So it is Wednesday evening and we have been running non-stop all week. Everyone is tired. Everyone is getting grumpy. We left out of the parks by 5:30 and decided we would go out and sit down for a nice dinner.
.. GREAT PLAN!
Once in the car we decided that this might be our only opportunity to do some shopping. We wanted to stop by the Disney Outlet and Wal-Mart and pick up some souvenirs. At the Disney outlet I had a lot of trouble with Ciera not listening. 3 of my children are ADHD and Ciera is one of them. Her medication had worn off. She was everywhere, wouldnt stay with me, and wouldnt listen. Gracie also has ADHD but she is my very emotional child. Most days she cries at least 3 times and usually over nothing. So every time she found something she liked we couldnt find her size. And she cried. When I found something her size I thought she might like, she didnt like it and she cried. None of this is out of the ordinary it is just a little worse because everyone is so tired. And Mommy is tired too. I was trying so hard to redirect, hold hands and keep everyone together and happy.
By the time we made it to Wal-Mart my feet were throbbing, I had a bad headache,
I was overheated, dehydrated, my legs hurt, my back hurt, even my shoulders hurt. I wanted nothing more than to just sit down and get something to drink. We head into the store with the idea we will be in and out in 15 minutes. Everyone pick out something; hold your own item and we dont even need a cart.
Before I go on I want to tell you that my kids are usually VERY well behaved when we go out in public. I often get comments on how well behaved my children are and people are surprised at how well the listen and stay together. This however would not have been one of those days. My wonderful, well behaved little angels left their manners somewhere at Animal Kingdom. I want this, Give Me THAT! Thats mine! I had it first! The little ones were pulling things off shelves without asking, taking things out of each others hands, bossing each other around.
The big kids
. Well at some point I totally lost Alex (he is the other ADHD child whos medication had worn off). But I figured he would show back up which he eventually did. He got mad when Dad said he couldnt buy wrestlers, we were here to find Disney souvenirs. Dad told all the kids they could pick either 2 Disney shirts or 1 shirt and 1 other small Disney item. So Alex was angry and giving me an attitude. 
Bri for the most part was good. She tried to help Alex find something he liked. Finally after 30 minutes of trying to find things to make everyone happy it was time to go check out. I tell the kids lets go and we started to head toward the register. Steve ran to another isle to exchange one of Lheas items real quick and I was getting the kids to the register. I turn around and they were ALL not with me. They had actually turned around and went back to the shirts! OK, now I seriously do know that this is not the end of the world. I can see them all. They are all fine and would catch up in just a minute. But Mommy had had enough!
Now I also feel I should tell you a little about the emotional roller coaster we had been on. Being on this Make A Wish trip and at Give Kids The World, was a real reminder of just how sick my little girl had been. For the past year everything has been great. Lheas health was good and she was now totally and legally MY daughter. No one could take her away. When she was my foster daughter she could have been taken away at any time. This was such a reminder of how scared I felt when she was so sick and I could have lost her either to histiocytosis or to social services. The stress of foster care could be a whole book! Lheas histiocytosis was originally diagnosed by a rash so anytime she breaks out I panic. This was a reality check that we were here because it is a real possibility that Lhea could get sick again and I really could lose her. And actually any of my kids could get sick at any time. I so often take for granted that they are here. I love each and every one of my kids with all of my heart and I couldnt imagine living without any of them. I hated seeing Ciera being defiant and out of control. It reminded me of how she was when she first came to my home as a foster child. I hated seeing Gracie crying all the time, it reminded me of that scared, abused little girl who was placed with me almost 4 years ago. And Lheas rash made me nervous.
That night I was emotionally and physically drained. I told my husband that I just cant do it anymore and he must take over. I looked up at him with tears in my eyes and he told me to go ahead and go to the car and he would take care of everything. At this point Bri had gathered the girls and everyone caught up. Lhea took my hand so I just took her with me. Alex saw that I was upset and ran out to help me with Lhea. I finally just got in the car and I cried. I sat there crying until the rest of the family came out.
My husband asked me what I wanted to do about dinner. At that point I couldnt even think anymore. I told him to decide. Well
. With the best of intentions he kept telling me that whatever I wanted to do, we would do. But really I didnt care. I was so tired! I really just wanted him to make a decision and the fact that he wasnt deciding had me crying again. I told him I just wanted to go home. Finally after a couple of minutes I told him I was exhausted and to go back to the villa and order some pizza for the kids. I should also add in here that I have a very patient husband and that I very rarely cry so when I do he knows I must be feeling really bad.
We got back to the villa and Steve insisted that I go soak in the tub and he would take care of everything. And I did! It was just what I needed. And for the first time nobody came into the bathroom to bother me with anything. When I heard a knock on the front door I decided I probably should get out. When I got into the living room everything was put away, the kids had pajamas on and my hubby had taken care of dinner. He ordered pizza for the kids AND he ordered rotisserie chicken for me and him from Katies Kitchen because he knew I would rather have that. Seeing everything taken care of and the kids sitting nicely so that Mommy can rest made me once again realize what a marvelous family I have. I am soooo blessed!
Once in the car we decided that this might be our only opportunity to do some shopping. We wanted to stop by the Disney Outlet and Wal-Mart and pick up some souvenirs. At the Disney outlet I had a lot of trouble with Ciera not listening. 3 of my children are ADHD and Ciera is one of them. Her medication had worn off. She was everywhere, wouldnt stay with me, and wouldnt listen. Gracie also has ADHD but she is my very emotional child. Most days she cries at least 3 times and usually over nothing. So every time she found something she liked we couldnt find her size. And she cried. When I found something her size I thought she might like, she didnt like it and she cried. None of this is out of the ordinary it is just a little worse because everyone is so tired. And Mommy is tired too. I was trying so hard to redirect, hold hands and keep everyone together and happy.
By the time we made it to Wal-Mart my feet were throbbing, I had a bad headache,
I was overheated, dehydrated, my legs hurt, my back hurt, even my shoulders hurt. I wanted nothing more than to just sit down and get something to drink. We head into the store with the idea we will be in and out in 15 minutes. Everyone pick out something; hold your own item and we dont even need a cart. Before I go on I want to tell you that my kids are usually VERY well behaved when we go out in public. I often get comments on how well behaved my children are and people are surprised at how well the listen and stay together. This however would not have been one of those days. My wonderful, well behaved little angels left their manners somewhere at Animal Kingdom. I want this, Give Me THAT! Thats mine! I had it first! The little ones were pulling things off shelves without asking, taking things out of each others hands, bossing each other around.
The big kids
. Well at some point I totally lost Alex (he is the other ADHD child whos medication had worn off). But I figured he would show back up which he eventually did. He got mad when Dad said he couldnt buy wrestlers, we were here to find Disney souvenirs. Dad told all the kids they could pick either 2 Disney shirts or 1 shirt and 1 other small Disney item. So Alex was angry and giving me an attitude. Bri for the most part was good. She tried to help Alex find something he liked. Finally after 30 minutes of trying to find things to make everyone happy it was time to go check out. I tell the kids lets go and we started to head toward the register. Steve ran to another isle to exchange one of Lheas items real quick and I was getting the kids to the register. I turn around and they were ALL not with me. They had actually turned around and went back to the shirts! OK, now I seriously do know that this is not the end of the world. I can see them all. They are all fine and would catch up in just a minute. But Mommy had had enough!Now I also feel I should tell you a little about the emotional roller coaster we had been on. Being on this Make A Wish trip and at Give Kids The World, was a real reminder of just how sick my little girl had been. For the past year everything has been great. Lheas health was good and she was now totally and legally MY daughter. No one could take her away. When she was my foster daughter she could have been taken away at any time. This was such a reminder of how scared I felt when she was so sick and I could have lost her either to histiocytosis or to social services. The stress of foster care could be a whole book! Lheas histiocytosis was originally diagnosed by a rash so anytime she breaks out I panic. This was a reality check that we were here because it is a real possibility that Lhea could get sick again and I really could lose her. And actually any of my kids could get sick at any time. I so often take for granted that they are here. I love each and every one of my kids with all of my heart and I couldnt imagine living without any of them. I hated seeing Ciera being defiant and out of control. It reminded me of how she was when she first came to my home as a foster child. I hated seeing Gracie crying all the time, it reminded me of that scared, abused little girl who was placed with me almost 4 years ago. And Lheas rash made me nervous.
That night I was emotionally and physically drained. I told my husband that I just cant do it anymore and he must take over. I looked up at him with tears in my eyes and he told me to go ahead and go to the car and he would take care of everything. At this point Bri had gathered the girls and everyone caught up. Lhea took my hand so I just took her with me. Alex saw that I was upset and ran out to help me with Lhea. I finally just got in the car and I cried. I sat there crying until the rest of the family came out.
My husband asked me what I wanted to do about dinner. At that point I couldnt even think anymore. I told him to decide. Well
. With the best of intentions he kept telling me that whatever I wanted to do, we would do. But really I didnt care. I was so tired! I really just wanted him to make a decision and the fact that he wasnt deciding had me crying again. I told him I just wanted to go home. Finally after a couple of minutes I told him I was exhausted and to go back to the villa and order some pizza for the kids. I should also add in here that I have a very patient husband and that I very rarely cry so when I do he knows I must be feeling really bad. We got back to the villa and Steve insisted that I go soak in the tub and he would take care of everything. And I did! It was just what I needed. And for the first time nobody came into the bathroom to bother me with anything. When I heard a knock on the front door I decided I probably should get out. When I got into the living room everything was put away, the kids had pajamas on and my hubby had taken care of dinner. He ordered pizza for the kids AND he ordered rotisserie chicken for me and him from Katies Kitchen because he knew I would rather have that. Seeing everything taken care of and the kids sitting nicely so that Mommy can rest made me once again realize what a marvelous family I have. I am soooo blessed!
