Mother of the Year

Yesterday was probably not the best day I have had in the history of my motherhood career.

First, The Girl, who is normally sweet, kind, and extraordinarily social, was clingy, grouchy, and generally a grump. She complained of being cold (even when sitting in the hot sun at the Krispie Kreme). She complained of wanting to sit down all the time. She was constantly wanting hugs. She was hanging on me. 

At one point when walking to our car (which was parked a good walking distance from the museum) she looked at the ground and said, "If I could lay down on this side walk right now, I would."

I told her that she was just tired from all the swimming practice and late night swim meets. She could go home to rest.

And that's what she did. She slept all the way home and then laid on the couch until dinner. 

When The Mister got home he said she felt warmer than usual. I had noticed that too, while at the museum, but had forgotten to check her temp.

When I did it was 102.

Nice.

Now, my intention yesterday was to pack a lunch for the kids and I, but I ran out of time and threw three PowerBar's (peanut butter flavor for me, chocolate for the kids) into my purse. We had donuts at 10am, so I figured high protein candy bars would be sufficient until we got home. 

Around 1pm the kids were ready for their "lunch," so we walked up to the snack bar area and whipped out the PowerBars under a giant sign that read: No Outside Food or Drink Allowed. 

I'm such a rebel.

We ate our lunch, and within minutes The Boy starts to complain about itching. I told him it was because of all the swimming we have been doing (do you see a pattern here?). I accused him of not using soap in the shower after being in the pool. 

The Boy has had a peanut allergy since he was a wee toddler. It was at this time that I learned that many products must be carefully checked due to cross contamination during production.

For instance, plain m&m's are processed on the same conveyor belts as Peanut m&m's. People who have extreme allergies must avoid cross contamination. Fortunately, The Boy has never been in the extreme category, although in the early years I was pretty careful.

As The Boy has grown older we have worried less and less about cross contamination. Quite frankly, that boy has eaten his weight in plain m&m's over the years and hasn't had a problem.

We have successfully avoided all major peanut products for nearly 11 years. 

Until yesterday. 

I had just gotten The Girl dosed with some ibuprofen when The Boy was still complaining about itching. I ask him to lift up his shirt. He was covered in a hive like rash.

I broke out with the Benadryl.

Of course, it wasn't until this morning when The Mister asked if there might be any peanut products in that chocolate PowerBar...

For the record, there is a plethora of peanut products in a chocolate PowerBar. As a matter of fact they might as well just call it Chocolate Covered Peanuts flavor. Not only is peanut flour listed as one of the main ingredients, but it clearly says that it contains peanut "products" right on the package.

Nice.

So I am not going to win any awards at the moment, but thankfully today is new day, with plenty of mistakes (and God's grace!) of its own.

Happy Wednesday!