moving parts

On any given day, so many things can happen to five different people living together in one house. 

It's 9:15 on a Monday night, and I just got off the phone with a very nice man named Eric at Maryland Poison Control (a terrific public service that I have never, incidentally, called before). He reassured me that the broken CFL bulb shattered all over the rug in Frances's room was seriously - no, seriously - not a problem. 

Did I clean it up? Yes, yes, according to the EPA website's recommendations, yes. 

Well then, you're fine. 

I am? What about how Gabriel apparenty picked up a piece and tossed it in the trash?

Fine.

You're sure? 

Ma'am. None of your children are poisoned.   

Well, that's one worry to check off the list. I mean, if this guy Eric is trustworthy. He did sound rather authoritative. But can you blame me if every bit of something or other on the floor that glitters in the light has me breaking out the duct tape, back on my hands and knees again?

Before Eric, I was leaving messages for the two babysitters I am coordinating for tomorrow, as it is spring break and each day brings a new creative arrangement for the older children. And before that I was duct-taping every inch of Frances's floor while she cried that I was scaring her and did she have mercury poisoning (I wasn't sure at that point) and why couldn't she just go to sleep already? And before that I did Gabriel's bedtime routine - after we finished Pinky Pye and immediately, per the dear boy's request, began Ginger Pye all over again because he can't bear to be separated from Jerry and Rachel Pye after spending so much delightful time with them.

And before that? Beatrice's bedtime, after she had hollered through dinner. And before dinner? I gave Beatrice a bath, in the hopes that she'd chill out and stop being such a big fuss, and during said bath she pooped. That's right, pooped. In the water that was intended to make her sticky, sandy, chubby little body clean. With Gabriel by my side, yelping and laughing. And so between the bath and the dinner there was a massive amount of clean up, disinfection, and a second bath for the pooper with terrible timing.

I could keep going, but I won't. It happens to be Monday, and Mike teaches on Monday nights, leaving me to handle mercury vapors and the like on my own. After a 5 or 6 hour run like this, a person needs to sit down and ... what? Breathe, I guess.

Oh readers, today was pretty great. It began at Kinder Farm Park with friends, a snack food free-for-all, and piglet sightings. The weather was gorgeous. The kids were happy, and generally kept on being happy as the day continued. In the scheme of things I have no complaints whatsoever. Nonetheless ... this great day? It wore me out.