Our Island Family Life

Friday was a nightmare though. Connor got the bug and was throwing up even though he felt fine the day before. Will and Cade had something completely different and had sore throats and congestion. They are both fine now. Cade was feeling better by Saturday morning. Will by Saturday afternoon. Connor seemed ok but threw up last night again. He did at least feel good for the party and had a good time. He hugged me at the end of it and said he was glad he was there. We got to take home a huge leftover salad, a whole lasagna, rolls and extra pie. I froze the lasagna though because I know we won't be able to eat it all with us all feeling sketchy over food right now. My tummy still gets sharp pains from time to time and I fight off nausea off and on. I never threw up though thank the heavens. I did have nasty back pain though. Just totally exhausted. I am glad I motivated myself to do school work on Wednesday because I haven't done a thing since. I still have stuff to complete but I did enough so I am not freaking out.

Cade had a friend out last night and he came to the party. Being out here was a bit of a shock I think. He is quite a shy boy. He asked Cade what kind of school lunches they had out here at his old school. Cade said ,"Homemade!" We all laughed at that since we were at the dinner at the time and it was not just our family there but two others. Cade explained it all to his friend who was kind of wide eyed. Then it was time for the play. Sofie had only one practice because she had been out sick all week and hadn't been on stage except once that very morning for a quick rehearsal. I wasn't sure they would be able to pull it off but they did great! All of us mom's were shocked I think. The preschool kids were supposed to be extra help hired at the last minute to help Santa and they hated the work and quit so they left the stage and the other elves tried to lure them back with money which didn't work, then whoopie pies which also didn't work then finally with tickets to Cliff Island (the best place in the world) which worked and they scrambled back on stage. Sofie then shouted she wanted the whoopie pies too. Everyone laughed. After that they did a little dance to the tune of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. The preschool kids did the echos. The part when they sing. "All of the other reindeer used to laugh and call him names." Sofie shouted, "Like Connor!" Poor Connor. Everyone laughed and snickered at him. He was shaking his head and smiling. Afterword people came up and clapped his back and told him it was ok that we all liked him. We sang songs and Santa came. Sofie was totally fooled. She got a little princess doll and pony. Will got a gift card to a mexican place in the Old Port which is amazing. Connor got $20 which pleased him immensely. I got a bottle of wine and a chocolate bar. Cade got Swedish fish and some other things but it was the candy they impressed him the most. He thought he knew who the gift was from but we pointed out everyone on the island knows his favorite candy is Swedish fish so it could have been from anyone. Sofie was so funny thanking everyone even Santa. I took a bunch of pictures but I have to find the cord to upload them from Will's camera. It was the most relaxing party I have been to since we have been here. I am not sure why. Maybe I don't care as much. I don't know but it was nice. There was a lot of people there. The one woman I haven't spoken too for a while came up to me and asked about the kids. She has been avoiding me because she knows darn well I am not happy with her for having Sean and his new family out to her summer home out here. I answered her questions of course. I am not rude. She said, "I see the kids are really happy here with you." I said, "Yes, yes they are, they all know this is their home." I looked her right in the eye and she nodded. It's her husband who knows Sean and is acquainted with him. I try and understand her position to not have conflict with him about all of this as well. I know next summer they will be here again and until it stops I won't exactly be very friendly like I was before. I didn't let it bother me though. It wasn't the time.

I was able to see the lawyer on Thursday and we have our plan for the court date on the 21st. We are just going to ask that the divorce agreement we already have stay in place and the case be dismissed. Connor is back home and "voted with his feet" as he did before when I let him go. It was the only thing Sean could site as a change of circumstance and now that's gone. If Sean still wants to fight it then we will ask for lawyer's fees as well. If it does wind up going to trial then we are looking for this to go on until maybe March or April. Also the fact of Sean wanting to move away for no other reason that that his wife likes the other area is only reinforcing his inability of being able to provide support for his kids. Not a money issue but nurturing support.

I had better get off the computer now. The screen makes me queasy.

One thing that had been plaguing my sleep deprived mind was a conversation I had with Cade last night. He told me his dad was moving. I narrowed my eyes at this because Sean hasn't said anything to me about it and with the whole court business going on you would think something like that would be mentioned. In any case I asked Cade if he had overheard this or did his dad actually tell him that. He said that both his dad and the current wife sat down with him and the other kids and told them they were going to sell the house and move to either Bath or Bangor/Oreno. It all seems a confused muddle since Sean is applying for a full time job in a nearby town and of course she is settled in her job. To move to Bath isn't too far out of consideration since it is about an hour's drive away from Portland Still, they live less than five minutes from her job and her daughter's school. Why move? If they go further north than it is a 2 1/2 hour drive. Boston is closer than that. They are working with ReMax apparently so something is in the works. I can't help but wonder how this will affect Sean's ability to go to school conferences and doctors appointment for the kids. It isn't like he does it much now but I can see everything ending at that point. Unless of course he plans on having them live with him. This could be a good thing or a bad thing. I am not sure what to think. What about visitations? What a mess it will turn out to be.

The dentist called and Will is going to need his wisdom teeth pulled. I went to break the news to him about taking them now or waiting an having to deal with nerve pain. He asked me if he was still covered under Kathryn's dental insurance. I said yes. He then asked if he waited until after graduation if he waited if he would have to pay for it himself? I said yes. So, he told me to set it up right away and bill her. Self preservation at it best I suppose.

Sean didn't get off the boat with the kids again yesterday. I really do wonder why. A few people came up to me this time and commented on how unengaged he is with them. He hardly spoke to either of them the whole boat ride and they sat away from him with friends instead. It is strange to say the least. It's been a while since I have had people come up to me to ask about his behavior and wonder if something was going on with him (other than the obvious) with concern. I don't know what this means other than I am not the only one who is seeing this.

I didn't get the xmas stuff out yesterday. I wasn't feeling very well. I am not sick though. Just female issues that required some Tylenol and involved hissing when I had to walk anywhere. So, I didn't do a whole lot. I am going to make an attempt this afternoon after Sofie's nap and delve into abyss for some store bought cheer. Wish me luck.

It's only 5pm and I am so done for the day. I cleaned up the basement today. It still needs a little work but overall a success. Connor now has room to set up his drum set and fix up the old bikes. I also have room for the grill which we will drag down there tomorrow for the winter. Snow will be flying soon so I have to get moving. Tomorrow I plan on digging around for the xmas decorations. I feel a little bit more like celebrating than last year and yet I am still feeling sick to my stomach thinking about having to go to court on the 21st. I hope Santa sends Sean a huge lump of coal this year for this huge mess he made, or better yet, something more disgusting than coal. DHHS hit him hard this November. I got the normal withholding payment and the additional one he had been making for a while which was a deal he had made with DHHS to get current but stopped paying because we are in the court process and he felt he didn't have to may anymore. (idiot) They also then took two big payments of nearly $500 a piece. I will also get another payment this coming week for December. I was very thrilled to see all the money in my account. Of course it isn't all he owes but at least it means we can have a small xmas this year and I can also pay the rent! It's nice when you don't have to make terrible choices. I also finally got my new software I ordered from my school yesterday so I installed it on one of the computers. The one I primarily use for my school work. I will try and find some time to do the other one soon. I am feeling a bit run down and achy though so I am now finished with all the running around. Next weekend will be very busy. I am having company, Cade wants to invite a few friends (where will I put everyone?) and the island xmas party is next Saturday. I have only bought one secret Santa gift so far and have four more to get. Thankfully I use the dollar store and creativity to make the magic happen. I will not think any more about all that now. Now I am going to make some dinner and relax....:)

I have to take Sofie into town today to see her dad. When I told her we were going to take the afternoon boat she put her hands on her hips and scowled and said, "I thought I told you I wasn't going to go back there ever again!" Well, just tell me how you really feel. I can't wait for the teen years.

Connor is home today finally struck down by the virus he has been fighting off to a week. Headache, nausea, dizziness and exhaustion. He crawled out of bed long enough to take a shower and eat then slinked back in. Thank goodness it is the weekend so he hopefully will only miss today. I can hear Sean screaming in my head right now.

Time to settle Sofie for a quick nap before we hop on the boat.

I am sipping some leftover mulled cider Will made for dessert last night and I am finding it quite relaxing even at 7am. I have already been up for two hours anyway and have finally sat down for a few minutes to myself before I take Sofie to school. She is getting dressed and watching some Christmas specials I recorded for her last night. It is excited to see her really enjoy them for the first time. Some she has seen some of them before but wasn't really able to sit through them. She watched the Peanuts Thanksgiving special a few days ago I had also recorded with the little boy I babysit and they just laughed and laughed. It was so much fun to watch.

I was able to get a lot of errands done on Tuesday in town. I dropped off a paper with DHHS making sure they know that Will, even though he will be turning 18 will still be in school until June so the child support will still be collected. Also, my root canal is finally done. I still have to go back again next week to cap it off. I can't afford a crown but at least my dentist will be doing the next part for free. That will be a busy day. I have the dentist, Connor's therapy, Cade's therapy, then an appointment with my lawyer. The lawyer visit time might change. He is in court in a murder trial right now. He was on the news. *shiver* I also have to fit some time to go to the grocery store and get some supplies for the island xmas party. I am making my pumpkin cheesecake again.

I am feeling really tired today for some reason. I worked pretty much non-stop yesterday so maybe that's it. I am babysitting this afternoon so I had better get motivated.