Kids were in bed last night at 7:30. Talked until 10 PM (but stayed mostly in bed). Little Man up at 5. Listened to Little Man cry on-again, off-again for nearly an hour (while guarding the door, as much to keep him in as to keep other concerned family members out). Thankfully, it didn’t disturb Bean until it had been going on for 45 minutes. An hour after it started, said night-light went off, crying immediately stopped (amazing how he can go from 900 decibal crying to silence in the blink of an eye), Little Man said “Light off!”, jumped off his bed and said “mergi jos?” (Romanian for “go downstairs?”) with a great big smile on his face. Just one more piece of evidence that the crying was not true ‘trauma’, only manipulation. Real tears don’t turn off that easily, replaced by a smile big enough to startle a clown.
Kids went downstairs and watched PBS Kids, I made dinner in the crockpot. Then I made breakfast for kids. And lunches. While munching on oranges, because that’s all I had time for. And cleaned the kitchen, broke up fights, and managed to get today’s paperwork ready for work. Little Man refuses to eat. He refuses to do just about anything. And what would you expect from a thoroughly sleep-deprived 2-year-old? Finally, after being awake for 2.75 hours, I had time to make coffee. Have just now sat down for the first time this morning. Am so tired I don’t know how I’ll be able to take a shower, much less make the 20 gagillion appointments I have today. Did I mention I have 20 gagillion appointments today? Starting at 9AM, without even a break for lunch, going strong until 4PM, at which point I will rush home to collapse, hopefully to be undisturbed until next week. (Dream on, right?)
As for the musical beds, yesterday was much more productive, except for the fact that the timer on the night-light didn’t work. Kids went to bed that night easily. Little Man slept until 5:45, and stayed in bed (with me next to him) until 6:30, at which point I unplugged the night-light. Hopefully now that he’s seen this morning that the night-light does indeed go off, and that mama isn’t the softy he expects me to be, he’ll stay in bed tomorrow and wait for the light to go off (it’s been set back to 6AM for now – when he gets used to it we’ll gradually increase it until we make it to 7). But for now, I’m exhausted, and thinking that a bath might be a better idea than a shower, for the simple fact that I don’t have to stand up and might conserve a teensy weensy bit of energy so that I can indeed make it through the day, aided by my coffee, antibiotics, iron pills, and prenatal vitamins.
Have I mentioned that it’s entirely unfair to be pregnant in the third trimester chasing a 2-yr old and 3-yr old, have anemia, and a respiratory infection all at once? The upside is that the kids laugh at my funny voice…
Marianne said,
January 30, 2008 @ 9:58 am
Hi, I have started reading your blog–think I found it through EverydayMommy.
I have a suggestion–REDUCE. I worked and worked right up until my son was born, and afterwards suffered the consequences of having to tie up all kinds of loose ends for several months. I should have started “maternity leave” a month or three BEFORE he was born. Just do it. If at all possible, REDUCE. You aren’t going to be able to keep up this schedule with a newborn. And people are generally really understanding about babies!
Best wishes!
ajjones510 said,
January 30, 2008 @ 10:12 pm
You need dessert!!!!!!!
LOL
Jenn, the one that left you said,
January 30, 2008 @ 11:22 pm
And when do you have time to blog? You are amazing, I really get tired just reading your letters. when is your exact due date? March?? Because I am driving to see you March 16th. Surprise!!!!!!!
jenefur said,
January 31, 2008 @ 7:26 am
I feel for you! Get better.