May 6, 2008

• Running in Circles

  This has been “one of those days” that has kept me running until just now (4:30pm).  My new medication isn’t doing “the job” and so I placed a call to the doctor’s office and gave them my cell number, as I was headed out the door at 10:30am.

  We started out taking Annamarie across town to the pediatrician (the one that’s seen the girls since infancy) because she’s complained of jaw pain for the past few days.  Last week-end, she looked like she had the mumps on one side.  She never complains much, so I knew this had to be serious because she woke me up twice the other night to say she hurt.  There was some techno-medical name for what she has, but basically she has an infection that settled in the jaw area and was put on an antibiotic.

  From there, we went to the post office to mail some envelopes, check our P.O. box for mail, and buy (grrrrr!!!) one cent stamps to go with my two cent stamps that go with my 39 cent stamps!!!!!  VERY frustrating.  I wish they’d just raise stamps 5 cents and leave it alone for a few years!

  After that, we went to the bank to make a deposit into Jesse’s business account.  That was easy because we used the drive-thru for a change.

  We then headed south and looked at the ominous black clouds moving in from the south.  T-storms are a possibility today, but nothing has developed so far.  We went to Wal-Mart to fill Annamarie’s prescription and pick up one of mine.  While I was there, I stocked up on cleaning products (oh, thrill!!!) and bought Mother’s Day cards.  We got our prescriptions, paid at the cashier, and headed to the car.  That’s when I realized I hadn’t paid for the Mother’s Day cards.  I turned the cart around and went back to stand in line again. 

  Across the street was Applebee’s Restaurant.  Everyone was starving.  I hated to pay that price but didn’t think I could squeeze another McDonald’s meal in me after eating there just last week!  I had a salad and the Rissy had an adult burger (that’s my skinny child) and the other two ordered off of the children’s menu.  I ended up putting the meal on our Visa card (something I never, EVER do) and figured I’d worry about the lunch bill next month when Jesse’s business picks up and the money starts rolling in!  The girls fought over crayons (you know the menus and crayons restaurants give children?), who was the better eater, who was the better drawer, who was . . . you get the picture.  I left to go to the restroom and told Luci (sitting next to me in the booth) that if my phone rang she was to get it from my purse and give it to Rissy to answer.  WHILE I was using the restroom, Rissy came in and said, “Mom?  Luci said if the phone rang she was going to answer it and I told her you had told ME to answer it.  She said . . . ” I cut her off and between clenched teeth (from my “stall”) told her to go back and sit at the table.  I can’t go to the restroom “alone” at home, but really hadn’t ever had a problem with being “needed” out in public!

  From there we went to Payless Shoes (next door to the restaurant) to buy white sandals.  I told them in the car I didn’t want anyone being ugly or using loud voices.  Yeah!  Right!  There was much commotion and arguing still going on and my patience began to wear thin.  Whose foot was bigger.  Who had the better sandals (they were all three IDENTICAL!!!!).  Who was going to wear their new sandals first!  We paid using the Visa card again (sigh) and I quickly escorted the girls to the car and gave them a tongue lashing in the car about how they had embarrassed me.

  I started to head home when I realized (at the intersection) I had forgotten to go to Sam’s to buy ground beef.  I’ve never mentioned it, but I absolutely detest going to Sam’s.  I made a U-turn and headed back in the direction of Sam’s. 

  Meanwhile, my doctor’s office called and told me to double up on my “tranquilizer” pills and to call him by Friday if that wasn’t working.  I don’t think I’ve been taking them right.  I understood they were to be used one at a time, AS I felt severe anxiety approaching.  He told me today, 2 at a time three times a day, whether I think I need them or not.  I’m thinking one three times a day might be sufficient, but we’ll try it his way.  I may be a zombie, but right now that’s not sounding half bad.

  Then Jesse called when I was in Sam’s parking lot and asked me to also pick up toilet paper.  We buy POM brand in those huge boxes that are hard for me to carry.  (sigh)  So we got 20 pounds of ground beef, a mega size box of toilet paper, two preschool books for JanaLyn, and two cakes (BIG smile).  One was a lemon blueberry Bundt cake and the other was a triple chocolate Bundt cake.  NOW you understand why I am smiling – and smiling really BIG, too!!!  The girls continued to argue in Sam’s and push each other out of the way trying to stand the closest to me.  Rissy ended up knocking Luci in the eye with her hand and I snapped.  I told them all to shut their mouths, not to touch each other (or me) and, if I heard one of them so much as breathe, they’d ALL get a spanking when we got back out to the car.  Truth was, I was too exhausted from the constant one-upping & bickering they’d been doing all morning, and I don’t think I would have had the energy to give even one of them a spanking.  But, at least they stopped talking to each other completely!

  Stephanie called as we were wheeling the toilet paper ladened cart out of Sam’s and was somehow under the impression I was coming by her place today.  I explained I was on my way home and would see her Thursday at the earliest.  I promise ya’ll, my cell phone rang more times today than it normally does in a week!

  On the way home, we stopped at the CVS drug store by our house to pick up MORE prescriptions (one for me, the rest for other children) and I was told my $3 off coupon wasn’t good on prescriptions, just merchandise in the store (sigh).  Rissy was crying (more like sniffling) in the backseat because I had hurt her feelings when they had all gotten in trouble at Sam’s.

  We arrived home and Annamarie asked if she could cut the tag off of her sandals.  I said yes.  Luci asked if she could cut the tag off of hers and I told her to ask Annamarie to do it.  An argument ensued with Luci and Annamarie because Annamarie wouldn’t hand over the scissors to Luci.  I told Luci if she wouldn’t let Annamarie help, then she wouldn’t get to have the tags cut off.  She went into a screaming meany fit and threw herself on the floor.  She did her famous (new) ear piercing high-pitched scream and I told her to go to her room.  She continue to kick on the floor and throw her new sandals across the room.  I picked her up and told her to pick up her tennis shoes AND her new sandals and go to her room to take a nap.  Another screaming meany fit.  I finally escorted her to the hall and she went to her room and slammed the door.  So, back to her room I went to tell her we don’t slam doors in our house.  She’s a sleep now after screaming “I don’t wanna take a nap!  I don’t wanna take a naaaaaapppp!”

  Here I am needing to divide 20 pounds of ground beef into zipper bags and place them in the freezer.  I would love a cup of coffee – but don’t dare touch anything with caffeine.  I think water and a HUGE slice of that triple chocolate cake might be the answer to the fatigue that is wearing on my brain and body today.

  I know God is right here to strengthen me and I need to get my focus more on Him than that chocolate cake in the kitchen!

  So, there’s the blow by blow play of my VERY loooooooong day!

  • 5:37 pm
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