Mama Said

Mama said there'd be days like this, there'd be days like this my mama said.

I realize that our situation is not unique and every parent goes through spells like this; however, it is a special kind of test that God puts us through during times like these.  A friend told me I should write a blog about our current situation and it might make me feel better.  Here goes. 

***

I can handle one child having a bad day.  I don't even blink an eye. 

Two children having bad day?  I get a bit exasperated. 

Three children having a bad day all at the same time?  Stick a fork in me.  I'm done. 

Last week one evening all three children decided to have 'a moment' concurrently.  It was hell.  One child was teething, multiples were in various levels of screaming and crying due to various atrocities and injustices in their lives, there was poop on the concrete floor of the utility room from a diaper that had been ripped off....  I could go on and on.  Wes was gone that evening working on cattle matters so I was left to face the troops alone.  I finally broke down and called my mama that lives two hours away.  Not so much for advice but just to vent.  I think she found quite a bit more humor in the situation than was necessary, but she did advise me to turn on the t.v., pour a drink of choice, fix baloney sandwiches for supper and call it a day. 

Thanks, Mama.

***

Two children in our home are in various stages of teething and also decided to get ear infections at the same time.  Thank you very much.

***

We tried to go out for supper and an evening of relaxation last night.  I got home at midnight to find that my living room had turned into a triage center filled with strategically placed towels, chairs, and puke buckets.  Apparently, as soon as we walked out the door that evening John decided to throw up every last ounce of bodily fluids across the entirety of my mother-in-law's home.  Bless her heart, Grandma Nellie rolled up her sleeves and dealt with a four year old, a two year old that was puking mercilessly, and a six month old that refuses to take a bottle but will eat sweet potatoes like there is no tomorrow.  She never called and I got to enjoy basking in the sweet bliss that is only found when you can cut your steak, and only your own steak, at supper. 

Gold star, Grandma Nellie.  Who am I kidding?  That was a three star kind of effort. 

***

It's not like Wesley and I are totally immune to the germs that float around.  He and I have been battling head colds and chest congestion for better than a week.  This morning I had quite a productive cough that produced more phlegm than anyone should ever have.  I ran to the bathroom and proceeded to choke/cough/puke into the toilet.  Not a life altering event in my book. 

I walked out of the bathroom to find Kenyon sitting on the floor, very emotional and crying.  He proceeded tell me that he heard me in the bathroom being sick and wondered if that meant I had another baby in my belly.  Apparently my morning sickness affected more than just me during all these pregnancies the past few years.

(For the record, I'm not pregnant.) 

Life Lately

Here's a quick and dirty rundown of life lately down our little dirt road. 

We (I) am trying to help Kenyon hone his fine motor skills and learn to cut along straight lines.  What better way to practice than by cutting out coupons for your mama?  Answer: There is no better way.  He cut out LOTS of coupons for me, regardless of my need.  I almost feel obligated to purchase two bottles of Miralax at this point just to use the 75 cent coupon he cut out for me.  What a sweet boy. 

Some afternoons, naptime is great for the mama.  Some afternoons, naptime goes more like this:

...and the mama accomplishes nothing.

Is this Halloween or just a nice, dress up occasion like church or a wedding?  I'll let you decide. 

I think the chinks and spurs gave it away.  It was our feeble attempt at Halloween.  I'm not particularly fond of the holiday and thus put minimal effort into it. The clothes really are some of the boys' nice church clothes and the chinks and spurs were mine from my youth.  Made me tear up seeing Kenyon wear them. 

I dreamed this 'Flapper Girl' outfit up about an hour before we walked out the door to trick-or-treat at three sets of grandparents' houses.  She was also wearing Mary Jane shoes.  Regardless of this dumb holiday, the kids looked sharp. 

If the weather is even close to decent, you'll find the boys down at the horse pen, hanging out with their friend, Honey.  If I had a nickle for every hour I did this during my childhood, I'd be rich.  I love seeing Kenyon and John instinctively do some of these very same things.  I wish every kiddo could spend some time just sitting on a fence, talking to their best friend.  

Again, this little girl and her 'nap time'.  She was such a perfect baby, but now that's she's getting some personality to her, I just don't know about this one.  Too late to send her back and it's a bit too early in the day to start drinking...

Our little, local library has a story hour every week.  This is my favorite craft to date - a bat.  We read a story that talked about swallowing a bat.  

There was an old lady that swallowed a bat.  

I don't know why she swallowed a bat.  

Imagine that!

Later, I asked Kenyon about the little old lady that swallowed a bat.  Why do you think she did that?  His response: "I dunno.  I think she needed to go grocery shopping or something because she didn't have enough food to eat." 

I love that he is so practical and has some critical thinking skills established.