Haley
As usual, I have so much to say and so little time. My boys have been sick again for the past week, which has made life a bit of a blur, as expected, as both are constantly needing Mama. Right now, I’m so tired and yet so thankful at the same time.
+I’m tired of my boys being sick. Beau was sick part of last week with a cold, and then the boys had wellness appointments last Friday, and since then it’s been all downhill. This week, each of them went to the pediatrician for sick visits twice; that’s four visits in five days. I’m tired of severe colds, ear infections, $152 ear drops, hacking coughs, fevers, breathing treatments, antibiotics, adverse reactions to antibiotics and runny noses.
+But…I’m so thankful that I’m home with them. I can’t imagine how much unpaid leave I’d have taken during the past six weeks if I was still working.
+I’m so tired of telling myself each day that this is just a season, and that months from now I’ll reflect and it will be a distant, survivable memory.
+But…I’m so thankful that this really is just a season. I’m looking so forward to spring and time outside, where germs can dissipate and the likelihood of sickness diminishes.
+I’m so tired of being cooped up inside, of saying no to playdates, of not being able to play outside, of telling JM he can’t go to school today, of canceling visits to see my sister, of wracking my brain for something else to entertain JM indoors.
+But…I’m so thankful that we are no longer living in our small condo with limited sunlight. I have to remind myself that we are so blessed to have a house where JM can run around and even ride his scooter inside.
+I’m so tired of my husband working long hours. I know that’s what happens with small businesses, but the 45 minutes we’ve gotten each day lately just isn’t enough. It gives me enough time to shower and get ready for the day while he plays with the boys, and that’s about it. I’m tired of doing it all by myself at night, especially while they boys are sick and it seems like they both always need me at the same time. I’m tired of the weekends not feeling like weekends because he’s working all of Saturday.
+But…I’m so thankful that my husband is providing for our family so that I can stay home and take care of my boys. I know that I am so blessed to have this opportunity, even if it does mean sacrificing other things.
+I’m so tired of my house looking like a wreck. I’m not a big clean freak, but I finally set up a daily schedule for stuff that I need to do weekly (aka mop the floors, clean bathrooms, etc.). Just having a plan of how to tackle things makes everything I have to do seem less overwhelming. Except right after I created said schedule, the boys got sick. So every day this week, it seems to take me all day just to tackle the kitchen area and get it clean before it’s time for bed. I never seem to make it to cleaning anything else. Except laundry, oh the laundry. I think I’ve done 10 loads in the past week.
+But…I’m so thankful I have a house. Seriously. We were in a condo with a tiny kitchen before this summer. We have more breathing room in this house, especially the kitchen. My kitchen may look like a wreck at the end of the day, but at the same time, we cook three meals a day in that kitchen. That’s why I’m cleaning it up several times a day–after meals and snacks.
+I’m so tired of being tired. That’s a given when you’re tending to sick kids, I know. It’s exhausting taking care of kids for 12 hours a day when I’m healthy and well rested, but when I’ve spent nights holding Beau while he sleeps, meaning I’m not getting decent rest, it definitely makes things harder. And up until two nights ago, JM was waking up a couple times a night.
+But…I’m so thankful that I’m well. Last month, I got sick after Beau slept on me so that he could breathe easier. Knock on wood, but this time I have yet to catch this cold that my boys keep passing back and forth. I have no idea if Airborne works, or if it’s just a gimmick, but I’m taking it. And I’m trying to eat fairly well, lots of veggies and protein. And I’m so thankful for coffee. Without it, I’d be a walking zombie.
