99.9

It's been a long time since I have had a fever, even a low grade one but it seems the kids are bringing home more than homework this year.

Boys and I sat at the table tonight and crafted presents for Dave's (their Papa)birthday. It was fun watching them work. I let them use some of my supplies and Aiden was over the moon :) I didn't take pictures but I wish I had.

Thinking about going to bed now.......

Calm

My kitchen is far from calm today. We live in this room and it tends to get the messiest-besides the boys bathroom (they still need to work on aim....) Zach's homework is on the corner of the table, all of my coupon stuff is spread out while I make my lists for the week, the island is full of the boys' work, the newspaper, my bag of knitting, my bible study supplies, etc. I am most calm when it is clean but that will have to wait as the boys and I are going out to dinner since Chris is eating with his work team. I will however have it clean by Friday when my in-laws come (I promise, Dave and Linda :)

Still here

I am still here, just busy. With what, you ask? Here's an example:

Dear Mr. Palmer,

I have noticed that one of your duties as Vice President is going undone and I wish to address this issue.

Supervising children in the bath/shower, this includes:

*giving appropriate amount of shampoo to each child and making sure that suds are produced and whole head is cleaned
*handing over soap and making sure it is used in appropriate places in an appropriate manner and returned to you promptly
*making sure towels are returned to their proper place
*supervising youngest especially well so that he does not "explore" inappropriate items

Supervising the children during bath/shower time does not include:

*playing the DS on the bed
*surfing the web downstairs
*falling asleep on the job

It came to my attention this morning that during shower time last night our youngest broke the hour hand on the bathroom clock and took scissors, he used said scissors to cut soap into itty bitty pieces and possibly used said scissors on his hair.

If you can not perform these duties as described I will be forced to dock your pay.

Please be advised that I require a response to this memo within 1 business day.

Sincerely,
Kristin Palmer
President of Palmer, inc

Ms. President,

I acknowledge my failure in the bathroom/bathing space with said children. My action plan is as follows:

1. Actively participate in the bathing of the youngest child with greater rigor than playing DS
2. Addressing mis-use of cleansing materials to ensure proper storage and long term value
3. Review drying-off materials to ensure proper disposition in the appropriate location
4. Additionally, continuing a previous initiative, pushing the proper use of tooth brushing as a great long-term approach to proper oral care
5. Finally, I will continue to thank you for your sincere efforts in the business and express my undying love for you, respectfully.

As a member of this organization, you understand the great strains we suffer managing a dynamic facility, and I hope you appreciate my humble apology for the aforementioned transgressions against proper bathing practices. Be assured that my full will and intent is behind delivering a level of service acceptable to the Board of Directors, over which you preside.


Regards,
Christian Palmer
VP of Operations
Palmer, inc

Mr Palmer,

Thank you for your prompt response. Your efforts are very much appreciated.

Sincerely,

Kristin Palmer

President of Palmer, inc

The thing(s) about fostering

I can not imagine my life without fostering dogs. I love it. I love the furry bellies, the kisses, the doggy hugs. Truly I love giving these, often neglected, dogs love and attention. I love the other people in HART who volunteer their time and talents to help so many of these animals. I love finding deserving people to adopt the animals and seeing how happy they are when they welcome in a new member of their family. Fostering makes me happy.

So many people say they could never foster because they wouldn't be able to give the dogs up. But I'm okay with that part. I know there will always be another needy dog that needs me. For example:

Meet Buffy. She is a 4 year old Cocker Spaniel that was owned by a puppy mill. As soon as she was able to have puppies they bred her, and bred her, and bred her, until she couldn't have anymore. Then the owner was taking her, and others, to the back of the property to shoot them-after all they were no longer useful. Luckily a local woman heard about it and took all the dogs that were about to be shot and begged rescues to take some of them in. HART took in 9. Buffy was the most energetic and happy one out of the bunch. A few are so afraid of human contact you can't pet them. When she was taken in her fur was infested with fleas and crusted in feces, the vet had to shave her and she had bald spots from scratching so much. But she was a loving dog and you should have seen her roll around in grass-that puppy LOVED grass :) She was adopted by a couple with a 5 year old boy and they were so happy to have her. She will live a good long life with them.

Then there are the dogs we fall in love with, the ones that aren't easy to let go of but we do it because the adopters are perfect for the dog. For example:

Petey: Petey's name was Sunshine but we changed it to Petey because he would pee when he was excited. Petey was a 6 month old German Shepherd mix that was found wandering on the GE plant. We took him in and loved him, he loved us too. He also loved to chew on electrical cords. And as mentioned before he had bladder control issues. Chris loved him though and REALLY wanted to adopt him. Petey was so full of life and fun, he was also a good walker. I vetoed it though and Petey was adopted after we had him for just 2 weeks to a family with kids and a pool. Chris still thinks about Petey. .....I don't though :)

This is Maxie. Both of us wanted to keep this sweet 3 year old Puggle. We had even e-mailed the rescue about adopting her when a neighbor asked to adopt her. To us it was the best of both worlds-we could still see her and love on her but we didn't have to add another dog to the mix of our house.

Then there are those dogs that you don't mind seeing leave, you might even do a bit of a happy dance. Like....

Cooter. His real name was Mr. Stubbs but after trying many other names Cooter was the one that stuck. While taking care of Cooter I discovered that I do not enjoy Beagles. I do not like their deep, howly bark. I do not like how they chew on inappropriate items. I do not like all the sniffing and tracking. I do not like them. I do not like them. Kristin I am. Added to that Cooter also peed in my house. All the time. Everywhere. We had him for over a month when I told our Foster Leader that I needed time off during the summer and I gave him to another foster family. He was adopted soon after that.

And then there are those dogs you truly can't imagine parting with. For example....

Meet Allie. She is a six year old Yorkie/Chihuahua mix that was owned by a breeder who was in it for the money not the love of the breed. After she could no longer be bred the owner dropped her off at a kill shelter. HART took her in. I became her foster after her spay surgery. At first she hid under our table and wouldn't come out. Then she got a little more brave and would occasionally come out to be loved on. Then one day I came home and she greeted me with a wagging tail-that was the day I knew I could never give her up. So we aren't. We are adopting this 12lb ball of sweetness and love. She will be ours forever and never know another day without lots of love.

We will still foster dogs. As I said I can't imagine not fostering. Hopefully, though I can remain strong against big brown eyes, doggie kisses and unconditional doggie love. Surely 3 dogs is enough :)

Busy

So busy today.

Here's a peek.

Woke up at 7:10

Took a shower got dressed

Made Zach's lunch

Helped Aiden get ready

Collected Coupons for my shopping trips

Grabbed a granola bar for breakfast

Made sure that Zach had everything he needed for school

Made sure that the dogs were fed, dishwasher emptied and breakfast stuff put away

Loved on our foster dog Allie for a bit

Out the door at 8:30

Got Aiden on the bus 8:40

Got Zach on the bus 8:47

Left for Meijer to grocery shop

Called Aiden's psychiatrist to get an appointment to up his meds while in the car, got appointment for 11am

Shopped at Meijer

Stopped at Target

Stopped by home to put away freezer and fridge things

10:45 Drove to Aiden's Doctor

Saw Doctor, he prescribed a piggyback med for Aiden

Left at 11:30

Called Chris to give him update

Ran into Wal-Mart quickly, bought nothing

Drove home

Put rest of groceries away

12:00 left house to get Aiden from the bus stop

12:15 Made Aiden lunch, ate my lunch, cleaned a bit

12:45 Left for the Blue Park to meet friends

3:00 Came home from park

Cut coupons, cleaned up kitchen

3:30 Aiden went outside to play with the neighbors

I started the laundry and cleaned up a bit more

3:45 I went outside to meet Zach's bus and play with Aiden

stayed outside, helped Zach with some homework, chatted with a neighbor

4:30 came home, let boys play XBox for a bit

more cleaning, and cutting of coupons

5:00 Helped Zach with his last homework sheet while filing my coupons in my binder

5:30 Chris home

5:40 Drywall guy came to talk to us about an estimate for popcorn removal and repair of some ceiling spots damaged by water

6:00 Helped Zach with homework while Chris talked with Drywall guy

6:15 Began dinner (Shrimp Scampi)

6:20 Drywall guy left

6:30 Dinner served

6:55 Helped Chris clean up

7:00 Boys went up to shower

7:15 family game time

7:40 came downstairs, boys in bed

So very tired.

Who says stay-at-home moms don't work

Unique

I don’t know how this started exactly but Aiden has taken to wearing two different shoes. It’s not always a red and blue crocs, sometimes it’s a tennis shoe and a red croc. Or a blue Dino shoe and a blue croc. I’ve tried to get him to wear two of the same shoes, mostly because I am worried about his balance and such if the two shoes have different wear but in the end it’s not a battle that is worth fighting. It’s just another reminder of how unique he is. It’s also easier to find his shoes at Little Gym when we are leaving :)