caffeinated updates

For the last few weeks I've been trying to wean myself from most caffeine. I didn't feel largely dependent upon it, it just seemed like I could and should go without it. I've switched to alternating my morning coffee with decaf or half-caf. All tea is herbal and only occasional Diet Cokes when working with my diabetic senior guy who has the worst tasting well water that I cannot swallow down. And since he keeps his thermostat set at a shocking 74 degrees (14 degrees higher than ours here in the Civil War House), I'm like a raisin about an hour and a half there. At any rate, I worked with my other senior couple today since they are preparing to move out of state next month and need the extra help right now. I was falling asleep in my chair watching this man sort through his files, so afterward I got a bagel and a coffee for my dinner before proceeding to my cleaning job. I laid down at 9pm to sleep and here it is nearly 11:30 and I am up, up, up. Grrrr.

Today was crazy. It seems every day is packed to the gills with none stop motion.
Today I took Sarah to school then drove 50 minutes to do a prenatal. 45 minutes at the prenatal and then to the post office to return obscenely priced "work clothes" for Greg. The line was long and annoying but I calmed myself by reminding self that at least kids were not present. Deep breaths. Done at the post office and back in the car for 45 minutes home. Came home, washed dishes, helped Greg fold laundry and clean house. Got Eamon to sleep just in time to leave the house again. Went to health store for over-priced items and then to my senior gig from 2-5. Across town to bagel shop and 100,000 mg caffeine in 8 oz cup and onward to cleaning job.
Then home again jiggety jig by 7pm. Living room destroyed by caffeinated 2 year old. Greg apparently thought Burger King would make a nice dinner since Mama wasn't home (fine occasionally, b/c even I love fast food french fries), but dumb dumb got 2 year old a COKE! Grrr.
So little E. was bouncing of the walls and being absolutely spazzy. Greg said, "Must've been that Coke. He drank it 4 hours ago and he's still going nuts!" With a smile on his face.
I then launched into lecture that irritated even me about how no child needs caffeine EVER and what the hell was he thinking?

We get Sarah to bed, then E. Greg and I go to our bed. E is still jumping all over the place while we talk and pretend we are sleeping. Greg says he wants to scan the entirety of some library books we have and I asked why? in a (granted) shitty tone and he gets offended. Wants to scan some book on Green Roofs. Like, making and maintaining rooves that grow plants and grasses on them. Oh. Hmm. Okay, sure. I lighten up, glad that he's found yet another new interest that doesn't involve small scale metal models that cost stupid amounts of money.
However, he's a little pissy now and pulls out the: "Well what do you want to see done with the house in the next 5 years?"
This while we're trying to settle into bed.
I said I hadn't the brain cells to devote to that right now. He was incredulous and said I should have a ready answer. I went into gentle, yet firm talk about how I'm pretty much physically moving from 7am until 11pm most days. Seriously. I was just talking to my sister about this tonight as I multi-tasked (As always) and cleaned the bank while making my "quiet time" phone calls. She laughed as I told her about how I never get to sit down to eat my breakfast or drink my coffee. I just kind of swoop in, take a bite and walk on. 5 minutes later I might swoop back down for a swig and then fly off again to start car, change a diaper, make a bed. My sister said it was just like the old days when we waitressed together. That's how our "breaks" were. Food sitting on a counter that you occasionally stopped in at before going off to your next customer. I've always said it was waitressing that prepared me for motherhood. You get to like and expect cold food.
So back to my rant. Greg says to me: "How old are you?!"
What?! Realized he was about to launch into his you're X old and you don't know what you want to do with your life?! Stopped it quick. Said, "Listen, I go,go,go all day long. Even when I'm home, I'm making appointments, returning calls, making food, folding laundry, cleaning after the kids. All of this before going to work. One of my 4 jobs that doesn't include mothering. I know you hate your job, and that it's boring a lot of the time and you have hours where you have nothing to do but read entire books cover to cover. I honestly do not have the time to think about my 5 Year Plan. I am as Zen as Zen can be without even trying. I am a walking example of living in the moment. So please, I promise I will think about what plans I have for future mudrooms, additions, sofas, gardens, cars but I cannot give you an answer tonight, I just can't."

He gave me a "fair enough" nod and said he realized I was working hard. Was the tiniest bit grumpy with me and squirmy E. but whatever.

I can't remember a time in my life where I EVER thought in terms of 5 Year Plans.
Ironically, I was just thinking about what a stupid, anal retentive concept that is. Just thinking of it last night while Mr. Senior Guy watched tv and that question was asked to someone. Wow, just remembered that whole thought process. Weird it came up tonight in conversation. I was thinking of what a stupid, Western concept that question is. 5 Year Plan concepts grate my nerves like every ineffectual school guidance counselor I ever met. Blech.

Other updates: took S. to different doctor yesterday who is MD but very holisitic. Had a 2 HOUR appointment that I was thrilled about. We finally found a doctor who gives the midwifery model of care! Meaning, he asks questions, he honestly listens and he doesn't just try to tack on some lame blanket diagnosis. We're in the middle of trying to figure out if S. has allergies that are triggering her new asthma, or if her asthma would be in check like it has been for her first 7 years if only her allergies (unknown at this point) would not trigger her asthma.
She also has a severe sinus infection. Besides her horrible cough, she's also been having bedtime accident fairly frequently these past 2 months.

So at the store today and bought the Emergen'C she likes, a neti pot, Gypsy Cold Care tea, a probiotic (for the antibiotic she was prescribed for the sinus infection).
Greg and I had fun with the neti pot. I made him go first because it freaked me out. It was fine. Felt a little like you did a flip underwater and got only a tiny bit of water up your nose. Since I'm not sick, my nose is clear and well lubricated, I didn't experience the WOW! I've heard so many people rave about after using their neti pot. However, Greg liked it. Not sure to a WOW! point, but it might help his congested nose.

I've had a sweet revelation that God must have brought me to do this senior work so I could find my surrogate Granparents. Seriously love the 2 different ladies I work for. And get this: they're both 86 years old and they are BOTH left-handed! I am left handed and even as recently as 1978 they tried to "correct" me so I would use my right hand (until my mom gave them some verbal whoop-ass and they let me be). It's amazing to find anyone in that generation who is left handed. So there's my first connection with them. (No one in my immediate or extended family is left handed except for me, and now my own daughter~ hurray!) I've been working with these people since August and both ladies tell me they love me, give me kisses, and send God Bless 'Ems to my kids. The men are fine too, but quieter. Very nice, the one makes me a little crazy b/c he can be terribly OCD and has me do pointless searches for nameless objects where I want to eat my own head in frustration. And he's a bit like a big toddler sometimes and I scratch my head and wonder why my work is the same as my mothering? That ALL of my jobs are mothering to some degree. Then I realize I'm very lucky, count my blessings, and pray to be a better mother in all capacities. Last night one of the old women kissed my cheek goodnight as I dropped her off to her boyfriend (my Mr. Senior Guy). I was shocked, but then held my hand to my cheek like I was in middle school and a boy just kissed my cheek unexpectedly. I laughed as I drove away because I felt like a little girl, happy to be loved and approved of by my elder.

BOSCH UPDATE:
it was an obscene amount of money. It was. But I was so pleased to see the water (not) used. Our old washer would nearly fill the big sink (perhaps 18 inches deep)next to it as it expelled all the water during the spin cycle. The Bosch expels a mere 3-4 inches of water during the spin cycle. It's amazing. I cannot wait to see the change in our water bill. Oh, and the clothes are really clean. And it's a shame we don't have a fancy mini-mansion with first floor laundry (or even better, an upstairs laundry!), because you cannot HEAR the thing work. Have to go completely into the basement and LOOK at it so see it the thing has finished! Amazing!

It's midnight and I should go to bed in case client goes into labor. Could always get more coffee should I need to go. That's the nice thing about cutting caffeine is that it makes it far more effective when you need it.

Feeling better now. Even about the 5 Year Plan remark. Whatever. It's all good and I refuse to be sucked into feeling bad about not multi-tasking my 5 Year Plan along with everything else in the course of my day.
Until next time I have time, or, drink coffee in the evening.