what's in you wednesday

My mother once told me that you never know when an accident might occur and you need to make a mad dash to the hospital. So for as long as I have been a mother, I have tried to make it part of my standard operating procedure that before I step foot out of our bedroom in the morning, I am dressed and ready to take on the day.

But this morning - things didn't go as well as planned.

While I was still in my pajamas and we were in the midst of breakfast - and I was home alone with the children because Charlie had run off to the dentist (and then needed to visit with his insurance agent and attorney) the doorbell rang. And as is customary around these parts, whenever the doorbell rings, the children charge the door because they believe that whomever is standing on our porch, is carrying with them a bag full of candy and toys.

It's important to note that I wasn't the only one who wasn't dressed for the day.

When the doorbell rang, William was wearing only a pajama top, Elizabeth was wearing her nightgown inside out (not sure how or why, since I know she had it on correctly when I put her to bed last night), Carolyn was wearing a gymnastics leotard, three sizes too small and Henry was (in fact still is) naked. Because I can't keep that child clothed to save my life.

At the door is a delivery man from Fed Ex.

In his hands, is a box.

I bring the box in the house and the children are so excited. "OPEN THE BOX!" they yell. "OPEN THE BOX!!" While I am looking for a pair of scissors, they are guessing the contents.

Alas, it is not a bicycle - nor a pony - nor a rocket ship - nor 500 ice cream cones.

Within the box are 1,000 silicone bracelets.

These are the silicone bracelets that I ordered thanks to all of your input.

These are the silicone bracelets that I will be selling in an effort to help our 3-Day Breast Cancer walking team achieve our fundraising goals. (Details on how to order will follow, soon.)

These are the silicone bracelets that will hopefully, subtly, inspire anyone who wears it. Because on each of the 1,000 silicone bracelets there is the simple phrase, "BE AMAZING!"

(Which I thought sounded more upbeat than, "Don't Be A Sluggard!")

The children are so excited because there are bracelets in forest green - royal blue - and hot pink. But mostly in hot pink because I think more women than men will wear them - but also available in blue and green because I liked the colors and think that they are nice and macho.

There are bracelets in large sizes, medium sizes, and small sizes ordered especially for little children's wrists.

Each child claimed a bracelet in their favorite color.


Charlie came home from the dentist and claimed a bracelet in his favorite color, while drinking coffee and reflecting on the State of Our World.

And then, I put the box of 994 silicone bracelets up HIGH above my computer hutch so that they were not rapidly distributed throughout the house, garage, yard and car.

I felt so overcome with excitement at our new silicone bracelet supply, and the Pink Lemonade Project Stand / Bake Sale (where Charlie will be selling his homemade chocolate chip cookies) that we will be holding at the popular Seaport Village, this weekend.

I felt so overcome with excitement about the walk - the women on my team - and the GREATER purpose of what we are trying to accomplish. So I sat down to write a quick e-mail to my fellow triplet walking moms telling them that good gracious, 994 silicone bracelets is a lot!!

We will sell bracelets at our Lemonade Stand for The Cause!

We will sell bracelets to doctors and dentists and teachers and neighbors and coworkers to raise awareness for The Cause!

We will pass them out at church - and at the grocery store - and we'll have them dropped from airplanes as they fly over the city to raise awareness for The Cause!

While I was scheming all this ... while I was imagining a world free of cancer ... in the forty five seconds it took me to compose an e-mail to my friends (because I think faster than I type and I type lightening fast) Henry walked up and stood next to me.

And I felt something on my foot.

Something warm.

I looked down and Henry was holding in one hand, the receptacle for his potty chair. In that receptacle, was the most massive diarrhea blow out I have ever seen. My sweet boy had picked the receptacle up and brought it to me, to flush down the toilet. But in the process of doing so, as he walked from the back of the house to the front of the house, he spilled a substantial portion of .... you know what ... and created a river of .... you know what ... the entire way.

My eyes turned to the heavens, and I caught sight of the box of 994 silicone bracelets.

BE AMAZING!

The fact that I didn't chuck up my breakfast makes me believe that I am. But the fact that I am still in my pajamas at noon makes me believe that I have room for improvement.

*****

I have walked 30 miles this week. I have gone to the gym twice and walked right by the five-pound container of chocolate covered almonds at Costco without stopping.

How are you doing with your goals?

But wait - before you answer that, here's a comment from susieg, "Since Jan. my husband and I combined, have lost 224 pounds and we walk five miles a day."

WAY TO GO SUSIEG and HUSBAND!!!

(I think I may have found 10 of the pounds that you lost, but I'm working on it.)

OK. Now it's your turn.