Too "Good" Not to Share

This has been one heck of a week. A week so extraordinary I just have to share. I don't even have much commentary about it I just felt like sharing my misery so others may show me pity and grace when I look a little disheveled and cross eyed.

It all started with Rob having a lovely 4 day weekend which would have been even lovelier if we had a few dollars to free us up to do some things. We made the best of it and even ended the weekend with a fun day at the beach. (Of course I am totally leaving out the bitch fest I fed my husband all the way to the beach to the point that I annoyed myself. But that is not a very important aspect of this story.)  That evening after we all settled in Sam began running a fever and complaining of a headache. This is pretty typical of Sam as it doesn't take much for his body to respond to the slightest change....not unlike one of his parents. Slight temp should not be a big deal except for when he kept me up all Tuesday and Wednesday nights. (Oh plus my inlaws are out of town on a well deserved respite which has us watering gardens, walking dogs and bandaging ears.) So, by Thursday I am exhausted, have used my last dollar in the account to pay rent, Sam is not getting better, Malinda is heartbroken she can't play with her pal and then it happens......ANTS.

Red ants

Fire ants

in my apartment!

This isn't the first time we have had these horrid creatures in our second floor apartment but this was different! They were marching into the house from under the door and baseboards. So, after a late night run to the store Rob sprays them and we hope that he has annihilated them- at least until maintenance can help us out. We went to bed and I finally enjoyed a full night sleep. Sam whimpered a few times but never enough to go to him.

The morning seems brighter and my plans for this weekend begin to seem like a possibility again. Just as I am feeling that perhaps we are on the upswing here the kids begin hollering from the room. ANTS! Red ANTS!!! Fire ANTS!!! in my sons bed....hence the whimpering. I now notice the red welts beginning to show on him. My baby had served as an ant FIRE ANT buffet all night!

Oh hells to the no!

Fast forward through numerous frantic phone calls to the apartment office, doctor's office and Rob's place of employment gets me to an apartment that has been turned upside down, sealed and sprayed, confirmation that Sam had a virus and is covered with ant bites, and a free dinner from Big Daddy. We find ourselves sleeping at our inlaws home and tucking in a healthy itchy boy and a little girl complaining , yes that's right, of a headache and fever. I am beginning to think that those plans might still be on hold.

As crazy insane as this all sounds there was even more stuff going on like my own body turning on me as it tends to enjoy doing at inopportune times and me facing the reality of my sister and her precious family leaving the States in only a few months, and my own future being wide open with a hundred billion unknowns staring me in the face.

I crumbled this week- several times. Crying as I texted friends, talking to family and longing for sleep. I flopped on the bed with true dramatic flare after barely dragging myself to the shower to wash the smell of pee, sweat and frustration off.  But here I am still alive and although there is much still to deal with I have peace. I am not alone and I do not have to depend on myself- which is a really good thing....really, really good!