Klondike to the Rescue

Tonight as I was getting dinner ready, I put the salad and the dressing out on the table. I put the salad in everyone’s bowls.

I walked into the dining room, to find my 3 year old had left the living room and sat down at the table. He poured two bottles of salad dressing into his bowl. One I had just made. I was a little angry.

At dinner, we had rice and steak. He decided he wanted to hide his steak in his rice. He continually got frustrated when the steak would peak out from the rice he was eating. I was silently plotting what I could do with him. He was whining and getting more frustrated. Several times I mentioned I would put him to bed if he didn’t stop. After a trip to the corner, he did stop, and proceeded to eat. Needless to say he is still alive; I didn’t kill him. I have de-stressed by taking a few bites of a Klondike bar. We don’t normally have Klondike bars, but the other day at the baseball field, I gave my son a dollar to buy a hot dog, and he bought a Klondike bar. He knows he can’t eat them; he’s lactose intolerant. I held onto it and brought it home; I knew it would come in handy for an emergency.

Speaking of unauthorized ice cream purchases, today my two sons bought Popsicles from the ice cream truck without asking me. Now, they have been waiting for the ice cream truck to come at the right time for days. So I couldn’t really be mad. It was kind of cute actually. They got their own money to buy them. Patrick spent four of his five dollars from his wallet. I am glad that he shared with his brother.

Now they are playing legos. And I have started to clear the table. But, since we had rice, I have a lot of rice to clean off the floor. Better get to it.

A Very Grumpy Day

Today, the 14th day of rain in a row, (or what seems like at least 14 days) has just been too, too grumpy. Having to be inside most of the day with the boys, (who did go outside when it stopped for a while), is just too much.

Then there was the ant problem. Yesterday, my son took out the trash like he usually does. But instead of putting the trash in the can, he just left the bag on the floor. So today, I went downstairs, and there was a trail of about a million ants from a crack in the garage floor, over to the trash bag. Grrrrrrr. Needless to say, he is now down in the garage, cleaning up dead ants with paper towels. I sprayed the ants with Windex to kill them, but they are still on the floor.

I tried to take a nap today. This was while the kids were outside with the babysitter, who came to watch the kids while I went to the Dr. for my appointment and ultrasound. I had her stay a little while after lunch to play with the boys while Anna took a nap, and I tried to nap. But when it started to sprinkle out again, they came back in and played hide and seek. She tried to keep them on the first floor, but they were excited and made a lot of noise, so I awoke.

So in general, I think I am just flustered with so many rainy days in a row - in June, with school out. We have not used the pool in at least two weeks, have played outside as little as the weather allowed, have been the library, and the McDonalds play place, but we can not go there every day. I am hoping tomorrow is really going to be dry like the weather promised. Otherwise, I might have to check into a mental institution.

Well, one interesting thing did happen today. I saw my new baby in ultrasound. I didn’t find out the sex yet, I am waiting till tonight when my husband gets home. I had the technician write it down on a piece of paper for us to discover together. I am really hoping for a girl, but when she was measuring the legs, I thought I might have seen a boy, but I could be wrong, that could have been the umbilical cord. Well just have to wait and see, hope he is not home to late tonight!

Well, now I am off to the garage to check the ant cleaning progress, and help a little. Just part of my grumpy, grumpy day!

***

A couple good things happened recently. This past weekend, Anna started to walk all by herself. She had been doing it holding on to our hands, or furniture, but she finally took independent steps on Sat. and then really got the hang of it on Sunday. She was so excited and happy and proud of herself. And we were so proud of her. Mike and I sat opposite each other, and she walked back and fourth between us. Then we moved farther apart, and she took more steps. Now she is walking all over the house, still with her arms up in the air for balance, it is very cute!

Also, yesterday was the first day she went completely without nursing. I had been gradually cutting down on her nursing for months, and had put her to bed before without milk, but never gone a whole day without nursing. It has been a little hard for her going to bed without the nursing, but she is getting used to it. Tonight she has been having a hard time, but I just gave her some milk in a sippy cup and hugged her some more. It is 8:15 now, so hopefully she will stop crying and fall asleep soon. She is 17 months now, so I don’t feel bad. She is the only child who was learned to walk and weaned at the same time. The boys all walked at much younger ages, but that’s ok. I’m glad she is walking now!

Pregnancy Number one......Versus Number Five

Pregnancy Number One

Receive lots of attention at work, because everyone is so excited that you are going to have a baby. Receive surprise baby shower at work. Spend time looking through baby name books, and decorating the baby's room. Visit family for another baby shower.

A few weeks before the baby is supposed to be born, start maternity leave. Spend the days napping, relaxing, talking on the phone, taking walks, and doing occasional housework uninterrupted. Shop for maternity clothes, and start collecting baby gear. Receive phone calls from husband during the day to ask how I am doing.

Pregnancy Number Five

Get up at 6:30 to rescue one year old from her crib. Bring her into our room to try to pacify her for a few minutes until the sun comes up. Hear chatter of two boys playing in the next room. Hope that the oldest sleeps for a little while longer.

Spend the day keeping kids happy and occupied and playing referee, cooking, going to library and playgrounds, and anywhere to keep us from being stuck at home all day. Try to fit in laundry and dishes along the way, and keep the house reasonably clean. Refill sippy cups, hug the tearful, and keep going on....

At 6 pm receive phone call from husband that he is going to be working late.

At 7:00, having put the baby to bed, feel incredibly tired and lay down for a few minutes. Briefly fall asleep, then wake at 7:30 to reluctantly start another bedtime routine with younger two boys. Get their teeth brushed, change them to pajamas, read them stories. Tuck them in and then, just as you thought you were done, get them water, because they are begging as if their life depends on it.

Come downstairs to try to maybe relax for a minute. Oldest son sees you and announces that he is hungry. Sit on the couch and tell him to find something in the fridge, and let him microwave it himself. Tell him to clean up after himself. Walk into the kitchen and see that he has already gone upstairs. Put the leftovers away. Then give him a bath and supervise teeth brushing, and make sure he puts on pajamas. Tell him goodnight.

Come downstairs and see that it is now 9:30. Just another 15 hour day.