Frazzled and Brain Dead

For some mysteriously non-humorous reason my only 3 days of watchin kids this week has been an incredibly over-whelming, patience-rendering and mind-numbing time.

There have been numerous tantrums from an almost 6 month old, fights between the two 2 year olds and the 4 year old, a plethera of injuries (body and soul), a handful of toys broken, and frequent disregard for the guidelines I have set for the kids for various circumstances that would put them in potentially dangerous or at least precarious, situations.

I am, quite literally at this point, not dreading the flights tomorrow. I'm numb. I feel that no matter what happens tomorrow it could not be much worse than 5 kids, 3 days, and back-to-back tantrums, arguments and injuries. Today I decided that I wouldn't even bother to sweep the floor. The amount of grass and dirt on the wood floor right now could fill a small arena. I had to leave a screamin baby, clingy/fussy 1 year old, and an injured 2 yr old twice during lunch prep because with all that was goin on I forgot to grab the bread out of the freezer in the basement, and while I was down there I forgot the cocoa (for chocolate milk).

Even the worst days of watchin kids has not quite paralled the chaos and frustration of the last three days. I put the three older kids down for an early nap so they could spend the rest of the afternoon in the pool while the two babies were takin their naps. None of them napped hardly an hour but at least they were resting. This week has definitely tested my patience and I'm glad I can say that I never lost it. I'm not admittin that I didn't cover my face with my hands and mutter a couple of choice expletives in regard to how I was feelin, but at least I didn't say them audibly and I showed no frustration towards the kids.

Tomorrow mornin I'm prayin that the stress of this week will have been relieved and I can concentrate on gettin me and my boys safely and insanely to PA. All this may seem trivial and even fickle to some of you but I don't have time to go into more details about my day. This was only scratchin the very this surface of what all has gone on. My head is spinnin, my nerves are raw, I'm feelin the need for somethin stronger than a Dr. Pepper, and I need sleep for tomorrow. All I can remember are the ignorant and discourteous stares and expressions I received when Wyatt was so tired on our flights that I could not calm him down when we flew out to PA for my three sister's weddings. It was all I could do not to....well, I did break down and cry.....

I'll be back after June 6th with lots of pictures for you family members and friends!

Peace out,

The Frazzled One

P.S. Even if I did proof-read this I have a feelin that I wouldn't catch any typos because I'm just as frazzled and brain dead now as when I started it a long time ago so just bear with it.

Stork #2 is circling for a landing!

My sister Teg has been at the hospital for about 3-4 hours now! She had a follow-up check-up on her blood pressure today. And yes, that's exactly how it happened with us when we had Wyatt. Teg's blood pressure still registered high today so the doc decided it was best to send her to the hospital right away and start the induction. I'm prayin for a fast labor period and easy delivery for her. Her back has been in so much pain the past 4 months at least, with carryin baby Gracie.

I won't have any posts from May 29th to June 6th since I've already scheduled a trip out to Pa. to see our new neices and the rest of the family. The boys and I will be leaving at 6 a.m. Friday. Yup, I'm crazy but I'm prayin that I will have strength to survive and stay mentally intact for whatever might happen on the trip there, and the one back.

Here's how much the first cousin has changed since her birth on April 9th.



Wyatt is especially excited to see his new cousins. We've been talkin a lot about it to help prepare him for the trip.

Now that most of my packin is done I'm finally bein able to relax and get excited for it....all but the flights....and bein away from E for 8 1/2 days. I'm not lookin forward to that at all. We've never really been apart for more than 3-4 days AT MOST. It's not that I can't sleep without him by my side or anything co-dependant. We've been married almost 5 years. That 'honey-moon' phase is still with us. We just don't like bein apart. We don't feel whole. End of story.

Over and out for now,

From the excited but apprehensive one

Lake Trip

After a long 7 days of not seein E for more than an hour or so each night, he and one of our friends finished up a side job last Friday night.

Saturday morning we leisurely packed up to go campin. At noon, as we headed up to Quick Trip for some gas we noticed a weird grindin sound coming from the tires. After gettin gas, and air in the tires since we don't hardly drive the Ford, we headed back to the house to figure out what was wrong with the steering and tires. We checked the power steering fluid-all good. I got in the driver's seat and pulled it in and out of the driveway, makin turns so E could listen and watch the tires better from the outside. By this time, Wy is all-out impatient. He wasn't cranky or upset but he didn't understand why we were back at the house. We were supposed to be goin to the lake? Finally, as I was drivin in and out the thought came to me: Wyatt was playin in the cab while we had been loadin up that mornin! When he plays in the Jeep I always find my knobs and buttons flipped and turned. Hazards are on, brights are on, bass is off, a/c or heater is on, etc. The Ford is 4 wheel drive and that's exactly what the tires sounded like-like the 4 wheels were engaged! I yelled at E to come around and said, 'Look! Wy turned the dial to 4 wheel!' Sure enough, after we put it back in 2 Hi the truck sounded right fine!!

So, off we went!! Finally!!! The spot we found to camp at was perfect! We had shade trees, sun, not too close to any other campsites, and a huge brush pile just a walk away for firewood. We set up the tent just by the water's edge!



After a long week under our belt it felt SO relaxing to be together. No schedules, no housework, no side-jobs. We enjoyed our time immensely!







Wyatt, of course, loved the water. I took him swimmin twice on Saturday, while JD was nappin.



Saturday evening we made s'mores. I had made one in front of Wyatt. He was meticulous about eatin the marshmallow out from between the graham cracker and chocolate. When he was done with that one, he walked over to the cooler and said he was gonna build another one. And build he did! He set it up just like he had seen me!







For only seein a s'more made one time so far this year (I'm sure he doesn't remember from last year) I'd say he did a pretty bang-up job on his first go-round!

Sunday mornin I caught a couple of fish. I had Wy reel in the second one since he was up and out of the tent. He got frustrated as the fish got closer to shore. When the fish was only about 5 feet out in the water Wy kept sayin, 'No fish! Mama! It too hard!! No fish! Help me mama! It too hard!'



I took over and reeled her in:





After that hard work, the trail boss needed a swig of good cold clear water.

I pray everyone of y'all are having a good time with family and friends this Memorial Day Weekend and remember the price that has been paid by our forefather's and our brothers and sisters in the military, fighting for our explicit right's as Americans. I don't feel we have much longer to enjoy our freedoms that have been bought and secured thus far with such high cost.

My prayer is that our nation will not forget the sacrifices that have been made and once again stand up for what our Great Nation has been built upon: Trust and faith in the Sovereign God and His values for our individual lives and for our wonderful country. Don't be afraid to excercise your right to Freedom of Speech and Religion. It's still our right!! The more voices that are in the choir, the better the choir is heard!

Let Freedom Ring!