Catching My Breath

Oliver, growing like a weed and sporting a cute new outfit

Its almost midnight and I really ought to be sleeping but I am just reeling from the last little while.  Its a wonderful kind of crazy to have four kids.  I am exhausted but oh so happy.

I took all the kids to Target with me today.  With three kids, people used to just smile at me.  Now with four it seems like its more of a freak-show kind of stare.  But not always.  I interacted with one nice employee who asked the standard question, "Are you going to try for a girl?"  I told her it didn't matter to me whether I had a girl or a boy but I do feel like there is one last little one up there, saying "don't forget me!"  She paused and said, "By 'up there', you mean Heaven?"  Yep.  And she got a little teary and said I made her day.

The boys really were very good as we made our way through all the areas of Super Target that I wanted to go to today.  They didn't even complain when I tried a few clothes on.  I promised them they could each earn a dollar for good behavior so keep an eye out for something cool.  Zach (5), with his wonderful imagination, started noticing things on the floor.  He announced he found a popcorn trail, and LOOK! It leads to a pair of shoes on the floor and so there MUST be a robber about!  I guess he was pretty convincing to Tyson (7) because soon Tyson announced that he was also sure there was a robber and his stomach was now upset worrying about it.  Zach told Ty not to worry because he was spending his dollar on a sword and he had no problem fighting off a robber.  Ty liked this idea and decided on some little firework poppers to help in the fight.  Will (9) never even heard this conversation because he trailed behind us, simultaneously pushing a shopping cart and reading one of the Harry Potter books for the umpteenth time.  Baby Oliver was in my left arm, stroller in my right.

Why would anyone stare at us??

I actually enjoyed this little trip, though my feet are tired and my patience exhausted.  I loved laughing out loud when on our way out the door, Zach spotted some more litter and hovered over it and yelled, "MOM!  LOOK!  ITS A CLUE!!"

All was well until we got to the car (Pity me!  A five seater little Sentra!  I need a van!) and Mr. Ollie decided he needed to eat NOW and started doing the freak-out cry.  I parked the cart and stroller behind the car, loaded the three big boys, put Ollie on my front seat, changed his diaper and made an emergency bottle, hoisted him with all my might in his carrier over the boys and into the middle of the backseat and instructed the boys on how to feed him so I could put the groceries and loot into the back and get outta there.  I did whack my head putting him into the car though and the boys marveled that even adults can cry when they get hurt.  Will stroked my arm consolingly when I finally got in the car and out of this Tennessee heat.

And now its late and I am home and we have groceries and full bellies and my heart is super grateful for all these boys in my house, the big one included.  And now I catch my breath.  And sleep I guess...