Flooded Gutters

My Babies,

As I sit here and reflect on today, I’m disappointed in myself for not seeing what I had when I had it.

The five of us did the Oceanside Turkey Trot for the first time today! Last year Mary and Nora were too small and I had just had a couple of babies so we weren’t able to go. But today, we got to do it all together!

And it was an adventure!

It rained, and rained, and rained. And it was cold.

We lucked out on a parking spot and were able to part right near the starting line. It was a good thing too because we’d decided to take the triple stroller and that thing is a BEAST to push – especially up and down hills and there are lots of those as we get closer to the beach. When we were unloading, it was raining, thankfully. We got the three of your loaded into the stroller and headed for our spot in line.

By the time they were signaling the start of our group (everyone pushing a stroller has to start in the very back so it takes about 30 minutes after the official start to really get moving), it was lightly raining, but the sun was out too. The sun was reflecting off the water on the street and Mary, you were super upset about how it was beating in on you (you were the lucky one that got to sit in the front). You started crying and trying to kick the rain cover off the stroller, but we got the visor down in front of you and that helped you to calm down a bit.

After we got moving, Lucy, you started whining and complaining. A lot. I got way more frustrated with you than I needed to and I’m so sorry for that. I’m pretty sure you were just tired, but you were also stuck at the back of the stroller on an uncomfortable seat, facing backwards, with the big plastic rain cover over you and nothing to do but sit there while we walked. That had to be hard for a three-year-old to do, and at the time I wasn’t thinking about it from your perspective. I was only thinking that it was only going to take an hour and you really should be ok. I’m sorry about that. Next year we’ll do it differently. I’m not sure how, yet, but we’ll figure it out together.

Nora, you got the middle spot and you stayed happy the whole race. You slept a little bit and didn’t complain at all. I was about to give you the “Best Kid of the Day” award, but once the race was over and we were headed back to the car, you were done.

On our way back to the car, the skies really opened up. It poured. The gutters were at least three feet wide and a few inches deep. I caught a video of a trashcan floating down the street that I sent to Nemy. The three of you were staying nice and dry, but your dad and I were soaked. We both had rain jackets on that were keeping us dry from the rain, but we were a little sweaty so still wet and uncomfortable.

So, by this time, it’s pouring down rain, we have thunder and lightening, all three of you are crying, and Daddy and I are wading through six-inch deep gutters just trying to get back to the car. Thankfully we were able to split up – Daddy took you three in the stroller into a covered parking garage with lots of open spaces, and I went to get the car. I had to wade through another gutter but was able to get the car into the garage.

That’s when things got really… adventurous.

Lucy, I got you in your seat, and buckled. I gave you a fun size bag of Sweedish Fish and you were good to go.

Mary, we got you in your seat and you were just happy to be out of the stroller.

Nora, as soon as I put you in your seat, you started crying. Mary heard you and she started crying with you. The two of you… you love to sympathy cry for each other.

Then, Lucy, you said you needed to go potty. But there wasn’t one anywhere nearby. When I told you that, you said you were going to pee in your car seat, which you did. I had to pull you back out, take your pants off, put a Pull-up on you, and then put you back in your wet seat.

Nora cried all the way home.

We were all tired, hungry, and cold. We didn’t realize that Mary’s feet were soaked and freezing. We got everyone fed, in dry clothes, and off for naps.

Sigh… what a morning. That all happened before 11.

Aunt Cass and Doug came over around 2:30 and we had dinner around 3. We kept it simple. A precooked turkey breast that we put in the crockpot with some premade gravy. Scalloped potatoes, also premade, and some canned corn. Simple. Food that all three of you like.

Then we had some hot apple crisp (I actually made this one).

The stay started out pretty rough, but even through that, I had the entire world to be grateful for. Your dad and the three of you, are my world. I love you more than I’ll ever be able to show or tell you.

I often feel like you’re so amazing that you deserve so much better than I will ever be able to give you. You deserve more patience than I have, but nobody will ever love you as much as I do. And I’m working on my patience.

On this day of Thanksgiving, I can’t tell you enough how grateful I am that you are in my life. Your dad and I fought like crazy to get you here and now that you are, I sometimes get overwhelmed and lose my patience completely, but I’m doing my best to give you the most wonderful life I can. Of all of the blessings in my life, the three of you are second on the list, only to your dad.

After all the really hard moments today, I still wouldn’t have it any other way.

I love you to Neptune and back,
Mom