We signed the papers....

The condo is officially on the market.

I'm happy that we're one step closer to moving to a house. However, the thought of preparing this place for a showing is totally overwhelming. I keep telling myself that I'll just do what I can, and it will have to be good enough.

One thing about children that most people don't learn until they become parents is that they are little barometers. When you are under stress, they react by doing things that will stress you out even more. It is shocking at first. You think, "This little person loves me, why would they want to make my life harder. Don't they see I'm on the edge?" But no, they don't really care. It is important to remember that although children LOVE their parents, it is a very selfish love, and that is normal.

This morning I came down to a kitchen full of dishes. Dishes from dinner that never got done because Faith wouldn't go to sleep in her crib (again) and threw up all over us and the living room floor (again). So instead of cleaning the kitchen, I cleaned us up, washed her lovies (Elmo and Kitty), gave her a bottle, then brought her to bed with me.

Back to my morning. I manage to get few sips of coffee into me (enough for simple functions) and juice for the kids ("Mommy!!! I WANT JUICE!!! JUICE! MOMMY!!) and bananas to the banana duo ('Nana Mommy! 'Nana!!!) then went upstairs to get dressed and gather clothes for everyone before Jim leaves for work. (The last time I left this chore for after Jim left I came down to find all three toddlers in the computer chair and Eve holding eye glass cleaner and crying. !?!?!!? I really dislike starting the day with a call to Poison Control.)

I'm cleaning up the kitchen while talking to my Mom on the phone when I realize Lili has taken out the paints and has poured enough paint into containers to keep an entire preschool class busy for hours. In a short time paint is everywhere, on real estate paperwork, on Lili, on the bathroom sink and towel. Again I'm thinking, "How can I keep up with this mess?"

I say to Lili, "Honey, remember we're going to be trying to keep the house clean for showings, okay?"

"Do you like my cupcakes?" says Lili as she swirls paint and flicks it across the table.

?!!?!?!!?!!?

Around 9:00 my friend Michelle (AKA "The Garden Angel") comes by to clean up our front garden. All the kids rush out to see her, soon they're running into the street and Lili has the pruning scissors and is trimming haphazardly.

"IN THE HOUSE!"

I get everyone in and they are screaming because they love Michelle and want to play with her. I try to get them to play at the kitchen table and watch Michelle, which they do for a while, pulling out markers and decorating anything they can find (including themselves). Eventually I decide to let them back out, bringing the bubble machine and sidewalk chalk. This keeps them busy for a while, then they're in the sand box, and pouring sand over each other. Wasps and yellow jackets send Lili into a screaming frenzy, so we're back inside, which is covered with marker, and now, sand.

All I can think about is our real estate agent saying to focus on "clean kitchen and bathrooms." Yeah. Clean. (sigh)

The good news is Michelle restored order and beauty to our garden. Thank you Michelle!!!

After lunch I had a lovely time reading stories to the triplets. All three piled in my lap as we read Thomas the Tank Engine books. It made me calm down and focus on what was truly important; enjoying these beautiful children. Things would work out. We are rich with love.

Then Lili came bounding into the living room.

"Hi Lil'! We're reading books! Would you like to join us?"

"No. I made a cozy book reading shelf in my room."

"Shelf? Did you take all the books out of your shelf?

"Yup."

I think it is time to start a novena to St. Joseph.