Doing It All

As the week has progressed I've found that my motivation to get things done has not really been there.  Toys have remained on the floor at night after the kids have gone to bed.  Washed clothes have remain in the laundry basket.  The couch has been covered in miscellaneous household items all week, leaving only enough room for me to nurse Nathan.  Frankly, Matt being gone so much the last few weeks is wearing on me.  By the time the boys crash for the night - all I want to do is become a vegetable in front of the TV.  While my successes are small...they are no less real this week.  Here's what we've accomplished:

1.  I did some of my first Christmas shopping this week!  I've placed one online order to Bronner's so I can check one Santa gift off Nathan's list and mark both of John's therapists as completed.  Plus, a trip to Walmart, Aldi, and Office Max yesterday generated 4 gifts for John.  One from Santa, one from Mom & Dad, one from the grandparents, and one from Aunt Megan (I picked up the grandparents one since I was there and we grabbed the one from Aunt Megan to save her the shipping costs from New York).

2.  I finally mailed Nathan's baptism announcements.  It's not like those who are invited don't know about it.  It's more of a formality at this point.  Last week I went to Hallmark looking for invites, but they were out of the only baptism invite they carry.  So I drove the Our Lady of the Snows Shrine to pick some up on Friday - but apparently they don't carry baptism announcements.  I find this extremely odd!  However, John enjoyed playing on the playground equipment so the trip wasn't a waste by any means.  Finally we commissioned Megan to design them for us...we didn't have the time to get them printed professionally, but we sent the JPEG to Walgreens and they look good!  Thanks Megs!

3.  I'm committed to getting the house cleaned today!  I think this should count as a success.  Mark my word - by the time my husband arrives home late tonight this place will be clean and possibly even decorated for Christmas (yes, I'm skipping Thanksgiving all together ---- we're going to be in San Antonio for the last 10 days of the month and since it's already the 11th that would only leave 8 days to enjoy the Thanksgiving decorations.)

Success In The Things Not Done

Earlier this week I managed to lock up my neck which resulted in me not being able to straighten my head over my shoulders or look towards the right at all.  Matt is out of town again (Kentucky this time) so it was just me and the boys.  After several trips to the chiropractor and some help from my parents with the kids - I'm glad to report that I'm doing better.  There is still a long road ahead I think....

1.  I spent the greater part of 2 or 3 days laying on my back with my neck draped over a towel and an ice pack on my shoulders.  Easier said than done with a two year old and a nursing baby!

2.  The house is a mess.  Meals have been made, but dishes remain in the sink.  Laundry has been done, but clothes are still in the baskets unfolded.  I think a load  may still be in the dryer.  (The success here is that I've managed to resist the urge to get up and resolve all these issues which isn't really easy for a type A personality like me)

3.  With my back and neck really bothering me, I've enforced a hard and fast "no toddlers are allowed to sleep in mommy's bed" rule.  Despite some tears and a few middle of the night wailing sessions to display his dislike for this newly enforced rule, John has done just fine. (It will be a new success if I manage to keep enforcing this rule as my body heals)

Check out other (probably more successful) moms over at Faith and Family Live!