OMG!

Couldn't get Meg and the kids on the road to Muncie soon enough! Ryan has been a royal pill all stinkin' day, from deliberately doing what he's been asked NOT to do, to being demanding and whiny. He was up before I was, which makes for a looong day!

I had workmen coming over today, with a prior warning that I had to take Ryan to Riley Hospital for a follow-up appointment post-concussion. (They can work without me. In fact, they can probably work BETTER without me!) For two days, Ryan has been hounding me to take him to Meijer because some fancy Bakugon monsters were on clearance. I gave in. Figured it was better than trying to keep him otherwise occupied before we had to leave for Riley at 10:30. He conned me out of $15 worth of stuff. (Note to self: I owe the same to Robin.)

He worried a bit about the doctor appointment. Was it going to hurt? I assured him it wouldn't, but he was still clingy at a time when I really didn't want him clinging. Why? Because he was kicking the back of my car seat, kicking things on the floor of the car, and generally being annoying all the way there. At the hospital, he couldn't stand still while we waited for the receptionist to get stuff in order on her computer. He all but stood on his head. I kept telling myself that this is normal for a 5-year-old boy...but I felt stressed by it, nonetheless. Happily, we didn't have to wait long, nor were we in the doctor's office long. The neurologist declared him fit to return to normal activities. Yay!

Then we went to the McDonald's located inside Riley for lunch. (Ryan was impressed that the McD's was IN the hospital.) He did pretty well there. Got a three-part Lego car for the Happy Meal treat (which he promptly dropped no fewer than three times in the hospital and the parking garage--which sent all three parts in different directions). Ugh! Ry wanted ice cream, but we were running out of time to get him to school, so I told him we'd do Ritter's after school. Delivered him and his medical release to school. Came home to the mess here.

While the floor dude continued to work on the bathroom floor installation (which is more complicated than it sounds because we had removed both toilet and sink in order to do the job right, and two fellows were working on it), I decided to go through the stack of junk and/or unopened mail on the fireplace mantel. I came ---> <--- this close to throwing away an envelope that said BAC Mortgage Servicing on it. I mean, my mortgage is with Bank of America (the fourth bank since 1992 when I bought the house). Who in the devil is BAC?? Anyway, I opened the envelope and found a check for over $400 for "escrow overage" from my mortgage holder! That check just paid for my new bathroom floor! To think I almost threw it away without opening it...!

The rest of the afternoon went downhill. The kids got off the bus at 4:00. I had a frozen pizza just out of the oven for an early supper, since Ryan had a soccer game at 6:00, and we were to have him at the field by 5:40 for pictures. Got him all done up in his uniform. Put drinks in a little cooler. Got folding chairs in the trunk. Got umbrellas for the kids because it looked like rain. Got Robin rounded up with whatever she needed for entertainment. (They decided Ritter's would be better after the game.) Meg hit the road from work in order to meet us at the field. We got there, as instructed...but it was raining. We waited in the car (impatiently, btw) until almost time for the pictures...still raining...but no one showed up. All I got out of the deal was wet kids. When Meg got there, I met her at my car so she could help carry the chairs. She instructed Ryan not to walk in a huge puddle, and he totally ignored her...something he had been doing with me all day. He almost lost his chance to play out of that deal. Only then did I find out that he had bragged to her that he had stayed up all night. Hmmm...things were beginning to add up.

Ryan made three goals all by himself. His team beat the pants off the other team...but they don't have much strategy at his age, nor do they keep score. The rain had stopped. We had the only kid who was wet... Robin discovered that she could get TWO candy treats for 25 cents at the concession stand. Thus, both kids had junk. The coach announced that the kids should be at the field early NEXT game for pictures. I didn't mess up. They did!

Back at the car after the game, for reasons known only to God, Ryan threw multiple tantrums. (Sister didn't help the situation.) Ritter's was canned in an effort just to get him home. He cried loudly all the way home. Then he cried and threw more tantrums in preparation to leaving for Muncie. In short, we had one tired little dude who was out of control...and one grandmother who was close to murder and mayhem by the time they hit the road tonight.

The bright spots of the day: Ryan's medical release, the escrow check, and the lovely new bathroom floor. The dark spots: everything else!

Meg will get home late from Muncie. There is a lot to do between now and Sunday when the children return...and overnight company on Monday. I won't be long for the world tonight!