Matilda's friend Carlin is here for a sleepover...

Me: What do you want for dinner?
Matilda: How about fried rice?
Me: Okay. Carlin, any dietary restrictions? Ham, chicken, egg...
Carlin: Nope!
Me: Got it.
[after I leave]
Carlin (to Matilda): OMG, this is the first time I'll have fried rice by a white person!

[It was deemed acceptable. Probably due to my copious use of Fish Sauce, Garlic and Five Spice.]

Went back after....

Me: Okay, how was it?
Carlin: It wasn't BAD...
Me: But not as good as your grandmother makes it?
Carlin: Right.

I mean, fair enough. Who's going to match Grandma's skills ever, anywhere? I, however, do not have grandma fried rice bias, so... anytime, is what I'm saying. (Banana pudding on the other hand, Grandma Gilmore has a lock, I'm afraid.)

Continued moving -ma!

I saw something a longish while ago about a young man who was traveling and his grandmother worried that he wouldn't be eating well or eating enough. So, as he traveled, he found grandmothers who were willing to feed him and sent pictures to his grandmother. They showed him sitting down to a good meal with a beaming grandmother nearby.

Phew, good the fried rice at least passed muster! So many of Hec's creations look so good. Yum!! Although, Grandma's cooking should be the best.

That is adorable, Todd. Btw, how are you doing?

I am afraid I will be told to tell them to clock out instead of waiting for me to give them something else and I want to give them hours…

Maybe just tell the workers that?

Sheryl, what everyone else said. You are doing what a good parent should in a really difficult situation-- getting your child the help they need.

Sheryl, what everyone else said. You are doing what a good parent should in a really difficult situation-- getting your child the help they need.

I neglected to add my voice to this, Sheryl. Sending you support vibes.

Feels like we're in a Steeplechase where I can see the next obstacle arising and we have to clear it and then tackle the one after that.

Obstacle 1: Monday had to finish clearing out all the media (CDs, DVDs, LPs) from wall shelving so it could be taken down on Tuesday. Success!

Obstacle 2: Need to clear out nerdhole and kitchen table because movers are coming tomorrow to take boxes and furniture over. Status: Unfinished!

Obstacle 3: Occupy new house all day tomorrow as three scheduled events happen: 1) movers bringing stuff over; 2) Mattresses being delivered; 3) Cable/WiFi gets hooked up.

Obstacle 4: Finish clearing out kitchen and nerdhole in current apartment Thursday night because floor guy comes in on Friday morning to put in new linoleum.

It's a freakin' blur!

But new floor should be finished within three days after which Emmett & Kalena can move over. So sometime by the middle of next week we should all be switched, and even the window restoration (which started in April) should be done. We shall see!

That all sounds very exciting and exhausting, Hec!! But soon it’ll all be over!!

Anyone have suggestions of what I should put for goals, for work? They have some template language but I’m supposed to add stuff. I am uninspired.

Sheryl, I am so sorry. I hope you and Gary can get some rest while S is in hospital.

E was in a hospital twice. Once for 10 days.

He was in weekly therapy and then once or twice appts with pediatric psychiatrists after the first hospitalization and it was instrumental, I think, in regulating his behaviors and getting him the tools he needed to learn.

If there is a large foster care or adoption agency near you, I would reach out to them as resources for therapy options.

Sheryl, what everyone else said. You are doing what a good parent should in a really difficult situation-- getting your child the help they need.

What lisah said.