Mom vs. the Dot: Making it COUNT!

Friday: Child number one down. With the sniffles. Friday Night: Child number one visits me three times during the night to snuggle.  It is magical and heartwarming.  Not really.  He snerfed all over my pillow.  I'm doomed. Saturday: Child number two has a sore throat.  Needs Tylenol.  No sniffles yet. Saturday Night:  Boy child sneezes directly in my face.  Spit droplets in my eyes and nose.  There is no more efficient method for delivering germs.  This is it. Sunday: Child number two down.  Coughs and snots all day.  I haven't caught it yet, but let's be real here.  There is no hope of escaping this.  The germs are hovering over me like Ziggy's storm cloud. Monday:  I wake up with the throat of a centuries-old firey dragon.  Red hot coals are burning the back of my throat.  I think Dobby snuck in last night and performed an engorgement charm on my nose.  Awesome. I make it through...

What happens when you tell your child, "Don't touch that!!" Uh huh.  Same with our kids. So early in March, we were soaking in some fresh air and pseudo-sunshine today in effort to beat the winter blahs.  If it's gray and slightly bright, indicating the sun is trying to shine on Western Pennsylvania, it counts.  I decided it was time to clean off my kids' old play kitchen that had been in storage.  Spring might come soon and I wanted to have the kitchen ready for play when that blessed day arrived. That meant turning on the hose (that we left out in the yard all winter - yep - we're those people) and what do you suppose happened?  Well, first hose-shaped ice shot out in 3 to 4 inch pieces, then came a blessed gush of icy cold water.  I rinsed the storage dust off the little kitchen and wiped it down with paper towels. Meanwhile, my hose-crazed 3-year-old came by to investigate.  If he hears anything interesting - a drill, a hammer, or es...