I wake up at 1AM, 3AM, and 5AM, and then sometimes I get to go back to sleep until 6:30 or 7. I let the dog out. I put orange juice in sippy cups and nutella on whole-wheat bread, and sit the kids at the table. I kiss them good morning and I ask them if they slept well. I go up the stairs to bring the baby down and nurse her while the older ones are eating. They finish before she does and they get nutella everywhere before I can wipe it from their hands. I put the baby in a safe place from the older kids and clean up the nutella and let the dog back in. I change three diapers and put three sets of pajamas in the laundry. I refill the sippy cups and unload the dishwasher. I resolve a lego conflict. I separate the screaming children and let the dog out. I fold some laundry and start two more loads. I put the oldest in timeout for pushing her sister. I make a cup of coffee. I start a movie for the kids. I feed the baby and type a few words one-handed. I remove wet underwear from my oldest with my feet. I let the baby sleep in the swing. I microwave my coffee. I play dress-up and tea party. I tell them how delicious my "chocolate" tea is, and how pretty they look in the cinderella dress. I load the dishwasher and wipe down the countertops. I let the dog back in. At 9 I bring them upstairs to watch Little Einsteins so I can brush my teeth, put clean clothes on, make my bed, and straighten my hair. I grab some clothes from their room and get them dressed. I text my husband to say hi. At 9:30 I feed the baby and put the kids on the car to go to the commissary / department store / doctor / mailbox / park / neighbors' house. I smile when strangers say "you've got your hands full!" At 11 we come home and I make their lunch and sit them at the table. I put the groceries / purchases away. I feed the dog and let her outside. I feed the baby. I let the dog back in. I go to the bathroom and then I eat for the first time. I pour my abandoned coffee down the drain. I search for a lost earring. I remove my 3 year old from my two year old. I make faces with the baby and take some pictures. I refill sippy cups. I check email while they're calm. Ayla knocks over my water onto my camera. I take apart my camera and let it air-dry. At 1 PM I change two diapers. I swaddle the baby and put her down for a nap. I find a pacifier for the toddler and put her down for a nap. I play play-doh, cootie, chutes and ladders, and practice letters with my oldest. I praise her rainbow-colored sculptures and her cootie creativity. I commend her progress with the letter "R." She plays outside while I get on the computer again to finish Christmas shopping / date night planning / grandparent correspondence / best friend's wedding planning / hand-me-down selling / side job working. I get something out for dinner. I refill sippy cups. I let the dog out and back in. I clean up an unidentified mess. I put all the toys back in the playroom. I put all the puzzles back together. I sweep the kitchen and vacuum the living room. I wipe down light switch covers and doorknobs, or wipe down the baseboards, or vacuum the upstairs. I write a thank-you note / wrap a gift / plan a daytrip / schedule playdate or doctor appointment / respond to an invitation. The napping kids wake up. I change two diapers, get the toddler a snack, and feed the baby. I type a few lines one-handed. I text my husband to say hi. I take a phone call from mom / grandmother / aunt / in-laws / friend / neighbor and build a tower in the playroom with the kids. I take Barbie away from the dog. I put ornaments back on the tree, play-doh back in the canisters, jewelry back in my room, dirty clothes back in the hampers, and do another load of laundry. I change my shirt because it's recently been covered in various body fluids. I empty the dishwasher and wipe down the counters. I flush the downstairs toilet and hope there's nothing valuable in it. My husband comes home at 5 and keeps the kids out of the kitchen while I make dinner. He chops veggies for me and butterflies chicken. He changes diapers. I feed the dog. We eat dinner. He tells me how good it was. We put a family movie on, and I go upstairs to get PJs. Hubs bathes all three kids, and I dry them off and put PJs on them. I put day clothes in the hampers. They finish their movie. I feed the baby, swaddle her, and put her to bed. I ask my husband how his day was. I do a puzzle with my two-year-old and I clap my hands when she puts the last piece in. He reads the girls a story and puts them to bed. I get in the shower. He lets the dog out and back in. I do the dishes. We watch some TV or a movie. I go to bed, and I wonder if I did enough for my little family today. If they learned anything, if they got enough attention, if they got enough hugs, if I yelled at them too much, if they were over- or under-stimulated, if their pajamas are warm enough, if they are happy. And I hope one day they understand I tried.
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