Monday, September 26, 2011

Murphy's Law

Murphy's law is an adage or epigram that is typically stated as: "Anything that can go wrong will go wrong".

And that pretty much sums up our weekend.  Travis woke up on Saturday morning with this brilliant idea to pack up the girls and drive 85 miles to the nearest outlet mall to buy Josie some much needed clothes in size 18M.  So we started loading up our stuff and hustling to get out of the house and on the road. 

About halfway down the interstate, I realized I brought my breast pump but I forgot the accessories.  I could not go all day without pumping!  Luckily, there was a Target between our house and the outlet mall so Travis ran in to buy some accessories.

Then we pulled over to get lunch and feed the girls.  I went to get Merryn out of her car seat and discovered that she had produced the single biggest blow out I had ever seen!  It was all over her and her car seat.  Fabulous timing, kid!  Travis laid out a blanket in the back of the SUV and I laid her down and realized it was too cold and windy to undress and change her with the hatch open. 

Travis: "What are you going to do?"
Me: "I'm going to climb back there with her and you're going to shut the hatch."
Travis: "The double stroller and all of our stuff is back there - you won't fit!"
Me: "Watch me!"

So I climbed into a space about the size of a shoe box, squatting with my knees against my chest, and insisted he shut the door.  He threw the keys in there with me in case the claustrophobia overwhelmed me and I needed to pop the hatch and escape, and he ran into Wendy's to get us some lunch while I tackled the poop explosion. 

The blowout was horrific!  I kept wiping and wiping and wiping...baby wipes were not going to cut it.  The kid needed a bath!  If there had been a public fountain nearby, I would have submerged her.  But that was not an option.  I tore through our supply of baby wipes and ended up having to finish the job with Clorox wipes.  Desperate times call for desperate measures! 

Being the seasoned mother that I am, of course I know it's important to always bring along a change of clothes for circumstances like this, right?  WRONG!  I had nothing!  So I wrapped Merryn in a clean blanket.  Luckily, Sam Walton was smiling down on us and we spotted the bright lights of Walmart.  I sent Travis in to get Merryn something to wear.

He returned with hodge podge ensemble:
The purple socks were all that was left of the adorable outfit that she left the house in (a gift from Grammie Deb that once belonged to Josie).  She no longer coordinated perfectly with her sister but it didn't matter because when I went to get Josie out of the car, I found this:
Nice pigtails!

In just over an hour, my cute and coordinated kiddos had morphed into a couple of rag-a-muffins!  Had I known there would be "After" pictures, I would have taken "Before" pictures!

We completed our shopping and returned home.  I went to throw the soiled clothes in the wash and discovered our dryer was broken.  Right about then, Merryn decided to projectile vomit all over our bed, comforter, and carpet...bringing the tally of waiting loads of laundry up to about 8 - with a broken dryer.  Sensational!  It was the perfect ending to a perfect day!

I told Travis "These are the parenting moments that we will always remember and tell stories about." 

12 comments:

  1. Oh Travis has good style. How can anyone go wrong in spotted pants.

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  2. I love this so much. I love this with all my heart. I have the biggest smile on my face! You are such a sweet mama.

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  3. Ahh welcome to parenthood! What a weekend. Hope Merryn is feeling better!

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  4. Wow! What a day!

    Brooke
    www.TheAnnessaFamily.blogspot.com

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  5. Whenever we are in a situation/day like that, my hubby always smiles and says "Making memories Baby...making memories!"

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  6. Oh, bless your heart. And hallelujah for Travis' talents in dressing children. Justin shares his impairment. We were walking out the door when I looked down at my son (dressed by Justin). The boy had a dress shirt on, tucked into sweatpants that were pulled up to his nipples. WHAT? WHAT? You're dressing a PERSON. Would you, as a PERSON, leave the house looking like THAT, dear??? Oh, Travis. You are adored.

    Oh...and Josie? Please don't tell Pudge about the shopping venture, okay? She finally fit into a pair of official, button and zip jeans. They're size 12 months. She'd be devastated. DEVASTATED. Lookin' good, girlies. Always lookin' GOOD.

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  7. i love the spotted pants! And thank goodness Mr Murphy gave us big box stores!

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  8. Do you ever feel like there's some sort of conspiracy to find where your breaking point is? Or to what degree you're able to cope with catastrophes? Or that, maybe, in fifty years there'll be some kind of IQ test to see if parenthood hinders or betters your long-term mental well being???

    Glad you had someone there to give you a hand, though- I would have probably ran away crying, with a poop-covered child, a hundred miles away from home, if I'd been by myself. THAT is MY breaking point, LOL. Glad to see I'm not the only one with THOSE days!!! ;)

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  9. Nothing puts me in a better mood than a blowout! And I never have a change of clothes!

    But on a lighter note, your girls are so stinkin( no pun intended) cute, they look beautiful no matter what!

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  10. That really reminds me of just recently when we were driving to Ikea to return a mattress that was ripped when we opened it.
    I go in with Everleigh and lean over to unbuckle her from her carseat...and wrinkle my nose. Telltale smell, but there was no warning! No crying, no grunting, nothing!
    So I did what you did basically. Hustled her off, get her cleaned up and diapered...and realize we have no change of clothes!!! Well, impromptu receiving blanket baby toga time it is!


    Aah, the things you never forget LOL

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  11. Hey Little Mama - remember that next time, it is YOUR turn to run into WallyWorld and Wendy's, and Daddy's turn for clean up duty!~ Love Josie's expression - she could care less, she's just havin' some good ole' family fun!
    Remember that family photo calendar you could be working on? Well, Merryn's picture would be perfect for December - the poor little tot looks like a Christmas tree! lol

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  12. Oh how that sounds a bit like my weekend! LOL. But, it was warm enough here to change the blow out without me climbing in the back of the suburban with her. I had extra clothes but did it at Kohl's once with a bigger blowout and none. You'd think after 5 kids I would be more prepared. Mia sports the same ripped out pony tails all the time! Thing don't get boring atleast :)

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