Everyday Tuesday

At Walmart this morning, I saw a mom with 2 little ones, 3 or 4 years old walking in front of her cart in the butter isle.  I thought, "Wow, could Christian be in that position this time next year, able to walk in front of the cart and stay with me without a hand to hold? Maybe." Then I saw she had another little one sitting up front in the cart, maybe 18 months old or so.  I sighed inside.  This woman has her hands full.  And then I noticed her infant carrier inside the cart, holding a beautiful baby with a head full of dark hair.  A girl, I think.  Her hands aren't just full, they are REALLY FULL.  And immediately I was grateful that I am here. Where I am right now.  Not back where I was last summer with a 7, 4, and 1 year old with a brand new baby. 

Last summer, I managed okay but the days were long and hot and sometime I felt done before I even got out of bed.  I didn't have a handle on anything, I don't think.  We were simply surviving.  At least that's the way I remember it. (And I might just be ready to sit and cry thinking of how overwhelmed I was back then.)  A year later, with an 8, 5, 2 and 1 year old, I feel in control. Don't get me wrong, things aren't easy.  I still have my hands very full, (just peak in my window at just the right time and you might see Ella and Christian physically duking it out over a coveted toy or how about tomorrow morning when back to school madness begins.  I'm sure there will be some tension in the air, maybe even some yelling?) but given the choice, I would take this difficult over that difficult every.single.time.  Thank goodness I don't have to go back there.  And it's only forward march from here.  Cue a big sigh of relief. 

On my way out of Walmart this morning I saw our pediatric physician's assistant that I truly just love.  I'm beginning to not enjoy some of the policies they have at her office but I'm sticking it out just for her.  She is amazing and when I leave her office I feel like a superhero.  She is a great mom-cheerleader.  For example, the last time we got croup, I took my sick kid in and instead of giving me a small bottle of steroids, she prescribed a huge bottle and wrote down each of my kids' dosages for me to keep in case any one else came down with it that week.  Practical medicine she calls it--saving me at least one trip to the doctor and money, too.  She has also given me her cell phone number.  I've used it a few times, especially when I was nursing Ella, since she is also a lactation specialist, but I also used it last month when Ella had hives every morning for a week for no apparent reason.  Seriously, I love her!  This morning, she was on her phone, so we just waved but immediately I was grateful that I looked like I had things put together.  Ella was safely buckled into the cart seat, Christian was holding my hand as I guided the cart from the front, and Carter and Anderson were close by behaving well.  Whew.  I was also grateful she couldn't see what I had in my cart--2 boxes of sugar cereal for the babies to snack on when we walk to school starting tomorrow and frozen corn dogs and sweet potato fries--the boys' last-day-of-summer dinner request.  Double whew!