Our Three Blessings: Another Rough One

Ok, Mommy is going to vent now............
Wow, yesterday was one very, VERY rough day for Mommy. It started out with the boys waking up very crabby..................they were just in a bad mood and to top it off Carter didn't eat much breakfast and Cameron took a header into the coffee table and cut his ear. Mommy wanted to cry too. (I hate to see any of my kids hurt, it just tears me up.)
It was cloudy out, but was supposed to get nicer, so I really wanted to get the kids out to a park......................Sidney was kind of whiny too, so that didn't help. The boys were so crabby that they went back down for a nap only 2 1/2 hours after they got up. Sidney was occupied playing on the computer while I tried to update the Mt. Baker post. There are lots of pics on that one, so it took awhile to upload them all and move them around. Sidney would want my help or want me to play with her here and there, but I eventually got it finished.........all the while thinking I should really go get in the shower, I should really go get in the shower. Well, the boys woke up before I could get in the shower so I tried to sit all three down for lunch and escape to the shower..........Sidney noticed I was gone and came in..........to get in the shower with me. I was thinking can't Mommy just have a few minutes of quiet to herself? Of course once Sidney got in the shower she wanted to take a bath. "You're going to have to wait until Mommy is done taking a shower to take a bath." So a few minutes (and 10 more inquiries to a bath later) I got out and plugged the tub for her to take a bath. I had to go out to the kitchen area to get the clean laundry to get my jeans and as soon as the boys saw me it was started again.........."ok, ok...just let Mommy get dressed." When I came back only a couple of minutes later with sopping wet, unbrushed hair to get them Carter's whole face was beat red from screaming. I decided to put on a Baby Einstein for the boys since they hadn't seen one in a few days and I needed some time to finish getting ready and was soooooooo warn out already from all the crying and whining.........Did I mention the kids were crabby?????? So, the boys are occupied for a few minutes, while I keep checking on Sidney in the tub.......I hear her calling for me that she wants to get out. I go to get her and hit my foot on some metal sticking out from one of the desks.........one of those injuries that takes off a couple layers of skin, but not really bleeding that hurts so bad you can't even talk! As I limp to the bathroom to get her out of the tub.......Baby Einstein has not occupied the boys for long. Mommy has it in her mind that we NEED to get out of the house...............something has to stop the whining and crying! And, I need to go to Target for some diapers and to take Sidney's barbie back that broke after only one day of playing with it. Once we get to Target, more whining if Mommy stops the stroller even for a moment. It's breezy and kind of cold outside so I put the boys sweaters on, but it's warm in the store, so I take them off, of course after they've had a baby biscuit to keep them happy for a few minutes, so now their sweaters are all dirty. We have to go get another barbie and go back to customer service before I can even go get the diapers and other things we needed. I thought that maybe I would get the boys a couple small new toys, as Sidney had gotten a few new toys since being here and hoped that SOMETHING would get them out of their cranky mood. I looked at some large dump trucks that were on clearance that I thought would be good so that one could play with the camper and one could play with it, but then decided that they would probably fight over it, so I go to look for something else and Cameron is leaning out of the stroller, screaming, reaching for the truck. I guess they did want it. I picked it up and gave it to Cameron.........more screaming. Did he want it, did he not want it?...........I couldn't figure it out.........then Carter starts screaming. I finally figured out that he wanted to get down NOW and play with it, but I was not about to do that.....we'd never get out of the store! So I try to hurry and get the other things we need............at the check out, they are still fussing, reaching for the truck, that keeps falling off of the counter...............after I pay, I don't even bother trying to get anything back in the bottom of the stroller, I just grab it and head for the car...........trying to push and steer the stroller with one hand and stop and use my foot to try and get it to turn. They were screaming as I put them in the car and did not want to get in their car seats. I'm telling them, "just wait.........you will like where we are going and you can play with your new truck!" I take them to a park close to the mall and am just trying to get out of the car.....forget the stroller, we are close to the playground......forget the diaper bag, let's just go! Of course they want the truck right there in the parking lot and I'm trying to get them to go over to the sidewalk at least......crying all the way. I set down the truck and Carter gets it first..............Cameron throws a fit (and I left his paci in the car.....too late to go back and get it now!) I'm trying to entertain Cameron and give Carter a turn with the truck, since it's apparent that they won't share it, while keeping an eye on Sidney who has run to the playground and is all over the place. I can't entertain Cameron anymore, he is wiggling out of my arms and won't stop screaming, so I switch.........Carter is the more easy going of the two and more easily distracted. I take him over to the slide while trying to keep a constant eye on Cameron and keep checking on Sidney. I finally pick Cameron (and the truck) up and bring him over by Carter and the slide....."Where's Sidney?".........I just saw her at the top of the tunnel slide, but there is a boy just kind of hanging out towards the bottom of the slide...............is she in there, I don't see her, where did she go? I am starting to get worried and then the boy finally moves and she is in the tunnel........phewwwww. Mommy is figuring out that going to the park, while fun for the kids, is quite stressful for her..............constantly 1,2,3.....1,2,3. Keeping all of them in sight at all times is growing increasingly difficult! Now Carter is going away from the playground with the truck, towards the splash pad. (We went to a splash pad the day before, but it was pretty cold, and breezy. The thermometer said it was 80 at G'pa's house, but at the park it was barely 70 and getting to be shaded.) I had to chase him and grab him (and the truck) and bring him back to the playground at least four times..................then I saw a police car there, talking to a man. I wasn't sure if I should feel safe, or if there was something going on and I should scoop up my kids and get out of there. I kept glancing over towards them, while continuing my 1,2,3 of the kids..........I see a baby swing open up and Mommy gets a bright idea! I can still fit both the boys, back-to-back in one baby swing, and I'll be able to watch Sidney while I am pushing them! Well, Sidney loves to swing too and comes over and wants to swing, but they are all being used. Luckily, after a few minutes the other baby swing becomes available. After a little while of this and the park is clearing out as it's nearing dinner time (and I am not feeling so comfortable with it almost being empty, still wondering why the police were there)......so I decide that we need to get going too and feed these kids and hopefully get them in bed at a decent time tonight. I have to pick up both boys and the truck and try to carry them to the car, while they are trying to wiggle out of my arms, (never mind that together they weigh over 50 lbs!) I get them to the car and manage to get Cameron in his seat, he's not buckled in yet mind you, as I chase after Carter, who is starting to push the truck out into the parking lot, and make sure Sidney doesn't run off. "Stay where I can see you Sidney." Carter is wet, ok...............should we do diaper changes all around? I change Carter and now Sidney wants a diaper. I am just about done and a car is trying to pull in next to me, but the truck and a burp cloth are in the way............I go to grab it and realize it's Mommy's old dance teacher (and Grandma's best friend from high school) from when she was growing up. (I took 8 years of ballet, toe, tap, gymnastics and jazz..........all the way through my senior year in high school.........when I would come home so upset from toe class because I wasn't good enough and Grandpa finally said "If you're not enjoying it anymore then stop doing it!" So I did. I was incredibly shy at that age, so I never told her why I quit, I just stopped showing up. Mommy is also kind of a perfectionist and if I can't do it perfectly, then I feel inadequate. That probably added to why I was always so stressed out when working as a nurse. There is never enough time in the day to do everything!) I was trying to chat with her, with two half-dressed, fussy kids, but had to cut it short. Hopefully she can find the blog and e-mail me to get G'ma's contact info. So the boys were fussing on the way home, as I only had one burp cloth and they were tired. Sidney really started fussing and wanted out of her car seat..........when things got quiet about 1/2 mile from Grandpa's house. "Oh shoot!" She had fallen asleep. While this may seem like a good thing, it's not. If she takes a nap it's going to be a late night.............I laid the boys down with some milk and tried to wake her up.............she's out, so I try like 5 things to try and prop the door into the garage open, but have to close the door to the living room so the dog doesn't run outside, and try to start dinner. I get it started and try to wake Sidney up again..........go back to checking on dinner and try to wake her up again.........she does not like waking up in the car and is VERY cranky and whiny......................"How about a video?" I carry her to the living room and hold her for a few minutes while she throws her typical "waking up in the car fit" I finally get her settle down and get Charlotte's Web II on (that she has seen like 10 times in the past few days) and get her something to drink and go back to tending to dinner. My Dad gets home and the boys wake up just as dinner is done. They are very cranky still and don't like washing their hands and going right to the dinner table...........but Grandpa makes some funny faces and noises and they lighten up. We manage to get through dinner, with Sidney only taking one bite and asking for her favorite, ice cream, like 10 times. "You must eat dinner if you want ice cream." She comes and goes, even though she hasn't been excused from the table yet, but Mommy is too spent to rally her back.........at least she's eating.................so I finally give in to a popsicle, "but you must stay in the kitchen to eat it." Yeah right Mommy...........Wilbur is on! The boys see the popsicle and want one too and trying to keep them in the kitchen is difficult, so I go back and forth giving them bites, while trying to get their jammies ready. Of course, now they are fighting over the little crane/train set we got on clearance too. I got it for the boys, but Sidney wants to play with the crane and the boys are fighting over the train.............the other train we have is not good enough! I literally have to wrestle with the boys to get them changed and luckily they take the milk and the burp cloth and go in the crib without much fuss. I just close the door and walk away. Now, my challenge child..........she has found her leapster and doesn't want to stop playing her game..................too bad child, it is time for bed............and of course it's late........yet again. I finally get her changed......and she wants milk while we read a story.........."Finish your milk, it's time to brush your teeth!" "Time's up, time to brush your teeth." I finally get her in bed just after 9:00pm. .........there have been so many moments today when I thought I was going to totally lose it and by now I am totally spent. I hear the boys playing in the guest room, so we are not going to go lay down in there, even though Sidney wants to lay down with her brothers, because if they see mommy then the crying will start again and they will want out of the crib and nobody will go to sleep! "We are going to lay down in Grandpa's room." She is bouncing on the bed and lands on her bottom, but then throws her body back and "SMACK", hits her head on the headboard..............crying, "I want to talk to Daddy..." Mommy is about in tears by now, but I go get the phone. She ended up talking to Daddy for more than 20 minutes. Enough is enough! I will call Daddy back later.................after several more dozen times of telling Sidney "no talking, it's time to go to sleep.........close your eyes" both Sidney and I fall asleep. Of course Mommy is in her jeans still, but doesn't wake up until like 2am or something and notices the bathroom and the closet lights are still on, but is too exhausted to get up and turn them off. I wake up again at 6:30am and wonder if I should wake Grandpa up in the living room as he has an appointment at 8:00am today...........I finally drag myself out of bed and he's already up. I start some coffee and try to decide if yesterday should be one of those days I just block out of my memory or if I should share my pain with you all.
I hear the boys stirring...............
Here are a couple of pics I took with the cell phone camera as I was not about to go back to the car to get the camera...........

Let the fighting begin.....

Carter was having fun on the rocking airplane

Cameron decided that it looked like fun too and wanted to give it a try. I was kind of nervous that they weren't holding on well enough and were going to fall off....but they didn't