Like Pulling Teeth
Whew...it's 6:30 p.m. and I think I can officially call this day OVER. And good riddance to it as it was one of the busiest days I've had in a long time. I really don't enjoy being overscheduled and running, running, running. I'll never be one of those mothers whose kids are in every activity and I'm in the PTA, volunteering, etc. I'm going to have them pick one athletic activity and maybe one musical or academic activity each...
Wait a minute, we'll have three kids with two activities each. Oh Lord. Never mind. Maybe I will be the mother with three different uniforms and cleats in the back of the minivan, the drum sticks, the piano books, the violin, the karate outfit, the toe shoes.
Makes me think of my friend Jen who is always running around, doing so many things, giving of her time to so many organizations. I don't think she can sit still...and any time she had to sit still, she'd probably be cleaning her house. She's a dynamo!
Anyway...today we had: kindergarten registration, Josiah's preschool, OB appointment and ballet. In that order.
Kindergarten registration turned out to be an absolute nightmare. For the last month, there have been signs everywhere, ads in the newspaper, articles in the base paper, etc. documenting what sorts of paperwork parents would need to bring to register. How many times did I read the list? You know, I consider myself a very organized person. I had the stuff ready to go, clipped and in a folder and in the car three or four days before today. Just to be prepared.
First of all, there was nowhere to park at the PX, which was my first signal that something unholy was happening inside. The parking lot is never full. Luckily for me there is a parking spot right up front for "spouses of deployed service members", probably the only benefit around here to having your husband/wife gone. I parked, unloaded everyone and the gear I figured we'd need to curb boredom, went inside and beheld utter chaos. Swarms of people everywhere...no organization. It was ugly.
I finally figured out where I needed to be, got my bundle of paperwork to fill out and proudly presented the ladies with the aforementioned paperwork.
"Oh, we'll need a copy of his birth certificate or a passport...some proof of birth".
#*&$!
At least I had the gall to tell them that in all their advertising they never once mentioned needing something like that. And then, I slunk out, reloaded everyone, left the PX (and my primo parking spot), ran all the way home, got the passport, got back. Filled out 405 pieces of paper regarding Josiah's health, emergency contacts, field trips, computer internet usage, allergies, etc., etc., etc.
I wish that that was all I had to do, but then we had to go stand in the line to have the nurse review his shot records and make sure his rabies vaccination was up-to-date. I kid you not, we were in that line for almost an hour. Here I thought I had gotten an early enough start that we'd have enough time to register, drive Josiah to preschool, then get over to my OB appointment at noon.
I ended up having to keep Josiah out of school because I wasn't about to lose my place in line. We didn't finish up with the nurse until 11:35. Believe it or not, there's a third line...so I had to have them file my paperwork and I have to go back tomorrow with them to stand in the third line for two hours.
So, both Josiah and Annika came along on my OB appointment, which, since it's at a German clinic (albeit a very small one) made it a bit of a harrowing experience. Surprisingly, my blood pressure was 100/60. I'm not sure the nurse did it correctly. My blood pressure has never been that low in my life. I'm usually up around 120/80, and with the kids there, I thought it would be 190/120 or something ungodly.
Everything went well at the appointment. I love the fact that we get ultrasounds at each appointment. It's so reassuring to see the baby, see its little beating heart and its hands waving around. Dr. Voss told me that Josiah and Annika are very "high energy" and then she said "And look, this baby is too!", because he/she was waving his/her arms and hands around! She said everything looks excellent and I'll go back in four weeks. But no "sex" ultrasound until 22 weeks. We'll see about that. I'll bet cash money we'll be able to tell in four weeks.
But I guess in 8 weeks, Hans would be able to be there. We'll see.
Rush back home, throw Annika into her leotard, run to ballet, only to sit. And sit, and sit. The teacher never showed up. Eventually we left and went to the playground instead.
So...some bad points, but many good points. But far, far too busy for my taste! I intend to be doubly lazy tomorrow to make up for it.
Wait a minute, we'll have three kids with two activities each. Oh Lord. Never mind. Maybe I will be the mother with three different uniforms and cleats in the back of the minivan, the drum sticks, the piano books, the violin, the karate outfit, the toe shoes.
Makes me think of my friend Jen who is always running around, doing so many things, giving of her time to so many organizations. I don't think she can sit still...and any time she had to sit still, she'd probably be cleaning her house. She's a dynamo!
Anyway...today we had: kindergarten registration, Josiah's preschool, OB appointment and ballet. In that order.
Kindergarten registration turned out to be an absolute nightmare. For the last month, there have been signs everywhere, ads in the newspaper, articles in the base paper, etc. documenting what sorts of paperwork parents would need to bring to register. How many times did I read the list? You know, I consider myself a very organized person. I had the stuff ready to go, clipped and in a folder and in the car three or four days before today. Just to be prepared.
First of all, there was nowhere to park at the PX, which was my first signal that something unholy was happening inside. The parking lot is never full. Luckily for me there is a parking spot right up front for "spouses of deployed service members", probably the only benefit around here to having your husband/wife gone. I parked, unloaded everyone and the gear I figured we'd need to curb boredom, went inside and beheld utter chaos. Swarms of people everywhere...no organization. It was ugly.
I finally figured out where I needed to be, got my bundle of paperwork to fill out and proudly presented the ladies with the aforementioned paperwork.
"Oh, we'll need a copy of his birth certificate or a passport...some proof of birth".
#*&$!
At least I had the gall to tell them that in all their advertising they never once mentioned needing something like that. And then, I slunk out, reloaded everyone, left the PX (and my primo parking spot), ran all the way home, got the passport, got back. Filled out 405 pieces of paper regarding Josiah's health, emergency contacts, field trips, computer internet usage, allergies, etc., etc., etc.
I wish that that was all I had to do, but then we had to go stand in the line to have the nurse review his shot records and make sure his rabies vaccination was up-to-date. I kid you not, we were in that line for almost an hour. Here I thought I had gotten an early enough start that we'd have enough time to register, drive Josiah to preschool, then get over to my OB appointment at noon.
I ended up having to keep Josiah out of school because I wasn't about to lose my place in line. We didn't finish up with the nurse until 11:35. Believe it or not, there's a third line...so I had to have them file my paperwork and I have to go back tomorrow with them to stand in the third line for two hours.
So, both Josiah and Annika came along on my OB appointment, which, since it's at a German clinic (albeit a very small one) made it a bit of a harrowing experience. Surprisingly, my blood pressure was 100/60. I'm not sure the nurse did it correctly. My blood pressure has never been that low in my life. I'm usually up around 120/80, and with the kids there, I thought it would be 190/120 or something ungodly.
Everything went well at the appointment. I love the fact that we get ultrasounds at each appointment. It's so reassuring to see the baby, see its little beating heart and its hands waving around. Dr. Voss told me that Josiah and Annika are very "high energy" and then she said "And look, this baby is too!", because he/she was waving his/her arms and hands around! She said everything looks excellent and I'll go back in four weeks. But no "sex" ultrasound until 22 weeks. We'll see about that. I'll bet cash money we'll be able to tell in four weeks.
But I guess in 8 weeks, Hans would be able to be there. We'll see.
Rush back home, throw Annika into her leotard, run to ballet, only to sit. And sit, and sit. The teacher never showed up. Eventually we left and went to the playground instead.
So...some bad points, but many good points. But far, far too busy for my taste! I intend to be doubly lazy tomorrow to make up for it.
