Multi-tasking

I've obviously had a pretty busy summer, and in particular, a busy couple of weeks.  Things have been chaotic and it's all I can do to keep up with every day life.  Today was another full mommy day.  I was juggling an extra kid who happens to be potty training (and is very stubborn and unmotivated about the whole process), took Dylan to tumbling, missed Preston's morning nap, went to Alicia's to get Dylan's hair cut, made lunch for five kids while Alicia fed nursed her baby, made sure Anthony and Preston took afternoon naps, caught up with/decided my future with two friends on the phone and finished talking just as Anthony's dad arrived to pick him up.  A few minutes later, Preston woke up from his nap and we took a walk around the cul-de-sac.  I picked a few weeds in the front yard, tightened Dylan's training wheels, reminded Preston not to run out into the street 15 times and finally went inside to wash up and start dinner.  At this time, my dear husband walked in the door from a long day at work and started making phone calls to arrange everything for his Young Men's activity (while simultaneously reminding me to keep the hungry kids quiet).  Sigh.  It was just one of those days, but I was in good spirits and determined I could do it all.  I fed everyone, sent my husband off to faithfully fulfill his church calling, and got back to business. Dylan and I (emphasis on the I) straightened up the toys in the family room, did the dishes, cleaned the toy room and then I put the kids in the tub.  (Sorry this is longer than I expected) 

Okay, so here's where the trouble begins.  I have to learn to slow down when I get into turbo mode.  I decide that I can clean the two upstairs bathrooms while the kids are taking a bath.  I think it's called multi-tasking.  Yep, I can do it.  I'll clean their bathroom while Preston bathes, take him out and then finish mine up while Dylan plays a little bit.  (Yes, I watch my kids in the tub - don't freak out about this part of the story).  So the kids are splashing and getting all clean and I'm scrubbing and scouring and thinking I'm the world's greatest mom.  I can do everything and anything.  Good for me (pat on the back).  I finish the bathroom and get pruney little Preston out of the tub.  He HATES diaper changes, putting clothes on and anything that holds him down so I gear myself up for the fight.  I put lotion and a diaper on him and decide it's good enough for now - we'll do jammies when Dylan's done.  I set him in the toy room, where he LOVES to play and usually does so for quite a while.  I run into my bathroom for a quick cleaning and a minute later I can hear Preston in the bathroom with Dylan.  Dylan is talking to him and laughing, but I don't worry.  Preston likes to watch Dylan and put his hands in the water.  No big deal.  Then I hear Dylan giggle and yell, "Preston's in the tub again, Mom."  Crap.  I leave the water running in my bathroom sink and run in there to see happy little toddler boy and his brand new diaper sitting in the bathtub again.  I wish I had a picture to demonstrate, but you'll have to settle for the thousand words rather than the priceless photo this time.  There was too much going on to grab the camera.  I take a mommy moment and decide it doesn't matter - I'll just throw the diaper out later.  I run back to finish the mirror in my bathroom.  In the meantime, Dylan has decided diapers shouldn't get wet and yells to me that he's going to take it off and throw it away.  No big deal, right?  That's what I thought.  Who knows what happened, but when he pulled the diaper off to put it in the garbage, absorbent diaper crystals went everywhere...in the tub, on my clean floor, all over both kids, you name it. Dylan is yelling again so I run back in to check on the process (literally 30 seconds later).  Preston now thinks Dylan's ability to enter and exit the tub at will means he should be able to do the same.  He's out of the tub, soaking wet and running full speed towards me.  In case you were wondering, diaper crystals, water and linoleum do not mix.  Full speed he slips into a sideways split and starts screaming.  I pick up soaking baby and do my best to comfort him.  Oh, I don't think I have mentioned his tendency to cry so hard he forgets to breathe.  In this case it makes sense, but whenever he's really upset he cries like the wind just got knocked out of him and he can't find that next breath.  Kind of a new thing we've discovered.  His lips turn blue and I sort of panic inside for a split second and then I realize he'll be fine.  So I get blue-lipped, soaking wet baby to calm down and take him back to rinse off the diaper crystals and dry him.  And we are back to square one.  I start all over with the lotion, diaper, and jammies, get Dylan out and do the same and then shut the bathroom door and leave the new mess we've just created behind.  This is exactly why my two most commonly used phrases at home are "Honestly" and "Give me strength."  

I think I used to be good at multi-tasking but maybe it's too much to ask of a mommy dealing with quick, unpredictable, little people.  It took twice as long and WAY too much energy.  A time saver it was not.  Oh well, it's just another moment in this adventure I call life.