It Was the Best of Times....

...it was the worst of times....

Ahh, there's that infamous first line from Charles Dickens book "Tale of Two Cities". That totally explains my day yesterday! I woke up in a great mood (best of times), but it was quickly squelched by the attitudes of two nameless little ones who also live in this house (worst of times). OK...so you know who they are...Lionel and Sweet-Pea. Sibling rivalry is an understatement for what's been going on between those two lately. It's downright war! Their conversations these days??? They go something like this....

Sweet-Pea: "Mommy, he hit me"
Lionel: "I did not!"
Sweet-Pea: "Yes you did and I'm telling!"
Lionel: "Go ahead and tell"...said while tongue is flapping in the breeze at his sister.
Sweet-Pea: (screams and cries real tears)

Now, what's a mom to do when the whole time they were yelling, I was behind the oh so wonderfully private bathroom door?!? (My favorite place to go to 'turn off the world' for a few moments of peace!) I did not see him hit her. There are not marks to prove he hit her. BUT...due to the fact that I know he teases her to no end...I pretty much believe that he did hit her...ALTHOUGH...it may have been instigated by her bothering him and following him all over the place. UGH... ever have one of these days?? Kids...gotta love 'em. Had I wanted to deal with these issues though, I'd have gone to law school.

Things did quiet down a bit, but at the same time, I had to wake my Dad up to go to the doctor for his flu shot. I phoned him at least 15 times between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Every time I called, he said he'd get up and get ready to go. I talked long enough with him on the phone once to get him to walk to his kitchen and grab a bite to eat, but after he ate, he went back to bed. I heard him in the shower once too, but yet again, he went back to bed. He has been sleeping his life away lately and it worries me. Even if I go over (he lives in our home but in an in-law suite - separate entrance), he will get up but then eventually go back to bed. If he's not in bed, he's sleeping on his chair in the living room. The kids want to see him, but he has no get-up-and-go. He needs to get up and get out to live, but he just isn't. He's got Alzheimer's Disease, is anemic and also has diabetes - not a very good combination!

Long story short...I ended up sitting at the dining room table with phone in hand, talking to him on the phone yet again, but while crying hysterically. No matter what I said, he didn't care. He has made life around here completely miserable and although it's not his fault, it's hard not to resent him. I love my Dad dearly. I want the best for him. I even love having him live here with us...but when he doesn't get up and live, I get extremely upset. He is a diabetic on top of it, so when he doesn't eat, he isn't getting the nutrition he needs to stay healthy either. His sugar levels drop way down - lower than they should. Dad never did get up to get his shot. I had to cancel his appointment. He got up around 4pm. Today is a new day...I have called about 5 times and so far nothing. He won't get up. He has a new appointment at 3:30...we'll see if he makes it today.

Our whole family just feels trapped and bogged down right now. We're trying to understand what God has in store for us through all of this, despite it feeling very stressful. We know it's just for a season in our lives...but I don't want to blink and see my children all grown up and wonder where the time went. I want to spend my time with them. I want to do things outside the house with them. For now we'll just keep praying and keep trusting God that we are following His will for our family. Keep us in your prayers too if you think about us. We sure could use it!! Now...will you please pass me a tissue...I'm not done crying.