Wobbling on the tightrope

The whole work/life balance has been wobbly the last couple of days.

Friday morning PS told us she was having pain that was reminiscent of her kidney stone. But because she wasn't in terrible pain and the kids missed so much school during MIL's illness that we have been threatened with truancy court, I sent her to school with instructions to call me immediately if her pain increased at all.

I didn't hear anything during the day, but as soon as she was out of school at 3 she told me that the pain was unbearable when she peed. I immediately made a doctor's appointment and flew out of my office to make her 4:00 appointment.

A few minutes later my boss called me on my cell and asked if I could handle an emergency research project this weekend. I told him that I could, and he agreed to call me at 9:30 Saturday morning to give me the details.

Great except that TT had a soccer game and PS had the fitting for her cheerleading uniform at 9:00 on Saturday morning.

I arrived at the doctor's office just as PS was being called back. I went with PS and sent the nanny back home with the twins. The doc agreed that her symptoms indicated a kidney stone was likely, and sent us off for x-rays. Of course, getting x-rays at 5:00 on a Friday means that we won't get results until Monday. But the doc didn't seem particularly concerned and told us that if her symptoms worsened we needed to go to the ER. As PS said sarcastically (to me, not the doc) "helpful."

Anyway, PS's symptoms improved greatly as the evening wore on, and we think that she probably passed the stone late in the afternoon when she was having the most pain.

So DH took TT to her game and I took PS to her fitting Saturday morning. It was very much a hands-on mom kinda thing--figuring out what sizes to order for practice wear, shoes, and the official uniform. There was a huge list of required items, and a short list of "optional" items ("but all the 8th grade girls ordered them," the coach said in a way that indicated that the optional items weren't too optional.)

I kept my phone in my pocket on vibrate, hoping I could just step out when Boss called. But I somehow missed the call , and didn't realize it until 15 minutes later. At least by then we were pretty much through the fitting, so I left PS and stepped outside to take the call. Which lasted 45 minutes! Poor PS, along with her BFF and mom who rode with us, were trapped waiting for me to get off the phone.

It wasn't ideal, but it all worked out. I was there for PS's fitting and managed to bill .8 at the same time.

Spent the rest of the day getting a much-needed haircut, doing our taxes, and perusing the new bookstore with the fam. We are getting a $206 refund!!!!! I am beyond thrilled. I have been putting off the taxes because I was afraid that we would owe another huge bill like last year. Last year's problem was that I had screwed up our withholdings and we got hit with the AMT. Fortunately, we resolved that, but I'm still peeved that student loan interest is capped and phased out of upper income brackets.

Finally, last night we sent the kids to a party while DH and I had date night and went to see Date Night It was hilarious--although I had just had 3 margaritas, so anything might have been hilarious.

Today I buckle down and do my emergency research project. I should have started on it yesterday, but my brain was shot after wrestling with the taxes. Hopefully, I won't be up half the night--but this is one of those issues that may not have an answer--or at least not the answer my boss wants. It's so much easier when you know there's an answer out there!