5th plan b | making cards instead of making beds

Everyday is a winding road

I get a little bit closer

Everyday is a faded sign

I get a little bit closer to feeling fine. - Sheryl Crow

Getting your life back after having babies happens in teeny tiny steps.

Like waking up one morning to discover that you've had enough sleep; discovering that the house is beginning to resemble some sort of order; the return of a calm and steady voice that doesn't escalate at the smallest thing; the expanding of a very important trait called patience...

And one day you realise that you're able to find time to do the things you enjoy. Because as a Mum, there's not much time to do things just for yourself. So when it does happen, it is pure luxury.

Tonight I discovered that wonderful thing called time. I made some cards. I was creative.

And it felt so good.

4th plan b | being goofy instead of cleaning

When I grow up to be a man

Will I dig the same things that turn me on as a kid?

Will I look back and say that I wish I hadn't done what I did?

Will I joke around and still dig those sounds

When I grow up to be a man? - Beach Boys

Today has been trying. That's because I was attempting a Non-plan Plan day. But i've found they don't seem to work.

That was because my eldest had nothing to get excited about, and from his perspective that was just depressing. There were lots of cuddles, games and even some television, but he was satisfied for only a very short time before asking, "Aren't we going to do anything today?"

Didn't he understand that doing nothing was actually lots of little somethings? Perhaps I need to sell the idea better to him? Perhaps it should be a day of games and cuddles at home. Why can't he be happy with that?

As part of 'helping' today, instead of just saying "no", I let him vacuum. Usually his type of vacuuming means it takes much longer to do a job that I already don't like. Seriously, why would you want to vacuum longer than you have to?

So, we vacuumed everything. The floor, the books, the CDs, the DVDs, his clothes, his hand, his feet, his hair. It was vacuuming hair that was the best as his hair stood on end. It looked funny, and created lots of giggles. He vacuumed Mummy's hair and Noah's hair too. It was so much fun, I think the vacuum cleaner was on for about an hour longer than necessary.

But it was something during a day of 'nothing'. And his face was worth it.

3rd plan b | attempt two at a weekend outing

Here comes the rain again

Falling on my head like a memory

Falling on my head like a new emotion - Eurythmics

Today's Plan B was last week's Plan B.

Because the boys were sick this weekend and last weekend, we've been kind of isolated. And the idea was to have a picnic lunch so there was something special to look forward to. Also, I'm trying to go to new places, so we experience Melbourne as much as we can. Last week we went to Olinda. Today Finns Reserve. The place was incredible and the flying foxes had a real workout.

And today was the second attempt. The weather was slightly better. But of course it did rain again, but that didn't seem to dampen the boys's spirits. We all had a nice time and it wore them out enough to have some more sleep when they got home.

I sure hope they're on the up and up now (and not contagious) so we can socialise with other people soon.

2nd plan b | reading instead of working, eating instead of cooking

Take it easy, take it easy

Don’t let the sound of your own wheels

Drive you crazy

Lighten up while you still can

Don’t even try to understand

Just find a place to make your stand

And take it easy. - The Eagles

It sure is hard to be reliable when a child is sick. Every plan you make ends up being put out on the front lawn like hard rubbish. All because we want to reduce the risk of spreading the infection to friends (and their kids), minimise the unknown quantity of a grumpy child's random behaviour out of the home, and ensure they have enough rest.

Perhaps it's the germs in the air, but I don't feel Quite Right either. So, today was another day of cuddles and doing very, very little.

While the boys slept today, instead of jumping onto the computer immediately to update a website and work on a new publication, I rested for a while too. I lay on my bed and read a book*. In fact, I realised this week that this is the first time I've been able to read a book without falling asleep. How did I get here?

And my other Plan B for today?

Friends... where would we be without wonderful friends? Tonight at 6pm, a friend had delivered (via another beautiful friend) home-made soup to our front door (in the cold, wet rain). So instead of needing to prepare dinner, we were able to eat a hot, healthy and delicious meal. Thanks so much Anna.

*Shameless plug: the book I'm reading is called Brinn: War In Her Veins written by Jotham Kingston. It's hard to put down, and such a great read.

Thanks for stopping by.

1st plan b | nursing instead of shopping

Never know how much I love you, you never know how much I care,

When you put your arms around me, I get a feeling that I just can't bear,

You give me fever, when you kiss me, fever when you hold me tight

Fever in the morning, fever all through the night. - Eva Cassidy

Well, we've started this month with a bang.

Plans for our usual shopping day came to a quick halt, when after a morning of unusually grumpy behaviour, Madison didn't eat his lunch and put himself straight to bed.

I smelt a rat when he slept solidly for a few hours, and then woke up grumpy, red cheeked and miserable.

So instead of buying groceries for this week, I nursed my little boy through his fever. The poor guy is sick again!