- make bed
- dress & feed kids
- bathe Aubrey
- vacuum downstairs carpets
- prep dinner (macaroni & cheese)
- wash dishes
- shine kitchen sink
- start laundry
- wipe down table & chairs
- wrap wedding gift
- get Daniel's clothes (for wedding) ready
Sometimes (OK... a lot of times) I'm amazed at how quickly 5 hours can disappear with very little getting done. I don't make lofty lists and still I fall short. But then I remember that Aubrey has yet to take a good nap today and that Gabriel is sick with what looks to be strep throat and that Jackson has needed continual attention (read: discipline and training) and that Daniel has been gone since 8am, and I don't feel quite so inept.
At least the kids made their beds.
That's often how mornings go!! I swear, it's lunch before I know it!
ReplyDeleteAt any rate, atleast you've gotten more than half of the list completed!
I would never aim for more than 10 things in 5 hours. That's just asking for failure!!
ReplyDeleteGosh, I never aim for more than 10 things in my whole day. Four or five is more my speed :) Looks like you're a success in my book!
ReplyDeleteYou have 6 out of 11 completed. Not bad with four kids and no Daniel.
ReplyDeleteWhy don't you start writing things down like
ReplyDeleteAnswer Phone
Use Bathroom
Brush B's Hair
Nurse Aubrey
Train/ Discipline Jack
Change Diapers
Blink
Breathe
The more detailed and specific you get, the more you have to cross off.
Also- I'm moving your dinner prep to the afternoon list! Or more like 4:30.
Brietta - I've been lurking around your blog for a while, reading updates on Aubrey. Jake and I have been praying for her (and your whole family!).
ReplyDeleteI have to say that several of your blogs make me laugh so hard - I know, I know they aren't intended to be funny It's just that I could have written them myself with just a different set of children's names here and there
I myself am a list maker as well... in fact, when labor with my last baby (Liam) was taking longer than we had expected Jacob decided to cheer me up by making a list on a nearby whiteboard with changes every half hour.. something like "4:00 contractions increase to 1 1/2 minutes long, 4:30 - water breaks, 5:00 - No one is allowed to talk, 5:30 transition, 6:00 pushing - 6:30 baby born at 9 + pounds" Everyone who walked in was confused until he said "You just have to see this woman and her lists at home"
People got a good chuckle
It's so refreshing for me to know there's someone out there just like me, with a lot of the same personality traits (and triggers), as well as 4 children close in age (I feel like the only one sometimes!!)
Hang in there - you will see big changes in the next year or so as your older two become a bit more capable and responsible (read that to mean you'll be able to have a more complete list you feel proud of, hehe)
How do mornings get away so fast?
ReplyDeleteI wanted to say also that I was deleting things in my email folders and I believe I used "Tbsp" instead of "tsp" for all of the spices. I'm sure that was already obvious to you and I have no idea what I was thinking when I was typing?! (Perhaps it was something in regards to the 357 interruptions that occurred while I was trying to type it up. =) In any case, sorry for the error!
After having spent 2+ weeks with just your three older children, I am very impressed with your list and what you accomplished in only 5 hours. While at your home my lists consisted of items like "feed the children something relatively healthy," "make sure each child has on clean and somewhat appropriate clothing," "try to keep life functioning close to their normal schedule," and "read lots of books and play with the children." I loved being there. I had a blast with the children and by the end of my time there I was able to catch up on maintenance cleaning, but I often wondered how you ever found time to do anything beyond basic survival, and I was not caring for Aubrey. I think you are amazing!
ReplyDeleteI made "Maple Salmon" for dinner last night. Dad and I loved it. Since I didn't have real maple syrup, I made it with Aldi's "Aunt Maple." I'm sure the final result was quite differnt from the real thing, but it was still very good.
I hope this makes you feel better...I never shine my kitchen sink-ever. There are some things that I have decided will not get done until my kids are in college.
ReplyDeleteYou are doing a great job!
Love you,
Jude
I noticed on Lisa's that you mentioned Gabriel had to go to the ER. Does he have strep throat? Just wondering how he is and what specific things I (we) should be praying for?
ReplyDeleteBrietta -- I would love to do your hair sometime this week. I am actually going to be working a few hours today - any chance you would want an afternoon appointment? Or we could do tomorrow morning?? Also, I am taking several days off around Thanksgiving since I thought we were going to be in Long Island - we could just plan on doing it on Wednesday if things like a little easier that way. Just let me know. Your roots make me cringe and I take responsibility for that. :)
ReplyDeleteI think your morning list is longer than my all-day list...and I still don't always get everything done, even with healthy children. So far today (it is 9:30 am), I have bathed Nathanael and fed the children breakfast. If I am lucky, dishes will get done and the rest of us will be bathed by lunchtime. You are incredibly ambitious (and productive) in my book.
ReplyDelete