Yesterday started at 1:00 a.m.

Caleb came rushing into our room. He said that he felt “funny” and that things were “spinning”. I reached out and touched his forehead.  Sure enough he was burning up. I pulled him into bed and sent Mark out to grab the thermometer, some medicine, and a cool cloth for his head. We prayed over him and a short while later he calmed down and we went back to sleep. Mark went out to sleep on the couch. (Sorry.)

Fast forward. Now it is morning.

Caleb woke up feeling better and with little or no fever (Praise God!) Elisabeth woke up grumpy. Still feeling out of sorts. Aaron and Bethany both seemed much improved. I’m thankful.

Elisabeth is making life very difficult. I spend some time sitting with her and then try to put her down for a nap – twice. No go. Now it is about 11:00 a.m.. We attempt to do a little schoolwork, but after awhile I give up and decide that we simply have to get out of the house. Elisabeth likes to “go, go” and the children seem a little better and I have errands I have to run soooo I call Mark and ask if he wants to meet us for lunch. He says yes. I spend a few minutes finishing up what we are working on then attempt to get everyone presentable. They are all already dressed, but there is hair to be smoothed and shoes to put on. This takes an inordinate amount of time but eventually we all get out the door. We are thirty minutes late.  Luckily, Mark is also running late so everything works out. I try to de-stress as I drive along. I’m praying. Suddenly Aaron screams that Elisabeth isn’t buckled in. In fact she is nearly falling head first out of her car seat. I praise God that I didn’t hit the car in front of me when Aaron screamed. Aaron buckles her in. I wonder what the cars around us think.

We finally arrive at the café. It is packed with business folk. No children in sight. I look at Mark and he asks if we should go someplace else. We decide to tough it out and pray that a table big enough to fit us will appear. God is good. By the time we make it through the serving line a large table comes available.

I am very aware of my children and of how old they are. Does anyone else ever feel this way? I wonder what the other folks are thinking. Then I smile and I wish they would ask. I almost feel sorry for them. The kids are great. We finish our lunch, kiss Daddy goodbye and head out. I drag the children to two different stores. (I really had no choice.) After the first store Aaron is lagging and begging to lie down. I tell him we will speed through the second store which we do because I am afraid that Aaron is either going to puke or pass out. Finally, we head home and I put everyone down for a time of rest and naps. Aaahhh…whew! I can’t believe I actually got the things I needed to done. I’m in a better mood.

Fast forward to today. This morning Elisabeth sees the pacifiers I bought for the new baby. (I had to buy a baby shower gift and couldn’t resist buying something for my new little guy as well - little Eli?) She asks about the pacifiers by pointing at them and saying “baby?” I tell her they are for the new baby. She looks the baby doll in her arms and asks again. They are different from her pacifiers, but she wants them anyway.

I say: No, these Nuks (they are actually AVENT brand but all pacifiers in our house are called Nuks) are for this baby. (I point at my tummy.)

Bess: Oh, baby. Yeah. (She nods, looks at my tummy, pokes it, then tries to pull up my shirt and look. She pats it.) Baby.

I suddenly feel extremely blessed. One of the things we say often to the children is “we have a great family don’t we?” They all respond with “yes!”  The neat thing is Aaron started this saying. I’m praying that they always feel the way they do now…because we really do have a great family. Yes, I really am blessed.

blessings,

dani

From the lips of children and infants You have ordained praise. –Psalm 8:2