What a day. Kids lied. Escapes were made — out the front door, the back door, and through the fence. Teeth marks were inflicted upon children by children. Bottoms turned red. Pee marked the floor twice. Once, it was blamed by the culprit on an innocent bystanding child — an example of a lying incident. At one point, I was quite angry with my son, and I called my friend Beth. She reminded me that children often take one or two times before remembering not to do something, and that I needed to be patient. Even though the gravity of my kids sneaking out and playing in the street is far greater than disobeying on little things, their minds process it the same.

I made dinner for the people across the street, since I had extras of mine. They recently got engaged. Threw in a bottle of wine, a card, and a print out of 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a. Later, she came over to invite me out on Saturday, but I have the Dinner on Saturday. Thanked her and took a rain check. I felt so bad. Tabitha kept pinching her, Thomas and Tab were fighting, Thomas knocked open her purse. She kept saying was fine – after all, she is a teacher. Every time I see her, though, she seems to catch me at the height of craziness. I feel so dumpy and apologetic around her. She kept saying how sorry they were for me, and I was like, “really, I’m fine. He’ll be home on Friday.” Sigh.

I do admit, today was an ‘over the edge’ day for me. I seriously felt like my stress levels were way too high. My neck and back hurt, I was so tense. I tried to see if one of my friends could go out with me tonight, just to get me out of the house, but she was busy and her fiancé wasn’t able to watch kids because the hockey game is one. It was totally not their fault – I called at last minute. I just felt like screaming, though, “YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND… THIS IS NOT A POLITE REQUEST… IT HAS BEEN ME AND A BUNCH OF KIDS FOR ALMOST A MONTH NOW!” The past two weeks have been like 50 degrees and raining every day, so it’s a lot of being cooped up indoors.

And the thing is, that it’s not the one or two hour moments of relief that I need, it’s like a WEEK.

I am torn between “I’m fine, I can do this” and “GET ME THE HELL OUT OF HERE.”

Even now, tired as I am, Tabitha is still crying. Aiden’s still whimpering (he cut his third tooth today), and there is food still on the table from dinner.

The bunny is beating his head against the cage. It’s simply too small and there is not a removable bottom to the cage, so the poop builds up. I’m so tired of cleaning out the cage, and the rabbit hates being in it even more. Will have to look for a cage tomorrow when I go to my appointment to have the lump on my arm looked at — with the help of some MRI films.

There are those who will read this and say, “Oh, she needs to trust in God more.”

For those who are saying that, you can pray for me… and watch my kids and clean my house… and the poop.

The highlight of my day: Both Aiden and Quinn used the potty today. Bravo. Two less smelly diapers to change.

… and now for more laundry than anyone should be allowed to do, and a movie to hopefully help it go quicker.

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a