One of Those Moments

It's been one of those weeks. You know the week when your hormones are raging and you feel possessed. When your kids have been sick with pneumonia, pink eye and the cold of the century. The week when your poor husband has been on call and spent the past two nights at the hospital. The week when you have to get your obnoxiously loud kids up and at 'em and out the door so your exhausted hubby can have a quite napping house when he gets home in the morning. The week when you are desperate to kill time so you take your kids to the "super fun" car wash but that's an epic failure because your 5 year old who totally knows better throws a 2 year old size fit (on the floor kicking and screaming) because you won't buy him the chips he "really, really, really, really, really" wants but you know he won't even eat. The week when you are running so low on energy that even coffee isn't picking you up and for some stupid reason you decided it was the week you were going to cut back on your sugary treat intake.

Yeah. It's been one of those weeks.

Luckily one of those weeks just took pity on me and granted me one of those moments when something happened to snap me out of the joy sucking funk that has been dragging me down. 

Leave it to Adam. This is how I found him after his nap this afternoon ...

... happy as a clam and perfectly content to work in the garage wearing his little sisters tutu. I have no idea how he found it or when he put it on. But just the sight of him made me smile and gifted me with one of those moments. You know those simple moments that make mothering worth all the fevers and sleepiness and fits on dirty floors in the checkout line at the car wash.

Quality Time ... I Suppose

I mentioned on Facebook that we (just the kids and I!) spent 4 hours in the urgent care this week because poor Henry has pneumonia. I also mentioned that those 4 hours would have done me in if not for Adam. He lightened things up with his caveman sounding oral interpretation of the world around him. His top three one liners for the evening were as follows:

When we were sitting in the waiting room next to a thug of a man he repeated at least five times, "I don't wike this guy .. I do NOT wike this guy ... I don't wike this guy." Embarrassing? Yes. But somehow still humorous. I moved him when he was clearly not going to shut his little trap. Adam is after all my most persistent child - hands down.

And then as the four of us were waiting in a very tiny and ridiculously hot exam room I had to open the door to let some air in. A teenage boy with his pants around his knees and hat on sideways happened to be walking down the hall outside our door. Adam looked at him and then at me and said, "Is that a BAD guy?"

And finally, the icing on the cake. After 3 hours of waiting in a room the size of our bathroom the doctor finally knocked on the door and entered the tiny inferno. He looked about 25 (I know ... who am I to talk?), tired (once again ... who am I to talk?) and like he was going to enjoy some of Chico's finest natural medicine after his shift (at this point I might have actually been tempted myself). Adam looked him up and down. Paused a minute. Then looked at me and said, "And who is this guy?" I laughed out loud. I couldn't help myself. I'm blaming it on the lack of oxygen in that tiny room.

Waiting for Dr. Doolittle.

Henry with a fever of 103 degrees. Claire with a fever of 101 degrees. Such troopers!

Still waiting. This was about 2 1/2 hours in.

Adam wanted to "help"hold Claire.

 And still waiting. Henry's body gave out after this and he climbed under the sheet on the little cot, began shivering and almost passed out. So, so sad.

Milestones

There are days in my life as a stay at home mom that drag on ... and on ... and on. It seems like the diapers never end. The runny noses are nonstop. And the demands  requests for food and fun are constant. On days like these it is hard not to feel like my kids will be in the "needy years" forever. And then in one week (just one week) my oldest reaches 3 milestones! These milestones bring me so much joy. They also remind me that we will soon reach the "independent years" and I am encouraged to put forth my most patient effort in the midst of those energy zapping needy moments.

Milestone One: Henry learned to ride his bike with no training wheels.

(we did eventually remember the helmet)

Milestone Two: He golfed for the first time at the "real" golf course and loved every minute.

Milestone 3: He put together this Lego firetruck with almost no help from mom and dad.

The Birds and Bees

For some reason the boys love to watch me change Claire's nasty diapers. They cringe and plug their noses and laugh uncontrollably. I think it has something to do with their fascination with the word "poop" which they love to slip into every conversation possible. 

The other day as Henry was observing a diaper change this little interaction transpired.

HENRY: "Yuck. She got poop all over her wiener."
ME: "She doesn't have a wiener Henry."
HENRY: "She got poop all over where her wiener is going to grow."
ME: "She's not going to grow a wiener Henry."
HENRY (pausing to think): "Well just put clothes on her and she'll still be as cute as ever."

I am so relieved to know that my baby girl will still be accepted. Even if she never grows a wiener.

A Baby Boy Turns 3

Three years ago today I gave birth to a sweet baby boy at St. Joseph's Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

ADAM SCOTT BARRON

It was amazing to see our family blossom from a family of three to a family of four. It was incredible to see Henry become a big brother.

It was remarkable to conceive, grown and meet a new child. The most amazing thing of all was discovering that this little boy was his own little person entirely. From birth he had his own look, a unique cry, and a distinct personality. And this fresh little soul brought out a bigger, deeper love in me.

Thank you Adam for the many ways you bless this family. Your laugh, your squeaky sweet voice, your fart jokes that drive me insane but are wise beyond your years, your gusto for tackling new challenges, your beautiful eyes, your smile with its missing front tooth, your love for your big brother Henry and little sister Claire, your willingness to help Dada in the garage and backyard, your love of cooking with momma and last but definitely not least your passionate rendition of "Holy, Holy, Holy."

You are all I could ask for and more. We love you Adam Scott.

Happy 3rd Birthday.

You Moms Will Understand

I've lost some brain power since becoming a mom. I'm told it's "normal" and "happens to the best of us." When my mind goes blank mid sentence it doesn't faze me much anymore. It doesn't concern me like it once did when I walk into a room and can't remember why. But every once in awhile my mommy brain does something so absent minded that I am left in a state of jaw-dropping-frozen-in-time-shock.


A few days ago I went to Target. The store I once had a love affair with and now avoid at all costs because taking 3 kids shopping is torture. As I was getting the kids out of the car I could tell the car  next to me was running. I peeked inside but didn't see anyone. Strange. I looked at the few cars parked near me and still didn't see anyone. Strange. Oh well. I loaded Claire and Adam into the shopping cart (Henry was at school) and proceeded with caution into the store that brings out the "I wants" in all of the Barron's.

Now the beautiful thing about this particular trip is that Adam was wonderful. So obedient and polite. All the things that make for a proud momma and also for a leisurely stroll through Target. I was actually able to read the back of the Mederma stretch mark cream box before saying a prayer for a miracle and throwing it in the cart. I walked the aisles of Target with such ease and I actually managed to get every item on my list. And when I finished my shopping I strolled up to the checkout glowing with a peacefulness rarely seen in motherhood. I paid, loaded up my shopping cart and walked out to the car. It was hands down the most successful Target trip I've had since Adam was born.

And then I neared my van. And I heard that same idling engine. And as I got to my van and began to look for my keys I realized that idling engine sounded eerily familiar. And then it hit me. That state of jaw-dropping-frozen-in-time-shock. That idling engine was my own van. The very van I had stepped out of over 30 minutes ago. My mommy brain not only forgot my keys in the car but also left them in the ignition ... with the van running ... with the doors unlocked ... while I blissfully walked  the aisles of Target!

I've heard that omega 3 fish oils help recover some of the brain power that must exit with our placenta. Looks like I need to add a very large bottle to my Target list.

Inquiring Minds

There's a reason I haven't posted on "A Bunch of Barron's" in 6 months. It's because life pretty much looks like this around our house:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbTSsJ558Fw

But the mayhem will never be contained. And my loyal followers (all 20 of them) have been inquiring about the absence so ... WE ARE BACK!