Actual trip to the pharmacy with sick kids

Sometimes my friends without kids wonder if it's really as complicated as they hear to do something with 2 or more kids in tow, or my friends with one child wonder about how much harder it will be to do stuff with another child.  I remember how uncomplicated it was to do things with only one child, I get it. I'm starting to get it again now that the boys are in school 2 days a week.  What follows is just one incident from real life. None of these events have been exaggerated.  It is all true in it's rediculousness.  Because, really, you can't make this stuff up.

Background: 3 weeks ago, I drove the kids to Portland to visit my brother and OMSI and threw up the night I arrived. The following weekend I was supposed to visit my grandmother and Valerie threw up Thursday night. Violently, in quick succession. As within 10 minutes she'd thrown up in 2 bathrooms 3 times, her bed, and down my hall stairs.  So I wasn't that surprised when last weekend we were almost to my grandmother's house and Carter informed me he'd thrown up between the seats of the minivan.  So we pulled over, cleaned up as well as we could with babywipes and changed Carter into a pair of Valerie's pants and headed back home where I threw every chemical known to man on the spots trying to get the smell out (BTW... Kids N Pets + Hydrogen Peroxide + Resolve Carpet Cleaner with a topping of Fabreze will get vomit smell out of your car and what auto manufacturer decided putting carpet anywhere in a moving vehicle let alone one designed to move 3+ children in it?  That must be a man. A dumb-ass man. But anyway.....

Henri's also had this violent cough that shows up during the day, but it's ghastly at bedtime and about 430 am in the morning. We've been battling it with honey and Hylands Cough Syrup, but it was getting worse and Carter was getting droopier by the day and taking 1-3 naps a day.  So, off to the doctor we went.

This was my Tuesday....  after we went out running to the bank and postal service with 3 kids in tow because they were all home to go to the doctor, Paul finally had to go to work (thank GOD for a flexible work schedule for him) and at noon I had an appointment to see the doctor.

Noon... we head in to the doctor's office.  Valerie is running around the middle chairs, Carter is laying down on a bench practically asleep, Henri's coughing all over everything without covering his mouth.  Finally we get called in.  Valerie's hot and sweaty from her running around.  Right before the doctor comes in to see the boys she is dancing and spinning around and smacks into the corner of the metal exam table and is crying and looks like a mess when the doctor comes in.  The doctor is actually wondering why Valerie is not also being seen because she actually looks the worst at this exact moment.  After explaining that this is just how she normally looks she takes a peek at the boys.

Henri's verdict is a medium grade ear infection in one ear and fluid in the other.  The drainage in his throat is most likely causing the coughing, so we'll put him on antibiotics, esp since he hasn't had them in 2 years.

Carter has a double ear infection and looks so pale and droopy the doctor says if he doesn't perk up in a few days to bring him back in that there may be something else wrong with him.  I think she's actually worried about him.

So she calls the prescription in.  Ah, the wonders of taking 3 sick children to the drug store.  This picture has been going around FB and I completely understand it... 

Paul and I were watching a comedian last night and she was talking about how life is not that complicated for her and how going to the drugstore the worst thing that happens is they move everything around on her.  He says, "it's not so bad, right? " then I told him actual events from Tuesday.

We all file out of the car, eventually we get everyone going in the proper direction of the drugstore and into the store.  The pharmacy is in the back.  Valerie immediately finds a black path of tiles in the floor that goes around the store and takes off, Carter follows her per my plees, Henri and I shoot straight to the back, the most direct route.  We all meet up in the back.  Henri starts playing with the sign of where to wait. Valerie joins him.  I pick her up and tell Henri to stop.  Valerie starts flailing and kicks Henri in the head, Henri starts crying, Valerie starts crying because Henri hits her.  Finally it's our turn... to find out that it will be another 15 minutes.  We walk over to McDonalds because now they are all starving.  Share some food and go back, pretty much the same running around the store. 

Then we can get home for the drama of trying to get nasty tasting meds into Carter :)  but that's another story...

So does this make me the bad cop?

Lately it seems that Paul has been playing the good cop to my bad cop.  I no longer offer alternatives to dinner, just lots of side dishes.  When the boys look at dinner their first question besides, "what is this?" is "when will Daddy be home?"  The exact time does not actually matter. What matters is if Dad's off curling or if he'll be home after dinner from work. Because mom doesn't take lightly her food being snubbed. Dad's happy to pour a bowl of cereal before bed. Mom sends you to bed with a cheese stick and a pat on the head.

This was further evidenced 2 nights ago when Carter kept coming into our room,

C: "I can't sleep." 
Mom: "You have to go to sleep."
C: "I just can't seem to sleep."
Mom: "Have you tried closing your eyes?  Turning off the lights? Breathing deeply? Praying? "
Carter leaves, dejected.... 2 minutes later...
C: "I still can't sleep"
Mom: "Did you try putting a pillow over your face?"  (I'm just kidding people, no bad e-mails. My kids speak fluent sarcasm by age 3 and know I'm kidding)
C: "Mom"  (eyes roll)
Dad says nothing, even when Carter climbs into bed and watches him play games on the surface.
Mom: "Carter! Get in bed now!"
C: sighs, rolls eyes and goes to bed.

I go downstairs to do something.  I hear footsteps back into my room.  I loudly climb the stairs.

Carter to Paul: "uh, oh, I gotta go." races out of room.

So today, Henri asks Paul, "Daddy, can I play XBox?"
Paul: "why don't you ask Mommy?"
Henri begins to cry.
"I don't like asking Mommy"

Guess we know who the bad cop is around here.  Sheesh!

Spring Clean finale!

Day11-Playroom/Rec Room

First, the top of the room-dust cobwebs, lampshades, light fixtures and wall decorations.  10 mintutes.

Start by going through the stuff and toys.  Go through shelf by shelf. Work top to bottom, left to right so you don’t miss anything.  You’ll need a couple piles: Give away, trash (a bag), fix/needs batteries/lost piece (if you can’t fix or don’t find all the pieces by the end of all this, these need to be given up on and thrown away).  As you take the toys out of cabinets and shelves, wipe down the shelves. Pull them back from the wall when one unit is done and give a wipe to the wall and clean the floor and baseboards behind them… you’ll be surprised what you find… probably some missing puzzle pieces or those keys that went missing a few months ago!  This will take most of the time. 2 hours to 2 days!

Office

Start by clearing surfaces and removing anything that belongs elsewhere, especially if your office is your home’s dumping ground/storage J  Next, consider doing Julie’s paper challenge.  Go through your file cabinet, inbox, any filing papers. Go through all files.  Get rid of anything you no longer need, bills over a year old, tax return files over 7 years.  File anything “to be filed” and shred anything sensitive or put in a paper bag to take somewhere to have shredded, recycle anything not sensitive. 30 minutes to 5 hours.

Dust corners for cobwebs, light fixtures, wall decorations.  Dust or wash the window blinds.  Wash the window, take vinegar, Q-tips and a rag to the window slide and wash the sill. 30 minutes.

Working left to right, top to bottom go through your office.  Get rid of anything that does not belong in your office. Put it in a basket or box and everytime it fills up, take 5 minutes and put things away where they belong.  Check your supplies… Do you have enough/the right amount of office supplies-pens, pencils, paperclips, printer paper, printer inks, etc?  If you are in need of items, make a list and put it in the car so the next time you are out you can stop and pickup what you need. If you have too much, donate or give to a friend who may need them. 30 minutes

If you haven’t filed your taxes, go through your tax file and see what’s missing and organize what’s in there-income items in the front of the file, expenses in the back. 10 minutes

Tackle your inbox-take action where needed-write down appointments, send e-mails.  Recycle anything you no longer need and then get a few envelopes, clips or file folders and mark “keep handy” for things you need at your fingertips; “to do” for items that require action beyond your office; file anything to file, since you already went through your file cabinet.  Have a divider; bright paper or cardboard and put it on top, then you know what items are new in your inbox. Consider having a time each week set aside to go through new items and to do items so you don’t get bogged down. 30 minutes

Kid stuff.  Any art projects, writings, etc.  Once a month or semester scan the ones that you love or take a picture if they are big. Then, I give you permission to pitch that sucker.  Your welcome.  20-60 minutes depending on backup

Magazines and books-anything you aren’t currently reading goes in a too be read pile. Think about where you read periodicals-in the bathroom? In the car while waiting?  Stick a few in that spot.  If you have a huge pile consider recycling anything over say 3-6 months old. If you haven’t read it by now, chances are you aren’t going to.  Round up books from the library and designate a spot for them so they don’t get lost.  Any that have been read put in the car to return next time you are out. 10 minutes.

Digital files-oh, my, this could take awhile.  Start with your e-mail… all accounts.  Your regular e-mail, delete any e-mails you no longer need, make file folders for regular categories, but during this cleaning go through each folder and clean out items that are no longer relevant.  Take action or flag items needing attention, UNSUBSCRIBE to lists you no longer want to be on.  File e-mails by category that you need to save but don’t need to refer to on a daily basis.

Now tackle any junk or work e-mail accounts.  Then move on to your Facebook messages.  Time may vary.

Next your computer.  Think about all the places files are stored….. desktop, external hard drive or two, c: drive, cloud, etc. Tackle one at a time.  If you open it and it’s just a huge list of files, make file folders! For example, I have one called “household” for cleaning routines, school stuff, library numbers, etc. one for business, one for clients, one for pictures, etc.  Go through and delete anything you no longer use and file away files you need so you can find them. You should be able to find any file in 5 minutes.  If something gives no clue to what it is by the file name, right click on it and RENAME to something that makes sense!  Start on your desktop, then harddrive on your computer, then externals and online storage.  THIS is the time to make a plan to do a backup. If it’s going to take awhile, consider setting it for overnight (change your power settings so your computer doesn’t turn off in the middle) but make sure it gets done. If you don’t backup during spring cleaning you probably won’t!  You’ll thank me later. Time may vary.

Crafting or Hobbies-

This could take awhile as well.  Start going through supplies with recycle bin, garbage, donate bin and any extra storage bins you may be able to use.  Start with the largest pile. For me it’s scrapbook paper, for you it may be fabric. Sort through once for what you want to keep v. get rid of then get some labels and organize what you have in a way that makes sense… by color, theme, etc.  Then move to the next group and so on. I can’t give you much more detail than that since your hobbies may vary. But go through with the idea of making it so that you can find what you are looking for in just a few minutes. Label any drawers/bins you can’t see through.  Put things you use more often within arm’s reach, anything you use less often can be stored elsewhere, think about storage in vertical terms… go up that wall!

Hopefully by now your office/craft/hobby space is uncluttered. Dust and wipe surfaces, vacuum and steam clean or mop if necessary.

Days 9 & 10-Spring clean your bedrooms

Days 9 & 10 : Bedrooms-Do this to all of them.

Take down any cobwebs-use a Webster or a broom with a rag on the end. Wash or dust light fixtures. Wash down walls-wipe outlets & light switches and baseboards. 10 minutes

Clean the blinds, wash curtains, wash windows, clean out window tracks and sills 10-30 minutes.

Dust & wipe down furniture (pull out and dust shelves and books of bookshelves) pull out drawers and clean the drawer rollers, go through drawers and take out stuff that doesn’t fit or you don’t like and fold and put away neatly.  Move all furniture and vacuum and steam clean under it (take the crevice tool of your vacuum and run it along the edge of the baseboards, wipe down baseboards.30-60 minutes

Declutter rest of the room besides the closet (shelves, nighttables, etc).  Then attack the closet, go through and take out anything that doesn’t fit (try it on), you don’t love, etc.  make a list of pieces you need to keep an eye out for. Clean that shelf above the clothing, wipe down & dust the closet, declutter everything else you store in your closet. Go through your shoes, belts, accessories, etc.  Everything else turn around  the hanger of. When you wear it, turn the hangers back around. Anything still backwards after a year, donate. 40-100 minutes.

In the kids’ room, see what you have of the next size and if they need to switch over to the next biggest size do it now. If they have some time, note what they have and what you need to keep a look out for on sale or at garage sales or online.  25-50 minutes

Declutter anything hiding under the bed.  Flip the mattress, change the sheets, wash the pillows and throw them in the dryer with a tennis ball or if they are flat, get new ones. 10-30 minutes.

Vacuum the rest of carpet and steam clean or schedule steam cleaning for it. 10-30 minutes.

Day 8-Formal living room

Day 8: Formal living room or living room without kids’ stuff (see playroom clean out for kid’s stuff)

Take down any cobwebs-use a Webster or a broom with a rag on the end. Wash down walls-wipe outlets & light switches and baseboards. 10 minutes

Clean the blinds, wash curtains, wash windows, clean out window tracks and sills 10-30 minutes.

Dust & wipe down furniture (pull out and dust shelves and books of bookshelves) and fireplace and mantle (clean out fireplace if necessary or schedule someone to come do it for you). If you can steam or spot clean upholstery or schedule to have it cleaned with carpets. Declutter as you go. 30-60 minutes

Vacuum the carpet and steam clean or schedule steam cleaning for it. 10-30 minutes.

Day 7-Laundry & Entry

Day 7: Laundry room and entry way

First, get your duster ready.  Laundry rooms can be notoriously dusty. Start at the top by running a duster over the fan or if it’s easy to take down wash it.  Dust/wash the light fixtures, dust/wash shelving and declutter the shelf stuff, I got rid of about ½ a bin of stuff! 10-15 minutes.

Then wipe down your machines and the floor in front of them.  Pull the machines out and wash the walls behind as well as the floor and sides of machines.  Put away any treasures you find (you know there’s SOMETHING you’ve been missing back there!) Pull out the dryer vent and vacuum it out.  This is a great way to prevent your house from catching on fire!  Reattach and replug in appliances if necessary.  10-15 minutes.

If you have a window in your laundry room clean the blinds, window, sill, window track etc. as we have been doing. Wash any curtains.  5-15 minutes.

Wash down any cabinetry, wash out any waste bins or laundry bins.  Check your supplies of stain remover, soap, etc. Sweep and washdown the floor, take out the trash.  10 minutes.

Move on to the entry way.  Wash down any walls, pull down any cob webs, wash any light fixtures (we have a very tall entry way, so this requires a ladder).  While you are up there replace any bulbs that need replacing.  Evaluate any artwork or décor. Dust any furniture and declutter any drawers or drop off bins. 10-25 minutes

The front closet or coat hanger.  Go through your coats, be merciless. Make sure each member has a raincoat and winter coat and anything else is up for decluttering.  This time of year you’ll also go through gloves, snow pants, etc. etc.  So declutter the closet, then wipe it down, including the floor and figure out what needs to go back in and the best way to do that.  My favorite way to organize the front closet is coats by family member (smallest on left, largest on right) and an over the door organizer. I shove hats mittens,  gloves, etc in one for winter. In the summer it changes to sunglasses, sunscreen, sunhats, etc.  I also have a bin for things that don’t fit in the closet organizer like snowpants and for umbrellas. Our boots and shoes are kept in a basket by the door (we have a VERY tiny front closet) Go through shoes and boots making sure they are size and season appropriate.  If you have room consider having a drop off spot for keys, cell and wallet so you always know where they are and/or a box for stuff that needs to leave your house-library books, that thing you borrowed from your neighbor, etc. 15 minutes -2 hours

Wash down the floors, door and any windows (don’t forget the blinds) and it’s beautiful and welcoming. 15 minutes-45 minutes.

Day 6 of spring cleaning-Bathrooms

Day 6: Bathrooms

Do this for all ¾ and full bathrooms you have, I’ll do the ½ bath & laundry room tomorrow.

Start by throwing some toilet cleaner in the toilet and letting it go. If you use a product like Scrubbing Bubbles spray down the tub.  Start up high, wash the walls-especially the often neglected little edge of the top of the shower, it’s usually pretty dusty up there. Dust/ wash the light fixtures, wash or dust the overhead fan. 8 minutes

Take down the shower curtain, throw away the nasty liner and replace it (they are as cheap as $2 each at the store) and send your outside curtain through a wash cycle.  If your liner looks pretty good (the one in the bathroom the kids only take baths in did) you can put it with the shower curtains in a gentle cycle. Anything more than that and it will be ripped to shreds especially if you have a top loading washing machine.  5 minutes

Scrub the tub, Magic Eraser is amazing on soap scum but can take some elbow grease. I only used vinegar and an eraser on my tub, I pretty much destroyed the eraser, but the tub looks amazing!  Take out all beauty products and wash them down to take off soap, etc. and wash down any product holders.  I have a tension rod for the corner and one shelf had some light rust, the eraser got rid of it. For serious rust, take it outside, spray paint it with something that covers metal like Rustoleum and you can get another few months out of it before you need to replace it. If you have little ones, go through the bathtoys. Anything that’s gross or they’re too old for, get rid of, sanitize the rest in a diluted bleach solution. Replace any batteries in any toys that take them.  10-20 minutes.

Tackle that toilet.  You may need to take the toilet seat completely off the bolts to really get in there, lots of the scent is due to urine hiding in spots like the seat bolts-esp if you have boys in your house. Wash it all down, maybe even see if there’s some easy clean up in the tank.  I’m in love with those bleach tablets you drop in the tank. I have heard that they are hard on the plumbing inside your tank but I love how they extend that clean toilet look.  If you have some harder staining, you may need a pumice stick to scrub them out of the toilet.  Use a toothbrush especially around the base where it meets the floor and the bolts that keep the toilet attached to the floor.  10 minutes

Now that the yuckiest parts are done, let’s wash down the mirror and the countertops, as you wash down the countertops (use a toothbrush around the fixtures and edge of the sink) declutter what is on the counter.  A clean counter is a peaceful counter so only keep things you use every day that would spill if they were in a drawer and some soap if possible. 10 minutes

Wash the outside of the cabinet or the pedestal of your sink.  Take everything out of the medicine cabinet and under the sink.  Scrub it out and declutter-get rid of expired meds (which probably shouldn’t be stored in the bathroom anyways-it’s too hot and humid in there), go through your nail polish (I tried on a few colors that were similar and only kept my favorites, your makeup (threw out old eye makeup and gave myself permission to pick up some new at the store!) etc. etc.  Any product you tried and hate get rid of.  If you have trial sizes either keep them together for travel, plan to use them at home or give them to a homeless shelter, they are a pain to store.  Make sure there’s extra TP in the bathroom and note any supplies you have an abundance of or lack of and keep them in mind for your next shopping trip. Put everything back under, neatly.15-30 minutes

If you have a window, wash any curtain, wash the blinds (see kitchen for how to do this) wash the window and the window track, wash your towel rack down and the toilet paper holder down, wash down the door inside and out and any full-length mirror that may be on it. Put any laundry in the hamper if you have a scale, wipe it down. Soak & wash the wastebasket, replace the liner. 5-15 minutes

Hang fresh towels then scrub the floor using regular cleaner working from away from the door towards the door. Do it by hand and also catch the outside of the tub if you only washed the inside of the tub and shower earlier.  Plan to take a bath to relax and admire your clean bathroom this evening. 5 minutes.