Mercy.

Not 3 hours after I finished the last post did God answer my prayer...

Nick was originally supposed to be home Friday night, but then a delay in Afghanistan happened and yet another unexpected overnight stop in New Jersey for maintenance issues.  I had put off shopping for, well, food, but also the last touches for Hannah's birthday in hopes that I might be able to do it alone while Nick spent time with the kids.  Knowing that the very best case scenario would bring him home Sunday afternoon, the kids and I braved the cold and rain to go to my very least favorite store, Walmart, for the sole reason that it is a one-stop-shop.

I loaded the kids as quickly as I could into the extra-long three seater cart that I, luckily, found in the cart return next to my car in the very back of the parking lot.  Apparently everyone does their shopping Sunday afternoon.  With Juju secured to my chest in the carrier, I pushed the other kids into the store as quickly as I could to get out of the nasty weather.

Our first stop was the produce section, where Sis, strangely, fell out of the cart onto the floor.  She was rightfully upset and started screaming as I peeled her up off the floor.  She promptly lifted her dress and started pulling down her tights to show me the booboo on her knee.  She could care less that she had gone commando and was completely disinterested in waiting to show me her "wound" until we got back to the car.  Her already fiery 3 year-old temper was escalating as I frantically tried to pull down her dress.  Gratefully, the bakery was near and I used a solid deflection tactic and told her to, "look over there! Cupcakes!"  That was the golden ticket to getting her back into the cart.  As we pulled away from the scene, I managed to exhale and wipe the sweat off my brow.

With multiple hands grabbing for things and threatening to climb out of the cart, I did my best to do drive-bys to get what I need without even having to stop.  The thought that goes into all of this to maximize efficiency and avoid backtracking or, worse yet, forget anything may well cause smoke to come out of my ears.

After gathering our foodstuffs, the next stop was the children's clothing section so that Sis could rectify her panty situation.  At this point, the anticipation had become too much, and Emmy was determined to pick out Sis' birthday present from she and the twins (something that she had been meticulously planning since well before her own birthday.)  Hannah had a vested interest in everything that Emmy was looking at, while Emmy was doing her very best to be discreet.  Sis was entirely put off by secrets being kept from her, so before things could get any more testy, I pushed on to the next stop: the fabric section.

I have been burning the candle to make a t-shirt quilt for myself and am excited to finally bind it, but I neglected to buy fabric for that step before and the urgency to complete my project was clouding my better judgment.  The unfortunate part is that there is rarely someone manning the table in the craft department as was the case this time.  After banging into multiple displays with my personal caravan we hunted down the sales associates in electronics, and our help finally arrived.  At this point I was more than ready to split.

So we went to the check out, and Emmy and Hannah helped themselves out of the cart to pour over the impulse candy buys, and then promptly fight over the single remaining "Frozen" ring pop.  I held Juju close with one hand (who was also trying to grab for impulse buys) and unloaded the cart with the other.  All the while I was listening to the clerk chatting up the childless woman in front of me about some unfit mother who coddled her child while they had a tantrum.  I was feeling grateful to be in their presence while my hungry kids' behavior was teetering in the balance.

That's when Ms. Loretta, the very kind grandmotherly director from the littles' Mom's Day Out walked up behind me in line.  She gave me a hug and ask how we were doing after our plague.  She loaded my grocery bags into the cart while I wrangled my kids and paid for our goods.  I couldn't thank her enough.

We ran to the car in the cold rain and I loaded the kids as quickly as my hands would let me.  I had everyone secured when I noticed James' shoe was missing.  I started to struggle with an internal conflict...How much did we really love that shoe?  Maybe I will pray it gets turned in to customer service and I can come back a different day?  But it's one of two pairs of shoes that actually fit him.  I had a sinking feeling that we needed to go back into the store.

That's when Ms. Loretta came walking towards me with her arm outstretched offering James' shoe.  She found it and was hoping she'd see me, but if not, had planned to give it to me at Mom's Day Out on Tuesday. It turns out she had parked right next to me in the way back of the giant parking lot.  She then held an umbrella over my head while I shoveled my groceries into the car.  Thank you, Jesus, for sending me an angel.

And then Nick came home 4 hours later.  All is well.

Lord, have Mercy

So, I thought I got my deployment bad luck out of the way the day after Nick left when we all had to go to the vet to learn Molly had bacterial growth in her ears and Darla had yeast in hers requiring packing every two weeks fro 6 weeks.  But then I thought it was when Hannah dropped two pennies into my gear shift and the technician at the Toyota repairs department told me I couldn't wait to have the car inspected because of the damage the change could do.  So, after the notoriously miserable 15 month vaccines, I dragged all the kids to the dealership, during nap time no less, to have the situation rectified.  I will say, I was BLOWN AWAY by the customer service...They knew I was coming with all of my kids and they, very kindly, escorted us to the play room as soon as I arrived and did everything they could to make us comfortable.  A little too comfortable, maybe, because both twins needed to evacuate their bowels and we required two trips to the bathroom for a potty run and for supplies to clean our snack and sippy explosion.  We were out of there an hour and a half later, and all things considered, I don't think it could have gone any better...Except for James banging on the showroom window to announce himself.  I was counting my blessings that I hadn't really gotten hit with the rotten luck I usually do when Nick is away...

Christmas was wonderful.  Afterwards, we holed up at home and played with toys, only really leaving to get groceries.  In that one solitary outing, Emmy and I somehow managed to contract strep throat.  I can't remember the last time I was that sick.  I wasn't able to eat anything for a couple of days, which led to some serious muscle weakness, made worse only by the fact that Emmy was requiring some serious TLC.  There was no conceivable way I could physically manage taking all of the kids to the doctor with me so that Emmy, my new bed buddy, and I could acquire some meds.  By the grace of God, our babysitter, Emily, was available on New Year's Day and came over to watch the three littles while Emmy and I went to the walk-in clinic.  After waiting an exceedingly long time with all of the other sick people in Clarksville, we both tested a resounding positive on our rapid strep tests and were finally on our way to pick up our meds.  Only we missed the pharmacy by 20 minutes due to their modified holiday schedule.  I told myself that the hard part was behind us-getting in to see the doctor for the diagnoses and prescriptions-and that we'd be the first ones in the drive-through the next morning.  18 hours and we'd be on our way to wellness.

A couple of days later, things were beginning to look up.  I suppose things were going a little too well, because that's when our next assault came.  Sunday morning  Emmy came down with a high fever.  After being on antibiotics for three days, I was concerned that she had a secondary viral infection.  Monday morning, I dragged all of the kids back to the walk in clinic to learn that Emmy now has the flu--which the only conceivable place she could have contracted it was the walk in clinic when we were diagnosed with strep throat.  We literally hadn't left the house since then.  They quarantined us in a back room to test the twins because they fall in the high risk group and to determine their dosage of Tamiflu.  Luckily, they both tested negative and were therefore prescribed a precautionary dose of Tamiflu for 10 days.  We FINALLY left the clinic for Kroger to pick up the twins' meds and a few food stuffs since we were running low.

My precious Emmy was struggling mightily with a 103 degree fever, terrible body aches and fatigue, but dutifully kept up with me while we tore through the store.  I felt like I was in a supermarket dash game show, pulling things off shelves while practically running through the aisles.  We finally made it back to the car at 2, no one had eaten lunch and we were well into nap time, and the kids were having a hard time hanging.  I strapped everyone into their seats and finally exhaled.  I then went to look for my phone, praying that Nick would call so that I could regale all of the days events.  But I couldn't find it.  Which is not unusual, anytime it's in plain view, one of my kiddos steals it.  I emptied my purse and tore through the car and still couldn't find it anywhere.  I remembered that the last time I saw it was when we got into the car after leaving the walk in clinic.  The kids had attempted the passcode too many times and it had been disabled for 15 minutes.  I remember looking at it feeling annoyed and then put it down in what I thought was my purse on the center console.  I drove through the pharmacy to ask if I accidentally left it there...Nope.  I parked again, took a moment to breathe and then and apologized to my very sick little girl and those who were now sleeping, that we had to go back into the store and retrace our steps.  We went back in and straight to customer service.  Apparently no one had turned in my pink phone, so the nice associate offered to call it, which immediately picked up to voicemail.  Something was clearly not right.  My phone was fully charged and I never turn it off...and I also now remember that I had left my car door unlocked while we went into the store. :( It's becoming clear that my phone was stolen from my center console.  Knowing that there was no way for anyone to get ahold of me, let alone for me to call for help while quarantined to the house with a sick kid, I was desperate for resolution.  

We went to Verizon to see if they could track my phone, but to no avail.  I was committed to finding an old phone at home after learning the ridiculous price tag on all the phones-even flip phones- at Verizon.  As I pulled out of the parking lot, an unfamiliar warning light illuminated on my car dashboard, and after reviewing my owner's manual at the next red light I learned that it was my air pressure warning.  It was almost 3 in the afternoon, and at this point the kids were crying for food.  I grabbed them Chick-Fil-A and then found the nearest gas station air pump to check my tires.  Luckily, the extreme cold temperature was to blame and it was an easy fix.  Even still, I was very much maxed out with the curve balls pummeling me.  As I drove home on the freeway, the truck directly in front of me spit out shards of glass from the truck bed.  I seriously can't even make this stuff up.  After clearing away the debris with my windshield wipers, I notice that the bottom of my windshield was nicked in the process.

We got home and I, thankfully, located an old phone that Kris and JP lent us for Nick to use until he gets his upgrade when he returns home.  I attempted to activate the phone with the directions the helpful person at Verizon had given to me, but it wouldn't work.  Of course.  I kept getting a message telling me to try from a phone other than the one I was activating, which is all fine and good except I DON'T HAVE any other phone.  So, I fed the kids (FINALLY) and wake my sweet sick girl to go back to Verizon to have them help me activate the phone before they closed and I was phoneless for the night.

When we got there, I made the grave mistake of not putting Sis in the Ergo on my back.  She was fired up (probably from eating a meal and a half all day and no nap) and was tearing through the busy store.  James pulled Julia's hair while they sat in their stroller and she let out a blood-curdling scream and dissolved into tears.  I pulled her out of the stroller as quickly as I could, and that's when Hannah jumps in and initiates a game with James where he "pushes" her out of the stroller and she dives onto the floor.  Meanwhile, Emmy is sleeping on the bench.  After many well-deserved annoyed looks, I left with a working phone and my over-tired kids.  

Six days into her amoxicillin treatment for strep throat, Emmy woke up with hives head-to-toe, and a patch of ring worm on her right shoulder, the twins are cutting multiple new teeth, some of which appear to be molars, we are in the throes of potty training a newly-weaned-from-milk-bottles Hannah because not only were they (the bottles and the diapers) becoming behavior issues but, well, it was (past) time and we are stuck at home anyways.  And Nick's return flight has been delayed...twice.  Lord, please have Mercy.

Christmas 2014

The last few weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind!  The kids have been so excited about every aspect of the celebration, and we (I) have been determined to go as big as we (I) could manage.  They loved decorating, baking, shopping, gift giving, visiting Santa, touring the neighborhoods viewing Christmas lights, the Christmas parade, listening to Christmas music on the radio, watching Christmas movies, Henry, our Elf on the Shelf...

I got in over my head decorating while all four of the kids were awake, but, the day after Nick left I was bound and determined to ring in the holiday cheer. :-P

While my back was turned, James started smashing ornaments for sport.  It was tricky just trying to clear the scene to clean the carnage.

Walkin' girl!

City Hall in Downtown Clarksville

I surprised the kids with a Chick-Fil-A picnic in the car and then the downtown Christmas Lights parade Saturday, December 5th.  I was nervous managing them all with the crowds, but it worked out seamlessly.  As luck would have it, we parked on the nearest street possible, and instantly found an open spot on the sidewalk to park the stroller and take in the last 30 minutes of the parade (which was completely adequate.)  The kids were entranced!

SANTA!!!!!

Our beloved babysitter, Ms. Ericka, is now a fourth grade teacher at a local elementary school.  She invited us to come see the Frozen display at her school!  Sis was in SEVENTH HEAVEN!

She has a crush on Kristof.

My girls on a good day.

Emmy got her first flowers from a boy! ;)  Her best friend Matthew brought them to school for her. :) She dutifully watered them and even wrapped the base container in a towel to keep it warm at night. ;)

The drive-through Nativity at a local church is a must-see for us every year!  Emmy begged me to go through it a second time. :)

Sipping hot cocoa and listening to Christmas carols at the end of the Nativity. :)

Working on Poppy's Christmas gift!

I was a little concerned about how we were going to see Santa this year, because I wasn't about to go stand in line at the mall with my crew and trekking through the Opryland with the four of them sounded equally miserable.  Luckily, we had Nick's battalion Christmas party!  Appropriately, Santa flew in on a helicopter!!

Emmy had set out her chosen ensemble for this big moment days before...

...But just minutes before we left, I found her preparing a snack bag of sugar cookies that she had lovingly decorated.  She told me they were for Santa, along with one of her cards.  She was concerned that no one gives Santa gifts.  She, very bravely,  pulled both from her dress-up purse to hand to him after indulging her Christmas list (an Aurora dress.) My heart swells looking at this picture.

Hannah was rendered speechless.

My girlfriend Sally, thankfully, swooped in, as she does, to rescue me from making a scene while managing all of my kids in front of the long line of families.  James and Julia wanted nothing to do with Santa this year.

Santa....CHECK!!

Emmy preforming in her first Christmas show!  She had been practicing her songs for weeks!

She looked a little bored.

Her first show was on her birthday--a Tuesday--and the 3 littles were at Mom's Day Out! It was so nice to be so present for my big girl.

This boy.

The best of a few timer-pictures.  All dressed up for the Christmas service!

So, we went to the Christmas production at church on Sunday the 21st.  I totally missed the boat on tickets for the 5:30 performance, so we went for 7:00.  I was very anxious the twins would fall apart given that it started at their bedtime.  Well, turns out I was right to be anxious, only not for the twins, who played happily in the childcare.  It was because I seated myself and my two big girls in the front, center row and their behavior rapidly declined over the course of the first half an hour.  To the point where they were nearing a screaming/wrestling match over our candle during the Pastor's reading of the birth of Christ.  The very moment the music started up again, I grabbed our stuff (but apparently not all of it) and the girls and took off up the aisle, head down so as to not make eye contact with anyone.  Of course, Sis left her baboo, so a very kind girl chased after us to return it.  The mom equivalent to a sorority girl's Walk of Shame.  Awful.

Is it a photobomb if you place yourself in front of the group?

I took the kids to the dollar bins at Target and divided them up into teams to buy Christmas presents for each other like we did last year.  Hannah and Julia, and Emmy and James.  Each team could pick out 5 things.  It was a little frantic, I'm not gonna lie, hence the lack of pictures, but the kids got really into it!  They had so much fun choosing things (well, Emmy did, Hannah was squarely focused on what she wanted for herself and stuffed those things into the bag without hesitation-a few pairs of dress up "slippers" and plastic giraffes were just a few of her great finds.  I laugh at the thought of unleashing that girl for a true shopping spree in Target.)  As soon as we got home, Emmy was determined to wrap it all, so we did.

Emmy, joyfully, wrapped all the presents that arrived in the mail for me! :) Sis helped.

Just hanging out on our couch cushion!

Christmas Eve, we decided to make some spaghetti for dinner!

Emmy assembled our version of the traditional Odell family "Daddy Cookie Cake." She did an awesome job!

I told the girls to go get fancy, and they did, happily.  I tossed on a Christmas-y table cloth, threw my three-day old unwashed hair in a clip and a dress over my yoga pants, cracked open a chilled bottle of Martinelli's and we broke bread.  Cheers!

Emmy was unrelenting in her request (demand?) of opening a single present on Christmas Eve.  I gave in.  The twins perusing their new reads.

The big girls modeling their new Snow White night gowns.

James is a BIG FAN of homemade spaghetti, much like all food.

Playing Santa.

Getting cookies and milk ready for Santa!  The timer feature is my friend!

It's quitin' time for little Horns!

Emmy placed the cookies and milk and her handmade card in just the right place so that the dogs and James couldn't get to it before Santa.

Santa arrived!  I always miss Nick when he's away, but I was especially missing him just after midnight when I was working on assembling the last rocking chair.  

Emmy set her clothes out!

Armed with my phone, camera, scissors, screwdriver, and black tea, I was ready for the big day!  The kids opened their present in rapid-fire, and were so excited for each one.  So much so, that I had trouble keeping up with extracting everything from the very secure packing materials!  Emmy led the show dispersing and then sometimes opening gifts for everyone, Hannah enthusiastically followed suit, the twins were wide-eyed and eager to participate and quickly glommed on to random things like chapstick.  They dove right in to playing with their new toys and that is how we spent the day, only taking breaks to eat sweets and FaceTime with our family!

Julia admired Hannah's Elsa doll and dress.  

Emmy and her mermaid tail!  

Elsa, Anna and Kristof barbies!?!

Juj playing with Jamesy's dump truck.

James playing peek a boo with me behind my buffet.

After a long day, opening presents, parade-watching, playing with toys, eating sugar and face timing with our family, we set out to go for a drive to see Christmas lights.  My girls were asleep before we left the neighborhood.  We turned around and came home and called it a day. :)

Because we didn't make it before Christmas, we went for a stroll on the riverwalk to enjoy their awesome light display.

It's a James-In-The-Box!

These two fight over their new elephant slide.

So many new toys and the box wins out. :-P