parenthood - sometimes it really could drive me to drink...

I love being a mother.  Really.  I do.  But there are days...
Last week both children were sick at some point.  In a desperate attempt to not spread their germs everywhere we stayed home.  All week.  To top that off, and to make my life peachy, we decided that we should start the potty training.  Thankfully the weather was really nice so the windows could be opened.  Monday was a wash regardless.  Elijah ran a fever all day and the poor guy just crawled up on the couch and was a potato all day.  It's all good.  Every body needs a day like that.  Then came the goop.  The nasty cough.  The unwillingness to actually use a Kleenex instead of the back of one's arm.  Sigh.  Tuesday was also very nice.  Outside we went.  The back yard was played in.  Bikes were ridden.  The sickies were out in the open.  Snot flowed freely.  It was gross.  Grace did well with the potty training, but of course there were accidents.  So laundry was done... a lot.  I cleaned my kitchen.  I played with the kids and by Wednesday I thought I might list them for sale.  Wednesday was fine.  Still warm enough to get outside, but the clouds were rolling in.  Grace woke up from nap with a fever.  Alas.  Thursday the rain came.  No ability to go outside to play.  The walls started closing in.   I called Jerry at lunch and told him we had to get out of the house.  This had to be the day for going out to lunch.  We picked up Jerry and hit ABC (not the alcohol store... though that would have been good...Atlanta Bread Company.)  One would think that we had never been out to eat before.  Grace peed in the car, only because she feel asleep, she also refused to sit in a high chair.  The place was jam packed and we found the last empty table which was meant  for MAYBE two people.  Elijah refused to scoot away from the wall so I wedged myself in between the squirmy toddler and the four year old and attempted to eat my food while minimizing the mess of two children that refused to eat their sandwiches off the table.  Dragged them back home and sent them to nap... or not.  Elijah was feeling better.  So no nap.  Grace did sleep, but not for long.  Alas.  We made it through another day.  Friday.  Good ole Friday.  Elijah's speech therapist scheduled an appointment for Friday afternoon.  Jerry wanted to be home to meet him and to help out with Grace.  SO, he went in at the crack of dawn, which meant I was in charge of both kids the night before.  That was fine.  I slept sandwiched in between my two sweet babies.  We all three slept decently and I thought it was a good sign.  And it was.  We played.  Grace kicked me out of the bathroom while she pooped (wish she would give me the same courtesy...sigh.)  Then nap happened... or didn't.  I REALLY wanted Elijah to sleep so his evaluation would go well.  Alas.  The therapist showed up and while Elijah's punchiness started to show and Jerry felt I prompted him in some questions, the evaluation went well.  He is on the pronunciation level of a 5-6 year old but leaves out some beginning and ending sounds.  He is also on the language level of a 4.5 year old, which is just good to know!  I do wonder how well he would have done completely rested, but that is beside the point.  The therapist will meet with us once a week for 8 weeks and then we will go from there.  So we went to the mall for dinner, and merry-go-round and play before heading home for bed.
Then sweet Saturday arrived.  My friend Kristie is pregnant.  She has a little boy that is one of Elijah and Grace's best friends.  She was SOOOO nice to babysit (including putting the kids to bed!) and as payment I went over and painted nemo and friends on her son's new big boy room.  It was really really nice to get out of the house.  It was REALLY REALLY nice to get out of the house without kids.  I really had planned on only taking about 4 hours to do the room.  8 hours later, I was almost done when the electricity went out.  I have a little left to do, but I had such a nice day.  Jerry let me borrow his Zune player and I jammed out while painting and not thinking about making sure Grace had peed in the potty or if the reason Elijah was being so quiet was because he was stapling all the furniture to the ceiling.  Nothing.  It was bliss.  ALMOST made me want to go back to work.   But then I come home to love and hugs and sweetness... until bedtime, but still.  Elijah stayed in his bed until 7 Sunday morning.  I will take this over fighting them to sleep any day!!!
Sunday Jerry had to work, but I got both kids to put themselves down for nap and while Elijah didn't sleep (again!) Grace did... and all by herself!!!  We have started having a once a week potluck at a friends' house on Sundays and it is the nicest way to end the weekend and start the week.  The kids play (usually) well together and the parents have some beers and talk and eat.  Of course leaving is sometimes a struggle.  We help clean up the mess we made and throw the kids in the car threatening their lives under our breaths and threatening no TV out loud.  And eventually get home, the kids ready for and in bed and relax a bit before we ourselves turned in... only to be awaken by kids crying out of fear from the raging storm outside.  Alas.  A new week begins and so do my thoughts of just a dash of Bailey's in with my cereal...