Pottery Shards, Science Projects, and Fleas

Had one heck of a morning the other day, it seemed to last a day and a half.

My right arm has been in a sling for a couple of weeks because I wrenched my elbow something awful when the spade bit I was using to put a hole in a 4x4 (for the boys' chin up station in the yard) got bound up in the wood, the powerful drill twisting my arm out and around. It's been hard not being allowed to do much of anything with it, being that I generally want to everything myself so that it's done right. But the kids are making their own lunches, helping with dishes, taking the dog out, and being generally helpful if not completely into it.

Mother had driven north to help out for a few days and she really pampered me all the way; made lemon grass soup even. She washed dishes endlessly, made me really see how many I usually do in a day, and drove me around town to take care of oil changes, bank deposits, grocery shopping, etcetera. Sleeping in the livingroom on the futon bed, never once complained about a lack of privacy, not a word against the dog's tags clanging in the night, the cats' pouncing during their play in the wee hours. Best, she didn't point out how I was generally a bad patient, not patient at all with my situtation. I can learn a lot from her general grace, and should, and well.
She also helped me to fetch Paul home on Wednesday after he stumbled in band class and got a chair leg jammed into his crotch. Poor kid slept for three hours when we got home.

Time came for her to head home though, and for me to go back to work, which we each did if more than a bit reluctantly. There was some talk about her coming back this weekend.

The week went fairly well, and Paul got ready for his weekend scout campout, and by Wednesday evening he was completely ready. Alex and Adrian would each be at a sleepover one night, and it was a long weekend, with no school Monday. Sounded nice. Wednesday night though, Alex discovered fleas on Pippin and in her room and had a fit. I went to get the vacuum - it was still broken, what was I thinking, and had been for since just before my elbow incident. Tried to manage the situation, calm her down, etc. Would have to move her downstairs for the night.

Thursday was supposed to go like this:
Alex up at 5:15 am to spend 1 hour and 28 minutes getting ready for school, 2 minutes eating breakfast, then out the door at 7:00 for the bus. Me up at 6:20 to wake the boys. Fred up at 6:30. Make Alex's smoothy, boys' lunches and breakfast on the table by 6:45. Yell at boys to hurry up at 6:55. Yell up to Alex "are you on time?" at 6:56. Boys out the door at 7:20, Fred on their heels. Quiet house by 7:30. Off to work by 8:30. Pizza planned for dinner because it was Fred's class night, boys' scout night, and back to school night at the middle school.

This is how it went:
Got call during work that Adrian had injured his finger. Told him to be brave, it was just his left finger and the nurse had assured me that it wasn't swollen or black and blue - tough it out.
Kids ate half the pizza as soon as they got home from school. Hardly any left for dinner.
Fred ate leftovers, went off to class. Alex continued fussing about fleas and wondering very loudly about why we didn't have a working vacuum and that it was just great that she'd be alone that night to contend with life alone.
Adrian didn't want to go to scouts, his finger was swollen and a bit black and blue; after being told he would not be allowed to watch tv or video games instead, he got ready for scouts.
Stopped at the grocery store having handed the boys $5 to go get the candy that they were required to bring in to science class next day, dropped the boys off at scouts, stopped at Walgreens for a finger splint and a new cold pack, and a cherry coke to fortify me (self prescribed Rx, the cherry being the important ingredient, Cherry Garcia not being anywhere around).
I drove back to school night, arriving late, so had to park 1/4 mile away from the school. Got asked many times "what did you DO to your arm?" Found out from science teacher that niether son had turned in their first assigned project. Left early to go pick up boys from scouts. Got stopped on way out by PTA friend who after saying hello reminded me that yes, we have to be ON TOP of some of our kids, after all the boys are not Alex (who never needed being on top of) and that after all WE are all premenapausal, so maybe I ought to take some Xanax like she does.
Finally got to scout meeting, boys both happy for just moments because then (OK, BAD TIMING) asked them about that science project, told them they MUST have it completed at school next day or no camping or sleepover. HARD LINE MOM moment. Once home, realized impossible to enforce because materials were at school. Kids showered and in bed by 9:30. Alex on futon in livingroom, fussing, by 11pm.

Friday morning:
I woke suddenly choking with hairspray in my throat at 5:30am because Alex was preparing herself in the tiny downstairs bathroom rather than in her upstairs, well ventilated room.
The boys woke soon after because that just fit.
Alex fussing about fleas until she left for bus.
Paul dropped and broke his favorite cereal bowl, a nice cerulean blue mug with an M&M character on it, given to him by Alex about five years ago. Real tears shed. My Silent Prayer: Thank God it was him that done broke the thing.

I called Mother by 8am, grateful for some time to talk because I would be going into work late that morning. She calmed me right down, providing insight into the humorous aspects of my day-and-a-half-long morning. "You should write about this in your blog" she said.

PS - Paul home after school, proud that he'd managed to do his science project during study hall, and had put it on his teacher's desk. Adrian had worked on it, but not finished it, and had left it at school. Got Fred to drive Adrian back to the school for his project. I took Paul to meet the campers, thinking we'd be there early enough to help with last minute packing. Enjoyed the peace and quiet of yellow leaves skittering on the tarmac in the breeze, branches against a blue, blue sky. Campers arrived at 6pm and later (departure at 6pm said the paperwork). Realized Paul needed a coat - they'd be up near the Delaware Water Gap. Called Fred, he ran it over, then turned right around to take Alex to swim team. Alex home by 9:15pm. Adrian and I got Chinese food and three Redbox movies. Laundered Alex's blankets while we watched an old Harrison Ford in the last Indian Jones movie.

Big, big sigh at around 10pm.
.