@quilteryoyo - IRS sounds like a pain and then all those other tasks...ugh!
@swensond19 - I have an Amazon problem too! That just sounds overwhelming to take it two girls so little. It’s sad all the way around for them.

Weight down 1 but not sure why. Not really doing much for it, but did ride and run today.

@swenson19d - I also had that thought about Goober. Growing up we also had a cat who was very old and took off one night and never came back despite all of our searching. It was my brother's cat and I remember he was so despondent, sure she would come back one day. I hope your dd can take the loving from the other cat (bunny?).
I am thinking about those little girls. It is a tough situation but hopefully there is someone younger who will take them in. I can't imagine taking that on either even as much as you feel bad and want to help them, I just couldn't. We have friend's whose son/dil took in 2 little girls a few years ago and adopted them last year. They are in their 30s and can't have kids so it worked out for everyone. The girls are adorable and have just blossomed in a happy loving home but they are a lot of work, more so than normal because of previous trauma and one has some pretty severe learning difficulties now.

@quilteryoyo - I do remember the issue with the IRS. It can be so frustrating. I think last summer I mentioned our issue years ago when dh responded to them as 'Dear Tax Receiver' after getting letters from them as Dear Taxpayer... lol
Giving up control is an issue for me as well, especially when you think the other person will not do the best job at whatever it is. Are there time requirements for the executor paperwork that will result in an issue if your brother doesn't get it done? Is it something you could do together as co-executors so that way if he has issues you could still help (I know that doesn't help the relinquishing control part...)? Also a general question - why would you want to go through probate if you don't have too? In CA mostly you try not to have to go to probate if you can avoid it because it is expensive and very time consuming.

I have not weighed myself in a week or logged anything since Christmas Eve. I haven't not logged in a very long time, I even managed to log when we have been on vacation, even on a cruise! So it feels strange (giving up control???). I will weigh in and start logging again after the new year. I did read an article about women getting tied to measuring every little thing when we really do know what our bodies need without that level of detail.
I went for a long walk yesterday, got soaked when it started to rain again and hurried home. Did not run but did walk fast. My leg, hamstring/glute was so sore last night. I took an alive before bed and it still woke me in the middle of the night. I did try to make a Telehealth appointment with my pcp for later in January and the 1st available was in late March! WTH! So I didn't make the appointment but asked to have her assistant see if they can fit me in somewhere. Nora is great and I have confidence she will find a place to squeeze me in before the end of March. I mean seriously, the appointment will be short. All I need is a referral...

What are you all doing for New Years?
We are going to a virtual party... should be interesting

Posting and running, will be back to read soon.

Wright is stubbornly staying the same, but then I am running after a week off, and started lifting again after a month or more off.
I miss calculated my run this morning, and ended up finish3my planned distance about 1.5k away from home oops. I was good and gently walked home. I'm not tempting fate.

Anyone done a camper van trip with 2 kids? I have 2 weeks off in April, and am contemplating a trip around the south island

Dh and I talked about the kids again. We decided to move forward with it. Actually, I said, "let's get this over with" because it seemed futile to resist. But if it isn't working we can give them back, which isn't ideal but at least we aren't in it for 18 years plus college. So I have been rearranging a few things and Dh is going to have to move his office to an area in the bedroom which will be better as far as privacy anyway. DD complains occasionally that whoever DH is on the phone with is " really messed up" LOL, yup! But sure she'd rather put up with Dh than 2 kids. ugh. I have a headache already. It'll be fine. Perhaps it'll all fall through before placement. They've been in 3 homes in the past 2 months. That can't be good. "yay" for doing the right thing?

@swenson19d - wow, you are brave! Wondering the same as @quilteryoyo, is this just while mom is in recovery? What does DD think of it? 3 homes in the past 2 months, just makes me want to cry for them. Poor little things.

@shanaber - wow, no weighing for a week! Good for you! I've weighed and not liked the results.
@quiteryoyo - I don't know much about probate or any of the executor stuff, but I am the executor for 3 different people, so I guess I will one day. (mom and two aunts).

At the condo there is a beach bonfire tonight at 6pm, right when it gets dark. Socially distance bonfire and bring yourself a chair and drink the sign says. DH doesn't want to go but we are. DS and DIL and grandbabies are coming over tomorrow for 2 nights so I'll have a 2 year old here too.

It is a relaxing week so far and I've been getting ready for a class I teach online starting next week and also taking a bunch of classes with Coursera in data analytics which is fun to me!

@ddmom0811 Read the article. I think he was just saying to not stress about missed workouts or not doing exactly what you had planned because that just adds stress which isn't good for you and can negate the workout. I too think I am exercising to stay healthy and not to recapture youth. I think we are both doing awesome. BTW, I think the socially distanced bonfire sounds like fun.

I did talk to my brother and we decided to be co-executors. It makes sense since I will be out of commission for a while and then, after I can get out and about again, if there is something he isn't available for, I can do it. Helps me to not feel out of control.

I was also able to get a few things off of my list today. I set up caller ID for mom on her landline. They haven't had it and at the very least she will know who she is talking to, even if she can't hear all they say. I also set up a time for them to come install her TTY phone - 6 Jan. And I ordered her a Jitterbug smartphone. I think she will be able to use it and will be able to text and receive pictures of the great grandkids that she can actually see. We will have 30 days for her to try it out. I hope she likes it. We should get it in a couple of business days, so that's good.

I called the IRS and was on hold for an hour and then find out that some of their systems are down, so they couldn't access the needed information to help me. I have to call back on Monday.

I also helped mom get wood on the porch, hung up a bird feeder our neighbor bought her for Christmas, and gave Socks his first dose of antibiotic. I'm going back down later for dose #2.

It's been a busy day, but I feel it's been productive. I did give myself time for a mile walk back in the fields where I rant and cry.

Oh @swenson19d I think that is going to be really tough. I am sure they need some stability but when they haven't had it for a while (or at all) I think they will be challenging everything. The other issue is going to be dealing with their mom over a longer term, especially if she is not really ready to get clean and into recovery. I hope it works out for all of you. Did you work it out so that you can continue with your studies?
Really glad you are getting your sense of taste back too!

@quilteryoyo that makes sense on the probate. I knew there had to be reasons for it just have never come across any that would make it necessary.

@Avidkeo - I have never van camped at all but did take 12-14 3rd graders tent camping quite a few times when dd was in Girl Scouts. Also camped a lot (for months at a time during summers) with my family as a kid. I know it is different when you are the parent but I think the most important thing is to plan and have contingencies for when things don't go to plan. My mom always had lots of activities (hiking, swimming and playing in the river, fishing, collecting and identifying leaves, flowers, berries, etc., and crafting projects with whatever was at hand) and then things for when it rained for days unexpectedly... We did this also with the GS camps and involved the girls in all parts of it. Mom's biggest complaint was managing the meals and cleanup and for GS we had the girls do most of the meals and all the cleanup. I loved it and have wonderful memories of it from experiencing it as a kid as well as an adult with the GS.

So this morning I went to get my hair color done (one-one outside with masks) and once the color was on my doctor's office called that they had a cancellation for a Telehealth call in 10 mins. I told her I really couldn't but she said the doctor was running about 40 mins behind. So it worked out that I got everything rinsed out and in my car and within a few minutes the doctor came on 😊 I was a mess with my dripping hair but we had a good call. She thinks it may be sciatica and not hamstring tendonitis but wants to get some x-rays to rule that out. Strange though that I have no other pain in my back. I have no idea what sciatic pain feels like but I did not think it was like what I have but who knows. She also asked if I was regularly stretching, doing yoga, etc. and I answered honestly that I had been but hadn't been consistent and when she asked why not I said because I was lazy 😂 Her response was that most of the times these are things of our own doing and making it worse. So my prescription for now is Aleve or Motrin 2xday, heat in the morning followed by stretching/yoga for a minimum of 20 mins and icing it at night for the next week. She will call me after she sees the X-rays and determines who I need to see. If PT she will create the referral but doesn't want me to go for a while because 'things are so really, really bad'.

quilteryoyo wrote: »

@swenson19d Is this a permanent placement or just until mom gets herself together? I hope it all works out. Those ages can be a hand full, but it's a fun age too.

yes, it is until mom get's life together. I asked how long and of course they can't say exactly, seems to be months to hopefully not longer than a year. I warned DH I was not going to be a single parent again. This is his adventure and I'll help, but he's the one without kids.

@swenson19d I'm glad, for your sake, that it isn't long term. I once wanted to be a Foster Parent, but my husband knew me too well and knew how hard it would be for me to give them "back" when the time came. So, I never did. The whole situation is just heart breaking for all involved.

My husband and I were foster parents. It is definitely something that you don’t really know what you are getting into until it happens. Our daughter had been abused and had some issues as a result. When an abused kid acts out, it’s a real trick to handle it. We were younger and I wish I could go back and do some things over with the wisdom I have today. But I don’t wish that situation on my older self, raising kids takes too much energy! @swenson19d I can’t imagine suddenly having a 2 year old. But sometimes you just gotta do what feels right to you.