Two Weeks

My father-in-law was taken to the hospital. Unfortunately he had another stroke and was in the ICU. The Missus was understandably upset. She wanted to go down to be with him and her mother. He's slowly recovering after some relapses. In the end, she will have been gone two weeks--she's returning tonight.

The twins and I have been alone together all that time.

I've never been so exhausted in my life.

We did a lot of driving--usually they fall to sleep in the car. We visited Grammy and Pop Pop. We visited Uncle Sean and Aunt Diane. They went to daycare for a couple of days. I tried to work as much as possible, since we're really busy right now. We went to a bunch of stores, and a couple of parks. We spent a lot of time together.

I learned some things.

I learned that I have two incredibly cute children, both of whom are smart, happy, sweet, calm little munchkins, except when they're not. Then they are monsters. Really.

I learned I have a lot more patience then I thought I had, even though I lost my temper a few times that I shouldn't.

I learned that Adam loves Donald Duck. He roars with laughter when Donald has the hiccups in one episode of The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

I learned that Tessa has a gun for an arm. We've been playing catch and she can throw really well. Hopefully well enough for a softball scholarship to college some day.

She also is quite the troublemaker. Our Princess Firecracker. She's really never happier than when she is torturing her brother and father. Preferably both at the same time.

Adam is into throwing little temper tantrums now. If he doesn't get his way--if, for example, we dare to watch something other than the aforementioned The Mickey Mouse Club, he, shall we say, let's us know that he isn't happy. By yelling and screaming.

I learned that I give baths better than the Missus. At least the kids don't scream bloody murder when I give them a bath.

I learned that the chances of the twins eating dinner without spilling something on the floor are much less than my chances of winning the PowerBall lottery.

I learned that you don't need to put the kids' clothes in the dryer as long as my clothes--and that Tessa looks cute even when her shirt is too small.

I learned the things the kids love to look for when we're driving: water towers, cows, horses, bulldozers, bicycles, motorcycles and trucks, the bigger the better. When Adam sees a bulldozer, he always says, "Look, daddy, my Bob the Builderer DVDV." He's into extra syllables.

I didn't need to learn that I love these kids more than anything. I already knew that.

These were probably two of the best weeks of my life, and I'll remember them forever.

But, boy, am I glad the Missus is coming home!