This blog brought to you by the power of PREDNISONE. As you may have noticed I've been out of commission for several days. Monday I had a chest film to rule out pneumonia; thank goodness, just a bad case of bronchitis. Sooooo, lots of drugs later (high powered antibiotics, inhaler, cough syrup with codeine - yay- and steroids) I am at least out of bed. Our babysitter's sister, Tyshonda, is home from college and is babysitting so I can rest. She brought her daughter, Destiny, and the 3 girls have had a wonderful time.

The girls are furious with me for being sick. I wish they had the ability to just say "Mommy, I'm so disappointed that you are sick". Lacking the brain and skill development, self-awareness and language aquisition to do so, they just take their frustrations out on each other and me by hitting, biting (that would be Kate) , arguing incessantly, refusing to share and general attention-seeking aggression. Our big struggle is how best to address all this negative behavior. Do I become permissive, afraid to discipline, Wimp Parent who says things like "Katie, honey; would you mind taking your inscisors out of your sisters' back, please? Please? I'll give you a lollipop." and ignores jumping on the couch, trying to turn on the gas grill or throwing sand? Or do I resort to the constantly yelling Shrieking Harpy Parent; "IF YOU DON'T STOP POKING KATE WITH THE STICK I AM GOING TO MAKE YOU SORRY YOU WERE EVER BORN! DO YOU HEAR ME? I'LL GIVE YOU SOMETHING TO CRY ABOUT! I BROUGHT YOU INTO THIS WORLD AND I CAN TAKE YOU OUT!"

I try to find some middle ground, but lately I find myself sounding all too Harpyesque. In the course of one minute these girls can complete 4-5 dangerous, provoking or just plain unacceptable behaviors; it's like trying to corral 14 chimpanzees. A conversation withTracy sounds something like this "...so then I...PUT THAT DOWN...I...NO, FOR THE 5TH TIME DO NOT PUT A HAIR CLIP ON THE DOG...so then I called the repair company and they...KATE!! NO, NO BABY! BUGS AREN'T FOR EATING!...the repair company and they can't come out 'til...GET DOWN! I SAID GET DOWN!...what was I saying, Tracy?". Time to watch "Bill Cosby: Himself" for a little reassurance.

Nice to be back amongst the living so I can resume my blog habit!