One of "those days!"

We've all had them, some more often than others, some more dramatic than others, and they all stink - "those kind of days."  The days that nothing seems to work right.  The days when you are really just better off going back to bed and pulling the covers over your head.  Yep, I had one of those days today.  It was not fun. 

We got up and got ready to take Kaylee to a birthday party.  She was so excited about going to this party that she picked out her outfit 2 weeks ago!  She has been counting down the number of "sleeps" until the party for well over a week.  I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I was able to use the party as quite a bargaining tool when she did not want to help pick up after herself or keep her room clean this week.  But hey, whatever works, right??? 

Anyways, Braden and I left Kaylee at the party and went on a "Mommy and Son date" to get him some Yogo's, one of those lollipops that has an airplane on top, and to go play at Chick-fil-A.  (Isn't it nice when $10 can make a kid's day?  I'm sure it won't forever so I will appreciate it now).  After our date and the party, I planned to take the kids shopping for an hour or so.  I am getting down to the final weeks of pregnancy and wanted to get a few little spring outfits for Kaylee to wear to school once the weather starts to warm up a bit - nevermind the fact that it was 28 degrees this morning!!!  (I know I won't be able to get out for a few weeks once the baby arrives, and school will go on).  Before the shopping trip, I decided to pull over and top off the van with some gas.  Of course, leave it to me... a "quick" stop for gas turned into an afternoon drama that completely changed the course of our day.  I swiped my card first, and then realized that my hands were so cold and the gas cap was jammed so much that I couldn't get it open.  I tried to cancel the transaction, but the pump was messed up and would not cancel.  I couldn't get any help, and didn't want to leave with my bank account basically exposed to anyone who pulled up next.  (I guess that is another argument for Dave Ramsey's "pay with cash and cash ONLY" debate!)  Anyways, I fought the cap and finally got it off, filled up the tank, and went to put the nozzle back on the pump.  Unfortunately, something was wrong with it and it continued to spray gas out after I pulled it out of my tank.  (NO, I was not still holding the handle).  Luckily it wasn't facing me, but a nice northerly wind allowed quite a bit of it to blow back on me and my shoes and the van.  I tried to clean as much as I could off, but the window cleaner was frozen solid and I was limited to paper towels.  I got back into the van and explained to the kids that we needed to go back home for a while.  I told them that "Mommy is just having a rough morning" and we need to take a break for a while.  I didn't cry, but really wanted to.  (Sheer exhaustion will do that to you, and I had lots of those "bring tears to your eyes" moments today)! 

We got home, I changed clothes and took my shoes off, but still couldn't get the gas smell to go away.  I ended up taking a LONG hot shower and finally felt better.  After a nap, while the kids laid on the living room floor and watched a movie, I decided we would try it again.  We loaded up the car and went for some late lunch/ early dinner.  The plan was to eat and then try to stop by a few shops.  Of course, as soon as I sat down by Braden, he started to fan his corn with his arm as if that would cool it off quicker.  Instead of cooling his corn, he flipped his RED Hi-C drink over into the bench we were sitting on.  It was one of those spills that you think is just in one place, but then you realize it has gotten under EVERYTHING once you pick it all up. Yep, it was all over my purse and behind him.  I just wiped it all up as good as I could and we left after we ate.  When we got into the van, I banged my knee on something pretty hard.  Of course, I was cold and that made it hurt that much more.  I just burst into tears at that point, and both kids froze.  They asked what was wrong and I told them that I had just had a bad day.  The gasoline, the cold, being tired, the drink spilling, feeling very out of place at times, and then hurting my knee all just added up to frustrate me.  Kaylee then responded with, "Mommy, why don't we just go on home tonight.  We can shop for me another time."  She asked what I was going to do about my shoes and I told her I would probably have to throw them away.  Her response was so sweet.  She said, "Mommy, we don't need to buy stuff for me then.  We need to look for some new shoes for you.  I'm so sorry you have had a bad day." 

We just went home after that.  The kids went to bed without too much of a fuss - they've been pretty good about that lately.  I have just sat around and accomplished pretty much nothing, and that is okay with me today.  It has been good to be inside where it is not 28 degrees, away from the awful gasoline smell, free from any messes for a little while, and enjoying the quiet.  Tomorrow is a new day and we are going to attempt it again.  That is IF the morning goes smooth.  We'll see.