Lady of Leisure

Lady of Leisure.....isn't that a joke!  Do women like that even exist?  Not at my house anyway, until last Friday. This past month has been a struggle....it seems that this winter my family has managed to catch every possible germ known to man, and a few that might not be known.  This month started with Mia having strep and Sophie having an ear infection during Spring Break.  Spring Break ended with a beautiful weekend and Mia coming to me on Sunday night complaining of a headache.  I brushed her off a few times and finally yelled to Todd to give her some tylenol (kind of just to shut her up, I will be honest) and when he went to give her the medicine he touched her head and said, " I think she has a fever."  Low and behold, she did....103.7.  So, no school and a trip to the Dr the next day....she had the flu.  Two days later, no reprieve in the fever and a throat and mouth covered in sores....back to the Dr.  Now she had some funky viral something.  A week and a half later, she finally made it back to school.  Only a few days later, Todd gets the viral mouth funk...high fevers and mouth in a mess....I am bombing the house with lysol and quite frankly, my patience is wearing thin.  I guess I don't properly acknowledge my husband because when he isn't able to do anything....I find myself ready to scream.  Even if it just putting a load of clothes in the washer, any little bit helps!  So, by Friday last week, I am going down fast and biting everyone's head off.  Now, being the prudent planner that I am, I readied myself for a marathon Easter shopping event with the girls on Good Friday. Luckily, Todd read my stress level and planned for someone to keep them.  Fighting every homebody urge I had to stay in the bed and watch tv all day, I realized that if I didn't get up and go then we would all go to church on Sunday looking like last year's Easter eggs. 

Good Friday was a rainy drizzly day and I headed out thinking I would stop and go here and there, at my leisure, without the girls to drag in and out of the car every second.  Boy was I wrong!  The rain was bad enough and then apparently I wasn't the only one who had the day off Friday!  Imagine that!!  All my shortcuts to avoid traffic became long cuts and by an hour and a half in, I had witnessed 2 wrecks. I honestly was beginning to think the filming crew for Candid Camera was behind the next shrub. I went into Target only to have the girl at the return counter stare at the wall for 5 minutes before finally realizing I was standing there waiting.  Next, I got in line behind someone who insisted on price checking the 100 items in her buggy before she would agree to buy them.....ugh.  Finally, I managed to start into a store and as I was walking up I could see what appeared to be a 3-4 year old girl standing with her arms thrust out hanging onto the door frame.  I could tell her mom was begging with her.  She wouldn't go in or out, just stood there and screamed.  Her mother was trying to bribe her and coax her, and I couldn't tell if she didn't want to go into the store or if she hadn't gotten something she wanted and was refusing to leave.  Now, this has happened to the best of us...our beautiful angelic children manage to turn into devils when out in public.  And while we secretly want to go all "Madea" on them, we don't because we know someone will call the police.  :) You could tell that this poor Mama was struggling not to snatch the kid up by the hair of her head, but was instead trying anyway possible to diffuse the situation.  I truly wanted to walk over to the little girl and say, "Now listen here you little turd, your Mama-you know the one that gave you life, keeps you feed and clothed, and makes sure you have a roof over your head-is trying to keep from choking you.  The least you could do is let go of that doorway and get your little tail to the car." But, I didn't....knowing that it would go right over her cute little head.  Instead, I gave the Mom a sympathetic smile....knowing how she felt, cause Lord knows I have been there.  She lightly smiled back as if to say, "I am ready to go home and if I ever get this kid to move out of the doorway, we will be out of here like a bolt of lightning."  When I left the store, they were gone so I assume that she either let go of the door or the store called the police...ha ha.  I only made it to 3 stores and by the time I got back home to my girls, I realized I was glad I wasn't a "lady of leisure"...they always make things so much more exciting. 

Saturday we had egg hunts and pictures.  Sophie decided at the pictures that she would not open her eyes.....not sure what that was about.  So I guess we will have a set of pictures with Sophie smiling and squinting.....yay.  :) She finally managed to open her eyes for a few.  Easter morning we got up to go to Sunrise service at church and Ella says...."Mom, I think I have a fever."  Yup, 102.....and it begins again....

In other news, Sophie and I got a late start and arrived too late for her Easter egg hunt at school.  She was so excited and when she saw all the kids coming out with basketfulls of eggs, she looked at me and at her empty basket and back at me.....yes, I felt about that tall.. MOM OF THE YEAR, right?? Luckily, her sweet teacher took care of her and made sure she had eggs.  Funniest thing that day was this sweet little boy in her class who doesn't get to have sweets and he was literally smashing cupcakes into his face.  Luckily, I'm "that" mom who does donuts for breakfast.  :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

At most homes, birthdays are a big deal. Our house is the same, with a little twist.  Yesterday was my middle child, Mia's, 7th birthday.  She was born 7 years ago on the day before Valentine's Day.  My doctor had told me that he wished I could have had her on Valentine's Day but the 13th was his induction day and after having a 9 lb 10 oz first child, I wasn't going to give up the offer to have this one--which I knew was already a whopper and still had 2 weeks to go.  So, early that morning we went to the hospital to welcome our baby girl on the 13th.  What an early Valentine's present she was!  Perfection....and yes,  a whopper at 9 lb 8 oz.  If she had incubated another 2 weeks, I feel certain she would've been over 11 pounds.  Beautiful from the start, she grew into the cutest toddler ever with perfect white ringlets....I just have to show you this picture to prove just how stinkin' cute she was (and of course, still is!).

 

Most of you reading this, know our situation, and Mia had just turned 3 when her older sister got hurt and I had just found out that I was pregnant with our 3rd child.  I wanted so badly to make sure she wasn't the proverbial middle child but it wasn't easy.  Spending months away from her and having to take time away from her to care for her sisters' needs has always made me feel kinda guilty.  I know I am doing the best I can, but it still doesn't keep me from thinking I wish I had a few more hours a day to give her just a little extra attention. Mia has always been so unique.  Tough but tender, she will cry at the drop of a hat.  Fearless, but the thought of any of us being sick sends her reeling.  I guess she just has way to many memories of what a simple trip to the hospital or doctor can turn in to. 

 

When the girls were little, I always tried to take the day off on their birthday and just spend time with them.  Of course, now that they are in school it is a little different.   We can't stay out of school on their birthday, but I do try to get some special treatment on the day.  They ALWAYS choose Mexican for dinner 1) because I ate so much Mexican food while pregnant I am convinced that they are partly Mexican and 2) what is better than the waiters singing happy birthday and smearing whip cream on your face???  So, we planned for Mexican last night and I "thought" I would get up early and make her a birthday breakfast to send her off feeling special.  That is what I get for thinking!!

 

Ella came home from school sick on Monday and so I already had a Dr appointment for Tuesday morning for her.  Late Monday night, Sophie started running a fever and was up all night with a hacking cough.....I finally went to sleep at around 3 am.  BAM!  I set the alarm on my phone for 6 am.  Enough time to get Mia up and dressed and make her a quick birthday breakfast before leaving to meet the bus at 6:30.  6am alarm goes off and I close my eyes and think, just 5 more minutes.  I jerk awake at 6:31...the bus comes by the house at between 6:35 and 6:40.  I run down the hall yelling for Mia to get up.  I try to pick out clothes for her but as usual that isn't going to happen.  I yell for her to just get something and hurry up.  I grab some shoes for her and scream for her to get to the car.  She yells, "But Mom, I haven't even brushed my hair or my teeth?"  "There is not time for that, just come on!" I yell back.  She stumbles out the door, barefoot and out to the car.  I jump in the car and squeal out down the driveway.  Just as I put the car in park, the bus slows to a stop in front of us.  Mia is fumbling trying to get her shoes on.  She fumbles, flops.....a few minutes go by and the bus drives away.  CRAP!!  "Get your shoes on!"  I drive down to the next stop, following the bus.  She finally gets her shoes on and I shove her out the door with a "Happy birthday!  I love you!" Only to look and see that she has her sweatpants on backwards.....FAIL!  I quickly send this text to her teacher.

 

 

 

What a good mom.....total birthday fail.  Luckily, when she got off the bus yesterday afternoon, she was grinning from ear to ear.  She said "TODAY WAS THE BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!!"  Love this sweet girl, she can always see the positive.  She has such a sweet heart and she loves me....even if I am "that" mom. 

 Photo by Brandi Barnes Photography

SNOW DAY!

Ok, today was not "technically" a "snow day" but since "tornado, rain, and thunderstorm day" hasn't taken hold, we will just opt for the most well known term.  SO, a day off in the middle of the week....fabulous, right?  I know all my teacher friends live for the snow day, and honestly, after spending the ENTIRE day with my children.....I don't blame them.

4:55 am....My iPhone starts shrieking at me.  WEATHER ALERT.  A tornado watch for your area has been issued.  I stop and listen for a moment and don't hear the train coming, so I roll over for a few more minutes.

5:00 am....My husband's alarm goes off.  THIS IS A MAJOR PET PEEVE because I have to get out of bed and walk over to turn it off.  However, today it sounded as if the windows were going to pop out of the walls so I was kind of glad it went off.

5:01am....Turn on the tv and find that my phone was right and our house is smack dab in the middle of the tornado watch area.

5:02 am....TV goes off.  Now, this is a treat for us country folks with no cable.  When the wind is going 90 mph the satellite dish apparently can't get a signal from space.  Really?  So, I contemplate for a minute getting up and putting everyone in the closet but then decide that everyone will be wide awake if I do that SO, I decide against it.  Not my finest moment as a mother, but I am tired.  It is 5 am and the last thing I heard on the TV before it went off was that no tornado had been spotted.  I decide to chance it.

5:10 am....Beginning to wonder if my windows and walls are rated for these winds.  Is rain really supposed to sound like like an army of power washers on crack? 

5:15 am....I think I should go back to sleep.  Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz......

5:30 am....THE CALL!!  Although I am slightly annoyed to get a call at 5:30 am, I put that aside knowing that I do not have to get my children up....no lunches, no backpacks, no pouty "my ponytail is to tight" faces.  YIIPPPPPEEE!

I proceed to go back to sleep only to wake a few hours later to rumblings in the kitchen.  My oldest two decide they are going to "help" me and clean up.  Love them....secretly hate when they help because it usually spells disaster.  Luckily, I walked in just as one was about to spray the bleach that I put in an old Windex bottle all over my granite counter tops and refrigerator (while inadvertently hitting every wall, dishcloth, and food stuff in between.)

Next is the fun part.  I remember snow days as a kid, my mom always made a big breakfast.  So, I do my version of the big breakfast....bowl of cereal, pop tart, and an apple.  Cause I'm all about the nutrition, I throw in the apple for fiber.  I am not completely oblivious to the food pyramid,  duh!

After breakfast and a couple of episodes of SpongeBob, the girls escape to their rooms to play doctor or what I like to call, "Ella, the Oldest is Going to Boss You Little One's Around for a While." While it seems like if I were the little ones I would be ready to punch her in the throat, they are laughing and enjoying themselves and I get to watch some tv and return a few emails.

At lunch time, my mother comes over to rescue me for a few hours.  A little tidying up and a few games of Crazy 8's that end in tears, and she hits the door running....who can blame her???

AFTERNOON.....this is the point in the day that the fun and happiness that were experienced at the moment of the"call" have diminished a bit.....Both the children and I are getting a bit annoyed.  We have eaten everything remotely edible in the house, we have watched the maximum level of mindless tv, and we are deciding that, although we are connected by the unbreakable bonds of family....we really don't like each other very much.  Mia has punched Sophie in the face.  Ella is screaming like a banshee and  Sophie is running around the house with her underwear on her head.  I am wondering if locking myself in the bathroom until bedtime is crossing all bounds of decent motherhood rules. 

The only thing you can do at this point is enforce the "Nap Clause".... the unwritten rule of motherhood that says that we MUST take a nap or at least lay down for 5, eerrrr...2 hours on a snow day (or really everyday that I have to stay at home with you little boogers). 

5 p.m.....Dinner time.  Now, we NEVER eat this early. I kind of think eating at this time of day reminds me of my Grandparents because they went to bed at 7:30 pm.  Plus, if I eat this early, I will be hungry again at 8:30 pm, so I usually don't do it.  Today, however, I am hoping that we will go to bed at 7:30 so I go with it. 

This day is almost over and while I do enjoy a day with my kiddos, I also realize I love my job, where I am surrounded by (mostly) adults. :)  I also gain respect for all those teachers out there who spend 7+ hours with my children a day....you are amazing.  The fact that you manage to do it AND remain sane, makes you tops in my book.

DISCLAIMER:   Just so you know, I dearly love and appreciate my 3 girls.  They are the lights of my life and I would do anything for them.  They make me happy in every imaginable way and I am so blessed to be their mom. However, if I am being honest here, they also occasionally bug the crap out of me....yep, I am "that" mom.  Nighty night!  :)

What goes "_____" in the night......

Our house is RARELY still, except....I had always assumed... at night.  I am now beginning to wonder about that....A few weeks ago, Todd was up late working at the kitchen table and Mia walked in.  He said her name a few times and she didn't respond.  Mia has sleep walked in the past, so he really didn't think much about it...until....she walked over to the sink. Again, he called her name with no response.  He said that the next thing she did was open the dishwasher and start to pull her pants down like she was going to the potty!  Luckily, he jumped up and grabbed her and got her to the bathroom but she remembered nothing the next day.  I didn't think much more about it until I went to put some clothes in the laundry this morning and the basket next to the washer had something in it....

Why yes.....that is a laundry basket full of pee......

Never a dull moment around here....apparently even at night!  Happy Thanksgiving Eve!!  :)

What's that smell???

 

This is Sophie....cute, sweet, mischievous Sophie. 

I ventured in to Sophie's room and was instantly hit with a "smell."  Now, as a mother, I am not a stranger to smells.  In fact, smells are just a part of the daily life..."Who did that?" "Brush your teeth?" "Yes, you are supposed to wipe that!"...the list goes on and on.  So, initially I didn't get concerned.  But, when the "smell" stayed and began to creep out into the rest of the house, I decided it was time to investigate. She is my third, so I can honestly say I am surprised at very little.  But what I discovered was a first.....

 

 





Apparently, her play kitchen was not complete with real food....a bag of shredded cheese, a bag of lettuce, some bagels, and some bananas......

 

THIS KID KILLS ME!  :)

Oh Snack Day...I Doth Loathe Thee.....

Yes, it is true.  I have admitted this fact on here before and in admitting it, you would think that I would change my ways......no such luck.  OK, so this month I was sure to put snack day in BOLD print on the calendar.  ( I WAS TRYING!  I REALLY WAS!)

 

But wouldn't you know the morning of the 17th, at about 7 a.m., my husband looks at me with this panicked look and says, "You do know it is Mia's snack day, don't you??" 

 

SIDE NOTE: Now this is the part of the story when my blood pressure rises to stroke levels and I have to fight the urge to scream at him and say, "Why is it that because God gave me one of your ribs and a uterus, I am supposed to remember every blessed thing in this house??" But, I refrain.

 

It is at this point, panic sets in.  We have to leave in 5 minutes.  It is Wednesday, which means that anything decent that was purchased at the grocery store has now been consumed.  It has to be healthy....lord knows if it could be "Little Debbie's" I would be fine.  But at this point, I got nothin'.  Then in an "Ah-Ha" moment, my husband and I lock gazes and for one of the very few times, have a mutual thought.  PANTRY CLEAN OUT TIME!!  I go straight for "the untouchables,"  I know you all have these too...it is the one or two items left out of a pack of crackers, granola bars, etc., that for some reason unknown to man, no one will eat.  I am not sure why it happens, but there are always random left overs.  Maybe we grew tired of them before we ate the last one and they just stay in the pantry until I finally accept the fact that NO ONE is going to touch them...."the untouchables."







The basket of "Untouchables"...there are fiber bars, granola bars, nutrigrain bars, you name it......



I quickly grab the basket full and start counting...we need 19...... please let there be 19......16, 17, 18.....YES, 19!  Success! 

It is at this point, that Mia walks into the room and realizes what we are doing.....and FLIPS out!  "NO! NO! NO!  I am not carrying those for snack, everyone will hate me if I bring that for snack!"  She is crying hysterically!  Her father and I are just standing there, shocked.  I mean who knew that "snack" was such a big, stinkin' deal?  The granola bars are fine (I promise I wouldn't send out of date stuff) and everyone can chose a different one, how cool is that?  I tried to explain this to Mia....who was not hearing one word! 

 

OK, plan "B".  Since carrying this snack must be akin to social suicide in a 1st graders mind, we have to come up with something.  Back to the pantry......where I find not 1, not 2, but 3- half-eaten boxes of Cheez-Its.  Now, why we had 3 half-eaten boxes is beside me....in fact, it is about as confusing as why we can't finish a whole box of granola bars (or the many other household mysteries....why it is so hard to put another roll of toilet paper on the roll and who takes that 1 sock out of the dryer and hides it?").  But, we rush to fill 19 snack bags with Cheez-Its.....some kids got exactly 9 crackers....sorry!  But, Mia is satisfied and off to school she goes.   She comes in that afternoon, hugs me hello and says, "everyone loved my snack, Mom!"  SUCCESS!.....until next time. :)

A little harder than I thought.....

Ok, so I was totally revved up about this blogging thing.  My mind is constantly running with things I need to post, but guess what happened?  Life.  Yep, life.  I find that at the end of the day, I am too darn tired (lazy, even) to go three steps over to my computer and type.  I know it isn't just me, but do you moms out there just feel like you are pulled every which way?  I feel so torn sometimes ... work, house, kids, husband.....and rarely do any of them get 100% cause there just isn't enough to go around!!  LOL.  Not complaining, just stating facts. :) SOOOO.....in the week + that I have missed, we have had FALL BREAK.....I honestly think I love this more that the kids! No lunches, no schedule, no bedtimes, no homework.....aaaaahhhhhh.  We had a staycation (yes, I am using the made up term we people who weren't able to go out of town use to try and make our inability to do so sound cool  :))....went to the zoo, hung around the house, slept late, and of course had multiple knock-down drag outs.  Sisterly love, not!  Speaking of sisterly love, our darling Sophie, our youngest and most mischeveous child yet (thank goodness she is the last :)), decided to show us just how much she loves her sisters...........

 

Nothing says I love you like scribbling your face out and putting on some buck teeth, right?  I asked her if she did it and she grinned and said, "No, Lella (Sophie speak for "Ella") did it."  I said, "Ella did it?  Why would Ella color her face out?"  She smiled, slyly, and said, "Nooooo......I did it. But I didn't mean to."  You can guess my response....."SO, the sharpie was possessed and flew into the air and colored your sister's faces out or you fell down with the pen and just hit the picture or you had some kind of spasm that forced you to scribble their faces out or maybe you were mad cause you weren't in the picture......"  This rant was, of course, wasted on my 3 year old who blankly stared at me and said, "Lep (Sophie speak for "Yep")."   Lord, help me......but I will say, she keeps things interesting. 

 

Today is her birthday and something about your birthday brings out the love....or maybe they were just eyeing the cake......

 

Oh, and I did manage to text invites to her party Saturday night on Saturday morning.......yep, I'm that mom.  :)