Wednesday, February 25, 2009

uh slight problem

So daddy is at a meeting. I'm laid up on the couch unable to move or pick up anything. Teags falls asleep standing up leaning against me. What should I do???


Any ideas?

KYLE TO THE RESCUE...He moves the computer. Picks up her feet and plops her on the couch! YEAH KYLE!!!

Poor girl..

When Dad plays Mr. Mom

So I've been laid up now for over a week.
Nutshell - did something bad last saturday Feb 14th to my neck. Now have pain in neck, shoulder, right arm and spine. I've been in and out of dr. offices and x-rays and scheduling MRI's and calling PT people etc.

anyway, I can't do anything around the house since I can't move and am in great pain and on loopy meds.

In come Mr. Mom: poor guy. He got the flu last week from taking me to the dr. office. Now's he's busy driving the kids all around trying to keep up with there schedules as well as his work. And he is trying to do housework and keep things moving at home. Did I mention we've had kids home from school at various times as well with the flu?

This afternoon pretty much summed it up. He met the kids at karate, after Mrs. Baines, who has been AWESOME, dropped them off. Unfortunately, when iain took Teags to the bathroom she didn't make it in time. So she peed her pants. and then he had to bring her home, pick up dinner on the way, give her a shower, run back and get Kyle, bring him home, eat quickly, and run to a meeting, get home at 9:00 carry Teags up to bed, go back out to the store to get Goodnight's for Iain, come home wake Iain, switch laundry, put away dishes, and then sit down to do legal work. Boy it is tough to be Mom AND dad. i sure couldn't do it.

If you see my hubby...give him a hug and tell him he's doing a great job! Better yet, send him an e-mail and encourage him! He really is being just wonderful and I love him so much.

Thanks to all who have helped with food and transportation and childcare!
Mrs. Ferro, Mrs. eckman, Mrs. Baines - you all ROCK!!

Here's to making the potty on time, getting homework done, having clean uniforms for school, and making all my dr. appts!

Blessed to be WOJ!! and mom of krit,
KT

Saturday, February 21, 2009

reclaiming the roost

So you've heard the term, the chicken has flown the coop. Today, I am going to coin the term reclaiming the roost. See, my house looks like I, the chicken, have flown the coop. However, my arm is feeling better, my cough has subsided and it is time to start clucking.

We are going to cluck through the kitchen and find the counters.
We are going to cluck through the living room and disinfect the couch.
We are going to cluck through the laundry room and once we reach the washer, we'll start it.
We are going to cluck through the bathrooms and rediscover the joy of sitting with peace.
We are going to cluck through the bedrooms and make the beds.
We are going to cluck through the toy rooms and hope to make it to the other side.

Off to find my little chicks and make them cluck.... (oh this will be fun...)
Reclaiming the roost,
KT

Thursday, February 19, 2009

The truth about pain

I am 35 years old. Oh my word, did I just admit that out loud. How appaling. Actually, I don't care. I'll tell you my weight if you want to know. :-) Anyway, my point. I am a rather healthy 35 year old woman. I have 4 children. Yeah, yeah, you all know this, I know just stick with me. I gave birth to 4 children. There was a lot of pain involved in childbirth. I have broken 2 bones in the last 10 years. I fell while pregnant with my Kyle and broke my left arm. Very fun. I fell while roller skating last year with my kids, actually, Kyle, and broke a bone in my right arm. Very fun. There is a lot of pain involved in broken bones.

Here is my point...I have a high tolerance for pain. I say this without pride. Truly, I used to take pride in my high tolerance for pain, but no more and here's why.

Last weekend, I enjoyed a lovely Valentine Dinner with my hubby and sisters and their hubby's in Lancaster. Following our great dinner we stopped by to pick up our kids at my aunt's house. (Thanks Caite for watching my kids!) Poor kids were wiped out and sound asleep. I leaned down and picked up Teagan from her sleeping bag and POOF. Pulled muscle in my neck.
OUCH!
GOt the kids home and into bed and tried to get comfortable myself. My neck was really sore and in fact, I couldn't move it. My whole shoulder was hurting. The next morning, I was in bad shape. Couldn't move or turn, although I kept trying. Finally I called the dr. and decided to go in for a visit. My hubby drove me since I couldn't drive.
The dr. asked lots of questions and then began the process of feeling my neck and trying to move it. In the process I began to feel quesy and dizzy. Next thing I knew, my head was between my legs and she was using SMELLING SALTS to revive me.

WHAT IN THE WORLD HAPPENED? I tolerated the pain till it really hurt and then passed out.

Here's the deal folks. If you have a high tolerence for pain, that means that pain doesn't feel the same for you as it might for others. However, when you do feel pain, which admittedly is severe, you have no pain management skills and you are a complete wuss.

So, if you, like me, have a high pain tolerance, be careful lest you fall or strech or pull...once the pain does hit...you are likely to pass out and make a complete fool of yourself in the doctor office.
(Plus, in the process you will manage to infect yourself and your hubby with the flu by being in the dr. office.)

High Pain Tolerance = total pain wuss

Learning Life's lessons the hard way,
KT

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

before 7:00 am

Let dog out.
Take steroids for my pulled neck muscle.
Throw in a load of laundry.
Wake kids.
Make coffee with my 20 second machine.
Review homework.
Make popcorn for lunches.
Make chocolate cookies for school lunches.
Help kids get dressed.
Switch laundry.
Cut oranges for the rest of the family who is home sick.
Give Kyle inhaler.
Hold off Teagan until at least 7:00 am on candy hearts.

Now that I have had a nice quiet relaxed morning, I'm off to the rest of my day. Good thing I have my 20 second coffee machine!!

momofkrit and woj,
KT

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

You know you are a real mom when...

You know you are a real mom... when your favorite way to pass the time while pumping gas is to do the Itsy Bitsy Spider through the window with your preschooler.

You know you are a real mom...when you let your 3 year old go up to the fountain drink area at McDonald's to refill your Diet Coke because she drank it all.

You know you are a real mom...when you actually take your kids INTO McDonald's and eat inside.

You know you are a real mom when... your kid totally wipes out on the floor and you don't even flinch and then you laugh when they say, "That was awesome!"

You know you are a real mom when... you bravely walk into a shoe store with 4 kids and attempt to fit them each with new sneakers.

You know you are a real mom when...you threaten to drag the kids out by their shoulders if they misbehave in the shoe store.

You know you are a real mom when...you you just sigh as all 4 children suddenly need to "go" once you have everyone carefully situated in the shoe store.

You know you are a real mom when...you don't freak out because the new sneakers made your 5 year old run so fast that he ran around the whole store.

You know you are a real mom when...calmly tell your kids, "I'm not lost, I know exactly where I am, I just don't know how to get where I am going."

You know you are a real mom when...you find a way to occupy your children while you wait for an HOUR before the exciting tour of QVC.

You know you are a real mom when...you ask your kids for help on the computer.

You know you are a real mom when...you say, "I don't care if you don't like it".

You know you are a real mom when...firmly tell your chilren to "SHUT YOUR MOUTHS AND STOP TOUCHING EACH OTHER IN THE CAR".

You know you are a real mom when...you firmly scold your children for saying "Shut your mouth" to each other.

You know you are a real mom when...you rig up a traffic light system in your car so your kids can see if it is Green - talk, Yellow - whisper, or Red - SILENCE...

You know you are a real mom when...you forget to use your brilliant system and instead shout, QUIET.

You know you are a real mom when...you always have a least 1 load in the washer and 1 in the dryer. ALWAYS.

You know you are a real mom when...you make yourself a healthy lunch for work and forget to take it with you.

You know you are a real mom when...your 3 year old sticky her hand in hot wax and you use the opportunity to see if your 7 year old remembers what she learned in health class about treating burns.

You know you are a real mom when...a day later you discover the burn blistered and popped and realized more sympathy should have been given. OOPS..

You know you are a real mom when...you tell your kids every day to pick up their rooms.

You know you are a real mom when...you tell your kids you feel like a broken record and they get silent and finally ask what a record is.

You know you are a real mom when...you respond with a scratched CD.

You know you are a real mom when...you make the kids count out $3.00 in coins for their hot lunch.

You know you are a real mom when...you carefully pack 8 packets of Ketchup and several napkins for your oldest who can't possibly eat hot dogs without Ketchup.

You know you are a real mom when...after a long day you still peek one more time to see that all the kids are sleeping peacefully and are covered.

You know you are a real mom when...you love your kids so passionately that even when they drive you crazy you stick by them and keep going.

You know you are a real mom when...you quit being a mom...for about an hour...every now and then.

You know you are a real mom when...you run away from home and only make it as far as McDonald's and discovering Shamrock milkshakes are out you get one, feel better, and go back home.

You know you are a real mom when...you Lysol everything after another kid coughs in your house.

You know you are a real mom when...your kid says, I don't feel well and you respond with great horror, "Are you gonna Throw up?"

You know you are a real mom when...you kid says NO and you respond with, Oh Good, get ready for school.

You know you are a real mom when...your oldest is intersted in rapping and you tell him that is fine but you must rap in Latin!

You know you are a real mom when...you start beat boxing along with your Latin Rapping Son.

You know you are a real mom when...you can type on the computer, cook dinner, do laundry, study for the history test, check math homework, talk to your hubby on the phone and play babydoll with your daughter all at the same time.

You know you are a real mom when...can laugh at yourself, laugh at your kids, and laugh with your kids.

You know you are a real blogger mom when...you waste the time to write all this crazy stuff down.

You know you are a really blessed mom when...even though you'd like a break every once in a while, your favorite thing to do is be with your kids.

Blessed to be woj and momofkrit,
KT

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

My day at home

Kyle was coughing this morning so I stayed home with him and Teags.

I did laundry...I mopped the floors...I started the crockpot...It was great.

Tonight we're going to actually have a sit down family dinner. Chicken marinated in orange juice, garlic, thyme and balsamic vinagrette, couscous, a salad WITH veggies, and fresh bread thanks to Giant.

As it turns out:
Kyle didn't feel so great and didn't really want to eat.
Iain and Daddy ended up having a date night to take through some stuff.
Teags fell asleep ont he way home from Karate and skipped supper.

Rhia and I had a delightful meal together.

The best laid plans....don't usually work the way we plan or intend, but I sure enjoyed having a dinner at home with just Rhia. I'm gonna head to bed soon as I fear Teags will be up in the middle of the night asking for food!

a mom who keeps plugging away,
KT

Before 8:00 am

This morning before 8:00 am

Rhia - woke early as usual and got herself dressed and ready for school and then began about her morning task of getting the rest of the family ready. She made lunches and breakfasts and encouraged and persuaded and eventually whined because of the late hour at which they were leaving for school. (7:20)

Teagan - woke talking...saying, Mommy I can't open mine eyes, I'm too tired. However, she refused to say in bed.

Iain - woke and was a ragdoll for about 10 minutes until I reminded him it was 100 DAY at school and he was able to wear his 100 DAY sweatshirt we had made for him. It has 1-100 written on it. He did a fabulous job. He dressed and began his morning routine of cereal and desperatly trying to find his shoes which are always in the same place. Then he proceeded with his daily copying of his sisters just to annoy them. All was well.

Kyle - woke with a ACHOOO and nasty cough. His voice sounds like it is changing although he is too young and his cough is deep and not fun. He looked miserable and asked for 10 minutes. I finally had his Daddy talk to him and we decided to keep him home. However, before 8:00 he was downstairs starving. He does have some sort of cold going on, but I fear it could be a long day. He just announced that if he doesn't make it through the final round of American Idol then he wants to go on and be a professional basket ball player. I guess the Jr. Titan basketball team that our little Classical School provides has inspired him.

Fiona has jumped on everyone's face and played with her bone and eaten her breakfast and now she's down for the morning.

Mommy is well, amazed that morning is here already and amazed that I've already been awake for 2 hours and feel like I just got up and need to sleep for 3 more days. Good news though: around 11:00 my new K-Cups for my coffee maker will be delivered and then I'll be a live wire as I try all the different flavors!

Thanks all for now. It is only 8:00 am so who knows what else will happen today. Remember this is the life of,
woj, and momofkrit,
KT

Monday, February 2, 2009

socks

I now have an ENTIRE basket of folded matched socks.
I still have an entire basket of mismatched socks. But I no longer have 2 baskets of mismatched socks. This morning I proudly showed my work to the kids and they were very impressed. Rhia said, "WOW Mommy, you did ALL that?"

Now, getting the appropriate socks into the appropriate rooms and drawers might be another challenge. However...I'm gonna give it a try. If I succeed, I'm gonna take my sister Erin's advice and treat myself to Starbucks...real Starbucks...with fat AND whip!

:-)

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Frustrated Mom

Sometimes I wonder if this is really what life is all about. I know there is deeper meaning because I know Christ came and died for my sins and that eternal life with Him will be wonderful. And I know that earth is NOT eternity. However, is my life right now really reduced to keeping children from hurting each other. Stopping battles regarding who is being the meanest. Cleaning up after messes which the kids have already themselves "cleaned". Preparing food which the kids won't like. Cleaning up after a dinner which no one really ate. Washing clothes so they can just get dirty again. Helping with homework so they can go to school and bring home more homework. Sweeping the floor after every meal. Feeding the dog.

Mind you, I'm not really complaining. I realize all these jobs need to be done and that God has called me to do them. Perhaps it is the redundancy. Perhaps it is the seemingly worthless lessons that I end up teaching every day. Perhaps it is the undue pressure I put upon myself to be Mrs. Ingalls, Mrs. Walton, Mrs. Cosby, 2009 Mother of the Year, and work for the first time in 9 years all rolled into one.

I would venture to guess that most moms find themselves feeling this way at some point or many points during their journey of motherhood. Each day is so the same and each day is so different that we can't figure out how to walk straight. With my particular family there are 6 personalities, 6 likes and dislikes, 6 ideas of how to do things, and somehow "Mom" is supposed to mesh them all together into one happy loving family that works well together and enjoys being together. All the while, doing the laundry, and cooking, and cleaning, and homework, and studying each child, and spending time with hubby, and remembering to feed the dog. Poor Dog.

Today I find myself in a battle of heart and mind. In my mind, I know that I am completely incapable of accomplishing any of these tasks on my own. And that is Great! Because, God is and He wants to walk alongside me and enable me to do my work with His power and not my own. In my heart, I feel as though I fail each and every day to meet the needs of my family. There are mismatched socks everywhere. The bathrooms are not really clean. I have raised my voice several times already today because of their fighting and bickering, but I have yet to sit down and try to reach them at heart level to talk about why fighting and bickering is wrong. The uniforms are not clean yet for tomorrow. And I really can't recall the last meal that included vegetables.

So, today's blog is not so much funny, although some may laugh thinking of my kids running all over the house in dirty clothes and mismatched socks yelling meanie head at each other. Today my blog is more of my mind trying to reconcile with my heart and so wanting to just end up in Jesus arms but not sure how to give it all up and still get the clothes clean for tomorrow.

I'll end this blog trusting in the Jesus who came to save me and praising God for his grace and mercy that covers over all my inadequacies and praying that my children will not suffer permanent harm from the lack of vegetables and matching socks.

woj and momofkrit
KT