Calgon take me away

Here is my life since last night 10:30:

10:30 - go to bed
12:00 - Vi is coughing - give breathing treatment
12:30 - back to bed
12:50 - Vi cries and coughs some more
1:00 - 2:30 - Rock, hold, and try to convince Violet to go to sleep
3:30 - 4:00 - Vi coughing again prop her on pillows in bed beside me
4:30 - Anara crying, give bottle, change diaper, and back to bed
5:00 - 6:45 - sleep

This morning I woke up feeling, as expected, like crap. This was the 3rd night of very little sleep. I had a bad attitude and knew that I was in for a long day of cranky, tired, and sick girls with a cranky and tired mom. I made the girls and I eggs for breakfast (Nate left the house around 5:30am). I drank coffee and was still feeling sluggish. I decided to be a real wimp and just catch up on blogs while the girls wrestled over toys in the living room. Violet said, "Mama, are you almost done with blogs?" Whoops - pretty bad when your 2 y/o can call you on your laziness. I decided that the only way I would feel human again was to bathe. Usually when I am home with the girls I take the 2 minute, 3 essential body parts shower. Today I decided that I needed a bath. I filled the tub with water, made the declaration one should never make to a 1 and 2 y/o, "Mommy is going to take a bath, you guys need to behave", and turned on a Baby Einstein DVD. When Nate isn't home I have to leave the door open so that I can continue policing the girls from the bathroom. Again, as expected, the girls immediately start wrestling, screaming, whining, and crying - what a lovely, relaxing bath.

Now I am clean, dressed, and ready to go. I feel much better and I am determined to accomplish something today to redeem myself as wife and mother. I am not looking for sympathy - just giving everyone a glimpse of this morning. Not everyday is like today, but given the sleep deprivation, I am certain that God has given me a special dose of grace and caffeine has given me a little motivation - better take advantage. By the way - the DVD is on its 2nd round, and here I thought "continuous play" mode was only for child abusers. Don't worry, this is the last time, and I am not actually deceived enough to think my children are learning from the Baby Einstein DVD - I just hope it's draining their brains at a slower rate than some other television options.