Day In the Life

Yesterday was the first day that Josh was home, having been laid off Thursday. Yep, you heard me. Josh lost his job. On the one hand, we have been half expecting it for years- his company has had 2+ major lay-offs every year that he has worked there. On the other hand...well on the other hand it always sucks when your number is called. It's not exactly like Spokane is a tech-job meca, and in case you've been able to forget we are in a recession for...for as long as Josh and I have been part of the work force actually. In other words, there is a very real chance that this will force us to uproot our family- to short sale the home that I dearly love, and leave the city where I have built my life for almost seven years. Our friends, my mom's group, the non-profit I've helped birth, our church and the youth group we run...even the little things like our pediatrician and the park we always go to and the farm that we pick fruit in during the Spring sting a little bit.

Yes I've done it before- 6 and a half years ago when I came here.

But honestly the familiarity with the process just makes it harder. I know that it takes years to truly build a life, and how hard it is while you live without a support system in the meantime. I dont want to start over.

Our search is limited to this area for now but neither one of us are sure how long we can keep that luxury.

Anyways, life must go on and I had long planned to do a Day In The Life post.

And so I shall.

Mal and I woke up at 8:30, to find Josh and Zeke already downstairs and skimming the online job market.

Josh fed the boys breakfast, and I harvested some peas from the garden and took a shower (yay for fixed water heaters!).

After my shower it was time for the kids to take a bath.

They love to wash each other's hair- like teenage girls in a teenage boys' fantasy. When they were dried off and dressed they went outside to play.

And Josh trimmed the epic beard he has been working on for the past little bit to something that looks a little less homeless and a little more "hire me".

Around 10 I took the boys to their well-child check-ups, and Josh went back downstairs to continue the job search. Only Malachi ended up getting any shots, and he took it like a champ as usual. After my last post I had 2 foster moms I know tell me that they partially immunize/don't immunize their kids and never had any problems. I looked up the actual law (vs blindly listening to a social worker that obviously meant best but also obviously cant know everything) and found I can opt out my bio kids as long as I immunize my foster kids. So back to the old schedule we happily go.

It was some well-child visit, however. Zeke left with a pink eye prescription and Mal with a antibiotic prescription for his flaming double ear infection!? I knew he had a small cold earlier in the week but honestly he wasn't acting like he was in pain at all. I'm glad it came to light, though, because our insurance only lasts thru the end of the month.

Mal fell asleep on the drive home, there goes nap. And then they had chicken nuggets and apple slices for lunch.

After eating Mal went back outside to play ring toss.

And Zeke went into the toy room to play with his trains.

I did my prayer time, since I knew I wouldn't have time with both boys napping at once.

After I was done I filled their kiddie pool to warm up for the afternoon, and put Zeke down for a nap. I finally got hungry so I made taquitos for Malachi and I to share while we watched the first act of Les Miserable (the 1oth anniversary DVD). I decided that as loyal to this version as I feel, the 25th anniversary that came out this year is a lot better.

I woke up Zeke at 3 and he was very. Very. Very cranky.

We all four of us went to the store.

When we got home Zeke was still very very very cranky-though somewhat mollified by the jamba juice Josh bought him. We put the groceries away and went for a swim.

Soon it was time to start dinner, so Zeke got to watch Cinderella.

Malachi started to watch with him, but ended up falling asleep. I accepted the fact that I would be up until midnight.

Our friend Becca arrived, bearing gifts in the form of Josh's phone charger. He had left it at work the day before. They talked lay-off.

Soon after that our friend Jonathan arrived for dinner. They also talked lay-off.

Dinner finished cooking and Becca excused herself to go home.

We talked more lay-off but I was heartened. We talked about the dozens of people that have come up and offered to look for jobs for Josh, the handful that already had and demanded his resume for their boss. He is very well liked and respected in his business. We talked about the bright side of the situation, that we all know he would never quit his former job, and maybe this is opening him up for bigger and better things.

Jonathan brought gifts for the boys.

And very soon it was time for Zeke to go to bed...and for the rest of us to watch Harry Potter 7a in preparation for the second movie which we are all going to tomorrow (well except Malachi, he's not invited to HP7b...but then again he also fell asleep in the middle of 7a so he's not fully prepared anyways).

A Day in The Life - 1/4/11

I did two Day in the Life posts last year. One in March, and one in July. I had planned on doing 4, spread out thru the year, and obviously for various reasons that didn't work out. Most of those reasons were me forgetting all about it, but a few were me not feeling like it. Every 3 months seems often for such a boring, and yet time consuming to write, post. I plan on doing 2 this year. One in January (aka yesterday) and one in July. That way I still get the benefit of looking back on an "every day"day, and even one in different seasons, but there is actually enough time lapsed to make a difference in our lives.

This particular day ended up being an extremely boring one. But then again, that is pretty normal for us in the middle of winter when I dont much want to leave the house because it looks like this outside:
Anyways.

PART 1: A SLOW MORNING WITH NO WHERE TO BE

7:30 Zeke wakes up in his own bed. Since he went to bed last night, stayed in bed all night, and then woke up this morning, all without a tantrum, he gets to watch TV. (We have resorted to bribing our toddler with TV for every 12 hours he goes without tantrums. If he lasts the entire day he gets TV right before bed, if he lasts all night he gets it right when he wakes up. TV is really the only reward he cares about and sadly this hasn't really added up to that much TV.)

So Zeke picked out his outfit for the day, brushed his teeth, and requested Dinosaur Train. I made tea, checked my email, and start to read "Water for Elephants" while he watched his show.
After a little while Mal woke up too so I threw some pants over his onesie ( Now that its cold my "three outfits and then you are naked" rule might count as cruelty. So the new rule is Mal's clothes dont get taken off until they are destroyed. I still go thru 2-3 outfits a day.)

8:30 We "paused" Dinosaur Train and all went to go make breakfast. (Yet another *explanation* We never turn off a show around here. Instead we wait until riiight before the credits and "pause" it for "later". It doesn't matter to Zeke if "later" is days and days, and a toddler crisis is averted.)

Zeke and Mal both had Rice Chex while I did last night's dishes. Zeke ate 4 bowls worth. For some reason I thought I could have something different then them and made myself an onion bagel. After the boys saw it this is all that was left:
I made another.

9:30 I deposited the boys in the toy/school room, helped Zeke build a train track:
convinced Malachi the sound matching eggs were better then irritating his brother by destroying his train tracks:
and then gathered up all the bedding in the house for cleaning.

The boys had lasted that long nicely, even switching places with the trains, so I decided to risk a shower before starting the washer.
I only had to yell from the shower 3 times. Twice when Zeke locked Mal out of the room, once when Mal was "chasing" Zeke.

By the time I was clean, teeth and hair brushed, and dressed for the day, Malachi was standing at my legs desperate for attention and the sound of frantic barking and hysterical laughing told me that Zeke was playing with the dog.

So we cuddled up to read a few books. Mal especially enjoys the lift-the-flap ones.
Zeke gets jealous and says he's sick.
He has the tissues to prove it and blows his nose several times.
I offer to read "Thomas and the Naughty Diesel", Zeke's newest favorite book, and he agrees while arguing that "Diesel isn't naughty, he's a good engine!" Josh and I suspect that Zeke really identifies with Diesel.

Claudia is all riled up from Zeke's playing earlier so the boys and I throw the ball for her a while, we've been trying to get her to master the "give" lately. Mal especially loves to throw the ball.

PART 2 LUNCH AND SOME SCATTERED NAPS

11:00 Malachi gets hungry so I sit in the rocking chair to nurse him and suggest to Zeke that he play tug-a-war with the dog. The boys have a hard time playing catch with her without me, since Claudia wont forfeit the ball for them. But, being evenly matched in strength, tug-a-war is a perfect game.
Mal is acting sleepy so I take him upstairs and put him down for a nap. Zeke and I do some preschool. We sing, count, read a few books about snow, and play with some new play dough he got for Christmas.
Then he does art with some stickers at the kitchen table where he can see and talk to me while I do my daily chores (feeding the animals, sweeping, ect) and put some potatoes in the oven for lunch.
When he's done he asks if we can play Rock Band. I'm fine with that.
12:30 Malachi wakes up right in time for lunch. We "pause" Rock Band and doctor up our potatoes with sour cream and chives.
1:00 Zeke is delaying finishing his meal so that he doesn't have to take a nap. We argue about naptime, while I get out his special nighttime cup and put the (now clean) sheets on his bed. He asks for 400 different toys he needs to sleep with, and I finally threaten no TV if I have to come in the room again.

Mal plays in the living room while I spend a while online, writing this, reading blogs, checking my email, and asking for advice about nap time struggles on Facebook.
2:00 Mal is getting cranky so we spend a while playing together with stacking cups (he likes to put the little ones inside the big ones, and then take them back out). He's still cranky so nurse him and put him down for a nap on the couch (Zeke is STILL awake in their room- though quiet)
I light some candles and have some prayer and meditation time. Then I get Water For Elephants back out....its really good. I steal Claudia away from Mal to cuddle with.

4:00 Both boys wake up- almost simultaneously. They get diaper changes and then play with cars in their bedroom while I do all my Tuesday specific chores- puting all the clean sheets on beds, cleaning the litter box, cleaning up both bedrooms, and vacuuming upstairs.

PART 3 THE EVENING

Before I'm quite finished, or its quite 5 o clock, Zeke yells "Daddy!"

Yep, that was the door.

Malachi, who is usually thrilled to see daddy at the end of the day, wants nothing to do with him. Its true he hasn't had much mommy time. So Josh ends up making dinner according to my verbal directions while I stand in the kitchen holding Mal. It's Tuscan Soup.
While it simmers we all move into the livingroom where Zeke throws himself dramatically on the couch and says he's had a "very hard day." I ask him what would make his day better and he answers, peeking thru fingers, "cookies." Since I had been thinking that very same thing I agree and we head to the kitchen.
We make snicker doodle dough and then it in the fridge to cool. Malachi is now perfectly happy to sit in the livingroom with daddy. They throw the ball for the dog.

I put the last touches on dinner and Zeke sets the table.

We all eat. Malachi tries to jump out of his highchair several times.
After dinner Josh takes Mal to the bathtub and Zeke and I roll the cookies in sugar and cinnamon. Zeke then joins his brother in the bathtub
and I man the oven, clear the table, and look up the difference between different varietals of wine on the internet. Josh and I are talking down the hall to each other about wine, and trying to figure out which ones I'd like (So far I havent likeed Merlot (too bitter) or Chardonnay (too sour), but I DID like the Syrah my mom gave him for Christmas). Josh loves all wines so this discovery was exciting for him.

We pajama the boys, eat a few cookies each, and Josh and Malachi transfer our phone numbers to our new phones (we both got upgrades delivered in the last few days).
Zeke plays with his trains, I can hear him acting out Thomas and the Naughty Diesel. I sneak over to a corner to read more of my book.

9:00 Bedtime. Josh takes Zeke and I take Mal but I fail utterly and when he comes downstairs Mal is still up. So then Josh takes Mal as well, and I go back to my book, feeling just a bit guilty but not enough to stop reading.

It only takes him a few minutes to put Mal down (Josh has a magic touch) and we play a couple rounds of Blokus To Go (We aren't exactly "to go" but this version is 2 person, while normal Blokus requires 4). We each win once. Both games are very close.
10:00 Josh isn't feeling particularly well so we go to bed early.

A Day In The Life- 7/29/2010

Part 1: A Scattered Wake-up

5:30 Josh and Mal get up for the day. (And I say it every morning: Thank God for Josh)

6:00 Zeke gets up and asks me 1st if daddy is staying home and 2nd if he can watch cartoons. Having received two "no's", he curls up on Josh's pillow and goes back to sleep.

6:30 Josh brings me Mal (asleep! woop woop!) and goes to work. Mony Mony starts meowing incessantly but I ignore her, and then throw a pillow at her.

7:30 Malachi wakes up again and we get dressed and head downstairs. I put him in his highchair with toys so I can do a few chores.
By the time I have the hysterical cat fed, water on the burner to boil for tea, and a load of laundry started he is getting cranky with highchair time.
We move to the livingroom floor to fold towels. Mal likes to crawl towards the folded towels but he's still slow enough that I only have to pull him back twice. By the time I'm finished he's cranky with floor time as well so I try playing, nursing, rocking, and playing again to no avail.

8:30 Malachi is still fussing and now I'm cranky too. It's already to hot in the house to drink tea.

9:00 Mal is asleep on the couch.
And I'm trying to restart my day. If you put ice in tea it becomes iced tea. I pray for patience and a good attitude. I start the AC and begin to clean up the kitchen a bit (Thursday is kitchen day). I make breakfast.

9:30 Breakfast is finished and I'm beginning to worry about Zeke. I go up to check on him and am greeted by a "Hi Momma! I woked up!" It was cheerful, despite this cranky picture.
I dress him and we go down to eat breakfast together. Homemade apple juice (thanks Kaitie!) and scrambled eggs with ham and cheese. Malachi wakes up for a 3rd time and has a little bit of mashed banana.
Part 2: The Afternoon

10:00 We clean up breakfast, pack a bag, and head to mindful mamas. Zeke doesn't want to go and runs away, but "super Zeke" is willing so Zeke puts on a fuchsia cape and then his shoes.
Our speaker is Shelly Northern, a local midwife and she leads us in a discussion about birthing options in Spokane, the balance between respecting a woman's choices and protecting yourself in todays litigation society, and so much more. I love talking about birth. Mal nurses while we are there, and also tries to escape to the toy room a few times, but mostly he plays with toys next to me or sits in my lap. I take notes for the website. Zeke wanders back and forth from the toy room.
12:00 It's time to come home but Zeke doesn't want to. Neither does Super Zeke. He also doesn't want to wear his shoes, doesn't want a snack in the car, isn't thirsty for water in the car, doesn't want to count trucks on the drive home, isn't hungry for lunch, isn't tired for his nap, doesn't want to be carried, doesn't want to walk, and doesn't want to come back next week. I'm out of ammo. Tantrum ensues.

12:30 The tantrum is over. Zeke puts on his shoes and walks with me to the car. He says he's "very sad" and I agree. I thank the heavens for Malachi because my arms being full is the only thing that kept me from just picking a kicking and flailing Ezekiel up and dragging him to the car. I absolutely hate physically dominating him like that but its soooo tempting.

Malachi falls asleep on the drive and transfers to his crib. Zeke yells "no nap!" and runs into the backyard but by the time I've put the baby down, my bag away, and my shoes off he's changed his mind and takes his nap as well.

I hang the laundry on the line to dry.
Then I jump online. As soon as I'm finished checking my email and facebook Mal wakes up and I nurse him while I read my blogs. He falls back asleep on my chest and I read my daily chapter out of "Power of a Praying Parent". Its not quite as good as "Power of a Praying Wife", but that's ok, I've always found it easier to pray for the boys then for Josh anyways.

2:00 I watch Angel on Netflix while Mal naps on my chest.
Im an avid fan of anything by Joss Whedon, no matter how terrible it is (I'm talking about you Doll House).

3:30 Zeke wakes up about halfway thru my second episode. Mal wakes up as well when he walks in the room. Zeke eats lunch (peanut butter on ritz and frozen grapes) outside (by his request) and naked (also his idea).
Malachi gets crackers too, and I finish cleaning the kitchen.
4:30 Zeke has moved on to the pool.
Mal has moved on to my back.
I am almost done cleaning and Josh calls to say that he will be home at 5:30 and are we up to going to the park for a picnic. I say "yes", and realize when I look at the clock that I better hurry up. So I finish sweeping and make the executive decision that the floor doesn't need to be mopped.

I bring the laundry in, fold it, and put it away.

Mal plays with rubber blocks.
When we are finished Zeke wants to read "One Two Three!". I read it to him 3 or 4 times. I also try to nurse Mal while we are sitting there but he apparently believes this would be too convenient. Anyways, he wants to see the pictures.

I ask Zeke if he wants to go to the water park (aka splash pad) and he yells yes and runs upstairs. I go to my room with Malachi to change clothes.

Zeke starts screaming "mama" and running around frantically. He cant find me and assumes I have left him behind. I yell that I'm in my room and find that he's changed into his swim trunks and his sandals all by himself.
I pack a picnic while Zeke jumps up and down yelling "yay yay yay yay yay!" and Mal fusses about being in his highchair.

Part 3: Daddy Saves the Day

5:30 Josh walks in the door and right before we all walk out Zeke yells that he has to go pee. He runs into the bathroom, takes of all his clothes, including shoes, and goes in the potty. The appropriate clapping and jelly-bean-giving ensue. I am relieved. I had forgotten that under those shorts there was no diaper.

We arrive at the park and Zeke runs off. He comes back from time to time for a bite.

Mal is stuck with us on the blanket, but he doesnt seem to mind.Malachi and I are abandoned by Josh, who goes to swing Zeke. I start to wish I had brought a book. Mal is quite happy to pull at grass. And also to nurse.7:30 We go home to many tears, despite the promise of ice-cream. I say that homemade icecream is better the next day when its properly frozen. Josh disagrees and says its best the first day when its still soft-serve.
I take a shower. Boys wrestle on the floor.

8:30 Bedtime for both the little ones. Josh takes Zeke and I take Mal.

9:00 Josh and I sit in the livingroom on our separate laptops. Its romantic ok?