Ok - so I know everyone has a bad day, even a bad week every once and a while. For some reason this last week (7 full days) has felt exceptionally bad. I was going to post something simple on Facebook but I just could not come up with something explicit, witty and yet under the character limit so I opted for a blog post instead. :)
Let us start at the beginning - where every good story starts. Last Friday we had our employer Holiday Party. I was on the committee to plan this joyous event. I decided it would be a nice idea to deliver the decorations (12 centerpieces) and the 4 large gift basket prizes in the afternoon so we would not have to be there so early. I had decided to take the work Trailblazer so I would not have to put miles on our vehicle. However, that meant I had to dig it out of the massive amount of snow and ice we had earlier in the week. 30 minutes later I was off to the other building to load up centerpieces. I THOUGHT I was being smart by backing up to the sidewalk. "Now I can just pop the back hatch, load everything in, and be done." Rriiiiigggghhhtttt... another coworker and I carried out centerpieces - in boxes - one at a time. I loaded from the front of the vehicle to the back. After 6 or so I started getting cocky and started to rush. Yup- you guessed it- I fell. But not an ordinary slip-on-the-ice fall. Oh no! I had to fall with true grace and style. I caught my leg on the ball hitch still attached to the back of the vehicle- my leg stopped, but my body kept going - right down onto the ground. It was one of those falls I was able to have a conversation in my head AS I was falling - "get your hands up!!! Don't let your face smack the sidewalk! Ah hell - I'm moving too fast- just slow your face down!!" I wound up with a nice limp, bruised knee and shin and a nice little scrape on my nose. Being the trooper I am- we finished loaded the centerpieces and I got the baskets loaded as well and delivered everything in the deep freeze that is winter in Minnesota.
Saturday we had Sunday School Christmas Program practice at 9:00 AM. Got there with both big kids and myself - in plenty of time - and with a stop at Caribou. We got through rehearsal without me having to yell at anyone too much...and made it home in time to work on a project before heading back to the church at 5:00 for the program at 6. Jason said he wasn't feeling well so he stayed home with Harvey. Program went well and the kids had fun. Not a horribly bad day except for Jason missing the program.
Sunday - I was singing in church at 8:30 and needed to be there at 8. The big kids had Sunday School at 9:30 and I also had choir rehearsal at 9:30. I went to get Jason up so he could come with us and keep Harvey occupied during those times but he had a 101.9 fever. Great. Well - the kids and I all went to church. I sang - Bailley and Preston tried to keep Harvey busy. After the service - the big kids went to Sunday School and I tried to entertain Harvey while I participated in choir. That lasted about 15 minutes. As he went up the isle one of the pastors met us and offered to take my child so I could rehearse. Whhhhaaaaa??? YOU are offering to watch MY toddler? Are you sure?? He said absolutely! So off they went...and I was able to finish rehearsal..for the most part. As we were getting ready to leave - we met Grandma and Grandpa Slack. Grandma thought the kids were singing in church today (actually next week.) We worked out a plan that the big kids would go with them for a bit so Jason could sleep. Perfect! got them home and fed and they got picked up. Harvey passed out on the way home so he napped and I again worked on a project. Once he woke up we tackled grocery shopping - until I realized I left his water AND his snack at home. Crap. Had to buy some crackers at the first store but not a total waste. He managed to keep himself occupied with the crackers in the "car" cart at the second grocery store. I quickly figured out the only problem with the car carts is that you take their coat off so they can ride -but you have to take them OUT to put their coat back on. Then you have to put them back IN the car to "drive" your groceries to the car. We got done- went home - picked up Bailley and took her to her girl scouts meeting. By this point it was really snowing out so it was a fun trip. Harvey and I went to Target to grab a few things while Bailley was at girl scouts. I went home, started supper and had to make Jason come upstairs to sit with Harvey while I went to pick up Bailley. He (Jason) was NOT looking good. :(
Monday - Jason stayed home from work with a 102.9 fever. He looked horrible. He wasn't able to sleep- he could't get comfortable...he was miserable. I got the kids up and moving- got Harvey to day care. Got home got everyone fed- including Jason - then had to have Preston watch Harvey while Bailley and I slugged through the cold and snow to go to a meeting on a Marching Band trip. Interesting stuff- they hope to go to Norway the summer of 2015 - fundraising stuff will be coming soon.
Tuesday- Jason was still sick - still had the high fever and looked even worse. I took him into the clinic around noon. 2 hours later- found out it wasn't influenza but something else.Thankfully they were able to give him some medication (and a note to stay home all week!) I got him home- got him some juice, water, toast and his meds and headed back to work. Left work early to pick up Preston from choir - went back to work for a bit -then took off to get Harvey and head home; make dinner, get Harvey a shower and into bed and onward with the nightly routine.
Wednesday -Jason wasn't feeling much better but at least his fever was starting to go down. Preston has church "school" after school until 5. Bailley has confirmation at 6:15 and I have choir at 6. Jason was still miserable so no one stayed home. Church provides dinner each week so that helps. However- the big kids had rehearsal at 5:45(they are singing in church this coming weekend) and the meal was a little later than usual getting served. They had just sat down with their food when I realized they were late - and I only noticed because Harvey had me running all over the church basement. They went to sing and I realized I had 8 minutes to try and feed myself and the boy (again) before I had to leave. Oye - I managed to get a few bites down and the kids were back from practice. I told Preston I would take Harvey to rehearsal with me so he could eat but he needed to come get him when he was finished. I have to admit- Harvey did ok with the choir. We had grapes and a sippy cup...after about 15 minutes, I left to see where Preston was -he was MIA. Crap! I grabbed some crackers and the other sippy cup and went back to rehearsal. Now we were singing a song where I had to sit in my regular spot- in the middle of the choir. Double Crap. Thankfully there was an extra chair. Harvey was getting antys and thankfully most of the people in choir either have kids or grandkids so they were VERY understanding. The gal next to me said "just let him walk around- he will be fine." Um OK- and off he went. He was out of our row and down in the front before we could finish a phrase. Before we could start the next one - he was out the choir door. The moms in the room started yelling at the director "Ray! Shut the door!" Thankfully Preston was there and was able to take Harvey for the remainder of rehearsal.
Once we got done with rehearsal it was time to leave. Preston said he wanted to stay with Grandpa and Bailley. I said OK but before I could say anything else- he was gone. I asked a friend's son to watch Harvey quick so I could go start the car. As I was fighting with my toddler to get his coat on Preston came back to say that Bailley and Grandpa were not staying for church so he was riding with me (and Bailley would be too.) Ok - good deal. Harvey wanted nothing to do with his gloves so as I was trying to man-handle him - a friend of mine (who happened to be at a table 5 feet from us) decided to say "Hi!" not- my best mom moment. :( He did give me the look of "looks like a long day?" We finally got everyone home - showered and in bed (only after a few battles with the toddler.)
Thursday - Jason started to feel better. Thank the Lord! But the day was just dreadful. I had to do my best pirate imitation to get Harvey INTO his coat, mittens and boots and tried to convince him that we were "going on a pirate adventure."Somewhere between getting Harvey into the car and daycare I lost a glove. My check engine light came on and I had to drop Preston's cello off at school. Thankfully the mechanic could hook my car up quick and tell me the light is nothing major. And I figured if I'm going to be late- I might as well be really late so I stopped at Caribou for "buy one- get one for 21 cents." I went to pick up Preston from choir and lost my name badge...again. I had a new one printed Monday. Thank the Lord again - on our way out of work - I found my name badge in the snow. As the garage door opened at home, I found my glove. Bed time was a fight- Harvey wouldn't sit still unless I sang the theme song from Jake and the Neverland Pirates...I guess my usual lineup of Twinkle, Twinkle, You Are My Sunshine, I Will Love You Forever and Good Night Sweetheart were not going to do the trick. He wanted more books and more milk. I finally gave up and sent in the dad...and Jason had him all squared away. I was beat. I was in bed by 9:15 - only to be woken by a video gaming husband at midnight. WTH? I figured if you are sick enough to stay home, you are sick enough to NOT play video games at all hours of the night. I couldn't get back to sleep until 3..and was up at 5:45 to do Bailley's hair.
As I was laying in bed last night - festering- about the fact I was woken up and how absolutely crappy I though my week was - the light bulb popped on. Yes - Jason was sick - but he was getting better. Yes- I was mad he woke me up - but he WAS well enough to stay up and play video games; modern medicine was working. Yes- my toddler is ALL BOY and ALL TODDLER but he is OUR son...there are plenty of people in this world who would give all they own for a child . Yes- it sucks to have to run here and run there for kids stuff- but our kids are happy, social and GOOD at the stuff they do. They try new things and 9-10 times wind up enjoying the new adventure. Yes- taking time off to run to doctor appts, kid activities, run errands sucks- but at least I have the ability to take the time during the day and not have to worry about not having a job to come back to.
Today is going to end as chaotic as the rest of the week has been. The boys are going to Grandma and Grandpa Slacks so Jason has a break. Bailley and I are continuing our tradition of going to the Concordia Christmas Concert tonight and will spend the night with my folks to give Jason time alone to rest and recover. We had to cancel Harvey's birthday party tomorrow - but I honestly think it was a blessing in disguise. The day off will give us time to heal and rest up before another week of chaos begins.
I look back on my "worst week ever" and realize it was a test and a blessing. I've seen my husband at his absolute worst and we weathered the storm together. The kids pitched in and were real troopers helping out when needed...but I never had any doubt about that. I have phenomenal kids - I really do. The older two are the best things that have ever happened to me. The youngest is Gods way of teaching me patience, kindness, silliness, patience, and the ability to laugh at myself. Did I mention patience? I look forward to more chaos and remind myself that each challenge is there for a reason; take it on with a smile and take on one at a time.
