Friday, July 8, 2011

Brutal

I confess, today was a little nutso. Well, the afternoon really. It was dentist day. Seven kids had dentist appointments. Five need to go back for fillings or other work (some a LOT of work). It went well in the sense that everyone had their teeth cleaned. It didn't go well in the sense that a couple individuals decided to see how much they could get away with while Mom was busy with making future appointments or helping out a sibling.

I've been fighting headaches and migraines for six days now. I've figured out what's causing them which is good, but preventing the cause is not exactly easy, so let's just say my patience is -- well let's just say I'm not exactly feeling gracious.

More hitting and crying and pinching occurred this afternoon (no not me), so I got to enforce some more time ins. By the time the Engineer arrived home, I was mere minutes from walking out and going away somewhere quiet until the entire crew was in bed for the night. I refrained. The Engineer is now sitting in the girls' room waiting and waiting for them to fall asleep. Squirt is hopefully asleep already. Bub is sprawled on the love seat near me distracting himself with music (as usual). ((I discovered today that iPod's are a very beneficial tool to keep out the crying and keep me from clenching my jaw in frustration (and therefore preventing another headache). I may have to invest in one very soon)). Peach and Beans are baking together. No fighting or arguing there, thankfully!

They do say for every step forward, there are two steps back. I am going to be brutally honest here. The constant noise from our three youngest, is really getting to me! There is whining, crying, yelling, and screaming. A lot of it occurs as part of their regular conversation. If you know our family at all, you know we don't do loud. Occasional loud music -- especially when housecleaning like crazy, (but I don't clean that often :o(, so it's exactly that -- occasional). We are working hard at getting them to unlearn this manner of getting attention, but it is hard work, and taking far longer than we'd like. I am exhausted. I go to bed and am asleep almost before I hit the pillow. I'm too tired to be an early riser lately and truthfully I dread leaving my room to hear the chorus of obnoxiously loud, "good morning, Mommy!" from three little voices. I have to confess, I don't mind the hugs though. I've resorted to showering before the Engineer leaves for work if I intend to have a shower at all, drinking too much coffee at all times of the day, and hiding in our master bedroom if I think I can get away with it at all.

Wherever we go if there are people who know us, they ask us how it is going. We always say it is going well because really it is! For all the training we had and reading we did, the girls are nothing like what the written words predicted. They are not withdrawn, they have fantastic eye contact -- except for when getting in trouble, (but show me a kid who doesn't have issues with eye contact when in trouble for something), they are appropriately affectionate (unfortunately they can be this way with virtual strangers too), they are smart as whips, and you can't pull the wool over their eyes about anything. Yes, they understand almost everything we say -- even if they can't always communicate back in English.

It's not all bad, really it's not! HOPEFULLY tomorrow I will post all the other things we've been up to. Right now I'd like to go for a walk along the beach with my son and dog.

Blessings!

17 comments:

  1. Loud gets to me, too. That's the hardest part of teaching. I like quiet. I don't even like the chaos of social events. I'm praying for you, for extra energy and tolerance and supernatural peace.

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  2. Deborah,

    I can't handle loud either...instant headache! I am praying for you and those sweet little ones. I can only imagine how difficult and exhausting your days are right now. But I am sure it won't be long before you look back with amazement how far everyone has come!!!

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  3. Peace and quiet seem to be a resounding NEED for mommy's everywhere! I crave it, too. I wonder when the quiet-gene kicks in for people, hopefully, soon for your three littlest :) Praying for encouragement, grace and some quiet for you today.

    beth

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  4. Loud is hard for me too. Our home is mostly quiet too... especially now that the kids are older.

    Praying for you, Deborah... and for the wee three, that they will learn fast! :-)

    Your son is very much like my daughter... she relaxes by listening to music on her iPod too. Or maybe it's a 14-yr-old thing! :-)

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  5. Praying for you!

    The noise level is the very thing that gets to me too!

    It's a huge challenge to NOT reward it and NOT compensate for it by overcoming with more volume. Ack.

    Praying,

    Julie

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  6. And Deborah,

    YOU'RE DOING AWESOME.

    The loud may seem like eternity, but they've been home less than a month :D

    Julie

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  7. I appreciate your heart and honesty here. What you live daily is real and very much a huge change for all of you. Just this morning I read in John 6:63, Jesus said..."The words I speak to you are spirit and they are life." How this might apply to you now? His Word is true and He is there for you to provide everything you need. Call out to Him continually.

    I pray for you

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  8. Oh my. Someday you'll look back on this with rose colored glasses... No? I'm praying for you. It's a noble call you've answered and again, God is in it! So how about you go ahead and take that walk? If it's at all possible I say try...

    Blessings, Debbie

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  9. We had five extra kids at our house today and the noise was deafening! Praying 2 Cor. 4:6-7 for your today - that God's light will shine from all of your cracked and broken places.

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  10. Dear Deborah,

    Oh wow the noise can get to my nerves! I'm praying that your headaches/migraines are gone or mostly gone. I can't imagine the dentist with 7 kids. I pray your day is peaceful... I hope you got to have that walk, sounds like a great way to get out.

    Awe - my iPod... I would say more, but I think I've said enough. :)

    Can't wait to hear more! God is with you all of the time! Nothings Impossible with his help!

    Have a wonderful day!
    ~Michlyn

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  11. Dear Deborah,

    Praying for you as you continue to adjust and set those boundaries.
    Oh my dear friend, you will be a wealth of knowledge to me when its my turn. I plan on putting your number on speed dial!
    I love your heart and am thankful for your honesty.
    Big hugs,
    Kelly

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  12. I've been really frustrated and on edge with my two little guys recently too, because they have been in this ongoing stage of LOUD too and constant whining and screaming at each other and fighting. I just want to scream at them and I get so so worn out from it!! I can't imagine even more little ones making lots of noise. I'm thinking of you and praying!! I'm so glad you could vent on your blog, too!

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  13. I'm so sorry you've been dealing with migraines again. I noticed it had been many days since you had blogged. I have toyed with the idea of getting myself one of the new (inexpensive) iPods, but wonder if I could stand the ear buds in my ears all the time. I know it definitely works for drowning out other household noise as my oldest practically keeps his ear buds in every waking moment and cannot hear anyone when he's spoken to or called. (Or maybe he's just scamming me on that one.) Big (((HUGS))) to you - sounds like you're doing a wonderful job.

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  14. P.S. - I just noticed you have a Barbara Johnson book listed on your currently reading list. It's been many years since I've read any of her books, but she absolutely cracks me up. Her book title "He's Gonna Toot And I'm Gonna Scoot" never fails to bring a smile to my face. I can just picture her outside practicing jumping up for the Rapture. LOL

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  15. I'm getting to this a bit late, but I hope either the little ones have gotten a little less loud or you've gotten a little more used to it (or turned up the iPod just a little louder). I don't do well with loud either--we are a quiet people--so I sympathize with you! Hang in there. I'll keep you in my prayers.

    xofrances

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  16. I so feel your pain. I suffer from migraines and am a very quiet person who gets energy from being alone and thinking thoughts. Quiet thoughts. I'm whispering a prayer for you tonight.

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