Friday, September 12, 2008

Please Help!

So it has been a few weeks since the girls have started back to school. Annie is in 2nd grade and Macee is in Kindergarten. I thought things would slow down a bit since Carter would be the only one I have home. Boy I was mistaken. Since school has started Macee and Carter have both had the flu. Soccer has started for both Annie and Macee with practices and games 3-4 times per week. Not only do I hardly get anything accomplished during the day with my sweet little Carter glued to my leg every second wanting me to entertain him. But it seems that he feels the need to throw a huge tantrum when I won't give him what he wants. This morning he came and climbed in bed with me about 6:20. Macee wasn't in too long after that and once she saw Carter was already in bed with me World War 3 begun. She was upset because she wanted Carter out of the bed and that she was the only one who could get in my bed in the morning. So between the hitting, kicking, trying to keep her off of Carter, and her yelling at me to take him back to his own bed I kept thinking to myself, "Where did I go wrong?" Oh, by the way she still comes upstairs in the middle of the night and wants to sleep on our floor. So we have again compromised with letting her sleep on the couch. BIG MISTAKE on our part. I seriously don't know what to do with her sleeping habits and tantrums. So I get her settled down and we proceed to start to get ready for school. (Oh, another thing, full time Kindergarten is hard on little kids. She told me after the first week that school is not the place for her and that she doesn't belong there. So with a little chat that everyone has to go to school and trying to ask her questions to see if something had happened that day at school, we agreed that she could bring her favorite blanket with her in her backpack in a pocket where no one would see it. That has seemed to help a little bit.) So anyways I get them off to school and I pick up after the hurricane of the morning and then I jump in the shower. While I was in there Carter had gotten into my vitamins and gotten the lid off of them and got a good taste of them. He came in and told me he threw up and I am thinking "oh crap" because he had the flu on Monday. So I get out, clean him up and ask him where he threw up. He leads me to the open bottle of vitamins with a few chewed up on the chair. So long story short after a call to poison control they said he should be ok. This has been the story of my life the last few weeks and something needs to change or I am going to go crazy!
So the last few days I have done a lot of praying for patience and wondering where did I go wrong? Baby #4 comes in 3 months and I can't seem to keep control of my two youngest ones! We have to figure out what to do with Macee's sleeping habits and tantrums. I also need to figure out how to make Carter happy during the day. We have tried to have play dates, going to the park, walks, and just staying out of the house because he likes to be on the go. This afternoon he actually came downstairs to play and I am thinking, "Oh good, I can get dinner going." Well this is what he was up too....





So this is what he had to do...



Does anyone have any suggestions or ideas for me? I know that this phase shall pass and I keep trying to tell myself they are only young once and to choose my battles.

On a happier note Annie is doing great in school and I really like both of the girls teachers. Annie is a great big sister and does her best to help me out. I love all of my kids very much and I do feel very blessed to be able to stay home with them. Some days are just better than others. I am learning and trying to figure out what works for each of them because they are all so different. Anyways, tonight I decided that we needed to have a good family night so we made homemade pizzas and mini carmel apples for dinner. Now we are watching a movie with the kids and will soon get them to bed and then Nels and I can watch our movie and RELAX!


11 comments:

betsey said...

Hi Drea! I've been thinking about you because it has been a while since you posted. I wondered if the kids schedules had gotten crazy with school. I'm sorry to hear that the two little ones are having some troubles! I have no advice, only admiration for what you accomplish each day! I have one, and sometimes I can't believe how much time she takes up!

My only recommendation is to look at all the things that you do accomplish each day, rather than the things that you aren't able to do! Try to stay positive throughout all of this! Baby 4 is a great blessing and will surely change the dynamic of your family, but he may also be just what the two younger kids need to end those nighttime fears for Macee and curb that boredom for Carter! Keep up the great work Super Mom Drea!!!!!

KyleandAmanda said...

You can send Macee out to us for a while! We can spoil her and then send her back! Maybe it is a good thing that Carter and Kasen don't live close they would be BIG trouble together! I wish that I lived closer so that I could help you out more! You are an awesome mother and I hope I can be as on top of things as you are with 3 kids! You just make it look easy! I love you! You are the best!

Amy said...

Wish I was there to give you a break. I bet Ashlyn and Carter would love to play together. When did they start all day kindgergarten? Hope things calm down for you and if it makes you feel any better I always thought your girls were so well behaved and wondered how you did it.

Ashley Wray said...

Oh man, Andrea I'm totally feeling your pain, only I have one less to worry about! All I can say is pray pray pray! Seriously, today was one of those days where all 3 of us were crying and I really thought, "I can't do this!" With Rylee I've just been trying to spend more one on one time with her, and then she seems happy enough to do something on her own while I get somethings done around the house.
As far as the sleep thing, good luck! I would say your doing a good job and hopefully Macee will get out of this phase soon! Anyways, love your pictures, hang in there and let us know what works!

Julie Pitcher said...

Maybe my youngest Eli and Carter were like duplicate spirits...because that is SO SO something that Eli would have done...and the fighting over snuggling with mom is a daily occurance at our house. Mostly my fault, since I used to just ask the big kids to scoot over for Eli thinking it would be a phase...but its long lived! How is that for encouranging!!! I understand now why the youngest gets away with murder...cause you're too dang tired to intervene. I laughed the whole time I read your post(sorry) because it sounded like something out of my life! Have a good one!!!

AmandaS said...

This too shall pass, this too shall pass . . .!!!

est. 1996 said...

Oh what fun it is! Carter and Kennedy are getting more a like. Kennedy did the pill thing to, but ours wasn't Vit. I don't know how she opened the bottles. Nothing like induce vomiting. I have found the writing on the walls, Mr. Clean erasers work very well. We don't keep sharpies in the house any more. The toys scattered throughout the house I just try to hold my breath.
My friend gave me some help one day. She said "Fingerprints on the wall, messy rooms, scribbles in the hallway and doors are very minor. Just think it's better to have the mess then no child at all. I try to keep that in my mind at all times.
I do call Kennedy "The Little Tornato.
Good luck and best wishes.

Romney Family said...

I would have lost it if Owen would have done that so you are already being a better mother than I would have been. Believe me he gets into things more than Alyssa but he has never drawn on the walls. Way to pick your battles and I hope that he grows out of the phase soon. Those pizzas and apples look so good!!!

krista said...

You are such a great mom! We all have "those days" I would love to give advice but I feel like I'm in the same boat with ya:) love ya!
ps I'm commin over for pizza night, yum!

Rich & Jackie said...

I WANT ONE OF THOSE APPLES!!!!! BAAADDDD!!!!!

Caleb and Jen said...

You are going to figure it out! I think if life were easy we would be doing something wrong.....craziness keeps us alive!(i just say that it helps) I didn't know you were having another baby! congrats.....4 kiddos You go girl!