This will be a day-by-day account of caring for our grandsons, while their parents are busy bringing their sister into the world. We were only given 48 hours notice we would have this assignment; I'm not sure it would have mattered if we'd had 48 days. We could not have prepared. We've forgotten! (That should encourage some of you - you'll forget how hard this was when you're finished doing it. Or those brain cells will have died, never to be resurrected.)

Don and I usually start our day quietly. We wake up to an alarm clock that rings at least 7 hours after we've gone to bed. The day starts with devotions and coffee that was made with a timer. Dog out. Paper in. Finish off remaining coffee and read entire paper. Then we're dressed, breakfast, off to work, appts. etc.

Here's what we did instead. After a fitful 5 hours at best of tossing and turning, fighting pajama pants and the heavy duvet , I woke up to a little boy holding his blankie and missing his mommy. Sarah said he was to stay in bed til at least 8 am. I didn't have the heart to send that innocent little face back to bed. I suspect he'd been up quite awhile waiting. I started the day asking Caiden what he would like to wear. (First note: don't ask...). He chose his Superman costume, cape included. Sarah's note said cartoons, yogurt, juice. Cartoons aren't always on the menu; I think my daughter knew we needed help. Last night we mentioned to Caiden we should go out for pancakes this morning. I thought it would fill the time waiting for this baby; waiting hours feel twice as long as regular hours. (Second note - don't tell a four year old anything more than 30 minutes ahead of schedule. They will dog you tirelessly asking, "is it time to go yet?") Sarah had left directions to most of the places we might need to go. No IHOP. No problem. Caiden said he knew the way. Cade is four. After explaining to him he might want to change because people couldn't know he was Superman, we managed to get both boys dressed. We were, by then, an hour behind schedule. Not good. We do at least remember schedules are a holy thing with children. Sarah left the booster seat Cade graduated into. Thirty minutes later Don had it out of the box, put together and we were off. Partway down the street Don said to me, "Do you realize we're taking directions from a four year old?"

He actually knew the way. Spoken like the pastor's son he is, he said "It's the same way as my church."It was. I ordered breakfast with heavy protein, suspecting I might need it. Trying to entertain the 19 month old I scribbled on the menu with provided crayons. Caiden, seeing my efforts, suggested I might need to practice; the point being to stay in the lines. I don't think this day is going to involve a lot of staying in the lines...

We trashed the booth we ate in, left a tip that reflected apologies and were on our way. Our original plan was to run errands after breakfast but since it was now lunch and 30 minutes after morning nap we headed home. Don could run errands later. He might be happy to run errands - alone. Back home we put in the video Sarah left as a treat for Cade. No luck. We're clueless as to how to run the DVD player. By now Cade must be wondering, "why did they leave me with these people?"

After a few fretful hours (it felt like 8) we got the phonecall - baby is here; she and Sarah are fine. Sarah had been given some demerol and something for nausea so she was groggy. After talking over the details of birth, as only women can do, I handed the phone to her father. After congratulating her, he asked the all-important: how on earth do we play a DVD? Amazingly, she was able to tell him. Young mommies are made of tough stuff.

So Papa is off at Target. He told me he'd be back in four hours. I have two hours of bliss, commonly known as afternoon nap. I understand, again, the dilemma young moms face on a daily basis: do I clean house, eat chocolate and veg out, or take a nap? I need all three. I also could use a Wonderwoman Costume.

Labels: Dusty Stuff