Ode to Sick Days

Sorry it's been a few days since my last post. It seems that life has suddenly gone full speed ahead and not for any reason in particular.

Have you ever had one of those days where you wish you could just shut down for the day, stay in your PJs, watch old movies on TV, and not think about anything you need to be doing or anything that someone is expecting you to do? It's for that very reason that I sometimes miss working. I firmly believe that those days are the reason God invented sick days. I am fortunate to be a relatively healthy person, so I saw no harm in taking the occasional "mental health" day while on my career path.

But one of the drawbacks to parenting is that there are no sick days. While I technically could stay in my PJs all day (I would only receive funny looks from the door-to-door salesmen that inundate our neighborhood on a daily basis), I cannot mentally "shut down" for the day. There are children to be fed, changed, napped, entertained, and otherwise stimulated emotionally, intellectually, spiritually, and well you get the idea.

I found GREAT encouragement in Sally Clarkson's post last week, "Ode to Tired Mamas." It came at a time when I really needed it...suffering from the exhaustion of having a son who's decided that 5:30 is an appropriate time to start our day! I did have a relaxing and refreshing weekend, however (thanks to Hubby taking over the early-bird wake-up calls), so I can't blame my current state entirely on lack of sleep, although I'm sure it contributes. So, whether it's fatigue, stress, lack of nutrition (what chocolate chips aren't a major food group?), or the status of the barometric pressure...we may never know the cause. Either way, I am taking Sally's advice and making some time to recharge...compliments of Breyer's Vanilla Bean ice cream (don't forget the chocolate chips and Hershey's syrup!) and a quiet evening of mindless TV watching...then off to bed early HOPEFULLY!

Maybe that will be enough to kickstart my creativity and I'll be back with a witty and compelling post that will leave you laughing and crying. Or, maybe I'll just be back with more of the same...you'll have to wait and see. :)

Rainy Friday

I love rainy days. I always have. I've always love one thing more than any other about rainy days--naps. But today my love for rainy day naps was surprised by something even greater--rainy day naps with my daughter.

As you may have guessed, it's raining here today. Not just raining. It's a veritable deluge, complete with nonstop thunder, lightning, and even a bit of hail. So when naptime rolled around, our usual ritual gave way to my lying down with my Little Miss who happens to be a bit skiddish of the thunder. I drifted off momentarily and woke to the beautiful sound of the rain on the roof and the steady, deep breathing of my sleeping child next to me. So, of course, I had to lie there for a while and soak it all in, making a mental picture and recording every detail to draw upon in the future (like the next time she throws herself on the floor in a tantrum!). I know we can't know what heaven will be like, but I'm pretty sure this afternoon I had a small taste of what it will feel like.

Home Sweet Home

I apologize for my absence this week, but we have been visiting family in the Deep South. We had a wonderful time, and are completely worn out! (It's a loooong trip from the Midwest-10 hours to be exact. It feels even longer with two small children!)

To illustrate my complete exhaustion, I'd like to share with you a story my aunt e-mailed me tonight...so appropriate!

An older, tired-looking dog wandered into my yard; I could tell from his collar and well-fed belly that he had a home and was well taken care of. He calmly came over to me, I gave him a few pats on his head; he then followed me into my house, slowly walked down the hall, curled up in the corner and fell asleep. An hour later, he went to the door, and I let him out. The next day he was back, greeted me in my yard, walked inside and resumed his spot in the hall and again slept for about an hour. This continued off and on for several weeks. Curious I pinned a note to his collar: 'I would like to find out who the owner of this wonderful sweet dog is and ask if you are aware that almost every afternoon your dog comes to my house for a nap.' The next day he arrived for his nap, with a different note pinned to his collar: 'He lives in a home with 6 children, 2 under the age of 3 - he's trying to catch up on his sleep. Can I come with him tomorrow?'

--Anonymous

I will be back soon with stories and pictures of our trip...goodnight!

And The Winner Is...

I'm sure your spouse (if you have one) is a wonderful person; however, I must nominate my husband for Hubby of the Year (and thereby declare him the winner in my book!). And here's why...

Not only does my wonderful better-half work his little techie fingers to the bone all day fixing major network problems for a nationwide health care company, he comes home to do his fair share (sometimes more than his fair share) of helping out with the kids.

Take yesterday for example...his only "real" day off in probably 3 weeks (he's working weekends and overnights for 3 weekends in a row on "major network updates") and what does he do? He plays Mr. Mom the whole day so that yours truly can get some much-needed rest (see previous post if you missed my whining about me sleep-deprivation!). As it turns out, I wasn't just whining (OK, maybe I was, but for good reason). I am sick. It turns out my daughter and I have what my grandmother would dub, "The Crud"...sore throat, congestion, no appetite, overall achy feeling and general exhaustion (add to my daughter's an ear ache...YUCK!). So The Love of My Life sacrificed his one "free" day to nurse our first-born, care for our son, and let Mommy sleep for most of the day to kick this Crud. It helped...we're all feeling better today (well, maybe not Hubby). Still a little "cruddy," but MUCH better, thanks to Dear Ol' Dad!

And that's why I must hereby declare my husband "Husband of the Year." (Please give my condolences to your spouse....there's always next year.) And thanks, Baby...you're absolutely the best!

Oh Wretched Sleep, Thou Dost Mock Me

I love sleep. I have always loved sleep. It probably runs a close second to chocolate in my "most favorite indulgences" list. However, as a mother of two small children (3 yrs and 7 months), it's not something I see much of these days.

That wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for the person I become without my precious sleep. My usual patient, kind, loving self morphs into a gripey, frustrated monster of sorts who snaps at her husband and loses patience with her children over the smallest things. I am, of course, instantly regretful, but how I wish I would stop it BEFORE it happens. I seem to have no problem with that when I'm well-rested. Something in my brain is able to throw a switch and say, "Wait....cool it! It's not that big a deal." Actually, the switch doesn't usually have to intervene when I've had sleep. I'm fairly laid back and have a relatively high "deal with it" factor. But when I'm sleep-deprived, it's a WHOLE 'nother story, sister!

Why is that? There are people who can function, and function well, mind you, on 4-5 hrs of sleep a night. I AM NOT one of them! I need a good 7-9 hrs a night! (I don't remember the last time I saw 7 hrs of sleep in one night...let alone 7 CONSECUTIVE hours!) Is it a physical need? Doctors and scientists say that we need 8 hrs of sleep a night. So, if that's the case, why would God create in babies an innate need to be up all hours of the night then be ready to start their day at 5:30 a.m.?! Is it a psychological need? Do I just THINK I need that much sleep? And if so, why does my brain go foggy and my body ache, no matter how much caffeine I consume, when I get little sleep?

These are the questions that plague my sleep-deprived brain these days. Alas, the answers may never be found. Until then, I will continually remind myself of the words God gave the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Weakness...yep, that's me. I'm right there with you, Paul. (Hmmm....do you think Paul had small children?)