Do you believe in bad luck?

I usually don't, but I've had one bitch of a day.
I skipped another week last week. The week just goes by too damn quickly and there's not enough time to get things done. Let me get you all caught up on my little life.

First off, sad news this week. One of my favorite scrapbook magazines, Scrapbook Answers is folding as of November. The magazine, while excellent, just never managed to turn a profit. I'll miss this wonderful magazine, along with its CD of goodies that came with every issue. Sigh.

The girls are adjusting to their new therapy schedule. The new speech therapists are working really hard, and so are the girls. Princess S. is on the verge of talking, I can just feel it. I watch her with her teachers, and every day she amazes me with the amount of knowledge in her head. It's like the OT told me, "she has the information in there, its just a matter of getting it out". I was surfing around last night, and got lost on a magical mystery tour of autism websites. More and more parents of autistic kids are having success with a gluten and casein free diet for their kids. My new speech therapist has a son who was diagnosed with PDD-NOS and he's done wonderfully well with this diet. I'm thinking about taking Dr. D. for the required blood tests to see if she'd benefit from the same thing, but I'm terrified to know the truth. I just don't think that I could do it. That type of diet is expensive, difficult to maintain, and my kids are so picky at mealtime that I just don't know if they'd eat what I'm giving them -- they barely eat as it is! By the end of the night, I was in tears. Just when you think you're doing everything you can for your kids, you come across new information that convinces you that you're the worst parent in the world.

Speaking of my speech therapist - I had knd of an odd conversation with her last week. When she arrived, she asked if she could wash her hands before beginning work with the girls. I said of course, but to pardon my dirty dishes in the sink. She laughed and said, "Oh please, I'm a mom too, believe me, its no big deal". A couple of days later, she and I were discussing the girls and their treatment, and she said, "I can tell that you're a mom who is dedicated to your kids, and involved with their treatment. To you, its OK if the dishes don't get done or if things aren't 100% in order -- its more important for you to spend time with your kids". I agreed with her (because, well...that's the truth). DH happened to overhear this conversation, and after she left, he said, "Am I crazy, or did she just tell you that you're a slob, and don't know how to clean your house?" Naturally, I'd assumed that she was simply referring to our conversation from a week ago, but then again...I could have been wrong. Hell, maybe I am a slob. What the hell does a clean house prove anyway?

Before I leave you to your own devices, here's a new drinking game I thought up. You have to drink while watching any Rachel Ray show on TV - you're especially lucky if you catch the Food Network on a night when they air two or three of her shows in a row. Basically, you take a shot every time Rachel uses one of her little trademark sayings, such as "YUM-O", "Excellent", "Del-ish" and so on. I call it "30 minute buzz", and I can guarantee you'll be feelilng pretty nice before the show ends.

Just to keep things interesting, here's the Friday Five:

1. What job do you have, and why do you like/hate it? - Being a SAHM has good days and bad days. But all in all, its so true - its the toughest job you'll ever love.
2. As a kid, what did you want to be when you "grew up?" - In kindergarten, I wanted to be a nurse. Then I wanted to be a vet. Finally I wanted to be a chef. I did NONE of those.
3. Is the job you have now anything like what you imagined as a kid? - Well, I cook. Everyday. Other than that...
4. Do you have a five-year career plan? No. Never did. And it shows. I just can't plan that far ahead.
5. In order to get the job of your dreams, is there anything you wouldn't do? Why? I wouldn't sacrifice my time with my kids.