Pesky Fly

Abby girl has taken it into her head that flies are an entity to be feared. Alas, flies, as you probably well know, are a part of reality. Mysteriously, we have had several flies in the house lately. I can't quite figure out where they're coming from. First of all, it's winter, aren't they all supposed to be dormant? Second, it's winter, and all my doors and windows are closed.

Setting the mystery of the flies aside, let's turn to the reality of my life with what Abby calls, "Pesky flies." I'll be peacefully playing a game with the boys, making dinner, or sleeping, when my delightful daughter will yell, loudly, "MOMMY, PESKY FLY!!!" The urgency of her tone betrays her fear and we begin the hunt to swat the fly so that we can all return to peace. Last night at dinner Farmer Jeff was a hero - he ate his dinner with one hand while waving his other hand over Abby's plate so that no pesky fly could buzz round or land.

The crisis has been gathering for several days now, and it imploded on me last night at 3:37 - when the cry of "MOMMY, PESKY FLY!!!" shattered my slumber and drew me out into the cold, weary night. Unfortunately for me, Mr. Pesky Fly did not show himself. Being awake at 3:37 also alerted me to another issue that needed dealing with, and while one of our sons showered, I changed sheets and started a load of laundry - all the while watching for Mr. Pesky Fly. Sporadically Abby would yell that she heard him again, and by the time I was done with sheets and shower - having returned young son to his bed - it was quite clear that Abby was not tired. She was hovered under her blanket and petrified that Mr. Pesky was going to crawl in some slight hole of her armor and somehow get her.

So I laid down on her toddler bed with her, making a firm decision to upgrade her to a twin as soon as possible, and remained with her until she appeared sound asleep. However, and you can see this coming if you read between the lines, when I got up from her bed, she awoke to wonder where I was going. So I laid back down on her floor, hoping to make a less obtrusive escape when once she slept again. Eventually there was rhythmic breathing from her bed and I tiptoed back to mine - only to find that it was 23 minutes before my alarm was set to go off. And 10 minutes before my alarm went off, Abby called again, "Momma, I want you."

AAARRRGGGHHHH!! If you do the math, that means I laid in my own bed for 13 minutes between 3:37 and 5:20 this morning. Pesky flies have got to go - I'm on a fly swatter wielding rampage. Watch out if you're small, black, winged and in my house, today's your last day because I am sleeping tonight!

p.s. When I read on facebook that my friends took their baby to the hospital in the night and she is admitted with RSV, it made me feel less sorry for myself and my night. God bless you guys!!