We've definitely had our share of bad luck around here. We could certainly use some happy vibes, helpful prayers, magick spells, or anything else you want to throw our way, before anything else happens. I know I haven't posted in a while. It's been crazy, and our domain forwarding was down for a while anyway. Here's the scoop:

I just can't win. I've spent today packing up and tying off loose ends, preparatory to driving to Texas tomorrow. Grandma is officially on her deathbed, and we're hoping to get there before she dies. At least they're finally letting her go home...if she doesn't die before Saturday, that is. But now I've got to make my annual trip home at the last minute, and BY MYSELF, which royally sucks. It's not Brian's fault. He missed too much work this month from being in the hospital. I tried to talk him into quitting his job and becoming beach bums, but he's not interested.

I turned in our van to the body shop today. They're going to do the bumper this week, and the doors in a week or two. They overbooked the only minivan they have available for loaner, so that's why they're doing the work in two parts. Once they fix the bumper, though, I'll be able to open the doors and get the spare tire down, so the rest is cosmetic.

I didn't get to post on my family blog tonight, because the domain forwarding STILL isn't working. I'll have to get on the phone with GoDaddy about that again tomorrow. Tonight, I don't want to deal with it, I just want to make my blog entry and get to bed. Jarod waited until after midnight again to go to sleep. I'm trying to start being good and get my before bed routine done each night, starting tonight, so here I am.

My Aunt Marianna has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, stage 3. She's going to be starting chemotherapy soon. She is almost as far away as the rest of my family is, in Atlanta, so I can't visit her, either. I can't send flowers because she's become too sensitive. But the kids are sending get-well cards, and my dad has posted a website where well-wishes and prayers can be left: http://www.caringbridge.org/cb/viewJournal.do?method=executeInit

We just heard back from the doctor's office this morning. After reviewing the reports over the weekend, they want her to see an orthopedist to be sure that the treatment is sufficient and correct. They're going to try to get her an appointment as soon as possible, with their preferred orthopedist or with a different one if necessary.

The one triplet who had so far avoided any stitches now has the dubious distinction of being the first person in the family to break a bone. Tamara managed to fall off her own two feet, on a flat, carpeted floor, and break her ring finger last Friday. She broke the base of her ring finger on her left hand. It was a clean break, and the doctor just put a splint on the one finger and sent her home. We decided to support it a little more by taping that finger to the two fingers next to it, both to protect it and to make sure it stays straight.

Do I listen to the baby cry while I feed the other children and do laundry and basic house care? Or do I sling him and pull my shoulder out of whack so that just turning my head is impossible? Or do I nurse the baby, sitting out of commission for 30 minutes or more?

Do I run the errands that have been piling up, or do I work on the schoolwork that has been piling up? Or do I work on the housework that has been piling up? Or the Avon or programming work that has been piling up?

Jarod is one year old today!!! We had a small celebration with our friends, the Browns. Jarod got his baby bear cake, but I'm not sure he actually ate any of it. In fact, he got pretty upset about the whole thing! He liked his presents, though. Pictures are here, and help is always appreciated if anybody wants to upload some for me.

I went to my first Avon sales meeting last night. I was very surprised to find out that my meeting place is in Jackson. I would have expected it to be in Lansing. Makes me wonder just how many (or how few!) reps are actually in my area. I got waylaid on the way there. I stopped at Burger King for dinner, and the Assistant Manager called me inside to look over the book and place an order...a BIG ORDER! Finally! So I didn't mind being late to my first meeting. I'm glad I still went.