If it looks like poop, but doesn't smell like poop, it's probably not poop

I came in this afternoon to spy this on my counter:

It's a rock. But I'm not gonna lie.  I was concerned it was something else.  On my counter.

I actually entertained the thought, briefly, that it could be a pile of poo on my kitchen counter.

How did I get to this place?  I grew up in a female-dominated home where such indelicate things would never have even been discussed!  Somehow I have morphed into a woman who, though such an atrocity has never occurred in her home, thought it possible, for the briefest of seconds, to have excrement on her counter.

My boys are sometimes naughty, always busy, and very creative.  But none of them would do such a thing.  Yet it entered. my. mind.

A day in the life

My day thus far has consisted of the following, in no particular order:

• 10 minutes of running on the treadmill.  10!  If you've followed my fitness journey, you will understand my serious excitement about this number.  It's sad, I know.  But it made me so happy!
• Lunch with a dear friend and thought-provoking, heartfelt conversation.
• Listening to my son and his neighbor friend playing "manufacturing".  This is the basketball game of "horse" but with a longer, more challenging spelling word.  Spelling and physical activity!  Pinterest ain't got nuthin' on my boy's imagination!
• Various chores and household errands, including, but not limited to:  cleaning the bathroom, making dinner, grocery shopping, putting yesterday's laundry away, dishes, trip to the library. . .you get the idea.  Boresville.
• Listening to the boys and little K make a music video to TobyMac songs.  Lots of crazy and loud and singing from the living room.
• Found a naked Baby Alive doll in my dish drainer.
• Shopping at Aldi to find they had rearranged the store's layout.  Extra brainpower was required, since I write items on my list in the order they are in the store.
• Convincing a boy that he does, indeed, need a shower, since he is actually dripping with sweat, and no, no a little face washing isn't gonna cut it.

And it's only 7:46!  Who knows what else the day has in store?  I'm hoping for some quiet soon and perhaps a glass of wine. . .

Necessity is the Mother of Invention

We gave all the kids electric toothbrushes for Christmas this year (we're fun like that!).  The kids were all happy to have them and they have made brushing more fun and exciting (was it fun before? is it even possible to have fun brushing one's teeth?).

However, storing them was a disaster.  They were constantly getting knocked onto the floor, in the sink, dripping all over the counter. . .you get the idea.  I looked online for electric toothbrush holders, and they were a wee bit expensive when one has to buy a holder that will accommodate five hefty brushes.  So I put my thinking cap on.

And came up with this:

And I have to tell you, dear reader, that I am inordinately pleased with myself.  Every time I walk by this bathroom (which is in serious need of a total overhaul and my least favorite room in the house), I feel a little better about it.  No toothbrushes strewn across the toothpaste-caked countertop.  At least a small part of this less-than-lovely bathroom looks clean and organized.  And it makes me happy. 

I got the idea from the boys' primary science kit.  It has a two-slot test-tube holder included which I thought would work perfectly.  Except we have five kids.  So I went to the teacher supply store with my $10 off coupon in hand (this is me, remember!) and lo and behold, this item of beauty awaited me.  For $15.99.  Subtract my coupon and it was mine for $6.  Yippee!

Doctor, Doctor

It seems the last week has been full of medical creativity at the ol' house of mammamilk.  We have had trips to the doctor (near and far),  pneumonia, severe allergies and super high fevers, just to name a few!  

Last night, sweet little K had a high fever.  Amazingly, with all the medical experience we've gained over the years, high, high fever has not been something we've dealt with.  So it was a little disconcerting.  Not to worry, said the doctor on call.  If the fever comes down with pain relievers and she's acting okay, then all will be fine.   And she was!  But it was a couple of hours of close watching, cuddling and cradling.  Today she's fine, no fever whatsoever!  I can't figure it out, but I am hoping we are on the upswing around here!

Here's to Spring - may it be filled with healthy children!

True love

Yesterday I blogged about my experience over my 40th birthday weekend.  It was amazing, to say the least.  That post was focused on being intentional with my words and actions, as my friends and family were to me.

This post is about my husband.

As my 40th birthday approached, he asked me, "What would you like to do for you birthday?"  In my usual fashion, I deferred slightly, saying something along the lines of "I don't know", or "what do you think?"  He, in his usual fashion, took the reigns and wowed me.

Our children were in a production of Sleeping Beauty on Saturday, my birthday, so almost all of our family had decided to come up to watch the kids perform, as well as celebrate our birthdays.  Did I mention my husband's birthday is the day before mine?  So - we had a house full of people coming on Saturday morning, as well as a small gathering of friends coming Sunday night.

Obviously, the house needed a good clean.  I had done much of the cleaning and food prep during the week, but some things simply must be left to the last minute (such as bathrooms - I have THREE boys. If I cleaned the bathroom two minutes before guests arrived it wouldn't be last minute enough).  I had planned on doing a lot of the heavier cleaning on Thursday, leaving Friday open to hang out with my husband on his 41st birthday.  But I woke up on Thursday with a fever and sore throat, rendering me worthless for any of the chores I had planned.

So yep - you guessed it!  My husband spent his birthday scrubbing toilets and showers, mopping floors and cleaning windows.  All while I lied on the couch, feeling guilty (a certain specialty of mine).   He ordered me to remain there and get well so Saturday wouldn't be ruined by illness.  I took it as easily as I could.  It was very hard to watch him do those icky jobs on his birthday.

I felt well enough to go out to dinner with him Friday night to celebrate his birthday, and it was wonderful.  A little wine with my Tylenol turned out okay after all.

Saturday morning I was greeted by smiling children with breakfast in bed.  I was also given an agenda for the day.  My first stop was a massage that set the tone for the day beautifully.  Mellow and relaxed, I headed for parts unknown (save the address) and ended up at a restaurant with my parents and sister.  It was reminiscent of the past as the four of us had lunch together and laughed.

After lunch was the show, and then off to dinner at a local family style restaurant.  My husband toasted me with lovely words that warmed my heart.  I was surrounded by our family and it was perfect.

And as you read, Sunday night was the gathering of friends, and their lovely words of affirmation.

My husband could have given me a pair of diamond earrings.  Or a trip with a girlfriend to a day spa. But he knew me well enough to give me what would mean the most to me:  time with my family and friends, and words to lift me up.  He planned in great detail ways for me to feel pampered, loved and cherished.  He took time and effort to prepare a weekend for me that would remain in my memory for days, months and years to come.  He showed me his love for me in his words as well as his actions.  Thank you is a pitiful return for what he gave me that weekend.  I give thanks to God for His gift of this man in my life.  He has blessed me beyond my comprehension.

If you have something good to say, say it!

Last weekend for my birthday, I was showered with love.  Family and friends took the time to love me through their actions and words.  Some might have stepped out of their comfort zones to express how they feel.  All took a moment to think about me, and our relationship.

It was humbling, to say the least.   My husband created an opportunity for some friends to tell me what they appreciate about me.  In front of all the people gathered.  It was equal parts moving, terrifying, hilarious and touching.  My first inclination at almost every turn was to say "No, no, no!  That isn't true!  I'm not a good mom, wife, singer etc.  (except for deal finder - I AM good at that!).  It was incredibly hard for me to just say thank you and not refute all their loving words.  It was a spectacular experience for me.

And it made me realize - I need to be more intentional with my words and actions.  If I notice something nice about a friend, family member, Walmart cashier, I need to say it!  When I think to myself, "I should get together with so-and-so", I need to arrange it!  If I value a personalty trait in someone, I need to tell that person that I do.

Life is speeding along (re: my 40th birthday) and time is too short to just keep sailing along.  I truly want to emulate the actions of my friends that birthday party night and seize the moment to build someone up.  I can't adequately express how the words from friends and family buoyed my spirit.

Sleep Study

"I don't know how to go to sleep!  I never learned how!" my six-year-old son has said at numerous bedtimes.
"Ha!" I would think to myself, "Not know how to go to sleep?  That's so easy!  Lay down and in 2.5 seconds you're out!  Or drive a car for long distances!  Or read a boring book - or any book for that matter!  The options are endless!  Not know how to go to sleep?  I've never heard anything so crazy!"

Um, this kid speaketh the truth.  He apparently has some issues with going to sleep.

And his issues hit about midnight last night.  I see him inches from my face as I try to pull out of my sleepy stupor.  He is bemoaning his inability to go to sleep and suggesting he sleep at the foot of our bed, where our feet are currently residing.  I gently tell him to go back to his room, turn on his dreamlight (best $30 spent evah!), say a prayer and drift off into la-la land.

I roll back over and drift immediately back to sleep (re: my amazing ability to fall asleep just about anywheres).  Moments later he returns.  I suggest he might be having trouble sleeping because he is currently standing in my bedroom, but he is unhelpable.  This goes back and forth several times until he suggests I sleep with him, and out of exhaustion, I acquiesce.

This is never a good idea, and you think I would know this by now!  I curl up next to him and close my eyes, portraying what sleep looks like (I am an actress now, remember?).  After a few moments I open one eye to check his status.  He is staring back at me.  I sigh and try to get comfortable, though I am lying on several stuffed animals and I am pretty sure the sheet has popped off the top corner, meaning I am sleeping on bare mattress.  After quite awhile he is still and I am freezing, since there were apparently not enough covers for dear old mom.  I sneak off the bed as quietly and gently as one can do when in bed with a child and a zoo full of stuffed animals.  He immediately sits up and reports he is still awake.

After soothing him some more, I finally head back to my bed and slip under the glorious grown up covers, completely free of all teddy bears and hedgehogs.  A few minutes later I hear my dear son hit up his father on the other side of the bed.  Maybe he'll have more luck with daddy?

Daddy made an effort to comfort him as well, while I stayed snuggled in, waiting.  I'm pretty sure my husband said something like "I am dying a slow and painful death", but that could have been my own thoughts - everything is fuzzy.

A little before 3 my youngest daughter comes in, probably having awakened during all the non-sleeping goings on.  As I tucked her back in, I noticed my son was still half sitting up in his bed. I didn't hear from him anymore after that, though, so I am hopeful he finally drifted off.

He has school today, so I am sure he is doing great!  Attentive, well-behaved...you get the idea.  Something tells me he might not have any trouble falling asleep tonight - I hope!