It's been a crazy busy week here. Now that all my healthy school-aged children have returned to the classroom, I've been running laundry (clean sheets and blankets and towels for EVERYONE!), cutting coupons, making grocery lists, and running errands. Yesterday, I spent the afternoon at a local play land, just enjoying the opportunity to visit with a friend and be out because I wanted to, not because I had to run out for soft foods or cough medicine!
I spent Monday getting BACK ON TRACK by going to Curves for the first time in 2 weeks. It felt so good, and I've been trying like crazy to get back there since! I think I can squeeze it into today's routine, later. I also trekked around with a gorgeous but slightly beat up antique headboard and footboard in my trunk. We've been planning to strip and refinish it and turn it into LadyBug's bed. That way, when company is here overnight, they still have a comfy place to sleep and LadyBug can bunk in with one of her many siblings :) The first estimate was $450 just to strip it! The second place was far more reasonable, and gave me an estimate of $150 to strip it and sand it. Further, they promised it would be done by the end of the week! SOLD!!!! In fact, they called Monday night to say it's done. Now that's service I can smile about. I am totally kicking myself that I didn't take a before picture to show you how amazing this set it. I was just too focused on getting my life back to normal. . . . One big project off the checklist that never ends.
It's also Pinewood Derby week here for the Gang. So our weekend and our weeknights have been about painting, balancing, weighting, decorating and naming our cars. Last night, friends came over to use some of The Boss's tools and share a pizza dinner. It was a fun treat, as we rarely get together with people on weeknights. I'll share the Derby fun in pictures after Saturday's race.
Finally, I started a part-time job in the midst of all the efforts to return to normalcy. In fact, we are all adjusting to a new normal. I am babysitting on Tuesdays for a local homeschooling family of 5. The mom is also a speech therapist for a local organization and she's been given the opportunity for 8-10 hours a week of work and needs help with her five. I also am "on call" for other days of the week, in case her other childcare falls through or she has additional needs. It's going to be a great way to help out with some of the special projects we have going here, as we get ready for Aidan to (someday!) come home! Including the stripped and soon-to-be re-finished bed . . .
Now, I'm off to the dentist. My absolute LEAST favorite of all appointments, all year. Both of them. My stomach is in knots for hours before each visit; and my head and face aches for hours afterward. As if I don't carry enough Mommy guilt for all the gazillion things I don't do right, or could have at least done better! Then, twice a year I subject myself to the painful torture of someone tugging and yanking at my lips and gums, telling me how shameful it is that a beautiful set of teeth like mine don't get flossed often enough. As if.
I'm gonna need a reallllllly large mug of Dunkin' Donuts hazelnut coffee and a big soft bagel full of cream cheese to reward myself for voluntarily showing up for the appointment and smiling and nodding at my cheery hygienist. (Who, by the way, has elevated me to some kind of sainthood for giving birth to 4 kids and choosing to adopt a 5th! Couldn't she cut this saint a break and just clam up about the flossing? For maybe just one visit of the year cut me some slack?!) Thank goodness that Dunkin' Donuts is in the next plaza over from the dentist. Thank goodness for Dunkin' Donuts.
I spent Monday getting BACK ON TRACK by going to Curves for the first time in 2 weeks. It felt so good, and I've been trying like crazy to get back there since! I think I can squeeze it into today's routine, later. I also trekked around with a gorgeous but slightly beat up antique headboard and footboard in my trunk. We've been planning to strip and refinish it and turn it into LadyBug's bed. That way, when company is here overnight, they still have a comfy place to sleep and LadyBug can bunk in with one of her many siblings :) The first estimate was $450 just to strip it! The second place was far more reasonable, and gave me an estimate of $150 to strip it and sand it. Further, they promised it would be done by the end of the week! SOLD!!!! In fact, they called Monday night to say it's done. Now that's service I can smile about. I am totally kicking myself that I didn't take a before picture to show you how amazing this set it. I was just too focused on getting my life back to normal. . . . One big project off the checklist that never ends.
It's also Pinewood Derby week here for the Gang. So our weekend and our weeknights have been about painting, balancing, weighting, decorating and naming our cars. Last night, friends came over to use some of The Boss's tools and share a pizza dinner. It was a fun treat, as we rarely get together with people on weeknights. I'll share the Derby fun in pictures after Saturday's race.
Finally, I started a part-time job in the midst of all the efforts to return to normalcy. In fact, we are all adjusting to a new normal. I am babysitting on Tuesdays for a local homeschooling family of 5. The mom is also a speech therapist for a local organization and she's been given the opportunity for 8-10 hours a week of work and needs help with her five. I also am "on call" for other days of the week, in case her other childcare falls through or she has additional needs. It's going to be a great way to help out with some of the special projects we have going here, as we get ready for Aidan to (someday!) come home! Including the stripped and soon-to-be re-finished bed . . .
Now, I'm off to the dentist. My absolute LEAST favorite of all appointments, all year. Both of them. My stomach is in knots for hours before each visit; and my head and face aches for hours afterward. As if I don't carry enough Mommy guilt for all the gazillion things I don't do right, or could have at least done better! Then, twice a year I subject myself to the painful torture of someone tugging and yanking at my lips and gums, telling me how shameful it is that a beautiful set of teeth like mine don't get flossed often enough. As if.
I'm gonna need a reallllllly large mug of Dunkin' Donuts hazelnut coffee and a big soft bagel full of cream cheese to reward myself for voluntarily showing up for the appointment and smiling and nodding at my cheery hygienist. (Who, by the way, has elevated me to some kind of sainthood for giving birth to 4 kids and choosing to adopt a 5th! Couldn't she cut this saint a break and just clam up about the flossing? For maybe just one visit of the year cut me some slack?!) Thank goodness that Dunkin' Donuts is in the next plaza over from the dentist. Thank goodness for Dunkin' Donuts.
4 comments:
I think you deserve the Mom of the Year award. I can't believe you call this getting back to normal.:)
You are my hero.
What would life be like without Dunkin Donuts??! Well, I'd probably weigh 10 pounds less....but, that's beside the point!!
Melissa, that is a world I cannot and will not even contemplate :) Oh, the horror!
And LL - you are too sweet. I am no Mom of the Year - just muddling through like the rest of us. Although, if my hygienist is going to bestow sainthood, I'd like to think that there are SOME perks. Not being nagged about flossing would be a great start to perking me :)
I don't envy your dentist visit. I hope everything works out with your new babysitting job.
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