The good, the bad, the ugly

Yesterday was a very busy, long day...that turned into night, that turned into this morning. Thankfully Charlotte slept well the night before so that was a bonus. And it was Wednesday so there was no school to rush around and get ready for. But I did have mini muffins to make first thing in the morning. And an order pick-up for between 9 and 10am (she arrived at 9.20am and I'd just gotten out of the shower. Thankfully someone I feel comfortable with!). When she left at 9.40am I still needed to get ready and pick and wrap a present for Katia's birthday. The party started at 11am and I said I'd be there on time as I was bringing the Barbie Cake, muffins and cookes. Amazingly we managed to get there a minute or two past 11am (it's a 25min drive to St-Prex).

The party was lovely, the sun was shining and all the kids seemed to enjoy themselves. The cake was a big hit, which was great.

We left at 1pm and I had Charlotte in bed by 1.30pm. There was a few things I needed to do, then I started icing the cupcakes for the 5pm pick-up. Georgie rang and had good news - she may be visiting the weekend of Oct 8th (in London for work so she's going to try and organise a side trip to Switzerland for a few days). This was definitely one of the good parts of the day.

Poor Michael came home from work exhausted and with the cold in full swing (he'd been sneezing all day at work). He went for a nap and I took the girls to Migros. I had to wake him later though as he's my writing guy for the cupcakes. He has a steady hand and I like how he writes on the cakes. The woman came a little earlier than expected and I was still putting stars on the cupcakes, but it all went well.

Michael took the girls outside while I got dinner ready (something he often does which is a sanity-saver). Dinner, short play, bath, book, bed...usual routine. Except Lily was in a cranky, defiant mood (too much sugar from the party?) and was a handful. She wasn't allowed to have her lamp on when she went to bed, and this set off the screaming (bad and ugly). Which set Charlotte off, who still wasn't feeling well (bad). Well, this went on for what seemed like ages...I'm sure it was close to 8.30-9 before Lily fell asleep. And we resorted to picking Charlotte (which was the only way Lily would get enough quiet to be able to sleep, although she doesn't normally need quiet to sleep). Charlotte was then up, unsettled, unhappy for a long time. Michael crashed at 9pm and went to bed. A little later Jen rang from Berkeley (another good part of the day) and Charlotte eventually fell asleep in my arms. I put her into bed and she slept for the first time that night.

I was off the phone from Jen at 11.30pm and not long after this Charlotte woke (bad). I had not even had time to get ready for bed. I was up with her till 1.40am, when I was able to go to bed for the first time that night. She then woke just before 3am (v bad), I tried bringing her into bed with us, she was too upset and wouldn't settle (beyond bad). I lost the plot (ugly). Michael got up and took over.

So basically since 3am this morning he and Charlotte have been awake. Charlotte didn't fall back asleep and so neither did Michael. Shocking. I didn't sleep well. At 7.20am Michael came in and I took over (he'd rung work and said he'd be late coming in). It turns out Lily had woken at 5.30am and joined them.

Took Lily to school and unfortunately she was clingy and teary, not wanting me to leave. Could be the tiredness or she is not just not feeling settled. I seriously thought Charlotte wouldn't be up to garderie but I took her anyway (I'd given her Advil and by the time we left for school she'd stopped crying/whining/moaning...mostly). But when we got there she seemed ok (not great, but it is also the first day back). Yasmine will ring me if I need to collect her early.

I am now making a fruit cake for Michael's birthday tomorrow...it was planned all along, but the guy definitely deserves it. And I am ready to sleep for a week...sans enfants.