New iphone5, Remicade, Husband traveling & a Special Request

Not sure which topic is more pressing or annoying, but there they all are. Bill upgraded me to an iphone5 last week without asking me first, and though I'm thrilled with my new toy, I'm not so thrilled about having to transfer all my contacts over, losing 5 days worth of voicemail(that I finally recovered), and not being able to get certain apps off the CLOUD - whatever the heck that is - because somehow the phone thinks that my phone is linked to Bill's Apple ID so I can't get mine to work using my password, nor with his.

After 2 hours I finally gave up and vowed to let the 8 year old spend 10 hours a day on the computer because it's clear that the older I get - the more free tech support he is going to need to provide. He was able to fix my printer before he could even read so I remain very hopeful. If education is going the way of an iPad for every elementary student, this boy is going to deserve one right away.

Yippee! I got my Remicade today. Never thought I'd be saying that. I have never so desperately needed a Remicade infusion in the last 6 years. I have been in agony over the last 2 weeks, w-a-i-t-i-n-g for my infusion date to come and conquer the cramps and fatigue and diarrhea that have left me weak, dehydrated, malnourished, and short-tempered. An infusion that takes 3 1/2 hrs thru an IV in my arm given at a cheery oncologist's office, and boy, let me tell you I was never to so happy to see my oncology nurse. It must be psychosomatic, but I already feel better. I spend most of the weekend in bed, poor Bill had to pick up the slack, and I spend most of the day that the kids were at school in bed, or on the couch, or napping. When I was awake and vertical I was still pretty much housebound, because I couldn't be far from a toilet, and I've notice a disturbing trend of a decrease in public bathrooms. I assume this is because of homeless people or liability, but good God people, sometimes I just need a toilet. I can't remember having been so ill in a long time. Everyone once in a while I start to think, oh, I've been in remission for so long, I must not need the Remicade anymore. But oh no, I can't survive 10 weeks without it. Eight weeks. Eight weeks is definitely my max.

Bill comes home tonight after a business trip back east, and I am definitely not one of those Moms who does well without a husband around. He stabilizes me. It's weird, when he's here, half the time I'm snapping at him, but when he's gone, I think all day long "gosh, I wish he were here, he'd know just what to do." I should be nicer to him when he is here, yup, gonna add that to my to-do list.

Other news this week: On Friday night we are having 40 people over to help celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. There were tearful and terrible times that I thought we would never make it this far, and I am so grateful that we are Catholic and have 4 children and were not easily tempted to just throw in the towel. It sounds so easy at the moment, but divorce with 4 littles would have been horrible for all of us, and I'm glad that through prayer, confession, and counseling and lots and lots of talking, we are back in the boat rowing in the same direction and stronger than we were before. I heard a speaker on Catholic radio once describe divorce like this: a bad marriage may be your cross to bear; but a divorce is when you lay down your cross and ask your children to carry it for you. Yowza, if that doesn't hit a parent right between the eyes, I don't know what will. And I do strongly believe that most of the time people who divorce just find the same old problems with their new spouse - because they still bring their same old tattered and well traveled baggage with them. Anyway, I'm glad we stuck it out, and I am glad to say I love my husband now as much as I did then. Which, luckily, is what is engraved in our wedding bands in Spanish "como hoy siempre." I got that from my beloved Tia Coca in Argentina - isn't it beautiful, translates as like today, always. LOVE IT.

So we have lots to celebrate on Friday night. I'm doing a Moroccan themed dinner since we went to Morocco on our honeymoon. I've got a great menu planned, some ethnic decorations, smooth Moroccan music, and even have a henna artist coming to decorate the ladies. We're going to be opening the big 6 liter bottle of wine all our guests signed at our wedding reception, and hope that it tastes good! It will be great to see many of our original guests at the party, and see the new friends we've added over the last 10 years. I may have gone a little overboard on the Moroccan candles and pillows and pouffes, but having just discovered Home Goods, I went a little crazy with my theme. Now that I shop at all new stores, it's a whole new world to explore. And I gotta say, I'm lovin' it and happy about all the changes in store for us. Financial freedom just like Phil Lenahan promised in his financial course for Catholics. Visit him at:  www.veritasfinancialministries.com, his course is really life changing and you actually get to talk with him on the conference calls. It is truly amazing how much is in the Bible about planning and finances and responsibility for your family.

Friday is also the kids last day at our local public school because next week we are moving. We are leaving our beloved historic house on the banks of Adobe Creek and moving to a 1950's suburban tract home. It is sad and exciting at the same time. I'm torn about whether or not to change the name of our homeschool and the blog. I think I may just leave it since this is where our homeschooling began.

Next week we start homeschooling through a public charter school's independent study program, and frankly, I'm looking forward to the accountability. (For myself.) If no one's watching, I get pretty lax about forms and attendance and portfolio keeping, so I hope this will keep me on the ball.

And then 2 days later, is our pack and move date. Holy Canoli! We still have a lot to do to get ready, but I'm eager to get settled into our new place and start homeschooling again. I am so tired of the public school routine. I'm just not cut out for it. Not when I was a kid, not now. I don't like the schedule, the bureaucracy, the attitude, the forced parent socialization, the fundraising. It just seems so damn inefficient. Not that homeschooling is all rosy, either. But most days, it is better. And on days when it's not, I can say, by golly, no more, we're going to the beach. Today I spoke with our Educational Specialist (ES) who I will meet with once a month to go over things and she seemed nice enough over the phone. Though she sounds like she has about as much experience as I do.

It'll be another big week for our family, and as always, we call on St. Joseph to help us through. Bill's right, St. Joseph has been working double shifts for us lately. Instead of gifts, we've decided to raise funds to help build a chapel in Costa Rica with a St Joseph Chapel in it. A blogger I've followed for a while just picked up and left her home (with her husband and kids) and decided to become missionaries. Incredibly inspiring story. And since I am pretty much trapped in the US for the rest of my life because of my health condition (except for 6 week jaunts to places that are pretty clean and safe and have high quality medical staff nearby) - I have to stay home and pray. I guess I'm like their St. Therese praying for the success of their Mission since I can't make it out on my own.

For our anniversary, Bill and I decided that instead of gifts, we were going to raise money for a Missin chapel in Costa Rica. Here is the link to the St. Bryce Foundation Mission page where you can make a donation to help build this chapel too. If St. Joseph has been good to your family, maybe you'd like to help the Mitchell's and their team build something special in Costa Rica to honor him.

Colleen and Greg Mitchell are incredibly inspiring and Colleen's blog about her family's joys and sorrows has been with me throughout my homeschooling journey. I hope you'll click through to the St. Bryce Foundation page and read the story of their baby Bryce, and all about the good work that they are doing in Costa Rica. Thank you in advance for considering making a donation to this cause.

https://sites.google.com/site/angusdeiacatholicfundingsite/jennings-family-site

Please share or pin this link to help raise funds for these simple but lovely chapels.

That's all for now, but I'll post pictures of the party this weekend. 

P.S. Edited to correct the links.