New giveaway tomorrow! Be on the look out!

I would have posted the new giveaway today, but I had computer issues and had to reinstall Windows on my desktop and all of my programs.  I'll be back tomorrow with a fabulous giveaway and to wet your appetite, here's a little sneak peak at what's up for grabs.

So don't miss your chance.  Check back tomorrow!

Winner!

The winner of Debbie Wiener's book, Slob Proof!  Real-Life Design Solutions, is commentator number:

One!  Congrats Adi!  Send me an email with your address and I'll get it out to you.  Once I dig out of this snow, of course.

Banging my head against the wall.

I just don't understand Will some days.  Will is almost 11 and I don't know if what he is going through is your typical preteen angst or what, but some days I could shake him.  I don't, but I want to.  Here's just an example of what we're dealing with:

Will to me: Daniel just punched me.
Me: Why did he do that?
Will: *shrugs* I dunno.
Me: So you're telling me Daniel got up from his chair and walked over to you and punched you for no reason?  Just out of the blue? [I'm not doubting that Daniel punched him at this point and did plan to talk with Daniel about hitting, I just knew that Daniel had been provoked in some way.]
Will: Well, no.  I was telling him to stop and he got mad and hit me.
Me: Will, I'm not buying it.  You didn't do anything to him?
Will: No.
Me: Go get him and Clayton come back to me.

*waits for them to come back*

Me to Daniel: Daniel did you hit Will?
Daniel: Yeah, but it was because he was doing this.  *puts his fist in my face, an inch from my nose*

Me to Clayton: Is that what happened Clayton?

Clayton: Yes

Me to Daniel: Daniel, we don't hit our brothers.  If he's doing something mean to you, you need to tell me or dad.
*looks at Will*
Will: I was just messing with him.
Me: I asked you what you did to provoke Daniel to hit you and you said all you did was tell him to stop, you didn't tell me anything about messing with him or putting your fist in his face.  You lied.
Will: *stares at me blankly*
Neely to Will: Will, you can go to bed after dinner for lying, how about that?
Will to Neely: fine

Now, honestly.  Had he just told me that he was messing with Daniel, I would probably have told him to leave Daniel alone and got onto Daniel about hitting.  But now he's spending his night, starting at 6:30, in his room, alone, without tv or any games.  I just really don't get it.  I've raised a boy before, so I'm not new to this.    But usually when confronted James was honest about things.  Hey may not have been remorseful all the time, but he would usually cop to what he did.  Will, on the other hand, would rather lie than tell the truth.  I can't tell if it's a pathological thing where he doesn't think about what he's saying before he says it, or if it's premeditated, in a way to keep himself from getting in trouble.

We have told him, repeatedly, that it's the lying that we hate most of all, and usually it's the lying that gets him in hot water, but it's just not getting through.  He's not a bad kid.  He has been really good in school this year, after his initial adjustment to the new school and new living situation.  Pretty much the only problem we have with him, is the lying.  I mean, he is a typical boy.  He does fight with his brothers and does get in trouble for other things, but not nearly as often as lying.

We just don't know what to do at this point.  We're willing to try anything.  But right now, banging my head against the wall is what I'll settle for.

The funny things he says

Daniel just says the funniest stuff.  I try to remember all of it, but I fail.  Here are a few things he's said this week:

I was scolding Clayton for bugging Will for some of his treats left over from his dance, I said to Clayton "you got treats tonight too."  Daniel chimed in with "yeah, like ice cream".  I told Daniel to hush and he said "what, I'm just helping you."

He wanted some crackers or something to snack on.  He said "my brain told me I was hungry."

He was playing with his Mr. Potato Head and had him complete, except the door on his piece compartment was off and he couldn't get it back on.  He said "mom, can you put Mr. Potato Head's butt on?"

I gave him two crackers and he said "I can't have two crackers.  I'm not that age.  I'm this many" and holds up 4 fingers.

He cracks me up.  All the time.  What are some funny things your kids have said this week?

Thankfulness

I have had a rough night.  Quite possibly the worst night I've had in as long as I can remember.  There was one other night that was this bad, but it was so long ago.

Shortly before 3:00 a.m., I was startled awake by Billy, my son's friend who lives here.  He said "Miss Rachel, I need you to get up and come here.  Earl was just in an accident."  I can't tell you how much it truly sucks to hear those words.  At that moment, I didn't know if my son was dead or alive or nearly dead or fine.  I shouted, "Is he OK?"  Billy responded, "He's right here, I'm taking him to the hospital."  OK, so he's alive, but in need of medical attention.  I can live with that.  He's breathing.  And then I saw him and nothing else mattered.  I didn't care about the car or possibly cars that were damaged.  I didn't care about anything, because I saw that boy's face, and although I could tell he was in pain, he didn't show any outward signs of real injury.

I thought to myself, well it can't be that bad.  He looks fine.  He's talking, walking, well limping, but he seems OK. And he is.  He might have a torn muscle in his lower right leg, but we'll know more once he sees an orthopedic specialist later this week.  I got a few details from him - black ice, spun out, ditch, guard rail, totaled - and sent him on his way to the ER with Billy.  I planned to get dressed and follow shortly.  I called my Dad and we decided to run up to the accident scene to take a look at the car.

I never should have done that.  I can not begin to express the emotions that ran through me the minute I saw how much damage was done to that car.  I got all hot and nauseated.  I thought for sure I was going to vomit.  Totaled really isn't the right word.  Decimated is more like it.  He drives - or drove - a 1996 Dodge Caravan.  It was his purple pimp-mobile.  He made driving a minivan look cool.  Anyway, the van was facing the opposite way from which he had been traveling.  He had hit the guard rail with the passenger side.  The guard rail crumpled and pierced the sliding door and the front passenger seat was practically on the dash board.  If Billy had been in the car with him, and he usually is, Billy would no longer be with us.  Billy was following behind him in his own car.  Oh and my smart son was NOT WEARING HIS SEATBELT and was ejected from the van, via the side window/door.  And he's still breathing.

I am just so filled with emotions at the moment.  I'm not angry at James.  It was an accident and it could have happened just as easily at midnight as 3:00 a.m and to anyone.  Black ice doesn't care about what time it is or who's driving.  I am grateful that God was looking out for him last night and I am so very thankful that I he is relatively OK.  He will probably be sore for a few days and might have some problems with his leg, but it could have been so much worse.  So very much worse.  The Maryland State Trooper who was at the scene had no idea how he survived.  I do.  God was looking out for him, and for me.

Maryland law requires you to be in control of your vehicle at all times, so he was issued a citation for negligent driving.  The Trooper said he didn't think it was anything to worry about and even jokingly (I think) said he might be sick on Court day.  We'll cross that bridge when we come to it.  I am not worried about a citation and fine, anyway at the moment.  I am just going to enjoy every minute of every day that I get with my son.