Housekeeping 101

Today was a "house" day.

First, we bathed. This may seem obvious, but for us it is an accomplishment. Since none of my four can bathe themselves yet, bath-time entails an entire morning of tubby time. So now we finally smell good. (Except E, who was at school, and still needs her shower. But I still crossed it off the list, because it sure felt like I did something.)

Then, I made a grocery list. I had to think of some new meals since - due to illness, not pregnancy - I've pretty much thrown up everything I used to like to eat.

Then, we went to the grocery store. First we picked up E, because school was over - and anyway, who wants to go to the store with three children when you can go with four? This is how it went down:

I drove up to WalMart. I parked. And then, I drove away. Yep, I was too scared.

Unfortunately at the stop light I saw visions of our refrigerator at home:

no milk
no lunch supplies
no dinner supplies

And, yes, that pretty much crosses every meal off the list.

So, I turned around and went back.

In the parking lot I:

fed the baby
put GQ in a cart
put S in the sling (remember that I am height deficient and cannot see over the carseat if I put it on the cart like you normal people)
told E and M to hold onto the sides of the cart.

And we went in. Once inside, we set about grocery shopping. The kids were actually really good. The worst it got was E deciding to hold a spontaneous ballet class in the produce section. As for myself, I must admit that I operated in a bubble. I hate that look on people's faces that appears once they manage to count all the children attached to my cart. So, if you tried to wave at me, just realize I was ignoring everyone.

Once home, feeling very proud of myself, I decided to clean the floor. This is how I did it in case you want to repeat my amazing methods:

1. Give your three children glasses of water and straws.
2. When they start blowing bubbles decide to be one of those "cool" moms that doesn't freak out.
3. Leave the room to change the other child's diaper.
4. Ignore sounds of the children getting more water from the fridge.
5. When you come back and find a lake on your kitchen floor tell your children to get some bath towels and wipe up the water.

(perhaps this may seem unsanitary since half of the water was blown out of my children's mouths... but beggars can't be choosers, my friends, and I must say that my kitchen floor looks very sparkly just now.)

This morning...

... E informed me she felt sick.

E often does this. E's version of an anxiety attack is to either feel like she is going to throw up or to have extremely itchy feet.

I told E that I could not tell if she was really sick and that she had to decide "which kind it was". She decided she was just nervous, and went to school.

I got home.

I got three children out of their carseats.

I fed S.

I luckily did not get M and GQ in the tub as quickly as I had planned.

The phone rang.

E had thrown up at school.

So.... I put on jeans and a sweatshirt, wiped off my eyes, made M put on a sweater to hide her pajamas, made GQ put boots over his sleeper jammies even though they squished his toes, and put S back in his carseat (can't be more constrictive than a womb... can it?) and off we went.

When we got home and I got everyone out again, I debated trying to accomplish all those things on my list or sitting on the heater vent and reading a book. Can't the day just be a lost cause at 9:00?

In furtherance of this theory I decided to finally eat my breakfast.

So what if it was a pint of Ben and Jerry's Phish food Justin gave me for Valentine's Day?

I bet it makes good milk.

Can I Say White Trash? Is that Politically Correct?

I'm not really sure.

But consider.

This morning, I took Justin to school. We all piled in the car: pajamas, unbrushed teeth and hair, snotty noses/cheeks. A fine looking crew, I must say.

Since M's had a fever since Thursday I decided to call the Pediatric clinic while we were parked outside his school and make a sick appointment for her.

And guess what? They had one available at 8:30. Which meant I could "swing by" on my way home.

Apparently it is too nice to shave off one extra "outing" because I obviously am willing to embarrass myself a little too much.

So, off we went. Snotty noses and all.

No, I did wipe down GQ's face in the car. And I patted my hair down too. And zipped up my jacket, because you know... I had been planning on going home.

I think my favorite moment at the Dr's office - despite the fact that M was wearing Cody's blue snow boots with her pink princess pajamas - was when the Dr. decided to take a look at GQ too.

You see, last night, before bed, when I looked at his MAJORLY dirty onesie I thought.... aw, I'll just change that in the morning.

So, there he was, in all his enchilada sauce and snot streaked glory.

And do you think they wondered why all my kids were hacking up their lungs?

Like I said, white trash.

Although, I don't think I should really use that term.

Going Swimming in Iowa in January

Hello! We are the dolls Jamie made for her girls. When she handed us out, GQ was extremely disappointed that he got no present. Soon after we were handed over, one of us lost her hair, and the other lost her clothes. Better luck next time!


In more exciting news:


On Friday, we went swimming. Can't you tell???? Don't we look ready for jumping in the pool?


After de-robe-ing for a million hours, the kids played around a little.

I asked GQ if I could take his picture. He said: "No!"

Quite the trip when you figure that after being soaking wet we had to get dry and completely covered again before venturing out into the frigid air yet again.

And we almost got run over in the parking lot by a senior citizen. Some Grandma's on the sidewalk let out some good screams, but E was brave through it all.

Says E: "I was scared Mom, but then you pushed me, and I felt better."

Luckily, we all survived! Are we going back next week for the sweet cheapo deal on swimming in the Winter?????

I haven't decided.

At Breakfast

GQ has been climbing on the table lately, which doesn't really work out too well what with the nose-diving he normally does afterward. E and M were apparently worried about it this morning.

Says E: Mom, I know how we can keep GQ off the table when we're playing legos, we can get the big blocks and put them in the front room.

Mom: Okay, that sounds good.

Says M: Mom, I know how we can keep GQ off the table. We can POKE him.

And when Justin and I just looked at her.

Says M: Not with something sharp.... just with our fingers.

Probably a good idea too!

There's Always A First Time

I have never in my life ordered delivery pizza.

But, after spending 9:00-10:30 at the Doctor's for a routine appointment for me, 10:30 -1:00 running errands, 1:00-1:30 looking for a bathroom for M, 1:30 - 4:00 at the Pediatricians, 4:00-5:00 picking up prescriptions... all with 3 children...

... I did.

I wasted the extra money for those people to drive on the freezing roads, pull up and climb out of their car in to the freezing air, and walk up to my house.

And I am glad I did it.

Anyway, I have to get everyone back in the car tonight at 9:00 because it's one of those rare occasions where Justin has to stay late, and there is no bus.

Right now I am sitting on the heater vent waiting for the pizza guy to come.

(Justin has strep, M has strep, and GQ has impetigo. Anyone want to come play?)