Carter had fun feeding him and Julia liked to teach him new things. Whenever he would get excited and squeal, she'd scold "no fream, no fream!" I think she liked having someone to boss around. Though she had some difficulty giving up her "youngest" spot, and we saw a lot of the pouty lip. Baby Izzy was here, too, to bring us to a total of 4. Hectic is not quite sufficient, crazy is probably better. It amazes me how 4 kids can be so happy for an hour and then the same 4 can all cry for an hour. I always felt at least 2 steps behind. I remember sitting at the kitchen table trying desperately to eat my breakfast at 11am with Izzy on my lap, Julia on my foot, Mason on my leg, and Carter in a heap on the floor. I couldn't help but think- is this really what Jesus meant when he said "let the little children come to me".......all of them? at the same time?leaky diapers, whiny voices, and all?
I'm reminded just how much I need Him to get through. I cannot possibly meet everyone's needs at once, no matter how many and I have to stop trying. I do not have the ability, but He does. I do not have the patience, but He does, and all I have to do is ask. My best days were the ones when I took the time, no matter how brief to stop, get in His Word, and ask for His grace, energy, and encouragement. Sometimes as moms I think we have to come to the end of ourselves before we remember we weren't made to do this alone, no matter how lonely it may seem at times.The hardest day was probably after Mason's stomach infection set in. I woke up early to get Mason and found Chloe had been sick in the playroom and had gone to the bathroom in the hall. As I'm cleaning the carpet I smell something behind me- this is never good. I turn around to find Mason standing in a puddle of poo that had escaped his diaper, soaked his footie pajamas and crawled with him all over the hall and kitchen. Where do I even start? This is one of those mommy moments when you honestly pause for a minute to try think of a way out. Am I really the one that has to do this and where on earth do I start?! I stripped him, bathed him, and dressed him- cleaned disinfected and scrubbed- and prepared to be more optimistic. I heard Julia and went to get her to be greeted by the tell-tale smell. She too had gone through her diaper, her pajamas (in volume, not illness thank goodness!) and her sheets. More laundry... By the time I had Julia ready to go, Mason had gone again and now Izzy joined in on the action. Time to break out the plastic pants- for everyone in this house!! It's not even 8:30am! These are the days it's hard as a mom to see the joy and lasting value. I feel trapped in a house that I cannot possibly get truly clean, it's too cold to go outside, and the bodily fluids are flowing in unpredictable fashion- calgon take me away!!
I don't want you to think it was all bad. there were a lot of laughs and sweet moments in between the craziness. The kids had fun getting to know each other.
And there were many moments we couldn't do anything but laugh. And I learned to appreciate my husband in a whole new way. I couldn't wait to see him at the end of the day to have someone to talk to and have an extra set of hands. He even let me go to Ladies Night and held down the fort on his own. Thanks for all the playing, errands, baths, diapers, laundry, rocking, and dishes! Honey- you rock!
