Comedy of Errors

Have you ever had one of those events where you perfect a plan, only to have circumstances intervene and say "hey, not so fast!"? Today was a perfect day for boating. The kids were at my parents so we could get a chance to catch our breath. There were a few clouds, but nothing ominous. So, we packed a cooler, donned our swimsuits and headed down to the marina. When we got there, we were expecting it to be clean since we paid someone to detail it this week. For some unknown reason, this individual who will remain nameless only rinsed off the outside of the boat leaving the cockpit quite filthy. So, we rolled up our sleeves and got to work. A few hundred spiderwebs and wasp nests later, we headed out. Our first stop was to fill up the gas tank. While sitting in the heat waiting for service, a marine policeman pulls up and says "Let's see your registration". Hmmm....now logically we would have put that on the boat months ago, but logic can be overrated, right? So, a citation later, we head out again, undeterred by these events. Well, we didn't get very far. Five minutes into our trip, the motor starts behaving very strangely. It's about this time we decide boating wasn't in the cards for us today. Disappointed but not ready to give up, we dock and decide to go home and swim. After spending a few hours in the Alabama heat for a boat trip that didn't happen, cooling off in the pool sounded beautiful. However, nature had other ideas, since a steady rain began falling when we turned onto our street. My husband and I looked at each other quietly for a few moments. "Okay" I said. "Do you think a nap would be a realistic possibility or am I just expecting too much from life?" After laughing for a few minutes, we did just that, and it felt soooooooooo good. And guess what? We awoke just in time to swim the evening away with Hallie and Ethan. Even though things didn't work out like we'd planned, I still had all day with my sweet husband and that in itself is good enough for me. Its hard to have a bad day when you are as blessed as we are. I suppose today was just a testament to that!

"Because It's Bro-o-ken..."

You know, its funny. When I bought the "Mr. Incredible" sandals for my 2 and a half year old son, my first thought was "Oh my gosh! They actually have his size! He's going to love these!". I had already been through the Disney store 4 or 5 times in an attempt to find something that A)Didn't have a princess on it, B)Wasn't made for an infant or a preteen, and C)Was actually included in the semi-annual sale. After deciding against a Buzz Lightyear telescoping sword and Incredibles' roller skates because they seemed like a sure trip to the ER, I bought the shoes. What did I actually get? Well, um...a trip to the ER.

It began innocent enough. I broke (pun actually is intended) out the shoes Monday afternoon as a reward for picking up his toys without being told for several days in a row. As he stomped around excitedly in the velcro-laden contraptions, I didn't have a worry in the world. I felt only a warm, motherly sense of accomplishment...I was protecting my child's feet from the elements and making him happy at the same time. A few hours and one tumble later while looking at my son's swollen ankle, it felt more like a cold sense of motherly failure. Hmmm, that sword with the cool telescoping action is looking pretty good right now. At least a Grade 1 concussion only lasts about 15 minutes.

Well, the 4 hour trip to the Emergency Room consisted of X-rays and a splint. The last 4 days have consisted of a frustrated toddler who wants to run and jump and a frustrated mom who also wants to run (away) and jump (off a bridge). Okay, the last part was a joke, but seriously, my left arm is about to fall off due to lugging my 30 pound child in it while I care for a 4 and 5 year old with the other. Well, it has gotten my creative juices flowing and I have said all this to announce that my next book will be entitled "101 Ways to Make Your Toddler Stay Seated and Happy" with chapters like "How to Integrate Pieces From 3 Different Puzzles to Make Your Self-Portrait" and "Snacks: How to Make Them Last for Hours". We will be selling them in all Pediatric Radiology Departments :)

Ethan is doing great and believe it or not, so am I! Hallie and Marshall have been so sweet and helpful. I love these kids!