All the Balls

Cherub 2: Michael say's "Ow, my balls, ow, my balls, ow, my balls".

Me: Ok, that is enough. Do you know what balls are?

Cherub 2: Eyeballs.

Me: (chuckle)

Cherub 3: They are not eyeballs, they are balls, like weiner balls.

Cherub 2: No they are not.

Cherub 3: Yes, they are. Weiner balls. Weiner balls. Weiner balls.

Me: Ok, that is enough. That is potty talk, enough.

Cherub 3: Potty talk, balls, potty talk, balls, ha ha ha.

I think to myself, I am never going to survive boy talk. Also, cherub 2 obviously is a little sponge and gravitates towards the little boys that have some interesting things to say. We are in big trouble.

F is for...

Cherub 2: Mom, Joshua knows the F word.

Me: (almost faint but calmly question him) Who is Joshua? What do you mean the F word? Do you know the F word?

Cherub 2: He is the one that bit me on the bus. He knows it. I don't. But I know it is bad. Is it bad?

Cherub 1: What is it?

Me: It's nothing. (Thankful neither seems to know it yet.) Yes, it is bad. So, what was your favorite part of the day?

(Yup, not so smooth transition to a new subject.)

Let's Dance

As surrogate soccer coach (hubby traveling, needed to be him at the coach's meeting tonight), I found myself out of the meeting early with a trusty babysitter at home.

It was exactly bedtime and any (sane) mom knows that one CAN NOT go home and interrupt the bedtime routine. So, I hit Marshalls in search of finding the perfect pants. I decided to try the next size down in hopes they finally fit.

Zip up...
button...
DANCE!

That's right, TWO pairs of the 'next size down' pants fit! Doin' a jig in the dressing room (all by myself like a crazy person), is where you could've found me tonight! I guess stress, no snacking, a non-stop schedule, and having a classroom on the third floor has helped the cause.

Twas the Night Before Easter

Twas the night before Easter
Eggs hiding all through the house
Not a cherub was stirring
Hopefully not a mouse

The webkins are snug
In white baskets they sleep
Surrounded by lots of candy
Cherubs'love they will keep

Looking forward to the annual hunt
Scooping up chocolate eggs galore
They appear to be so happy
Until they ask in a panic, "Is there more?"

Happy Easter Eve from our crazy house to yours!!

Demolition Anyone?

Ya, I so need a maid. I am finally having cherub 3's little friends over tomorrow for his first official playdate of his own (aka- his friends not big brothers friends that he usually tags along with) and I am looking around the house right now to survey the weekly damage.

It's bad.

I am thinking that short of a demolition crew knocking down my house and starting fresh by 10am, I am screwed. Since no maid is coming, I guess I better get to it. What, you didn't know that the only time my house gets cleaned is midnight. Da.

PS- Day one on medicine- success. I am so happy for cherub 3. Keep your fingers crossed.

Praying Smurf to Bring Relief

Received call from nursery school today at 10:30am. Cherub 3 hysterically crying with a belly ache!! Wha?????????????

Left school (AGAIN) to pick him up.

Doctors think now that he might be suffering from acid reflux and it is the cause of all these belly aches and vomiting. Started him on Zantac tonight.

Praying for a healthy night and day for him tomorrow.

*Sidebar*
Yes, guilt is there. Had to leave work. Worst employee ever.
Even better, despite guilt my heart knows it was where I needed to be.
Yet still, praying for a healthy day tomorrow (can you blame me). :o)

New Vocabulary Word for the Kindergarten class?

Cherub 2: "Mom, guess what is on my bum?"

Me (with hesitation): "What?"

Cherub 2: "A butcrack."

Cherub 3: Doubles over with laughter.

Me: "Where did you learn that? I don't like that word."

Cherub 2: "Why not? Everyone has one."

True, so true.

In Need of Love

Cherub 2's school nurse called to tell me that he visited her at 9:30am with a belly ache. With confirmation that he was not going to throw up, did not need the bathroom, and had no fever, she asked him what would make his belly feel better. His answer was "Love". She asked, "From Who?" He sighed, "Mom." She was calling to tell me that he was fine but he was having an I miss mommy day. My cup runneth over.

Flicker Freak

Went over m&d's tonight to check in and say Happy St Patty's Day. (We are 100% Irish...it is one of the most important holidays.) Cherub's played tag and then rushed into their house to visit.

Mom had 2 candles burning to block out the cornbeef and cabbage smell (told ya, Irish). Cherub 2 starts SCREAMING, "I am hot! I am hot! Shut it off!"

Wha???

He is pointing at the candle while screaming. (Ok, crazy. Calm down! Is what I am really thinking.) The nice mommy in me actually said "no worries, the candle doesn't make you hot, it just makes everything smell good." His reply, "No! No! Shut it OFF! I am HOT!"

First, candles can not be shutoff. Since he is no mood for negotiations, Mom simply blew it out and we all started laughing. Cukoo.

Village-Take Two

Check out my additions to "It Takes a Village" (post from midnight 3/16). I had to add more. As the dust settles I keep remembering more and more of that week. It was CRAZY!

Don't Shoot the Messenger

I firmly believe in that saying. Today, I shot the messenger of some unwelcomed news. To the messenger...you know who you are, again, I am sorry.

It Takes a Village-Take 2 (Domino Effect & Guilt)

**I wrote this at midnight last night so I forgot some of the funny parts (or ridulously pathetic parts-however you want to look at it)...

Domino One Falls- Sickness
Last week, hubby left for TX at 5am Monday morning. So, it was appropriate that at 11:30am I receive a call at work from my Dad that Cherub 3 is puking at school.

Domino Two Falls- Phone Tree Follies1)When I hear my Dad's voice I panic b/c yes, he recently had a heart attack and mom recently had major surgery and now it is (sadly) ENGRAINED in my sis's and I to feel a lump in our throats when we receive an untimely call from one of our parents. He is calling to tell me he has puking cherub 3.

2)Yes, it is a problem that Dad who just had a heart attack has cherub 3, the pukester. So here is where the domino effect continue...

3)The pukester's school called my HOME number to try to reach me. Problem, yup, since I work, FULL TIME and I am NOT at home. They follow up with big sis's contact info. Poor thing...she is at work as well. So, she frantically tries to reach me but keeps getting a FAX NUMBER??? I (being the spaceshot idiot I obviously am) must have given her a wrong number. So Dad gets the pukester, big sis rushes to Dad's rescue to relieve him and meanwhile I am scrambling for a sub. Sub attained, rush home. So yay, now my SUCKY luck has now affected Big Sis and Dad. Imagine being at work and having to leave to rescue your sis's kids...not your own. Big Sis's boss must be like, "Wha?". That is how much she rocks b/c she SAVED MY BUT at the cost of her work rep. Yikes.

All the way home I think PANIC b/c I know that I can't miss work Tue-Thur b/c of report cards and conferences. That is right, where are my loyaties? Self struggle ensues. Home. Cuddle with cherub 3, relieve bib sis and beg her forgiveness. Fix the phone # folly with her and the schools (BTW, school had the right # though). Next Plan?

Domino Four- GUILT!!!
I beg baby sis SAVES MY BUT and takes the day out of work Tue to stay with Cherub 3 who stopped puking at 5am. Again, another Sis to s.m.b. at the cost of her work rep. GUILT.

I call my MIL to see if she can also SAVE MY BUT Wed-Thur since I know I can't reschedule 19 conferences without getting fired. I am forever indebted to her for coming to live with us for a few days to handle the sick ward. My guilt was increasing.

Dad comes over Thursday to relieve MIL so she can go home in the daylight hours. Cherubs are fine, he gets everyone to bed.

I came home from conferences on Thur nt (9pm), by 10:30pm I hear moaning. I run down the hall, cherub 3 is puking his way to the bathroom. Yes, the question begs to be asked why did he NOT puke Tue, Wed or Thur until now?

Hubby comes home at 11pm and resides to the fact that he'll be working from home Fri since I was already out on Monday. Guilt. Guilt. Guilt.

We have realized, it takes a village to raise our kids. It is not easy working full time. As EVERYONE has pointed out, my kids are too young. The guilt just keeps rising. Did we make the right choice, me taking this job? Ughh.

So shoot me, I love my career. That doesn't mean I don't love my kids. I would do anything for my cherubs. Too bad lately I feel like they are taking the backseat. Guilt. Guilt. Guilt. Guilt.

Village: Me, Hubby, Big Sis, Baby Sis, MIL, Dad, Daycare, BIL, Schools...that is my cherub's village. We ALL took care of them last week. Crazy, huh?

Don't forget that it also takes another village to handle me and my guilt! Maybe I should just be committed. Could be easier.

Starting all over tomorrow...

Here comes the Bride

Cherub 1 had a playdate yesterday. She had 3 of her girlfriends over. Giggles, singing etc for hours. It was hysterical to listen to. She NEEDS the girls since she is stuck with her rascaly brothers all the time.

Part way through, she comes waltzing out to the kitchen dressed to the nines in her First Communion dress, veil, and gloves. I actually think I yelped, 'What are you doing with that on?' She replied in the 8 year old 'dah' tone of voice, 'Mom, I am playing bride.'

Ok, you can play bride May 19th, the day AFTER your First Communion. Take it off, CAREFULLY~pls not sticky, crafty playdate hands on the VERY white dress.

Energizer Bunnies

Hubby & I always laugh (half-heartedly, more with a BIG sigh) b/c the cherubs have been recharging their batteries since 7:30pm. Just finished another section of my report cards, it is 1:30am and I am heading off to bed. I am going to need to attach a power cord to my but (as the cherub's would call it) tomorrow b/c I certainly won't have enough time to recharge myself.

Just a little bit of this, a little bit of that....

Little ear infection here, little throat infection there. No wonder the pain. Large dose of antiobiotics later...maybe in a couple of days I will feel normal again.

24/7 World

I was getting sick most of last week and could barely keep up with life. Hit hard with fever and every other symptom Friday nt, there is no where to go but down. It is ironic that in our 24/7 modern world, you can shop in practically any store on the weekend. Many, many jobs expect us (the employees) to put in hours (off the clock) on the weekend...including mine. However, if you are an adult you CAN'T GO SEE A DOCTOR UNTIL MONDAY?????? It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that people don't stop getting sick just b/c it is the weekend. If I have to fill out report cards on the weekends, why shouldn't they fill out prescriptions? I am not asking for a house-call, just a doctor, ANY doctor to cover the weekend shift.

Signed,
Sick Girl

Thankful

Each night we always talk about our 'favorite part of the day', going around the table. Tonight we changed it up a bit and talked about what we are thankful for. Here are the answers:

Cherub 3 (age 4): Haley (our dog)
Cherub 2 (age 5): Aliens. Everyone in our family. And Aliens.
Cherub 1 (age 8): God. Or else we wouldn't be alive.

Then she was sure to tell cherub 2 that there is no such thing as aliens.
Polite fight ensued.

Seven Years Bad Luck

That's right. If you break a mirror, you have 7 years bad luck. That is the old wives tale. But what the heck? I didn't break one. So why the bad luck?

I figured it out yesterday, as I missed yet another one of cherub 1's bball days. I have missed all but 2. So basically the whole season. I know, pour me some wine for my whine.

I know that none of our problems are real problems but can I catch a break? Or was last Sat my break? We could make a (really horrible and not so in any particular tune) country song out of 2008:

A lacerated eye ball makes it hard to see
Twisting the wrong way, back pain makes her fall to her knee.
Daddy has a heart attack, mommy's in surgery
Everyone is sick, insanity is the plea.
Two new jobs, each of us going straight out
Don't stop to think, no time to pout.
Balance each ball
Don't let anything fall.
You had your night away sweetie
You don't get more, don't be greedy.

Ok, I am losing it. Aren't you glad you tuned in? Like I said, I know our problems are not earth shattering, just draining. We could use a little divine intervention though.