Happy Birthday To Me

Today is my birthday. And I apologize if this comes off sounding like a little pity party, but, you know, sometimes birthdays don't turn out like you plan them and anyway, it's my blog, and I can write what I want.

So, Ken had to work overtime today starting at 7:00 am, leaving me home alone with all 3 boys from 5:45 AM on. I know I shouldn't be scared of that, but honestly, I feel so pushed to the limit sometimes when I am home with the children.

If Ken ever feels like he is unnecessary, he just has to spy on me while I'm trying to get the three boys dressed in the morning. Have you ever tried to give a cat a bath? Now multiply that by three. And that's just what it's like dressing my 2-year old. Ken is VERY necessary. VERY. And did I mention that he is totally necessary? Okay, just checking.

Anyway, so I woke up shortly after Ken left, to the sound of Jason, my 2-year old, whining and trying to pull me out of bed. It was 6:00 AM.

'Gogurt! GOGURT, mommy!'

'Okay, okay, okay. I am turning on the Wiggles and getting you yogurt my little early bird.'

Then little Tyler, my 7-month old began crying and sputtering and, worst of all, coughing and sneezing. Apparently the cold Jason has been fighting has inevitably been passed on to the baby. Great.

So I went to make a bottle, with the hope that maybe I could doze a little bit while simultaneously listening to the Wiggles and feeding the baby.

You'll be shocked to know that the dozing part didn't happen. The boys would not have that.

Instead I refereed some fighting between Kevin, my 5-year old, and Jason, listened to some baby coughing and crying and 2-year old whining, and cleaned up some spilled yogurt off the floor. This was about the point that I realized it really was time to get up, and feed the boys some breakfast.

Freezer waffles were my choice because I believe in the Keep It Simple Stupid method of children's cookery. I did have to promise to cook eggs for Kevin tomorrow, but seriously, it's my birthday -- I do not want to be a short order cook today!

Then it was time to change Jason out of his sticky jammies and change his and Tyler's diapers, get them dressed, and brush their teeth. While Tyler wailed in his crib, Kevin & I brushed our teeth and got dressed.

By this time it was 9:00 am I was already counting down to afternoon nap time. I knew that at this rate I would not make it if stayed home all day with the kids, so I decided to go to the mall.

Going out with all 3 kids requires a lot of prep, so I began the process of loading the baby bag with 3 portions of pre-measured formula, a thermos of warm water, and one made up bottle, 2 sizes of diapers, wipes, a change of clothes for the baby, a sling, a sippy cup for Jason, soothers and a burp cloth and just as I was finally getting all of this organized, my mom called to sing 'Happy Birthday' to me.

She sensed my aggravation I think, because she was kind enough to take pity on me and meet me at the mall and buy us lunch at the food fair.

That is how I ended up at the food fair with my 3 little boys and my mom eating mall chinese food and Safeway mini-cupcakes on my birthday.

And while this wasn't the 34th birthday I dreamed about:



It could be worse.