Virtual Interaction

Over thanksgiving, I listened to arguments against the ever-so-popular social networking sites like Facebook.

"Privacy", "replaces genuine relationship", "permanence" were the cons discussed as to why these individuals refuse to participate.

Yes, the one-sentence blurbs of twitter and Facebook might be pithy statements. However, the opportunity to connect to friends, family, and associates at one's own schedule has many positive features that are worth being considered.

I have found true community with many of my "facebook" peers. I have friends (and family), most of whom live in different states, but they have similar parenting scenarios as myself. It is refreshing to read that we aren't the only ones experiencing certain adventures of life.

Example: Just the other day, I discovered shampoo in my fridge. Of course, this is the sort of entertainment that can be communicated in one sentence, that I updated my status with. It was refreshing to hear that other people have had similar experiences (such as finding cream in a cubbard instead of the fridge) brought out by children "help"ing put groceries away.

Adventures of Sitting Up

When our five-month old Baby learned to sit up from a lying position, it was fun - there are so many toys that a five-month old can hold and play! A baby, sitting-up in the middle of the floor, gets much more social interaction with older siblings than before this novelty surfaced.

Now that this skill is practiced and perfected, a new adventure has begun: falling asleep! Since Baby can sit up when put down, baby doesn't stay lying down for long. And, when baby sits up, it is MUCH harder to fall asleep.

As a mom, I know that "this too shall pass". However, it is tragic to watch a baby crying - because "someone" keeps enforcing a sitting position - but baby is tired and wants to sleep! Since I know the different cries, the "I'm tired and want to sleep and I can't figure out why I can't go to sleep' cry mandates that I reluctantly watch the trauma unfold.

After many many attempts to lie down, sit up, lie down, fuss, fuss ... the baby falls asleep.

Unwanted consequence: the drama has put mama in a tired state too! What happened to baby just falling alseep and mama catching up on work before mama's bedtime?

Getting Kids In Bed

The house is quiet.. and it's not even 9pm.
Five children are asleep.
Silence.
Peace.
Four children were asleep by 8:15pm
Quiet.
Calm.
All children were awake at 7:30pm.
Noise.
Shouts.
Attitudes.
Grumpiness.
Tired children made sleepy children.

My prayers are that I have energy for the routine tomorrow ... and that tomorrow night will be another good night of having everyone in bed.

Serenity out of chaos

Some days I feel like a conductor -- (the director of an orchestra kind, not the train engineer kind).

There is a natural chaos that starts many days: wake up, moodiness of just-waking up children, sibling rivalry; mess from discarded toys and just-finished meal(s), etc. On good days, this is like the orchestra tuning up: it seems like everyone is out of tune with each other, everyone is playing dissonant rhythms, and chaos.

But, then, when things get on routine, amazing music is heard. This is the music: infant sweetly sleeping; several siblings playing well together; the house looking more presentable as chores get done...

Honestly, life with small children is more of the orchestra rehearsal: hints of gorgeous music, but plenty of time spent rehearsing, time outs for the different instruments and lots of patience required on the part of the conductor (maestro?).

Yea, we got home Thursday night.

Trip was sufficient..
Driving down was a headache (typical 4 hr drive took a little longer than 7 hours!)

Little toddler got a cold on the drive down (somewhere on the NJ turnpike started to hear a little cough).
Her cough turned into a full-blown cold by Monday
(Monday it was *real* nice to see all my nieces/nephews, one Aunt,Uncle and two Cousins ... but, I spent the time comforting sick toddler)
Wee hrs of the morning E. had a fever,
And, at 11am we were seen by NighttimePediatrics and she had a 103 fever and a full-blown ear infection..
Afternoon she was vomiting too...
So, no fun having sick toddler, so we scrapped plans of spending more time with Aunts/Cousins, and we let older siblings just play with new toys at in-laws, and try to comfort sick toddler...

Oh, and this child chose last week to be teething too -- cutting 4 molars plus 2 other bottom teeth!
...
By Thursday, she was feeling a bit better (more of a moaning "my gums are sore, please fix them").. so we had dinner at my moms..



As we pulled into my mom's Driveway, preschooler B. vomited. (argh!)... Glad to be able to spend a few hours at my moms, and B. slept away on the couch.
We ate dinner, socialized then got on the road...

Thankfully, the drive home was EXCELLENT (aside from the van stinking of something burning, which we established was not the engine, just something in the heater vents). And we got home WITHIN 4 HOURS. (Oh, and my husband drove the whole way!).

As we neared our exit on the NJ turnpike, Kindergartner called from the back seat "I don't feel too well"

We made it home, and our kitchen floor was covered with vomit the second she walked in (I'm very thankful that she decided to walk into the kitchen than in living room with carpet!)

By Friday morning, two were feeling better,
Saturday, oldest decided he wanted to share what his siblings had, and he had a bout of vomiting upon waking up from his nap.

Sunday, we were all feeling well enough to go to church (Toddler still taking tylenol to compensate for sore gums and waking up every few hours due to teething pain).

Sunday afternoon we made it to our annual Epiphany hike, but protests were occasionally heard from the teething member of the party!