Have I Mentioned . . .

There are so many things that I have been meaning to post about, but I just can't find the time so I am just going to say . . .

• Have I mentioned that Jacob drank bubble solution on Easter night and then threw up all over himself in his carseat?  I took the carseat out to set it on the garage floor to clean it off.  I did clean it that night by removing the cover and wiping the rest down with bleach wipes. The next day it was infested with ants (from all those crumbs inside of it) only I didn't know it and put it back in the car.  During our drive to preschool there was a major freak out session in the back.  Screaming and screaming over ants crawling on the seat between them.  I had Benjamin turned around swatting ants with his coat until I could get home and get them all out.  
• Have I mentioned how Jacob then swallowed a lego later that morning because his older brother was showing him a "magic trick" and pretending to swallow a lego himself?  Yeah we have had some fun calls to the doctor's office as of late and some even more fun diaper changes looking for the lost lego.
• Have I mentioned that the older one was suppose to know better than put small objects in his mouth because he swallowed a penny about one month ago?
• Have I mentioned that Jacob is obsessive about running into a room and destroying the couches? The pillows and couch cushions are always on the floor, and it is one thing that is driving. me . crazy.  No matter what the consequence may be the same thing happens day in and day out.  Sigh.  
• Have I mentioned that during the two sessions of General Conference on Sunday I spent cleaning up horrible messes?  I spent Elder Uchtdorf's entire talk cleaning up half inch deep toilet water all over the upstairs hall bathroom from a two year old who decided to pull off and flush all of the remaining toilet paper from the roll and then during the first part of the second session on Sunday I spent scrubbing purple crayon off of the couch, wall, and carpet.
• Have I mentioned that if Jacob is left alone there is sure to be a mess? 
• Have I mentioned yet that Jacob now is very into taking his diaper off right now?  He is probably very ready to potty train but mommy is not -continue reading if you need to know why.
• Have I mentioned that Jacob's stuttering has gotten really bad and that he now says to me "Mama the question is stuck in my mouth?"  It seems to be much more prevalent with questions.  I need to do some research about that.  
• Have I mentioned that Jacob is very into screaming right now?  
• Have I mentioned that his screams wake up Sarah every. single. time despite two sound loud machines in her room to try to keep out the outside noise?
• Have I mentioned that Sarah is still a terrible sleeper during the day?  (20 mins. and then she is awake and you drop everything to run to her to rock her back to sleep)  If you are having a lucky day you may rock her back to sleep several times, and she may sleep and entire hour on her own.  Those days are few and far between.
• Have I mentioned how much tv Jacob and Emma have been watching lately which doesn't do this early childhood educator's heart any good?  If you need to ask why see above two bullet points.  I spend so much much of my day keeping them quiet because she is sleeping or trying to get her to sleep. Sigh.
• Have I mentioned that Sarah is now in feeding therapy?  She had a swallow study repeated (we had one down about 2 months ago), and they did find the potential to aspirate while eating because the flap doesn't close entirely when she eats (she often has a stuffy nose after eating which indicates aspiration).  We are now thickening her specialty formula right now, and it seems to be working.
• Have I mentioned we have yet to hear if insurance is going to cover those pricey little packets?
• Have I mentioned that we had a physical therapy evaluation yesterday at the children's hospital for Sarah?  She will now need physical therapy once a week for possible torticollis and an aversion to being on her stomach so she has low muscle tone in her trunk.  Our insurance only cover 80% so we shall see what the weekly bill for that will be.
• Have I mentioned that the Ped. Gastroenterologist keeps switching up Sarah's medicine for acid reflux?  She has been screaming and screaming because of it.  Sigh.
• Have I mentioned that we just saw him again today, and we are trying yet another one?  Please keep us in your prayers because her screaming is not fun!
• Have I mentioned that as a result of this switching up medicine she couldn't poop without a glycerin suppository for 20 days?  She is now finally pooping on her own again since we started the thickening agent in her bottles- unexpected blessings. 
• Have I mentioned that Sarah and I are constantly changing our clothes because of the spit-ups and how much more laundry that makes?
• Have I mentioned that Emma now has separation anxiety really bad?  She refuses to be left alone or even go downstairs alone.  Primary is a battle, and we have also had a few episodes at preschool as well which she has never done before.  She refuses to go downstairs by herself and often bribes Jacob by saying "I'll give you a thousand dollars if you come with me."
• Have I mentioned that my children are constantly fighting these days?  Everyone seems to be the boss of everyone else and no one likes it at all.  You think that we could learn to just take care of ourselves but sadly that lesson hasn't sunk in yet.  
• Have I mentioned how I am constantly finding dirty socks around the house?  I have threatened that for every sock I find, I am now taking $1 out of a piggy bank.  So far it seems to be working with the 8 year old. 
• Have I mentioned how horrible bedtime is around here and that there are very few nights where we don't have someone (most nights 3 of our 4) screaming, crying, or throwing a fit sometimes for hours on end? That one night I spent two hours taking turns buckling Jacob and Emma in their carseats to sleep for the night only to have them say they would go back to bed but repeat the same ugly cycle of getting out of bed again and again and again.  It was a long night while Sarah screamed in Stephen's arms for those same hours until she finally fell asleep.  Yeah good times around here.  Sigh.
• Have I mentioned how I haven't been real grocery shopping (just quick stops in and out to grab something) in more than ten days and that we are in the dregs of the freezer?
• Have I mentioned that I am trying to get this baby weight off and how hard it is to eat healthy when you are eating out of the dregs of the freezer?  It seems much harder this time and I don't know if it is because of my age or that I only nursed a short while.  Although I am down 2 more lbs.  We will celebrate that!
• Have I mentioned that our house is on the market, and we have a contingent offer on a house that is being built?  
• Have I mentioned how hard and STRESSFUL it is to keep the house in perfect showing order considering all that I mentioned above?
• Have I mentioned that Jacob just screamed for water, and I told him to put the couch cushions back on the couch and I'll get him some?  He is actually doing it . . . miracles!

After reading all of this all I can say is no wonder why I am so. so. tired. every. single. night.  It may seem like this is a bit of a complaint post but really it is not.  I know that someday I'll be able to look back at this and laugh or see that I made it through hard days.  Right now I think back to my mission and how physically hard those days were like climbing a mountain to teach a discussion that I knew no one would be there for but we had to keep our appointment anyway.  In a way they truly prepared me for now.  So in case you need a lift just make your own "have I mentioned" list.  It really is a bit cathartic.