Kitty’s Place

Packing has begun in earnest. Yesterday we discovered that there actually is a floor in the kidlets room, something we haven’t seen in a while since I stopped cleaning up after him. There are boxes of books, boxes of toys and there are still all the legos and his closets to clean out. I did do a big clean out of his clothes, filled a garbage bag with things that he has outgrown since the spring. It is amazing how much he has shot up. It has not been a great time for a little horse in irish setter clothing. *laugh* He wants to help but there are just too many little things he can get into in LL’s room. He did make a dash in yesterday and very obligingly left when I said out, only to come into the living room and make a choking sound as he tried to swallow a tiny set of wheels he scooped up. Meaghan got them out but it was not a pleasant experience for either of them …. although it did not deter him from trying again.

Today I sorted out papers and books and packed more. Then we went to the centrum to fika and pick up Ibo’s dry cleaning. I stood in line at the bank machine, realizing at the last minute the bank card was sitting on the tv at home. So LL stayed with Meaghan and I headed back and got the card. Then we went to the cafe, had something to eat, went to ÖoB and got a few things then picked up the dry cleaning. Our bus arrived just after we got to the bus stop so we came home and dropped off our stuff and then started to the local grocery store but halfway there Ibo called and said he was on his way home and we could go to Eurostop. So we went there and did our shopping for New Years Eve and New Years Day. Then it was home again and I did laundry yet again. There is more bedding and towels to do but I have the bulk of it done now. I also did some of the throw rugs today and have time booked again tomorrow to finish up.

Ibo put up pictures from christmas here.

We went to Ibo’s uncle’s for christmas, travelling down to Sköldinge Saturday morning so LL could go with to cut down the christmas tree. The rest of Ibo’s family arrived later in the day and the tree got decorated.

Sunday I got the turkey in the oven in the morning, got the sweet potatoes cooked and the pumpkin pie ready. That was my contribution to the feast. Ibo’s uncles fiance brought her family just after lunch and we had a lovely christmas. LL got a mobile phone and it has not been out of his sight since. He also got a bunch of new clothes from his grandmother and those were all washed today and I cleared out the clothes from his bureau that were too small. I got a cute Hello Kitty purse, a lovely tapestry bag and from Ibo a new cat figurine for my collection that he started a couple years ago, a new teapot and a wine set with cork and ring that goes around the top of the bottle to catch drips and measure the temperature.

I especially love the cats, they make me think of us and how we sleep at night. *laugh*

Ibo got two copies of the latest Elvis book, one from Rusty who we often call Elvis because of the way his lip curls on one side and one from his mom, who got her copy signed by the author. So I will exchange the unsigned one. *laugh*

Rusty got dewormed and he had a fun first christmas. Ibo got some great pictures of him opening his first christmas gift and then opening Susans as well. He also got lots of pics of the kidlet who had a wonderful christmas.

Monday there were stocking from Canada Santa. Rusty figured out at once how to retrieve the gifts inside the stocking. *laugh* We came home Monday afternoon but the kidlet stayed an extra night and came home with Ibo’s family today. So Ibo and I had a lovely evening together and slept in this morning. After breakfast and showers we went shopping and got some cutlery on sale and a game for Rusty where he has to choose the right block to drop into a box and then treats come out. Then we got sushi, came home and ate and I started laundry, washing all the new clothes and a bunch of bedding as well. I am trying to get everything like bedding and towels washed before we move since we have more washers and a dryer here. Now I am watching the Return of the King and soon it will be bedtime again.

We saw Meaghan off at Arlanda this morning. Then I went to Apoteket to get Alvedon for the kidlet who has a fever again and deworming tablets for Rusty. We didn’t go to the puppy course today because both LL and I have a fever and cough and when I phoned to let the instructor know he said his wife was home ill as well. Rusty’s tummy is already better after only two meals of this new food, I am so glad for him.
The christmas shopping is pretty much done. We have to pick up julmust and candy tomorrow and we have to pick up our stockings at the house. Everything is wrapped, there are gifts for the dogs, the man, the child. So another christmas has arrived and as always I am not really ready for it. *laugh*

Speaking of christmas we have had a few christmas cards. One from Aunt Maud, one from Beverly and her family and one with treats for the dogs from Lena and Olov and the dogs of Applegrove Kennel. Rusty and Susan liked that one best. *laugh* Thanks to all!

It was not the day we planned. LL and I did finish our shopping, Meaghan stayed home and slept off her cold. After we got home we took both dogs for a long walk and to the dog run where we worked with Rusty and played too. Ibo came home at 1415 and we took the dogs to the vets. Susan needed her second rabies shot for her pet passport and we booked their blood tests for next April. Then we talked to the vet about Rusty’s id chip since it has migrated from between his shoulder blades to the middle of his breast bone. I felt it a couple weeks ago when I was petting him. She said that migrating doesn’t happen so often now but it is nothing to worry about, just remember to tell anyone who is reading his chip that it has moved. We also talked about his tummy that never really got so much  better after we switched him back to Royal Kanin dog food. She recommended a Eukenuba food that will let his intestines get over being irritated and said if he is not improving after the weekend, we should call her and she will do a more thorough exam. He has gone up another 3 kg since he was last there 3 1/2 weeks ago and is now 26.6 kg. Susan’s weight stayed the same, 14.1 kg, so I think we need to take her along more often when I walk with Rusty.

We went out for dinner at the sushi place. It was fun and the food was great as always. Then we came home and while I was out with the dogs Ibo put the lights on the tree. Then LL and I decorated it and Ibo and Meaghan discouraged Rusty from helping. *laugh* LL says we have to be extra nice to Rusty because this is his first christmas. *smile*

Meaghan leaves for Geneva in the morning but will be back to spend another week with us on the 27th. We have the puppy course at 1400 and while we have not had as much time to work with Rusty as I would have liked this past 5 days (since we were all ill at some point through the week), he is pulling less when we walk him and he is coming when called, but it is still a problem when he is distracted by other dogs. At least now he is not distracted by other people so much.

Now it is time to crawl, literally , to bed. I have gifts to wrap tomprrow and I have to go to the house and retrieve our stockings.

Meaghan arrived a bit past midnight, so it was officially Monday. It was so great to see her again! We did get to bed soon after we got home from the airport, Ibo had to work in the morning, I had to go to school and Meaghan was somewhat jetlagged. Monday morning I finished my math test and then came home. I got here about 1100 and Meaghan got up just after that. We had brunch, took out the dogs and then went and shopped a bit and had fika before we picked up LL. We made fajitas for dinner and Meaghan made the greatest guacamole. Ibo had a meeting so he left just after dinner. We walked the dogs a couple more times, had glögg and pepparkakor when Ibo got home and then the day was over.

Tuesday I was sick again and so was LL. We both had fevers and coughs so I called his school and said he was staying home. I however went to my school because I had promised to bring the glögg, pepparkakor and a kids trivial pursuit type game for our swedish as a second language class, since it was the last class of the term. After dropping off and talking to the school secretary about a paper for CSN, I went home. I did not however rest much, since I took advantage of being home in the week and did laundry. There was also other housework to do and dogs to walk as well as trying to entertain a not so sick but still whiney child. By his bedtime I was fed up and got really angry with him because he has no respect for his belongings, throws stuff all over in his room, walks on his toys etc. This has been an ongoing battle since the fall and we have told him that if he doesn’t start picking up in his room, we will take in a garbage bag and toss anything we find on the floor. I plan on tossing a lot when I pack up his room, he obviously has too much if he doesn’t take care of his things properly. After he was settled in bed, we had a glass of wine. *laugh*

One funny thing that happened Tuesday was that LL told us in the morning it was going to snow between 1300 and 1400. Well it didn’t and he stood looking longingly out of the kitchen window. Then at 1600 his long awaited snow arrived. It is gone now but at least we had a hint of snow for a bit. *laugh*

Wednesday I did not go to school but LL did. I was still feeling like someone had run over me but the fever had subsided again. Instead Meaghan and I went and did the grocery shopping for christmas and christmas shopping. We had fun and it was nice to shop with someone else. After shopping we picked up LL and went in to Sigtuna and had fika. Then we came home and made dinner, had dinner with Ibo and then LL, Meaghan and I went to his school christmas show with his aunt and grandfather. Ibo had an extra council meeting so he was unable to make it to the show. It was really cute, really well done and everyone had a good time. But by the time we got home Meaghan was suffering from the same bug we have all had for the past couple of weeks. LL stayed up till 2200 watching a movie, an end of the term treat and we made it a fairly early night as well.

Today’s agenda includes getting the last of the food for christmas, one more gift and LL has to shop. I thought the day was free but then I noticed we have a vet appointment for Susan at 1430, so I at least will have to be home for that.

I was up at 0800, got breakfast ready, walked the dogs, fed them, got showered and then we headed out at 0945. We all went to the puppy course this time, Susan stayed in the car part of the time. First we took the dogs for a walk and then we met up in a large field by the clubhouse. The instructor had some tips for how to walk our dogs without them dragging. I tried when we got home and while it did not work like they said it would at the start, the final stretch to the apartment went well with no pulling. Then it was time to call the dogs while they were off their leashes. It went well with everyone before us, their dogs ran to them, took their treats and got their leashes back on. Then it was our turn. Rusty came to me, took his treat and then dashed away before I got his collar in my hand. He ran around and around before we finally got him to come and settle down. It seemed to have lasted an hour but I am sure it was only a short time. The puppy after us was like Rusty, he dodged away when she tried to put the leash back on. Then it was time for fika. Ibo took Susan for a walk and the instructors told us how it had gone and what we needed to do for things to go better next time. It was suggested to us and the other couple that we use a toy of some sort to get the dog’s attention so they don’t realize we are clipping the leash back on. The instructor told me not to be upset by how things went, the whole idea of going is to learn these things and it is not strange at all that different dogs react differently. Then they both went around and spoke to each dog owner individually. I really like this couple a lot.

When we got home LL went in to clean his room, Ibo did dishes and I cleaned up the extra room so it was ready for Meaghan. She will be here in just a few hours!!! I have some stuff to throw out but Ibo’s mom has the key to the garbage room so I will have to get it from her when we go for dinner later. Ibo’s sister came home this morning so we are going over after LL’s birthday party, to see her and say welcome home. Yes, LL has another party to go to, what a bonus, two in one weekend. *laugh*

Ibo seems to be a bit better today, not coughing as much and he had no fever this morning. I still have a lot of pain in the bases of my lungs and a terrible headache, but the coughing is less. Lucky LL has avoided this virus so far.

LL had a great time at the birthday party last evening. We moved the 56+ boxes from the apartment over to the house while he was at the party. I took Rusty for a long walk and Ibo tucked in the kidlet for the night. Then we watched tv and had a glass of red wine. I had laundry time booked for 0700 but when I woke up I was so achey I just turned off the alarm, curled back up with Ibo and we slept till 1130.

After lunch we went down to the storage room and threw out a bunch of stuff then moved the rest of what was down there to the house, as well as a number of boxes from the office up here. So we have made a good start on the moving.  Ibo is still sick and so am I. I couldn’t go to the fika at Cyndi’s, something I have been looking forward to for a while. But I really did not want to pass this bug along and didn’t feel up to going out.

Dinner was pasta, then I had to go to the store for dish soap. After the dishes were done I took Rusty for a walk. He had been out earlier with Ibo and they played, but he was still full of energy. When I got back Ibo was just finishing LL’s bedtime story. We watched Shrek, had some chips and I made some rice krispies squares. Now it is time to call it a night since we have to be at the puppy course at 1000 tomorrow.

Well it didn’t work, I am sick as the proverbial dog. Fever, chills, cough, sore throat, not a spot on my body that doesn’t hurt and a headache that is migraine proportions. When I said this to Ibo he said “welcome to my world of the past two weeks”. This is a nasty bug that is going around and while I am home from school today, I haven’t time to be sick so it will just have to do battle in my body while I carry on with life. *laugh*

I slept till 1300 today but now I am up and off to pick up LL. We have to stop at the library and the grocery store, then after dinner he is off to a birthday party. I know he is looking forward to that, it will be at my school and he thinks it is cool there.

Yesterday we got a christmas tree. It was waiting for me when I got home. I put it in the stand and Rusty is of the opinion that it is a new pull toy for him to play with. We will decorate it tomorrow, after we move some of the boxes over to the house tonight. I have decided no glass ornaments this year though. *laugh*

I have a migraine. Went to bed last evening at 0830 because my head hurt so badly and woke with the same intensity of headache this morning. I actually crawled back into bed with Ibo after getting the kidlet up and into the shower. I did go to school because I was writing a math test this morning. I who never take more than half the time to write, only had half the test done by the end of class. My math teacher told me to take it home and finish it later.

After math I did qi jong and was hoping it would ease the headache but no such luck. So I picked up LL and took him to McDonalds then took back my new boots that broke on Monday and got another pair. We bought the gifts and cards for the two birthday parties this weekend. Then I called Ibo and he was still at work, so he came and picked us up, then stopped at Valsta centrum so I could pick up a parcel. It was some new clothes for me, a new knapsack for LL and some christmas gifts. While I was sorting laundry, Ibo fed the dogs and then I took them both out. I wasn’t sure I would get home before he left for his dinner so he got a kiss before I left. *laugh* Poor long suffering man. *grin*

After he left I vaccuumed, washed floors, emptied the dishwasher, started laundry, tucked in the kidlet and walked the dogs again. In half an hour I can get the rest of the laundry. In the meantime I am going to make a cup of tea and relax for a short while. Along with the headache I have a cough and all my muscles are aching, so I need to ward off whatever is brewing. *laugh*

Life is still going along a mile a minute. Monday was math and study hall. Then I went and did shopping at the pharmacy, health food store and the centrum. LL went home with farfar after school for his arabic lesson and then farfar dropped him off her on his way to the gym where he was meeting farmor. I did laundry yet again and Ibo was out to a meeting. We had tea and brownies when he got home and went to bed but it was yet another late night.

Tuesday was swedish all day then I picked up LL and we got a ride home. So there was time to take out the dogs and feed them before I dropped the kidlet off to his grandfather and headed out for dinner with the girls. Ibo was at a dinner as well. We both got home at 2300, had tea and then it was bedtime.

Today was Lucia day so we started school at 0900 with fika and the Lucia procession. Then each course had set up some fun christmas activity for everyone. Our group had christmas candy making, the others had christmas crafts, pictures with Santa, singing etc. It was lots of fun. Then we had christmas lunch together and after that I came home even though there was a play at 1400. I took the dogs for a 45 minute walk, did some dishes and picked up some and now I am off to pick up the kidlet. Ibo has a meeting again tonight but is hoping to get home to eat dinner with us before. He has one tomorrow night as well but then he is free for the weekend. I am glad because he still has a terrible cough and is really pale. I think he should go to the doctor but since he won’t, I want him to rest as much as possible on the weekend.