Since You've (actually, I've) Been Gone

I'm Baaaaaaaaaaaacccccckkkk!

Did you miss me? I did miss you all! And, I lurked here and there just to make sure all was well, but probably not as often as I should have done.

It was a combination of things that made me take a break from blogging and I have to say there was not one thing to blame more than another.

Mostly, I was in a rut. And, our computer situation had been very kooky.

I will be back now, but I don't think I will blog as much as before and definitely not now with the kids home for summer.

A quick update is in order for sure!

The kids are all good. Fuzzy graduated from 8th grade and will begin high school in September. He was on honor roll for all 4 marking periods this year! He didn't make it into the charter high school that he wanted to attend and was quite disappointed. But, as they say, it was a character building experience. He has one merit badge to complete before beginning to work on his Eagle Scout project.

Which brings us to Hammer, who HAS completed his last merit badge and will shortly begin research to start his Eagle Scout project proposal. Hammer will be 17 in a month, however he is not ready to learn to drive and we are just okie dokie fine with that. In fact, I am very proud of him that he realized that he is just not ready. Next month, my dad, Hammer and I will be taking a train trip to Chicago to visit the Field Museum. This is something Hammer has wanted to do since kindergarten and I am very happy to be finally getting this done! lol

Pumpkin completed 6th Grade with flying colors! She was on the Distinguished Honor Roll for all 4 marking periods which was her goal at the beginning of the year! All of her final grades were 96 and above and we couldn't be more proud! Unfortunately, she is on a break from piano, but I am very hopeful that she will return to it soon.

Hubby has finally left his awful company and hooked up with a wonderful new firm, just this June. I am very relieved and this promises to help alleviate some of our financial woes as time passes. All good things.

Now, for me. I am still very happy and counting my blessings daily! Health wise has been a bit of a struggle. I began to become sensitive to the Enbrel and began to have an allergic reaction which came to a head in April. I saw my rheumatologist in May and she wants me to start taking Humira instead. All at the same time as the insurance was trying to get approval, Hubby's old company changed insurance and then he left them, putting us on cobra, and starting September 1, we will have a new insurance.

Long story short no Humira until then which has resulted in a few flares for me. So far I have had to do 2 tapers of prednisone, which sucks, but it had to be done.

Oh, and the brain thingy is still there, but still not growing. So far. Yay.

So there you have it. Some good, some bad. And, it could ALWAYS be worse!

Right now the kids are home and we are enjoying summer!!! No schedule, later bedtime, lots of reading. It has been really nice. The kids had Scout Camp last week and had a blast. Pumpkin even went along (registered through Campfire Girls) and stayed with them. She had a tough time with the bugs and came home midweek with me on visitation day. I couldn't blame her. All the rain we had in NJ has created quite the bug fest. Eww.

So, that is that! Tomorrow, I hope to pop on and catch up with some of your blogs.

Oh and I still love my coffee as always!!!

And, I love facebook. I am sorry if I have not friended you but I have a lot of family and kid connections on there and I am trying to keep it more private than here, just something I feel I need to do!

be well,
Dawn