In a funk

Sorry it's been so long since I posted here. Several of my family members have commented that I haven't been around here, so I figured I should post.

I've been in a funk lately. Overwhelmed, indecisive, stressed.

Mike and I have been doing alot of thinking and decision making about the future of our family. For most of the 8 years we've been married, it seems we've been in a downward spiral. We've finally come together and made decisions that we think will help us start gaining ground. I'll post more details soon, I promise. Just don't have time right now.

The kids are doing very well. Gregory is doing fantastic in his therapy/preschool. He's learning/using more and more signs every day and we are thrilled! We've been trying to teach him to sign since he was a year old and never have we had so much success as we have in his current situation. He's also trying more to form words vocally.

Hank (our rooster) got very sick 1.5 weeks ago. And after a week of ICU and round the clock care in the house, he was outside for fresh air for the first day he was able to be out, and Margo (our poodle) got him and killed him. That's 2 of my chickens now that she has killed. We were devastated. Margo is on very shaky ground right now.

Currently, Gregory and I are sick with respiratory infections. But at least Gregory is still eating and drinking, so...so far, so good. No hospital stay so far.

I will post again soon with more details. We are all doing fine, though.

Two hospital stays and exhaustion

Typical of Gregory, when he gets sick with anything (even a cold), he stops eating and drinking. Dehydration is next, then off to the hospital for a few days of fluids and meds for whatever caused him to stop eating and drinking.

Last weekend, he started downhill. Sunday we were at the Doctor's office at 2pm. Ear infection and cold virus. She sent us home with antibiotics for the ear and told us to come back for follow-up on Monday at 10am to see if he had any improvement.

Monday at 10am, he was extremely dehydrated and off we went to the hospital. Fluids, bolists, meds...and he started drinking again on Tuesday. We were sent home on Wed.

By Thursday morning, Gregory wasn't drinking anything again...back to the Doctor's office and straight back into the hospital.

We got home tonight and I'm exhausted. We were home less than 24 hours between hospital stays.

This is a typical sceanario for Gregory, though, through the fall straight through to spring. We were just about a month early this year. lol

I'm exhausted...gotta love vitals every couple of hours through the entire night.

I've got a few posts planned for this week. Just need a good nights rest and clean up the house first.

Hank and Katie

When we got the Buff Orpington chicks (full story to come), I had no intentions of keeping a Buff Orpington rooster. I planned on only keeping the hens out of the 5 we got, for yummy fresh eggs.

Well this handsome guy, we call him Hank, has totally won all our hearts. He is the sweetest thing since sweet cream :-)

He's about 8 weeks in the above photo. It was taken on Sunday.

Katie (my grown daughter) is living with us for now. She's quite smitten with Hank (and all the chickens, for that matter). She, Felicity and I are partners in crime with planning for our new chickens, turkeys and guineas.

As I have read and heard, Buff Orpingtons are absolutely the most docile, friendly and loving chickens! We love them!

Rest in peace, Becky the Silkie

Monday, I totally messed up. We had the chickens out loose in the backyard "free ranging". Well, Margo and Bailey were at the door wanting out. I didn't even think!!! I just let them out and told them I'd be coming right out with them.

About five minutes later, I opened the sliding glass door to see Margo with Becky, dead, in her mouth. :-(

I know better! I just was totally not thinking. I feel awful. Becky was so sweet.

Margo has always "watched" the chickens, ever since we got the first ones. Ugh. Who'd have thought my timid, shy little poodle would be a chicken killer?

Thank goodness, Felicity handled it very well. Of course, she's all for re-homing Margo, which we will not do. Margo just cannot be allowed outside when the chickens are out of their cages.

This was the last photo we had taken of her, Sunday evening.

Rest in Peace, Becky. You were truly loved by our family.

Changes again...

Well, after Mike pushed to get through his training (at the request of his District Supervisor) for promotion with TSC to Store Manager, now we're told, there's no place we could transfer until maybe next spring. UGH.

So we're here, in Amarillo, indefinitely. It's fine, though. A great opportunity has opened up for Gregory through the place he goes for all of his therapies, so we have decided staying here as long as necessary is a good thing. He will be attending preschool, as well as all of his therapies. Four days a week, 9-12. It's really good for Gregory.

We will continue to homeschool Felicity. She will be participating in 4-H, soccer, and Girl Scouts. There's even a Girl Scout troop in each level here that is mainly homeschooled girls. She'll be able to make all kinds of new homeschooled friends!

There's an equine rescue about 5 minutes from our house that Felicity and Katie (my grown daughter) are going to volunteer. They are thrilled! They both adore horses!

We FINALLY found a Catholic church where we are comfortable. It took 2 years, but the Parish in Canyon, TX, is about 10 minutes from us and it's a very comfortable place. Lots of "country folk" there and not "hoity-toity" as we have felt the others we attended here in the Amarillo area were.

Katie has decided she wants to finish her Senior year of school (finally). We are researching an online high school that's specialty is helping kids finish high school online. She will be able to get an actual diploma, not having to take the GED.

Gregory was approved for his MDCP program, which provides paid respite care for him to give me a break to work, clean house, etc. Katie has been hired to be his care provider. She's making really good money, paid through Gregory's program, but technically, she works for me, I am her employer, but she's paid through the agency. She's living with us again, as well. It's working out well.

We plan to add to our little farm soon. We will be getting more chickens in the next few weeks. We will also be adding guinea to our brood. Guinea are excellent at keeping away snakes, mice and bugs. Turkeys will also be coming along soon, too.

As soon as we get the pen built, we will be getting a few goats. Not only for companionship, but Felicity will be able to show them in 4H competition, and also to help with the grass/weed mowing lol.

Felicity is talking about wanting a pig to raise/show. Not sure if we're there yet.

So...that's some updates for now.

Have a great Sunday!