Expect the Unexpected

Expect the Unexpected

This is something you learn teaching.
Nothing goes as you plan.
You always have to have a backup.
Be prepared for a fire drill, puking kid, birthday, etc.

It's even more true for a mother.
And I surely learned that this week.
From swallowing a quarter, to an ER visit, to just being home.

I've learned that going with the flow,
Slowing down,
And letting things go.
Helps.

Amen.
(And praying:o))

Top 10 for the Week:

It was QUITE the week...and as I cleaned up a poopy diaper IN the pool (both kids baths, clothes in washer, sanitize pool and toys) this afternoon...looks like this week may be following suit! HELP!

10.  It's here.  The horrible cold that overtook my nephew's body on the Fourth has finally reached our house.  Went through him & Nana and is now visiting Clayton and myself.  It's awful.  Clay has mainly a runny nose and horrible sounding cough.  I feel like crap--sore throat, runny nose, tired, headache.  I am SO bummed that this stupid cold may ruin our vacation plans for the end of this week.  We will see.

9.  ER visit.  Sir Clayton stepped on something at my in-laws.  A nasty cut.  Which became infected overnight.  A nice 2 hour trip to the ER produced a antibiotic for 10 days, 4 times a day.  Lovely.  But it looks a TON better.  Poor boy did not slow down one bit.  He is amazing I tell you.  And SO full of energy.  It was funny watching him on tip toe for JUST his left foot. 

8.  Quarter.  Clayton swallowed a quarter this week.  Scared me to death.  Those 3-4 minutes of pure panic was the absolute worst and will never be forgotten.  Luckily, with the help of me hitting his back and his body doing what it's suppose to do, he did in fact throw it up.  Poor Mallory is scarred for life.  The whole time she kept asking me if she could go to her room so she didn't have to watch.  But we got through it.  And I still can't believe he did it.

7.  Tuesday BLISS.  We stayed home all day Tuesday.  It was so nice.  We played outdoors for over three hours in the morning--pool, sprinkler, play set, sand.  We had the best time and the kids were SO good.  Clay slept two hours that day!! Which is so unusual!  But now that I think about it, he was probably coming down with the cold.  LOVE days were we can just be with no rush, plans, or to-dos.

6.  Bug.  We had some weird flying, green grasshopper in our house this week.  Jay found it one morning on a cucumber slice on our cutting board.  Kids LOVED it.  And kept chasing it around our house.  For a few days.  They'd lose it.  And then he'd show up again.  It was funny.  Mal finally caught it one more time, put it in her critter house, and forgot about it.  She was quite bummed this morning when he wasn't moving.  "I think he's dead.  I'm so sad."  Yep.  He was in fact dead.  So much for cheap entertainment. 

5.  T.V.  I'm realizing more and more that I am not a TV watcher.  But I am a Chef Ramsey fan.  Which means right now the ONLY show I watch is Master Chef.  I would rather read, bake/cook, sew, or putts around my house.  I would NOT have pictured myself this way.

4.  GR Visit.  Had a nice visit with my family up in GR for my brother's birthday.  Kids always love to see Hudson and he's getting so big.  I enjoyed the fact that he was holding his own with Clayton.  It's good to see that he's going to be able to keep Clayton in his place:o) 

3.  Claytonisms.  He had TWO major blowouts this week.  Before I go into details, you have to understand that Clayton has NEVER had blowouts.  He was always a partial formula fed baby...so I feel that's why he never had what Mal had.  But this week was so strange.  One morning Jay and I noticed a pile of poop in the kitchen, cleaned it up, thinking it was the dog.  A few minutes later, one was found in Clay's room.  Come to find out, Clay's poop was trickling down his leg, and escaping through the bottom of his pant leg.  SERIOUSLY?!?!?!  It was gross.  Really gross.  And if that wasn't bad enough....a few days later he had one JUST before heading to the ER.  Somehow this time, instead of escaping out the bottom, it escaped out the top.  And then with the poopy in the tub today!!! What is up with this boy.  Or is it because he is a BOY.  On a much better note, I had the best cuddles with my little man this week.  One day after nap, he chose to truly cuddle with me.  Loved every second of it and the sweaty smell of him.  Why is it that I enjoy the sweaty smell of my kids?  That sounds gross.  Who knows. 

2.  Malloryisms.  During Clay's long nap on Tuesday, Mal and I painted our nails.  I was impressed with her abilities!  She did her hands while I did her feet.  We also made strawberry ice cream from scratch (using two Ziploc bags--just like I used to do with my 5th graders!).  We had a great time together.  She had quite a feat this week.  She jumped off the diving board with her swimmies on!! This is huge people.  She hasn't been much of a swimmer...but this summer, she is coming around.  We are SO proud of her.  In fact, she even showed the video to our doctor.  She told Jay that "He was fascinated by it."  She's also been playing well with Clay lately.  I love how they can be such best bed.  This week I witnessed Mal tickling him so much that Clay couldn't stop laughing.  It was pure joy to see such a sweet moment.  They also played doctor together--to which Mal diagnosed Clayton has having no-talk-osis.  I think she may be watching Doc McStuffins too much :o)  A few other funnies about Mal:  She knows what a dead animal smells like.  "Do you smell that mom??  It smells like dead animal."  Sure was! Yucky!  And she called her armpit, an arm it.  "See mom, I'm going to wash my arm it." 

1.  Night Out KidLESS.  Jay and I had a night out on Saturday night.  We almost didn't end up going due to our babysitter getting the flu and calling last minute.  But luckily Jay's parents were free and willing to take them for the night.  It was great to get out, enjoy friends, and not have to worry about the kids for a few hours.  We even spent some time on the back deck when we got home, until I started getting bit by mosquitoes.  It's amazing how ONE night away can make you feel somewhat normal again:o) 

Well, I must be going.
Kids are up.
Time to head outside.

Hope all of you are enjoying your summer.

Until next week,
Mrs. Newell