On the home front

Today has been a day of extreme emotions. After Wesley and Carly's back to back accidents resulting in stitches, staples and many doctor visits, I told them they would NOT be left alone again. And they haven't been - for several months. However, yesterday, I was only going to be at work for 3 hours, so I let Carly stay home. She did fine.

I thought I would risk it again today. Risk is the right word. I thought--having shown her the almost $6,000 in hospital, doctor and orthopaedic bills that she and Wes incurred because of her rough housing with the boys that she would stop. In fact, all the kid are under direct orders to NOT lay their hands on each other. Period.

So, today, I took her and Ryan at their word that they would do their schoolwork and be good. MY mistake. Before I even got to the ice cream shop, Carly called me with her "emergency". She was leaning on Ryan's legs while he had them up on the side of the cabinet. He was sitting in the window seat and had his feet propped up on the side of the island...doing his schoolwork. He told her to get off of him. She didn't. She leaned harder. He told her to get off. She didn't. Instead, she put all of her weight on his legs and he pulled his legs out from under her and she fell and hit the floor. HER mistake.

She broke her front tooth halfway off. Andi took her to the dentist and they put a temporary filling on her tooth, but she has to go back in 2 weeks to have a root canal and a then have a crown put on. That will be her bill to pay. If she had hurt herself in an accident, of course I would pay it for her. But I refuse to pay for her injuries that result from her not minding. I'm crabby like that.

Maybe I wouldn't be so crabby if we didn't just get her retainer repaired this week to the tune of several hundred dollars because she stepped on it in her bedroom "accidentally" when she was mad at me one day. Of course, if it had been in her mouth where it belonged or in the case where it belonged when it wasn't in her mouth, I might not be so crabby. But it wasn't and I am. So that's just the way that goes.

The root canal and crown will probably run about 800 bucks after insurance. At the 10 bucks per day she makes washing dishes, she will be washing a lot of dishes over the next months to pay for her refusal to obey and leave her brothers alone. Maybe dishpan hands will teach her what my words have been unable to do. I sure hope so.

While I was still fuming (it went on for some time) I got an email from my most best, specialest online friend I haven't met in real life yet, Patricia. I think she's coming to visit me!!!!! We've laughed together, cried together and prayed together a LOT over the years, but have yet to eat together. I've only been inviting her for about 5 years, so it's about time! And THAT made me very excited!

On the other end of the emotion spectrum is Andie and Zac. They are at the hospital right now and Benjamin should be born by morning. Andie's blood pressure has been high the last few days and she had some protein in her urine today, so they decided to deliver the baby. I will be off to the hospital shortly to welcome my third grandchild into the wacky family I call mine.