TODAY

Sometimes there are days when I feel like I am stuck in a funny movie. The only bad part about a funny movie is that there has to be the character that gets laughed at. Today was one of those days and I found myself that character.  While there is not much I can offer today that is full of meaning, I thought I'd at least share a glimpse into the life of a homemaker.  You know, us mom's who the world likes portray as sitting in our jammies watching soaps and eating bon bons. Well here is how my day went.  My kiddos went to bed with what seemed a bad allergy cough as we had walked a lot outside and pollen is everywhere right now. Alas, the cough didn't disappear and Sean and Kayleigh woke up to their coughs and of course they both have a fever and Sean needs a breathing treatment right away. It's raining today so I declare it jammy day. (So maybe I fit into that "label" today).  Anyhoo, Kayleigh is coughing as well and I discover can't catch her breath either so she gets an inhaler. We have breakfast and then the kids watch a movie so I can get housework done and continue getting us out of boxes and organized. Well the movie keeps there attention for a mere few minutes and they of course decide to run around. That would be ok except for today. Because today running sends my kids into coughing fits. So I quickly finish folding blankets out of one laundry basket (yes there are more calling my name).  I read a few books to them to get them settled down and give Sean another treatment. I bribe them to take the menthol cough drops which ends up being a battle I choose to surrender as my daughter insists on taking it out of her mouth and gets the sticky slimy thing all over her, my couch, and me. Oh well, it's jammy day, good thing I didn't get dressed up.  After updating accounts and changing our address on a couple things while the kids snack on goldfish and orange juice, I quickly fold some more clothes. I get a quarter of the basket done when Hugh decides he's done and shows me by splashing his orange juice around and Kayleigh knocks her full cup of orange juice on the table. So after cleaning the floor, the table, the chair Hugh was in, it was lunch time. After lunch round #2 of cleaning the floor, the table and chair and 3 kids, we go in their room for quiet play time. Nap time finally arrives. Yeah! My husband calls me to check in and instructs me to rest. (I love my husband) So upon his suggestion I take a break. I watch a quick show and then excitedly settle in for a nap. (The kids by the way decide to stay awake but this is my sanity time so they talk and cough till I open that door.) 10 minutes later I hear the door ring twice and a knock. I get up thinking it's Gino and answer the door (again in my jammies and my bedhead) and find the two handymen coming to count the doors so we can get the door stoppers put in and to measure our bathroom walls so they can look into getting us extra storage.  All the while I am trying to naturally zip up my sweatshirt, sneak back into my room while they measure to put on socks and nonchalantly try to smooth down my hair. They leave, I hop back into bed to hear a door knock 10 minutes later. I open the door to this wonderful woman and in my mind horror sets in as I realize I had booked an appointment for Gino and I to get health insurance today. So I welcome her in just as Gino pulls up and we start talking about health insurance. I talked seriously over high deductibles and co-pays and explained my background in insurance all the while dying inside that I didn't put some freakin jeans on today. To top it off our kids got tired of being in their room (surprise surprise) so I had to be nice and let them out. I put on Nemo and had them hop in my bedroom as a treat. BAD IDEA!  Hugh screamed for freedom from his high chair. The kids jumped on our bed and went through drawers and off course fought and then laughed and then screamed throughout the whole time we were deciding what co-pays and plans looked good. And then once we chose my husband had to work, so as I signed paperwork, Gino left and my kiddos ran around me and the super nice insurance lady. (The insurance lady was sweet and patient and worked as fast as she could - I would have if I was her too but mine would have been to escape).  To top that off Sean and Kayleigh decided they needed me and clung closely. All the while coughing their little heads off. Then, Sean went into a coughing fit as the insurance lady was explaining the payments and as I was holding him, yup, he threw up all over me. So I quickly pulled my sweatshirt off. (Thank God I had a t-shirt on) and as I'm trying to calm Sean down and listen to this wonderful lady at the same time, my son continues to gag on and throw up all over my kitchen floor that Gino had just mopped the night before. All the way down. He sort of just made a huge long line, like he was trying to decorate for me. He then so sweetly pulled 1/2 a sheet of paper towel to try to clean it and almost stepped in it all the while. I quickly grabbed a towel from the hall closet while this lady is still talking as we are almost done and she has to legally do her do diligence. I make it back into the kitchen before Hugh decides to step in it. Kayleigh wants up and so does Hugh, and if you know my kids they aren't quiet when they want something. I get everything cleaned, send Sean to the bathroom to finish and the sweet woman hands me papers and says goodbye. So we are now signed up for health insurance, throw up, coughs, bedhead, jammies, and all. And I am now sitting here enjoying the Venti Carmel Machiato my husband so sweetly picked up for me, before he know about the end of my day. So if anything spiritual can be said....today I will count my blessings. Thank God for laughter because as soon as Sean threw up on me, I just wanted to burst out laughing. Don't get me wrong I wanted to cry to, but my urge to laugh drove that away. Thank God for my husband who somehow knew that his wife needed a HUGE cup of coffee at the end of this day. Thank God for God - who knew that He needed to show me I could buy insurance with jammies, bed head, and throw up, and sick kids all at once.  Good night and I hope this makes you smile. Because I know it made me. And yes, I'm still in those same darn jammies.