So busy, so tired, so much stuff

Tonight I am tired, my feet and calves are red and swollen, and if I had time to feel overwhelmed I would. Today Pete was not feeling well as a result of what we assume to be food poisoning. He made dinner last night at my request, I was trying to share the load and unburden myself some, but he wasn't really up for it so he didn't put his usual pizzazz into it. He started eating while I got everyone else their food. I cut into it for Luke and saw right away that it was not sufficiently cooked. Pete had already eaten half of it. I tried microwaving it but it was just not really salvageable. Jack really wanted to eat the dinner so he found some that looked 'ok' and took 4 or 5 bites. The rest of us decided not to eat. Pete felt sick pretty soon after. Jack felt not great but not as bad as Pete.* I don't want to hear again from him how I messed up in the kitchen because at least I have never given myself or my family food poisoning.

Early this AM Pete told me I would have to sub for him as helper at Jack's book fair, which started at 8am. Wonderful woman I am I agreed. I was very worried that my lack of math skills would make this a horrible experience, but luckily I avoided the cash registers and helped kids find books. Also, if you think telling someone that you are pregnant with your 5th kid is going to get a semi-shocked response at a Catholic School you are wrong. The lady in charge today has 7 kids. A boy in Jack's class is 1 of 9 kids, I better just let go of that idea right now. When I got home my dear husband was asleep and still not feeling well, Meg was asleep, and the boys were watching tv. At least they survived. You see I was worried because yesterday when I left Meg and Thomas at home I returned to Meg crying in her bed and Thomas trying to help by putting a basketball, a chessboard, and fruit snacks in her bed. He was also trying to set up the cribbage board and climb into her crib with it. 

This afternoon I went to pick up Jack from school, and we had to stop by the store for 7Up,  I decided that I was just too tired, busy, and not at all in the mood to make or bake goods for the bake sale Jack's class is in charge of tomorrow, so I bought yogurt covered pretzels to divide into baggies and send with him. I am wondering why I did not think of this sooner. Brilliant.

 Jack had Tae Kwon Do tonight so I took him. Once there I became hungry and they have a little food place so I ordered a pizza. I almost ate the whole thing. I got to the last piece and stopped myself because- Come on woman have some respect for yourself! But I really could have eaten it all. I think a recent conversation with the insurance nurse was playing in my mind somewhere. The insurance company feels as though I need to have phone calls from a nurse to talk to me about being pregnant. I don't feel the same way since I have been pregnant like a million times, after a month of avoiding the call I took it. She asked basic questions and she got to the the weight question and it went like this. N: How much do you weigh? Me: Around 140 lbs. N: What was your starting weight? Me: 118 lbs. N: Do you think you need to have a talk with your doctor about how to manage your weight during pregnancy? Is he concerned that you have gained so much? So I threw that last piece of pizza away, but now I wish I hadn't because I am kinda hungry.

I mentioned Jack didn't feel great after eating dinner last night. He mentioned that during school he had a few issues, but he seemed to be managing. Well, right before bedtime he just stood in front of the stairs and vomited for a long long time. I just stared. I didn't even go get a garbage can. I was sort of amazed. It's been a long week and it is only Tuesday. 

Ok so it sounds like I have been moaning a lot, but while life has been busy it hasn't been all bad. So I should mention some of the other things.

Luke lost his first tooth.  He is very excited that he is only 4 and has lost a tooth with another soon to come out. He was confused about the tooth fairy thing, and didn't even check under his pillow the next morning.

Jack had his First Reconciliation. He was very nervous. He didn't want to talk to the priest, he was worried the priest would tell people what he said, he couldn't remember everything he had done wrong, and he was embarrassed by the bad things he had done. We talked it out, but he was still so anxious. The parents were invited to also receive Reconciliation so Pete and I both went. It had been a looooonnnnng time for both of us, but life here has been rough in many ways and we felt like we needed it. I think it helped Jack to see us go and feel a bit uncomfortable too. I tried to get up and leave as soon as I confessed and he said--Didn't you come for absolution? You better sit down if you want it. Oops. Pete felt touched by some wisdom informing him that God doesn't need us to be perfect and it is in our weaknesses that God works. That was definitely paraphrasing and Pete will probably get upset I didn't remember it correctly, but that was the basic idea. Jack also felt better after going. He played with his brothers all day and even held open doors for me.

We drove to Indy and went to the Children's Museum with Granny, Pappy, and cousins James and Lily. The boys had a lot of fun. 

There you go. Life with the Weigel Family. 

Tears and Gladness

Thomas has been crying a lot lately- over everything and nothing! Oh the tantrums he throws are delightful. We went to Target the other day and something set him off. He refused to move, so I walk away, down the aisle, turn the corner, and wait. I was out of eyesight so surely he would come soon. Nope. This boy is STUBBORN! After a minute I peeked my head around the corner to make sure he was fine, and he was just standing there arms crossed and glowering. I just waited it out. After a couple minutes he slowly made his way down the aisle. Not at all pleased. He walked behind me, arms still crossed, lips pouted out, and then he stopped again. I turned and noticed that he had taken his shoes off and they were about 10 feet behind him. I asked if he wanted them or should we just leave them there? An older lady heard me, and so she asked if she could take them home with her. He was not about to talk to some lady he did not know so he just glared. She soon walked away. I was just standing there with him and told him that if he didn't put them on then they would stay at the store. This time another woman heard me and said that she really liked those shoes, she had boys at home(here she picked up one of the shoes), and said her boys would love them. This made Thomas stop to think for a second, but you could tell he didn't want to be manipulated by some woman he didn't know. She asked if she could have them and he shook his head no. She then said well do you want me to pick them up for you or do you want me to leave them on the floor? He stared her down for about 10 seconds then he went to get them from her. Oh my. An almost similar situation happens every time we go out in public now. I foolishly think that when he just stands there if I walk out of eyesight he will come, but no he isn't worried about not being able to see me. He would much rather make a stand.

Of course it was recently Halloween. The weather was disgusting. It was windy, cold, with a rain/snow mix coming down. We went trick-or-treating downtown this year, and as soon as we stepped out of the car dear Thomas broke down. It was too cold, he wanted his sunglasses, and who knows what else. Pete walked him back to the car, and I went on with the other three. Meg was Supergirl, but with the jacket and her owl snow hat people thought she was an owl. Oh well. Jack and Luke were troopers, and we eventually ran into Pete and Thomas who were giving it another try.

Meg turned 9 months. They asked if she could say Mama or Dada. I said no, but she can growl. Oh boy does she. She is very apt at expressing herself with growls. She stood solo for about 10 seconds last week, but she hasn't done it again. However, she has discovered this move and it is her favorite.

Jack was having a week. Not good behavior at school, not good behavior at Tae Kwon Do, and just all around want to pull my hair out can't believe this kid. Then one night I was a bit late getting everyone ready for bed, and Meg wanted to go to sleep and the younger boys wanted stories all at the same time. Out of no where Jack just said that he would read to his brothers since I was busy. He read them 3 books. He really is a sweet boy.

A week ago Luke and Jack were wrestling and fighting when Luke smashed his mouth on Jack's shoulder. There was no blood, but his bottom two front teeth were loose. I figured leave them alone and they would get better. (This has happened to us before and the leave it alone strategy has worked.) On Monday I noticed that they looked funny. They were not as straight as they normally are and they just looked different. I wiggled them and they were pretty loose. I made an appointment for the dentist, and it turns out that my 4-yr-old is just ready for those teeth to come out. His permanent teeth are already right there. Crazy! He is very excited that he gets to have this special tooth losing ability happen to him.

I took Meg and Thomas to the playground while Jack and Luke were at school. I was very impressed with myself because I honestly don't do stuff like that as much as I probably should. Of course, I was rewarded with Luke finding out and bawling his eyes out for an hour. I can't win.

That is life here. Full of tears. Interspersed with moments of joy and gladness.