Thank goodness my world exists within a 5-mile radius in Charlotte, otherwise I’d be much crazier.

7 a.m. Wake up late

7:30 a.m. See 6 y.o. has red eye. Figure it’s just allergies, but we’ll call the doctor’s office at 8 when they open to see if they can walk me through ruling out pink eye (aka conjunctivitis).

7:45 a.m. Throw clothes on sans shower to get the kids hustled out the door should the doctor say we’re AOK

8 a.m. Call the nurse’s line at my pediatrician’s office. They say it’s most likely allergies and to try Claritin. Fine. Good. We can closely make the 8:30 bell.

8:05 a.m. Pack up the 5-year-old’s backpack and guide her through making her lunch.

8:15 a.m. Pack up all three kids to drop off the 6-year-old. Oops. The 5-year-old still doesn’t have shoes on. And now she doesn’t like the shoes I’ve asked her to put on.

8:25 a.m. The 5- and 6-year-olds are clothes, shoed and ready to walk out the door. Baby is in my arms, diaper bag is packed. Off we go to the elementary school.

8:33 a.m. Missed the bell by 3 minutes so all four of us must go to the school office to sign in the 6-year-old.

8:45 a.m. We get back in the car and drive to preschool.

8:50 a.m. The 5-year-old is dropped off.

And here’s where the fun begins …

9 a.m. I’m turning down the street my mom lives on to pick her up so she can help me out with the baby. Today is a work day, after all.

9:01 a.m. My phone rings and I instantly recognize the school’s number. I look at the clock. The 6-year-old hasn’t even made it 20 minutes. The school nurse thinks she might have pink eye and to pick her up. After I finish banging my head on the steering wheel, I continue to mom’s house.

9:03 a.m. Mom gets in the truck and I’m on hold with the pediatrician’s office — which I’ve called for the second time in an hour. We now have a 10 a.m. appointment.

9:10 a.m. Return to the elementary school to pick up the 6-year-old.

9:15 a.m. Head home and pop in the house to change the baby’s diaper and grab him a bottle. We weren’t planning on an all-morning adventure! He’s still in his jammies and I’m really wishing I’d found time for a shower.

9:30 a.m. Pack everyone back up and head to the pediatrician’s office.

10:15 a.m. The doctor says her eye is most likely infected and hands us some drops. Woo hoo! No additional trip to the pharmacy after this visit. Thankful prayer is said! And our kind doctor also takes a peek in the baby’s ears to verify his ear infection from two weeks ago has indeed cleared up. Another happy dance is performed.

11 a.m. Back home. And just realized I’ve got a whopping hour to get a few things done before picking up the 5-year-old from preschool.

Yes, at 11 a.m., I’m considering cracking a bottle of Merlot or maybe tequila. Bottoms up!

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