Mommy's One Thing

This or That…..

2010-09-27T09:25:00.000-05:00

So I woke up this morning. Like I have to every morning. It’s Monday. My kiddo’s were all sick last night. The not so fun kind of sick. You know….the kind where you need bowls, changes of clothes, and lots of wipes, some bathing is involved, and you should be wearing a clothes pin on your nose.

So…when I woke up this particular Monday morning. I am not excited. Feeling very cranky. Thinking I am going to get nothing done but hold little people and swab the deck all day.

Then I made a very VERY conscious decision.

Instead of “this” I am going to think “that”. Here is how it went….

This – I have sick children to tend to all day

That – I have children! Beautiful, amazing, wonderful children of my very own to care for!

This – Frozen corndogs for lunch?! Ick…no, double ick!

That – I have something to eat! Even better, it comes on a stick. No mess to clean up! Ingenious

This – My house is a disaster. I need/have to clean up….dishes, toys, laundry….you get it

That – I have an able body to do these chores! And one more better, I have a house to clean! I might say, casually, that I want a cardboard box to live in with no worries, but secretly, that is not true at all!

This – I need to make dinner for hubby.

That – I have a hubby who comes home to me! And I have food to cook for him.

I know it may seem silly. But, it got me through the day that seemed so terrible to face when I first got up. And to think, I chose to do this all day in my brain is a miracle in itself. I really need to do this more often. Would help my sanity and improve my attitude.

Dave Walters, this is for you. But, mostly for me :) Thanks friend

Gecko Green Playroom

2010-02-05T22:33:00.001-06:00

Whoa! Put on your painting overalls kiddos…it’s going to be a bumpy paint job!!!

Oh but we had soooo much fun!

So I went stir crazy one day. Realized for many reasons that the boys bedroom and playroom needed to switched. It caused quite an upstir in the Millard home for a whole afternoon. But, got it done.

Now, the bedroom looked nicer, painted nursery room with Jesus pictures and coordinating curtains, and it is the warmest room in the house :) for my boys to be snuggly the rest of winter (what is left).

But, the playroom is just white walls and a whole bunch of toys. Thinking…a can of paint and a project for the boys. This will be fun…

It started with Boo OPENING THE PAINT CAN BY HIMSELF WITH A SPOON WITHOUT ME NOTICING!!!! He was ready to go, and I was trying to get there, but not fast enough for him apparently. Ok, ok. No biggie. Let’s get started. Took pj’s off and we were running with paint brushes. Literally.

Quite fun. The boys enjoyed it for like ten minutes. Boo then said, “take a break.” Hilarious, just like a man. Just as I finished that wall and went to the next wall…here they come again to paint.

Funniest part is that I really had to be on top of them watching how much paint got on the brushes, wiping the floors that got totally splattered, and constant reminding of what they should be painting (not the window, or window sills, or doors, or trim). Eli “handed” me a booger. I thought, “I will just wipe this on my pants and keep on going.” But, nope! This one was a doozie. It was gross. Needed to wash this one off. Seriously. Quick run to bathroom in 5 seconds (how much damage could they do, right?). Boy howdy…Eli was painting the actual window after I noticed he had painted some of the trim as well…I turn and Boo is painting the closet doors. Good gravy!!!! I was gone 5 seconds! REALLY? Quick fix with a wet towel that was VERY handy. Finished by another reminder of what the painting rules were…you know…just in case another booger came along.

Boo, called himself a “bad guy” for doing it. Probably because when he does something good we call him the “super hero.” So, I had to tell him it was just his super hero side that made a small mistake that could be fixed. He then said he needed a break. I hope my super hero isn’t crushed :(

The whole experience was my highlight today. I survived it. The whole house is not gecko green, thank heavens. And the boys mostly enjoyed it. Why gecko green, you ask? Well, Boo is liking green. It is their playroom after all….it’s not so bad. It’s growing on me. Why didn’t Eli pick a color, you ask? Well, he didn’t care when picking the paint he just wanted to push the shopping cart around. Understandable….

So there you go! Now…tomorrow…they are making some artwork on canvas’ to hang up in there. I am excited and will share that tomorrow…even baby Sam has a canvas for foot and hand prints. It will be awesome!

My date with my sweet Eli – aka ie

2010-02-04T22:04:00.000-06:00

My sweet two year old. He has been having a rough time. It seems everyone gets shuffled now and again with five of us in the house, and it’s hard to get everyone’s wants let alone needs met. So poor Eli…

Josh has started riding the school bus this week. Of course, being the younger brother, Eli wants to ride it too. But, Eli doesn’t go to school, yet. He cried almost every morning to go bye-bye on the bus. It breaks my heart.

So, I thought….Eli and I need special time….hmmmm

I don’t have money…and I have baby Sam. Dave has been extra busy with work and church lately….so what do I do?

We, as a family, went to the new big library. Got library cards, and I noticed they have toddler story time. We do story time at our little library close to the house, but we checked out some movies that need to be returned on Thursday….

There you go, we go to the library for story time when baby Sam is his happiest (in the morning) listen to story time and check out a train movie just for my sweet Eli. But, don’t you know I didn’t stop there. Literally across the sidewalk, on the way to the parking garage is a Chipotle. Eli and I love Chipotle (taco burrito stuff, Eli and I particularly like the guacamole and chips) and I treated us also to a coke (also something Eli and I thoroughly enjoy).

Yes, I have noticed that Eli and I are way too much alike. I LOVE it!

We sit down together to enjoy a wonderful early lunch, and finish just in time to go to the car to nurse baby Sam (while Eli drives the car) and then to return home to get Boo off the bus from school.

To top off the date with a cherry…Eli and Sam both fall asleep in the car, and stay asleep for two hours. It even gave me some time to snuggle Boo when he got home to eat lunch and start a movie.

So really quality time with everyone today. But, very special time with my sweet Eli. He is my mess maker, outside voice, strong willed middle child. But, I love him dearly. He is tender and sweet with a heart melting smile. I am going to have to commit to doing this more for all of my children.

Eli you are the bestest! I love you.

Boo bear is a Big boy!!!

2010-02-01T22:48:00.000-06:00

So, now I have to put on another brave hat…it’s time for Boo to ride the bus.

When it was first offered to me, by the school, my first reaction was, “No way!” I appreciate having to get out of my pajamas and get everyone ready for the day before like noon. REALLY appreciate the motivation. And I absolutely enjoy dropping off my sweet Boo at the front door of school with a kiss and a have a good day knowing that he is going in safely.

Well, David looked at me cross-eyed…so…ok….I would also appreciate not having to get Eli and Sam out twice a day in just a couple of hours four times a week. That is hard work. My van door is busted and Sam’s car seat has to go ALL the way in the back of the van. Back breaking. I also warmed up the car twice a day which is eating up precious gas. Speaking of gas, this would also save me gas. But, I only want to do it if Boo does…

So Dave always says, ask Boo, and if he doesn’t like it or you don’t like it then we stop doing it. He does this, I know, he knows that it will be just fine and it’s the only way he can talk me into doing these torturous things to my poor mommy heart. This I also appreciate.

So, Boo…do you want to ride the school bus to school instead of mommy driving you? His response, “The bus that goes bumpety bump?” Of course…I knew what was coming…”YES!” My heart shatters into a million pieces and melts down to the pit of my stomach sizzling in my stomach acids (yuck). But, that is how it feels to me.

So Monday, pack him up, get him ready, and there is the dreaded bus at my driveway. Boo, is soooo excited, but I can tell he is not sure, just because it is his first time. The first time for me to ask Boo to do anything new makes me worry until I know he likes it. So all morning I stew…is he ok? did he get there? will he like it? did he cry? was he scared?

As I think of all these things I remember that I didn’t say a prayer with him (which is something I do every morning in the car on the way to school). Yep, you guessed it, I start balling at this revelation. I didn’t pray for his safety, or for God to be with him in this new experience…how could I have done that?

I quickly say a prayer to myself through tears. And cry till he gets home. He gets off with a smile :) He loves the bus. Of course, he does. Now, tomorrow just have to remember to pray before he walks out the door. He is more precious than gold, and much braver than myself.

Boo you are a big boy! But, don’t forget your mommy loves you and worries about you all the time because you mean the world to me!!

Give credit where credit is due…

2010-01-25T10:35:00.001-06:00

To that man of mine.

I have to say I kind of let my hubby have it on Saturday. I was just fed up. I have been feeling sick lately, a lot sick for a long time…and we all know how hard it is to be a mom. When you’re a mom of little kiddos you just can’t take a sick day. I have been sick for 3 weeks now! Boy, am I done.

I have also been thinking that lately I have been very generous to let David do things that he wants to do, and I TRY to allow and not complain later. I know it’s silly, but even on days he needs to work late. Yes, I feel like I give permission for that :), but we all know he does it cause he has to.

By Saturday, I had had enough. I needed, desperately, a break. A small amount of time when no one was asking for chocolate milk, climbing on me, whining, fighting, pooping….well, you get it.

Of course, before I left I just gave it to my hubby. How unfair and imbalanced things seemed to me. I told him EXACTLY how I felt. And that wasn’t fair either.

My hubby tries soooo hard. He is really starting to get how things are with me, what is important, and how to keep me happy…mostly. But, you know, enough was enough.

Now, I don’t know how long it will last, but the rest of the weekend the dishes were caught up and the house was picked up. Hmmmm, nice! He even finished fixing the bathroom sink and really helped out with the boys when things got hairy.

I’d like to think this to last forever…probably not. But, I know that his intentions are good and that he loves me tenderly.

So, hubby, here is your credit…thank you. I did notice. I do appreciate you listening to me. I do love the man that you are becoming for this family and its needs. Mostly, I love you tenderly back. Know that EVERYTHING I do is for you and these precious boys of ours. I may get fed up with my job, but I LOVE, ADORE, and TREASURE my job and life now. I really do. I would never in a million decades trade my life for some recreation and sleep. EVER!!!

Dr. Millard and Dr. Millard….

2010-01-22T13:39:00.000-06:00

My boys are wonderful. As if you haven’t figured that out by now….

I had to take baby Sam in today for his four month shots. The boys came with me. Surprisingly enough…they were amazing!

Eli played with micromachine cars on the floor and Josh…well, here it comes…the point of this blog…

Josh, aka Dr. Millard, goes to help himself to the latex gloves, that were a fun color of purple, proceeds to put them on and “takes care of” the patient…Sam.

Baby Sam loves this. Smiles right at him. And our family doc liked it too.

Then the fun part is over, and I warn the boys that baby Sam is about to get his shots. That they will hurt him, but we do it so he won’t get sick. That we will take care of him today because of it. Pretty much saying we all have to be brave.

The two nurses come in to do the job….started to get their latex gloves, and here come my boys jumping right in. They both dive into the latex gloves and start prepping with the nurses. Ready to take care of our baby Sam.

Josh tells him it will be ok, and Eli…well, it takes him quite a while to get his glove on. By the time he figures it out and gets it on the whole thing is over.

I quickly pick up baby Sam to hold him tight and calm him down.

Dr. Millard and Dr. Millard both come over and give him a kiss on the head. Just what the doctor ordered!

My boys are amazing, precious, sweet, loving, kind, and wonderful. I want them to know that we will always take care of each other because that is what we have here on Earth and forever….each other. I am so very proud of them. They take care of each. Yes, an occasional fight here and there, but the majority of the time it is LOVE here. It makes me so proud to be their mom. Maybe someday I might actually have a doctor in the family too :)

Maybe a funk….? :) Nope, God’s got this one

2010-01-09T23:31:00.000-06:00

Maybe it’s just a funk. I mean, I have been pregnant for what feels like about 5 years, produced 3 babies. In that time, I’ll just say it….I am not a good pregnant person. My hormones totally take over. I cry, I yell, I get emotional, I get angry, I just ride that hormone rollercoaster all the way from the moment I know I’m pregnant to about 3 months later.

Things are simmering down. My 4 year old is in preschool this year. My two year old, well, he is crazy, but I just let him throw his fits in between his incredibly sweet moments. Then there is my 4 month old angel. He is the most easy wonderful baby ever.

Maybe, I am getting in the groove. You know, I have come to the realization that my dishes don’t have to be done. Why do they have to be done? Cause my mom says so? If they aren’t, am I losing it? Nope, I just have a grip on reality, if you ask me. And, I know what is important that day, which it is certainly not my dishes. It’s my sanity, or the movie my boys want to watch with their mommy .

So, yeah….part of it, not going to lie, is our financial situation. It’s pretty bleak. Quite frightening, at the moment, to be honest. But, it’s not going to kill me. So far, won’t put me in jail. So….I could say that this is tearing me down. If it was, especially the day of my last post…then that is the last day that it will bring me down. I am flying on the wings of faith with that one. Leaving it in God’s hands. I am not going to leave the situation blindly, I am just going to ask him to tell me what to do, and it’s done.

With that said, as of today, I am ok. I am in a groove. I have my head on straight. I have my priorities in place. I will always have my husband by my side along with Heavenly Father. And I have my boys. The reason I keep going. The reason I breath. The reason I want to be a better person, no…an amazing person. The reason I grow.

Maybe I was worried that I wasn’t having emotional drama. I’m thinking I don’t need that. I have grown up with that ALL MY LIFE!!!! It feels foreign to not have it. What I have instead is peace, smiles, knowledge, and happiness. Maybe I am getting somewhere with this. It’s just new to me. It does feel foreign. But, it’s ok to be at peace with no emotional baggage, or worries, or strain.

So now I’ve gone from ok, to maybe I am doing AWESOME. I haven’t felt this way in so long, that it was smacking me in the face, and I thought something was wrong??? MAYBE I have never felt this. You know, I am chewing on this one for a while.

I’m laughing…I sat down with no idea what I was going to say, and you just witnessed me lay it out. No, you witnessed God laying it out for me. :) This makes me happy. Thank you Heavenly Father, you never cease to amaze and teach me. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for being in my life. Thank you for blessing me. Thank you for peace. Thank you for happiness. Thank you for my family. Thank you for those who read this. Thank you for this personal revelation.

For those who expressed to me that you have felt the same…be strong, be diligent, be brave, be faithful, and may you find peace too.

i got the blues…..or do i?

2010-01-08T15:07:00.000-06:00

So, this is not finding my one thing today. This is asking for help…..ideas. I am feeling a little lost. I feel I have lost my spunk….my fight. I have stopped crying when defeated. Stopped speaking up for what I think is right in my household. Just kind of stopped.

It’s not upsetting to see boys go to bed too late. It’s not bothering me as much that all of my dishes are dirty, that my trash stinks, that I have been stuck in my house for 5 days straight with school cancelled.

Yes, I have tried the usuals….chocolate, food, my occasional coke, baking, winter walk for fresh air, praying, just doing things with my precious children, and even going to sonic to get corn dogs with the kiddos, but nothing seems to work. I have also considered that the holidays are over, but this has not affected me before?

I have thought that maybe nothing is wrong and I am finding the groove of the family. But, if that is so why do I feel so icky inside?

Are these things bothering me and I dont know it? I definitely feel out of sorts. I am sure though that I am not the only one that feels this way. Do others go through this and have figured it out? I feel new at my job still.

You know, I like the snow. The holiday is done and over. I like being a house mommy and wife. I even like throwing my mommy fits every once in a while. I like that I can mostly keep up with dishes and clothes, and that it’s my job to do so….so still brings me back to why I have lost my spunk?

So, for those few that look at this….what ya think? Am I losing my insanity? I hope not, I like it…well, I will wait anxiously for any insight…let me know :)

I failed to mention…

2009-12-10T16:27:00.000-06:00

My hubby, without any complaints I have to add, helped me start my project of cleaning the garage!

This will make the van warmer in winter, and give me a space to give myself some dance classes.

YAY!!!!

So…its raining and pouring

2009-12-10T16:23:00.000-06:00

Yeah, been a bad day.

But, I found one small thing that felt huge in my heart.

As explained before, the day has been rough, in the afternoon after no one would take a nap, not even baby Sam, I decided to hold him in my arms and start dinner. Eli was watching tv, and Josh was under my feet driving a train.

I kept flustering around the kitchen working with no energy and one arm, as the other one was holding baby Sam. I have a recycling grocery sack on garage door in kitchen to hold recycling things until it’s full and gets put in the big bin outside. I kept trying to put this empty can in the sack with one arm. It kept falling, of course. After the third time it fell from my attempts…I took a deep sigh and decided to let it go and leave it on the floor. Maybe…I will pick it up later, maybe. I go back to the stove to tend to dinner.

And I saw my sweet little Josh stop what he was doing, pick up the can, and put it in the recycling. I didn’t tell him to. He just did it. My precious boy. My one moment.

I have found at times, when I am frustrated, instead of screaming and getting angry I will sigh as if I am totally defeated and giving up. When I do this, I get amazing results from my children. They truly do want to help and not be the crazy little tazmanian devils that they can be. Maybe I should give up more easily :) in the future.

Thanks Boo, mommy loves you

Put your seatbelts on, it’s going to be a bumpy ride….

2009-12-10T09:59:00.000-06:00

Oh dear. I know this is suppose to be one good thing for the day, but….

It’s only ten o’clock – It’s really cold outside like five degrees, I go to take my four year old to school and try to pull van door open so that I can pile the kiddos in, and it won’t budge. Yes, I put all my weight into it, and wouldn’t you know the handle pops off and I land straight on my backside. There goes my chiropractic work for the week that I had done on Tuesday. Well, it did last a good day for me.

So off to school, yep, late. They are not piling kids out of the car anymore. I have to bring in all 3 kids in this really cold weather and a broken door that wont open, so after a deep deep sigh, holding back tears, I start with Josh out the passenger door. Take him to the door. Get Eli out, who just is screaming “Bye Boo have a good day at school! Go home, mama!” So, yep, he doesn’t want to get out….got him to the door with a small struggle and some coaxing….now the baby. Will it ever end? Just as I turn to get baby Sam out a lady comes to the door. Ms. Mendy says, “you know its been a rough morning, I will take him in.” THANK YOU!!

Now, pile Eli back in the van, yep in passenger door, do some more acrobatic tricks to get back there with him to buckle him in, and head off. I have to admit, being totally honest, was balling my eyes out like a baby at this point.

You see, my winter coat got ruined in the basement. So was doing all this in a tiny little fleece jacket. And, yep, I have this perpetual cold since this is my four year olds first year of preschool. We are ALWAYS sick, me mostly.

As I am typing this I spill my drink all down the front of my sweater…my husband says at this point the day has to get better…

At this point, I beg to differ

Somehow, I will promise myself that this will not be the only post I do today because there will be one good thing that will come out of today. Just has to. One small little thing, please Heavenly Father?

All I want for Christmas is a mommy chair

2009-12-07T16:34:00.000-06:00

So I have had 3 babies.

The first baby, I got a new rocker. Loved it. An overstuffed one with an ottoman. It started to squeak and not quite work right. Then, yep, someone who shouldn’t have sat in it and demolished it.

I made it last as long as I could. Through most of baby 2.

Baby 3 comes along. Scraping the money jar, I go to a garage sale and get a ten dollar VERY used reclining rocker for $10. THRIFTY!!! Then that same “someone” sits in it and breaks it!!!! AAAAHHHHHRRRGGGGHHHH!

All I want for Christmas is a mommy chair. Overstuffed, rocking, reclining, soft, amazing chair.

We received a Christmas money gift. Dave says without hesitation…”I think you need to get a mommy chair.”

WHAT?!

3 days later, and a trip to Nebraska Furniture Mart…I buy a mommy chair. It was on a closeout sale, and it’s P-E-R-F-E-C-T. It has made my day, week, and year!

Thanks Santa, well, Dave, and Papa and Urder!!!

Beautiful beautiful beautiful Baby Boys

2009-11-04T21:04:00.000-06:00

Ok, I cannot or will not lie about today. There is no sugar coating here. Was not a good day for me. I am not sure anything was different…I just couldn’t handle the noise or the schedule today. It was me.

BUT

I have 3 beautiful boys. Each one of them gave me a tender moment. That is what I want to hold onto for today.

ELI- we went to wal-mart today. We HAD to get chocolate milk. He wanted down. It is just us, well baby Sam too, but he doesn’t move on me much. So, I let him down to wander while I follow. Usually, we go to toys. But, today (I should mention here, it is a new big wal-mart for us) he went to side section where they keep plants and gardening stuff on the side. Today, they had Christmas trees and decorations. Eli, went right to the trees with a big smile on his face, “Look it, ma!,” and started spinning around to the Christmas music that was playing. What a sweetheart.

SAM- sometimes we get to talk while I change his diaper. I goo over him and he wiggles his eyebrows with a smile. Today, i gooed and he did it right back at me with an amazing smile that said, “Yes, I am amazingly cute, ma!”

JOSH- Nine o’clock and daddy is still not home from a church meeting. Yes, I am done. So what do I do? As usual, cry. Defeated. I have my eyes closed sitting on the edge of my bed holding Sam, crying, Josh is wiping my tears with the edge of my blanket and says, “Mommy, your eyes are too wet,” with a sweet smile that says it’s ok.

BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL baby boys I love you dearly!

My Superhero!!!

2009-11-03T09:53:00.000-06:00

Well, I have to admit it sometimes. The hubs is good. I woke up this morning and every dish was done. Washed and dried on counter. And I absolutely don’t mind putting them away. While in the kitchen doing that, a little bird sat on my window to say hello. That has never happened! And I thought today was going to be one of those yucky days. Fooled again!

Thanks Dave, you are a gem, especially when you want to be :) I love you.

And a little side salad to go with that bonus….finally, the batteries recharged so baby Sam can swing again today. Yay! Even though, I did totally enjoy sleeping with all 3 of my boys last night. What a warm snuggly treat (especially since I forgot to turn on the heat last night). I love you too, boys!

This is just the start of my day. So it has to be good, right?

What?!

2009-11-02T10:11:00.000-06:00

Ok, ok, ok. I knew it was bound to happen, but…..

The day went off without a hitch. So, now that I am trying to be more observant of what is going on during the day, I am always asking is this the moment today? Is this my blessing? But, all day today, I asked…”Is anything going wrong today?” What?!

Yeah, I can hardly believe it. Easy going day. The boys were content. Ate their meals when they needed to. Eli took a nap. Sam, oh, he is too easy. Mommy, even was well-behaved. This is crazy talk. I cannot believe it now as I am typing.

So the one thing today is…..today! Wow!

Now, I might need to brace myself for tomorrow, but maybe I won’t. Look, now my optimistic side is coming out, right with the sun. This is good. Very good.

Who knows? Maybe this has been going on for a while, and I am just now noticing. Thanks blog.

It’s Halloween

2009-10-31T02:06:00.000-05:00

Come on, it’s Halloween…any day you can dress up your kiddos and get free candy is a good day. Yeah, it was crazy and hectic at times. But, we went to the Solars for a kid friendly party and trick or treating. Josh ate dinner! This is a big deal. My fav moments were when Eli, in his very shy voice, going up to the door and saying trick or treat for candy, and Josh plowing his friends down to be first at the door. My perfect little guys! It was a good day.

Squeeze…you’re it!

2009-10-30T01:26:00.000-05:00

When you write out a description of my job, in the top five would be diaper changing.

I was changing baby Sam for the millionth time, it is the end of the day, yep, when mama is EXHAUSTED! When, hubby comes from behind and gives me a big hug. Sometimes the hubby can know what to do without me asking, and fix it.

Simple and sweet. Now it’s my turn to return the favor.

Scary Guys

2009-10-29T00:55:00.000-05:00

You guessed it….what? Another crazy morning and I didn’t get breakfast. I am already seeing a reoccurring theme here. So no breakfast and it is Ooey Gooey day at preschool. Families are invited, and I totally have to go and play with Josh at school. I have to admit I knew it would be crazy going to a school activity at school with Eli and baby Sam too, but why be sane?

I spent all morning playing with pumpkins, bowling for ghosts, reading stories, and drinking apple juice while nursing a baby and tending to, yet again, a cranky Eli who didn’t eat breakfast either. It was fun to see my sweet Josh be so independent, though. And, as a proud mommy would say, I thought he behaved really well.

But, at the end of the activities, Josh got a special box with Halloween goodies inside. You can imagine the jealousy of Eli. He was beside himself to not get a box. Why didn’t everyone get one you ask? Me too? Seemed a little unfair, but what can you do? Josh wasn’t too keen on the idea of sharing his special box either. He was eyeballing that thing in his to go home box the whole last hour of school. So, I don’t blame him.

I try everything to bribe Eli. Yes, I will go to the store and get Eli a special box. It’s only fair, he was good at school today, too. Didn’t exactly work. What am I going to do? And money to get a box? Well, it was a dilemma…

Here comes the good moment, I promise…

Not trying to dwell on bad, but for this story, you kind of need a little background to get the aaaahhhhh moment….I think.

Mee-maw sent a Halloween treat in the mail. Thank you mee-maw. She saves the day! I do have to mention here, it is two o’clock in the afternoon, and I still haven’t eaten.

In the mail, she sent scary guys (this is what Josh calls skeletons) she made for the boys. For the moment, Josh is elated, Eli content, and Sam well…he sleeps a lot. But, what was good about my day today was that there was $5 in a card for me. Yes, she said to get a bag of candy for me to not be left out on Halloween. But, I got my first dollar double stacker from McDonalds (and yeah, kinda addicted to them now) and a dollar fry for me and Josh. Eli finally falls asleep.

There is my moment of the day. A double stacker from McDonalds unexpectedly with some super sweet scary guys that are fun to dance around with, and swing with, or sleep with. Thanks mee-maw!

My Big Catholic Angel

2009-10-28T00:00:00.000-05:00

Here I go again. Another cra-azy day. I woke up late. We are literally the last car to drop off at school. Whoo! Then, I frantically take my other toddler and two month old baby to the doctor for the first round of immunization shots. I DO NOT LIKE DOING THIS! My sweet Eli, the toddler, did not eat breakfast. You can do the math, Eli + no breakfast = cranky Eli. My husband said we had “slightly” expired baby tylenol, yeah, um Dave, it’s almost a year expired! The nurse said, “Yeah, better toss that out.” No funds, and I need tylenol to feel like I am doing something to make my baby feel ok with these horrible shots I have forced on him. Amongst all this, I forgot to ask Dave the day before how to pay for this doctors visit, and it only takes four phone calls to figure this out. Ugh!

So, without any money, I need to feed my Eli and find baby tylenol (the nurse tried to get me some samples, but of course, they were out). Feeding myself sounded like a good idea too, before having to pick up Josh from school at noon. It is 10:45. “Really? Only 10:45? Not knowing how everything was going to fall into place is not easy for me to handle especially on an empty stomach. After counting my cents, I am in the parking lot of Target crying, yes crying and breathing, trying to pull myself together. Ok, I tell myself, “deep breath grab some strength and patience and your kiddos and go into the store. You can do this.” While I am having this dialogue with myself, I notice a larger woman getting into her car in front of me looking at me. I think, so what, I am crying quit staring.

And wouldn’t you know. That lady approached me. She was a bigger lady, and as she said, “I’m sorry to bother you, but are you ok?” I noticed a New York accent. I smiled and said, as most do, “yes, just a bad day.” She then proceeded, “I am a grandma, and I am going to give you a hug.” I did not hesitate. I needed this hug. She took both arms and wrapped them around me and gave a good old squeeze.

Then we talked a bit. She told me how her daughter had suffered some depression when she had a baby. I told her a bit of what was going on with me for that day, and she finished by saying I should prop my feet up when I get home and drink some wine. I chuckled, yeah….don’t drink. She started to walk away, but turned around and said, “AND PRAY.” This I had been doing all morning long with every little step I was taking. Praying for Josh to have a good day at school, for Sam to be brave with his shots, for Eli to stop being cranky, for me to have endurance, for money to magically appear for medicine and a hot dog, and for just some good ol’ fashioned peace. But….a little reminder doesn’t hurt.

Now you may ask how I knew she was Catholic??? She then said, “and if that doesn’t work, do your rosary.” There it was….my dear big Catholic angel. I don’t know her name, but I know who sent her. And I didn’t cry for the rest of the day, instead, I kind of chuckled.

Oh Sweet Fall

2009-10-27T22:22:00.000-05:00

So, today is very hectic, well….that is how I see it. To my boys, it’s always a busy day. What I have noticed is even at their busiest moments they can stop at the drop of a hat and completely enjoy something sweet and beautiful like fall. I am crazily putting my boys into the car, all three of them, to get Josh to school on time (no small feat ever for me). As I am herding them to stop playing around, or being busy, I look over at Josh, and he is standing under our cherry willow tree watching the leaves fall down on him with the sweetest smile. This was my tender moment for the day. I even took a moment to watch and talk about the leaves with him, and surprisingly we still made it to school just in the nick of time. Thanks sweet boo, for helping mommy enjoy something so simply sweet. I did try to capture the moment later with my camera, not exactly the same, but still fun.