Our Holidays

We had a truly amazing Christmas.  It was so nice.  The boys got spoiled beyond rotten once again!  I must admit I got a bit spoiled too!  It took FOREVER to get everything home daily, unloaded out of the van, dishes from all the meals cleaned up, presents opened out of wrappers and boxes, and batteries inserted in things, and then delivered to the correct new "home" for them all.  At one point in time our kitchen and dining room table was overflowing with presents to sort, open and put away.  I finally managed to get it all totally organized yesterday and the very last of it all done and put up in place by yesterday morning.  It felt good to get it all finally sorted out.  The boys rooms are pretty clean. It makes me happy to have it all put up and no messes finally.

We are hosting a New years Eve game night here at our house.  Soups and finger snacks for all.  We can't wait to have lots of laughs and fun with our friends and family! 

Danny called on Christmas.  He sounded really good.  He was outdoors, which he LOVES and he had gotten to make a couple phone calls and wish people a Merry Christmas.  I am so happy it turned out Christmas was on his Sunday phone day!  I didn't hear from him Wednesday, so I am assuming they are on lock down because of the holidays and people taking time off work.  When they are short staff they lock down to keep everyone safe, but it sucks for us.  Finding out that his letters are getting to him about two weeks behind.  That makes me angry.  There are over 2,000 prisoners there, you can't tell me there aren't "SOME" that are decent enough to work in the mail room and help get them caught up and the mail on time to everyone.  It's sad.  Letters and mail are their only communication with the outside world.  It breaks my heart that he's so behind on things.  He mails us letters and they are usually here within 3 days, but once in awhile it takes 5 or 6 days.  Depends on how soon they get them sent out I guess?  He was supposed to get to go to the "store" and get more write outs and a few things before the first of the year.  If not, then the rumor is they won't get to the store at all again till Feb.  That will suck for a lot of them.  They have to buy their own TP and  toiletries and things and they should be allowed to go to the store at least once a month.  That's only fair.  There's just so much about this place that pisses me off to no end.  I realize it's not supposed to be a vacation, but I also think it's a tad ridiculous that they have to sleep with tp in their ears so the cockroaches don't get in their ears. (He mentioned the roaches, but didn't tell me this, I read this off of the prison talk website and one of the prisoners told his mom that's what they have to do there... gross)  Nice huh?  I also think it's not nice they only get one shower a week.  They also only get our of their cell for two 30 minute meals a day unless they are on lock down and then they are in their cell with their cellie for 24 hours a day.  Danny's cellie is a HUGE muscular guy who is in there for holding a woman hostage and abusing her and assaulting her.  He's been in prison for over 14 years so far.  He's gotten so depressed lately that Danny said he finally got on some Prozac and now all he does is sleep all day and when he is up, he's cranky and mean.  No fun.  I just hope that Danny can bite his tongue and ride this out till May when he can finally request a transfer.  I just keep praying for that transfer to be granted.  I've heard that if he is a model prisoner, they will WANT him out of there, and make room for the higher need prisoners.  They dont' want the good ones in there.  They want the bad ones in there so they can never let their guard down.  Praying he gets closer to home, especially for his brother and parents  and grandparents.  It would be so nice for them to get to visit him.  Right now it's scary to drive the over 4 hours there  and take the chance that something will happen and they will go on lock down and then no visitors when that happens.  It's sad.  You can't plan for anything.  It just makes me so sad for them all.   He misses his parents so bad and I know they too miss him. 

I get to go out with the girls tomorrow night for my belated birthday celebration.  We are going to Mexican for supper and then Karaoke at the Peacock.  Simple, but fun for us!  I can't wait.  I am looking forward to it.  I have been cooped up in this house with these kids all week long.  I am looking forward to a small break before the weekend!  I need it.  I am getting cabin fever and hate that.

I slept in bed all night long last night and didn't wake up once.  I paid for it today most of the day.  My damn back hurt so bad.  I couldn't move much till about 4 today.  I had ice on it and took some Tylenol and thought about taking a Vicodan but didn't want to be in a drug induced coma again today!  I love the way they relax me a bit, but hate the sleepiness and weird feeling I get when I take them.  I just feel funny!

Brody's had a croupy cough off and on this week.  He's had a green thick snot nose.  He's been on this bath kick lately.  Today he took 3 baths.  He will get bored, come out and ask me to change him and say "bath please" and so I strip him down, and plop him in the tub to play!  He will play in there for over an hour till the water gets so cold I don't know how he stands it?  He will holler "DONE" when he's all done and I go get him out and dressed and he's fine till he wants another Bath Please!  Yesterday he took 4 today was only 3.  He ought to be super clean!

Cole's been pretty good.  He's played a LOT of board games with me.  He also has a bunch of new Wii games from Christmas and so he's played that a lot and drew on his new dry erase board.  He's been really really good with Brody this Christmas break.  He's been super helpful with me too and doing a damn good job of keeping his room clean and his stuff put away and organized.  I keep after him every day at least once a day we do a room sweep and tidy up and then he's off playing again.  I think I might miss him when school starts back up! 

Well I better attempt to go to sleep.  Morning will be here before I know it and I have a lot of errands to run tomorrow and some soup to cook!  Getting things prepared for Sat night! I love game nights!!!