Pumpkin Time

The kids carved pumpkins tonight. They fought, and argued but eventually got it done. It came out pretty cool. Next year I think we will do more pumpkins, but we are going camping this weekend, so I didn't want rotten pumpkins sitting out all weekend. Tomorrow is trick or treat nite, Kaylin will be a witch and Brandon will be Batman. We are going to bring Vincent and his parents with us to meet up with Pat, Tori, and the baby. It should be pretty fun. Right now we have the tents set up in the front yard airing out, and have all our stuff totes packed up. All I have left to do is food shop and pack clothes and other little stuff. I think I'm excited about camping, or at least I will be. It requires so much work, and Rick is pretty useless at this kinda stuff. He just kinda stands around looking like a lost puppy. Tomorrow at work we are having a holiday pot luck, so I'm making chicken and rice in the crock pot. In the morning I'll just throw it all together and then plug it in when I get to work. I'm going to leave at 4 so I can get home and get the kids fed and ready, plus I have to take the tents down and pack them and the car up.

I received an email notification that my candle supply orders are shipping, the first arriving tomorrow, the second by Thursday. Today I ordered more scents after reading how much scent I needed per pound of soy wax. I picked Lavender Vanilla, Lick Me All Over, Love Spell, Stress Relief, Butt Naked, Christmas Tree, Home Sweet Home, Banana Nut Bread and Dragon's Blood. I am getting really excited about this. I think this will be really successful. I can't decide if I'm going to make my own labels and use cloth squares and ties for the lid to give it that country home made look (which they are), or if I will order the labels and just slap them on. It would be more cost effective to do them myself, but my printer kinda sucks. Decisions, decisions....

Wednesday's suck.

Well this one did. It wasn't bad, I did have a nice evening with the kids, Rick wasn't there though. Immediately after I got home from work I took Brandon to Publix, I was gonna make chili for dinner. I picked up kidney beans, diced tomatoes, Tostido scoops, sour cream, and corn muffins. I had Kaylin brown the ground beef while Brandon and I shopped. While I was unloading the shopping cart, Rick called to tell me he wouldn't be home until after 8pm, he was gonna stop at his tenants and pick up rent, then go to his friends house to hang out for a bit. I reminded him that it was Wednesday (wink-wink) and I had made a good dinner. He told me he was gonna eat at his friends house. The kids and I ate our chili, which came out really awesome, and watched RV. We laughed so hard, it was such a funny movie. I made them smoothies after the movie was over. Rick finally came home, after 8pm, and watched the world series, but what can you do? I had an awesome night with my kids and that makes it good with me.

It's hump day, oh yeah.

We are half way through the week now. It is hump day. Wednesday's are special for me-when Rick and I first met, he would come over Wednesday nights and bring dinner, usually Chinese, or Stouffers veggie lasagna, some times Superday spinach pizza, we would watch TV and after the kids went to bed, well you can figure out the rest. Wednesday's are usually our night, it just stuck after two years of every Wednesday it has now become a routine. I guess it's nice, but it also makes me feel like an old fart.

I'm at work right now, making some sort of an attempt to look busy, and trying not get caught being online. I just don't have love for this job anymore. It's a paycheck and that's it. There are so many perks to working for this company they treat us well, they pay 100% of my medical/vision/dental, match 4% of my 401 K, and give us two raises a year, plus generous bonuses throughout the year. I am grateful for my job, and I'm good at it. I guess I'm just stuck in a rut. I do the same thing everyday, over and over again. It doesn't excite me anymore, I'm very comfortable in my job which is good and bad. Well enough bitching and moaning about stuped shit. I am extremly grateful for this job, especially with how the economy is right now, most people I know have been laid off, or know someone who has been laid off.

Yippie Skippy, another team meeting...

Yet another team meeting has come and gone. No one comes to them anymore, most people quit, some have headaches, etc, etc and so on and so forth. We have been in this program for almost 2 years, and only recently have started heading in any sort of direction. Tonight I told my wrap coordinator that we are ready to transition out of the program. Through them I found Brandon's super fantastical therapist, met a really awesome behavior support specialist who graduated us, and got Brandon an OT evaluation and him set up on a sensory diet. The rest was a learning experience. Of course since we had people at the house Brandon got revved up, he calmed himself down and I gave him a bath to bring my sweet little boy back. My mom came, the therapist was here for only a few minutes (she had to leave on an emergency), and my wrap coordinator. I'm not allowed to have a family mentor anymore, but I don't need or want one anyway!

In other news, it is so frickin cold, it like 60 degrees outside! I had to go on my lunch break and buy the kids jackets. Brandon got put on the bus with a blanket, since his jacket didn't fit from last year. I know, I suck. It's not suppose to get cold in Florida, how was I supposed to know? I did find some cute dresses for work, with the color clearance stickers, and a purple shirt that will look awesome with black pants or a shirt. I forgot to add that I am the most horrible-ist mother in the whole world, I sent my bleeding, cramping 11 year old to school! Can you believe it? I told her to take some Midol and get on the bus, she still has at least forty more years of this to deal with. I do feel sympathy for her, I know and you know how it feels. She just can't miss school for 3-5 days every month.

Silly, Hopeful me..

Okay, well I have a secret. Nothing juicy, nothing you need to pick up your phone and call anyone about. I've always wanted to start my own side business making hand made soy candles and cold process soaps into custom gift baskets. I have wanted to do this for at least 8 years now. I actually have a written out business plan and the whole nine yards. I just don't have the money or the balls to get it going. I'm scared of failure. There it is, my dirty little secret. It goes right along with me dreaming of having a farm with chickens, pigs, goats, and a huge vegetable and herb garden. I made a decision last night, I decided that I was going to start a small part of my dream. I am going to start making soy candles. I ordered some stuff in small batches to see how it goes, I know I can sell the candles at work with no problem, especially with the holidays coming up. I choose Apple Cinnamon, Christmas Morning, Vanilla Bean, Coffee Caramel Cream, and Caramel Pecan Pie as my first scents. Cross you fingers and don't laugh to hard at me...

Forgiven

Hello. I forgive you, I hope you forgive me for being so hard headed. It was hard to stay mad at you, especially since I love you guys so much. I never read your original post, I just put things together with the comments that were made. It really hurt me by what the other parents were saying. I do all that I can to help Brandon, I'm not a bad parent, and things just suck sometimes. Well, I guess we don't need to play catch up since we read each other's blogs. LOL. Love you

A Girly Girl Day

Saturday we did Kaylin's birthday shindig. Kaylin, her two friends Brittney, Jess (Kaylin's step mom) and I went to see High School Musical 3, after that we went and got our fingernails painted and we to Chick fil A for some dinner. It was really interesting to listen to their tween conversation about Hannah Montana (which they don't like), Jonas Brothers, and Zac Effron (which they REALLY like). I made some sort of a pathetic attempt to converse with these strange creatures in the back seat of my car, they met me with eye rolling, and "oh my god, your mom is sooooo weird". Oh, well...I tried. Kaylin had some sort of allergic reaction to the food at Chick Fil A, I think I'm going to file a format complaint with their corporate office. Immediately after leaving there, she starting giggling, and giggling, and giggling. I think you get the point, she didn't stop for over an hour. We dropped off all the girls and came back to the house, I packed Kaylin up and sent her with Jess. Maureen had picked up Brandon already, so we were all alone. You think we would know what to do with ourselves, but we didn't. Did we want to go do karaoke? No. Dinner? No. Sports Bar? No. Yet again, I spent a hot, sweaty, steamy date night on the El Jo Bean fishing pier. Didn't catch a damn thing either.

TGIF

I'm happy it's Friday. The week is finally close to an end. It's been a tiring week, one that I could have slept through if I wanted to. I think it's the emotional let down of my grandma dying, the service, and Fran's breast cancer diagnosis. I just feel drained. This weekend will be a good one though. Kaylin's friend is spending the night tonight and tomorrow Kaylin, Brittney, Brittany, Jess, and I will go see High School Musical 3, while Brandon goes to hang out with Vincent ( Thank you Teresa! ). Afterwards we will get our fingernails painted, and probably eat at Olive Garden. Maureen is suppose to pick up Brandon Saturday night, and Kaylin will be at her dads. That means there is a possibility of going on a date. Hopefully this time we won't eat cheese steaks and go fishing. I'm hoping for romantical, but will take what I can get!

oops

Ooops, I realized that I am getting away from the reason I started this blog. It's suppose to be about how I deal with Brandon, how I help him to achieve his goals, how we advocate for him, and how we manage as a family. I turned it into my own venting tool where I can bitch and moan and reflect on certain issues. I guess I need this blog more than Brandon does. So instead of from now on focusing on Brandon, I will let this blog go in what ever direction it heads in and see what happens.

Cancer sucks

This I have decided a long time ago. My grandma Davidson had, and beat colon cancer many years ago. Rick's family member, Vicki, fought and lost her fight with breast cancer. A high school friend, Melissa, is in battle with thyroid cancer. One of my best friends, Fran, just got diagnosed with breast cancer last week and is having a modified radical mastectomy tomorrow. My grandma Bonnie just lost her battle with cancer. It sucks. What do you say? What can you do? I posted a poem on myspace that I found on line, it said alot to me. You are someone that knows some one that has cancer, has cancer, will get cancer, or will be lost to cancer.

Genetics today!

Today we went to genetics at All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg today. It was a long drive, and I'm grateful that my mom came with me for the ride with Brandon. We got there 45 minutes early, so we chatted and read. I do have to say that Brandon did awesome, he was so well behaved. They brought us into a room and the physicians assistant, Troy, asked us a bazillion questions about both mine and his father's side of the family. My mom was there to help with my side of the family, I don't know very much about his father's side, and don't care to. I really wish his DNA wasn't involved with Brandon. Brandon can have my DNA, it works just fine. After the assistant asked us every question under the sun. we met with the doctor. She was really nice, she measured his nose, eyes, ears, fingers and cafe au lait spots. She said we would monitor his condition, that he does have characteristics of neurofibromatosis and it would likely explain his learning problems and behaviors. She wants me to take him to the pediatrician every three months to monitor his blood pressure and spine for scoliosis. My mom brought up his leg pains, and the doctor suggested we take him to an orthopedic specialist for that. I still have to take him to the neurologist! So many doctors, so little PTO left...

Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday recaped

Thursday I worked. I got home from work, got prettied up had Rick drop me and my cousin Amanda (from Ohio) off at Coyotes and we drank beer, played pool and danced with my cousin Amber. Rick picked our drunk butts off. We dropped Amanda off, and went home. When we got home, Brandon started screaming his mouth hurt. And he didn't stop, at all, all night. I did not sleep. Finally I took him to the ER Friday morning, they looked in his mouth and told me to take him to a dentist and give him Motrin. Duh. I called the dentist and she wasn't in on Friday, the office staff called her, and they called me back. They called in anti-biotics and told me to give him Motrin. I went home, went to sleep for an hour, woke up cleaned, cooked, and walked around in a sleepless fog getting ready for Kaylin' s birthday party. Everyone showed up at 6pm. We ate spaghetti, cake, opened presents. Kaylin got over $100 b-day money, two Nintendo DS games, a craft kit, and a goody bag of misc. 11 year old stuff. The people left, I went to bed at 8:40 a slept like a frickin rock. Saturday morning we went to Kaylin's soccer game. She did good, she really tried and it was a good game. They won 3-0 and are undefeated!! After soccer we went to Sam's Club to pick up the deli trays, rolls, and veggies. Then we came home and got ready for the memorial service. I took Kaylin with me to my moms and Brandon stayed home with Rick while I got my moms house ready for company. We went to the church for the service and it was set up beautifully, my mother sung a hymn and the pastor read a poem my mom wrote. I don't think there was a dry eye in the house. Immediately after the service I rushed back to my moms to put the food out and light all the candles. Everything was beautiful. We had a prayer circle and ate, drank and had a good time thinking about grandma. As the night went on people got drunker and drunker. I had to do three beer runs since I wasn't drinking. My mother got bombed they went through 1 box, 2 large and one small bottle of wine. Everyone left at about 1am. I put my drunk mother to bed after washing her face, putting her jammies on, giving her a barf bucket and washcloth. Sunday was nice, I had my bible study in the morning, took the kids to Walmart so Kaylin could spend her birthday money. She bought a MP3 player and a voice activated journal and a DS game. Brandon got a transformer. I picked up the house when we got home, and Kaylin's dad Jim and step mom Jess came for dinner to celebrate Kaylin's birthday. We had a really nice time.

A mixed day

Today was a weird one of sorts. I had today off. Brandon had his MRI done of his orbits, which he slept through also. Rick drove him to school. I came home and gutted Kaylin's room for company that will be coming. By the time I was finished with her room, my mom called and was ready to go to Sam's Club shopping. We went to Sam's, got what we needed, ordered deli meat trays and left. We went to Walmart and CVS. I dropped her off and left to pick up Brandon from school. I took him to his OT appointment which was pretty cool. She gave me a sensory diet, taught me how to brush him, and do joint compressions. We stopped at The Dollar Tree so Brandon could pick out a birthday present for his sister, and headed home. I picked up Kaylin and went to my moms to visit with my Aunt Jenny and cousin Amanda. We came home and did our home stuff. One of my best friends called and told me she was diagnosed with breast cancer. That really sucks, she's like another mother to me, and a grandmother to my kids. I want to ask God, "why her?", but I know I can't have the answer to that question.

People Suck

I've decided that sometimes people suck. You all know that my grandmother died, and that I've taken 3 days bereavement (which is outlined in our company manual-3 days paid bereavement for immediate family) well apparently certain people, mainly person, feels that is inappropriate because it interferes with their time off. I'm not saying that that person does not deserve their time off, they do, just as I am to my 3 days bereavement. What I am saying is you should not hold it against me, or ignore, or treat me any differently. Agree? Well you should, it makes sense. I don't think I should feel guilty, and I do. I feel like I'm letting my team down, as they are making me feel that way with their comments. Only Janice and Casey are making me feel alright about it, which I'm grateful for, otherwise today would have been unbearable.

In other news, Brandon is on his new meds and I can't wait for it to build up in his system. Hopefully we will see some benefits VERY soon. Him without Risperdal is not a pretty picture.

Tomorrow I have off. At 8 Brandon has his MRI of his eyes, then Rick will take him to school since he works in Venice tomorrow. Then I pick up my mom and we go shopping for the reception, then I go home and clean until Brandon gets out of school. I will pick him up tomorrow and take him to the Florida Center to get some OT tips from Claire. I hope I will get most of the house deep cleaned for company. I can't even take a day off without trying to stuff as many things into as I can. What is wrong with me?

Sunday, Sunday..

Sunday I didn't get to sleep in. The door bell woke me up, it was Brandon's friends mom pickup up her son, at 8:30. The nice thing about getting woken up with goo still in my eyes, having Don King hair, is she offered to take Brandon for a few hours. I decided to run errands, since I have been on a mad search for peach tablecloths, plates, cups, and napkins. Well apparently the world isn't ready for peach tableware. First I went to Walmart, if they don't have it, you don't need it, right? Well they didn't have them, and after speaking with my mother, we do in fact HAVE to have peach. I tried Dollar General, Dollar Tree, and LTM Party Supply. No frickin peach. I did by other stuff I needed and it was really nice to go shopping all by myself. After my useless errand running I stopped at the pharmacy to fight with them about Brandon's medicine, since that's what I normally have to do with a new script. Well, wouldn't ya know, there were rainbows and unicorns at Walgreens today. They filled his Invega, billed his new insurance, and that was it. Is was so easy! I was so used to fighting insurance companies and pharmacies and calling doctor's offices to get this kid his meds, and now I don't have to. What will I do with all my free time now? This is all because he's got the SSI disability and medicaid. I picked Brandon up at his friends house, brought him home. He immediately laid on the floor, covering himself up with a blanket and fell asleep for 2 1/2 hours. I guess he was tired! While he was sleeping I went on line to look for peach tableware, and found them on a site, of course I had to pay for express shipping. That is now done, I just pray they get here on time. I took a nap, made dinner, went to my moms house to put sheets on the beds, and talked to my dad in New York on the phone.

On a different subject, a friend of mine who got me blogging by reading her blog, is having a hard time with life. Her daughter is sick and she left her nutbag husband. I left a comment on her other blog about what I thought and hopefully she will take it to heart. I told her before to leave him. He's not right in the head. So I wish her strength, courage, and stability in her upcoming battle with life and the bullshit it can provide.

Friday night Kaylin had a friend spend the night. We went to Perkins cuz kids eat free :0) and I wanted to go out to eat. We got a bonus at work in celebration of customer service week. Works for me! They did alot of cute things at work this past week. Monday morning the told us to wear team jerseys and had a continental breakfast for us all. On our desks were coffee mugs and nice sayings. Tuesday we had buttons and trail mix. Wednesday candy, noise putty, and a pen. Thursday we had a stress ball which was pretty cool. Friday they had the closing ceremony which they announced the winners of the contests they had throughout the week. At the very end we told we got bonus checks. Saturday morning Kaylin had her soccer game which her friend came with us, afterwards we went to the Dollar Tree and they each got to spend five bucks on what ever they wanted. Oh yeah, the Killer Bees won 3-2. Kaylin needs to try alot harder to play soccer and not be scared of the ball. Her friends mom picked her up this afternoon and Brandon's friend Vincent came over with his mother for dinner, he ended up spending the night. Now they are watching Madagascar playing super heroes.

Tomorrow we will see. I think I will try to go out alone to Walmart and the Dollar General, maybe LTM Party supply to get things we need for the memorial service. I'm suppose to get peach tableclothes, plates, cups, napkins, find the instrumental Titanic soundtrack. and make a liliac and ivy memorial wreath. I also need to go to my moms and get the sheets in the house, bring them home, wash, dry, and make the beds. I really want to get some housework done, although I got a good amount done today. I cleaned the kitchen and mopped the floor, did laundry, changed the cat litter, and did dishes. I'm really tired of my house being in the shape it's in. It's dirty, cluttered, and unorganized, plus stuff needs to be fixed. I work everyday and am torn between homework, dinner, baths, soccer practice, laundry, kids, and trying to make everything work, I just can't seem to make the Martha Stewart thing work for me. Damn that bitch for setting womens standards so high, who can compete with that!

Ramblings and such

Well, my grandmother passed away after a painful battle with cancer. It started a couple years ago. They discovered she has uterine, ovarian, cervical, and vulva cancer. All you women out there, or those of you who know women if your men--Get a fucking papsmere. Don't have insurance? Go to the health department and they will put you on a sliding scale. It's not that hard and should be a priority. Sorry about that, need to be said though. Back to my ramblings... She had to have everything taken out and reconstructed so she could pee again. A very painful recovery, but she got through it. My mom went up to Tennessee and cared for her surgical sights (she has been an RN for over 25 years) and when all was well, came back home. Well the cancer came back, in her lymph nodes, and lungs, and everywhere, and she got a blood clot. It was inoperable and chemo may have helped drain her lymph nodes to bring down her leg so the clot could dissolve. She said no, and laid in her bed awaiting death. It did not come right away, she held on for most of this year, slowly getting worse. Then my aunt Jenny called and said she was getting close and my mom flew to Tennessee. She got to care for her in her final days, and give Aunt Jenny some much needed respite. She was there when she passed. Grandma was cremated and returned to my mom and Aunt Jenny today. They are all going to drive down here and have a memorial service with a reception following the church memorial at my moms. I am taking 3 days bereavement from my job. I'll take Wednesday the 15th, Friday the 17th (also baby squirrel's birthday) and Monday the 20th. My team leader was not so nice about it, but I am entitled and have the right to be with my family during this trying time.

Yesterday I took Brandon to his monthly doctor Hubbard appointment. She is so proud of his progress and now that he has straight medicaid she thinks they will cover the Invega so we are going to take him of the Risperdal. He gained 13 pounds in a little more than 3 months. We all agreed that the benefits of the Risperdal were to great to take him off of, since Staywell wouldn't cover the Invega. Invega is in the same family, but without the side effect of weight gain. He also won't have to take it several times a day, only once since it is long lasting.

I will end with this...

There is no remedy for love but to love more.
Henry David Thoureau
1817-1862

I would like to ask if anyone is reading this, if they could please leave a comment or suggestion so I know that I am not as alone as I feel.

Filling in the blanks, and some sad news

We went to Rick's friend Frank's house Friday night, we had allot of fun, ate some hot dogs, kids swam and played and we headed home. Brandon and Kaylin were awesome. Saturday morning was Kaylin's first soccer game. Her dad came and cheered her on. She did pretty good, but held back allot. I think she was worried about how she looked and worried about messing up. I told her I'd rather see her try and mess up, than not try at all because of fear. She was crying when we left the parking lot, I let her go to her dad for comfort, I figured it was important for him to nurture that side of things. He bought her a ball this weekend, so she can practice. Her dad game me all call later and asked me if it was okay if she went in his friends little airplane, I told him I trust his judgement and it was fine with me. After the soccer game Brandon and I went to Walmart, gas station, bank, and pet store. When we came home I laid down and took a nap, when I woke up I got ready for Heather's house warming party and Rick dropped me off. I had a nice time at the housewarming. One of the girls I work with made a total ass out of herself and has been very quiet at work. Sunday Brandon, Rick and I went fishing. We caught 3 keeper snappers and a bunch of little snappers. Pat and Tori came over for dinner and I didn't feel good so I vegged out. We had deer ribs, chicken, steak, au gratin potatoes, and green beans. Kaylin came home from her dads in time for dinner and we had quite an uneventful evening. After company left I passed out, dead tired. Monday Kaylin had soccer practice, in the pouring rain. Brandon had quite a rough evening, trying his hardest to drive me bonkers, so I asked Rick to stay with him while I took Kaylin to practice. I very much needed a break. I grabbed a pink chair, camo umbrella, and a book, found myself a place to plop and read while she practiced. I zoned out into the land of Narnia, since that is what I am reading this week. The first thing the coach said was for them to sit in the mud and get it over with, because they were gonna get muddy and filthy. This coach is really awesome, he really pushed them, and builds them up at the same time. After practice we stopped at the 7-eleven and got milk and drinks. Got home by 8:15, put Brandon to bed and relaxed. I fell asleep pretty early, I guess I'm kinda whooped. The phone woke me up at 12:11 am. It was my mom, sobbing, crying, my grandmother had just died. She did not go peacefully, she went with much struggle and suffering. I'm sorry she had to go through all that, and sorry that my mom had to see all her pain. It sucks, but she's not suffering anymore.

Oh the mail!

On my way home from work everyday I pull up real close to the mailbox, roll down my window, and grab the mail. So that's what I did today. Yesterday was a good mail day, my dad sent me a little something in the mail, which will help with the electric bill. Today was a mixed bag, two mysterious envelopes, one from the pediatrician, and some other stuff I don't remember now. The two mysterious envelopes were from the US Treasury. Brandon had received his first disability check, and his check that back paid him to when I first applied. Very nice surprise. I didn't think he would receive anything for at least another month, he just got approved last Friday. The envelope from the pediatrician was another story, it was another test order. This time for an MRI of his eye orbits. Her notes said iris cysts, optical gioma and fibroids. No note explaining, nothing for me to call the office and schedule an appointment, no voice mail or messages on the home phone. The doctor didn't call me and tell me why he needed that test, or what, if anything came up on him last MRI. It did say iris cysts which mean's she has talked with the eye specialist we saw on Tuesday. So something is going on behind the scenes. Don't you think?

In other news;
1 I talked to my mom and my grandma is doing really poorly
2 Work was BUSY
3 We went to Rick's friend Franks house
4 Tomorrow is Kaylin's first soccer game
5 Tomorrow is Heather's house warming party

Wednesday and Thursday

Tuesday the baby sitter called and said her mother in law totalled her car and she wouldn't be able to watch Brandon for most of the week. Normally this would be fine, as my mother can usually help in a pinch. Well, my mother was in her own little world, her mother, my grandmother, who is terminally ill with cancer, is in the last stages of her life. So obviously my mom's mind was elsewhere. She booked a plane ticket to Tennessee for Thursday (today) and tied up as many loose ends as possible here in Florida. Even though she was going through all this emotional turmoil, she DID watch him Tuesday and Wednesday. I asked one of my best friends if she would be able to sit with him Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, I told her I would pay her what I pay the babysitter, plus mileage. She told me should would think about it and let me know. I sent her a text message Wednesday asking her if she had thought about it.....no response. I sent her a text this afternoon, asking her if she way okay, she responded that she was fine, then I asked her if she could help with the kids today, she said no, the baby didn't sleep very well last night. So I was up the creek, again, and as usual, without a paddle. If you don't know me, I'll tell you this, Thursday's are the very worst, awfullest days for me to leave early. This Thursday was even worse, because one of the senior processors was out on vacation, which left me, the other senior processor, and our team leader with 4 other less seasoned processors. Out of desperation I called Bob, he's my step dad. He said he would do it! I was surprised, he's never watched the kids before. Once he picked up Kaylin from a girl scout field trip, but that was about the extent of his interaction with his grand kids. He loves them, and sometimes even likes them but today was a new thing for us, and I do have to say I think he enjoyed himself. Brandon was an angel, of course..... Once I got home and changed out of my monkey suit, we went to Walmart to pick up Brandon's new glasses. He looks totally awesome, smart, and I don't know if I'll ever be used to him in glasses! I also got their Halloween costumes and some other Walmart type stuff (groceries, deodorant, bubble bath, etc.).