Organizing time

I cannot add time to my day, so I have to organize my time better. And just thinking about what I could do differently isn't working. I need a plan. I need to write down my ideas and at least put one of them into action. I think of my ideal day, and it seems monumental and impossible.

Things that I need to add into my day that are currently not there:

Time with God. I haven't read my bible (minus required reading for the kids' schoolwork) in a very long time. I'd like to have at least 1 hour a day that I can devote to quiet; to reading and studying the bible.

Reading 'for fun' books. I have so many books in my 'to be read' stack, and so many new books coming out all the time that I would love to read. I'd like to read at least 1 chapter in at least 1 book every day.

Exercise. I have about 50 lbs that I NEED to get rid of. I cannot wish it away. It's not going to come off by changing eating habits alone. But, those that know me know that I am the furthest thing from an outdoorsy person as you can get. I'd like to be down 20 lbs by my birthday.

Sports for the kids. They are itching to be in an organized sport. Blake wants football (I've tried to explain to him that this isn't southern CA and they don't play football year-round here). Olivia wants to do Cheerleading. Rebekah wants Binashtics (that's gymnastics for those that don't speak Bekah), and they all three want swim lessons.

Music lessons. For all of us. I desperately want to learn to play the piano. I want my kids to learn to play some instrument. Guitar, violin, flute, drums, uh scratch that last one, oboe, their own voice. I don't care, I just want them to learn an instrument and the world of music.

I want to do all these things, but I still want to be that wife that has the house clean, is cleaned up herself, and has dinner on the table when her husband gets home. I want for us to eat dinner as a family, read or watch something on tv that benefits us all, then bedtime routines at a decent bedtime hour (for all of us!). I've often said I should have been a wife in the 1950s :-) Except I don't think that even then I would have vacuumed in heels and pearls.

Having that means that all of the previously mentioned things I want can't be done at night. I have to figure out a way to fit all of it into an already seemingly busy school day. I say seemingly, because if I were better organized we probably wouldn't be so busy. It probably wouldn't take us so long to get things done if I was prepared and organized for each school day, for chores, for dinner...

I feel like most of my days are filled with playing the game of catch-up. I often feel like I'm one step behind, and that is more frustrating than anything.

I know that I'm hard on myself. I'm harder on myself than anyone else in the world, but I know there is something I can do to streamline my days, to make life more enjoyable for us all, and I'm stubborn enough to work at it until I'm happy with the results.

Poison Control

So the other night, I had to call Poison Control for the first time with child number 4. I've had to call them so much over the last 10 years that it doesn't even phase me anymore when they ask for my name and zip code.

When my oldest was our only there was a span of time that I called them A LOT. I was so scared that there was some type of "Poison Control Quota" and if you called more than the quota Social Services would make a visit. I was certain Blake would be taken away after I had to call about him pouring gasoline all over himself in the same month he drank mouthwash (and two other things I've since forgotten).

Anyway, back to the other night.

I cleaned the kitchen after dinner. I even started the dishwasher and mopped the floor! Ok, Swiffered, but whatever. I forgot to re-lock the cleaner's cabinet. About 15 minutes later, I was in the school room, and I heard that oh, so, familiar sound. That gagging, sputtering, choking sound. I jumped up, hurdled the gate, and saw Luke in the hallway with the remnants of a dishwasher pack*, clearly gagging, and, uh, stuff coming out his mouth.

I realized what it was immediately. I jerked him up and ran to the kitchen, making sure there wasn't any left in his mouth. I started reading the label on the package and calling out orders at the same time "bring me the phone, I need to call poison control", "he needs milk, get me some milk", and "DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING" as he vomits (I'm so glad I mopped the floor!).

He's fine, just gave us a scare. The poison control guy gave me some instructions and things to look for, and then he called me back in 1/2 an hour to make sure Luke was ok.

In related? news, he went to bed great that night and slept until 7 am the next morning. It was the first time Luke has slept through the night since we left California.

Jerry says maybe we should feed him a dishwasher pack every night! He's kidding, right? :-)

*These