Todd was in Oregon this week so I was left to pull the cart on my own. Not always a bad thing, of course I have heard absence makes the heart grow fonder. Well, his absence definitely made this heart grow REAL fond of him.
It all started with a long sad teary goodbye from the kids. Six days is like a year to a 3 and 5 year old when they are not used to Dad being gone. To mom, it was a chance to get some projects done, like finish a book for my book club, start painting the baseboards and get my school/organize station in the kitchen set up for the upcoming school year. Woo hoo!
Monday morning, after dropping the kids off at a two week Summer camp, Todd and I got to go out to eat - no kids. It was awesome. He left for the airport, and I ran a few arrands before heading over to pick them up. Kelsey was a teary mess. She has definitely hit the emotional trials and tribulations of being a girl. Five year old girls don't always know how to communicate effectively to their friends, and all kinds misunderstanding or misinterpretations happen....leading to hurt feelings. I was sooo not expecting this nor ready how to deal with it. Carter came home and said it was boring.
Little did I know this was my foreshadowing to the week ahead.
Tuesday, the weeping got worse due to missing Daddy. Carter cried and could not sleep alone. Kelsey cried if a anyone looked at her the wrong way. Unfortunately, I did not get a chance that night to read. No worries, there is always the next 4 days. Right? Wednesday I had an appointment while they were at Camp so I had to wait until they were in bed that night......at 11:30....1:00....2:30..and finally for the last tuck in at 5:25. Ughhh
Thursday was a crap shoot at this point. We rolled out of our sleepless induced stupor and headed out the door for a drive thru breakfast and coffee - and on to get much needed haircuts. So I packed plenty of Dum-Dums to bribe the troops into being well mannered in the Salon while the other one was being "detained" by the evil person cutting theri hair.
After making it through the haircuts, I drove through for lunch and went straight home for naps. A scheduled afternoon play date needed well rested kids...ahemmm...Moms. Once asleep for naps, I fell asleep on the couch for an hour only to wake up to a sound of snickering and crinkly paper in the kitchen pantry. I open the door only to find both kids engrossed in a self made snack of sprinkles. GREEN sprinkles. Green smiles and teeth, green sprinkles all over the floor, and feet......and everywhere those four little feet ran. Sighh. Sorry, picture taking last on my list so you'll just have conjure up your own image.
Thursday night was not much better, the tears got bigger for missing Dad, and Carter could not calm down until about midnight while I lay next to him. The ONLY way this was going to happen without interruption form Kelsey girl was to bribe her with being allowed to sleep in my bed with me. I finally got to sleep about 2:30 to wake up at 5:30 when Kelsey had a nightmare. That was that.
Soon it was 9 a.m. and I dropped them off at camp. I was finally able to get some alone time. I felt it for the first time all week... relaxation and the feeling everything was going to get back to normal. Todd was going to be home Saturday night and I could not wait. I missed him, the kids missed him..... I went to pamper myself with a relaxing pedicure ...should have brought my book, but I gave up on that happening this week. Instead I made some phone calls that I had not had a chance to make all week. Ran a few more errands then off to pick the kids up from Camp.
With a more relaxed and positive outlook, I picked up a smiling and happy Kelsey from her class. She said she had a great day. We went to get Carter, only to be met with a screaming Carter and two frantic teachers - total hoopla. Apparently, another little boy pulled on Carter's arm, followed by a little girl that fell on them both with Carter on the bottom. I sent Kelsey home with a friend and rushed Carter to the ER. Poor little guy cried all the way there with an ice pack on his arm. At this point, I knew ANYTHING could happen and whatever, I'll roll with it. I mean, what else could happen? I already knew that ultimately NOTHING was in my control this week. I gave up on that Thursday morning
.
Carter was a super patient. He took his Xray's and did everything the Doctor told him to do. He ad a dislocated elbow. Very painful, but very fixable. So with a quick jerk and a gentle twist, Carter was able to move his arm again...and 5 minuted later was using it and realized "both my arms work" again. Pure joy from a little boy. Pure joy from a Mom who could just laugh and look back at the week there were only three.
