Hello everyone! Have you ever had those mornings where the coffee just hits perfectly? That is my morning coffee today. I don’t even know what I am drinking today, it is just good.
It was a bit of a week this week! I think our weeks are going to be like this for a while, while we are in the run-up to Wyatt’s surgery. Just a lot of different appointments and phone calls and arranging equipment, and so on. And if any of you have dealt with insurance companies, you know how many hoops you need to jump through first, and the amount of phone calls you need to make! However, it does look like things are starting to all come together, and as a person who needs things prepared and ready, I am starting to at least feel better on that front!
I made a joke yesterday that my whole week has been spent between doctors appointments and the fish store, because it has. Who knew this new fish tank would give me (and Billy) such a headache! It is our first community tank so it is a learning curve. We had a few losses right away, because our parameters were off, but we have been diligently doing 75% water changes almost daily and running up to the store for water tests. We have three lemon Tetra, that we named the Lemon Sisters, two albino African dwarf frogs who have had a few different names, we can’t settle on any, and one Khuli loaches. Once our water is perfect (and we are soooo close!) we are adding two more loaches because they prefer to live in a group. I read that they will actually die of loneliness if they are the only one in a tank! Ours should be ok since it won’t be that long of a wait – I asked Sam at the fish store to make sure! It seems like our little frog likes it though, and they hang out together. So maybe the loach doesn’t feel so lonely. That group needs a name too. If anyone has any name suggestions for the frogs and loaches, I would love to hear them! (and I snuck a photo of Wyatt’s favorite fish, Moon, into the group here, even though he lives on his own)
Wyatt and I also went for a stroll and browse through my favorite nursery the other day. I still haven’t given up on my plan to plant a tree or trees in my yard. I had originally wanted to plant birch trees, but with the new ramp I don’t think it will work. So I am thinking maybe a Japanese Willow now? I also liked the look of the Whipcord Red Cedar, but that might be a bit much too, lol. Wyatt found the name “Crabapple” tree hysterical, and laughed about the whole time we were there. I did buy two little rue plants to put on the deck, as a small offering to the butterflies.
Last night we had Cub Scouts!! It was a very chill, easy meeting this time, with the kids working on windchimes to hang in the yards. I would have said they were for their mother’s as gifts, but in our group, the mothers are there with their children and helped them make them. Our little pack is getting so close and it makes me so happy. Wyatt even allowed one of the other kids to push him in his wheelchair, which is unusual! He usually only lets family do that, so Billy and I were happily surprised at that development! Wyatt was playing, and with someone other than his cousins! He was slightly apprehensive, I could tell by his face, but his desire to play was greater than his apprehension. Progress!!
The kids all seemed to have a good time designing their wind chimes, choosing the best and most “aesthetic” beads as one little girl kept saying, and putting them together. The parents all seemed relaxed (even me!) and it was just a fun night.
Next month we have a few things lined up- a fishing derby, a meeting, and then the kids are helping my church pack bag lunches to hand out free to the community.
I even had an outing, all on my own! The clinic where Wyatt has therapy hosts a Mother’s Day event every year, and it so fun to go too. This year it was Kentucky Derby themed, and we had to dress up a bit and wear hats or fascinators. They had games, good food, prizes, and lots of togetherness. We all shared our wins for the past year, and there were some tears among us moms of special needs kids, feeling the hardships and pain, but also celebrating the wins, big or small.
And then that was our week! It was a week of ups and downs, but I think that is what life is, isn’t it? A series of ups and downs? We enjoy those up moments, and then rally together for the hard ones.
And I will say goodbye for today! I hope that whatever you do today, that you do something that makes you smile!
Still Life, With Cracker Crumbs.. 
First, you look gorgeous in that blue fascinator!! I’m glad you have this little bit of respite as well as others who understand your life. Second, we had to raise those frogs as part of an animal unit. They’re little escape artists. Finally, hurrah for your Cub Scout outings! You are creating such wonderful moments for those kiddos.
https://marshainthemiddle.com
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Thank you Marsha! I was super self conscious. Lol.
It really was a nice event. I thought it was so sweet of the clinic to hold that for us moms. I really love his doctor there. You can tell she puts so much of her time and effort and herself into the kids there. She sees around 3000 kids a year, one way or another, and she always remembers details about them and their medical history. It is amazing.
And I didn’t know that! I will have to keep an eye out!
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The fascinator looks so cute!!!
I always say that I would imagine tanks & anything aquarium is a LOT of work
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Thank you Rebecca!
So much more work than I imagined! Lol. My son loves them though so I will keep trying. Lol
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Now THAT’s a week! You must be totally whipped but it sounds like there was lots of fun mixed in there between appointments and fish!
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We did manage to fit some other things in there. Lol.
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Oh I remember those days of trying to keep the tank regulated with the right PH balance to keep all the fish alive and happy… It sounds like a good and very busy week. I’m sure it’s not easy at all dealing with the insurance company but yay you for getting it done.
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Oh my gosh. This is crazy!! I spent the morning of my Mother’s Day doing a huge change. LOL. The things we do for our kids!!!
Thank you Joanne!
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Starting a tank is always hard, isn’t it – getting a good group of small, identical fish helps! I hope it continues well. And how lovely to have that event for mums – your fascinator is very pretty!
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Oh my gosh it is! I told Billy if things go wrong, if you know what I mean, I am just sticking a betta in there. They are so much easier, just one little fish. Lol.
And thank you!
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Loooooove the fascinator! You look tres chic! 😘
And oh man, group aquariums are so awesome once they’re up and going, but getting everything just right is work … Sounds like you’re almost there though!
Crabapples are gorgeous! The blooms are pretty, the leaves are pretty in the fall, and you get teeny tiny apples that are sometimes human-safe, but animals tend to like in general 🙂 Trees are awesome
Hope y’all had a restful weekend and this week will be calmer ❤
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Thank you Rebecca!! I was way out of my comfort zone! Lol.
Phew, it is a pain!! But I think we have it now. I seem to be having an issue with overfeeding. Oops. So I am working on it lol.
I love trees too! We have some sort of apple tree in the front yard and we love it. It is not a crabapple tree though – it produces so many really good apples in the fall. We have people who take walks in the fall to pick from it – we always tell people to go ahead. We like the idea of it being a community tree. But, Wyatt is hooked on this crabapple idea! I will have to look into how big they get, especially if they are pretty! Lol. We don’t have a ton of room left in the back with his ramp but we can fit a few things.
Thank you Rebecca!
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You might be able to do the crabapple – Mom has one next to her front sidewalk that’s been there for years and it’s not huge at all. (There may be dwarf varieties?) 🙂
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Wow, it sounds like a really busy week. I know exactly how much work goes into dealing with insurance companies and doctors as an adult – I can’t even imagine how much more work it is when its for a child. But props to Wyatt for making progress on his own in the social front.
I hope that you find the time to plant a tree and left some plants outside for the butterflies. I just got seeds for a butterfly bush, and can’t wait to see it grow and draw the butterflies! Also, I had two of those mini frogs when I was in college, although they weren’t albino. But I loved Frick and Frack.
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It is wild isn’t it, the hoops we have to jump through just to get what is needed? It makes me so angry. We actually are dealing with a situation right now, that we needed to really advocate to try to get things set up. And by advocate, I meant politely tell them to rethink their plan.
Our yard was destroyed last year when they built the ramp and deck for Wyatt. 😦 We were going to replant this year, but with the surgery in July (bilateral hip surgery) we aren’t going to have a lot of time. However, Billy is going to do some digging and rototilling and then throw down a ton of wildflower seeds and we are going to see what sticks!
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Oh wow, that’s a big surgery – and it is infuriating to see how our health care system works. We get 15 minutes with a doctor who can’t make face to face contact because they’re too busy typing. Wyatt is lucky to have you in his corner, and I’m sending you all the good vibes!
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