If I believed in signs...

I would’ve taken this morning’s poop-fest as one to stay home. Today was a “late day,” one where I get to stay at home a little longer, drop J at the sitter’s, and take A to preschool. So I decided to stay in bed a bit longer than usual, well, because it’s a late day, right? Things were going swimmingly until J had the hugest poop of her young life, blowing right through diaper, onesie, shirt, and jeans. It required a bath. All before 7:00 A.M.

Lovely.

Then I get to work. To summarize, it wasn’t a bad day. In fact, I really felt like I actually helped some people today. No small feat. However, a good percentage of my day ended up cancelling out on me and one of my “usuals” was in the hospital. So I got caught up on paperwork, made lots of necessary phonecalls and tied up loose ends. Every so often...it’s great to have a day like today.

My afternoon was rather striking. A family whose school-aged child I had seen last week for an evaluation called me and said they wanted to discuss my findings and get my opinion and see how it compared to the school’s opinion. Sometimes it still kills me that there are actually people out there who consider me to be somewhat of an expert at something. I by no means consider myself to be so, but then I find myself using phrases like “yeah...there’s a big debate in all the literature about that right now...” Hmmm...perhaps I do know what I’m talking about. Just don’t tell anyone...

Anyway, this kid has a very garden-variety problem, something I’ve fixed before, and something I will fix a bunch more times before I find something less mentally taxing to do. But his parents are so worried about him. They want to do anything and everything they possibly can to ensure his future success. They have long discussions about how this little bump in the road might possibly affect the rest of his life, and I don’t even think they really believed me when I told them it’s not nearly the big deal they think it is...but that I really do understand how much it hurts when someone tells you there’s something (anything) wrong with your kid. They cried. Their love and concern for him was so blatantly obvious I could almost feel it. And damned if I didn’t have to tell them that I thought the other professional was wrong, but I can’t do anything to help them unless they shell out a bunch of money because their insurance (for which they work hard and pay a lot) won’t pay for my services. I would see this kid for free if I could, if for no other reason than that it would be nice to finally work with a family who has a clue and actually cares about their child...

Take that right after I saw a little guy who has issues of the MAJOR kind, for which he could be treated for years. His mom doesn’t have to worry about paying for my services because he has a medical card that doesn’t care what the problem is, much less how we’d go about fixing it. I told his mother I felt it was crucial that he get help...that he’s set up for many worse problems in the future if his current problem isn’t taken care of now. When I told her he needs to be seen at least weekly, she looked at me like I had twelve eyes and a purple horn growing out of my forehead, and said “Well, I just don’t think I can do that.” And with that she left my office. What’s up with that?

Ahhhh...I could go on and on. But there’s laundry to do in preparation for my first plane ride sans children. I’m freaking out, to put it lightly. And the 84 inches of snow that fell over the timespan of about 2 minutes tonight is not helping my nerves. Not one bit.

It’s been twenty-some odd days...

...so here are twenty random thoughts about my life at this point (a la some of my favorite blogs).

1. I’m learning that it’s true - there’s no way to be a superwoman. It is actually impossible to keep a house, work a full- or near-full-time job, raise healthy and well-adjusted children, keep a busy schedule, and maintain one’s sanity. In my life, what gets left out is the keeping of the house. It’s not that it doesn’t bother me to live in disorganized chaos, it’s just the least important thing on my to-do list. I fully intend that to change once I live in a house with more than one closet.

2. Today is my roommate’s thirtieth birthday. I could go on and on about how much I love her and depend on her, but some other time. I just keep thinking about how when we were in college, she used to talk about 32 being her best year. It’s only two years away, and she’s just a Ph.D and one child away from making all of her 32-year-old dreams come true. The rest she has covered - great hair, great job(s), great marriage. I wonder if her thoughts on 32 have changed any as she approaches that golden age?

3. I love my minivan. And I’m not afraid to tell anyone that. I think the inventor of the minivan should forever live in the sweetest corner of heaven. Any vehicle that houses 15 cup holders is tops in my book.

4. I hate doctors. Let me rephrase. I hate going to doctors. I was never this way until the trauma of my third trimester with J and the subsequent trauma of her early weeks. But now I have an absolutely abnormal paranoia of doctors, procedures, diagnoses, hospitals...well, all of it. Ironic that I work in health care.

5. I only have 4 cousins. I have 1 nephew who is blood relation. I have 6 nieces and nephews (and 6 more, if you count their spouses and significant others) on D’s side of the family. I’m closer in age to those 6 (12) nieces and nephews than I am to D. Weird.

6. I grew up in a big city but now don’t think I could live in one. Some days I hate the small town life, but most of the time I find it very comforting, sweet, and homey.

7. If I could do anything other than what I’m doing right now, career-wise, and be guaranteed success, I would open a bridal shop and wedding planning business. This would come as no surprise to my girlfriends who know me well. It would shock the hell out of my husband.

8. I am an Episcopalian. I’ve found it to be the perfect fit for me, although it was rough getting there. I love the liturgy. I love the cycle of the church year. I think our priest is fabulous, and I love that he co-officiated our wedding. I think kneeling to pray is humbling. I love high-church churches. I love low-church churches. I love that there’s a choice. And I’ve found that most of the Episcopalians I know are (although quirky) a fabulously interesting bunch of people.

9. I will probably never own another American-made vehicle.

10. I’m in the midst of contemplating a job change. Actually, I’m pretty darn sure I’m going to change. I’m hoping that what I’m going to will be better than what I’m doing now, even though what I’m doing now really isn’t all that bad. I like the thought of change, but it is a little scary. The logistics of a job change are sticky, but I hope in the long run, worth it.

11. I’m absolutely and 100% devoted to the College of Wooster. I think it is a wonderful and unique place. It’s where I grew up. Liberal arts education is an experience everyone should have. My husband does not agree.

12. If I ever had to choose between not flossing my teeth and not brusing my teeth, I would actually choose not to brush.

13. My kids make the best faces and noises when they are asleep. One of the best moments of my day is going into my daughter’s room right before I go to bed, when she’s been asleep for at least 3 hours. I love to pick her up and snuggle her. I love those little gurgles and squeaks that she makes. I also love going in to tuck in my son. It’s really funny to try and engage him in conversation when he’s completely asleep. Most of the time, though, he doesn’t say anything. He just throws his arm over my shoulder and heaves a big sigh. Pure heaven.

14. I don’t understand how the world functioned before: the super-capacity washer and dryer, the crock pot, travel mugs, and the internet.

15. I’ve found that my mom wasn’t lying all those years when she said all she wanted for Christmas was for her family to be happy. All I care about on Christmas now is the presence and health of my husband, my kids, my mom and brother, and my in-laws.

16. We’ve been married for 7 years. We’ve had 2 cats that entire time. I have cleaned the litter box twice. My philosphy? Don’t ever get started on one of those nasty jobs you don’t ever want to have to assume as your responsibility. Ditto for ironing any other adult’s clothing and taking the trash to the curb.

17. I love mowing the lawn.

18. I suck at thrift-store shopping. I’m not even any good at TJ Maxx. I don’t understand how anyone ever finds good stuff there. I just can’t do it.

19. My husband is the most well-rounded person I have ever met. There is no one in the world like him. He knows more song lyrics than any human on earth, I’m quite convinced. He also gets calculus, can prescribe medical procedures and various drugs in the middle of the night after just being awakened, like, MOMENTS ago, has an uncanny ability to make anyone feel comfortable anywhere, has friends from his childhood that he still keeps in touch with, and could be occupied by the internet for days just looking at random stuff. There’s no end to the things he finds interesting.

20. If my kids ever get their hands on this and read it, I hope they laugh their little heads off. I hope I look back on it in 10 years or more and do the same.