Runnes by nature hate treadmills.
Nothing to look at.
You are just on running in place no forward motion.
If that isn't parenthood I'm not sure what it is?
Yesterday marked another "get crap done day"
I woke up way to hear my husband running the vacuum....why? oh there is water coming in the basement
I begrudgingly get out of my nice warm bed to start my never ending day
Husband wakes up the first oldest and he is in the shower. Once he's out I wake up 2nd oldest to get him in the shower and ready for school.
I throw in my first load of laundry knowing full well that's not the end of that
Youngest son wakes up on his own and at full volume and energy as usual.
I start tinkering with the dishwasher to see if I can fix it (it wouldn't yesterday). Well apparently I did something right because it started running (just call me MacGyver or lucky....either way ill take it)
Get 2nd oldest out the door to the bus reminding him it's cold and yes coats are mandatory.
Call my dad and ask him to drive oldest to school since I have way to much happening to get him there (I am so lucky to have my dad, he is a huge help for me....lesson 1 I am not super mom and know when to call in reinforcements)
Get the youngest son out the door to the bus he is happy to stand in the rain dispute the fact our bus stop is our driveway and he can stand nice and dry on the front porch or in the garage.
Now my youngest has finally decided to get out of her nice warm bed (um why is it when I want to sleep in she is up at 7am but oh no today it's a leisurely roll out of bed at 830am day)
Time to make my bed and clean my dresser and nightstand. It's full of my children's stuff (I know one day I will miss the frozen lip gloss,ds games and kids books cluttering my furniture)but for now it's clear and clean until the kids get home from school.
Now it's time to vacuum. That's a daily thing here...with 4 kids the dog and the cat and the fact we have more leaves on the ground outside than a national park....well there is no way I can skip even one day.
Time to rush to the store to pellets for our pellet stove. Nothing like running errands in the cold rain
On the way home get a call that 2nd oldest threw up at school.
Derailed my plans to pick him up. He feels fine and he has a nervous stomach but home he is for the rest of the day
Now it's off to take oldest son to his orthopedist appt
It's official he needs surgery on his knee
There is never a good time for surgery especially around the holidays but we are all scheduled for Dec 4th
Now to drop him back to school
Then to rush home and put 2nd oldest in bed and feed the youngest
And then it's a mad dash back out the door to take her to preschool
Then it's home to switch the laundry, wrap a few Christmas and birthday presents
2.5 hours are over in a flash and it's time to pick up the youngest and the oldest at there schools.
I quickly drop them at home and pick up 2nd oldest as it's time for his doctors appt.
That lasts an hour and it's the mad dash home to get the youngest as she has cheer tumbling
Thank goodness the oldest got him dressed for me
But since I'm mom of the year it's McDonald's for dinner.
And then a 2hr class. And then it's home for bath and bed.
It's another treadmill day......
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Monday, November 3, 2014
GCDD 11/3/14 (Getting crap done day)
Mondays are my day off from work (I run a home daycare Tuesday-Friday). It's been a little over a year since I switched to this schedule and I couldn't imagine going back to working 5 days a week again. With 4 kids life is a never ending hamster wheel. My Mondays are my saving grace. They are my catch up day. This day allows me to get done the errands and chores I've neglected or meant to get to. I try and get the drs appts and school volunteering on this day as well.
Needless to say Mondays aren't a "day off" I am busier on Mondays than I am any other day hands down.
Today's getting crap done day consisted of...
1. Waking up in a panic as the clock said 730 and we need to be out the door to get the oldest to school. Run screaming to the 3 youngest to get up and throw on sweatshirts and and shoes (they are off school today). Run to turn car on and oldest is like "what are you doing it's only 630" crap guess who forgot to change her clocks???
2. Well now all the kids are up at the crack of dawn demanding food. I bribe them with a muffin or donut at the grocery store if they leave me in peace to take a shower
3. Morning shower....this is unheard of because without bribery it's like a world war 3 the middle I step inside
4. Time to tackle the laundry we just went away this past weekend camping so it's quite the mountain (keeping track I wash, dried and put away 5 loads of laundry over the course of my day
5. Now it's actually time to drop the big one off at school
6. Since I don't function without multitasking I take the 3 youngest to the grocery store to grab the few items I need. They each collect there bribery for the shower and I'm picking up 2 muffins and a donut
7. Realise I'm now running late and it's time for school conference for youngest boy. Okay no time for electronics or books we are going as is..... manage to keep 3 kids entertained with 1 iPhone. Mark your calendar that's one for the record books
8. Back home to put away the groceries. Decide to make banana bread because I have a touch of Martha Stewart and add.
9. Start baking chicken, baking potatoes and steaming broccoli to make my husband and my lunches for this week. We are both trying to eat better and it involves overlooking and having it all ready.
10. Clean middle son's room, organize his closet and rearrange his furniture
11. Clean youngest son's room, organize his closet and clean his bookcase
12. Clean and organize linen closet cause now I'm on a roll
13. Clean and organize daughter's room....this takes no time as she's only 4 and hasn't become a hoarder yet like her older brothers
14. Crap it's 1pm and I haven't fed kids.....order pizza because if I stop what I'm doing to make lunch I will loose my steam and nothing else will get accomplished
15. Clean, organize and rearrange the playroom
16. Pu the oldest at school
17. Get the middle kid to practice his guitar
18. Get the trash taken out for tomorrow's pu
19. Got so focused on getting crap done i forgot my son's 4pm drs appt...thank goodness dr is understanding and we pushed the appt back an hour so he can still make his appt today
20. Unpacked some boxes and organized the basement (still a bunch more work to be done down there)....kids have big plans to turn it into there man cave
21. Took middle son to his drs appt
22. Take middle son to his guitar lesson. While he's in his lesson I unpacked/sorted.and put away the 600lbs that were picked up at the Maryland food bank today for the food closet at my church that I'm the coordinator for.
That's it I quit nothing else is happening today. Husband handled dinner and finished moving some stuff in the basement for me.
Another manic Monday in the books....
I always dream of being a stay at home mom with no job. But there is no way I can keep up this pace every single day
I'm just lucky to have a day a week to try and knock a few things off the never ending to do list
Needless to say Mondays aren't a "day off" I am busier on Mondays than I am any other day hands down.
Today's getting crap done day consisted of...
1. Waking up in a panic as the clock said 730 and we need to be out the door to get the oldest to school. Run screaming to the 3 youngest to get up and throw on sweatshirts and and shoes (they are off school today). Run to turn car on and oldest is like "what are you doing it's only 630" crap guess who forgot to change her clocks???
2. Well now all the kids are up at the crack of dawn demanding food. I bribe them with a muffin or donut at the grocery store if they leave me in peace to take a shower
3. Morning shower....this is unheard of because without bribery it's like a world war 3 the middle I step inside
4. Time to tackle the laundry we just went away this past weekend camping so it's quite the mountain (keeping track I wash, dried and put away 5 loads of laundry over the course of my day
5. Now it's actually time to drop the big one off at school
6. Since I don't function without multitasking I take the 3 youngest to the grocery store to grab the few items I need. They each collect there bribery for the shower and I'm picking up 2 muffins and a donut
7. Realise I'm now running late and it's time for school conference for youngest boy. Okay no time for electronics or books we are going as is..... manage to keep 3 kids entertained with 1 iPhone. Mark your calendar that's one for the record books
8. Back home to put away the groceries. Decide to make banana bread because I have a touch of Martha Stewart and add.
9. Start baking chicken, baking potatoes and steaming broccoli to make my husband and my lunches for this week. We are both trying to eat better and it involves overlooking and having it all ready.
10. Clean middle son's room, organize his closet and rearrange his furniture
11. Clean youngest son's room, organize his closet and clean his bookcase
12. Clean and organize linen closet cause now I'm on a roll
13. Clean and organize daughter's room....this takes no time as she's only 4 and hasn't become a hoarder yet like her older brothers
14. Crap it's 1pm and I haven't fed kids.....order pizza because if I stop what I'm doing to make lunch I will loose my steam and nothing else will get accomplished
15. Clean, organize and rearrange the playroom
16. Pu the oldest at school
17. Get the middle kid to practice his guitar
18. Get the trash taken out for tomorrow's pu
19. Got so focused on getting crap done i forgot my son's 4pm drs appt...thank goodness dr is understanding and we pushed the appt back an hour so he can still make his appt today
20. Unpacked some boxes and organized the basement (still a bunch more work to be done down there)....kids have big plans to turn it into there man cave
21. Took middle son to his drs appt
22. Take middle son to his guitar lesson. While he's in his lesson I unpacked/sorted.and put away the 600lbs that were picked up at the Maryland food bank today for the food closet at my church that I'm the coordinator for.
That's it I quit nothing else is happening today. Husband handled dinner and finished moving some stuff in the basement for me.
Another manic Monday in the books....
I always dream of being a stay at home mom with no job. But there is no way I can keep up this pace every single day
I'm just lucky to have a day a week to try and knock a few things off the never ending to do list
Thursday, October 30, 2014
The mysterious trauma
Well the past few days have been interesting to say the least
My oldest is 3 years in remission from a rare pediatric cancer called Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis. He also had a 2nd form of histiocytosis called Juvenile Xanthogranuloma. As our oncologist said he is the rarest of the rare.
Parenting him is different.
Every bump, every pain cauded me to have an internal panic attack while putting on the mask to him that it's fine it's no big deal. All while doing a mental calculation of the symptoms and trying to add up could this be "it"? Is "it" back?
Anyways he had surgery a month ago for a common medical condition in boys.
Pathology came back fine it wasn't histiocytosis just a thing.
Recovery went well and he got the all clear to resume normal activity.
But he started having pain more and more in his knee.
Sunday he complains more and shows me his knee it's painful and swollen.
Internal panic attack and I have to decide who do I want to go to.
Option 1 primary care dr. Option 2 oncologist but they are in dc so not exactly close Option 3 orthopedics Or option 4 er at Hopkins where he did his chemotherapy and where his ortho is
Well option 4 it was and I juggled coverage for the other 3 kids to get him to the er Monday morning
After 9 hours, blood work, iv, xray and mri as well as visits by 4 drs, 3 medical students and 2 nurses. He was diagnosed with a old dislocation of the knee and a tear in the ligament next to the knee
They grilled me on when this "trauma" took place. I have no clue and they have a theory that it occurred during surgery.
Fitted for a knee brace and crutches and home we go.....
Well not for long
Wednesday morning I notice the knee is more swollen. Call ortho....no call back... shocker.
Send Casey to school until I hear from the Dr.
School calls at 130. Knee is bulging out of knee brace so much his veins are popping out
Get him picked up at school. Once again juggle the other kids and back to the Dr we go.
This visit was a quick one only 6 hours. 4 more drs though, 1 medical student and 2 more nurses.
This time it's decided the knee cap is sliding all around in the brace because it's too big
Fitted for smaller brace and sent home.
New ortho thinks it occurred during positioning in surgery.
Followup with ortho specialist on this kind of issue next Wednesday
At this point I don't care when it happened.
I just want him fixed.
I'm glad that 8 drs and 4 medical students have all been educated on histiocytosis. But really enough is enough. I don't want to be a side show In the er where we are a learning case for every medical student and doctor to ask me the same questions over and over. I do get that we are the living breathing example of a medical condition drs only read about and never see but even Casey commented on when.we're they going to stop asking about histiocytosis when there is a thing called Google.
Never a dull.moment around here
My oldest is 3 years in remission from a rare pediatric cancer called Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis. He also had a 2nd form of histiocytosis called Juvenile Xanthogranuloma. As our oncologist said he is the rarest of the rare.
Parenting him is different.
Every bump, every pain cauded me to have an internal panic attack while putting on the mask to him that it's fine it's no big deal. All while doing a mental calculation of the symptoms and trying to add up could this be "it"? Is "it" back?
Anyways he had surgery a month ago for a common medical condition in boys.
Pathology came back fine it wasn't histiocytosis just a thing.
Recovery went well and he got the all clear to resume normal activity.
But he started having pain more and more in his knee.
Sunday he complains more and shows me his knee it's painful and swollen.
Internal panic attack and I have to decide who do I want to go to.
Option 1 primary care dr. Option 2 oncologist but they are in dc so not exactly close Option 3 orthopedics Or option 4 er at Hopkins where he did his chemotherapy and where his ortho is
Well option 4 it was and I juggled coverage for the other 3 kids to get him to the er Monday morning
After 9 hours, blood work, iv, xray and mri as well as visits by 4 drs, 3 medical students and 2 nurses. He was diagnosed with a old dislocation of the knee and a tear in the ligament next to the knee
They grilled me on when this "trauma" took place. I have no clue and they have a theory that it occurred during surgery.
Fitted for a knee brace and crutches and home we go.....
Well not for long
Wednesday morning I notice the knee is more swollen. Call ortho....no call back... shocker.
Send Casey to school until I hear from the Dr.
School calls at 130. Knee is bulging out of knee brace so much his veins are popping out
Get him picked up at school. Once again juggle the other kids and back to the Dr we go.
This visit was a quick one only 6 hours. 4 more drs though, 1 medical student and 2 more nurses.
This time it's decided the knee cap is sliding all around in the brace because it's too big
Fitted for smaller brace and sent home.
New ortho thinks it occurred during positioning in surgery.
Followup with ortho specialist on this kind of issue next Wednesday
At this point I don't care when it happened.
I just want him fixed.
I'm glad that 8 drs and 4 medical students have all been educated on histiocytosis. But really enough is enough. I don't want to be a side show In the er where we are a learning case for every medical student and doctor to ask me the same questions over and over. I do get that we are the living breathing example of a medical condition drs only read about and never see but even Casey commented on when.we're they going to stop asking about histiocytosis when there is a thing called Google.
Never a dull.moment around here
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Parenting....not like I imagined it
When I was a little girl I dreamed of being a mom.
2 kids a boy and a girl. Always neat, clean, smiling and well behaved children I would love so much.
When I had my first son I immediately fell in love
That love I imagined it was real. But those imaginary kids not so much.
I never imagined sleepless nights
I never imagined children who could make me so frustrated with temper tantrums
I never imagined parenting a sick child. Rushing them to the er for a mysterious illness.
I never imagined watching Drs wheel my child into an operating room
I never just imagined fighting over homework
I never imagined juggling multiple children
I never realised how your love could be equal but so different for each child
I never understood the guilt I would experience when I had to give one attention while the other cried for me
I never thought that I could feel like I was failing my children and celebrating there accomplishments all in the safe second.
The motherhood of my imagination was easy and simple.
It wasn't complicated by bills, by jobs, by sick children.
The motherhood dream of a little girl vanished the second I gave birth.
It was replaced with a battle everyday.
A battle to keep my kids healthy, to keep them safe, to make them decent adults one day, to make them feel loved.
Motherhood isn't like I imagined it. It's better and harder and more real.
And something that I am so lucky to experience 4 times over. But man it's not like I imagined.
2 kids a boy and a girl. Always neat, clean, smiling and well behaved children I would love so much.
When I had my first son I immediately fell in love
That love I imagined it was real. But those imaginary kids not so much.
I never imagined sleepless nights
I never imagined children who could make me so frustrated with temper tantrums
I never imagined parenting a sick child. Rushing them to the er for a mysterious illness.
I never imagined watching Drs wheel my child into an operating room
I never just imagined fighting over homework
I never imagined juggling multiple children
I never realised how your love could be equal but so different for each child
I never understood the guilt I would experience when I had to give one attention while the other cried for me
I never thought that I could feel like I was failing my children and celebrating there accomplishments all in the safe second.
The motherhood of my imagination was easy and simple.
It wasn't complicated by bills, by jobs, by sick children.
The motherhood dream of a little girl vanished the second I gave birth.
It was replaced with a battle everyday.
A battle to keep my kids healthy, to keep them safe, to make them decent adults one day, to make them feel loved.
Motherhood isn't like I imagined it. It's better and harder and more real.
And something that I am so lucky to experience 4 times over. But man it's not like I imagined.
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
The battle of the grout
We moved into our current home 5.5 months ago.
Since we have moved in I have adjusted to cleaning/organizing a home significantly larger than our old one (we gained almost 1000 more square feet)
But the biggest battle has been the tile grout.
Who in there right mind puts light tan grout on a kitchen floor???
I have scrubbed on my hands and knees
I have searched pinterest for the miracle cure to clean this darn grout
When punished I have made the kids scrub the grout
I've tried grout cleaners, bleach pen, oxiclean, baking soda, dawn, you name it
And I have finally won the stinking war???
With what.....
Go gone grout cleaner http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/1/1/171156-goo-gone-grout-clean-restore-28-ounce-spray-bottle.html
And a Rubbermaid reveal scrubber http://www.amazon.com/Rubbermaid-1839685-Reveal-Power-Scrubber/dp/B00BEUDWJQ
If you have horribly dirty grout I suggest these 2.
Since we have moved in I have adjusted to cleaning/organizing a home significantly larger than our old one (we gained almost 1000 more square feet)
But the biggest battle has been the tile grout.
Who in there right mind puts light tan grout on a kitchen floor???
I have scrubbed on my hands and knees
I have searched pinterest for the miracle cure to clean this darn grout
When punished I have made the kids scrub the grout
I've tried grout cleaners, bleach pen, oxiclean, baking soda, dawn, you name it
And I have finally won the stinking war???
With what.....
Go gone grout cleaner http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/1/1/171156-goo-gone-grout-clean-restore-28-ounce-spray-bottle.html
And a Rubbermaid reveal scrubber http://www.amazon.com/Rubbermaid-1839685-Reveal-Power-Scrubber/dp/B00BEUDWJQ
If you have horribly dirty grout I suggest these 2.
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Tired is an understatement
Ask any mother what her biggest complaint is
It's that we are tired
Not sleepy like children
But bone crushingly, want to curl up in our bed and sleep forever tired
Why???
I get a decent amount of sleep each night
Oh yeah it's because I have kids
Kids just suck the life out of you
From the minute I wake up I do not stop
Someone always needs me to do something, to fix something, to help, to heal
That constant needy feeling....that's the reason I'm tired
Every ounce of energy is sucked right out of me from the moment I wake up until the moment I fall asleep
But as much as that exhausted feeling stinks
I wouldn't change it
I accept it
This is the badge of motherhood
Being tired is an understatement
I will take wiping noses, doing Laundry and unexpected hugs and kisses
And with each sleepy step I take... my heart is full because I created this tiredness with each sweet baby we brought home from the hospital
I am so very lucky to be so tired
It's that we are tired
Not sleepy like children
But bone crushingly, want to curl up in our bed and sleep forever tired
Why???
I get a decent amount of sleep each night
Oh yeah it's because I have kids
Kids just suck the life out of you
From the minute I wake up I do not stop
Someone always needs me to do something, to fix something, to help, to heal
That constant needy feeling....that's the reason I'm tired
Every ounce of energy is sucked right out of me from the moment I wake up until the moment I fall asleep
But as much as that exhausted feeling stinks
I wouldn't change it
I accept it
This is the badge of motherhood
Being tired is an understatement
I will take wiping noses, doing Laundry and unexpected hugs and kisses
And with each sleepy step I take... my heart is full because I created this tiredness with each sweet baby we brought home from the hospital
I am so very lucky to be so tired
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
The more things change the more they stay the same
This past weekend we got a much needed break from the 4 crazy kids
We were traveling to the outer banks to attend the wedding of one of my oldest friends
We had decided to stay in a house with several of our friends from college
I was nervous as what would it be like all these people some we hadn't seen in years
But there it was.....it was just like we were 18 again
It was just easy
And then I realised
These friendships they don't require the work adult friendships due
We have seen each other at our most foolish
We know the young us
The ones without the pressures of mortgages, health concerns or kids
We just relaxed and enjoyed that brief moment to go back in time
To be the younger more carefree versions of ourselves
The wedding was amazing.
The groom has been my friend for 18 years.
He was there to hold my hair during my not so glamorous moments in college
And to help me walk down the aisle to marry Jeff
I was untraditional before it was a regular thing
Having a male of honor was one of the most special parts of my wedding
And watching him marry his bride this weekend brought it full circle for me
Now I got to watch him experience that special joy I got to have almost 15 years ago
I wish him and his new family many many years of health and happiness
I just hope that these easy friendships continue the rest of our lives
We may not see each other often but each person has had and will continue to have a special place in my heart for all they have added to it over these many years.
We were traveling to the outer banks to attend the wedding of one of my oldest friends
We had decided to stay in a house with several of our friends from college
I was nervous as what would it be like all these people some we hadn't seen in years
But there it was.....it was just like we were 18 again
It was just easy
And then I realised
These friendships they don't require the work adult friendships due
We have seen each other at our most foolish
We know the young us
The ones without the pressures of mortgages, health concerns or kids
We just relaxed and enjoyed that brief moment to go back in time
To be the younger more carefree versions of ourselves
The wedding was amazing.
The groom has been my friend for 18 years.
He was there to hold my hair during my not so glamorous moments in college
And to help me walk down the aisle to marry Jeff
I was untraditional before it was a regular thing
Having a male of honor was one of the most special parts of my wedding
And watching him marry his bride this weekend brought it full circle for me
Now I got to watch him experience that special joy I got to have almost 15 years ago
I wish him and his new family many many years of health and happiness
I just hope that these easy friendships continue the rest of our lives
We may not see each other often but each person has had and will continue to have a special place in my heart for all they have added to it over these many years.
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