The Day After. . .

Good afternoon!

I hope everyone enjoyed Mother's Day. Whether you are a mom or spent with a special woman.

Let me share my day with you.

I woke up early and was really awake. This is unusual for me. My husband had just gone out to take care of the kids. I figured it was only 7am, I didn't have to get up yet and it was Mother's Day. So, I laid there and tried to go back to sleep. I was unsuccessful. So I got up and showered. Normally I shower on Saturday night as there is quite a fight for the showers and hot water Sunday mornings. I hadn't so I got the first shower of the day. That was special.

As I was getting dressed, I heard all sorts of noises coming from the kitchen and I smelled something cooking. But, nobody had told me to come on out yet, and so I started gathering church clothes for all the kids and my husband. I ironed all that needed ironing still and had them all set up on my bed, ready for the after shower rush. Over all, I felt quite calm and peaceful.

Finally, I figured I better go see what is up in the front of the house. I walked out and the living room had been picked up and my husband was still in the kitchen making all sorts of noises with running water and pots and pans. The kids seeing me were so excited to get to FINALLY give me their Mother's Day gifts. They hadn't wanted to wait, but I kept telling them, "Put it somewhere safe and give it to me on Mother's Day." I opened up two pair of (child)handmade bead dangling earrings and one long bead necklace. I was given two plants and several special made cards. It was all terribly sweet. They all got hugs and thank yous. Having learned they had already eaten cereal for breakfast, I sent them all off to shower and dress. Husband came out and gave me a kiss and hug and then disappeared back into the kitchen. So I scooped up the babies and went and bathed them and dressed them for church.

I was helping with the finishing touches on the clothes (tying son's tie, buttoning up the back of dresses etc.) and my husband joined me in our room. We talked a bit about what the kids still needed to do, but things were under control and good. And then husband explained, he had burned breakfast and it was inedible. I thought, no biggie we'll figure something else out. (And in his defense, he is a fine cook and rarely burns things. He was helping with the dishes I hadn't finished up and had looked away a bit too long. Washed dishes are better than homemade breakfast anytime.)

He was unsure what to do and instead went to help find the almost 2 yr-olds shoes. Then husband returned. He looked pale and sick. He said he hadn't eaten and wasn't feeling well. Ah, well...Husband is diabetic and his blood sugar had dropped. So, he laid down and I went and got breakfast quickly. He had yet to shower and get ready for church and time was getting tight. We talked about how he felt and he wasn't doing so good. When his blood sugar drops like that it makes him EXTREMELY tired. Tired like he had no choice but to stop and sleep. So, I left the napping baby home with him and gathered up the rest of the kids and we headed off to church.

I was sitting with my mom at church. She has a special relationship with my toddler. He sat on her lap the whole time and she thankfully entertained him quietly. After awhile I was looking at my kids and thought, hmmm Deb's (6 yr-old) eye looks really red. So, then I looked at my son's (8 yr-old) eyes. He had a really red eye that was all gunky too. Then I looked at 10 yr-old, pinkeye earlier in the week, eyes. She look perfectly fine. UGH! I had two more cases of pinkeye! Almost 2 yr-old boy looked fine, but was getting very grumpy and tired himself. The whole age two thing is hitting him hard. He likes to throw himself on the floor and scream when he gets real tired now. I keep telling him he ought to kick his feet too but he hasn't figured it out yet.

SO....

I left 10 yr-old sharer of the pinkeye at church with Grandma (my mom brought her home too) and I took the other three home. So much for a relaxing afternoon at church. Oh wait, it is never relaxing. Sometimes wonderful and inspiring, but rarely relaxing. I went home, made lunch for the kids and sat at my computer reading your wonderful blog posts about mothers and Mother's Day.

Husband woke up and I explained what happened. We put the eye drops in the kids' eyes and I went and took a nap. I woke up in time for the Suns game! Which I didn't get to see, because we instead went and visited my mother-in-law and my mom. But I listened on the radio as we drove all over town. They lost.

After reading all of this, you may be thinking I'm complaining. But you know, I don't feel let down by Mother's Day. I have a wonderful husband who would love to make sure I am pampered and given breakfast in bed every day. I have sweet children who, despite my snapping at them and telling them to clean up after themselves constantly, still love me and are filled by my attention and compliments. I love to watch them glow after just a few moments of reminding them how special they are. I have a mother-in-law who is patient and accepting. I adore her! (And that isn't just because I know she now reads my blog. REALLY!) I have a mom who is constantly still teaching me through her example. I wrote a whole post about her here.

I found that it was a day about counting my blessings. I have so many. And now I have bead jewelry too!