A Poop Story

It's been a while since I've had a good poop story to share, so I felt the urge so to speak. (Sorry I'm kind of in a slap happy mood here as I type. It's been a long weekend. My hubby and I are both sick with the cold that the girls have had and continue to have, and I'm a little stir-crazy. I told him today that I want to sit and watch TV that is inappropriate for little eyes to see, since I have to sit through adult inappropriate TV (namely PBS kids and the same Little People video over and over . . .) when they are sick. He agreed. But I digress . . .)

Anyway, consider yourself warned about what is to follow. So I am doing school with the oldest Princess, when Princess #3 comes in and tells me that she needs to go potty. I am ecstatic-she very seldom asks, and she wasn't feeling well, so I wasn't pushing the potty, and here she was asking! (Oh I forgot to tell you, I have decided to start wearing more dresses and skirts (for no really good reason other than just because I'm in the mood for a change) and had this same morning had put on a new skirt and tights for the first time. Okay, now you've got the visual.) So we race to the bathroom, and with no forethought at all, no sniff test, I just whip off the tiny princess' drawers. Only to discover that my darling had already taken care of both businesses, the second fresh on my hand and now all down her legs. Since she had been sick it was the messy-extra icky kind, so I kinda leaned her against my leg as I wiped up the offensive mess. When I get done with what I could see behind, I put her up on the potty, only to realize that the front needed cleaning too. Yech! After I get that all cleaned up, I start to notice a wet spot on my leg. I look down and realize that in her leaning, I got poop on my skirt. Nice. But being the resourceful (okay, lazy!) mom that I am, I decide to rinse off my skirt (hey, it was a brown print anyway), and move on with the day.

I get back to doing school, I am trying to kinda fan my skirt so the wet spot will dry, but I keep smelling poop. I decide to rewash my hands. Still smelling it. I decide to sniff my skirt (yes, I am a mother of three kids--way past being grossed out with the sniff test). I get a little whiff. Sniff the lining, stronger whiff. Lift up the skirt and lining and see that my problem is a patch of poop had soaked into my tights!! That was it, the final straw. Ran up, and changed my skirt and tights into jeans and socks. And that was my first day of casual skirt wearing.

Frankly, I am a little scared to try again . . .

Homemaking ABC's

Laughter Thoughts tagged me to do this fun alphabet meme. I will tag Momma Chronicles and The Knot and the Knest next, if they would like to play along!

Aprons- Y/N? Very rarely, usually just at Christmas time when I'm doing lots of cookie roll-outs.

Baking- Favorite thing to bake? Bread or cookies

Clothesline- Y/N? Nope, just an over-the-laundry room door hook to hang up the drip-dry clothes

Donuts- Ever made them? I remember making them with my Dad as a child. I have my Grandma's recipe, I should try them someday.

Everyday- One homemaking thing you do everyday? Make dinner for my family.

Freezer- Do you have a separate deep freezer? Yes out in the garage. Like Laughter Thoughts, I'd like a fridge out there too.

Garbage Disposal- Y/N? Nope, but we do have two of the handy four-legged ones.

Handbook- Y/N? I have a wallet and my cash envelope system always with me--usually in either my purse or the diaper bag.

Ironing- Love it or hate it? I hate it!!

Junk Drawer- Where is it? IT?? I have two! To the left of the fridge.

Kitchen- Design and decorating? Cheerio box yellow walls, white cabinets, and red oak Pergo floors--soon to be replaced by??? Any ideas?!

Love- What is your favorite part of homemaking? Clearing off the kitchen counters, it makes me feel like I got something done. I also love to de-clutter and throw away/give away things we no longer need or use!

Mop- Y/N? Yes, weekly, although I should do it daily!

Nylons- Wash by hand or in the washer? Gentle cycle in the washer, drip dry.

Oven- Do you use the window or open it to check? Open it to check, our oven seems to run hot, so I am constantly checking on whatever is in there, so I can rescue if needed.

Pizza- What do you put on yours? Pre-kids we used to love spinach and tomato . . . now I love hawaiian or "Cowboy" pizza from Papa Murphy's.

Quiet- What do you do during the day when you get a quiet moment? Knit or read!

Recipe card box- Y/N? Yes, I have two! And a binder notebook full of my All Recipes favorites and other misc. recipes.

Style of house- Two story, stereotypical suburban home. The bright purple front door has grown on me!

Tablecloths and napkins- Y/N? Yes to both. I love vintage tablecloths especially from the 40's-50's eras, and paper napkins.

Under the kitchen sink- Trash can, cleaning supplies, recycling bag, extension cords, plant watering pitcher.

Vacuum- How many times a week? Once a week, if it needs it or not--HA!

Wash- How many loads do you do a week? 5-7 depending on if it's been a bed-changing week.

X's- Do you keep a list of things to do and cross them off? I like to, I aspire to, I used to! I love to cross things off of lists.

Yard- Who does what? My wonderful husband mows weekly and keeps up the sprinklers, but I usually do the weeding and planting.

ZZZ's- What is your last homemaking task for the day? I do a final visual sweep to make sure things are put away and ready for the next day.

I'm Four, Three, TWO!!

The tiniest princess celebrated her 2nd birthday on Saturday! (Thankfully the current flu/cold bug that has made itself at home in our family waited to hit her until yesterday.) She had a great day-opening presents, helping to supervise the decorating her caterpillar cake, and eating her choice of dinner: octopus hotdogs, rainbow jello and applesauce! However (even after all the helpful coaching) when you ask her how old she is she always starts with four and then works her way down to two. It's really cute.

Moving on . . .

It has been a quite the week around here. The eldest princess is still coughing, but back at swim lessons (her ear infection cleared up). Then about a week ago Princess #2 woke up with a fever and cough and that started her illness and what we thought was a recovery--until last night when she was up several times literally screaming her head off. The first time I went in to her she told me her cheek hurt, so I suggested sleeping on the other side. Then when Daddy checks on her the next screaming bout she tells him it's her ear. When he reports that back to me all I can think is "Great, there goes another week." Sure enough, after a doctor's visit today she has her first ear infection, Princess #1's throat is irritated and inflamed from all the coughing (about a month's worth), so she is on an inhaler of sorts to try and help that problem. Thankfully for now (and no, I'm not holding my breath-it's pointless) , Princess #3 just has a mild fever and a garden variety cold.

My Dad had a good comment today though, he said something to the effect of, "it's a good thing you are no longer caring for Janelle." And it's true--that has been a huge blessing, to just be able to care for my own little ones and not have the added headache of one more child to deal with. Of course, I had had my own plans with how my time was going to be spent after we were done watching her and it did not entail wiping noses and being sympathetic to the poor little princess laying on the couch!

I'm a little steamed . . .

Today started off just fine. Got all 4 kids to swim lessons on time, remembering the all important snacks and sippy cups for Princess #3. Then afterwards got everyone going the right direction at the same time! Made it up one flight of stairs, across to the second flight of stairs (while walking to second flight of stairs was told by a helpful mom that there is an exit from the basement to the front doors-so nice to know after the fact!). Got the stroller with the baby down along with Princess #2, and as I'm heading back up the stairs for #1 and #3, I hear these women telling Princess #1 that she is going to drop Princess #3 "and where is your mom?" "Her mom really should be here." "I'm trying to help the little one but she won't let me." I arrive in time to hear a sarcastic comment about my parenting. I rescue #1 who was doing as I asked her and trying to help a stubborn #3 down the stairs. I kindly say that my daughter is just fine as I am being informed of the neglect and danger that I put my youngest into, and finish carrying #3 down and ignore the rest of the comments that were being said as I hightailed it (as fast as one can with four kids) out of there.

Got to the van and just started to cry. I don't understand people like that. When I see a mom that is clearly doing the best she can and clearly has her hands full, my heart goes out to her, and if my own hands are free I offer help and if not at least a sympathetic smile. I just have to wonder did these women who were grandma-age, raise children? And if they did I have to wonder how on earth they turned out! Anyway it was one of those moments that I made a mental note--when I am older and done with the preschool years-I want to be sympathetic to those still in them because they are tough and unrelenting and a little encouragement is such an emotional boost as a mommy.

Anyway as I am typing all this out and feeling the "mad" and the hurt slip away, I remembered some kind words spoken to me when we first sat down at swim lessons this morning. An older man who takes his grandsons to the lessons told me that his son (who came to watch one day last week) was impressed that I managed to get four kids to swim lessons and that they were all so well-behaved. Well, I can take credit for three of the four and I proudly do!