| | ...that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.
It is a quarter till 2. I am still in my pjs and my hair looks like Cruella Deville. I am digging through the refrigerator for a wine cooler but need to settle for the last of the Mogen David.
I woke before 8 to a very whiny puppy needing to go out. I've been battling a head cold, so I was trying to get as much sleep as possible, but the pup and the kids in the next room were going to cut that short. So out Yub goes, does his thing and in he comes. I sit down on the bedroom floor, Joyce begins rubbing my back. It feels so good. Suddenly one of the kids yell, "NO YUB"---he's pooping---on my bedroom floor---in front of me. I grab him and administer punishment (WARNING: FOR ANYONE READING THIS THAT HAS ISSUES WITH ADMINISTERING PUNISHMENT TO PETS OR CHILDREN--THEN I SUGGEST YOU QUIT READING NOW.) I came downstairs to put him out to find not 1, not 2, but 3 additional piles of poop. Suffice it to say, this did not go over well.
We got through breakfast, cream of wheat and cinnamon rolls and medicine, etc without much ado. I told the kids we needed to clean up the house before we played outside and that perhaps we could go to the park today before Abby's dress rehearsal. Came downstairs to try to figure out why the washer had not drained any water from the last load, restart, reset. While I'm working on this Abby comes to report that Hannah needs my help with Joyce who has suddenly turned sullen and disrespectful and pouting. This is not anything new, this is the Liberian way, but it is not the American or Reinhardt way, so we've been working with learning new habits. Unfortunately, sometimes, the smallest battles turn into huge wars because their stubbornness is UNBELIEVABLE. It has stretched and tested my parenting skills in more ways than I can count or imagine.
I head upstairs to find Joyce pouting on the bed, refusing to obey Hannah. This battle of holding, tears, instructions, discipline, more holding, louder tears and wailing, more instructions went on for 1 hour plus before Joyce willingly complied with Hannah's request. Abby makes an appearance, Freeman has just knocked over a tall glass of ice tea (an accident) at the table, soaking 2 chair cushions, the carpet and everything on the table. I set Joyce down and go down to take care of this. He and Abby are both cleaning up to the best of their ability. The phone rings, it is the dr from the international clinic with their blood test results. Hannah proceeds with lunch, I pass.
The kids head down for 30 minutes of jumping on the trampoline before naptime and I start vacuuming the fuzz that has accumulated all over the carpet. The vacuum seems to be blowing, not sucking. I change the bag, turn around and find a pee puddle from the dogs. Sigh. Both dogs are scolded and put out. The vacuum still is struggling and now smells like a belt is burning up. Still not sure about the washing machine and dance begins in an hour.
Where are those blasted wine coolers?
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| | Posted 3/13/2008 3:59 PM - 115 Views - 10 eProps - 5 comments
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