Kids Screaming. Phone Ringing.

Today was a busy, busy day. And it's only 1:00. I got the kids up and fed them an elegant breakfast (maple and brown sugar oatmeal). After that was all over the kitchen table, chairs, the dog, my blinds, and their bibs, I reconsidered taking the "easy" way out of cooking again tomorrow morning.

Then we headed out the door to load up in the van. Only they weren't loading up in the van, they were running and playing and then they saw Rodger and his dog, Moe......

25 minutes later we were in the van ready to head to the financial aid office, because they want to deny me financial aid *and I wanted to get up on my horse and say the hell if they weren't going to give me financial aid* but I thought it would be best to pay them a friendly visit and fill out an appeal form and make something happen, quick, in regards to the paying of my schooling. And I don't own a horse.

So we make the treck from the parking lot to the side of the building that has handicap access for the stroller and continue our 3 mile hike to where we need to be. The financial aid office. Which is where everyone else at Austin Community College needed to be also.... apparently. As the natives got restless I cruised around the hallway and noticed the student services office. what do you know? I was just on the computer this morning looking up this office to submit a request to help with childcare and here I am standing in front of the office. Of course I went in, (even though I had already put my name on the list at the financial aid office), but I figured they were on a pretty good wait and this place was pretty much deserted.


I spoke with the gentleman, the babies kept throwing their bottles, he got my info, Sebi started fussing about being thirsty, I was given some paperwork to fill out, Gabi threw off his shoe, a nice lady picked it up along with their bottles and handed them to me, the nice gentleman asked if there was a time I could come back without the children, I finished the paperwork, and then we headed back to the financial aid office. All while the babies are screaming their heads off. **before I go on, can I just point out the irony in the fact that in the office that is suposed to help me get childcare, the man asked if I could come back without the kids? no. I can't. because I need childcare. duh.**

Guess which office cleared out while all that was going on? The financial aid office. It was now deserted- so I went in to get myself on the list(again) and hey, hey, hey! I was the first on the list. I go back to the hallway and wait for my name to be called. The babies are still crying, Sebi is telling me that "it's time to go home and he wants to go home, and can we please go home now??" and then someone set off the fire alarm. It was not one of my kids. Thank you very much.


So we wait. and wait, and wait, and other people start showing up and putting their names on the list and FINALLY after 17 minutes they call my name. Hallelujah. We shuttle in through the itty bitty door which is just wide enough for a double stroller and park ourselves at a desk. After much computer searching from the young lady helping me, she tells me that I need to fill out an appeal form. thank you, genius. But I also get this extra tid-bit of information: "you need to go to the nursing department and have them fill out a degree plan"


"Can't I just print one from online?"


"no. they need to fill it out. you have to go to the nursing department and have them fill it out and then bring it back here to us." Oh, yes. And all the kids are crying now.


It is slowly becoming obvious that getting the information they are requesting and submitting it quickly is now quite possible........in Fantasy land.


So we leave with my paperwork and all our tears and the dread that I now have to drive way south into east Austin to go to the nursing department. The ride down south wasn't bad. Homer jibber-jabbered and screamed and Sebi asked if we could get chicken nuggets and french fries and a sprite, and I said yes so he was happy. Gabriel is always an angel in the car. We got to the Wendy's, picked up some food, and headed to the Eastview campus. On a side note, I believe that campus is called eastview because you get a glimpse of east Austin on your way there. Most people would care not to see it.

We parked illegally in a faculty/staff parking space because I couldn't find parking anywhere closer than a mile down a hill and I was not about to treck up that big hill with the kids. I know. Some poor professor was probably late to teach their class because of me. Lord have mercy on me.

We made it inside and to the "elegators" and rode up to the third floor. I signed in at the nursing office and the receptionist asked me what I needed. I explained and she asked if I had the paperwork they had given me at the financial aid office. Of course I had the paperwork. I just came from there. Only, I left it in the car.

Back down the "elegator", back to the car (glad I parked illegally now), back to the building and up to the 3rd floor.

Receptionist: "you need to turn this in on the 2nd floor in room 8227".

thank you. I enjoy the fact that my 3 year old delights in the pushing of the buttons of the elegators, but could you have spared me a trip and given me that info the 1st time we met? or did you not notice that I'm tugging half a basketball team along with me?

Thank goodness the babies and Sebi were on their best behavior at this campus- since they were munching on fries and nuggets and drinking sprite.

The paperwork got turned in, we went for one last ride in the elegator and headed to the campus bookstore -because I had a plan for the ride home which I like to call candy.

It wasn't for me. I wanted them to be entertained for the long ride back home. I just didn't foresee the sugar rush that I was to have to deal with once we got back. I tried to pull the old, "hey, y'all want to watch a show?" card.

they weren't having it. They wanted to play outside. And the neighbor had her pool out and full of water. Many splashes later, we headed inside. And now they are watching a show. and I can not wait until nap time.

I have to reserve a park for their birthday party and switch electric companies and then fill out some more paperwork from the nice man from the student services so that I can just drop it off tomorrow and spare him exposure to my life.

just another day in paradise.