It's another Monday and all is well - finally. Both boys are back in school. Ely still has a sore throat, but he hasn't had any fever in several days now. This is first day back since he had strep throat. Lj is healthy and going strong. They both really like the new dog, Josh. He is a very well behaved puppy. I am so pleased about that. He did tear up Choco's bed last night. He went on a chewing binge and ignored all the chew toys available to him. If that's all he chews up, I'll be very happy. The vet gave him a good bill of health and I am so relieved I don't have to worry about heart worms or any other kind of worms. I was concerned about them, him being a pound puppy and all.

The cat still isn't sure about Josh; he is bigger than she is and that makes her nervous. Speaking of cat, I have to go to Wal-Mart and buy cat food. I was just there this morning, but totally forgot to buy it. I remembered the milk, though. :-)

I finished painting the trim in the living room finally. I am finding spots where the paint roller didn't cover the ceiling too well, but I'll have to touch it up later. I've already been to the chiropracter and laid up with ice packs on my back enough to last me for a while. Hopefully, I won't have to do that again any time soon.

I've been watching HGTV reruns. They get boring after a while, but there just isn't much else on TV to watch. It is too cold to sit outside today, so I have to be in the house. I've already paid the bills that have come in (something I typically put off until the last minute) and made all the beds. I guess I could go sort laundry and put a load on to wash. What I find myself doing is imagining, or trying to imagine, what it is going to be like when the boys are gone to their dad's. No more daily spills to mop up. The kitchen table may actually stay clean. The beds will remain made and the laundry will be cut by 2/3rds. And still, I tune up to cry when I imagine them gone. This house will be a shell without them in it. I just pray I can handle it.

Didn't mean to turn all sappy...better go for now. More about trim, dogs, cats, and kids next time when you tune into cynles.blogspot.com!

Hello out there! It's been a couple of weeks. I am doing well but have sick kids. One had a sinus infection and missed nearly a week of school (Lj) and the other has strep throat and has been home for a couple of days (Ely). Ely had to get a shot for his illness today. The doctor says he should be all better within 24 hours of the shot, we'll see. He has a hard time swallowing pills, hence the needle pain instead. I felt so sorry for him.

I've been painting my living room. It is the same color except a shade lighter. One shade lighter made a huge difference to me. Lj says no one else can tell the difference. I guess I'm only doing it to please me any how so it doesn't matter if no one else can tell. Mother says she can tell the difference and that it makes it look a lot better (so there Lj :-p). The process has been a slow go. I am still painting the trim. My back hurts after a little bit of the "up and down" part of it and then I have to rest a lot. I had to take stupid pain pills yesterday for it. I am bound and determined to finish it by this weekend whatever it takes.

Because this weekend Mike is building me some built-in bookshelves. They are sorely needed. I had to give away literally hundreds of books for lack of storage space...I had close to 2000 books when I lived in MN, but have dwindled down to a few hundred since I moved here. Mike said the public library should name a wing after me. LOL I also donated a lot to the local college. I'll include some pics of the project once we get it going. He is installing cabinets today.

I adopted a dog from the pound. I am losing all my pets to the kids. We have two dogs and a cat which will all be moving to MN when Lj and Ely head up there. The long-haired chihuahua is mine, but the boys love him so and he is severly allergic to fleas and the bites make him lose his hair. In MN fleas are practically nonexistent, at least we never ever had a problem with them when we lived up there. So it will be good for the chihuahua (Choco) as well as the kids. But the new dog (Josh) will be coming home with me tomorrow after a visit to O'Fallon's Vet Services for a check up. I am anxious to see how he'll get along with the other pets, especially the cat. ;-)

I have to put out a thanks to Mandy and Canine Corrections for helping me with the adoption and getting Josh ready for his new home with me.

I have some people here detailing my car right now. Then I have to go get Lj. Ely is home sick, remember. Anyway, they'll get my car all sparkly and vacuumed out. I am unable to handle that much physical labor. My back simply won't allow it. I'd be in traction if I tried right now. Chad Murphy (of Murphy's Lawn Care 870.723.2117) is opening a detail shop and he is training one of his employees (Craig) on mine and my mother's cars. We'll be paying for it, but getting a discount. $$$ More of this exciting saga next time I think of posting while actually having the time to do it. Until then, ciao.

Sundays are always hard on me. I think I may fair better if I just stay in bed all day on Sundays. I don't know why I get so depressed on Sundays. I didn't go to church. Went to Mike's apartment and watched the X-Men movie with him then came back home. The boys are playing on their Gameboy DSes and I am about to read. I am reading a Janet Evanovich novel, Eleven on Top. She's pretty funny. A female bounty hunter who finds herself in ludicrous situations. There's really nothing going on in my life right now worth blogging about. Then why do it? I want to keep this one updated for my boys. So I'll keep trying. Later, CL.