24 hours

February 10, 2015

One of the most common, recurring, questions I get is, "How are things going?" Most of the time, the typical response, the one we all give, FINE! Somedays this is in fact true, whereas others it isn't. Rather, just an answer to avoid having to go into detail about how things really are going.

Since November it seems that we have had fevers, coughs, runny noses, tummy aches, general crankiness, sleeplessness, weird rashes, ear aches, achy bones and other body parts, whining, and A-L-O-T of C-R-Y-I-N-G! Yes, it gets waring, most don't really want to hear all about that when they utter the polite, "How are things going?" phrase. Last week was particularly challenging, with yet another bout of the above mentioned ailments, once again returning-and adding a child with croup on top of the list.

As I was awoken for one of the many times one night, I had the idea to post a typical timeline of a 24-hour day a the Ward house-a typical 24-hour day when daddy is working that is! We will start at bedtime one night and run until bedtime the next night, just for kicks!

1830-1900   Little kids bathed, teeth brushed, pajamas on. Re-filling of all essential oil diffusers, because even though we have been sick A-LOT, I still think they help!

1900   The Little's go to bed! Yippee, the best part of the day!

2000   Big sister off to bed

2030   Daddy off to bed, he has to wake at 4:30, so he has to go to bed early!

2100   Little Trey wakes SCREAMING! Upon further investigation said little man is breathing a bit roughly.

2130  Rough breathing continues

2200  Wake up daddy to get his opinion. Breathing of little man still not good!

2210  Mom takes little man to ER-even after taking little man to Peds office prior that day! ER says little man has croup. Gives steroid and wishes mom luck! Well thanks for that!

2315  Driving back from ER...very fast. Pass police officer. Police Officer turns around, pulls mom over. Luckily no ticket, just a delay in traveling home!

2400 Little man tucked into bed, essential oils diffusing, fever reliever on board, hoping he will sleep!

0100  Big brother wakes up to pee. Of course needs assistance.

0200  Little sister wakes up. Let her cry it out...thankfully it was only 5 minutes

0300 Big brother climbs into mom and dad's bed

0415 Little sister wakes again. This time mom decides to feed her, since she last ate around 1900

0430 Daddy wakes up...little sister talking happily in her bed

0545 Little man wakes up screaming...little sister still awake talking in her bed...Big brother restless in mom's bed

0615 Mom resigns herself to the fate that she is getting up for the day

0650  Big sister wakes up to find everyone else awake

0720 Breakfast for everyone

0830-0900 all the little's dressed...lots of crying...well, if you would sleep you wouldn't be so irrational about life and the little things like getting dressed!

0930  Attempt to put little sister down for a nap...success!

1015  Apparently a 10 month old doesn't need much sleep because she is awake!

1100  Lunch

1130 Nap for little man

1245 Apparently 21 month olds sick with croup don't require sleep either...he's awake!

1245-1500 Lots and lots of crying! Countdown to daddy coming home...can't take much more

1510 Big sister is home...shoo everyone outside, even with sickness, they can still go outside

1530  That didn't last long...more crying!

1645 DADDY IS HOME! Everyone will live to see another day!

1715 Dinner...more crying, not much eating!

1800 Showers, pajamas, teeth, scriptures, prayers...almost there, almost BEDTIME!

1830 Bedtime, now to see how this night goes!

The next night was much better! When the kiddos are healthy, this recount is not the norm, but when they are sick it is quite common. We aren't the happiest, nicest, most fun parents around. I doubt our kids will brag to their friends about how patient their mom and dad are, or how they never heard their parents yell!!! That is just funny to me. However, tonight we did get an early Valentine from our big girl and she thinks we are pretty great parents. Great parents and she has lived with our short tempers, yelling, and cranky attitudes for 9 years! I guess we are doing an ok job then.

I know most people only blog about how wonderful their kids are. How wonderful their life is. How happy, patient, and soft spoken they are. When I read things like that I always wonder if these bloggers are telling the truth? Well, to those who often wonder if they are the only parent who isn't soft spoken with their children or enjoying every moment of this crazy roller coaster ride of parenthood, you are not ALONE!