Today I had one of those days...one of the opposites I try to normally blog about. I have many cute pictures and fun family times to catch up on this blog, but obviously the impact of today has thrown me back into a review of how crazy life can be as a NYC Mom. A wanna-be-but-far-from-Super-Mom. I want to feel strong, and I guess somewhere inside I am to be able to endure the daily living, but really I. Am. So. Exhausted. From. Today!
Started at 8 AM, with an itinerary of five major things: preschool, school tour, doctor appointments for both children (on the east side to complicate it even more), a missed nap and gymnastics. At 8:15 we realized the the kindergarten school tour was at 8:45. Lilly has preschool at 9, thanks to helping hands of friends I got out the door with two freshly showered kids and Lilly got off to school. I literally ran to the school, went to the wrong place and then arrived to catch the end of the intro, thankfully kind people talked me through the walking tour (carrying a 31-lb Benjamin on hip, and hoping he'd stay quiet enough for a peek into all the classrooms we were in).
At 10:30, my tired arms put my baby into the stroller and started home for phase two. The day already felt long. I raced to pack snacks, lunches and find the last minute doctor paperwork. I was reminded of how unorganized I feel since I found everything the night before but still was searching for L's immunization card (which I just saw last week and will probably find tomorrow). B's blessed me with a giant diaper which I'll spare a description (but let me say they are getting worse). I left the apartment late, and ran to pick up L, greet friends and race to the bus, which said bus left right as we arrived the intersection.
We boarded the next bus, bound for the doctors office on the east side (a new office since we normally go on the west side), when I then realized I forgot the address in my planner. Thanks to internet on my phone I found it, totally grateful for technology today! We went the long way around but arrived on time. The new office had the old nurse from the other office (cringe! she inserts shots so slow, previous bad experience). But I smile, herd two tired children into the office to start a 90 minute shared appointment. They had that tired-scattered energy, you know that one? But they got measured a couple times, weighed and looked at. Overall they are healthy children, but interestingly this is the first time we've seen an actual pediatrician (instead of family practice). So she had a very different response to my normal questions, like with B's lactose intolerance and speech, we are now being referred to three appointments to just check it out. Thank you!
But the shots were an entirely different nightmare. Imagine both children, screaming at the top of their lungs, for a very, very long time. It was near hysteria. B was getting shots and he was reacting to L seeing the needle. He was also tortured with the infamous nurse's slow approach to the entire process, I mean slow. All this expanding L's and B's wailing. I was trying to remain calm, understanding, loving to comfort, stern for them to stop, hold arms down for the nurse to stab, hold L back show she doesn't hurt herself. It was not a pretty scene. After three shots for little B, I realized there was no way L was going to do it. After a break, both nurse and doctor returned, I postponed her shots. Then found out they both needed blood work to test for routine stuff. Are you serious?
I think at this point there were a few moments of subtle support (which obviously was an unseen hand from above, which on a day like today I needed Divine help to stay sane - seriously). We walked to the lab for blood work, where I planned to only have B get it for the allergy testing. We waited and then then as we sat in the seat, both, yes both children started the wailing again. Even asking her to be brave for B, she wailed, I turned L in the stroller where she couldn't watch, then two nurses helped me hold B down while they got two viles. The little guy is super strong and fought it with much movement and loud voice. He struggled for a very long time getting enough blood work. Torture for mom! Then literally one minute after he was done, he was smiling again. Really, he is such a little darling! I realized he could be the example to L, so we exited and returned 20 min later. I gave her the choice to either do her three shots or this one for her blood work. She chose well, and even tho we had a third repeat of the extreme wailing and strait-jacket-three-nurse-hold-down, she has been beaming and rejoicing of how brave she was. She is super proud of herself for choosing the right and being brave (and so am I - we even had a talk about that good feeling in her heart and the Holy Ghost). It turned out okay. It was totally exhausting for mom and it was only 4:00.
Now off to take two buses crosstown. And then gymnastics. We thankfully got a seat on the bus and B fell asleep in the carrier. (My chant: I am super mom to carry my 31-lb boy! plus all our stuff and stroller.) We arrived to class on time, yay! I even helped her change with sleeping toddler on my front, sat down and breathed. B awoke during class, he was cute to play with phone games and explore the new place. We left at 5:20, dinnertime, and "treated" at McD's for happy meals. I'm still awaiting my treat...mm, I think I'll finish this and go eat it. Anyhow, we arrived at home near 7:00 bedtime, got ready, B had another gigantic blow out, enjoyed a bath and we closed the day reading the Book of Mormon (L's favorite nighttime story, really).
At 8 PM, I close their door. The house is quiet. I think I can breathe, or cry, or give myself a yummy treat. The day is through. Or I start the home duties to prepare for just another day tomorrow. But, above all, I remember my children's smiles. In all this chaos today, their sweet smile, their tender hug, their cuddle in our rocking chair reading a story is what is etched into my memory right now. And that is what I would truly call glamourous.
