I think you probably know what I'm talking about. And, if not, you either can't remember anything or your life is perfect. Anyways, I'm wondering if anyone out there can relate.
This is what I mean...
7:55a.m. "Ruff! Ruff! Ruff! RUFF!!! RUFF!!! RUFF!!!!!!!!!!"
(It was Autumn...barking in her crib. And, apparently it was my alarm clock this morning, too.)
I just love it when I don't get up with sufficient time to get ready for the day (not). I was up way past my "bed time" last night with my 5 year old who kept bugging his baby brother and would not go to sleep! I think we finally crashed around midnight.
I roll out of bed, still only half awake, and stumble over a few toys and piles of clothing into her room, her room that apparently wreaks of urine. What in the world happened in here?! I grab her out of her crib and notice she is soaked. Head to toe soaked. Yes, soaked in pee.
(Either the babysitter last night didn't change her diaper before putting her to sleep, or her SIZE 5 diapers don't hold enough anymore?! How could that be?! Or, maybe she pulled it halfway off.)
Into the tub she goes.
Beckett is screaming in his crib, but I can't get him just yet, I need to get Autumn's hair and everything else washed, as well as start some breakfast for the kids...and I knew Jeff had given Beckett a bottle around 6:30a.m. so he had to be ok, at least for a little bit!
I run into the kitchen and notice Jeff made extra oatmeal for the kids and left it in the pan...how sweet of him! I throw some frozen raspberries in 3 containers, dump oatmeal on top, put the lids on, throw in a bag with spoons, and sippy cups, then go on to portion out formula for Beckett and put it all by the front door).
I run into my room to throw some clothes on (a mere sweatshirt and jeans) and manage to run a brush through my hair 3 times. I keep a pony tail holder on my wrist, and I know I can put my hair up while I'm driving to school. Perfect!
While I'm jumping around putting on my last sock, Suddenly Autumn starts yelling from the bathroom "I poopy momma!!! Poopy in tub! Mommy poopy in tub!!!" She starts screaming and crying. I rush into the bathroom to find that she has pooped in the tub. The tub that is also filled with toys!
Ughhhh...the job of a mom isn't always pretty. In fact, it's hardly pretty. There's hardly anything glamorous about it. But, the rewards (I think) are pretty priceless. And, as a lot of seasoned moms keep telling me, "It get's easier."
(While all of this is going down, Beckett, the 10 month old baby, is now screaming uncontrollably).
Sometimes, ok, a lot of times, there is more than one situation that needs your attention. Who knew that these precious darlings, that you've basically already given your life up for, would also ALL need you all at once?!?!
Scooping out the poop.
Draining the tub.
Rinsing off the toys (for now).
Finally, I get Autumn all clean, dry, dressed, hair brushed. Now for that screaming baby...
I look at the clock. It's now 8:35. We need to leave in 5 minutes for preschool. 5 minutes. Did I mention 5 MINUTES? To be out the door and on the road. And there's 2 more children to get ready.
Oh yeah...suddenly it hits me! Friday mornings (and Monday mornings) I have chiropractor appointments RIGHT after dropping Ethan off at preschool!
(because I broke my tailbone giving birth to Beckett and have been having 2 treatments a week ever since).
That means I need more than just the bare minimum...good thing I have the food packed. I throw a couple diapers in my purse and decide to at least bring my screaming baby a bottle. WHERE ARE ALL THE BOTTLES?!?!?! Somehow we have managed to only have 2 bottles left. And I can't find one. And the other one is in Beckett's crib. And I absolutely refuse to buy anymore bottles because we are DONE having kids and we only need them for 2 more months.
We will survive. We will survive.
Open the door to Beckett & Ethan's room, and see Ethan, my 5 year old, throwing toys in Beckett's crib, and on top of him. Poor baby. No wonder he is crying. I firmly tell Ethan to put on some jeans and pick out a shirt. He so nicely asks "Should I put on socks too?" Oh, thank you for getting the picture! Except he doesn't do it. Any of it. I have to remind him 6 more times.
I open up Beckett's pj's, open up the diaper, oh good, he went #2! (maybe he won't go when we are out and about). I begin to wipe him up and notice...it's not just in the diaper...the poo squirted all the way up to his neck. Ughhh...I check my clothes. Yep. On there too. Oh, and in the crib. I silently cry, Lord, help me!!!
I do not have time to bathe him. I wipe him up best I can, it had to be a 7 wipe wonder. There goes trying to use minimal wipes on diaper changes. Oh well. I throw on the first thing I see in his closet, and go on to put socks and shoes on him. Ever try to put socks and shoes on a wiggly baby? Ohhhhh my goodness. That takes talent!!!
Ok, screaming baby still needs bottle. Mommy needs new clothes. Rip off the sweatshirt, run in the kitchen, wash the only bottle I can find, and make it for him. I start shaking up the bottle as I run back into his room, and the milk starts squirting EVERYWHERE...leaving a trail of milk rain drops from the kitchen to his room. Then I remember, oh yes, this bottle leaks if I don't screw it on JUST RIGHT. The ONLY bottle like this that does this. Ughhhhhhh...
Baby gets bottle. All is calm for a moment and then... "Ethan!!! Put a shirt on PLEEEEEAAAAASEEEEE!!!!"
We race to the front door, throw on shoes and coats, I grab everything humanly possible, it's surprising I wasn't carrying something on my head, and slam the door shut.
I might have looked a little like this...(pic my friend posted on twitter recently)
Quick, get everyone is car seats, and rush away.
The car ride.
Ahhhh...the car ride.
You mommas and papas know what I'm talking about! I pass Ethan his raspberry oatmeal and he eats on the way to school while we listen to Hillsong's "Bones." [sigh]
I pull into preschool...then I look at the clock. 9:26. Really? We are 26 minutes late. I hop out, open Ethan's door. Oh, good, the oatmeal has spilled everywhere.
Have you ever tried to wipe up spilled oatmeal? It's sticky and does not wipe up easily! After about 5 minutes and another 3 wipes, I ask him, "Do you want to skip preschool?" He gleefully says "Yes!"
Onto the chiropractor we go...
Did I mention preschool is in New Brighton, and the Chiro is in Maple Grove...it's about a 14 mile, 20 minute drive. At least we will be on time for the 9:45 appointment.
Ok, dragging 3 kids into a chiropractor appointment (where you are laying on a table) isn't exactly the most enjoyable, or easy! We get through the appointment with the help of the movie collection I keep on my iphone. Thank God for technology!
Leave the chiro, realize today at 3:00 is my last practice for my cheerleaders and we are having a team party (I coach a team of 6th graders at MCA) for which I need to bring some yummy yums.
Load up the kids, we all head to Target, and of course there is not one "big" cart in sight. You know those carts that look like a train and hold a million, (or 3) kids?
Ok, fine, forget it, throw Beckett in a single cart and make Ethan and Autumn follow me through the store...yeah...that is so fun! (not).
Deep breaths. Deep breath. The kids did great a Target! phew!
Now, a quick stop at the bank and then home for lunch.
We managed to have a fun lunch and talk about shapes.
Then, as I was getting Beckett ready and put down for his nap, Ethan and Autumn managed to attack eachother. Physically. Here are Autumn's battle wounds. Ughhhhh...
I just got Autumn down for a nap now and felt like venting. I needed to vent. So I decided to do a blog post. Something I almost never take time for anymore. So here it is.
So many times I feel incapable. Like everything is all crashing down at once and like "I just can't do this."And, in the most broken, stressed out moments, that's when I find my strength in the words from God like this:
Matthew 5:3 "You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more God and His rule."
2 Corinthians 12:9 "Each time He said, 'my grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.' So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me."
Psalm 128:2 "You will enjoy the fruit of your labor. How joyful and prosperous you will be!"
Isaiah 41:10 "Don't panic. I'm with you. There's no need to fear for I'm your God. I'll give you strength. I'll help you. I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you."
Psalm 28:7 "The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy."
Anyone else out there ever have a day like this?
And now, I am about to leave for cheerleading practice. I get to coach some of the sweetest 6th Graders at MCA. I love devoting time to these precious girls and am excited for a fun last practice!
Thank God, it's Friday!
