The week started off on a quiet note, pretty low key, just enjoying some crafting time with the boys. After getting through the flu 2 weeks ago, and being out straight with yarn orders, I took a much needed day off to "play" with the boys. The boys are doing a Relay For Life Team for Relay 2010, and they've been hard at work painting ornaments to sell at an upcoming Holiday Fair to raise money for the American Cancer Society. They had a blast painting these ornaments, as you can tell by looking at Little D's face. It was a mess, but fun none the less!

 

Then comes Monday, when I get, yet another wholesale inquiry for my holiday colorways. I'm stretched pretty thin already, but find it so hard to say no. After all, it is the holiday season, and I could use the money (There's a Jack Loom that is just screaming to be purchased by Moi!). Monday afternoon I get yet another call, from someone who wants to buy my little sheep soaps, wholesale. These little soaps are adorable, and they are such great sellers at this time of year, but do I really have time? Well, there's that loom again, just screaming out my name, so....I agree to make them up.



Then there's Tuesday, aaaahhhhh..... a sweet little surprise for just me.....



.....a yummy package from my Recession Swap Partner.  I'm so itching to cast on some mittens with the Wisdom yarn, but alas, no time. The chocolates have gone into what my boys call "Mommy's not so secret hiding place", to serve as a little pick me up to get me through the next few weeks. Thank you pal, for such a wonderful "pick me up" package during a particularly crazy week.

Now on to Wednesday, to wake up with swollen glands, a splitting headache and unable to breath through my nose. Really? This week? I don't have time to be sick again!!!

Thursday, a trip to the grocery store, where, guess what, another surprise, grocery prices are still rising. We've never been one to shop the "sales" at the grocery, since most of our shopping is done in the produce and whole grains section, but guess what, surprise is on us, money is getting tight, and we're going to have to eat less "healthy", because our wallets cannot afford to eat "healthy" much longer. UGH!!

Now on to Friday....the day of many surprises. Surprise #1 -  I still haven't heart from my pal from Secret Pal #14. Her identity was supposed to be revealed at the end of September, in a final package. Still don't know who she is, although I've received 2 emails from her that her final package is on the way.  Surprise #2 - Jake's 1st grade Thanksgiving feast, which I'm supposed to be working on planning....yeah, well, they sent home a note yesterday that siblings cannot attend. What am I supposed to do with Little D? He always comes along, and there's never been a problem, but now.......Surprise #3 - Jake's winter concert, which was supposed to be held mid December, is now scheduled for the beginning of December, when hubby is traveling, so he won't get to attend. Surprise #4 - This little "bump" that has developed on my wrist, continues to grow and is becoming quite painful. Doesn't it know I have holiday knitting to get done and don't have time to deal with this??? Surprise #5 - We've been working on a Project Linus Sew In event, to be held today (Saturday), and we had a good number of people planning to attend. A lot of planning goes into these events, so we're always excited when they are well received and participant numbers are high. I get a call on Friday afternoon, from a volunteer who has hit panic mode. She doesn't want to leave her house, for fear of getting the Swine Flu (the schools here have had low attendance now for 2 weeks, because of swine flu cases). She seems to be looking for me to give her something, some advice or something, I don't know. In a nutshell, if you are too afraid, then, by all means stay home. I ended up on the phone with this woman for 45 minutes, and I'm still not real sure what it was she was looking for from me.

Now, it's a quiet Saturday morning, I'm enjoying my morning coffee, and yet, there's another surprise...... it's 26 degrees outside. It's freakin' cold!

UGH!! Where is that box of Calgon? At least I'll get to play on the sewing machine a bit today, while at the Sew In. That damn thing better behave today, or it'll go flying!

Like many small (and large for that matter) across the nation, our community has become a bit hysterical about the current H1N1 flu "pandemic".There is so much controversy around this virus, and more so, the vaccination for the virus, that parents are feeling that they really do not know which way to turn. It is sad, when as a nation, we feel we cannot trust our government in helping us to make these necessary decisions. Folks are fearful that too much emphasis is being put on the H1N1 vaccination, and cannot understand why the government is rushing this vaccination "through the system". Many beleive that this vaccination is actually harmful to our children, with possible side affects like neurological damage, impotence, sudden retardation, etc.

Admittedly, I was getting caught in the middle. With Dominic having asthma, and having a history of getting pneumonia twice a year, I was fearful that if we did not vaccinate him, the H1N1 virus could be lethal. I wasn't as worried about Jake, as he's a trooper. He knows when to he needs to rest, and is good at relaying to me what he's feeling. Just about the time that I was starting to feel I really didn't know which way to to with getting them vaccinated, they both come down with the Swine Flu. Jake ran a high fever for 2 days, a low grade for 2 days, and by day 5, he was starting to feel better.He did suffer from terrible stomach pain and headaches, but stayed in bed with an ice pack on his head, and toughed it out.

Dominic developed an ugly cough and headache. That's it! No fever, no stomach ache, no other symptoms.

I'm glad we were saved from having to make the vaccination choice. Furthermore, Jake learned a valuable lesson from this experience as well. He was starting to get a little nervous about the possibility of getting the Swine Flu, by listening to all the moms and teachers, and their hysteria. By the 5th day, when he was feeling better, he finally asked me "What is the big deal Mom? It really wasn't that bad."

So many other parents, who's children have had the Swine Flu say the same, it's shorter lived than the regular flu and the symptoms really aren't that bad. So I ask you...
What is all the hysteria about?

At a time when it seems to "politically incorrect" to stand up, and say with pride, that you are an American, it just makes my heart sing to see that our schools are still teaching our children what it means to be an American! Granted, our country is a mess right now and folks are scared to death at what's around the next bend. I do not, however, as a parent, want my child to be anything other than proud, of where our country has been and the progress that's been made. After all, we did just elect our first African American president....something I never thought I'd see in my lifetime. Although, thus far, Barrack has proven to be a bit disappointing, I'm still holding out hope that there's positive change coming. I am quite pleased with Barrack's push to get more people involved within our local communities. Something this nation seems to have long forgotten is that it takes a village, working together, to bring up the coming generations. I'm hopeful the tides are changing, and that it's beginning with my children's generation.

My heart just sang over the last week, to watch that American pride twinkle in Jake's eyes. He's been practicing singing the Star Spangled Banner for the last 2 weeks at school in preparation for singing it at the local high school's homecoming game. He sang with such pride, such confidence, and proved to perform like the All American Boy that he is!

 

He joined Tiger Cubs this year, and has literally put his all into it. Our family has been doing volunteer work since before Jake was born, so he knows the importance of "giving back".  He had his first fundraiser for his boy scout troop last week, and I'm so freakin' proud of him, and the spirit with which he tackled this fundraiser. By himself, he raised over $400 for his local troop, selling popcorn. At a time when everyone is struggling to open their wallets for anything extra, I'm grateful that so many people supported Jake's efforts. His positive attitude took him a long way! If it were not for the power of choice we have in this country, it would not have been possible.



Now, on to his next endeavor....he's decided to form his own Relay For Life Team for Relay 2010, in memory of his grandmother, who we lost last May. His team will be called the "Mighty Mites", and Mighty only begins to describe my little man. He's set a goal of raising $1,000 for the American Cancer Society, and will be starting his fundraising next month, selling hand painted Christmas ornaments. You know Mommy is his biggest cheerleader! The boy makes me proud!