She said, "Yep, you must be a mom."

I can't catch a break this morning. Well, at least for a moment. Isa has pink eye and had to be kept home from school (which, frankly, might be way too late, since I found out she's been cleaning the goop out of her eyes for the last couple of days before she got up, so I wouldn't see it and keep her home from school). Sammie spit up all over her clean self and clean bedding while I was in the kitchen dealing with the full bowl of milk and cereal that Ellie launched from the table during breakfast while she was doing a table dance (ohhh, she is so in trouble). I then realized that I have given birth to Peter from "While you were sleeping." Found out Ellie's been hiding Gabby's "lovey" so that she can be the one to "find" it when we all realize it's missing or after Gabby's been screaming for it while we all scramble around trying to find it. (Think squirrels). She also bears an uncanny resemblance (behaviorally) to "Prissy" of Gone with the Wind. Completely oblivious and in her own world. Hugely overestimates her abilities. Really struggling with her. Anyway, I finished the antibiotics for my throat infection about 10 days ago, but the symptoms have returned and I'm worried that something serious is wrong. I soo do not want to go back to the doctor. But it looks like that's where I'm headed. On a positive note, I finished a bunch of neighbor gifts this morning, so I can have the kids deliver them this afternoon. We have yet to buy our traditional ornaments this year. We went to go on monday, but ended up with a flat tire in the middle of no man's land. By the time we finished changing the tire to the itty-bitty spare, I was DONE, and so we went home. Anyway, when I called mom to tell her that I was having a "one thing after the other" kind of morning, she said "yep, you must be a mom." She's right. I am. Instead of office politics and the like, I deal with spilled milk and "blow-outs." But you know, I don't think I'd trade for anything. As hard as it is, as draining as it is. As close as I feel to the edge, this is my job and I love it. Ok, today love is a little strong of a word..........

Bloom, baby, bloom

This kid is so beautiful. I just got film developed from the last year and this is Gabby in May of this year. It's unbelievable how fast they grow. She's not this little baby anymore. She's become a person with opinions, and a sense of humor and quirks.
Oh my word!!! Check this kid out. I can see her climbing on the dresser, but the chair.......Wow.
And yet, she's so joyous in her mischief. It's hard to get mad. It is hard to believe that she was just Sammie's age just over a year ago. She loves her sisters. She's the primo comfortor in the house when someone's hurt or in trouble. One day I was sitting on my bed feeding the baby while Ellie was whining about something I wouldn't let her do. I looked over at her and noticed that she was swaying rather dramatically from side to side. Upon further examination, I determined that Gabby was "loving" her to death, and had her arms around Ellie's waste and was "rocking" her. Too much fun.
Then there's "lovey." I tried to get a picture of Lovey close up, but that's hard to do when he's (or is it she's) pressed to Gabby's face all the time. The poor animal gets dragged around with a perpetually dirty snout, despite the weekly washings.
The rest of the kids are great. Isa started reading...yes, actually reading by herself this week. It's been a lot of fun to see her do so well. I love the teaching method that Mrs. Wengreen has been using with her. Alanna is sad that her best friend Brooklyn will be moving this month. She's really going to miss her and their "make believe" recesses. Ellie. Boy she is a hard one for me right now. But she has her moments. Still experiencing PPD and yesterday I was crying at lunch time...who knows why. Ellie asked me if I was ok, and then said, "Mom, what makes you laugh?" and started pulling a bunch of funny faces. Bless her heart. Sophia broke up with her "boyfriend" last weekend and its been a dramatic week as they adjust to not "going out" after being together for 2 whole weeks. I don't know why she can't just listen to me when I tell her that boys are not terribly intelligent in junior high (and many of them don't get much better afterwards). Oh, well. Don't I know it that some of us just have to learn for ourselves.
Sammie is smiley and talky and so much fun. She gets so much attention, and I have so many ladies vying to hold her during one of the numerous "time out's" I end up taking during Relief Society. I get up to leave when the nursery leader brings Gabby to me, and have 2 or 3 ladies follow me out asking if they can hold her for me. They mean well and have been really kind to me. I really do love our ward and neighborhood.

In case you're wondering what's up with the magnolias, I just had to include them. I took the pictures of them in the spring this year in the front yard of the house we rented in Orem. I remember the magnolias in California and how huge and beautiful they were. These didn't get very big, but for a couple of weeks in the spring, they were the most beautiful little things in the world. Reminds me of my thought for today.

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." Theodore Roosevelt

Still working on being the best mom, to MY kids, here where I am. I'm not great, but I'm still here. Hopefully, I'll keep getting better, and hopefully whatever I am will be enough.

'Tis the season for Butterballs

Last week, Sammie gained a big fat nada in 8 days. Serious discouragement. But today, after 6 days of feeding 2x a night and pumping all day long, we are happy to report that she has gained 12 ounces in 6 days. She's a piggy. Now we start the fine tuning all over again. We're going back to letting her set the pace at night (thank goodness) and some tweaking during the day as well. I'd really like to just feed her without thinking so much about it, but I guess each struggle has been an opportunity to turn to Heavenly Father to ask for blessings, and each good report has been an opportunity to give Him thanks. She's so much fun. Sophia and Alanna have both had a chance to feed her the bottle this week, and that's kind of fun to watch them take care of her.
It was my birthday yesterday and after doing the usual run around like a turkey (also butterball unfortunately) with my head cut off, my great husband and kids took me out for dinner and then let me walk around Bed, Bath, and Beyond by myself (ok, I did have Sam with me) while they went and bought roses and scrapbooking supplies for me. So nice, and so fun to see what each one picked out for me. I am really blessed.
Sophia made the first cut in basketball, but was cut the second day. She was disappointed but seemed a little relieved too. It was a big commitment, but she stuck with it as long as she could. However, she did make the High Honor Roll, and I am really proud of her.
Anyway, the moral of the story is to count our blessings, to look for them when the days are hard. There's always something to be thankful for. I was thinking yesterday that I'm blessed to be born in an age where there are machines available to extract the milk from my body, and I don't have to shop for a wet nurse. Then again, if I did live in an age where there weren't machines, I'd still be blessed because my sister Natalie could be Sam's wet nurse. I'd just have to figure out how to get there without the car.
And I have to say I am also thankful for chocolate.

Someday I'll figure out how to post those pictures right, but for now......

What could be better than this.......

Wow, let me know when the ride stops. It's been non-stop action for the last 6 weeks. It's a good thing I never thought about whether I had time for 6 kids. Besides a special needs (hopefully short term) baby, Halloween, flu, colds, running to the school a minimum of 3 times a day, cooking (if you can call what I've been doing that), cleaning (slap and dash), and homework (who ever heard of an hour+ homework in kindergarten), I also try to get in a little exercise, scrapbooking, naps, and personal study time. Oh, who am I kidding. I'm lucky if I get to the first half of the list. We've been so blessed to have Sammie with us, and to witness Heavenly Father answering the many prayers on her behalf. She looks like an angel in the blessing dress Grandma Harding made her (thanks Mom!) and Mario gave a beautiful blessing on Sunday. Life is so surreal, and yet none of us can imagine life without her. The kids have gotten really good about hugging or giving space during my frequent PPD moments, and hopefully they're getting through it without too much scarring. Sophia is trying out for the junior high basketball team this week and made it through the first round of cuts today. Alanna and Isa are doing fabulously in school and are loving it. Ellie's been full of "funnies" lately. In a prayer the other day she prayed that mommy would be able to eat chocolate again soon. She also came into the room the other day where my sister Christy and I were chatting while I finished feeding Sammie. She walked over and cupping her hand around her mouth, whispered, "Mom, your milk feeder things aren't covered." Gabby is suffering from a cold, cutting 4 new teeth (the last in her baby set), and talking non-stop. She has discovered how to take off her clothes and diaper, and enjoys doing it at every opportunity. She's very pleasant and fun, even while getting into trouble. Sammie (the caboose...really) is growing. She has an amazingly intelligent look in her eyes, and sometimes it's hard to remember she's only a few weeks old. She's smiling and "conversing" with us, and we're still in awe of her and can stare at her for hours. She's been consistent ever since her instantaneous and dramatic entry into the world. She's very laid back, but once she decides she wants something, it better happen quick. When I was at the end of my pregnancy, I used to think, "I just have to get her here and then it will all be downhill." Heavenly Father has used the opportunity to show me that I don't know everything, and hopefully I've learned a little more about faith and patience and His will through it all. Anyway, pictures and Sammie's weight gain update will follow later this week........