Seven sleeps and a tattoo

I do not like going away from home.  It is not the travelling so much (although I am not particularly fond of airports or hotel), but the being away from home that I don't like.  I LOVE being at home.  I would far rather be at home than anywhere else in the world.  I am so bad that I don't even like going out for dinner because I would far rather be at home. Home makes me feel safe and grounded.  Now add to that the fact that I detest being away from my kids and you will understand how freaked out I am that I will be away from home FOR SEVEN WHOLE SLEEPS!  I am a nervous wreck already.  I can't believe I am going to be apart from my children for so long. 

It's a business trip, I can't not go.  And I want to go, in a way. But the thought of leaving my children for so long fills me with dread.

I know they will be absolutely fine. Max wont even notice I am gone because he will be with his beloved Rose 24/7.  He will sleep in her room with her.  Adam and Kate will probably miss me a little, but they have their father plus I have asked the teaching assistant at their school to spend the afternoons with them.  I have a schedule drawn up, I have back ups and standbys.  Unfortunately I do not have the one thing that would make me feel a whole lot better about going and that is having my mother around. My mom and dad (aka 'The Fockers') are off on their inaugural voyage in their RV / camper van thingy.  Exceptionally selfish of them to have a life outside of my needs, but there you go. 

I can't tell you where I am going as it is a state secret and if I tell you, I will have to kill you, but it is far away. As in seven sleeps away.

In fact, October is a bit a big month for me. I went to Joburg on a business trip (one sleep away), I did a TV interview, I got my period for the first time in about a year and a half (sorry dad), I am going to the 27 dinner (I NEVER go out), I got a new car, I went on a date night with the husband (last done about 14 months ago and look how that turned out! Hello Max) and I am probably going to go out for dinner AGAIN this month (business).  Plus the long trip away.  I think the Moon must be in Uranus or something, but there are big things going on in my chart.

In other news, my sister got her first tattoo.  Sister Mel.  Yes, apparently even happy clappers can get tattoos - the Lord loves the inked and the un-inked. It has kind of made me feel like getting another tattoo. I have two already. I thought about getting my children's names tattooed on my wrist but then I thought I would need to have Ben's name tattooed as well.  And then what about Luke?  And then if I was doing Ben and Luke, what about the other babies and then I realized I would run out of space on my wrist and decided to abandon that idea.

I will leave you with this joke from Adam, his first one ever.  (I was so proud!  Telling your first joke is a big milestone)

What is green and sticky?  A frog diving in jelly. Haha!

It got less cute when I had to guess what was yellow and sticky (a giraffe diving in jelly), pink and sticky (a pig diving in jelly) etc etc. 

PS I promise, cross my heart, I am going to post pics of my not-so-new house soon, but I first need someone to take the photos for me. I am a terrible photographer and I want to do the house justice.  Any volunteers?

PPS Loving my new car.  It was definitely the right decision to choose practical over sexy

PPPS Gym is not being attended as diligently as before due to work commitments, but I plan on rectifying that next week.  I am already down two notches of my belt.

PPPPS My baby was five months old yesterday. FIVE MONTHS OLD! I can't believe how fast the time goes.

Comments

[Orange]

My son Ben (age 9) says, "A 4-year-old made up those jokes? Those are good jokes!" So kudos to Adam.

[Lindsey]

Wow - Five months?! That sure did go by quickly.

I also loooove that joke from Adam! That is impressive.

Keep us posted on that gym business.

[kma]

y'know, re: the tattoo - maybe there's a way of symbolizing all your children. You have three kids you can see every day, and some that you can't. Would incorporating the image of, say, an angel (or anything else) into the tattoo be a tribute to the other babies? Totally not my place to suggest this, but I was curious. Or not the names at all, but an image or word or something that symbolizes your love for all your children.

[Kristin]

Congrats on Adam's jokes. They aren't half bad.

What about a tree of life (like this one maybe http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3232/2750611655_fd155c7e6f_o.gif ) and have each child's name (or a symbol if they weren't around long enough to have a name) placed on a branch.

[Sabine]

I've always been desperate for a tattoo, but it's not the pain that scares me, it's the permanence of it. Do you ever get bored of the ones you have?

P.S. Just started my own blog....now to get people to actually read it! How did you do it when you started out?
http://alfabeats.blogspot.com/

[Stefanie]

When they are teens you will be begging to be sent away - anywhere!

[Boulder]

I'd take the photos, but the travel budget would kill us both. ;)

[BiancaW]

Holy cow! 7 nights IS a long time to be away, and I am not nearly as anal as you about staying at home. ;-)

Remember what Need did when she went away. She made a paper chain for the children to tear on link off each day. I thought that was such a sweet idea. I know we all say it all the time, but seriously, thank God for Rose!

I agree, Pops and Mimi are very selfish. I get highly irritated if my parents have a life outside of my demands on them.

I am totally jealous of your car!! And your Max! Both are totally adorable.

[Cath]

be brave, mama. I am the same.. In total, over October, I'll only have had my Cam with me for a total of 14 sleeps. in comparison to the usual 28 I have in a month, its breaking my heart.

I cant not go, its mainly business travel, but ive committed myself to NOT travel until December again.

Sterkte, the kids will be OK XXXX

[johanna]

Hey,

I was reading your blog and some of your archives and I think they are very entertaining and somewhat informative. I am not a wife or a mother, but I am a 21 years old college student that is interning at this children clothes-manufacturing company by the name of Kahn Lucas. They make wonderful little girl clothing from newborn to size 16. There are many separate labels under Kahn Lucas that are sold at various different stores that you may or may not be familiar with. The labels under Kahn Lucas are: Youngland, Emily West, Jenny & Me, Sweet Heart Rose, and Dollie & Me. These amazing collections can be found at stores such as JcPenny’s, Kohl’s, Sears, Burlington Coat Factory, Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom, BJ’s, Belk, and Lord and Taylor. I know for a fact that girls all over the world love the clothing because as a part of my interning responsibilities, I am in charge of organizing all of the post cards that are sent in everyday by these same little girls whose parents bought them an outfit from one of our clothes divisions and they continuously write about how much they love the clothes.

Even if you’re not particularly interested in children clothing, they also make very cute dolls under their Dollie & Me collection. What’s so cool about the Dollie & Me collection is they make matching outfits so the girl’s outfit is the same as her doll. Check out the website for yourself at Kahnlucas.com. Not only is all the clothes that they sell on this website, but they have very cool games that I have also played quite a few myself during my spare time.

Whether you have daughters or not, with the holiday season just around
the corner, these amazing pieces of clothing (and dolls) are so exquisite they would make lovely gifts.

P.s. Adam's joke was quite funny!

[Kym Clayton]

Tertia give me a call and I will come take your photos for you. Hope Tazzy has fun looking after the kids while you are away.