Happy Valentine's Day to Me!

Valentine's Day 2011 started out promising enough.  We managed our morning routine with kids dressed in red and pink, and even snapped a few pictures.  Best of all, we were pulling out of the driveway at 9:00, with no crying and no screaming, from the kids or me, respectively.  The 9:00am start time was a personal best in recent weeks.  I've actually had to park and walk (gasp!) Megan and/or Bridget in to school if we miss the 9:15am cut-off for the glorious drive-thru drop-off service.  So, we were on time dropping Megan off, which is always a plus!    

Next on the agenda, with just three passengers in tow, was a call to the pediatrician for an impromptu visit.  What's more apropos for Valentine's Day besides pink eye?  Bridget was showing signs of it, and we needed to get her medicated before she infected our entire house, so off to the doctor we went, after hitting the grocery store with all three kids to get lamb chops for Matt, of course :)

Once at the doctor, I was feeling pretty good.  All three girls behaved well in the waiting room,

and Bridget was a flirt for the camera, so I knew she wasn't feeling too terrible.

Things started to go downhill right about the time the doctor (not out normal doctor in the practice) nonchalantly told me to be on the lookout for pink eye spreading to the other girls, and to bring them in should I see any signs.  I politely asked if he could take a look at Annie's eyes to confirm that she might have it as well.  He didn't even look up from his computer to tell me, "You can schedule an appointment at the front desk if you want the others to be seen."  Grrr.  Yes, I know that doctors are paid by the patient.  But, for something like pink eye?  I'm just so annoyed that he was so insensitive to the fact that it might be a little difficult to haul 2-4 kids back into the office again for a simple pink eye diagnosis.  Assuming all four girls come down with this, does he honestly expect me to shell out $80 (four co-pays) for each of them to be seen? 

Things did not go any better after picking up Megan from school and heading to Walgreens to fill Bridget's prescription for her eye ointment.  Of course, we were totally pushing it with lunch/naptime, and of course Bridget had to "really really" pee as soon as we got in line to drop off the prescription.  And, of course, Megan and Bridget were fighting over a Phinneas and Ferb birthday card that Megan insisted we buy for Daddy because "he loves them, Mommy."  (At this point, I know I heard the pharmacy tech say the ointment would be $15, but between his accent and my screaming entourage, I would find out later that we had a little miscommunication.) 

We moved our little four-ring circus to the pharmacy waiting area with Megan mid-tantrum, Bridget doing the pee-pee dance, and the babies arching their backs and trying to wiggle out of the stroller.  And, of course, it was crowded.  I wished I wasn't wearing such a form-fitting shirt at that moment.  I know everyone was thinking, "She's having another??"  I finally realized Bridget's urgency to pee, and the fact that my willing her to hold it was not working as it should.  I was just standing up to guide our spectacle back out to the car where our trusty little potty was waiting when Bridget suddenly peed all over her cute little tights, shoes and at least one tile in the waiting area.  Grrreeat.  I quickly changed her into some 18 month pants I had in my purse.  She was now undie-less and shoeless, in a tutu, with red, crusty eyes.  After mopping up her pee with a stray Walgreens ad and shoving it into the bottom of our stroller, I realized a few things:
 
- I really need to make sure I have extra undies in my purse at all times.
- Extra shoes, socks, and a roll of paper towels would come in equally handy most days.  I'm sure I could squeeze all that in there with everything else.
- This afternoon is why most people don't have this many kids.  It sucks.
- Luckily, there are more good times than bad, and this fifth baby is not doomed.
 
And, after paying $50 for the microscopic tube of eye cream that surely will not last through more than one child's 7 day treatment, I also realized I should not be quite so distracted at the pharmacy counter. 
 
The Walgreens trip was a massive failure.  But, because she got the cream (almost) 24 hours before her Valentine's Day party the next day, it was (almost) worth it to brave the pharmacy at that time of day with all of the kids. 
 
The day got better, luckily!  The girls and I got a special flower delivery, and the girls enjoyed a special meal complete with heart-shaped grilled cheese sandwiches and all of their little goodies from grandparents.  Best of all, Matt and I enjoyed our peaceful dinner of lamb chops, asparagus and red potatoes after they were all in bed!
 

 

And of course, there's nothing like this (was this really a whole year ago??)...

to remind me that time passes way too quickly to let an afternoon like that upset me for too long.