So many little things - so many joys, so many frustrations. This seems to be the story of my life at the moment. I still feel like I lurch from day to day - simply aiming for us all to survive. I don't plan ahead. I am reactive - but it just seems to be the only way that doesn't do my head in.
Both D and I have been quite sick for two weeks. I have had flu-like symptoms - aches, lethargy, runny nose, sore throat, sore ears, annoying cough. D has had gastro-like symptoms plus aches and lethargy. And, let me tell you, it is very hard to get better without sleep. This is why it has lingered so I am sure.
With sickness of course, you are so frustrated at yourself for not being able to do all you normally can, and being in pain (pumping Panadol every 3 hours does help) that the normal daily frustrations are so much worse. And the joy just that bit harder to find.
But TODAY, I feel like I have turned a health corner. So today I blog in celebration!
Today I dragged the WHOLE family to Ikea. On a Sunday. Yes I am mad. We had an expensive Ikea meal ($70 worth - I keep telling you we eat a lot - but it did include drinks and dessert) - but it was kind of fun and it is the one place where having four children doesn't cause anyone to bat an eyelid. Unlike Sushi! You should see the faces on the Japanese chefs ... they take a double take. That is fun to watch.
Anyway back to Ikea. We purchased hurriedly (as children melted down) two more EXPEDIT bookshelves and a table for Tom's room. Even though we are meant to be practicing Frugality 101 I could bear no longer his room having cardboard boxes of his good games and toys - being occasionally, randomly pulled out by a 10 month old or 2 1/2 year old and so I would find bits of the microscope in my bed and bits of the telescope on the stairs, etc. And I am a big believer in "Everything has a place, everything in a place" and so I couldn't really come down tough on the 'tidy time' when there was no where to put things. So I, more or less singlehandedly, as D took W and E to Redcliffe to visit his parents constructed two bookshelves and a table this afternoon. Then unpacked all the boxes and put away everything into the new furniture.
I also tidied W's toyroom which had had a demolition derby last week which I had not gotten around to enforcing a tidy up. Also I like to tidy up such that things aren't just shoved back willy nilly but all the 'bits' are in the right box/container/toy vessel, etc. So I tidied this up. And when I say all the bits back - I mean - finding the puzzle for the random puzzle piece, finding the monopoly game for the battleship (which was not as I first thought from the actual battle ship game), returning all shapes to the correct shape sorter (we have about six) - you get the picture. Timeconsuming but when it is all done - immensely rewarding. Though my feet truly ache as I was on them for about six hours straight. Hence reward of glass of Pinot Grigio, and a blog post. I am also too tired/foot sore to go upstairs and take a photo of the magnificence ... you will just have to trust me on it.
Some catch up everyday moment photos to share :
Sammy enjoying his boiled egg.
William - the angel ...
Eddie and I had a date for coffee/cupcake and ferry ride a few Fridays ago. I loved it - he is such a delight on his own. We need to do it more often as he is really acting out when the other boys are around. He wasn't too sure of the Citycat ferry - it was "too fast and might crash". He wouldn't stand outside in the wind. But I think he enjoyed it anyway!
William having a day time nap in our bed. The angel sleeps!
Tom and Sammy and I had sushi dinner last week as the other boys were at Redcliffe. It was crazy expensive but we all had a good time. Someone mentioned from looking at these photos that Tom could be a child model - I agree - but I would never do it - what a dreadful industry to even think about becoming involved with - particularly as it is linked with our external looks not our true worth inside. (Step off shoe box now Jane)
Sammy loves getting dirty and just getting into everything. Nothing a good bath can't fix!
The boys at the local park making sandcastles.
My thumb sucker ..... sometimes we just hang out together, looking at each other, sucking our thumbs .... I am so connected to this little one - I love it. I am glad he is a boy not a girl as our relationship is so special. If he was a girl I might think it was because he was a girl, and not just because he was him. And if you understand that, you are doing well. Moving right along.
Boys at sushi ...
Boys rocking the back seat of the car ...
At first swim club .... Sammy just getting into everything Eddie gets into ....
Another day, another park, some more dirt....
Boys, dirt, happy.
Swinging!
And more dirt.
Eddie pushing Sammy on the swing .... moments later E did get completely knocked out.
Sammy trying to get into the trampoline. He loves it in there. He looks like one of those bobbing head dolls on the dash of a car as the boys bounce around him. He squeals with delight until Eddie sits on him. Am afraid this will be the story of Sam's life for the next few years. Being sat on without notice.
