Unbelievable

This morning, Elliot ever so sweetly climbed into my side of the bed and slept, after mentioning he had a tummy ache. Thirty minutes later, I wake up to him tossing his cookies all over the side of the bed, the carpet, and as I carry him, all the way to the bathroom. He didn't enjoy this only time in recent memory of tossing his cookies. But then he felt better.

Staying home from preschool, he felt great and we danced and goofed around with Jesse and Maya all morning. After lunch, while playing Bus with Jesse and Maya in the kitchen on my good feather blanket, up comes the cookies again, this time with more vengence. I quickly put Jesse and Maya on the steps, so not to have a dance party in said cookies. I dare think they might look at it like a puddle. So, I send them upstairs as I try to figure out where to begin this massive cleaning effort. Oh yeah, and calm down a terrified and fairly gross little Elliot.

Getting the floor sanitized, putting anything cloth in the area in the washer, Elliot tucked in to the couch with a towel and a bucket, and scrubbing my hands for the umpteenth time, I figure I should check out the cameraderie upstairs.

Jesse and Maya had been quite dependable while playing in their room, up until this moment. Sure there were times of toys and clothes spewing everywhere or occassional stuffing coming out of pillows, but nothing too bad.

I wasn't prepared. Jesse had climbed into Maya's crib. Maya was sitting on the nice cushion on the rocking chair. Both of them completely naked. As I assess the situation, I see that Jesse has "claimed Maya's territory" by peeing all over her bed. Then I see the diapers they had strewn across the floor, I'm sure with great glee. The first is fairly dry, not too bad. One of them has poop in it. Which butt was it from? After wiping both, and realizing it was Maya, the rocking chair needed a thorough cleaning. Mind you, I had just sanitized the kitchen, wasn't really planning on more cleaning today.

I set them both firmly in one crib (with new diapers) as I try to clean the mess. Remember there are toys everywhere (oh and did I mention the curtains and rod that was ANCHORED to the wall is also on the floor?). As I clean these toys up, checking carefully, I find occasional nuggets. Between some books, in a puzzle, in the shape sorter. You have got to be kidding me. This cleaning job just got a lot bigger.

But God loves me when I unintentionally cause a big mess and when I intentionally give it all I've got. Time for that grace that I've received, and I've been praying for, to come through in my parenting this little darlings.