A Day In The Life Of The Herzog Herd 10.9.10

I thought I would share with you how an ordinary day goes around here.  Some might be wondering just how it is to be a mother of 6 and the oldest only being 5.  Here goes.  (I have also attached some more pictures of each of the kids as we go throughout this day)  

Stephen has been studying as of late for the upcoming captains exam for the Houston Fire Department.  The test is November 17th and he has over 3,000 pages to read.  He has a little study hole in the closet here at our house that he has been trying to study in (with great difficulty I might add because if you know Stephen, you know he likes to be where the "party" is...where all the action is taking place.  As you can probably guess, all the action isn't in the closet, it is everywhere else in the house and surrounding area) Lately, he has been going to the farm to read where there are less interruptions and where it is a little less busy.  I am so proud of him for sticking with it.  He is doing great!!  So all of that to say, I have been trying to take up some of his normal responsibilities around the house and farm (which has been very entertaining) which will allow him some extra study time- hopefully- if I can keep from making more work.

Well, the day starts when Stephen's alarm goes off at 4:07 am.  I decide that it has been a "rough night" so I dismiss that alarm and wait for the back up one to go off in an hour.  Backing up a little...a bad night consists of some of the following: being up 2 or 3 times for 1 thing or another...nursing the baby, comforting a crying child (Elaina) that says "I want mama" in a not so quiet tone.  I rush up the stairs to ensure that she won't wake anyone else up.  I usually don't make it up there in time (it is rather hard rushing up the stairs at 2:00am) so end up bringing her back downstairs with Bella close behind, who now wants mama too.  I make a palate on the floor for one of the little ones and find a comfy spot on the bed for the other one while trying to leave room for myself.  I don't usually sleep very good with the kids in bed, but try to avoid waking Stephen, so I end up laying there with the child right in my armpit and desperately try not to move.  There...now everyone is quiet and all of a sudden BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!  It's the alarm and it is 4:07.  Stephen, who usually sleeps pretty hard doesn't hear the alarm, so I reach over and turn it off.  I take the opportunity to adjust myself (since I have already moved to turn the alarm off) into a more comfortable position.  I get settled into the warm covers  and the one sleeping next to me re-adjusts again and I now have feet in my back.  I try to hurry up and fall asleep, but the more pressure I put on myself to do that, the longer it takes me to actually sleep.  I end up laying there thinking about what I need to get done that day and decide that I may-as-well get up and get a shower.  I try to move, but fear I will wake someone (and if thats the case it usually means no shower for me) so resolve to the fact that the kids won't be little forever and there will be a day (although maybe later than sooner at this point) that they won't want to come down and sleep with Mama and Papa, so I better enjoy it while it lasts.  So, I lay there some more and just start to doze off when, RING! RING! RING!  It is now 5:00 am and the backup alarm is now gong off.  Stephen hears the alarm and gets up.  He heads to the kitchen after waking up a little and starts to do his bible study.  By this time Lydia is now ready to eat and starting to crank.  I manage to get out of bed quietly and leave the other 2 sleeping.

I go sit in the blue chair in the living room after kissing Stephen good morning and nurse the baby.  He is such a great example to me by getting up and reading in God's Word!  I keep telling myself that I want to do that, and really strive to, but end up unsuccessful.  I am now getting very sleepy and start to doze off.  Now 6:00 rolls around and I still haven't had a shower, done my Bible study, started a load of clothes or began making breakfast like I so wanted to do.  Stephen heads to the bathroom for a shower and to get dressed and ready for the day and to head to the farm or to the study hole.  I cuddle in the chair with the kids who are now waking up until I hear, "Love" (that's what Stephen calls me) and I know exactly what he needs...which are still in the dryer from the day before.  I see Stephen off out the door still un-showered and no breakfast made for him, but manage to pack him some snacks that will hopefully tide him over.  The coffee I sent with him (I find out later) was undrinkable due to the fact that the mug got washed really really well and not so thoroughly rinsed, therefore the coffee had a nice bubbly clean taste to it. 

I decide to cook oatmeal for breakfast since it is a cool morning and something warm in the tummy would be good.  Martin is my breakfast helper and does a very good job at stirring the oatmeal for me as I attempt to get the kids in some warm clothes and do their hair.  I check the weather on the computer and realize it is 52* outside and only supposed to get up into the mid 70's.  We try to start a fire, but since it is the first one of this season, I am a little rusty.  I go through 3 attempts to get it started and have 5 of the kids huddled around me all holding either a match or a piece of bark that they want me to light for them so they can help with the fire to.  About this time the phone rings and I try to stay focused on what we are doing with the flames yet still sound in control to the one on the phone.  We finally meet with success and get the fire going but now realize the oatmeal we started 20 minutes ago is now plenty done and the pan gets a bigger helping than any of the kids do.  They are excited to get to eat because I pour a little bit of French vanilla coffee creamer in their oatmeal.  They all ask for more but alas, we have already scraped as close to the very very cooked stuff that we possibly can.  I assure them that we will have a snack in just a little while and to go upstairs and make their beds and straighten their rooms.

At this point I vacuum up the floor and table from where James and Elaina sat and attempt to clean up the kitchen.  Oh, I forgot, I usually have to change James's clothes after oatmeal since it doesn't brush off very well.  As I walk into the utility room, I see the piles of dirty clothes and think that it would be great to get a load started.  I open the lid and find much to my dismay that the load I started yesterday is still sitting in there waiting to be put into the dryer.  I must re-wash this load and try to remember to put it in the dryer.  I hear loud noises coming from upstairs and remind the children why I sent them upstairs and to re-focus them on their task- making their beds.  I jump into some clothes for the day and head upstairs to check on the kids.  I find out that Millie and Martin made all of the beds (yea!), but that their rooms show signs of being even more played in than being straightened.  After we work on straightening them together, I notice all the bags and boxes of fall clothes (that I still need to go through) are strewn everywhere in the sun room.  I decide not to tackle that project right now, but think that during naps I would try.

The kids go outside to play for a little while and I get another phone call from someone that I would enjoy getting to visit with for a little while.  I sit down to fold clothes while talking, and Bella comes in the front door singing..."Oh, victory in Jesus, my Savior forever..." at the top of her lungs.  I smile at her and try to show her approval while at the same time try to get her to sing quietly while still try to comprehend what the person on the other end of the line is saying.  Lydia starts to crank and I make a mental note of that but don't fully comprehend it.  Elaina comes through the door without any clothes on and her hair pulled out.  I whisper to Elaina to go put her clothes back on and walk outside to help her find them.  I see them in the yard and point to where they are.  Since James has now seen me he wants me and starts heading toward the house, but I at least want to put the folded clothes into a basket before they all get unfolded.  I sneak inside leaving James with the others outside and realize Lydia is still in the room ready to eat and is now screaming.  I rush in there and the person on the other line says something about hearing a crying baby and that they will let me go.  I say farewell, console Lydia, and head back to the front door where James is now hollering because he wants inside.  I open the door, let him in, sit down and attempt to feed the baby.  Martin (who I thought was playing outside) comes into the living room where I am and notice he has on a completely different set of clothes.  He went from cowboy to base ball player...shoes and all.  I ask him where his cowboy clothes went and he answers something like "I put them up in my room at the end of my bed like Papa told me".  I can't argue with that but encourage him to stay in that one set of clothes for the rest of the day.

Millie and Bella come inside and inform me that they are hungry.  I tell them that is not a respectful way to talk or ask for food and they quickly re-phrase themselves and say "Mama, may we please have a snack?  I tell them in a minute I will get them some apples and peanut butter.  They are thrilled and head back outside to tell the rest of the kids.  James has now emptied the couch of the clean folded clothes and Elaina is still not dressed yet.  I finish up with the baby, put the now un-folded clothes into the same basket, help Elaina put her clothes on and cut some apples.  We all sit on the porch together, visit and enjoy the day and the apples and peanut butter.  It is now around 10:30 and I hear the cow moo and realize I still haven't milked her yet.  I go inside and put Lydia down for a nap and head out to milk.  I enjoy sitting there for 30-45 minutes and just getting to take a break and a rest while milking.  The kids are all running around playing while I milk and are having a great time chasing the few chickens that are out of their pen.

I finish up milking and bring the milk pale inside.  I look for a clean jar and find out that the only empty one is still in the sink from the night before and needs to be washed (I never did get to finish up cleaning up from breakfast).  I attempt to wash it up and hear Lydia start to cry.  Hmm, that's funny, she was still sleeping when we came inside I think to myself.  Elaina comes around the corner carrying Lydia and says "She cying Mama".  I tell her that the only reason she was crying is because she woke her up and that she needs to ask before she holds her.  I lay her back down and hope she goes back to sleep for the rest of her nap and we all walk back out of the room into the kitchen and I notice James is waddling which means he has a dirty diaper.  Martin informs me his belly is still hungry and the girls have started pouring themselves some water and accomplish getting more on the ground than in the cup.  I tell them thank you for trying and to wipe up their mess. In that process they use the last clean kitchen towel to do so which happens to be the nicest one I have left without any stains and such.  Oh well, its just a towel I try to tell myself.  I am able to get the milk filtered and poured into the glass jar and put up in the fridge.  

I get a phone call from Stephen who is at the farm studying, so sit down on the little stool in the kitchen to visit with him.  I ask him how he is doing and try to offer words of encouragement and praise.  James waddles by leaving a little green cloud behind him so I get up and grab a clean diaper and some wipes and motion for him to come to me.  I continue talking with Stephen and ask if he is coming home for lunch (while changing James) and much to my dismay he says he feels he needs to stay at the farm and keep on studying.  I try not to sound to disappointed but convey that we will miss him, and that we are proud of him for making the sacrifice for our family and being so diligent in his studies.  The kids are now in the living room playing with blocks, making towers.  I finish up talking with him and then call for my lunch helper, Millie.  We aren't going to attempt cooking a meal at this point, but do something much easier- roll ups.  Instead of deli meat sandwiches which tend to be difficult for the kids to eat, I just roll up some deli meat inside a tortilla with cream cheese.  The kids love them as do I, but only for their simplicity's sake.  Millie helps me make lunch and we all go out to the front porch for a picnic.  The kids are excited to have a picnic and I feel kinda bad, because it is more for my sake that we eat outside...less mess inside.

They are all thirsty, but I remind them that they just had a drink of water and that they couldn't have any more (except for Elaina and James who are in diapers) until after naps so they won't have an accident while in bed. I notice Elaina is in a different outfit than what she had on earlier and upon investigation, realize that she put on some more clothes over the top of the ones I helped her put back on.  I make a mental note to check the utility room as it has probably been re-arranged a bit after she found the clothes she had on.  We finish up lunch.  I send them all to the bathroom one at a time then we all start heading upstairs.  They realize they need their blankets and attempt to run and find them real quick.  Elaina comes back crying because she can't find hers.  I ask her where it is and she says, "Don't know".  Bella can't find hers, but I am thinking that she left it up in her bed which is were it is supposed to be.  Elaina and I search for her blanket and find it in the bathroom by the sink and realize that while I was either on the phone or making lunch, the kids helped themselves to some tooth paste and it appears they tried brushing their teeth.  I send Elaina upstairs while I clean up the bathroom sink.  While I am at it, I squirt some toilet bowl cleaner into the toilet and make a mental note to scrub it out when I come back downstairs.  I instruct Martin to get some books and sit on the couch quietly while I put the girls down.  I kiss the girls good night and head back downstairs to try and re-prioritize.  I think about the status of laundry, dishes, the condition of the house, the bathroom I started cleaning, the animals outside who need to be moved and fed, and the work on the computer I was hoping to get done.  I hear the toilet flush in the bathroom and out comes Martin.  I guess I don't have to scrub the toilet now that all the blue stuff is gone.  I go ahead and re-apply the cleaner and scrub out the toilet and wipe it down.  There, much better.

I decide I would like to lay down instead of doing any of the above tasks as I still have more than half the day left and less than a quarter of a tank to go on.  I tell Martin to stay quietly in the living room while I go take a nap.  He does just that and quietly plays or reads books.  I get comfortable in bed and hear Lydia squirm.  I hope she goes back to sleep but start calculating how long it has been since the last time she ate and realize that the squirm was for real and that she will probably wake up and want to eat in the next few minutes.  Sure enough, she's hungry.  I go get her out of her crib and she gives me the biggest smile which makes it all worth it.  We talk for a little bit, then I feed her.  I try to get some rest while feeding her and wouldn't you know, the phone rings.  I answer in hushed tones and the person on the other line apologizes right away thinking I must be taking a nap and that they have just woke me.  I assure them I wasn't sleeping, but everyone else was and I didn't want to wake anyone.  We finish talking and Lydia has gone back to sleep after nursing, so I lay there and just about fall asleep when BANG!  I try not to jerk to much and wake the baby.  It came from upstairs, so I grab the spanking stick and head up there.  Sure enough it is one of the girls playing with some of my sewing things in the sun room.  I send them back to bed and give them a stern warning not to touch my things. 

I come back downstairs and look around and realize I am sinking.  I haven't been able to keep up or stay a-float, but am sinking.  I start by going into the utility room which I needed to check after Elaina put on more clothes earlier.  It looks like a bomb went off in there with hardly any of the floor showing from all of the clothes taken off the shelves and out of the laundry baskets.  I start trying to separate the dirty ones from the clean ones and make some sort of order.  I remember that I need to put the clothes in the dryer, but open it up and find the last load of Stephen's and my clothes heaped in there.  I throw a damp clothes item from the wash into the dryer and turn it on a short cycle to try and get some wrinkles out.  While I am in the utility room, I remember to look in the freezer and grab some meat out for supper.  I can't decide what to fix, so I grab some cutlets and hamburger meat out and bring them into the kitchen to see what else I have to go with it.  I decide on chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes (and wish I had instant ones at this point for convenience sake) and green beans.  By this time someone comes downstairs from their nap and is, yep, you guessed it, ready for something to eat.  I tell them that when everyone else gets up, I will make some smoothies for a snack.  In the mean time I sit down at the kitchen table to work on the computer with a little one in my lap and Martin at my side.  I have a hard time concentrating because of the hundreds of questions I am being asked.  When I don't answer in a reasonable amount of time, the question gets asked again but louder and louder each time.  I realize I am not getting much accomplished and decide to get my snack helper- Elaina- to come help me make smoothies since everyone is up from their naps now.  We make smoothies and I give the kids strict instructions to sit down and hold the cup with 2 hands and drink it all up.  Undoubtedly though, every time someone spills their cup.  We clean it up with the shop-vac which is still sitting out from breakfast when I vacuumed up the oatmeal.  

I announce to the kids that we are fixin' to go move cows and to go load up in the back of the little red truck. Martin hears this and wants to change back into his cowboy clothes because after all he can't do outside work around the farm in baseball clothes.  I tell him thats fine, but to be super fast about it.  I grab some diapers, wipes, James and Lydia and head out to the truck.  We all go across the road and I am trying to think like Stephen does as to what needs to be done in order to pick up the electric wire and posts and where to put out the fence for the new paddock.  I am blessed to be serenaded by the little choir in the back of the truck who are all singing a different song which makes it difficult for my little mind to comprehend let alone figure out what to do first with the fence.  I finally get an idea of what I will try to do and realize that half of the the cows are out of their paddock and just wandering free.  Hmm, what should I do?

To be continued.....