RSS Feed
the road not taken to paris
So I never did abandon my four children and go to Paris.
I heard it’s terribly hot there in August anyway.
And who needs a fresh croissant oozing with melted chocolate? Never mind.
Here in New York, I may be turning an ever so slight corner. No, the twins aren’t sleeping through the night. (By the way, “Are they sleeping through the night?” has won The Most Asked Question in the month of August – narrowly beating out “Are those babies twins?”) I still only get three or four or five hour stretches of sleep but there are little moments where everything clicks.
Like I actually figured out how to take a walk with all four of my kids. Well, Tracey thought of it and she, sensing my desperation, was nice enough to share.
I put one twin in the stroller, along with my walk phobic 3 year-old Summer. Then I put the other twin in the Bjorn and Dylan rides on her scooter.
Photo Courtesy of Dylan
It took about three hours to get out of the house that day but dammit, we took a walk.
I’ve also been making myself nuts with all this breast feeding because I literally nurse the twins, barely say hello to Dylan and Summer, maybe get a snack, pee if I’m lucky and it’s time to feed them again.
So a mother ever-so-gently suggested that maybe I substitute formula for one of my feedings. Wait – I don’t have to be chained to my Titanic size nursing pillow? It was liberating. So I’m now nursing just a tiny bit less and it’s making all the difference. It actually allows me to get out and do more things because I don’t have to be nursing ALL THE TIME.
And we found a new babysitter who seems fantastic. It’s only day four but she seems like the kind of gal you would totally leave your four kids with if you ever, you know, headed to Paris on an emergency croissant assignment.
I’ve started to feel a little calmer – like maybe this baby-go-round could be manageable. At some point.
So when the toilet completely overflows to the point where our entire bathroom floor is covered in toilet bowl water and I’m absolutely sure water is going to start seeping through the floor into the dining room and I’m trying to figure out how to get the plunger and resolve the situation without alerting Dylan and Summer that there is something crazy going on upstairs because their involvement will not make the situation better…
Or when almost 6 year-old Dylan has an epic size tantrum at a pizza place because she decides she wants to sit in a HIGH CHAIR for the first time in like four years and I won’t let her…
I don’t always completely lose my sanity.
And there are even moments when I can stop, breathe and truly appreciate this…
|
30 comments <--click to comment |
 send to a friend
|
My one tiny bit of unsolicited advice: replace that Bjorn with an Ergo, a Beco or a Boba and your back will thank you.
[Reply]
You look so happy with that baby!
[Reply]
Yay for the full-team walk strategy! And glad you are enjoying a bit more “free” time in between nursing!
[Reply]
that is a precious smile! glad you’re finding some breathing space
[Reply]
Rock on to new found enjoyment and freedom! BTW…I say replace the carrier with a Zolo Ring Sling!
[Reply]
ahhhh That last picture makes it all worth it, yes??
[Reply]
What wonderful smiles on both of you! Blissful moments can be rare, but they are indeed worth all of the tough stuff. xo
[Reply]
The smile really says “Oooh mommy you are doing fabulous raising all of us! Thanks for managing it all. You are making it happen!” I can barely get out to walk with 2 so I admire you walking with 4 for sure.
[Reply]
Awwwwww. How very sweet. Croissants sound sound good this morning.
[Reply]
I know how many calories you burned just trying to get out of the house with your brood! Who needs a gym!
[Reply]
Look at you, Love! You’re doing it!
p.s. I always knew you could.
[Reply]
That toaster oven is fabulous.
[Reply]
You are doing awesome and I admire the hell out of you! Best of all, if possible, you’ve gotten even funnier.
[Reply]
So adorable!
Thanks for rejecting my idea of round the clock staff to help you.
[Reply]
Glad to hear you are getting closer to the light at the end of the tunnel.
[Reply]
Oh Tracey is brilliant. YAY for walks and five hour stretches of sleep and supplementing.
Although I will say, the thought of croissants sounds awfully tempting.
[Reply]
Just to make you feel better, the toilet bowl has overflowed numerous times in our home and has indeed poured down through the light fixtures into our living room. So.grody. But then I only have two kids, so it all evens out. The pictures are fantastic and it literally made my heart fill up with happiness to hear you say that you’re feeling better and that things might actually be manageable. I so admire you, Kelcey.
[Reply]
You look fantastic Kelcey! And you going for A WALK WITH FOUR FREAKING KIDS—-I think you deserve an award or a a crown,,, or AT LEAST a trip to paris or something. When I glanced at your post I thought it was called: The road not taken to Penis.. I was like–ut ohhhh Kelcey is either talking about her son in the mix of his three sisters, or you took that naughty BlogHer session and decided to add some sexy spice
LOL
[Reply]
I can tell from that beautifully smiling baby that it’s Harlowe…right? Which bar do you go walking to with all the kids? Do you get there in time for Happy Hour?
[Reply]
oh my! what a smile!
glad things are getting better. it must be quite a juggling act!
[Reply]
Oh now that makes it aaaaall better. Absolutely beautfiul – these are the moments we live for
You are doing great!!
[Reply]
Beautiful!
[Reply]
You really do make it look so easy!
[Reply]
could you move to Oklahoma? I would really like to babysit those kids. I can’t talk my grown kids into having grandbabies so I think I could spoil yours.
[Reply]
That smile makes it all worth it!!!
[Reply]
YAY! So glad it worked! And that smile is just adorable. My lord.
Great. Now I want another baby. Way to go, Harlowe. Way to go.
[Reply]
LOVE you! And I just posted an award on my blog for you to show my gratitude for your inspiring words and candid look at life
[Reply]
What a GREAT photo of you and Harlowe, I absolutely love it! Say hello to the fam for me
[Reply]
What a great picture! You look truly happy and so does she. Kudos on figuring this twin thing out! I knew you’d have it down in no time.
[Reply]
[...] babies. Who am I to judge what you should or shouldn’t do? But my sister-wife Kelcey does know. She began supplementing with formula and her twins are still absolutely gorgeous, happy, and I hear they are already solving polynomial [...]