Stress Relief

I feel like I have breathed a huge sigh of relief, even though I'm not even close to being ready for Christmas.  But I've figured out what it is that makes me feel so much better:  my house is clean.  It's a wonderful feeling, a rarity actually, but it changes me into a completely different person! 

I hosted a Christmas party for my teenage girls group last night and things did not go exactly as planned.  First of all, it was Monday- grocery shopping day.  I considered letting it go until today but there were things I needed for the party.  I skipped breakfast for time reasons and turned it on high gear.  Then I noticed that Son #1 left his tuba mouthpiece at home.  I told the boys I am not coming to their rescue any more.  If they forget homework or gym clothes, they'll have to take the detention.  If they forget their lunch, they'll have to buy meatloaf or whatever else the cafeteria is serving that day.  I kept eyeing that mouthpiece on top of the piano and my heart grew two sizes like the Grinch's.  #1's band teacher has been awesome and has provided so many great opportunities for him.  I didn't want to let her down so I decided to make an unexpected detour to the school.

Grocery shopping went well, even though I went $5.19 over budget.  (EEK!)  I stacked 20 more cans of turkey and beef broth in the stockpile and breathed a sigh of relief.  1:00- time for Baby Girl's nap and my lunch.  She was in stall-and-distract-Mommy mode but I eventually got her in bed.  I turned it back up to high gear and started speed cleaning the house. 

Then I got a call from Big Sis.  She wasn't feeling well at school.  She just missed school last week and had a shot of antibiotics!  I gave her a pep talk and convinced her to tough it out for the remaining hour of school.  Her sister was sleeping and no one else on the street was home to pick her up.  She obliged.  An hour later when she got off the bus, she started bawling.  Her tummy hurt "real bad."  I sent her up to bed and continued cleaning the house.  She was supposed to have a party last night too so hopefully a bit of rest would make her feel better.

Then vomit happened.  Again.  Only a week after the last vomiting episode.  Same kid.  I was on the verge of tears as I cleaned puke off the toilet lid.  (She couldn't get it open in time....how sad!)  I again felt like a failure as a mother for not believing her that she was sick again.  I texted my mom who said she would immediately come home from work to help me.  She pulled into her driveway and immediately began vomiting herself.  It's like a badly written sitcom around here.  Now I have two kids without a babysitter, one of them sick, and a party in two hours.  I can't even think of a word or phrase sarcastic enough for the way I felt.

Believe it or not, I got everything done in time for my party and made two beautiful rolls of stromboli.  Once during the party, however, Big Sis came downstairs in her satin monkey pajamas to tell me she puked all over her floor.  We were just beginning the gift exchange so I had to make everyone wait while I cleaned up vomit.  I just hope all those girls don't end up getting sick. 

My tree is still not decorated; it only has lights.  When I opened up the Rubbermaid tub to get out the decorations, I noticed a bunch of fuzz everywhere.  The children's stockings were torn to shreds.  Yep, a mouse had gotten into the decorations.  Why?  What fun is there in climbing into my Christmas decorations and tearing up my stockings???  The stockings were very sentimental and I don't actually know how bad the situation is yet.  I put the lid back on and refused to deal with it. 

After all that, I still feel a sense of relief.  Maybe I'm just on my way to becoming insane, but I actually feel very calm.  I think it's all because my house is clean.  Sure, there were squashed brownie crumbs on the floor from the little piggies at last night's party but it's nothing a quick sweep with the vacuum can't handle.  Big Sis slept through the night and is still sleeping as I type this.  Tiny Prints emailed me and graciously gave me another code for free cards since I accidentally deleted the last one.  I told them they saved the day!  (Cards will just be a little late this year.)

So it's all good.  I am surviving!