We had such an awesome day today! It was one of those days where the schedule you are trying to implement, works. When the kids mostly work together, you have the time and mental wherewithal to follow your well-intentioned discipline or positive behavior strategy, no one has a meltdown (or you are able to stop the meltdown in progress), and everybody makes it to bed on time.
This was the kind of day I was hoping for when I decided to stay home. I did my core strengthening video this morning and then got the kids up and ready for school. After getting Katie to school this morning, I headed off to PT. I have the time to treat my back as I need to to recover from my most recent spasm. Christian and I stopped at the YMCA to check on track out swim lessons for Katie and then headed home for lunch and Christian's nap. He went down without a fuss and I worked on setting up Katie's reward board (again, we had a technical problem and had to download it again). We walked up to the bus stop and played with neighbors while we waited for the bus (and Christian was MOTIVATED TO WALK BY THE NEIGHBOR BOY!!!). After we got home, Katie decided to get out the sprinkler and played in that while Christian played on the driveway and I weeded some in the garden. Then we played with the bat and ball we have and Katie thought that was awesome. It was great to have the time and freedom to say "Yes, you can put on your swimsuit and play in the sprinkler for 30 minutes before you do your homework and yes, I will play ball with you." I think we had some good love tank filling time today, something both Katie and I needed. Even dinner, baths and bedtime was pretty good, despite the fact that Jim unexpectedly had to work late.
Oh, and the kitchen isn't too bad (ie, not a disaster), the bathroom isn't too bad post baths (also not a disaster), and my back was GREAT today. Not perfect, but my new regimen seems to be helping. Finally.
Thank you God, I needed a day like today.
Monday, July 30, 2012
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Peek-a-boo!
After the other day's philosophical and slightly depressing post, I thought I would follow up with a little nugget of fun I came across while surfing through some pictures on the hard drive yesterday. Christian playing peek-a-boo with Granddad in the crib.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Today...
Today I want to cry.
Today I want to cry in relief because the whole morning was a serious of almost catastrophes, but no actual ones. I fed Christian oatmeal, which he got everywhere, but NOT on his clothes. We were almost late for school but managed to make it just in time. We even made it while the car pool line was active. I put C in his rocking chair in the bathroom with his cup of milk while I was taking a shower instead of the exersaucer since he has been crying in the exersaucer. He managed to completely flip the rocker over while still strapped in but didn't get hurt. Almost catastrophes, but not actual catastrophes.
Today I want to cry in pain and in frustration because, after a wonderfully painless year, the week before July 4th, I suffered another spasm and have entered another battle in my war on back pain. Last time it took a year, physical therapy, systemic pain meds, and a lot of hard work to get rid of the pain. Although the pain meds really helped the back pain, I had 4 months of negative side effects when I went off them so I am not keen to try them again.
Today I want to cry in fatigue because the pain makes it difficult to sleep and I am not getting enough.
Today I want to cry in anguish as my 1 year old son threw up all over the pool deck (AND all over Jim as he was riding on Jim's shoulders at the time) at the swim meet after sitting in the broiling sun for 2.5 hours. He was in his stroller for much of this time and/or under the umbrella I brought as a parasol but there was NO breeze and I forgot the stroller fan. I am normally much more attuned to how hot he gets and much more sensitive to it. Maybe he threw up because it was something viral. Maybe it wasn't my fault. Right now, though, my heart is breaking because he got over heated and I might have prevented it.
But...
Today, I also want to cry with pride and joy because my sweet, sweet little girl who has worked so hard this season on the swim team finally got her reward. My goal for her this season was for her to improve her attitude, to enjoy the season, the swimming, the fun and try her best and she did that. But she went one better and she managed to win her heat of the 6 and Under girls freestyle tonight at the very last meet. Since my girl never does anything by half, when she was handed her ribbon and realized she won, she screamed her joy to the whole pool deck and then proceeded to cry tears of joy. The tears were short-lived but evidence of how big she experiences every emotion. There is no happy and sad for my Katie, only ecstatic and miserable. I will never forget the look on her face when she realized that she was the one getting the coveted rainbow ribbon.
Today, I wanted to cry, because it was just One. More. Thing.
Today I experienced the full spectrum of life and motherhood from the heights to the depths. So today I will pray. I will pray for stamina and for rest and for peace and for healing, for myself and my son.
Today I will also be thankful. I will be thankful for relief, for almosts, but especially for little girls and overflowing joy.
Here is a picture of Katie sporting her very first heat winner ribbon, the coveted rainbow ribbon!
Today I want to cry in relief because the whole morning was a serious of almost catastrophes, but no actual ones. I fed Christian oatmeal, which he got everywhere, but NOT on his clothes. We were almost late for school but managed to make it just in time. We even made it while the car pool line was active. I put C in his rocking chair in the bathroom with his cup of milk while I was taking a shower instead of the exersaucer since he has been crying in the exersaucer. He managed to completely flip the rocker over while still strapped in but didn't get hurt. Almost catastrophes, but not actual catastrophes.
Today I want to cry in pain and in frustration because, after a wonderfully painless year, the week before July 4th, I suffered another spasm and have entered another battle in my war on back pain. Last time it took a year, physical therapy, systemic pain meds, and a lot of hard work to get rid of the pain. Although the pain meds really helped the back pain, I had 4 months of negative side effects when I went off them so I am not keen to try them again.
Today I want to cry in fatigue because the pain makes it difficult to sleep and I am not getting enough.
Today I want to cry in anguish as my 1 year old son threw up all over the pool deck (AND all over Jim as he was riding on Jim's shoulders at the time) at the swim meet after sitting in the broiling sun for 2.5 hours. He was in his stroller for much of this time and/or under the umbrella I brought as a parasol but there was NO breeze and I forgot the stroller fan. I am normally much more attuned to how hot he gets and much more sensitive to it. Maybe he threw up because it was something viral. Maybe it wasn't my fault. Right now, though, my heart is breaking because he got over heated and I might have prevented it.
But...
Today, I also want to cry with pride and joy because my sweet, sweet little girl who has worked so hard this season on the swim team finally got her reward. My goal for her this season was for her to improve her attitude, to enjoy the season, the swimming, the fun and try her best and she did that. But she went one better and she managed to win her heat of the 6 and Under girls freestyle tonight at the very last meet. Since my girl never does anything by half, when she was handed her ribbon and realized she won, she screamed her joy to the whole pool deck and then proceeded to cry tears of joy. The tears were short-lived but evidence of how big she experiences every emotion. There is no happy and sad for my Katie, only ecstatic and miserable. I will never forget the look on her face when she realized that she was the one getting the coveted rainbow ribbon.
Today, I wanted to cry, because it was just One. More. Thing.
Today I experienced the full spectrum of life and motherhood from the heights to the depths. So today I will pray. I will pray for stamina and for rest and for peace and for healing, for myself and my son.
Today I will also be thankful. I will be thankful for relief, for almosts, but especially for little girls and overflowing joy.
Here is a picture of Katie sporting her very first heat winner ribbon, the coveted rainbow ribbon!
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