My Night Tonight

So here's how it went tonight.  I had a crappy day at work.  One where you question why you want to be a teacher.  All I could think of was coming home to the 4 people I love most in the world.  The girls get home and the trio get started and finished with their homework.  Megan says hers is easy and she can do it at Fazoli's.  Tuesday night is $.99 kids night with a craft in their party room.  Megan usually doesn't like to do the craft so she and I talk while the girls create.   We have a really pleasant dinner.  Megan starts on her homework but doesn't get done.  It seems like an awful lot of homework and I'm wondering if she misheard the teacher's directions.  We had gift cards to Graeter's Ice Cream and so we head there for dessert.  Again more pleasantness.  The drive home?  Delightful. 

Then....it starts.  

The crazy, single  parent flurry that happens when I try to be in 5 places at once. 

I start the shower for Abby, Brigid, and Caroline.  I put Caroline in but she wants me to wash her and her hair.  I tell her to get  her hair wet while I run downstairs and help Megan who by now has had a complete meltdown about how hard her math homework is. 

While helping her, Caroline starts to let out huge wails of, "Momma I need you!"  I go running upstairs to see what is wrong and she is just feeling "lonely".  I help her finish up and while she is rinsing I go grab the guinea pig bowl to start feeding them. 

I had back downstairs to help Megan with another problem.

 I start washing the gp bowl and Caroline yells, "Done!" 

I run back upstairs and usher Abby into the shower next. 

I'm trying to help Caroline dry off while Megan starts crying again.  Back downstairs I go. 

Help Megan. Feed the cats.  Head back to the guinea pig bowl. 

Caroline comes downstairs, "Is there going to be a tornado?"  She is terrified of them and currently obsessed with them. (hmmm, can't for the life of me figure out where she gets that from :)  ). 

Megan moans some more.  Help her. 

Abby yells, "I'm done!" 

I put the food in the gp bowl, run it upstairs, and yell for Brigid to get in the shower.

 Megan yells.

 Caroline followed me upstairs to ask me more questions about tornadoes. 

I start  back downstairs when Brigid informs me the water is too hot.  I turn it down. 

The phone rings.  It's Ali but I can't get the phone. 

Help Megan. 

Brigid yells for me. I run back upstairs and go into the bathroom only to find that Brigid can't reach her washcloth...sitting 3 feet from her on the counter.  She had called me all the way upstairs because she didn't want to get water on the bathroom floor. 

Caroline's still following me to ask about tornadoes.  Help Brigid out, turn the water off, make sure Abby has put underwear on and then Megan yells.  Back down to help her again. 

Caroline gets on the laptop to check the weather forecast.

Run back upstairs, help Brigid, then try to start a load of laundry.  It will eventually take me 45 minutes to put one load in the wash because of all the frickin' interruptions I get. 

Realize it is now after 8 p.m. Caroline wants to know what this word is:   m-a-n-d-a-t-o-r-y.  I ask to see what she is reading and it's something about tornado warnings being mandatory.  I tell her to shutdown the laptop and go upstairs to brush her teeth.

Megan is still crying saying she can't possible do all this homework.  I look at her page: factors, divisors, products.  There is a reason I've never taught above 3rd grade math.  I'm trying to help her and here comes Caroline with more questions. 

Phone rings and it's Ali again.  I answer because she has called twice in about 15 minutes so something must be up.  I only manage a brief conversation before I have to go.  Still trying to do laundry. Brush teeth.  Homework.

Get the trio in bed all the while reassuring Caroline that no tornadoes are going to hit tonight.  Tell Brigid that if she comes in my bed one more time tonight she is grounded (It's been 5 straight days in a row).  Back downstairs.

Finally get Megan to a stopping point and send her upstairs to bed.

I wash the inside of the crock pot that I didn't get done from last night's dinner.

Back upstairs to make sure they are in bed.  Megan has dirty feet.  Wash them.  Tuck in the trio again.  Caroline refuses to sleep with Megan because Megan whispers in her ear that tornadoes are coming tonight.  Megan gets upset that Caroline leaves her room so she marches in to the trio's room and grabs an almost asleep Abby to make her come into her room for bed. 

I put Caroline to bed in Abby's bed where Brigid is also sleeping.  Don't ask me why no one is sleeping in their own beds.  I've given up that fight a long time ago.  Sleep on the roof for all I care.  Just please sleep. 

Caroline cries that she needs a nightlight.  I grab the one out of Megan's room (she doesn't use it) and put it in the trio's room.  Turn it on and turn the main light off.  Megan is now upset that I unplugged her clock while unplugging the nightlight.  Give her and Abby kisses and head downstairs to type this.

Take my medicine, start typing, and breathe.  Get almost done with this then Abby and Megan show up. Abby has heartburn.  I've already given her the heartburn medicine she takes so I fix her a glass of milk.  They head back upstairs.

5 minutes later Megan yells that Caroline is pacing the floor in the hallway worried about tornadoes.

I'm pretty sure that by the morning I will have had a least two more interruptions by Brigid and Caroline climbing into my bed.

I watched Kate + 8 last night.  Saw her and her kids sightseeing in New York City.  She had sh**loads of help while they ate ice cream and had a blast.  I must admit I was somewhat bored watching how easy it was for her and her help.  Quite cushy.

I'm pretty sure she doesn't have nights like these.  I think I should get my own reality show.  Let's see if anyone could handle one night of my reality.

I'm tired just typing this. I'm sure your worn out from reading this.

This was my night tonight.

Yes!

No, it's not what you think.  It's never that.  I have my air conditoning back on! Wahooo!!!  It went out yesterday around 6:30.  And it was HOT in here.  Or should I say I was hot.  bwhaahhaha.  And a hot me is not a happy me.  I can do without a lot.  But I can't be hot.  Perhaps that is my problem.  By the end of the evening all four girls had migrated downstairs to sleep on the couch, loveseat, and floor in the living room.  Megan ended up in bed with me.  To cuddle.  When it was 85 degrees in here.  By the morning I was worn out from being so hot. I waited until 9 a.m. and called maintenance.  Can I tell you how much I love that I can call maintenance and THEY COME AND FIX MY AIR?  FOR FREE.  I'm not sure I will ever look at homeownership again.  It didn't cost me a thing to have the repair done.  By the time I got home from work my apartment was a nice, cool oasis.  A beautiful puddle of coolness. 

Have I told you how much I hate to be hot?

I'm sick again!

This has been a rough summer for me in terms of sickness.  I can't believe that I can't shake this cold I have.  I've had two stomach viruses and now this.  I need to go back to the dr. to have labs run but trying to to find the time to go is almost impossible.  I'm shooting for next Saturday morning but my guess is they won't be open because it's Labor Day weekend.  I can't stand being sick. I don't have the time to be sick.  If i get sick then everything stops.  There is no one to come throw in a load of laundry for me.  No one to cook dinner, do dishes, etc.  I handle it all on my own.  It's just that when I'm sick it makes it so much harder to do all those things.  And yet they still get done.

I'm burning the candles at both ends.  Friday night Megan had a long promised slumber party at our house.  She ended up inviting 7 other girls which put my total at 11 girls.  It really was a lot of fun.  My friend Shannon stayed around until almost 10 p.m.  It was nice to talk with her almost uninterrupted.  I really like having kids at my house all the time.  I always wanted to be the Mom that had the kid house in the neighborhood.  Next Friday is the Camp Rock 2 viewing party at my house too.  This time it is not a slumber party.  Kids can come over, eat snacks, watch the movie, and then leave. 

Yesterday we went to Elsbeth and Jeremy's house to help them out a bit with moving into their very first house.  I don't know how much help I was but it sure was fun to be there in setting up their first house.  It is so sweet to watch this young, newly married couple start the life together.  Makes me a little wistful to be back at that time again.  Yet I wouldn't trade where I am at for anything. 

The First Day of School

School started last Tuesday.  5th grade and 2nd grade.  How did Megan get old enough to be in 5th grade?  The first day of school is always bittersweet for me.  I love that my girls get to be back to school with their friends.  The learn new things.  I'm not looking forward to the homework times 4.  It can be a bit overwhelming to find the time fix dinner, do laundry, baths, and homework.  Somehow though it all gets done.  To celebrate the first day of school I had a little surprise waiting for the girls when they got up in the morning on the first day:

I can tell you that Megan was NOT happy. She was worried about being embarrassed. I told her I just might do this to her on her first day of middle school. With balloons. And streamers. And whistles.

Abby wanted to know what kind of person paints her car.

Brigid and Caroline LOVED it.

I had people honking at me that morning.  Parents gave me thumbs up at the stoplight.  My fellow co-workers thought I was nuts.

I take my girls to work with me in the morning.  We have to be there at 7 a.m.  I am fortunate that my boss let me drive the girls to school that morning at 8:30.  We took our annual first day of school picture:

 Brigid, Megan, Mrs. French, Caroline, and Abigail posing in front of the school.  I like this picture.   The girls were happy to be there.  And Mrs. French even remembered it was our annual picture.  I love her.  The girls picked out their own outfits.  They do not like to match.  A friend commented on Facebook that it had to be no small feat to get the girls to school dressed and smiling.  Just realize that I do this everyday and we are at work by 7 a.m.  Call me Super Mom.

Into school we head to pose with Ms. Adamson, the trio's teacher:

Brigid, Caroline, Abby, and Ms. Adamson and yes that is an apple in Abby's hand.  Each girl brought their teacher an apple on the first day of school.  I love being corny. 

Megan with Ms. Moyo.

Ms. Moyo said she waited six years to say "Welcome to Fifth Grade."  I said I waited 10 years to hear her say that.

  I'm so busy all the time trying to maintain some sort of wonderful life for the girls so they don't ever feel a deficit because this is a divorced family and a multiples family.  I feel like I am missing them growing up. 

 My girls are growing up. 

Can someone hit pause?

Just for a little while.

St. Matthews Child Development Center

So here's some good news I haven't mentioned:  I am the new pre-kindergarten teacher at my preschool!!!  I am so looking forward to it.  Right now the school is starting a major remodelling of the pre-K classroom.  It already has a computer lab in it along with a wall-mounted, flat screen TV.  Now they are redoing the paint, floors, etc.  I know it will look spectacular when it is completed.  The room will me home to Nugget the bunny, Oliver and Precious the guinea pig, and two hermit crabs.  I love that the students get to interact with the animals on a daily basis.  We are putting together a new curriculum.  It's going to be wonderful!  Interested?  Here is the link for our website:  St. Matthews Child Development Center
Come check us out!!!

I'm sitting here on Saturday evening and relaxing. I've got Return of the Jedi on the TV, a diet Dr. Pepper in my cup, and a bag of Doritos.  The washer and dryer are going, I've been grocery shopping, and it is quiet.  It's quiet not because my girls are with their Dad but because my friend Shannon is having a sleepover involving all FOUR of my girls!  A very unexpected happening.  This morning the girls and I attended the preschool graduation at my school for 12 very special kiddos going off to Kindergarten. It was bittersweet.  Ms. Kimmerle, the pre-kindergarten teacher, has decided to persue her Masters degree in Applied Behavioral Analysis.  I wish her well but will miss her terribly.  After the graduation we headed to the St. Matthews Fire House for a birthday party for Colin, who turned 5.  It was wonderful!  The girls got a tour of the station and the fire trucks.  Shannon was at the party with her girls and asked if my girls wanted to come to a sleepover.  So now I have a free evening.

We've been so busy this summer I hardly have time to update my blog.  We've been to Calypso Cove, birthday parties, and any event related to school.  School starts Tuesday for the girls.  Fifth grade for Megan and second grade for Abigail, Brigid, and Caroline.  I'm excited for them but not looking forward to the homework.  I love that when we are done with work at 3:30 we come home and have the whole afternoon free.  We go to the pool and hang out with friends.  Once homework starts that will limit things.  Megan is already signed up for an afterschool activity.  She will be participating in Girls on the Run.  It's a non-competitive running program that focuses on self-esteem, exercise, running, and positive body image.  I'm thrilled for Megan.  The trio will be in Girl Scouts this year as well.  Brownies.  Or as the little girl that inspired my Caroline's name : "Bwownies".

Here are some pictures to highlight our summer:

Happy 7th Birthday Abigail, Brigid, and Caroline!

Christmas in July at Calypso Cove Waterpark at the Northeast YMCA

Our day of fun in June at Target Brigid, Caroline, Abigail, and Megan

Happy 4th of July Abby, Brigid, and Caroline

Megan waiting for funnel cakes at the 4th of July picnic

Brigid,  No other explanation needed

Caroline after an exhausting day

me (and my fat ass) at Deam Lake for Megan's 10th birthday, Caroline, Brigid, Abby, and Megan

Abby at Deam Lake

Megan's 10th birthday with our friends

11 kids and three adults

Brigid and Megan at Waterfront Park

After splashing at Waterfront Park the girls pose with singers from the Stephen Foster Show

Caroline and Brigid

Abby and Brigid at Waterfront Park with Caroline climbing in the background

Caroline

because sometimes you've just got to let the spirit move you

Megan at Waterfront Park

My Life

I haven't blogged much lately. Because I'm on Facebook all the time, I tend to do all my updates there.  But this one I wanted to share.   I finished doing the dinner dishes sometime around 6:15 or so.  I was just sitting on the couch zoning in front of iCarly.  I know. I'm 42.  I like iCarly.  I started to think about all the stuff I needed to do to get ready for the day tomorrow so I got off of my butt and got busy.  I went upstairs to get the bowl to the guinea pig cage.  We now have two guinea pigs, Ted E. Bear and Snap.  Yes we have two cats too.  Call me the Pet Whisperer.  I went into the trio's room to check on Caroline and her friend from a few doors down. They were building a fort under Brigid's loft bed and jamming to the Hannah Montana 3 CD.  That made me smile to see Caroline playing with a friend.  I went downstairs and saw Abigail on the laptop jamming to Hannah Montana videos.  Brigid was on the old computer playing a writing game.  I peeked outside and Megan was playing next to our townhouse with a whole bunch of kids.  It's funny how the most ordinary things that go on in families all over the country seem so extraordinary when you are living the life you have always dreamed of.  The years of heartache in trying to conceive, waiting for a baby, surgeries, failures, prayers all melted away in a single evening.  I have what I always dreamed of having.  I have what I always prayed for:  a house full of kids.  Now just how Blessed am I?