Mental Gymnastics

I had a goal to write 13 posts this month. I'm almost there... But I'm wondering about the validity of such a goal...maybe writing 5 good, thoughtful posts would have been more satisfying than 13 boring posts. Oh well. Maybe next time.

Anyways.

I am mildly obsessed with Target's Marimekko collection. But I don't tend to buy things just because I like them. They need to have a specific function and I need to purchase them for real use. I decided that I could justify the salad plates and replace the chipped Ikea plates we've been using for the kids (in the background above). Disappointingly, the Marimekko plates are melamine - but they're the best melamine I've ever seen. They are beautifully proportioned in a nice matte finish. I smile every time I get one out AND well, I decided worrying about the toxins in melamine is less of a concern as the kids get older. There's also something satisfying about how fast they're selling out. So there it is: salad plates, justified. Me, smiling.

It turns out neither Noah nor Trixie have strep; which is a bummer for reasons mentioned in my last post. Trixie seems to have made a full recovery, but Noah is really still not well. Tomorrow it will be one solid week that we've had a sick kid in the house. I'm feeling grumpy and really tired. All the illness has me up several times a night – sometimes with the added benefit of the kids waking each other up as well. Lovely.

Mattias had an event at school tonight. Instead of the whole family going, just I went. It was nice: 1) to get out of the house and 2) to focus solely on Mattias. Mattias wanted his whole family to be there. And I wished we could have fulfilled his wish. But I'm also a little shocked to discover how much I enjoyed being there WITHOUT the whole family. No Trixie running in and out between the legs of the crowd. No Noah asking when we get to go home. No need to coordinate with Fritz over coming or going or who is in the bathroom or who just made a beeline for the door or who is playing inappropriately on the bleachers all while trying to have a coherent conversation with another parent. Sometimes I really wonder if I am just not meant to be part of a family as large as five. I'm so much happier with less input.

One more thing I wanted to mention: I'm having a one-day 25% off sale at my Etsy store on Saturday, April 30th. It's half way through the year to Halloween and I'd love to turn over some listings. I won't be having any more sales before Halloween 2016, so if you – or someone you know – might want a clown costume or mask, check it out. The coupon code is HalfHalloween, it works on all the listings, but it will only work on April 30th (EST).

Sick Day

Last week Mattias had strep, on Sunday night both Trixie and Noah burst forth with the same symptoms as Mattias'. It's Monday, which means a long wait until we get into the doctor's office. Sickness is no fun: all the waking at night and the finicky-fussy-whiny behavior.

I envied Fritz as he left for work today. We were both tired from last night, but I imagined how he could go zone out in his office, while I will spend the day attending to sick kids. I definitely will be in need of a break by the time he gets home.

On the plus side: as least with strep (if Noah and Trixie also have strep), you know what you're dealing with. Sometimes the mystery viruses are more infuriating because they lack predictability. I like the closure that comes with a strep diagnosis (not that I want my kids to be on antibiotics, BUT). Also, I'm grateful that Noah and Trixie appear to be only about 6 hours apart in their symptoms. Its more grueling to do a marathon of illness, each child falling like the next domino with 3 days between them. That would be worse! At least this way, we're slightly efficient in our illness.

Knock on wood that Fritz and I ward it off. I'm drinking EmergenC with a vengeance.