Well, we’ve made it. I sit here with all three girls snug in their beds, and my bags (mostly) packed and ready to go. I’ve even laid out our clothes in preparation for tomorrow’s great getaway.
If you haven’t read Post 1, Post 2, and Post 3 of this adventure, you might want to look at them for some background info to this post.
Let me catch you up with the most recent challenges that the last 24 hours have presented.
To start with, before I concluded last nights post and hit the button to schedule it for it’s morning debut, the pup that presented a series of epic challenges over my time here let me know she needed to go out for her last pee of the night. I finished up and was ready to hit the sack in preparation for another busy day ahead, so I called the dog back in.
No dog.
Heeeeeeeeeeeeere doggy.
Yup, definitely no dog in the back yard anymore. Awesome.
Turns out that the pooch can fit through a space in the fence, and had decided that she was going out for a night on the town. Perfect. What to do, what to do? Thankfully the internet always has an answer, so after realizing there was no way I could go searching the neighborhood and drive around calling Ms. Doggy’s name at midnight, I called all the animal shelters, animal controls and SPCAs. Of course none of them were open at that time, so the next suggestion was to call the police.
Feeling completely ridiculous to call the cops on a puppy dog, I dialed my local RCMP station and informed the kind lady on the other end that our frustrating beloved furry friend had escaped. Thankfully, the kind lady on the other end of the call didn’t snicker and assured me that the dispatched officers would keep an eye out for the rascal.
At 1:30am I heard a little scratching at the door, let in the overly excited canine, and called off the police search. Good night!
The next morning, after getting everybody up, dressed, fed, packed, off to school and daycare, and even managed to get the garbage and recycling out in time, I was happy to enjoy some quiet one-on-one time with my favourite little baby. As we snuggled and I was thinking “Hey, this is actually turning out to be a pretty decent rash-free, dog-secured, good day,” my little angel crapped all over my idea. Actually, it was my legs. And hers. And the change mat we were thankfully positioned on. Thank you universe, you win again.
Somehow I managed to clean us both up without making anything (much) worse than it already was. But was this to be the end of my crappy day (pun heartily intended)? Nay, it was only the beginning. I also managed to step smack-dab into the most lovely pile of dog doo in the one and only pair of (fabric) shoes that I brought with me, just to keep the theme alive. Fantastic.
To make things “easy” on myself and ride out the remaining hours of sole caregiver, I gladly accepted the girls’ suggestion that we order pizza for dinner. Immediately after having ordered, I hear “Oh no! Oh no! What do I do?!” and look over to see the youngest moving about in a lovely pattern with a now open-bottomed very berry smoothie I had been urging her to drink up. All over the only section of carpet upstairs, creating her own beautiful version of “the purple period” on this absorbent medium.
We all know how easily mixed-berry stains come out of material. The budding artist and I got down on our hands and knees and scrubbed out little hearts out with a vinegar solution while the eldest bathed fed a not-too-enthused and protesting baby with applesauce, and the dog howled outside as there was no way the carpet was getting clean with our crouched bodies getting licked and humped. Thinking about how this “easy pizza night” was turning out, yet again, I couldn’t help but burst with laughter at everything. Ah yes, the trifecta of daily mishaps was complete.
The last five days have actually flown by, despite (or maybe because of) the many challenges. Along with those challenges have been a lot of lovely moments, too. We caught up with my bestie, visited a dear friend and previous co-worker, saw a lot of Christmas displays, enjoyed Zaiya’s first hot-tub, made a lot of fun memories with these amazing girls, and even got some present shopping done.
I now have an even greater appreciation for single parents (and puppy parents). It’s amazing what you can do when you have to get it done, but it sure as sugar isn’t easy! After this adventure, I’m pretty sure that I can handle anything life throws at me.
I’m also sure I could use a nice stiff drink or two, and a baby-less evening. I think it’s been well-deserved!