It doesn't matter how I feel when it starts, by the time the song Strawberry Swing is over, I am smiling like it's the best day of my life.

So much has been going on. Mike's official last day with his company was last Friday. Ironically, it was his 3rd year anniversary... which also meant that his vacation didn't roll over. The owners are overlooking that, though, and paying out his vacation time anyway. He's working for them now under contract at his same wage rate. That won't last long, though. After that, if he isn't employed, we'll suck up some unemployment insurance and wait for something to happen. I'm not overly concerned. He's great at what he does and I am a wizard with the household expenses. In other news, the boys went to homecoming a little bit ago. They looked amazing and way too grown up. Ian is doing fantastic in school and we're trying to get him into the SOS program. All three of them are itching for the snow to fall. I love them so much and everyday I'm so grateful for the wonderful human beings they are. It's nice being able to talk to your kids about something that's not okay and have them say "I'm not angry at you. I'm unhappy with myself because I made a bad decision." and, even better, the fact that I don't really have to talk to them much at all because they're so unbelievably great.

Oh my God. Who has time for this, really? Life is happening. I'm trying to make sure I write about it so that I can look back and remember... but while it's going on, it's a PITA to slow down long enough to remark on it.

I have a huge post coming... but there's a lot to sort through first.

NOTE: I apparently only post on Monday. Who knew?

I'm sure everyone, everywhere, has read something about the H1N1 flu virus. Well, count me among those that know a little more about it than they'd like to. Ian came down with it last week. A temp hovering above 104 degrees and a doctor visit later, my youngest son was asleep on the floor in my office surrounded by Gatorade, Soup at Hand, Puffs and hand sanitizer... with some legos and a DS thrown in for entertainment value. Everytime he sat up he was seized with nausea. Everytime we lapsed on the motrin/tylenol cycle, his temperature skyrocketed to that dreaded 104. Needless to say, he slept a lot. He's still sleeping a lot. We've got the temperature under control, he's eating now... and we're down to three doses of motrin a day compared to staggering tylenol and motrin every three hours. He's still laid up on the sofa, still in charge of the TV remote and still a little on the lethargic side... but it's obvious that, despite a not great weekend, he's on the mend.

Now, if only my back pain would leave me as readily as the flu is leaving him!

I am so bloody sick. It's Monday. My first day back in the "real world" and I feel, well, damaged. We got home last night and, luckily, we had done all of our laundry at Mike's mom's house, so we basically just unloaded the bags and did some basic clean up. My sister, Willow, had lost Harry (our cat) more than a week ago but we were lucky enough to find him within just a few minutes of being home. Spent some time cleaning out our refrigerator... nothing like coming home to mold. For the most part, though, it was an easy night. If it hadn't been for the fact that Mike and I both had problems sleeping (due to being sick, back pain, heat (someone, *cough*willow*cough*, left our heater on and we didn't notice until this morning) and an incredibly needy cat) today would be mostly okay. We did have problems sleeping though... so today is not okay. Today is ass.

I am on vacation. I am sick with the sickness of death. I am also sad.