It would be very easy to focus on all the negative and challenging things that have happened lately around the house. Instead of focusing on the kids being ill, another diet modification and the general stress of having a deployed spouse, today I choose to focus on the positives.
Earlier this week, Josie promised to stop putting boogers in my hair while I slept. I had no idea that this was something she needed to stop doing, but I will be thankful that she promised to stop.
Hailey has been in school for a few months and so far there have been no reports of her calling anyone incredibly inappropriate names. She must be saving all of her spunkiness for when she gets home. I am thankful that we haven't had to have a conversation about Hailey calling someone "Sugartits" at school.
Teague started using a new word consistently. It is "wow" and he uses it when he can grab his genitals. It is odd, but it is progress and great ammunition to have against him when he starts dating... in 20 years.
I am also thankful for my carpet shampooer. For those of you that don't have children, this may sound silly. But I am sure for all of you that have ever experienced a child with an upset stomach at 1 am how this machine is the best thing out there.
On a more serious note, I am thankful for my husband's career. It takes him away from home more often than he is home, but it provides us with a roof over our head, a paycheck (which at times is screwy) and insurance. Earlier this week, the kids and I had the opportunity to remember how lucky we are. We delivered food to a group of people that had set up a make shift tent on the side of the road to live. It becomes easy to forget how easy we truly have it and get annoyed that once again the laundry needs to be washed or groan that once again it is time to come up with something new and exciting to feed the kids. Helping others serves as a good reminder to the kids and myself that all people deserve the same respect and kindness.
I am also so thankful this week for my friends that are like a second family. Tonight I was supposed to be at the Military Special Needs Network meeting, but due to Hailey's tummy bug, we had to stay home. That is a draw back to having a deployed spouse, when a child becomes sick everything else needs to be handed over to someone else. I am thankful to work with such a fantastic group. Not only do they understand the challenges of military life with children with extra needs, they are there to lend an ear, rustle up a sitter late at night so they can get me my car or be the gracious recipient of 5 dozen ducks that look like they have poo on their heads. I know that I can count on them for anything, which makes our journey easier.
So tonight, instead of focusing on the literally shitty week we have had, I choose to focus on all the good in our lives.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Cleaning Fairy, hear my prayers
This month both my mom and dad are coming for a visit. I haven't seen either in ages, so I am beyond excited for them to come visit and spend time with the kids. The only downside is that I now need to start getting ready for them to visit. My dad comes to visit first, which is nice because he will be like my trial run.
I know most people make sure their home is clean when they have visitors, but I feel extra pressure right now. If my husband weren't deployed and my parents came to visit and the house was less than spotless, it would be okay because I have three small and spastic children. But now that the husband isn't here, a messy house is the sign of me not coping well with doing things on my own. In actuality, I am coping just fine and because there is only one of me here to shower the kids with affection, sometimes the laundry ends up being thrown on my bed only to go untouched for a week. I am totally cool with that. I sleep on the couch, so the laundry can spread out on my bed and relax as long as it doesn't mind spooning with the cat. I would hope that my parents could see that the toy room is a disaster and say "look at that, Miranda chose to take the kids to the museum rather than spend 4 hours anally putting away every toy" unfortunately that isn't how things work.
In no way am I criticizing my parents. I know that if it were me visiting my children in 25 years and their spouse was deployed, I might worry a bit if the house looked messy. However, I am hoping that after spending an hour in the house I would realize that I am sure my children did all they could, but with a child that steals the snail out of the fish tank and carries it around in his mouth, another that insists you are her personal DJ and the third that follows you around constantly asking if you are mad at her, that sometimes a clean house just won't happen.
Wish me luck as I battle the never ending mess that is my house!
I know most people make sure their home is clean when they have visitors, but I feel extra pressure right now. If my husband weren't deployed and my parents came to visit and the house was less than spotless, it would be okay because I have three small and spastic children. But now that the husband isn't here, a messy house is the sign of me not coping well with doing things on my own. In actuality, I am coping just fine and because there is only one of me here to shower the kids with affection, sometimes the laundry ends up being thrown on my bed only to go untouched for a week. I am totally cool with that. I sleep on the couch, so the laundry can spread out on my bed and relax as long as it doesn't mind spooning with the cat. I would hope that my parents could see that the toy room is a disaster and say "look at that, Miranda chose to take the kids to the museum rather than spend 4 hours anally putting away every toy" unfortunately that isn't how things work.
In no way am I criticizing my parents. I know that if it were me visiting my children in 25 years and their spouse was deployed, I might worry a bit if the house looked messy. However, I am hoping that after spending an hour in the house I would realize that I am sure my children did all they could, but with a child that steals the snail out of the fish tank and carries it around in his mouth, another that insists you are her personal DJ and the third that follows you around constantly asking if you are mad at her, that sometimes a clean house just won't happen.
Wish me luck as I battle the never ending mess that is my house!
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Hooray?
Over the past few weeks Josie has been been struggling more and more when it comes to eating and drinking. Every meal is met with "it feels stuck" or "that hurts my throat." I haven't ignore it, but just not give her much attention when she says it. I don't want it to be something that she turns into a game and then I don't know when things are really bothering her. Well, after a weekend of hardly any eating on her part, I put a call into the ped to request a swallow study a few months early. In the past the ped has called me "that mom" which at first really bugged me, but if he calls me it again I will tell him yes, I am "that mom." I am the mom that forced you to stop with the wait and sees and get us into the best specialists in the area, on top of making you send our records to the leaders in pediatric swallowing disorders in the country. And because I am "that mom," we have crossed things off the list of possible diagnosis and are zeroing in on one. I am proud to be "that mom" and you can suck it.
Anyway, his office called back first thing this morning and already put in the referral to get the swallow study done and that he wants us in as soon as possible, which is great because her routine swallow study isn't until December and I am not happy waiting that long. I am happy that he has done as I wish, but I almost wish that we haven't gotten so familiar that he knows the best thing for him to do is do what I ask the first time. I am pretty sure he knows that if he didn't agree to it over the phone, I would be in his office with all three monkeys to request it and walk out with my referral. It is really best for all of us in the long run.
So hooray for getting the referral, but unhooray for needing it.
Anyway, his office called back first thing this morning and already put in the referral to get the swallow study done and that he wants us in as soon as possible, which is great because her routine swallow study isn't until December and I am not happy waiting that long. I am happy that he has done as I wish, but I almost wish that we haven't gotten so familiar that he knows the best thing for him to do is do what I ask the first time. I am pretty sure he knows that if he didn't agree to it over the phone, I would be in his office with all three monkeys to request it and walk out with my referral. It is really best for all of us in the long run.
So hooray for getting the referral, but unhooray for needing it.
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