How do you do it?

Ooh, rough weekend. Fortunately, we are all on the mend but cranky, sleep deprived kids and mommy this weekend. Suffice it to say, all house stuff has come to a standstill. But it's a Monday, so new week, new start.

I am so spoiled with sleep, I know this. I will say that when people ask me (as they always do) "HOW DO YOU DO IT?" I never know what to say. I always sort of shrug and smile.

I mean, what do you say? I have no f'ing idea and don't think I do that great of a job most of the time, anyway? It's really f'ing hard and sometimes I just want to run away and join the circus? People don't want to hear that. Now, I know.

I manage to keep it together because of the schedule, the predictability of their sleep. I know this because as soon as this falls out of sync, I don't handle it very well. This is one of those times and I am not handling it well. Their schedule is all out of whack and I need to get it back on track.

Wheezing and pooping and puke, oh my!

File last night under "You know you're a mother when..."

Had to take David to the ER at 1 a.m. - fun, fun, fun. He was in quite a bit of distress w/his breathing and cried - screamed, really - for 45 minutes straight, inconsolable. I didn't know what else to do as the neb treatment didn't seem to help.

We walk in the double doors of the ER, every single person's eyes are on us and at that exact moment, David puked all over me, the floor, himself, etc. It was quite a sight. Obviously, they took us right away. It was actually pretty quiet, I don't think there were many people there at all.

Fast forward another neb treatment and some prednisolone and we were out of there an hour later, David blowing kisses to everyone and waving goodbye. He was flirting with the nurses and respiratory therapist.

Finally got to bed and was woken up at 7 a.m., Sofia literally standing in my face. "Mommy," she said, "I have a poopy in my pj's"

Oh did she. Poop all over herself, her legs, her pj's. It was vile. I usually like to have my coffee before dealing with record blow outs but alas, that is how my day started.

Steve is playing a gig tonight, so I'm praying tonight will not be nearly as eventful.

Going off the Rails on a Crazy Train

It's been a few days since I have blogged. I was on such a roll, too!!

The kids are all sick and I am definitely coming down with it as well. I was home with all 3 kids for 2 days this week and you know what? It was manageable. I hadn't been home alone with all 3 in quite some time and was pleased that I was able to juggle it without going completely insane. There were a few hairy moments (aren't there always?) but Sofia seemed much more agreeable than usual which makes me wonder if a lot of her acting out is just wanting more of my time and attention.

We attempted to go out to dinner last night with all 3 children. Not only was it a dinner, but a sort of formal-ish dinner, celebrating my brother in law's promotion to Battalion Chief (had been a Fire Captain). We actually have gone out with the 3 kids in the evening before with success, but it's always a crap shoot. To make matters even more tenuous, the boys had skipped their afternoon nap, so I kind of knew going in that things could quickly go downhill.

The promotion ceremony took much longer than I anticipated, coupled with close to 2 hours of mingling and congratulations for all the people receiving promotions (and their friends and familes). By the time we reached the restaurant, we were about 3 hours into the whole experience. The boys had done the hold,-put-back-in-stroller-give-Snack-Trap-with-goldfish rotation at least 10 times by now and were quite restless. Meanwhile, the restaurant wasn't knocking me out with their service, seemingly ill prepared to handle a crowd of 30 in a private room. I waited and waited for them to bring bread - anything to distract the boys. The highchair straps were broken (both of them) and it being a sort of shi-shi place, they only had the 2.

Meanwhile, Sofia was in rare form, grabbing all the silverware around her and clacking it together at the most inapppropriate times. I finally got some milk for the boys and they were such a mess and so starving by this point that they would drink a little, throw it to the floor, drink a little, throw it to the floor. I saw where this train was headed and decided I was ready to get off. Steve was shmoozing with a musician friend sitting next to him, clueless as I tried to juggle the antics of 3 starving, tired children. I figured it was better to leave before we ordered the food as I suspected we'd be leaving in the middle of dinner. I felt really bad, but I was *done* *done* *done.* I like to think I am pretty good in these situations, but I just needed to go.

As we were leaving, they were bringing in the bread, approximately 45 minutes into the experience.

In the end, it was McDonald's drive thu for us and you know what? I'm ok with that. One thing that I've learned being a mom of 3 little ones is to always have a Plan B and keep your expectations pretty low.

The boys didn't get to bed until close to 9 p.m. and William kept waking up crying, so I brought him in our room, where I calmed him and he slept the whole night.

People were so funny at the ceremony, lots of commentary on the 3 kids.

We got "Wow, oh they're not twins, are they?" and

"They're pretty close in age, huh?"

Yeah, I'll say. About one minute. That's pretty close, right?

We Love Peanut Butter

So, we offiically have walkers!! Both David and William have taken 2,3,4, 5 steps and are getting really close!! In fact, William did walk across the room the other day, so our life is about to change...again!!

Sofia continues to be a DIVA to the 100th power and I've pretty much decided I am not too *fond* of 3.

Taped this little video last night.

Peanut Butter, We Love Peanut Butter!

I love it as it captures

a) a typical evening for us

b) the personalities of all 3 kids

3) dynamic between the kids.

Oh and the irony of it all is that WE CAN'T HAVE PEANUT BUTTER!

We Love Peanut Butter

So, last night was awful, getting Sofia to bed. Ugh. Typically, getting her dressed in the a.m. is also a battle. Today, I got her clothes and told her if she could get herself dressed, I'd give her a jelly bean. She got herself dressed pretty quick (with a little help) I'm clearly not above bribery.

Taped this little video last night.

Peanut Butter, We Love Peanut Butter!

I love it as it captures

a) a typical evening for us

b) the personalities of all 3 kids

3) dynamic between the kids.

Oh and the irony of it all is that WE CAN'T HAVE PEANUT BUTTER! :)

The crazy lemonade lady

Just to give you an example of how ridiculously in the clouds my head is...

Last week, I went to get my Large Light Lemonade from McDonald's (a daily staple) and paid the guy, then drove out without stopping at the p/u window.

Truth be told, this is not the first time I have done this.

I did go back and get it and yeah, I could tell they were all laughing at me.

So now I'm super self conscious getting my LLL - I just know they're like "Hey! It's the crazy lemonade lady!! Wonder if she'll forget today!"

We Have Too Many Stuff

Had a good weekend. Low key, which was nice.

Went to a local art and wine festival Saturday, it was fun. Watched a band, ate too much kettle corn, etc. Sofia danced like a little crazy person, it was pretty cute. Sunday just hung out at home, went for a walk with the boys.

I should have been packing stuff, but there simply wasn't an opportunity. I need to make a list of what I need to pack so that I can focus, focus, focus.

Sofia continues to be a terror, constant power struggles, no advancement on PTing, talking back, etc. I'm feeling pretty defeated at this point. David has become incredibly needy the past month or so, always wanting only me to hold him, pick him up, etc. William is still pretty happy go lucky, unless you take something from him and then he is a bear. Overall, I've been in kind of a funk for the past few weeks. Hopefully coming out of it as I need a clear mind to take on the tasks of the next few months.

Both boys have been taking 1-2 steps for the last week. Yesterday, William just decided it was time to really start walking. He just upped and walked across the room, a few times! He was smiling and so was David, so then David couldn't be upstaged, he started to do it too.

WE HAVE WALKERS!!!! I'm not sure why I'm excited by this, but there is nothing more thrilling than watching your baby walk for the first time. Bittersweet, for sure.

Sofiasms of the week (and so timely) "Mommy, we have TOO MANY STUFF!" Touche, young one, touche. (I think she may be modeling dear daddy on this one)