Katie and the Horrible, Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Have you ever had the chance to read Alexander and the Horrible, Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day? (I know I'm supposed to underline book titles, but I'm not techy and can't figure out how to do it on the blog page). Anyway, back to the point, it is one of the funniest children’s books I’ve ever read. When I used to read it to my 1st grade class, they loved it and chuckled every time I read it.

Poor Alexander woke up to a day of utter mishaps. I’ve also had those days when one bad thing leads to another. My 1st graders knew what those days were like too. Perhaps their daily troubles were not as mounting as our grown-up ones, but problems are problems no matter how big or small you are.

Today was one of those days for me. Well, to be completely honest and risk sounding like Debby the Downer, the last few weeks have been a combination of those days. The kids have been endlessly sick and we’re still living with half concrete floors downstairs. At least the other half is the wood and not the tolerable ugly carpet. But as you know, if you’ve been reading along as I write, Kevin hurt his back and then he got sick too. Like I said, it’s been one thing after another.

I have to admit that I’m not very patient when my husband gets sick. I think I may have even said something along the lines of, “I can’t take care of you right now. I have 3 sick kids to take care of.” Ouch. Bad wife.

But after a few days, I realized he is really sick. Not just sick, but sick-sick. It has been almost a week and he still has a fever, sore throat, and now he has hives and his entire face is swollen.

This is how my handsome hubby usually looks:



Ever see the movie "Hitch"? Well, this is how Kevin looks now:



Not pretty.

So he went to the doctor for the 2nd time this week. He’s having an allergic reaction to his pain medication for his throat. Now he’s all drugged up on steroids and an antibiotic. The house is still a mess (I’m letting it go-really, I am), and the kids are missing their dad.

To top it off, Charlie (3) had his 1st swim lesson today and almost drowned. I am not exaggerated a bit.

The swim instructor was at one end of the pool with a swimmer approaching her when Charlie decided he could not hold his enthusiasm back any longer and jumped off the step and into the deeper water. I was chasing Jack (2) around the yard, when I heard Luke (7) (also in the lesson) screaming, “no Charlie, don’t do that!” I turned around to see Charlie face down, floating in the pool. Still.

My heart stopped, I started sprinting with Jack dangling at my side and I shouted at Luke to grab him as the swim instructor swam quickly to grab him. This happened in a matter of seconds. Charlie was startled but okay. Thank God. I still don’t think my heart has resumed beating yet.

You would think that an event like that would cause us all to appreciate one another more, even just for the day…but not my boys. They came home and fought over everything. It didn’t matter what it was. I was too wiped out to care.

Ever have those days?

By the time Kevin got home with his stash of meds, Luke and I dashed to cub scouts. After an initial protest by Luke, he agreed to let me come, but only as Dad’s “substitute." I’m chopped liver in this house. Well, except when they have nightmares in the middle of the night, when they are bleeding, or vomiting… then I’m beckoned. Then only Mom will do. I may not be fun, but I am comfort.

Just before leaving for cubs, I fed two kids McDonald’s…sign of desperation #1. And for Charlie, the kid who won’t eat anything? He had toast and strawberries. ..sign of desperation #2.

I figured, the kid didn’t drown in the pool today, a little toast for dinner wasn’t going to hurt him.

It’s ALL perspective, my friends.