Being a Mom Stinks...

...and I mean that in a very literal way!

So, as my last post mentioned, our oldest has not been feeling well.  This morning he woke me up before 6 and said he was thirsty.  I told him to get some water with his bathroom cup.  He woke me again a little while later - still thirsty.  Get some more water.  A little while later, I'm hungry.  ::sigh::  See, I've already forgotten my reflections of thanks for him yesterday!  It's early...  I get him a snack, go back to bed.

Breakfast time, he thinks he needs to throw up.  I rush him to the bathroom.  Nothing.  Then I needed to go take care of some business of my own.  As I'm, um, taking care of business, I tell myself that as soon as I get, um, done with my business, I need to grab a trashcan and put it by my son as a preemptive measure.  Why didn't I do that already?  I knew exactly which one I was going to grab, put a liner in, and walk it to him - I already pictured it in my head.

As I was washing up I heard my hubby yell my name from the living-room.  CRUD.  He didn't need to say anything further.  I knew I was about a minute too late in the time continuum to catch the vomit in a trashcan.  I run to the living-room and there you have it...two separate puddles, with splashage up on the couches.  Awesome.  Scrub, scrub, scrub.  Oh, and I got that trashcan ready...

As soon as I got done cleaning that, I headed off to get ready for my shower.  Then in walks Baby Girl asking for some new pants.  Then she turned and I saw it...liquid poo running down her leg.  More awesomeness.  I told hubby to run and see, while I got her cleaned up, if she had been sitting on something (like a couch?  Eww...).  We walked down the hall...and there we saw it.  The pile o' poo.  Wow, what an awesome morning so far!  How a pile escaped her diaper, I do not know...but there it was.  Hubby started to clean it up while I cleaned up Baby Girl, who very obviously needed a bath now.

I was preparing the bath, holding onto her arm (so she couldn't run away and impose her filth on anything else in the place), she proceeded to pee all over the floor.  Yup...mmhmmm...we were getting all of the bodily fluids taken care of today.

And so, you see, being a mom STINKS!

But you know what?  By the grace of God I had a smile on my face during every incident.  I giggled about it and never once got flustered...tell me that's not the hand of almighty God on this already tired Mama???

Forced Opportunities for Thanks

Thankful that your kid is sick?

So...it's weird to be thankful when your kid is sick, right?  But, that's where I find myself whenever my kids get taken down by some kind of bug, especially one that can cause a lot of worry - not just the sniffles.

Our oldest had a headache yesterday morning and when I took his temp it was 103.4.  I did the usual thing of Tylenol, hydration, resting.  He was feeling better a couple of hours later (and fever was down) and we ran a couple of small errands.  When it was time for Baby Girl's nap, he sat down with a book and I went to the desk to deal with some paperwork.  I went to check on the boys a little while later, and he was asleep with his face smooshed up against his knee.  It looked pretty comical, so I went to get my camera.  When I came back, he was sitting up, eyes open, and clearly dazed and confused (not referring to the movie of the same phrase!).

I started asking him questions, to which he wasn't responding.  He felt so incredibly hot.  I got the thermometer and asked him to open his mouth...he was clearly trying, but couldn't do it.  His lips started trembling.  I put it in as best I could and it jumped to 104.1 - without it even being under his tongue!  He started twitching a little and I start thinking of a fever-induced seizure or something...I ran to get a washcloth on his head, called my hubby to come home NOW, then dialed the advice nurse.  He clearly wasn't right...and it was scary.  The fever is one thing.  Not answering my questions?  Twitching?  Yikes.

Long story short, he started to get cooled down and was snapping out of it.  I knew he was going to be okay when after I had sat with him looking into his face for a long time without any acknowledgment from him, he all of a sudden looked at me strange and said, "What?"  Like, what are you looking at?  He was better by the evening...  Today he started vomiting, but that's not the point of my story...

This isn't the first time I've had this revelation, but after a little time goes by, the message wears off and I forget again...but here it is: The time, devotion, and undivided attention that I gave to him when I was super worried about him and doing whatever I could to make sure he was okay?  Why don't I behave that way all day EVERYDAY?  Why don't I spend that time with him, looking him in the face, asking him questions, even when he doesn't have a fever?  I confess...it used to be that way when he was the only child.  Then the second one came along and it got a little harder...and now with three, I'm exhausted.  And this summer vacation with 3 kids at home all day everyday in this cramped apartment?  I'm having trouble making emotional connections with my kids.  I face it everyday and try to force myself to sit on the floor and give them my undivided attention.  I've been terrible at it this summer.

So, in that regard, yes, I am thankful my kid got sick.  I was forced to sit down, look at him, love on him, nurture him, pray for him...all the things I've been struggling to do this summer.  I thank God I was forced to given the opportunity to stop and make him a priority - and have an immense sense of THANKS that he is mine, and that he's okay.

Growing Boy

So, our 5 year-old still takes naps.  He loves his naps and he naps HARD.  Well, until today.  He will be in afternoon kindergarten, so I need to use this next month to get him used to not napping so he can stay awake at school!  Hopefully the two boys can keep the noise down so Baby Girl can still get her naps...

I know how great it is that he still naps.  I've heard so many stories of kids giving it up at 3, or even 2 years old...but I won't give up on napping just because they protest a few times (which my kids don't really do anyway...)  Our oldest stopped at 4, I think...I would have him take some quiet time, but he had stopped napping...and once the boys started sharing a room (when Baby Girl came along), I had to stop that so he would let his little brother sleep.

My guess is that #2 will fall asleep better at night now...and hopefully sleep in?  It's never really bothered me that he takes awhile to fall asleep.  It gave me some rest in the afternoon while he napped, and he wasn't bothering anyone at night while he waited to drift to sleep...  The boys both wake up at the crack of dawn, too...::grumble::

So, not really that noteworthy...just a little change in our house!

Even More Changing Looks!

Another lost tooth.  I knew it wouldn't be long before the second one came out - it was about a day and a half after the first one that the second followed.  Oh boy...he looks so different!

This time was during breakfast.  He was wiggling it and I noticed his hand was bloody (he had no idea).  So, I took him to the bathroom, gave it a twist, and let him pull it out.  Tada!  Tooth Fairy stayed close...she knew it was coming.

Here's to some toothless grins for awhile!

Bumpy Roads are Worth it

You know those bright yellow bumpy thingies right by the doors of Target? Well, they can be kind of annoying. BUT, with these 3 beauties...it's a beautiful sound!

And yes...they do this every time! :o)

Changing Looks

So...#1's top tooth finally gave way tonight. It has been loose for months. At dinner the one next to it started to wiggle just as much...so it will be gone soon, especially without the buddy tooth next to it!

I haven't been dreading this day...because I know that he will never look the same again! Once kids lose those top front teeth, they just change in their looks. I was wondering if his teeth would hang on for his birthday...no dice!
I asked if he wanted to tie some floss to it and he agreed. He lolligagged for a little with it, then decided he wanted to be done. So, we went to read our bedtime story, pray, etc. Then he decided he wanted to try it again. The second time I tied the floss up high and tight - we were committed this time! There was no way we could untie it or cut it off.
We twisted it a little, then he decided to twist it back and be done. So...I gave it a swift, firm tug, and it fell to the floor. He was excited!

Little brother was in the thick of things the entire time. He actually had his head between #1 and the mirror, wanting to see, wanting a chance to tug on the floss. He was just as excited! He couldn't wait to put the tooth in the pillow for Bubba.
There's a tooth-shaped pocket on the back side. I flipped it around as I left the room to make it easier for the Tooth Fairy...she really owes me for having him put it on the door instead of under his pillow. She loves it, trust me! I just hope she can find the apartment...

Blog Pictures

Just FYI...

I hope to add some photos to the blog posts soon...just need some time to do it.

I know you must be super excited about that!