Head Colds...... oh how I hate them.
10:00 AM, maybe i should get kids dressed. So I gather up outfits, hair bows, socks, and diapers for all three kids. Go out to the living room where I lay out a line of outfits, turn on a cartoon to distract the kids, and then one by one start changing my kiddos. #ClaraBelle freaks out while I change her diaper, getting poop all over both of us (teething rashes….). I go wash my hands then drag her back over to get her dressed and do her hair. #OBoy is next, I love this kid and he is stinkin’ CA-UUUTE! But seriously, its so much more fun dressing girls. Into the bouncer he goes. Last, #LivyLu. I start to get her ready to change her diaper, she starts freaking out. Apparently she is still pooping. So she lays in my lap for 10 minutes watching Dora, begging me to sing all the songs (there isn't a Dora song I haven't already memorized). Finally I can change and dress her. I spray a little hairspray in hope that her hair won't be destroyed in 5 minutes, but forget to warn her. She then jumps up wiping her tongue shouting “YUCKY!!!” Oops, sorry sweet girl!
Dishes. Why are there always dishes to clean and put away?
I start collecting bottles (why do we use so many bottles?). With an arm full of bottles, i head to the sink so I can start on the dishes. I remember I forgot to unload the dishwasher last night, so I have to do that first Then I look up and see the clock. 12:30, nap time for #ClaraBelle. Close dishwasher, hand was a bottle fast, mill up with milk, collect #ClaraBelle and a pacifier and head off to the bedroom to put her down for a nap
I walk into a room strewn with books, dirty outfits I forgot to put in the laundry basket from yesterday, beds are unmade and there are toys dumped out everywhere. Put down #ClaraBelle and do a five minute clean up. But of course, as I am putting toys away, #LivyLu is pulling them back out. And #ClaraBelle, who has a love for emptying drawers and boxes, is dumping out toys and books faster than I can put them away. So, #ClaraBelle is tucked into bed with a bottle, pacifier and book, #LivyLu is shewed out of the room and I start the clean up all over again. I shut off the light and close the door.
I then notice my carpets which are covered in ripped up tissue paper (why does #ClaraBelle love to rip tissue paper so much?); so back into the room to get the vacuum cleaner out of the closet.
#OBoy is hungry, so I leave the vacuum cleaner in the hall, to go hand wash another bottle. Feed #OBoy, to which 2 ounces into his 5 ounce bottle he falls asleep. Very carefully carry him to bedroom and lay him in bassinet. Notice the lamp is still on, walk around the bed to turn it off, but I need to step over pillows and blankets that have fallen off the bed. So on my way back around the bed i start throwing it all back onto the bed. Somewhere in between making my way out of the room and throwing bedding on to the bed, I start making the bed; which leads to picking up the books #ClaraBelle knocked off the bookcase and #LivyLu made a “bridge with”, along with the tissues on my nightstand (oh how I am ready for this head cold to be gone). I find 2 bottles that have rolled under the bed which reminds me that I was going to do the dishes.
On my way to the kitchen, I hear #ClaraBelle singing, so I put down bottles, go in tuck her back in, giver her more books, head out and resume. Going down the hall I pick up two more bottles (again, why do we have so many bottles?)
I walk out into the living room to see #LivyLu is changing her dolls diaper. Golly she is so cute! But then I hear her things like, "Stop moving", "Please lay still", "No kicking", "I don't want poop all over me". Golly Gee! I need to work on speaking sweeter to my children.
As I drop all the bottles in the sink, I step in something wet on the floor (why is there always something wet on my floor?). Quickly clean up what I hope is juice, look up to see the carpet is in dire need of a vacuum, remember I pulled out the vacuum. Throw wet rag into laundry basket, do a 5 min pick up in the living room and plug in vacuum. #LivyLu is thirsty and hungry. Quickly get her some juice and a cheese stick. Vacuum (#ClaraBelle, and #OBoy sleep through it, YAY!).
Finally, dishes time. PSYCH! The sound of turning on the water reminds me I need to go the bathroom, and since having kids, well when you have to go you have to go.
On my way back to the kitchen I notice the bottle #OBoy didn't finish earlier. (How long has that been sitting out? 20 minutes? 40 minutes? Oh well, I’m sure it’s still good. Put it in the fridge-- don’t judge me.)
Rinse off a few dishes then open the dishwasher. Oh yea, I never unloaded the dishwasher. Quickly unload dishwasher. #LivyLu hands me her cup and asks for more juice and another snack. Yay for individual size popcorn bags!!! Back to dishes.
It takes me five minutes to do the dishes. Unless you are counting from the moment I first intended to do the dishes, in that case its more like an hour and a half.
If you are anything like me than doing one simple task never means just doing one simple task. It means doing the ten other things before, so that you can focus on doing that one thing. Mixed with kids begging you to play, read to and sing songs. Babies who are too cute for their own good. Blowing your nose for the 10 millionth time (seriously, when will this cold go away?). A mother’s work is never done. There are many days I roll my eyes at the ridiculous messes, and many days when I lose my temper and raise my voice to my children when they make a mess in the room I just finished cleaning or flail during a diaper change getting poop in place i don't even want to talk about. There are days when I spend an extra minute or two in the bathroom (because that’s every mother’s sanctuary) ignoring the messes and tears that are on the other side of the door, and days when we play games like hide and seek just so i can hide from all the responsibilities I am too tired to take care of. But even when I am sick and want to be over dramatic and act as though I am dying and hide in the covers of my bed instead of drown in the responsibilities of being a mother, I have something to be grateful for.
God has blessed me with two hands that are gentle when wiping rash covered bums, that are quick when it comes to scrubbing of dishes and talented when doing updos on toddlers. God has blessed me with a pillow top mattress and a 3 inch memory foam and pillows for days, so that I can get a restful nights sleep allowing me to have energy to keep up with my three little munchkins. He sent me down to earth during the days of modern medicine (thank you nyquil and sudafed). When I ask for it, God gives me the patience that I lack when it comes to dealing with toddler drama and endless messes. And most importantly he has given me a heart that overflows with love for my sweet kiddos every day.
Am I tired? Yes!
Do I wish I could take a sick day? OF COURSE!
Would I change anything? HECK NO! Even on the hardest of days, I wouldn't give up what I have for anything.
Here is a good little reminder, for any of you mom's who have ever had a day like mine.
Now I need to go clean the popcorn #LivyLu spilled all over the floor.
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