I Gave up Today

Today was supposed to be a great fun day. The plans were for me to get home from work at 7:15, read Josh and Connors school books and help them with their homework, get Josh ready for school and take him to school, come home and try to catch a quick nap, then take a shower, get Kaytlynn and Connor ready and go to the Mom and Me fiedtrip at Jumpin' Jacks for Kaytlynns pre-school. I had plans to really go jump and play with her and Connor, not just sit and watch them like I usually do because I'm just too tired. That's why I wanted to catch a quick nap, so I wouldn't be too tired. I also wanted to get a shower so I wouldn't be stinky and possibly embarrass my kids. I was supposed to take a shower last night before work, but apparently my body wasn't happy with 6 hours of sleep and wanted to take that extra 35 minutes. I can't blame it because Sunday I got 4 hours of sleep in the morning after working all night, then went to my moms for dinner and to celebrate her and Brads birthdays, then came home and only managed to get an hour more of sleep before I went and worked all night from 11 to 7, then went straight to the post office and worked until 4:45. Then I went and picked up the kids, got them some dinner, ran to the grocery store, and went home and got 4 hours of sleep, once again my body deciding I needed a little more sleep rather then a shower. So then I went to work at 11 to 7 and got a call in the morning that the post office needed me to come in. I called around to see who could take the kids, went home, got the kids all ready, took Josh to school, took the kids to Wendys, went to do the auxillary route. I was starving, but just wanted to get it done. I got that done around 1:45, then went to pick up Kaytlynn. I had a nice chat with Wendy until 2:40--our chats always make me laugh. Then I went to pick up the boys from school at 2:45. Went and grabbed some McDonalds, went to the grocery store, went home and found the boys shin guards, found out I was supposed to call everyone on Connors team to remind them of the game, so I made whirlwind calls to 10 people. Then my wonderful step sister called so we could figure out my dad and Julies birthday party coming up. Brad went and picked up treats for soccer while I did that. Then we were trying to get both boys ready for soccer and Kaytlynn ready to go. They both played at 6:15 on different fields. Thank goodness they aren't playing at different parks this year, that was rough. Kaytlynn was being a little punk. She is such a hot blooded girl and is always hot. She will go into a frenzy because when she's hot, it also smells bad to her. I think breathing in the warmer, fuller air makes her think it stinks. She also decided she was hungry and the only thing she would take is mac and cheese. So I started making her mac and cheese 25 minutes before the game started. I thought I could quickly make it and take it with us, but Brad took the pot off the stove (and left the stove on!), so that didn't work. We finally got all the kids into the car and Kaytlynn started having a fit because she was starving but she would only eat mac and cheese. So I dropped Brad, Josh, and Connor off at 6:13. Brad ran Josh to his game, then ran with Connor to his game (which Brad is co-coaching) I took the starving, whining girl to Wendys. She did not want anything there, so I just got some chicken nuggets and some fries hoping she would stop being so stubborn and picky and be so starving that she would try something. When we dropped the boys off earlier, the entire parking lot was packed. There was not one spot left and the parking lot is pretty big. When we got back from Wendys, there were some spaces pretty close, so that was a positive. Also, the Wendys line was not that long, so another positive. So we got a spot, then sat in the car and luckily Kaytlynn tried the chicken and thought it was so good. Yay! Then it was a struggle trying to get her shoes on. She always puts her shoes on, whines "It feels funny." and then screeches and tries to kick them off in a rage. The shoe ordeal with her always takes a good 5 minutes with lots of whining, screaming, and crying. She usually ends up wearing no socks (which is why her shoes and then her feet stink!) and has the shoes on the wrong feet, but whatever. That is fine with me. So we got the shoes on and went to watch Josh's team play, since Brad was over helping coach Connors team. It was cold, so Kaytlynn huddled under the blanket. There was a cute little girl that came over and was staring at Kaytlynn. Kaytlynn put a scowl on her face and said "Why is that little girl staring at me? She just keeps staring at me!" scowling the whole time. I smiled at the girl, and she smiled back this cute, cute smile. I looked back at Kaytlynn who was still scowling at her. I told Kaytlynn to say "Hi, I'm Kaytlynn, what's your name?" or ask "How old are you?" or say "I like your jacket." But no, she just kept scowling. Poor little girl. Josh's game ended around 7:30. One of the apple juice boxes had leaked all over the other juices and snacks in the plastic bag, so I was dealing with that mess while Brad took Connor to the bathroom because he had to go so bad. I had to pick up Joshs soccer schedule, then figure out how to get all the garbage, treats, soccer balls, and cones, jackets, and kids to the car. I ended up putting all the soggy stuff in the grocery bag and taking all the soggy but still good stuff and folding it up in the blanket and hoisting the soccer and cone bag over one shoulder. Kaytlynn whined that she was cold and she wanted me to carry her, but that wasn't happening. So we made our way slowly to the car, freezing and whining. The boys slid down the slide a couple times and we made it to the car. Oh, yeah. I started feeling bad before the game--headache, sore throat, fever. Ug. So I went to spend time in the cold weather, blah! I just wanted to sleep. So we made it home and I slept for 6 1/2 hours. Did not get up in time for a shower, so still stinky from working at the post office. Got up and went to work at 3a.m. until 7, went home and started the daily struggle of trying to convince kids to do everything--homework, eat, get ready, brush teeth, go to the bathroom (None of my kids use the bathroom at school. They just hold it, yikes!) One of them usually ends up having to poo right as we are rushing out the door because we are going to be late. Bring on the lateness....you can't exactly not let them do that. So we are back to the plans I had for the day. Come home from work, do homework and reading, eat, get all ready, take Josh to school, take a short nap, take a shower, go refreshed to play with my kids at Jumpin' Jacks, take Connor to school, go back and have some mother/daughter time at Jumpin' Jacks, and pick the boys up at 2 (early out day) Then I was going to try to catch another little nap, get the kids fed, homework and reading done, go to a work meeting for an hour, eat dinner, then go to a Flash game at 7. We got the Utah County Pass of All Passes which gives us unlimited mini golf, laser tag, slick track racing, batting cages, Seven Peaks water park passes, roller coaster and other games, and tickets to every home game of Flash basketball and the Orem Owlz baseball. We have not gotten around to going to a Flash game and tonight was the last one. Since we weren't able to go to the Jazz game for Brads birthday, I thought we could all go to the Flash game and have a good time. I even got someone to cover my 11 to 3 shift. So here's how the day actually went. I got home at 7:15 and was talking to the kids. I looked out the window and saw the guy who carpools with Brad and realized I hadn't heard him up. So I went in and woke him up and he was mad at me for not waking him up earlier or setting the alarm for him. He got up and out the door. Then the kids ate and we were going to do homework and reading and get all ready for school, when all the whining and crying and fighting started. They all wanted me to do stuff for them, but I was trying to make Josh's lunch. The only lunch bag we had was a Dora lunch bag and Josh did not want that, so I was trying to turn it inside out and it was ripping. I didn't have any clean good knifes to cut up his apples, so I used a butter knife and Josh did not like the way they looked. We had to go through a pile of laundry to find clean socks. I think Josh's new soccer cleats kind of rubbed the back of his heel and it was a little red and hurt a little. No blisters or anything. I told him he needed to wear his other shoes, not his high top ones that were hurting him. He refused, because he likes those shoes and he said he will not wear his other shoes to school. Whenever he tried to stand up and walk, though, he was crying. I tried to bargain with him, and look at the problem intellectually, and have him come up with a solution to the problem. He was being so stubborn, and then he said, well, now I'm so late already, I'm not going to school. The whole time, Kaytlynn and Connor were whining and crying for stuff and fighting with eachother. I got very overwhelmed. My kids are so stubborn. I also remember going to school every morning with a red splotchy face because I had been crying because my mom wouldn't let me leave the house until I ate my oatmeal. I have Crohns disease and if I eat early in the morning, especially something scratchy like oatmeal, my stomach will hurt the rest of the day. Other bad things happen, too, but that's too gross to write, so we will leave it at it hurts. I don't want to have a struggle with my kids every single day they have to go school. I want everyone to be happy and with non splotchy crying faces when they go somewhere. So we were 20 minutes late by now, so I called the school and said that he was late. They said they'd just excuse him for the day and if he came he could go to the office and check in. Then Kaytlynn started whining and being a brat. First she didn't want to go to Jumpin Jacks with the kids in her class. Then she didn't want the teachers to be there, and then she didn't want me to go. Well, by this time I was already feeling pretty broken down, so why make it a stuggle to go and do something so fun? They were making me crazy and I put myself on a time out. I came in and layed in bed--depressed. The kids of course did not leave me alone. They kept coming in wanting stuff. We didn't go to Jumpin Jacks, I didn't even take Connor to school. I had them all home all day making messes everywhere. I lay in bed--got a little sleep and a little thinking done. Lots of whining, crying kids in and out all day. Josh missed school, Kaytlynn and I missed her jumpin jacks field trip, Connor missed school, I missed a meeting I had at 4, and we are currently missing the Flash game. Brad came home and was SO MAD at me because the house was a total mess and the kids didn't go to school.
I have ideas that I'm all excited about and when other people don't share my enthusiasm, it just crushes my idea and I don't have the desire or drive to make it happen. Just too tired. Well, tomorrow will be another day, so hopefully it goes more how I'd it like. Good night! for 2 hours til I have to go to work. Sorry for the rotten post!

Med Truck

Here is an idea that I have wanted to make into a video for a long time now. If anybody has the desire to make my dream come true, please do!

Focus in on an elderly couple sitting at their dining room table. You can hear faint music. The old man turns up his hearing aid and his face lights up. It is an ice cream truck tune. They look at eachother and get up as fast as their old legs will let them. Next we see old people flocking out of their houses, very excited. They are walking just as fast as they can. Some with walkers, some with canes. They are all headed for the ice cream truck playing the music. But it turns out that it's not an ice cream truck. They wouldn't like that any way because of their sensitive teeth. They are after the Med Truck. They all want to be first in line to get the best meds before they sell out. One man with a walker throws a rope or bedsheet or something that catches the truck, and the man hangs on to the sheet and bounces along behind the truck, hanging on to his walker, which also bounces along. K. I can't finish the rest right now, but I thought it would be hilarious!

Dance Monkey, Dance!

I dread working Wednesday and Thursday nights with Lana. She makes me tap dance on the table for her to keep her awake. She makes me bring microwave popcorn so she can eat it while she watches me dance. We work 2 nights a week together and Wednesday night she spends the whole night coming up with complicated dance routines and expects me to have them memorized perfectly for Thursday night. Sometimes Melvina stays and watches, too. Lana made me buy her a taser off the internet and if I try to take a break, she tases me and says "Dance monkey, dance!" Then she makes me do all the checks and she tases me to make me jump up and go when I'm too emotionally and physically exhausted to get up on my own. Melvina is thinking about getting a taser of her own off the internet, so she doesn't have to drive all the way to Lanas house to borrow hers every time we work together. Melvina wants tasing capabilities because she also does not want to do any checks. Help me! What should I do? Oh no, now Wendy is telling me that she might make me dance for her, too!

It's the President!

Connor, Connor, Connor. The kid is so darn loveable. Since his birthday is in the summer, they are celebrating it today at school. He wanted to take cupcakes, circle graham crackers (Ritz crackers) and water. I helped him take it all into his class. The principal was outside his classroom and Connor says to me "Look! It's the president!" Then says "Hi Mr. President!" as he passed him to go into his class. Everywhere we go--and I'm not kidding--everywhere, kids and adults say hi to Connor. Kids of all ages know him and all seem excited to see him. The other day he got some bubbles with his "Moose Bucks". His teachers name is Mrs. Moosman and she hands out moose bucks when kids are good and they can buy stuff with them. As we walked out of the school, kids and adults were saying hi to Connor and he showed everybody his bubbles and said "Look! 10 moose bucks! Look! 10 moose bucks!" left and right. The computer teacher came out the door and Connor says "Hi computer teacher! Look! 10 moose bucks!" Connor was just born very loveable. He was a pretty baby. He very rarely cried. Only if he was absolutely starving. I would put him in the bassinette and he'd just look up at me and smile. I would go get stuff done, come back, and he'd be asleep. Not a peep out of him. In the morning I would wake up and go to see if he was still sleeping, and he would be laying in his bassinette smiling. He has the sweetest little face and his laugh is one that makes you crack up and want to keep doing whatever it is that is making him laugh. He reminds me of Feivel the mouse. This sweet little face and these big ears sticking out. :) Little girls love to take care of him. He holds girls hands all the time. When he played soccer last year, there was a kid on his team who seriously probably weighed twice as much as Connor. He was tall and big. We would run over to the field and his teammates would all say hi and this kid would pick Connor up and swing him around. Connor would laugh his laugh and smile. So funny. We went to a work party at the water park and one of my friends kids was named Connor and the same age. I told Connor and he asked where he was. I pointed him out and Connor went straight over to him like they were old friends, put his hands on his face and smiled and asked "You're 4?" The other Connor was a little scared, but it reminded me of my grandma. If there is another older woman around, my grandma is instant friends. She will go over and put her hand on her shoulder, smiling and nodding, and help her with anything and make her feel very welcome, no matter where we are. They have a common bond because of their age. I went to parent teacher conference and Mrs. Moosman started telling me who his friends were, then stopped and said "Well, he's just friends with everyone. He's very friendly." I dropped him off to school and I don't think he really thought about it and did it on purpose, but he opened the door for a girl and let her walk in. He's going to be such a heartbreaker. I went to help with a class party and another mom told me that she asked her daughter who was the cutest boy in the class and she said Connor and Micah. I went to the Dads and Donuts day (pals and donuts, really). I had to bring Kaytlynn with me and Connor went over and got 2 donuts. I gave mine to Kaytlynn and Connor ran back over and asked for another one for his mom. Then he went to get us all water. He walked back very carefully with 3 cups of water, then he took our napkins and threw them away. He told me this morning that he was the shortest one in his class. I asked if he was shorter than all the boys and he said "Yeah, I'm shorter than all the boys--and all the girls!" Sorry about the genes there, kiddo! One downfall is the kid does not know how to hurry. He is a professional lollygagger. It is almost impossible to get him anywhere on time. He has to run around making tracks in the snow instead of getting straight in the car. When I drop him off at school, he can't just walk down the stairs and go in the door, he has to run a few circles on the grass and then jump down from the top stair to the bottom stair, then look back at me to see if I saw him and see if I was impressed. One time he ran down the snow and slipped and fell, then jumped up, looked back at me and gave me a smile and a thumbs up. He also cannot find things that are right in front of him. He'll ask where something is and we'll spot it right there and he cannot find it. He'll look around the whole room and not see something right in front of him. I think that kind of comes along with a very laid back personality. Okay, Kaytlynn is claiming the computer now. She plays on pbskids.org and paint. She's growing up!

Augh!!!

Kaytlynn was THE WORST child today. Just when I thought she had come up with every possible way to annoy us all, she would find something else to do even more annoying. Most people are in voluntary compliance 99% of the time, meaning that we are doing what we should and not wreaking havoc and following the public unspoken guidelines. Kaytlynn was probably at 50% today. We went to WalMart and she was grabbing anything she could get her hands on, pulling stuff off the shelf, trying to jump in and out of the shopping cart, crying and whining and wandering off, then running when I told her to come. She was in an all out run and I had to leave the cart with my purse and chase her down. She's a pretty fast kid. I caught her and picked her up and she was screaming and crying and hitting and kicking me. She decided she wanted a new shirt and that's all I heard over and over for the rest of our shopping trip (which was cut short because of her behavior) Crying and whining "I want a new shi-irt. I want a new shi-irt." She tried to press all the buttons on the credit card swiper thingy and grabbed the electonic pen and would not let it go. I had to pry each finger off of it. Then she was whining for candy. She ended up in lots of time outs and no candy for the day. At home she was bugging us all. She would stand right between the boys and the TV so they couldn't see it. She kept wrecking Connors car ramps he was making because she "wanted to stand there." She would lunge for the computer and slam all the keys with her hands and when I would block her hands, she used her feet to hit all the keys. I would be cleaning up one mess and she would be making another. She took Connors chapstick and mushed it all over our bedroom furniture because "I HATE your bedroom furniture!" Poor Connor was all "My lipstick!" As I was cleaning that up she was pouring my makeup down the drain. She took off the cap of the shampoo and was pumping hand soap into it and squirting the Visine out. She'd grab something, I would get it away from her and she was grabbing something else. On her time outs in her room she pulled all her clothes out of the drawers. She was hitting and kicking the boys, turning off the TV, unplugging the computer...I don't know how she comes up with so many things she can do to bug us simultaneously. Honestly, I wish I had a padded room I could have locked her in today. I found myself stuffing chocolate in my mouth, like that would somehow make it better. She did have some sweet moments where she was giving me sweet hugs and kisses. Then she'd say "Am I being so good?" and I'd say "Yes! You are being so sweet and nice! This is just how we like you!" Then she'd ask for candy so sweetly with a nice please at the end. When I would tell her that she did not get any candy for the rest of the day because she was being so naughty she would yell at me "BUT I WAS BEING NICE!!!" If we closed a door, she wanted it open. If we put something away, she wanted it out. Anything the boys were playing with, she wanted it and would try and grab it away. I was so glad when Brad got home and I handed her over to him. What a sucky day in Mommy land. As all this was going on, I was thinking that I'm glad she didn't do what she used to do, which was smear her own poop all over the carpet or pee on the carpet on purpose. I tried to give her positive attention. I tried to read with her and cook with her, but she was just on one today. Ug!