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erin

erin

I'm Erin Jo. I'm thinking, writing, dreaming, mothering, loving, living, praising, BLESSED to be Fiona to my Shrek and Mommy to my four amazing kiddos.

dave

dave

Shrek is "like an onion with many layers" but has a heart of gold. He's my husband and my friend, and we just get better all the time.

lily

lily

Lily is my first baby and only girl. She's smart, funny, tall and kind. Keeping up with this girl is a challenge and a joy. She's terrific!

max

max

Max is one part ogre, two parts lover and all boy! Our little man has a temper but gives the best hugs of anyone I know!

colby

colby

Colby is as ornery as he looks. He flirts shamelessly, even with strangers. He's all mouth and curls and the loudest by far.

luke

luke

Luke is the baby of the family, but holds his own. He's happy and adorable. And he's a terrible sleeper. =)

Ebb and Flow


I had a marathon day yesterday, which seems to be par for the course lately. After getting Lily on the bus, dropping Max at preschool and doing some much-needed housework, laundry and cleaning of the van in the morning, I was a bit exhausted. I think sweeping out the van at 31 weeks pregnant in 22-degree temps might have been the kicker.

At any rate, I had time for lunch and a quick rest (no nap though) before picking up Lily early from school and shuttling all three kids to “well-child” check-ups. Colby, though, wasn’t well. He’s had a runny nose for months and started fevering up in the waiting room. Turns out he had another ear infection, but what better place to peak than in the doctor’s office waiting room? (Good timing, little man!)

All three kids also had flu shots, which was NOT fun. But it’s done now, and I’m glad!

Luckily, my aunt Karen met me after we finally got done at the pediatrician’s office. I had an OB appointment (the one I had to reschedule upon arrival last week). She took the kids for ice cream and snacks while I consumed two whole magazines in that doctor’s waiting room and finally got in to see my favorite doctor in the practice. (Thanks, Aunt K!)

With that out of the way, I returned to my spot as driver of the Mommy Express and drove out to my mom’s for dinner. By the time I left there, I was seriously exhausted. When we got home, I was annoyed Shrek didn’t seem to hear us come up the driveway and so didn’t come help carry in.

Upon entering the house and dropping the fussy baby and the 645,643 other things in my arms, I said, “Next time, I’m going to lay on the horn so you’ll come out and help me!”

Shrek’s response? “Get over it!”

Oh man! Was I ever mad!!! This has got to be one of my least favorite things to hear him say. It’s annoying as ^%$#, and I’ve decided I won’t speak to him if and when he utters it. So I resolved last night that he wouldn’t hear my voice again, at least not in deference to him. I huffed around, straightened the ever-in-need of straightening first level of the house, and then realized Colby needed meds and quick, before he fell asleep.

So I dosed him up with both ibuprofen and Omnicef as he sat on Shrek’s lap. As I was headed back to the kitchen, I heard “Oh no! We’ve got a puker!” I rushed back in with the biggest cup I could grab, and sure enough! Colby was puking, a lot, on himself and on his daddy.

Karma bites! Poor daddy isn’t as hardy as momma, and I could tell he was really wanting to flip out, but he couldn’t. The two of us, faced the SECOND time in one week, with a predicament: puke all over the place and no one to help us but ourselves.

And then, just like the magic that it is, we were allies. His rude snap at me forgotten, my calm his only hope.

And that’s marriage, or what marriage should be. It’s being able to be mad without striking like a snake. It’s being able to be civil, when civility is the last thing on your mind. And it’s completely deserting your red-hot anger when you must: when one of your kids is puking, and there’s no “i” in team. It’s the ebb and flow.

And sometimes that ebb and flow is a long one: weeks or months of lukewarm, or even downright cold, relations and then – wham! – the love is back and better than ever. But sometimes that ebb and flow proves itself in seconds, as it did for us last night.

I’m happy to report the night wasn’t as bad as it could have been. Colby is much better! I spent most of today taking care of the boys and doing a fair amount of lounging. Let me tell you something. I’m exhausted. Really. I’m so low-energy and short-of-breath today that I just might have a touch of that bug myself. But I think, more than anything, I’m just trying to catch my breath because I almost always push myself too far. I’m a hard-headed, busy-bodied perfectionist with the world to do. I will never be bored.

I am so glad it’s the weekend. I’m ready to regroup.

But, more than that, I’m glad for my husband. He may not be perfect, and sometimes he’s just a pain in the ass. But he’s mine. And I am not letting go.

3 Responses

  1. Jared says:

    i'm so proud of you. this blog has turned into a masterpiece and although i can't always relate to parenthood, (or marriage, pregnancy, etc.) i keep coming back for more. keep calm and carry on, sister.

  2. EJ says:

    Thanks, Jay. Means a lot. I love you! E

  3. Traci says:

    I related to every single word of this blog!:) You're so talented Ms Erin and I love you and your attitude!

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