Ordinary man's ordinary day

One ordinary man’s ordinary day

This is about the fourth time I’ve done this. At the end of the day, I have reflected on everything I’ve done throughout the day. It’s really an amazing exercise that I would recommend to others to do. First of all, it’s kind of a neet snapshot for you or others to look back on years from now to see what your life was like back then. Secondly, it’s mind-boggling how much stuff you experience in a 24-hour period.

My July 29th began by waking up around 1:30 a.m. I am blessed to have three kids. My third child was born a week ago today. Her name is Claire. She was 8 lb. and 4 ounces. So I woke up up when she started fussing because she was hungry. That’s what newborns do, after all. I changed her diaper and make up four ounces of formula and headed downstairs to feed her.

Our remote control is really not working. We tried changing the batteries, but it didn’t help. I have to watch TV while I feed her. I’ve done that with all our kids. I supposed I should be enjoying the moment of feeding our babies. But usually she has her eyes closed. She usually drinks an ounce and then falls asleep. The formula is good for an hour. So then the next 45 minutes are spent burping her, letting her sleep on your lap, trying to wake her to drink another ounce. Repeat steps above. I’m not trying to overfeed her, but I don’t want her to wake up 60 minutes later feeling hungry again.

Actually, we’ve been lucky. She’s been a great baby so far – not very fussy at all.

Since our remote wasn’t working, I had set up a tape to watch in our combo VCR/DVD player that I got from my brother Andy to videotape shows for him from time to time. I had checked out four different videos and DVDs from the library several weeks ago. TV in the middle of the night is pretty lousy, so I thought this was a good idea. Plus without a remote that worked, I couldn’t channel surf easily. So I watched the rest of a PBS Frontline special on video called “Is Wal-Mart Good for America”. This Frontline program is great. I watched one called “Sick around the World.” Actually I taped it thanks to a tip from my brother, and I show that video in my German class. That program discusses health care plans in 5 different countries in order to consider how other countries offer quality health care to all its citizens. Anyway, this Wal-Mart Video was good too. You always hear about the evils of Wal-Mart. We shop there some. I probably will still shop there some – maybe a bit less. What I found most interesting is that our trade with China consists of this: We ship raw materials to China. China produces things cheaply that they then ship back to America for purchase. Obviously many point to Wal-Mart as one company that is making many American companies go bankrupt and lay off workers because other countries, like China, pay its workers much less which makes producing things less expensive. I’m no expert, but it was interesting.

Then I went back to sleep. I heard Jen get up with Claire around 5:00 to feed her. I had forgotten the formula canister downstairs. So after Jen changed Claire, she returned Claire to our room while she got the bottle ready. I brought Claire down to Jen in the family room to feed her, and I went back to bed. At least I think that’s what I did; I was kind of groggy.

If I remember correctly, Claire wasn’t falling back asleep after the feeding. Or she woke up soon thereafter. I must have come down with her around 6:15 a.m. – after Jen fed her. Jen is still recovering from her C-Section. She is still having some pain so I sat in the recliner with Claire. I sort of remember my 3-year old son Davin waking up and coming down around 7:20 a.m. He talked to me and I said that Claire and I would get up in about 5 minutes. He said OK and wandered off to play. Then about 8:30 a.m. – an hour later – I woke up again. Davin was still playing happily, and I think I heard Jen and my 5-year old daughter, Kylie, just waking up.

I haven’t slept that late most of the summer, but having a baby puts your sleep schedule a bit off.

Then what. I got Davin a cereal bar (“Breakfast bar,” he said – he now calls it a breakfast bar and corrects me when I don’t say that.) and apple juice. Kylie went to the bathroom. Jen came downstairs. Claire was fussing for a bottle. Jen fed Claire, and I warmed up the last 2 pancakes for Kylie. They were the pancakes that my Mom had made when she and my dad were here next week. For some reason, I like it when there is some food left over from when my parents have visited. I don’t care if it’s something my mom baked or something my dad bought on his trips to SuperSaver and left for us. It’s just a tangible sign that my folks were here recently to visit. I always keep track of how long it is until I get to see them again (They live 8 hours away.) I will see them in one month for Claire’s baptism.

Wait. I guess I fed Claire. Jen made us eggs and toasted the last pieces of cinnammon raisin toast that I bought at Great Harvest where you get great bread and large free slices of bread.

I shaved (I only shave every other or every 3rd day during summer vacation.) The kids were playing a Dora the Explorer video game. As soon as I was down in the bathroom, I took the kids outside to play. We saw Mark across the street so Kylie invited him over to play. Zach stopped by. We played ball tag for a while in the back yard. Claire sat in her stroller. We switched pretty fast to kickball. Me against Kylie, Zach, and Mark. Davin was on my team, but he doesn’t quite have the rules down to kickball yet. After one inning, we were tied 1-1. After 3 innings, Kylie and I were drenching in sweat and I had lost 17-3.

Kylie took a shower with Mom’s help. After Jen helped her shower, I guess she told Jen “I can handle it from here. I need to practice doing this on my own for when I move out.”

Lunch time was when we had Pokemon mac-n-cheese (purchased by my dad) and frozen carrots and peas. Fine dining! We also had fairy bread. Kylie had learned about that from Vacational Bible School yesterday. It’s really hard to make – bread, butter and sprinkles. It was surprisingly good.

Jen went shopping with her mom for more infant clothes. We have about 12 big tubs of clothes that Jen spent one week this summer labeling to have lots of clothes for Claire. But we don’t’ have much 0-3 month stuff. And she is too little for most of her clothes, so we thought we’d get her a couple more outfits. Since Jen’s mom went along, they probably got even a little more, which was a nice bonus – and a nice thing for her mom to do.

While Jen was out, Claire and Davin napped. Davin and I read Jack and the Beanstalk before his nap. He really got into that story. Kylie played computer during their naps so that I could prepare for Vacation Bible School. I am leading the songs this week. It runs from 6-8 each evening this week. I have limited experience leading the music, so I ran through the music several times. I also tried to figure out some actions to do with the songs. There was a great sign language site that had a big dictionary of words that you could click on and then see a 2 second video clip showing how to do the sign. That was a huge help.

Jen and her mom got home with several bags of clothes. When they walked in the front door, Claire was just beginning to fuss while she was lying on her blanket in the living room. Davin was in the living room too with no pants or underpants on. Why? He had just gone potty. He takes off his pants, sits on the toilet but then still needs help getting his pants back on.

We quickly had PB & J sandwiches before leaving for VBS. We got there early to set up for the music. The world map (The theme for the week is “Where in the world is St. Michael?”) banner had fallen off one of the posts. It hangs outside where we sing. It’s a huge map that I had to try and tie back onto the post. I found some rope from the secratry. I tried to get it tied back on – with little success. After a bit, the pastor’s son and guitarist helped me put it back on.

I sent Kylie and Davin to the fellowship hall to sample the food they had on hand to represent the country for today (Burma). Kylie ate a plateful of it; Davin had no interest in it. I left them to keep setting up the music. Luckily our church is nott too big. We know many of the families somewhat, so I could leave them there and trust them to make their way with the crowd out to me when the singing would begin.

The music went great. We sang “I believe, I do believe”. I taught them “Make me an Instrument of your love.” We sang a few others . Of the 60 kids, probably about half of them were into the singing and doing the actions. Some parents watched the opening from behind the kids. It’s a lot of fun to see the kids join in the singing. On the first day, the kids were just learning and hearing the songs for the first time. But today they were really learning the songs.

Then I had 1 ½ hours to kill before the closing. Chatting with different adult helpers and parents here and there. Many congratulated me on our new baby. I listened in on the speaker from Burma who taught the kids about Burma. The kids go to 4 different stations: country information, Bible story, crafts, and games. We closed with the same songs. It’s really pretty fun We brought home tons of the leftover food that some volunteers had made. Sarah, the VBS coordinator, didn’t want the food to go to waste, so I drove home with 4 or 5 containers of food.

We got home at 8:20. The kids ate cheese crackers on the way home. We listened to Disney radio and a Raffi CD to and fro. When we got home, we each had a cookie. Brushed teeth, went potty, kids to bed. It’s awesome how the kids take a couple books to bed with them. They sit up and read them (tell the story) to themselves.

I zipped down to catch the end of the Cubs-Brewers game. I rarely get Brewers games out here in Nebraska. The Brewers haven’t made the playoffs since 1982. They are now 3 games out of first but one game ahead in the wild card race. But they lost 7-0. Bummer.

Then I typed this account It’s 10:30. Jen is feeding her bottle. She has only had 2 of the 4 ounces. Time for bed to go and read a few more pages of Schulz and Peanuts, a biography.

Good night.