I will survive...or do even better!

[whatisis]

I was looking for a Chinese herbal cough medicine the past two days, I ran out of the small amount of codeine cough syrup that I scored from wife. I stopped in at two Chinese herbal stores and neither had it. I went to a Chinese supermarket and they didn't have it either. It's a pretty common cough medicine from Hong Kong filled with different herbs and honey. Finally, figuring I needed to score something, I went to a chain drug store, went to the cough medicine section and there on the shelf was the Chinese cough medicine I was looking for! No miracles though, I'm still coughing today. This hacking is exhausting especially since I'm on day seven. I finished the anti-biotics so I guess I'll just have to keep drinking fluids and trying to rest in the evening. Yesterday I thought it was on it's way out but today it's back with a vengeance. I'm zonked, no bible study class tonight.

[kat727]

How did you get what I had? I really don't remember you flying down to Kansas and I would have remembered hopping up to Canada. I must have really been sick.

Yeah, my Dad had some extra cough medicine with codenine too. Saved me a couple of nights. I still have a bit of a cough but nothing like the nearly hour long cough episodes of 2 weeks ago. Keep resting and sometimes good old chicken noodle soup helps. Besides it is good for the soul.

kat

[whatisis]

It's amazing how bugs can travel with lightning speed, Kat! Btw, I went to Bible study tonight, the heck with sitting around here. I took an hour nap after dinner and decided to go out. There's more to life than just work and coughing!

[whatisis]

OK, it's time to pump up a cause I believe strongly in, the elimination of human trafficking. DBers, are you looking for a Christmas gift that is more than just a gift? Check out www.Somaly.org and click on the Survivor Empowerment Store. The Somaly Mam Foundation is an organization set up to support the work of it's founder, Somaly Mam, She is herself a survivor of the Cambodian brothels who has dedicated her life to rescuing young women who have been sold into prostitution by family, friends or other people they trusted. At 12 years old she was sold by her grandfather to a brothel and brutalized by up to twenty men a day for ten years. She finally escaped after witnessing the murder of her best friend by a pimp for refusing to service a "customer". Her organization has now rescued, housed, supported and re-trained approximately 4,000 young women. In Cambodia 2,000 young women a month are sold into prostitution and worldwide between 1 to 2 million children will suffer a similar fate in this coming year. The items sold at the Survivor Empowerment Store are items like silk scarves, bracelets, necklaces etc. which are largely handmade by these rescued women (and designated as Survivor made). So, take a look! Hmm, to give a beautiful silk scarf handmade by a brave young lady starting a new life or a machine made, designer scarf from a mall....I know which one I chose!!! (the items are shipped from the U.S. and are in the mail the day you order them)
When I look at the lives these young ladies have been forced to live, my problems just seem so insignificant! It's such a blessing to see organizations such as Somaly Mam's working to bring joy and dignity back into their lives.
Btw, last Saturday Somaly Mam was also featured in a segment on America's Most Wanted for her work. Did anyone happen to see it?

[soleil]

I did not watch that AMW but human trafficking IS horrific. They recently busted a child prostitution ring here where I live where a foster dad was selling his foster kids for sex. Very sad.

[ImprovedRomeo]

Thanks for spreading the message wii- you're bringing to light one of many sufferings people around the world are living every day. It's truly sad.

[whatisis]

Thanks Romeo, there truly is evil in this world, isn't there! FYI, Somaly Mam was featured on America's Most Wanted last Saturday night and this week the show will continue with another episode on human trafficking, for anyone who may be interested in watching. There is also a Christian organization which does similar work called the International Justice Mission (www.IJM.org).I donate monthly to the Canadian wing of this organization. For Christmas you can donate on someone else's behalf and direct it to a certain part of the organzations work e.g. undercover investigation ($50) and they will send a card to the person you have donated on behalf of. It's worth checking out, if anyone's interested in giving that kind of gift this Christmas.

[whatisis]

Just got back from picking up the kids at wife's place. When I arrived one of the girls told me that Mom wanted me to wait for her to come back, she was dropping D13 somewhere. D16 told me what was going on and apparently D13 is acting like a teenager and Mom is not liking it...and who really does when that happens!So, wife comes home and goes over D13's irresponsibility, breaking of rules e.g. be in bed by midnight, excessive phone, texting and internet use...well, I'm sure you guys know how it goes. So she has taken D13's cell phone away and given her rules like no internet after 8:00pm, no going to friends after school, being in bed by 10:00 pm. Apparently D13 was up at 2:30 am talking to friends loudly on speaker and woke everyone else in the house up last night. Obviously wife was not happy with my response. I reminded her that D13 is a teenager and we went through the same stuff with her sister. She needs boundaries and we need to work together to come up with appropriate ones. I said that I had no problem with her losing phone for a week and not going to friends after school for a week but we need to discuss how she can earn these things back, our job is to teach her. Wife went on about "I know about being rational but I'm upset right now. It's easy for you to just sit there and be rational about it all but I'm sick and tired" Then she went on about how stressful her life is blah blah blah. Sorry, if she wants me to sit there and carry on about "poor you" then she's got the wrong guy! She chooses her life situation and too bad if her children are adding to her stress...tough titty! I held my temper, stayed rational (which she hates) and told her that I was quite wiling to enforce the rules she was saying but in a week, when she is feeling more "rational" we could discuss it again. I then asked for D13's cell phone, wife didn't want to give it to me. I said "she is with me next week and it's my job to decide whether she gets it or not. There may be a reason I decide she needs it for a certain period" Wife says "I hope it's not just because she wants it" I said no it would not be. She then gave me the phone. We both did agree that it is important that we have similar rules in both our homes. I have no problem disciplining an out of control teenager but I am also not going to pummel the kid because her mom feels upset. I'm kind of proud, I was afraid I'd lose it with wife but I was in complete control and it ended as well as could be expected. Again, it's times like this when I realize she hasn't changed a bit in three years. She expects the kids to take care of her and, God forbid, they act like kids and force her to act as a parent! Ooh, I'm so rational and, in wife's mind, that's bad. Anyway, I came out of it unscathed.

[whatisis]

I talked with D13 last night and told her that her behaviour lately has been unacceptable. I informed her that her mother and I talked and I am going to enforce the limits that have been established at her mom's. I said she needed to change her behaviour and start acting responsibly in order to get her phone back and other priviledges. I told her that I recognize that she's a teenager now and that part of her wants to be independent, break away from Mom and Dad but she still has to follow rules. I said that I expect that when it is her night to do dishes that they are done right after dinner and that when I pick her up for gymnstics she is to be ready, not sitting down to eat. She said she understood and I told her that her Mom and I would be talking again next week. I also talked about the need for her to recognize that her mother is very stressed out and tired, and regardless of the reasons, D13 needs to keep this in mind or living with her Mom will continue to be a bad experience for everyone. So, last night dishes were done, she stayed away from the internet and phones and went to bed at 10:00 pm. She really is a good kid and I'm sure will work to change her behaviour, it's unfortunate her mother can't be counted on to do the same. These kinds of issues are parenting issues and somehow she sees them as extra-ordinary demands on her! As usual, work comes first, school second and her kids get whatever is left over. It's been this way for years. When I was diagnosed with Diabetes five or six years ago I pointed out to her that she was not very supuportive and she said "I have enough energy for work and school and whatever is left over goes to the kids, I have nothing left for you!" Wow, what a mindset. Anyway, we will perservere. Btw, I worked my ass off at that time to beat the diabetes and won...without her support!

[ImprovedRomeo]

wii, thanks for sharing because I can definitely learn a thing or two from this. I think you handeled the situation remarkably well. And your kids are great kids like my little one. It sounds like your W gets overwhelmed too easily and when she doesn't know how to handle something she gets frustrated and upset. I do that too sometimes. Staying calm and cool always wins. What you W lacks in handling the kids you more than make up for it and your kids are lucky to have you as their dad.

And sorry to hear about your diabetes...I hope you're doing better now!