TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

Another squiggly face and this one had a note that Chewlee was holding down students and kissing them.  Now, I have to tell you that Chewlee is NOT one to kiss anyone except her mother.  It was totally unlike her and I asked her why she got in trouble (this usually gives me what actually was going on from Chewlee's point of view).  She told me that she was NOT kissing anyone.  She was pretending to be a werewolf and pretending to bite them.  When I explained that to her teacher, she thought that was worse until I reiterated that it was *pretend* biting, not real biting.

We discussed why her behavior seems to have deteriorated the past few weeks and I told her that I noticed it had coincided with the Princess being gone to SC for four days each week.  It seems that her teacher wasn't aware that her mother was gone until just the other day.  She was sorry that the Princess hadn't told her about it because it explained a few things and she felt she could have been more helpful and understanding about Chewlee's acting out at times.  Chewlee, she knows, needs structure more so than some kids.  She LIKES knowing what is going on each day for her and, even though she loves us both, we are no substitute for her time with her mother.  I told her teacher that this was the last weekend her mother would be gone so we would be able to get back to our normal routine until school lets out for both of them (meaning the Princess and Chewlee).

Here is the part that made me make a plea for Chewlee, however.  Her teacher said that Chewlee was probably going to lose the zoo trip!  I told her, *Oh no!  Not the zoo trip!  She loves the zoo and her mother didn't take her during spring break because of the class trip.  That is the one thing that Chewlee has been counting the days until and checking off on my calendar.*  I told her teacher that I would tell Chewlee that if she doesn't make the right choices and get happy faces for the next two weeks, she would not get to go to the zoo.  Her teacher said that all this upset with Chewlee's normal home schedule probably wasn't helped by the fact that even her school schedule wasn't normal while they were preparing for the kindergarten graduation.   Plus they've been working on some films that are going to end up as part of a class DVD that they will be selling to make some money for next years class supplies.  It's actually a compilation of different events and just normal things that they have done all year.  A cute thing to go into their baby book or a family album that will embarrass them when shown in the years ahead....LOL.

Anyway, her teacher said she is going to call the Princess next week to voice her concerns (and hopefully to yell at her about not telling her about the new job AND the training for four weeks in a row).  The Princess and Chewlee's teacher have become friends during the year.  I told her I would tell the Princess to expect her call when I saw her on Sunday when she picks up Chewlee.

Oh, Chewlee came running in earlier all excited because my asparagus grew like a weed due to the rains the last couple days.  I should have expected that since all the veggies seem to do that after a good rain or two.  She wanted to run right out and cut them but I told her they could wait until she got home from school tomorrow.  She didn't WANT to do that but she finally gave in since it WAS beginning to get dark.

Tomorrow will be another dismal day for me if the weatherman is correct.  Overcast skies all day....WAHHHH!!!!  I want SUN!  Nothing but sun.  Anything else is unacceptable!  Oh well....it will be what it will be.  Love you all.  Keep a smile on your face and confuse everyone around you.  They will wonder...*What does s/he know that I don't?*   

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

It seems like most of the time Chewlee gets a squiggly face, it's for the same things.  Disturbing others, out of seat constantly, playing during work time...   It's usually because she does her work faster than the other kids and then is bored so she does what she does best....makes her own rules since she's finished with work.  On some days, she's sent to the 1st grade to listen and then do some of their work to keep her occupied.  Unfortunately, it's not always possible for that to be done.

I sat and did a heavy sigh and asked Chewlee what it was going to take for her to get smiley faces until she went to the zoo on the 15th.   She shrugged her shoulders and that was all the answer she had.  I have bubble gum here that I give her when she has had a good day.....I told her if she didn't keep getting smiley faces, all the bubble gum was going in the garbage.  She yelled, shocked, *NO!!*   I don't know if she will remember that at a critical moment or not but it was worth a try.

The Beast took me out for dinner tonight at Appleby's.  We each had a half rack of baby back ribs and it was wonderful.  I had their Perfect Margarita and that was beyond a doubt worth every dime it cost.  It was shaken and they brought the whole shaker to the table with a glass that had been iced and the edge had a perfect rim of salt on it.  I refilled my glass three times.  I don't know what it was that made that margarita so good...but I highly recommend it.  There was NO harshness from the tequila, like you find with many brands.  I MUST go back and reread the ingredients.  It was THAT good.

Chewlee was a monster at first.  She's started talking loud.....all the time.  You tell her to lower her voice and she puts her head towards the floor (YES, she CAN be a smartass).  She kept getting on her knees and turning around to ask the waitresses dumb questions until the Beast (who was sitting next to her....I'm no dummy) yanked her feet out front of her and made her sit right.  That's when she settled down and then tried to be helpful.  She passed the salt to the Beast and then went to put it back but he yelled at her because he wasn't done.  When he has onion rings, he salts each one as he eats them.  Poor Chewlee had no idea he did that and really didn't know why he yelled at her when she put it back where it belonged.  I explained why he wanted it by him to her and she said, *I didn't know that!* when she put it back.  I told her, *I know, that's why I explained it to you.*

When we got home, it was time for her bath and shampoo.  I drew her bath for her and she freaked out when she thought some dirt from her feet was a tiny spider.  I took a look at it and got angry with her.  Mostly because it was because of her freaking out and screaming like she was mortally wounded that led to my falling and eventually losing my big toe to a bone infection.  All because of a tiny ant.  I kid you not.  I thought for sure she was at least seriously bleeding.  I jumped up to run to her and tripped and fell.  I split open the skin on my big toe (not realizing it was to the bone) but used cloth tape to close it up.  I suspected I might actually have broken some bones (or dislocated them) in my foot but it was two weeks before I got in to see my doctor.  He sent me to the orthopedic doctor who discovered the second joint bone was infected.

It was determined that the infection was inside the bone at this point (due to a major crack) so the toe was amputated.  The orthopedic doctor said it was really a shame that the bone couldn't be removed and leave the top (with nail) since that was just fine.  Chewlee just keeps asking me when I am going to get my NEW toe.  She really doesn't understand that it's gone for good.  I am supposed to get a prosthetic toe, however.  The place I was referred to is no longer there but I finally found a place in Huntsville that does toes.  Not every prosthetic place does something so small.  I'm also to get a pair of shoes and i was shocked to discover that they no longer look like *old lady* shoes from the 50's.  Me?  I just want some nice sneakers or slip-ons.  If I were still working, I could even get orthopedic high heels!    But I am a bit too unsteady on my feet to even consider that...LOL.

Love you all.  Hope you have a great *hump* day and even better weather.