I think I have a cleaning routine down. The key to this working is not to let the clutter get out of control. This means making sure the kids aren't going nuts getting toys out AND that they put them away at regular intervals. They don't seem to mind putting them away when the task isn't so overwhelming. Also, I put stuff away a couple of times a day (it takes like 10 minutes each time) and that keeps things under control. Keeping the clutter down then allows me to do 1 hour of house work a day...
In each of these areas, I clean surfaces, vacuum and steam the floor...meaning thoroughly...I move furniture that can be moved, etc.
Mondays - Kitchen and LJ's Room (and grocery store)
Tuesdays - Dining Room and PJ's Room
Wednesdays - Living Room and Computer Desk
Thursdays - Bathroom and Hallway (and Target)
Fridays - Our Bedroom
Saturdays - Vacuum house (without moving furniture...just to knock back the dirt/dust)
Sundays - No Cleaning
I do laundry on Wednesdays and Sundays. That's it. Unless there is something that is really needed. I fold laundry while I watch tv. As in, kids be gone!
I plan to do an extra 15 minutes a day for a week in each of these areas (ala Fly Lady) - so this week my extra 15 minutes is in the kitchen (not that this is where The Fly Lady is working...that is just where I decided to start). Yesterday, I cleaned the stove top...took off the grates, knobs, etc. and washed it all down. I have a clean stove top! I also cleaned off the window sill. Today, I'm going to clean the toaster oven.
LJ had a slight fever for a couple of days over the weekend...so he did a lot of "playing" camping and nap time. Yesterday, PJ had the fever. He refused to take Tylenol, so he is suffering needlessly. It does keep him listless and out of trouble though. Silver lining?!
I had my 30 week appointment yesterday. Nothing unusual. I do not have gestational diabetes. Blood pressure 124/70. I am measuring fine. Baby is moving. Heartbeat is strong. See the dr. again in 3 weeks. My feet and legs are frequently aching, I am generally unable to get a good breath and I'm getting pooped quickly, but all to be expected.
Tomorrow, I start summer school - 4 hours of teaching every morning until July 23rd. Should be interesting. Plus, I imagine this will have some impact on my ability to keep to my cleaning schedule.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
I Will Never Catch Up!
I'm quite confident I will never catch up on all the happenings of the Js, so I'm going to stop thinking that I will.
The Pennsylvania newsletter is not going to happen. I'll try, but I can't promise anything or give ETA. A recap of our trip to the beach is not going to happen. Once again, I'll try, but I've already forgotten what happened on which day. At least with the PA trip, I made notes - with the beach...on the car ride home - all the days were already a blur! As usual, we have plenty of pictures and video of all, so there is still hope.
Upon arrival home, we were delighted that B had safely arrived from Hong Kong, but pretty quickly events transpired such that M is also home from Hong Kong and I have a new great nephew! He came about 6 weeks earlier than expected and will spend some time in the hospital catching up on the growing he needs to do, but otherwise, everyone appears to be in good health. This just goes to show that plans don't always work the way we think they will! In an effort to help them all out, RJ has assumed some "general contractor" duties and is trying to match the work M&B want/need done to their fixer-uper with the people to do the work.
LJ went to a week of camp at his school - 9:00 - noon, M-F last week and had a very good time. His "best friend" from his class was there and that gave them an extra week to play together. Now, LJ and PJ are adjusting to being home together all day...and how to negotiate playing with each other in a nice way.
I have been teaching a new course for UofP - focused on grammar. Just because I have a graduate degree in English does not mean that I know grammar! I do happen to have a decent grasp on grammar terms and diagramming sentences is a favorite of mine (although the students do not have to diagram sentences...if they did, their heads would explode)...diagramming sentences pretty much forces you to understand grammar terminology. BTW - I don't consider this blog to require strict grammar adherence. The simple fact that this is a new course dictates that it takes more of my time, so I've been busy with that. The class is really on about a 5th grade level, so the material isn't difficult for me, but I've learned to modify ALL assignments to remove any directions for the students to write their own sentences. When they write their own sentences - things get crazy! It is somewhat amusing to read posts where students talk about how bad sentence fragments are...when they are not writing complete sentences.
I am going to Denver to lend whatever help and support I can to my dear friend C - before I am no longer fit for travel. After that, RJ and I are going to my 20th High School Reunion. Then, I teach 2nd Summer Session. Once that is over, we progress toward the beginning of the Fall semester...LJ will be in Kindergarten and PJ is going to go to pre-school 2 days a week...and I'll be having baby #3. I have a feeling it is all going to move very quickly.
I am generally feeling well. I haven't been sick since May 1. I am experiencing Pelvic Girdle Pain - sometimes it is VERY painful. With PJ, I had trouble with my "pubic symphysis"...I felt as though my pubic bone had been hit with a baseball bat. With this little one, I am having trouble with my "sacroiliac joints". I frequently express that "my right bottom hurts" or "my left bottom hurts". Usually, it hurts, but is not debilitating. Earlier this week, it was debilitating. My "left bottom" was so painful I could not lay on it and my left leg was feeling generally weak. I seriously rated it an 8 on the 1-10 pain scale. It was hurting more than my broken wrist hurt - and for longer. I started to wonder if I had fractured my hip and didn't know it. After about 2 hours of trying to sleep and being in such pain, I took some Tylenol and that really did help. I figure, if I see my dr. and tell her Tylenol helps, she'll tell me to take Tylenol, so I'm not going to make a special appointment. I got a support belt to help align my pelvic bone and support my baby belly and I treated myself to a special body pillow to put between my knees and under my belly when I sleep. This combination has allowed me to avoid the 8 pain. When I bought the pillow, I told the check out lady, "My husband will comment about this pillow. He won't be upset, but he will make a comment!" - and, RJ did...you know the "we need another pillow?" kind of comment. I just reminded him about all that he has in his barn and we left it at that!
Off to the grocery store...
The Pennsylvania newsletter is not going to happen. I'll try, but I can't promise anything or give ETA. A recap of our trip to the beach is not going to happen. Once again, I'll try, but I've already forgotten what happened on which day. At least with the PA trip, I made notes - with the beach...on the car ride home - all the days were already a blur! As usual, we have plenty of pictures and video of all, so there is still hope.
Upon arrival home, we were delighted that B had safely arrived from Hong Kong, but pretty quickly events transpired such that M is also home from Hong Kong and I have a new great nephew! He came about 6 weeks earlier than expected and will spend some time in the hospital catching up on the growing he needs to do, but otherwise, everyone appears to be in good health. This just goes to show that plans don't always work the way we think they will! In an effort to help them all out, RJ has assumed some "general contractor" duties and is trying to match the work M&B want/need done to their fixer-uper with the people to do the work.
LJ went to a week of camp at his school - 9:00 - noon, M-F last week and had a very good time. His "best friend" from his class was there and that gave them an extra week to play together. Now, LJ and PJ are adjusting to being home together all day...and how to negotiate playing with each other in a nice way.
I have been teaching a new course for UofP - focused on grammar. Just because I have a graduate degree in English does not mean that I know grammar! I do happen to have a decent grasp on grammar terms and diagramming sentences is a favorite of mine (although the students do not have to diagram sentences...if they did, their heads would explode)...diagramming sentences pretty much forces you to understand grammar terminology. BTW - I don't consider this blog to require strict grammar adherence. The simple fact that this is a new course dictates that it takes more of my time, so I've been busy with that. The class is really on about a 5th grade level, so the material isn't difficult for me, but I've learned to modify ALL assignments to remove any directions for the students to write their own sentences. When they write their own sentences - things get crazy! It is somewhat amusing to read posts where students talk about how bad sentence fragments are...when they are not writing complete sentences.
I am going to Denver to lend whatever help and support I can to my dear friend C - before I am no longer fit for travel. After that, RJ and I are going to my 20th High School Reunion. Then, I teach 2nd Summer Session. Once that is over, we progress toward the beginning of the Fall semester...LJ will be in Kindergarten and PJ is going to go to pre-school 2 days a week...and I'll be having baby #3. I have a feeling it is all going to move very quickly.
I am generally feeling well. I haven't been sick since May 1. I am experiencing Pelvic Girdle Pain - sometimes it is VERY painful. With PJ, I had trouble with my "pubic symphysis"...I felt as though my pubic bone had been hit with a baseball bat. With this little one, I am having trouble with my "sacroiliac joints". I frequently express that "my right bottom hurts" or "my left bottom hurts". Usually, it hurts, but is not debilitating. Earlier this week, it was debilitating. My "left bottom" was so painful I could not lay on it and my left leg was feeling generally weak. I seriously rated it an 8 on the 1-10 pain scale. It was hurting more than my broken wrist hurt - and for longer. I started to wonder if I had fractured my hip and didn't know it. After about 2 hours of trying to sleep and being in such pain, I took some Tylenol and that really did help. I figure, if I see my dr. and tell her Tylenol helps, she'll tell me to take Tylenol, so I'm not going to make a special appointment. I got a support belt to help align my pelvic bone and support my baby belly and I treated myself to a special body pillow to put between my knees and under my belly when I sleep. This combination has allowed me to avoid the 8 pain. When I bought the pillow, I told the check out lady, "My husband will comment about this pillow. He won't be upset, but he will make a comment!" - and, RJ did...you know the "we need another pillow?" kind of comment. I just reminded him about all that he has in his barn and we left it at that!
Off to the grocery store...
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