You’re probably guessing this post is going to be about preparing for Hurricane Matthew, and you’re partially right. But this storm has been building much longer than Matthew has been a concern.
Over a week ago I shared my overwhelmed feelings about our busy life and schedule. I continue to feel like a failure but I am learning that with 4 kids when in rains, it doesn’t just pour, it hurricanes.
Last Tuesday I desperately needed to go to the grocery store because Monday was trying and I just didn’t have it in me to go. So first thing Tuesday, I put off school with the girls and loaded everyone in the car, something I’ve done a thousand times. Except this time my car wouldn’t start. I was stuck at home with 4 kids, no car and hubby was leaving for a work trip the next day.
As usual, my knight in shining armor showed up to save the day. After a horrific time getting the battery replaced, we decided to also rotate my tires and, finally made it to the grocery store (I probably should have just done Walmart’s pickup service and none of this would have been a problem!)
Hubby left super early the next morning and was gone until Saturday morning. The days he was gone are a blur. I don’t really recall much of it other than a lot of yelling, frustration and exhaustion.
You see, Pipsqueak is in a testing phase where he does things he knows he shouldn’t just to see what happens. Things like eating cat food, climbing on top of the table and throwing things. And Doodle is in a trying phase, as in he’s trying to make me lose my mind. Plus Pipsqueak had decided the optimal wake up time is somewhere in the 6 o’clock range. So I’ve been up unnecessarily early with a cranky, tired baby who doesn’t get to nap because our schedule is so crazy.
Sunday was our eye in the storm when Sugarplum had her first official gymnastics competition and did she did awesome! We are so proud of her and enjoyed watching her shine despite struggling to manage the boys for the 2 hour meet at the same time.
Then yesterday. A normal Monday. Had breakfast, did some school, had lunch. I was just getting ready to put Pipsqueak down to nap when it happened: the blood-curdling scream that told me immediately someone (Doodle) was hurt. I rushed over to him behind the couch to find blood everywhere. It gushed out of his mouth faster than I could clean it up.
I screamed for the girls to bring me paper towels, baby wipes, ice. Honeybun cried because she was worried about him (and that’s what she does) and I assessed the situation before a call to hubby: “Doodle smashed his face and I need to take him somewhere, what do I do with the other three kids I’m home alone with?!?!?”
A few hours later we all left the hospital, Doodle with a fat lip and three stitches and me ready for this nightmare that’s been my life to be over.
The good news is, Doodle is fine. Aside from having to eat only mushed food (and hating the baby food which he’s never had before), he’s back to driving me crazy.
And now we get to prepare for a real hurricane…
