just can't do it

yesterday i was scheduled to work from 7a-3:30pm to get to know the new computer system on my unit. i wasn't considered part of the "staff", but i was involved a little in patient care in order to figure out how to chart with the new system, etc. well the day before, i was caring for 2 sicks boys at my own house...eli had 104.5 fever and diarrhea, caleb had 103 fever and diarrhea, both stating that their throats and "belly hurts". i took them both in to see the doctor more or less for my own peace of mind that they didn't have strep throat or something worse. just as i suspected, some kind of viral bug was all she diagnosed them with, along with plenty of fluids and rest. since the baby boy was well, i figured saturday with daddy would be okay. when i left that morning at 6am, jerry was already awake and i told him, "make sure you call me if for some reason they're too sick to handle". i didn't hear anything til 9am. i called to check on him/them and he couldn't even talk cuz the baby had horrible diarrhea and was screaming from a raw bottom. he called me back and said, "you have to come home, i can't do this". apparently the dr's office had called to check on them and said to take caleb to the ER because of this swollen eye that they were now concerned about. after 2 1/2 hours at work, i rescued my poor husband from the fevers, poops, and screaming. i called the dr. back to get an explanation of exactly why we couldn't wait til monday to get labs on caleb and she agreed that we could, so no need to rush to the ER. within one hour of being home the boys were running around crazy, acting like normal and i was left wondering where my sick children went that i was there to take care of. of course, once the tylenol and motrin wore off they were all laying on the couch, lifeless again. jerry did admit, "i just can't do what you do...not with 3 sick kids especially". thank you, jerry...for admitting that and being man enough to call for help :) i told him that he didn't get a fair chance that day, not with all 3 of them being sick. we'll try again next monday when i'm scheduled to work. maybe this time he'll have well children as he gets to try out the new school routine. good luck!

kindergarten

the 1st day of school is always so exciting, at least for me. i still can't believe that my baby boy is old enough to be in kindergarten! because eli is still going to kingsway christian school, it wasn't as big of a deal to me as if he would've gotten onto a school bus and left. i walked him in to his new class and was welcomed with a "to do" list on his new desk. this was a bit of a shock to me since i was not fore-warned about this and had 2 other children sitting in a stroller with me. thankfully, my best friend was also there with her son and was done with the list, so she helped me frantically get everything sorted out and things labeled correctly for eli to start his day. his 1st day must've went okay because when asked about it his response was "it was fine". typical boy response and something i'm very used to! as a mom, i want details. i've discovered though, at least from this boy, that details are not among the necessities in life when it comes to school. i guess if he's happy and there's no bad reports from the teacher, then school is going fine. kindergarten seems like a big step in a 5 year old's life, but maybe i'm just overrating it. he sure looked cute though!

8 years

today jerry and i celebrated our 8th anniversary! it's kind of sad that we didn't even have cards to exchange, but after a few children, you realize that it's not about sentimental cards or gifts. TIME...that's what matters. we actually got to spend quality time together, minus children, for 3 1/2 hours. we started with dinner out and kept reminding each other to eat slowly and enjoy our food since we had noone but ourselves to feed. when our waitress brought our dinners out, i said, "oh, i'm not even done with my salad yet". to not scarf down my food is so rare of an occasion that i was surprised when i had food waiting to be eaten. after we enjoyed our peaceful dinner, we chose to spend our time shopping in stores that aren't "kid-friendly". we stopped by the furniture store to look at couches that hopefully someday we can buy to match our living room that we're getting ready to re-paint. we went into various stores looking for a coat rack. we even went into hh gregg and shopped for our 50 inch plasma tv that we're hoping to get before colts season starts. after stopping in to about 5 different stores without having to strap children in and out of the truck, we decided to sit outside at the ice cream shop and eat dessert together. not exactly the most romantic anniversary evening, but it was just what we needed...to be just "us". although we did have an ageda, we were together doing what "we" wanted to do...that, in and of itself, is a celebration!

old friends

last week i finally got to go meet and visit with an old friend from high school and her 4 little boys. yes, 4, little boys...crazy that between the 2 of us there were 7 little boys running around. it's unbelievable how you can not talk to someone for almost 10 years and basically pick up where you left off. we both have changed so much, but at the same time, not at all. she even made the comment that when we talked on the phone for directions to her house, she thought it didn't sound like me and then i laughed and she said, "yep, that's tracy". we let some silly mistakes come between us, which was absolutely immature and petty, but at the time, well, i guess we were young, vulnerable, stupid, etc. now, in our 30's and both happily married, i think we both realize that life does go on and time really does heal. she was one of my best friends and i have so many great memories with her that i feel so thankful for a second chance at our friendship. now that we both have boys and are in similar life situations, i hope we can keep "growing up" together.