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.