Penance

Today I am doing Penance. The Lord is giving me so much to offer up this morning, that I know He must be calling me to Penance and prayer for those on my prayer list.

I have another kidney stone that is trying to pass since Friday. It has not, thus far, caused the excruciating incapacitating pain that I've had a few times now with stones, it just hurts in this constant dull way for now. But, enough to keep me up at night and make me grouchy during the day.

In addition, I've started with the serious pregnancy "morning sickness" [which is all day for me from about week 6 till about week 12]. I am seriously nauseous all the time and feel faint if I don't eat protein every 3 hours or so.

We went to early Mass this morning and I did make it through, despite worrying I was going to pass out in the pew [I don't normally eat before Mass to observe the fast before the Eucharist, but I may have to start eating before Mass while I'm pregnant]. DH took the baby and the 2yo out of Mass half way through because they were being rowdy, so I spent the second half of Mass sitting pleasantly with my 9yo, 6yo, and 4yo, who all behaved extremely well - Praise God!

So, we came home only to find that sometime during the night, our lab mix dog had gotten sick to his stomach from eating something or other that he found [If you have a weak stomach, don't read past this part, trust me!].

Rather than poop in his crate, he decide to relieve himself of his diarrhea by literally spraying it all around the outside of his crate [I can only imagine how he must have managed this - he had to have pressed his bottom against the sides of the crate to do it!]. Thus, he had managed to keep his crate completely diarrhea free, and yet get diarrhea all over the wall, kitchen floor and carpet in the family room [his crate sits right between the kitchen and family room, against a wall]. One of the kids had let him out of the crate early this morning, but had not "noticed" the diarrhea ... which just boggles the mind.

So... I came home from Mass to walk into the kitchen [which I had not entered yet today] only to be assaulted by the worst smell imaginable... and when I saw what the dog had done, I started trying to heave... ugh. It was so awful.

So there I was, sick, pregnant, miserable, in pain from my stupid kidney, on my hands and knees, trying to use bleach to clean up this vile disgusting mess. [and I'm pretty sure pregnant women aren't supposed to mess with bleach at all - I usually use non-toxic cleaners, but in this instance, bleach was absolutely necessary].

It was really horrible - the worst thing I've ever had to clean up, and with 5 kids, I've cleaned up some doozies. My husband was trying to keep the baby OUT of the dog diarrhea, and the kids were all complaining that they were hungry [we ALL were thank you very much!], but the clean up obviously had to come first.

I think we now have two outside dogs. I hate to be like that, but I just don't think I could handle another clean up like that one.

I've sort of been considering this for a few days anyway because of our collie.

Our collie has decided to start constantly waking me up at night, just being obnoxious. It started with thunder storms - she would wake me up all night long if there was a thunder storm because she's scared of thunder. Which at least I could understand. Then she started waking me any night it even rained a small bit - the tiniest shower would cause her to go nuts [she looks like an *insane dog* when she's doing this, she is totally tweaking, I think the dog is a nutcase actually]. And she wakes me up over and over and over [and did I mention that I have FIVE children who already consider it their very own privilege to wake mommy up?! I am going to DIE if I don't sleep soon! Really! I promise!]. Then, this week, she decided that every night was a fine night to tweak and wake me up all night - regardless of the weather [I guess there MIGHT be a thunder storm coming every night, you just never know....]

So, I've decided that the insane, neurotic collie and the diarrhea spewing lab mix can live outside. They like it outside. They stay out there most of the daylight hours as it is, playing with the kids and such. I bring them in at night... but I think maybe they need to just live out there full time. [OK, I'll bring them in when it is freezing cold and such of course]. Dh is already working on plans for a nice dog house for them, and I just made this decision an hour ago. LOL!

So, that's my penance thus far today, and its not even noon.

I have to go to work and teach a 7 hour Lamaze class here in a few minutes - I'm praying that part of my day goes better than my morning did [and also that the pain level with the kidney stones stays at a manageable level so I can get through the class!].

But, rest assured, if you have asked me to pray for you in the last few weeks, I have offered up a LOT for you today [and your family and children and priest and anyone else you asked me to pray for. ;) ].

Isn't God kind to give me such a great opportunity to Sacrifice on behalf of those I care for?! LOL!

God Bless you - have a great week!