52 of 52 of 2023

What a week.  Monday was Christmas. The kids got almost everything they wanted. We failed to take a family picture again.  

Hopefully tonight we'll remember for new years eve. 

In summary, this year started out strong and seemed to get worse as the year progressed.  

We went on a much anticipated road trip and all came down with COVID.  Then we went to Oklahoma and had a good time.  But then in October Ralph had a stroke and I ended up moving on with mom full-time.  

I'm not very hopeful nor excited about 2024 because I'm just upset and depressed about moving in with mom. 

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The week leading up to Christmas is always busy.  I celebrated my birthday on Tuesday, 43.   Dan and I both had the day off but we aren't living in the same house because of mom.  Dan came over and brought Sophie and a makeshift charcuterie board.  Then we had KFC for dinner and I blew out my candles with a crumbl cookie.  

Friday we celebrated Tyler's academic excellence.  He's had a 4.0 since being in junior high.  

On Christmas Eve we always visit dad. It's been 6 years since he passed.  

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The week came and went. Hannah managed to get sick on Tuesday and it carried through this weekend with Friday being the absolute worst.  She missed her friend Ella's Jingle Cabaret and her friend Charlotte's birthday party from being sick.  This  the season everyone says.  I think it could have been avoided if parents stop sending their kids to school sick. 

Tyler had a good week. We found out he's on honor roll again.  He's had a 4.0 since he started at Carlton Oaks.   He was featured on their school newsletter for his YouTube channel.  

As for the elves...well the kids didn't keep.up with moving them around.  

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Let's see...what did we do this week. We decorated the Christmas tree.  I'm getting very close to being done with Christmas shopping.  All I need to do is complete my giftcards and I'll be done.  The next task is to wrap all the presents for the kids now. The kids are getting creative with the elves but can tell that they're getting tired of it cause there are some days when the elves don't move.   Ha!

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This week was busy.   The kids went back to school after a week off for Thanksgiving break.  Work is definitely picking up again which sucks.  

December is always a busy one for us.  This year doesn't even feel right because I'm not even going  to be home this month or next month.  Despite this we are continuing on with holiday festivities even if my heart isn't into it this year.  

On the last day of November, Dan broke the truth to the kids about our elves, Brandon and Kate, and Santa.  They are both aware that they don't exist.  Hannah was so heart broken.  It made me sad that she knows and lady year was her last believing in Santa and the elves.  Dan and I are both relieved cause moving them and coming up with activities was so hard.  

We also got our tree in Dec 2nd and we decorated everything bur the tree on Dec 3rd. We waiting for the tree to settle  before we decorate it.  

Hannah went to a friend's party today so bubba and I took Lola to the cemetery.  

Mom's memory is declining more and more each month but I feel she will stick around for another few years.  I need to find a caregiver stat.  

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This week we celebrated Thanksgiving.  The kids were off from school. Tyler slept at Lola's on Monday night and I had Hannah for a whole week.  Having them with me really makes my heart happy.  I don't think Dan will ever stay the night so we can all be together, that would really make my heart full and happy.  A girl could always dream, I guess.  

Thanksgiving was good. I think this year was our best turkey so far, a perfectly moist 18 pound turkey.  The skin was nice and crispy too.  Hannah helped a ton with cooking this year.  She's getting better and better with helping. She did the hash herself and helped with the stuffed mushrooms and helped with the pecan tarts too. I didn't take pictures unfortunately. I keep telling myself I need to capture some of my mom and my family for memories yet I always forget.  I guess that will be my new years resolution for next year.  

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The kids closed out the week before their Thanksgiving break with practice state testing.  We met with the kid's teachers this week and they had nothing but great things to say about the kids.  Dan and I couldn't be more happy and proud.  

I took the kids to one of Hannah's friends musicals via YAT. It was called Camp Rock.  Hannah's friend's Ella, Hannah and Mia.  The girls did amazing. Tyler, Hannah and I enjoyed the show.  

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So we did a thing this Friday. Dan bought me a new car.  Not my dream car unfortunately but a new 2024 Rav4 Hybrid.  My 2012 camry was starting to show its wear and tear after commuting 30+ miles almost daily for the last 3 years of taking care of mom at her house almost full time.  Dan buying this car is his love showing true again.  He was getting nervous about us driving in the car every day.  He keeps telling me he feels better knowing we're in a new car that will keep us safe. One of thr many reasons I love him.  

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This was a bit of a busy week for us. Mom turned 84 on Monday.  It's the first year since dad died they we didn't get everyone together to celebrate. I'm having a hard time coming to terms with being stuck at moms and still coordinating everything with the siblings.  So I'm opting to not coordinate birthdays nor holidays.  I'm not looking forward to not being home for the holidays this year.  

Tuesday was Halloween.  Tyler hung out and trick or treated with his friends in the Weston neighborhood.  He got a lot of candy.  Hannah met up with Charlotte and her kinder friends.  She seemed to have a great time but many dark houses in the neighborhood.

It was a good week.  

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This week was red ribbon week for the kids. Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of them dressed up but know its was enjoyed. Or at least Hannah enjoyed dressing up. 

We carved pumpkins this weekend and finished decorating the outside in time for Halloween.  Both kids are looking forward to trick or treating with friends this year.  

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This was my 7th w eekend and 6th week at mom's.  This has been longest stay at moms since Ralph started helping. 

The week was pretty uneventful.  The kids are doing good and enjoying life.  We got their fall pictures this week. Tyler usually wears a shirt from my dad but he's growing so fast that they don't fit anymore.  Hannah wore a dress my lola been made for my mom. I think this will be the last year she'll be able to wear my moms old clothes.   She's likely going to be taller than me next year. 

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So this is week 5 of being at moms. Ed came into town on Monday night for work so was able to stay the night at home. It just wasn't long enough though.  I'm still searching for a caregiver. 

This week was Hannah's picture day. She wore a very old dress my lola belen made for my mom. Pretty cool that Hannah wanted to wear it for picture day. 

I took junior to get groomed. Ralph was supposed to do it while he was here in August but he never went.  He was home in Arizona for 4 weeks and he never got it done there.  Pure laziness in my opinion.  

This Saturday was Hannah's fall festival. Being a 6th grader she had the opportunity to volunteer and she did.  She did a shift at the haunted maze scaring people going thru. She had a great time and I'm glad I was able to take her. 

Tyler went to the Marshall Scotty haunted trail with his friend Neil then they went to Dennys after. He left at 7p and was home by 11p. Sounds like he had a blast too!  

Kids are growing fast and I feel like im missing out on their lives cause I've been taking care of mom since April 2020. 

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Oh gosh, where do I begin with this week. It was probably one of the most stressful yet. 

Work life was busy.  Tim came back from his trip to Japan so I was able to offload his work back to him.  Although I'm working on his business template and data universe updates.  I also got the prototype up on Confluence for the team's storefront.  I have some formatting updates but outside of that it's looking good. 

Home life. Let's start with the bad.  Ralph had a series of strokes on October 1st that landed him in ICU in Arizona.  I had no idea I am his emergency contact.  So I was managing his care and support of his friends from here.  I wasn't too happy with this because it introduced me to a whole new level of stress. Him and Paul's divide is much deeper now.  Paul wants nothing to do with him and even blocked him on his phone.  Here I wish Ralph would be appreciative that Paul drove 10 plus hours round trip to pick up junior to bring him here while Ralph recovers, but nope. Ralph is doing fine now and is recovering nicely from what the docs say. He should regain the strength in his right side.  He was diagnosed with small cell disease attributed from poor diet and lack of a healthy lifestyle.  

The kids had a good week. They're bummed that I won't be coming home for a long while until I find a nurse. We know we can't rely on Ralph anymore due to his health condition now. I'll miss Halloween with them. I sure miss being in the home with them. 

Tyler had 8th grade pictures this week. He looks like a young man now. Time sure flies.  He's been doing good in school except his talking with Vinny that landed him a B in science. No 4.0 this semester. 

Hannah started floral design and choir this week. She's thriving in both. I hope she gets a bigger role in choir this year.  It's especially hard being away from her during this time.  She's still finding who she is. She's a very respectful human being. 

I couldn't be more proud of both of them. They're doing great considering our circumstances. 

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This week was a little busy.  Work wise things are moving pretty fast with my projects. Still no updates on layoffs and the timing for our group.  I've been making some great progress. I submitted my quarterly check in and was advised I'm too humble.  

Homeless life has been bleh.  Mom had a doctors appointment and has one every week for the next month and a half.  Come to find out, she has a yeast infection which explains her mood and ability to walk and comprehend.  I'll need to pick up some Monistat7 and start in on her treatment. 

Tyler received an award on Friday.  He carried a 4.0 all thru 7th grade so he was recognized on the principal's honor roll.  

Hannah started choir this week. She seems to be pretty excited about it.  I hope it's everything she's hoping for. 

I did an experiment today.  Usually every morning I message the kids and Dan to say good morning and that I love them.   I didn't do that this morning to see if they would reach out to me.  Nothing so far, it's 130pm.  With it being so hard for me to be away I'll be honest and say that it hurts they don't message me cause I feel like they don't think of me and they're all used to me never being home anymore.  So this really hurts.  Makes me wonder if I should stop messaging them the way I do and just let the distance in. I'm never home any way so what does it really matter? And if I'm the one alway reaching out then maybe it's me in denial that the distance has already caused destruction in our family and my relationships with each one of them.  

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This week was uneventful. Work wise, Tim left for his Asia travel adventures with his parents and girlfriend.  I teased him about proposing but he claims it's just travel. I'm feeling bleh about work. There has been a lot of talks about layoffs from now until the end of the year. No one is off limits.  Danny was also put on notice so we're both hoping we have jobs at the end of the year.  

Home life.  Tyler has been gaining more and more independent and adventurous. He's been going to the lakes with his buddies or himself.  It frightens me that he's out there all alone but have a lot of faith and trust that he won't do anything stupid that will get him in trouble.  I always thought he would be mama's boy but he's not. I really wish our circumstances were different so I could spend way more time with him. It'll have to be something make up on when mom is gone.  Hannah has been gaining some independence albeit slower since we don't let her go off on her own yet. I'm confident she'll be responsible when she's out there. She has street smarts and keeps aware of her surroundings.   I worry more and more about Sophie.  She's 10 now and her senses are starting to fade. I wish I could bring her with me everywhere but she has a hard time getting in and out of the car now. Maybe if I had a jeep it would be easier to get her in and out with a ramp. Dan has been ever so supportive of our situation. He even came to help me take apart and build moms new bedframe. It's lower and will hopefully help in the long run as she becomes more and more complacent and less ambulatory. 

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This week wasn't too bad. Work life was ok, busy but ok. I'm backing up a teammate while he travels Asia for 2 weeks.  I presented a prototype of a website im designing for a confluence page. It's a brochure for my team so other departments can learn what our service catalog is and hire us. We need to get another gig so that we are funded with another program when we complete this one. 

Home life has been ok. I am 1 week down of the 6 weeks I'll be at moms.  I'm not hopeful that Ralph can come back out a week early.  He is prototype testing a smart lock and that takes a minimum of 4 weeks. 

The kids are doing well. Hannah finally finished her diagnostic tests and scored higher than her last which is great. Tyler has been doing good too. He was bummed that his teacher marked his mile a flat 8 minutes when he actually finished 7:59 minutes.  We told him to use that as motivation for the next time he runs a mile.  

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This was a short week with Labor Day on Monday.  Work was super busy and will continue to be busy from here on out with layoffs looming.  They're starting to notify employees this coming week. The mood will be iffy until all layoffs are complete. 

The kids had a good week at school.  Hannah and Dan went to the Cuyamaca Camp open house then had lunch at Chillis. 

Mom had a visitors this weekend.  Kuya Danny and Ate Amy came by for lunch and visited with mom.  She seemed to like it. 

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This week was a bit hectic at work and home life.  With being at home for 2 weeks I feel like I haven't really been at home because of all the time I've been spending at moms house.  I'll be at her house for 6 weeks straight and I'm really not thrilled about the length of time I'll be there.   

This weekend, we got Hannah and her group chat friends together at the lakes again and they thoroughly enjoyed themselves.  I'm happy we were able to get them together again. 

Today is Sophie's 10th birthday!

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The kids started 6th and 8th grade this week. The drop offs went well.  Hannah still likes to be walked down to the front of the school and we walked Tyler down but let him find his buds on his own.  

We ended the week with a birthday party, a trip to the comic con museum and the Filipino Heritage Festival.  The kids enjoyed. They came away with some cool souvenirs from the museum and Filipino shirts from the festival. 

Oh and I'm excited to be home for the next 2 weeks before the long haul of 6 weeks at being at moms.