By the end of this past week, things were getting back to normal - praise the Lord!  I'm feeling the fatigue that has built up over the last 3 weeks but, otherwise, I'm doing well.  The kids are well, though my oldest still has a cough.  I have missed my helpers - I've been doing all the chores myself and I guess I'm a bit spoiled, I'm so used to my boys helping out.  Today, I started issuing requests for help and I think it was good for them, too (though they wouldn't admit it!) 

Now, my goal is to declutter our house.  No, I really mean it this time!  My inlaws have made several surprise visits to see Todd and, at first, it was o.k. that the living room was still a disaster (post-Christmas, post-surgery, etc.)  But now I have no excuses.  And the kids' rooms need major rehauling.  Today we began short work periods, followed by playtime.  I find that works best for them (and me).  They tend to fight if we go for longer periods of work.  Sigh. 

My daughter has been a challenge, to say the least.  She has not been getting the attention/discipline that she should be getting for a 6-1/2 year old, due to all that has transpired lately.  She has a hot temper like her Irish mother and I need to work at teaching her other ways to handle her frustrations (besides screaming at the top of her lungs).  It's like raising me at times, can you relate?  How can a sweet little girl turn into a tiger on such short notice?  Well, we'll deal with things as they happen and I plan on giving her more duties, even if she balks about it (which she usually does - aarrgh, I hate that!)  Today she helped me make cookies - I was really impressed at what she can do!  I praised her for doing such a good job and she was proud of herself so I should continue with these kinds of activities for her.  There are so many times I could include a child in certain housework but when I get busy, I just do it myself.  I'm sure I'm not the only mother guilty of this but, still.  Life brings so many learning opportunities but sometimes you just don't feel like teaching anything.  And there's always tomorrow!

My long range goal is to have my office space looking a whole lot better by spring.  Yes, it will take that long.  But I will conquer it.  It has been an encouragement to read other posts about similar goals.  May the Lord grant us time and energy to make our homes a "haven" for our families (AussieinAmerica mentioned this recently and I like the sound of that!)