists. THAT didn't work so she was back in the hospital earlier in December. That landed her in a partial hospital program for ten days over the holiday break. Now she is in a 3 day a week intensive treatment program. She goes half-days to school now, and half-days at the hospital M-W-F. Adolescent psychiatric services in our area have been pretty decent. Anyone who has ever had any experience with this particular service system will attest that it is abysmal at best, so we are feeling pretty fortunate for what help we are able to get. We also only have to travel about 15 minutes--a huge difference from the 2 hours it used to be in NY.
Of course, while we are working hard to follow the instructions of the 10+ professionals working on Alannah, the success is really up to her. This is where things get depressing. She is still stuck on feeling that everyone ELSE is wrong, and not her. It is like living with a giant 2 year old. In "Honey I Shrunk the Kids" this was cute--this is NOT cute. If she can't/won't change--we have some scary decisions to make. Not a pleasant place to be as parents.
However--we cling to what we are sure of: Extraordinary things happen to extraordinary people. (thank you, wonderful quote from the most recent Narnia movie!) She is a creation of God, as is her illness. Somewhere in all of this are clues for each of us as to what our greater purpose is; how we will use these gifts to honor and praise God. I don't always feel that way. I fight my own inner rage and frustration. I need to take breaks from her periodically in order to keep myself strong and healthy--like writing on here!
THANK YOU to all of you who pray for us and her. While you are at it, pray for all parents and families who are blessed with mentally ill adolescents. Pray for better medications, better care systems, better health care options--too many insurance companies don't cover enough. Count your blessings for all the healthy children you have or know!
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