Sickly

We had a very low-key weekend. Not only did it rain the ENTIRE weekend, but Wm has some horrible cold of doom. Steve is blaming the flu shot and is like, "I TOLD YOU SO!" He said something in front of Wm, so I had to bring down the thunder. But, Wm didn't even want to go get his Halloween costume this weekend and says he just won't go trick or treating. And he's home from school today. He had gone up and gotten back in bed as I was leaving for work. Poor dude. I told him to rest, drink lot of fluids, and to not spend the whole day on screens. I'm planning to head home early, as soon as I finish all my student appointments. So then I can make sure he's complying.

Since we were pretty much house-bound, we got lots of little things done around the house. It was, miraculously, sunny very briefly on Sunday morning. Just long enough for Steve's soccer game and me to take Flip on a walk at Antrim Park. I was also motivated to finally get Flip some rain coats. He has an all-season rain coat:

Trust the Gordon's fisherman!

And I also got him a winter weight one as well. Mr. Chunk had to get an XXL. A lot of it is his barrel chest! He's husky!

Frankly, Wm's cold timing is pretty good. He should be healthy for Friday. When we take him to see Jim Gaffigan!!!!! He's sooooo excited!

Weirdos

Flips LOVES soccer balls. If Steve wanted someone in the house who loves soccer balls as much as he does, well, he has it! However, Flip loves to destroy said soccer balls. Then, he rips out the weird rubbery innards and begs everyone who comes anywhere near him to play tuggies with it. When he tires of that, he just sits there and slowly bites of chunks of it. Wm is his most favorite soccer ball innard tuggie partner. It is a GREAT way to tire them both out. After this, they're both exhausted:


Another thing Steve and Flip have in common is their love of chewing ice. Anytime anyone drinks anything with ice in it, Flip comes and begs for ice like a weirdo. Steve always gives in. As he and Flip shared ice, Steve goes, "he's a Matyas." Steve loves that damn dog something fierce. Which is HILARIOUS because he really did not want a dog...like AT ALL. And how he may love Flip more than me!

Wm has finished Physics! He has moved on to a new science class. This one is called "Let's Taco 'Bout Food." It involves eating. How do I take this class? According to Wm, he's about to run out of middle school science and will soon have to start high school science.

He's also back to his old antics. He walked by me yesterday and I said, "Whassup, Mr. Ugglepants." And he glared at me and goes, "I would appreciate if you DID NOT call me Mr. Ugglepants." So then I went, "Sorry, Mr. Ugglepants." To which, he screamed, "POP!!!!! MUM WILL NOT STOP CALLING ME MR. UGGLEPANTS." And then went and slammed himself into the den. Apparently, not only can he not take a joke, but he's a snitch.

Apple Picking

It was, mostly, a beautiful fall weekend!  We were successful in our mission to get Wm new pants. But he walked downstairs in his floods this morning, despite said new pants. Sigh.  And Mimi came over, making Flip's day. Flip loooooves him some Mimi!

Happy lap dog

Later, Wm and I were petting him as he sat hilariously on the chair...

Yes, that is my spotty belly. Pet it.

But then, he was very sad when we left...

Waaaaait!

I tried to take a picture of Wm, the grumpy tween, pretzeled on the couch. But, he un-pretzeled and looked at me like this:

Not having it.

On Sunday, we went apple picking! It was Flip's first trip and he had a grand time! Wm also was thrilled with life because we let him climb the trees this year.

Still not too big for the shoulders!

Steve and Flip picking a winner

Wm having a good time

Wm in the tree

Everyone tired on the ride home

Best Email

Wm has a virtual day today. His first period teacher accidentally marked him as not present. So we got an email from the dean of students about his unexcused absence. They got it figured out, but I really enjoyed Wm's response to the dean:

Hello! I don't know what is going on with that. I was present in virtual day in first period and I am in second period right now. It is possible that this is because I am participating in virtual day through my home computer and not my Chromebook, but I have done this before and had no problem. I am pretty scared and confused as to why this is happening. As I said, I was in virtual day first period and I am in second period now. Thank you for contacting me about the incident!

Wm is taking that business for SERIOUS.

Also, he's on my list. Check this out...
Wm: [Looking at picture of his kindergarten picnic] You look a lot younger in this picture.
Me: WOOOOOW.
Wm: No, I mean, you look the same. Only A LOT younger.
That makes it better. {sarcasm}

Wm went to the doctor and got lots of good advice, and some medicine, for his migraines. So far, he's not had another one! And he's staying very hydrated. They also gave him his flu shot while he was there, so we didn't have to go back tomorrow for his appointment. So, that was a bonus! And, no adverse effects from the shot! Hopefully, this means no flu and no magic electric finger fever dreams.

We had the furnace inspected for winter. First time that's happened when they've been like, "everything is great!" At the old house, it was usually like, "how do you live like this? It's a nightmare. A NIGHTMARE." And the chimney gets inspected and cleaned tomorrow. WOOT! Also on tap for tomorrow is ALREADY going to buy Wm new school pants. The ones he has are least an inch too short.

And tonight: PIZZA MOVIE NIGHT!

Cold

I took the day off on Friday before the onslaught occurred Monday (the horrible mash up of the start of student scheduling with the last day to drop a class!) Flip and I went to pick up Wm from school, and Flip LOST HIS MIND when he saw Wm walking out of school. He stuck his whole torso out of the car and loudly moaned/cried/bellowed at Wm as he walked toward the car. Here he is waiting for Wm to come out:

Faithful Friend

It is now, finally, cold. It went from upper 80's to low 50's. It was 34 this morning. The AC was on...now the heat is on. And I'm sad about it. I love the 60's and 70's of early fall. We are having the chimney cleaned and inspected this weekend. Then...ALL THE FIRES!

Flip has been extra snuggly with the cold snap:

Cutest boys

Picture by Wm

I got Flip's Halloween costume and Wm decided he looked better in it:

Wm the shark

Fits Wm better!

Wm goes to the doctor today for a checkup to talk about his migraines. I'm hoping she will also just give him his flu shot so I don't have to return on Saturday to do it! Wm is now permanently cold. I told him he has no insulating blubber. I put the extra fluffy down comforter on his bed and he loves to snuggle up in there. But, he sits at the breakfast table shivering, despite multiple layers. Then screams the whole way to school for me to turn up the heat in the car. This will continue until May. Thank god for the fireplace! Wm is a warm weather dude! 

Infographics

Wm has been making infographics at schools and loves them. So, last night, he kept taking family polls and then putting them into infographics. Here is an example:

I am the one person who is an 8/10 on Wm's Happiness Scale and also wants more pets. Wm was clearly enjoying taking a dig there!

Wm is on a field trip to the OSU airport. Which is right next to our house! I told him he should just walk home. He didn't go for it.

Wm has an appointment at the doctor next week to talk about his migraines. Meanwhile, the nurse I spoke with said the best preventative thing he can do is stay hydrated. She recommended he drink a Gatorade a day. Wm doesn't even like Gatorade and I'm worried about all the sugar and artificial flavors! But, she said he needs the electrolytes. Steve has brought some home from work. And, the day he drank one was the only day he hasn't had any auras or headaches. Rats. I've been researching how to make homemade Gatorade. It's pretty easy!! I may give it a go. Even Pedialyte, which I thought may be better, was full of weird things. But, for today, the kid is going to take down another Gatorade!

Blind

I was innocently sitting at work yesterday when my very intense siren ring, reserved for Wm, went off. It was 11am. Weird. So I answer and Wm says, "I can't see out of my left eye and I can't breathe." Not the best kind of phone call to get from your kid. With some pointed questions, I discovered that he COULD see, but his vision was weird. He was seeing flashing lights and it was kind of blurry. And, based on his description of the breathing, he was panicking. Not dying. Or blind.

So I went over and picked him up from school and took him home. On the drive, I grilled him. Long story short, he started to get visual flashing and weird auras. Then he thought he was going blind, so he panicked and couldn't catch his breath. Then, some jaw pain and a headache started. This all sounded very familiar. I told him, "Welcome to puberty - I think you're having your first migraine. They run in the family." I have been lucky enough to avoid them, but Mimi and Uncle Drew both suffer from them. Mimi said her first was at 12, as well!

I got Wm home, dosed him with Motrin (which didn't really help), and told him to go take a nap. A few hours later, the headache was starting to fade and he was feeling better. By dinnertime, he was back to normal. He tried bopping around, but then was like, "that was a mistake," so it was a quiet night for Migraine Pete!

Wm decided fresh air would help him feel better, once he was on the mend. So he came with me to take Flip to the park and just sat quietly in the shade. I even let him ride in the front seat!

First front seat ride ever!

All of his tween evilness was completely gone. Not that I want him to have migraines, but it did seem to remind him that he actually needs some parenting once in a while - and my role is not solely to force apples on him, enforce bedtimes, and limit screens. So, he couldn't have been sweeter or more agreeable all evening. He even emailed his teachers from the classes he missed and got all the work he needed so he could go back on top of things.  Then, at dusk, I said I was going to take the dog for a walk. Wm was like, "I want to come!" Which has seriously never happened.

To end on a funny note, I took a video of him playing tuggies with Flip and then we were watching it (I'm not allowed to post it since he was in his vundervears) and Wm goes, "oh my god...my legs are so bone-y!" Ha!

Absurd

Wm had a virtual day yesterday and I took half a day off because I still feel kind of yucky. While we were loafing around home, I noticed a few pictures I had on my phone from the weekend I thought were cute!

Suzanne captured this before we left for Mingle with the Mutts:

The Creation of William

I texted Wm (what I thought was) a funny meme. His tween response was a sick burn:

Zing!

I got Flip some toys from the Shelter Shop while at Mingle with the Mutts. He destroyed them promptly and the fell asleep in the middle of the mess he created:

Exhausted after taking his fat aggression out on stuffies

I can't even. Cutest. Dog. Ever.

Wm made me laugh (unintentionally) this morning. Getting him to eat his fruits and vegetables is always a battle. So, the rule is that he has to eat his breakfast fruit in order to have his after school screens. No fruit...no screens. Apparently, the apple I gave him this morning was too big and he goes, "IT IS ABSURD THAT I HAVE TO EAT THIS GIANT APPLE TO HAVE SCREENS." Absurd, he said. Wm finds eating fruit ABSURD. Loved it.

I was sad because Steve said he would sell Flip if someone offered him $40,000. Wm goes, "I'd sell him for $200." Then, he added, "I'd sell the cats for $20 because you can easily get another cat and they're all the same." HA! And, he's the cat person!!! Personally, I think Flip is priceless. 

RETURNED

I have been feeling like I'm getting a cold for a few days. But, it's been a year and a half since I've been sick, so I kept telling myself I would fight it off. Sadly, I didn't fight it off. It has now been zero days since I've had a cold. My streak has ended.

When I got home from work on Friday and laid down to rest, Flip decided to sit ON me. It wasn't comfortable. Wm took a pic:

60 lbs of dog crushing me!

Time does not stand still because I have a cold! So Grandma and Grandpa came over on Friday night. I didn't feel terrible yesterday, so I powered through all my weekend chores in case I felt worse today. I do feel worse today, but still not TERRIBLE. So plans remain intact to go to Mingle with the Mutts with Suzanne! And bonus: the laundry is done, kitchen scrubbed, house dusted, and dining room cleaned. That only leaves stripping and washing all the bedding to do today! Easy peasy!

But now - The Big News: SCHROEDER IS RETURNED!!! He just showed up on the back porch last night! I was asleep (being sick), so Steve stuffed him into the basement. After a thorough flea and pest check, he has been released into the house. He is very skinny and we have brushed like 7 cats worth of hair off of him. And given him a metric ton of treats. Weirdly, Luna HATES him. She keeps growling and hissing at him. Apparently, she did not miss him, as we had assumed! I guess she liked being an only cat!

Wm actually sat for some pictures, but not without making a weird face.

Wm's loves to eat at the bar.

brown muffin, yogurt, and weird face on a Sunday morning

Wm had a project for his European Lit class. He wrote a long story and wanted to bind it into mini book. He spent forever trying to think of how to bind it. Then, Steve got on board and the two of them tried to hash it out. They couldn't come up with a good plan. So, of course, I stepped in and saved the day. :-)  Steve then made some structural improvements while they were binding it. Afterwards, we were looking at the finished product and Wm goes, "I'm the creator, Mum comes up with the ideas, and Pop is the worker." Steve yelled, "I am the improver! I improve on the bad ideas you and Mum come up with." Ha! Also, true. I've always told Steve that I am the Idea Man and he is the Implementer (cause, believe it or not, all my ideas aren't super solid right out of the gate!)

We got an email from Wm's Algebra II teacher this morning (well, she cc-ed me on an email she sent to Wm). I had to share because I'm so proud of him! It read:
I wanted to send a quick note to praise you for your participation in class, your improvement taking notes and being engaged. I can tell that you will be successful in Algebra II!
Wm is on target to finish Algebra II this semester (he's currently getting an A!) and will start Geometry next semester. So, he will start 8th grade in Trig/Pre-Calc.  After he gets to high school, he'll likely be in college-level math. Genius.

Still Missing

Schroeder is still missing. We did get a call last night from a neighbor that she'd spotted him and tried to lure him with tuna. But, it failed, he bolted, and he was gone by the time we got there (within 5 minutes!) Steve even went back out, after dark, to where he was spotted with a headlamp, treats, and a bowl of his food to see if he could coax him out again. No luck.

Besides trying to hunt up Schroeder, it was one of those weekends were it felt like we never stopped! Wm's friend left Saturday afternoon and Steve and I immediately took my phone to the Apple Genius Bar to get a new battery and then had to kill 2 hours at Costco while we waited on them to get it done. But, the experience was great and I highly recommend a $29 battery instead of a $1,000 phone! This may keep my old gal running for another couple years! And, of course, we managed to buy a cartload of items we only semi-needed from Costco.

On Sunday, we took Flip to the Dublin Pet Fair. He was, of course, delighted. Then we ran around like maniacs the rest of the day, cleaning and running errands. But, my favorite part was relaxing in the sunny hammock with Flip. I think he enjoyed himself, too:

Sunday relaxin'

Feeling the flow

Wm's new backpack arrived Friday. He's suuuuuper excited about it. He managed to destroy his rolly backpack through heavy use. So I got him some rugged monster backpack that should last him. It has a USB port. Which delights Wm to no end.
I was talking to my neighbor and her toddler started cranking around. She apologized and said he was having a bad day. I told her I remember those days and not to worry about it. Then I told her that she should enjoy it while it lasts because 12 is the worst. The interesting part about 12 is that, if you don't like the mood he's in, wait 30 seconds.

Wm is still Luna's #1 fan. He said that Luna kneading the blanket was the cutest thing he's ever seen...

I also cannot believe it's October already!!