Thanksgiving and the Diaper Eater

Our Thanksgiving started off with a 4 am call from a patient with an eyelid issue. Robbie was in a dead sleep, and he had a hard time waking up to ask and answer medical questions. I thought back to the days of residency, and I remembered all of the middle of the night pages he received. The sound of that beeper used to startle us out of sleep like little else. I'd lie there and pray that he wouldn't have to climb out of our warm bed and drive at 3 am down to take care of a drunk patient who got his eye socked in a fight. I was so worried about him while he was away from me. Things are much easier now. Even if it is hard to shift from sound asleep to "on" for a suffering patient, at least his trips to help them have decreased. We spoke about how thankful we are to be out of the residency years. However, I wouldn't trade them. I am glad that I was by Robbie's side through all of it. I think he has a wonderful and worthwhile profession, and he didn't get there overnight. It was a long and sometimes hard process, and I think we can appreciate each small improvement in our lifestyle more having paved the road together. He shared some thoughts about how he loves and appreciates me this evening, and they were among some of the nicest words he's ever spoken to me. I am very lucky in love.

I couldn't go back to sleep after the phone call. Anthony has an appetite like no other. He has been with us for two weeks today, and it has been really fun having him around. He ordered pizza and shared it with us right before we went to bed, and I woke up thirsty, thirsty, THIRSTY. I made my way to the kitchen, which helped cool my hot legs. It sounds so silly, but once my legs and feet get hot in bed, I'm toast. I can't sleep with hot legs. Henry will call out to me in the mornings, and he often says, "Where are your pants, Mom." My answer is always the same. "My legs got hot. I took them off." Life was good this morning. The girls came into our room and started talking to us as though it were the middle of the day, but we went right back to sleep as they played in the living room. Henry and Vivian slept until 7:40 am. Unheard of. However, we were VERY thankful.

I made strawberries and cream bread yesterday to serve this morning, and Henry ate five slices. Robbie and the girls really enjoyed it too. I used Uncle Lee's bread pan and thought of him. Hubby injected the turkey with ingredients from an Emeril recipe, then he grilled it. I thought it was amazing. I think I honestly love my husband a little bit more each time he cooks something really good for me. We used the Really Good Cornbread recipe from the newest Ann Lund cookbook, and it made Robbie's stuffing from Grandma Gloria's recipe even more delicious. It was Henry's favorite part of the meal. I prepared a whipped sweet potatoes recipe from that cookbook too, and Robbie raved about it. I took my friend's advice and used a small pie pumpkin to process the pulp for my homemade pumpkin pie. I used Emily's mother's recipe for pie crust, but I never think I get it just right. It was too thick or something. I need Nada or Emily to help me perfect pie crust. That's the whole reason I eat pie...for the crust. Anyhow, we had other food too, and it was a great meal. Anthony was with us. We each reflected on and shared something for which we were thankful. Little Henry said, "My daddy and you, Mom."

Yesterday I caught him climbing out of his crib. He's done it twice after being placed there for time-out. His method sent me into a laughing fit while I was on the phone with Robbie. He climbed from his bed to a small shelf of his changing table/cabinet bookshelf on his tummy. He looked like a slithering snake. He then crawled onto his changing pad near his diapers. It was incredibly dangerous. I should not have laughed, but I was so shocked that I couldn't help myself. He did it after I put him to bed, and he announced that he didn't want to "go sleeping." We are almost in toddler bed territory, God help me. Henry keeps me hopping. Yesterday I found him in his crib after naptime without a diaper. He also had part of the diaper tabs ripped off, and he was chewing on them. What in the world would put that idea in his head, and why would he then execute the crazy thought?

Ant has been videotaping the kids. He has Michael Fat Leg footage, Gwen. I'll have to get it for you. He caught Vivian attempting to crawl for Henry's Lightning McQueen remote control car this evening while the girls were away with Robbie on a daddy-daughter date to see Tangled. Things get so complicated with a little baby on the move.

I told Henry at bedtime tonight that we are going to get a Christmas tree tomorrow for our own house. He said, "Our house will be so happy." Our little guy is such a treasure.

I'm so happy with my little family. I told Robbie that I love how each child is at such a different stage. It won't always be this way. We have Olivia, a true school girl. She can read and write and play soccer and go to gymnastics and help me make green beans for Thanksgiving dinner. I have a sweet little preschool girl who still has some babyishness to her look. She says I'm her favorite mommy she's ever had. She's all about writing letters and cutting and using glue. Henry is two and a half. He's a boy. Need I say more, dear blog readers? I will. Henry is charming and smart and active. He makes life funny and exciting. Vivian is my doll baby. As soon as I gave her the pink blanky tonight, she stuck her thumb into her mouth and burrowed into my neck. I said, "I love you, my little snuggle bug." When I hold her in the glider, classical music plays in the room, we're snuggled up under a cozy blanket, she nurses and looks up at me, my heart feels so lovely. Those moments are what pregnant first time moms imagine before their baby is actually born.

I think that after spending so much time with me during the days while Robbie is away at work, Anthony has a new perspective on my role as mother of four. He walked in one day, and we five were going wild to Just Dance, a Wii game. It was so much fun. The baby was jumping up and down in her exersaucer. He's also observed temper tantrums, loud crying, sassy back talk, terribly stinky poop diapers, demands for warm milk, corn bread lunch explosions, laundry piles that rival Mt. Everest, and sibling rivalry. He caught me as I put my hands to my head in frustration and breathed deeply one morning, and he later said, "They're driving you nuts today, aren't they?" Yes, sometimes they do. After watching the symphony that is homework hour, dinner prep, baby's time to nurse, pantless mad Henry, he said, "I don't know how you do it." My honest response was, "Sometimes I don't do it very well." Good and bad. Happy or sad. I love each of these little ones, and on this Thanksgiving night, I can't imagine not having one of them in the family. I hope God blesses us with more love, laughter, and good health. Those are life's true riches.