Calm Amongst the Chaos

Fall break is 2 and a half weeks long. 2 and a half long weeks.
We spent Wednesday of last week to Saturday in Greer and it was beautiful! My parents had the kids for a day and Andrew and I stayed at one of their rental cabins and we had a great break. We really just had Friday to ourselves, but it was much needed and so refreshing! We had to come back Saturday because Sunday Andrew and I had to work at church (watching babies) and then I had to work at the sports bar at 3pm. It was my first day having a section on my own. It got a little slammed at one point, but I walked away with about $70 in tips, not too bad for a Sunday night.
We have one day left of fall break and I will actually be spending the day in an alcohol class. No I don’t have a problem, it is just for work. I will be there 10-2 and we found a very sweet new caregiver who is willing to watch all three and thank God because if I have one more day like today I will need that alcohol class for other reasons.
Sometimes people will say to me “I don’t know how you do it” but they aren’t always talking about Lily. They sometimes are talking about the child with energy that never ceases. The child who has no comprehension of the word no, the child who fights with her brother, the child who has no self control and at the end of the day she writes me a note apologizing for her bad behavior and hugs and kisses me and prays for self control. I love her. I love her I do. But man she can be exhausting. I seriously think I could take her to Doctor and get her prescribed something. I won’t, but I would bet money she could be diagnosed with ADHD. I think I should take myself to the Doctor and get me a little prescription. Sigh.
She does well in school. She gets to socialize, play, learn, etc. We just need to get her back into it.
It was just days like today I feel like I could get in my car and drive far far away.
A trip to Walmart (yes Walmart) with a 20 mo old who refused nap today, a 5 year old who was just in a serious way of lacking self control and trying to push sweet Lily while pulling the crazy other two. I had no make up on. I was constantly squawking at Andi who deserved it and looked every bit the part at Walmart. But actually our Walmart is pretty nice, I looked like the typical Walmart shopper at a non typical Walmart. Go figure.
After getting a blow in July, another in August, AND yet another in September I am done. Cashed out. Thank God for my dear friend Wendy (and awesome mom to the famous Langan and now Franny) knew I was having a rough time and said “come on down to Nashville!” I typically would have said nah the kids, or nah no money, but something in me said go, do not pass go, do not collect $200, go! So this Friday at 6am (yes 6am) I will be on a plane flying to Nashville, TN (well first a plane to Atlanta, but you get the point). We are hitting some of Nashville’s finest honkey tonks, we are going to a Titan’s game (wearing my cardinals shirt, of course!) we are going to talk, laugh, drink and I get to get away.
With this new job, Lily’s seizures worse than they have in years, several commitments I have, I am just worn out. Exhausted. Cashed out. Put a fork in me, I am done.
This trip is exactly what I need. I cannot wait. I have the kids all figured out. Andrew will be just fine with them. I am sure by Sunday I will be wanting to be coming home, but I won’t be home until Tuesday.
Bummer….