Things I learned, relearned and remembered

This week has been full of challenges, triumphs, questions, worries and a few laughs. These are the things I learned, relearned and remembered:

1. Taking all three kids for vaccinations creates a chorus of screams and howls that can be heard in far distant lands. Cute band aids and stickers as well as Halloween costume shopping are excellent bribes to calm the madness.
2. Having your three-year-old go in the bathroom and having them go to the bathroom produce entirely different results.
3. There is a reason it's called a "power nap."
   
4. The only similarity between Abbie getting new teeth and Andrew getting new teeth is the teeth. Abbie is excited to show off her new teeth while Andrew has become cranky, clingy, whiny and miserable. Did I mention the whining? Baby Orajel to Mama's rescue.
   
5. Becoming a member of a large group doesn't always bring feelings of comfort and belonging---say for example if you joined the group of millions of Americans who fall and injure themselves in the bathtub every year. Not a good group to be in--this group just brings the need for big fat bandages. Yuck.
6. Whoever said that financial worries can bring a great deal of stress knew exactly what he was talking about.
   
7. Having unique characteristics isn't a good thing when those traits are on car parts. Eli Whitney had a good thing going with interchangeable, similar parts.
8. Dominoes are a great game because they save you from the embarrassment involved in Go Fish if you can't shuffle cards--you won't hear, "Sorry Mom, but I can't play that game with you. You can't shuffle cards. You need to learn to shuffle like Daddy."
   
9. I don't like risk--not the board game, not in real life. I like stability.
10. If you are going to have major stress and cry for 3-4 days, do it the week of Halloween not the week before. Your red, puffy eyes will be less likely to frighten little children, and you'll get far more mileage out of them that way.
11. The best brownies ever are good in so many ways.
12. Love isn't all you need, but it really helps.
13. Hugs and kisses really can make it feel better.
    
14. Having Nathan be a big boy and no longer wanting Mom to join him in his speech sessions makes for a proud but sad mom.
    
15. $3 spent on three coloring books which yielded 70 minutes of enjoyment and peace was definitely worth it.
16. Encouraging young children to develop their art skills is a great idea unless it's your baby trying to finger paint with the last milk of his bottle on your couch.
17. Your laundry is never done.
18. Faith is power.
19. Prayer is a lifeline.
20. Family is the only thing that really counts.