The Big Race Day

I am so excited. I just sat down to our computer, and Robbie had left the weekend's 4 mile race results up for me to view. This morning he said, "Guess who came in first in the 5 year old category?" It was Evelyn!! He then said, "Guess who was the fastest 7 year old girl?" OLIVIA!! Here's the story.

Olivia has now been a runner in four Trolley Runs. This is a four mile race, and it is a lot of fun. She did the first one just before she turned 4 years old. We have enjoyed the race so much that we intend to make it a family event each year. The race raises money for a school for children who have visual impairments.

Grandpa Mike runs marathons, so he has eagerly awaited the chance to run with Olivia. The plan was for Mike and Robbie to run with Olivia, I'd run with Evelyn, and Mom would stay home with Henry and Vivian. We had to leave our house at 6:30 am. The morning was very chilly. I think the temp was barely out of the 50s. We all had bare legs and two layers on top. The girls wore timing devices on their shoes to capture their pace, and they had yellow bibs with individual numbers like big shots. Evelyn seemed very nervous. As we stood in the yellow wave for slower runners waiting to start, she said, "I want to go home now. I'm cold." I explained she wouldn't feel cold once she started running.

We all began together, but as expected, Olivia and the guys left us after about 1/4 mile. Evelyn did really well. She ran in a straight path. She ran at a pretty good clip, and she didn't get too tired. Just as with Olivia back in 2007, when Evelyn wanted to stop, I carried her as fast as I could walk. We didn't stop. We either walked fast or we jogged. After we hit the first mile marker my darling said, "This is one of the most fun things I've EVER done!" We said a little prayer of thankfulness. After we hit the third mile marker of the four mile race she said, "This is the hardest thing I have EVER done!" I believe both statements were true, and I felt great love and much happiness.

The time came when Evelyn really wanted to quit running. I urged her to continue. I praised her outstanding effort. I gave her some more breaks as I carried her, first against my chest hug style, and then on my back. Those short stretches were the toughest parts of the race for me. We had only seen a few short runners, nobody as little as Ev, during the race. Ahead of us, roughly 1/2 mile from the finish line, we saw a sleek duo. The mom was tall and lean. She wore a black cap, black runner's tank, and black tights. Her daughter was also dressed in all black. The girl had a good two heads on Evelyn. During Olivia's first race, I used an old crew cut grandpa and his tired grandson as motivation for Olivia to finish well. Evelyn needed a good old fashioned pep talk to motivate her and spark her competitive spirit. The girls in black were God's wink to me. "Evelyn, do you see that little girl up ahead in black?" She did. "Do you want to beat her?" My peanut's eyes lit up. "Okay, Ev. You can do it, but we have to run." She tried harder. She quickly got tired, and the gap remained. They were half a block ahead of us. Evelyn surged ahead, then almost dropped to a walk. She was tired. I made my decision. I bent down and told her to hop on my back. Up she jumped, and I took off at a dead run. I ran until we were even with the mother-daughter pair. I then put Evelyn back on the road, and I whispered, "Okay, we're even now. If you want to beat her, then it is all up to you. You have to run." Evelyn RAN!!!! We crossed the bridge. She was tired, but she kept going. "I want to see Olivia," she pouted. "She's waiting for you at the finish line. Keep running. We're almost there!" She continued. She slowed. That's when we heard a voice that rang out with excitement and happiness...."EVELYN!!!!!!!!!" It was her daddy, and he was ahead on the sidelines cheering loudly with sister and grandpa. They started screaming for Evelyn, and she kicked it into high gear downhill toward the finish. Her stride was long and her form looked amazing. Her pretty hair blew behind her in the wind. I half thought she was going to run straight to her dad and stop, but luckily I was wrong. I gave her more encouragement as spectators saw the tiny runner and cheered loudly. Cow bells rang. Hands clapped. Electric energy abounded, and joy filled our hearts. My sweet little girl crossed the finish line in 51 minutes 23 seconds. That was a 12:51 pace. She really did come in first in her age group, boys and girls considered. Olivia ran a 10:05 minute mile. She cut her time by 5 minutes from last year, and her time was 40 minutes 17 seconds. One boy her age beat her and one ran three seconds faster. Robbie said that he and Mike were astounded by her speed and ability to maintain it over the long distance. These little girls are amazing. Their daddy is so proud of them. I am so thankful for their strong healthy bodies and determined spirits. God has blessed us, and He is so good.

M-A-D-E-I-N-C-H-I-N-A

Yesterday I decided to grant Evelyn's wish to shop with some Grandpa Tom and Grandma Jane birthday money for clothes for her American Girl doll. I picked her up from school, we exchanged her check for dollar bills at the bank, then we headed a bit of a distance to a doll shop. On our way Henry noticed a building painted with a mural of fish, dogs, and other pets. He said, "I want to go see the fishies!!!!" I told him, "Not right now. We are going to the doll shop for Evelyn." This didn't go over well, because the large pets painted all over the building beckoned to my young son. By the time we got to the shop he was really mad. He was so upset that he refused to get out of the van. I decided to carry Vivian and let Henry walk, since the place was small and we were parked directly in front of the main door. Not using my stroller was a mistake. I physically overpowered him to get him out of his carseat and into the store while carrying the baby. At that point he pretty much lost it. He went limp, collapsed to the floor, wailed, and kicked his feet. I stepped around him, asked the saleslady to please excuse my crying son, and told Evelyn to shop. He was so loud. I was embarrassed. Ev was embarrassed. The two workers just ignored him and one later told me she'd been there before. I apologized and told her we were too far from home to turn around and leave because of his tantrum. "He'll stop," I said. He cried for 60 minutes. No, I know it felt that long, but my guess is six minutes. He then got up and found the Bitty Baby in a baseball uniform. From there he noticed a clown doll to which he said, "That doll scares me." Evelyn picked skinny pink jeans, a retro shirt, and sequined flip flops for Julie. She was thrilled with her purchase, and she counted out the money to pay the cashier. The lady gave Ev a birthday gift in a sack. She unwrapped it in the van, and I said, "What does it say?" I thought the little mug had words wrapping around it. I laughed when she spelled M-A-D-E-I-N-C-H-I-N-A. I told her what it spelled, and she said, "Oh, is this a China cup?" She's heard me talk about my china dishes. After school I took Olivia to see her orthodontist. The doctor learned about Olivia's intentions to donate her hair to Locks of Love, and he looked genuinely impressed. Right before we left his office, a receptionist handed Olivia an envelope. "Doctor wanted you to have this, Olivia." Inside was a handwritten note commending Olivia for her big heart. He offered many kind words, and he included a Sonic gift card. She was over the moon with excitement. Her hair is nearly to her waist, and it is quite lovely. I keep telling myself that I am so fortunate to have a little girl who wants to give up a little part of herself for the good of another child. I love her long hair, and it will be strange once it is short. She misunderstood my hesitation when she first shared her wish with us, and she said, "Mommy, Vivian doesn't have any hair, and she's still beautiful." "Oh, honey. It isn't your hair that makes you beautiful. Your hair is very, very pretty, but your heart is what makes you beautiful. Your goodness makes you beautiful." Vivian tries to bite the kids' toes. If she notices bare feet hanging off the couch, then she'll hurry over and try to sink her teeth into them. She does this while standing up in her Pack-n-Play while I read to Ev and Henry in the glider too. She wants to bite toes. We laugh really hard every time a child narrowly misses the wrath of Vivian. Today we enjoyed playgroup outdoors at a friend's house. The mom has boy-girl twins Henry's age, and this group allows him to play with several other 2-year-old boys. Vivian has two baby boy friends just her age. They've been walking for months. Today she pushed a little cart all over the driveway while using a really wide walking stance. Her short skirt showed off her super fat baby thighs, and the other mamas ooohed and aahed over Vivian's fatness. We had fun. Getting together with a diverse group of intelligent moms in my same life stage is a source of mental health. Give me a fair amount of sleep, some exercise, one cup of coffee in the morning, my amazing husband, some affection, understanding friends, and I can handle this mommy job pretty well. Laughter brightens my days, and I love how it comes in unexpected moments. Today Henry had on...you guessed it, CARS PJs. He slipped out the back door for some reason or another, and when he came back into the house I saw that he had on Olivia's silver ballet flats. He quickly kicked them off before I could capture the moment on film. What a boy!

Perspective

This is Wednesday. The week began with good intentions. I'm reading a new book called God is for Real. It is a story about a young boy who goes to Heaven and back without dying during a surgery. His father wrote it, and I find myself longing for a moment to read it. However, I keep dreaming about Jesus, and I haven't slept well since I began the book on Sunday night. Vivian let out a short cry late in the 4 o'clock hour, and I am now awake. I've really been wanting to write lately, but everything else seems to come first. Monday I planned to get up before the kids, which means in the 5 o'clock hour, to enjoy a quiet cup of coffee and read a short while. I thought I could ease into my week. Well, in the shower at a few minutes past six, I heard Evelyn enter my bathroom frantic about having not completed her Z homework while I was at bookclub the prior evening. I told her we had time. I thanked her for being responsible about her HW. It then took a lot of patience to not get mad when it became clear that she had entered the nursery searching for me in the dark, and she woke up both the baby and her brother. Vivian rolls with everything, but Henry was tired and NOT happy. He would not go back to sleep, and he was up and cranky. The lack of Z words in various magazines and catalogs led to more crying and whining in the Evelyn department, and Monday morning was rough. I think God knows what he is doing. Olivia, usually my child who is hardest to start come sun up, was awakened too, but she moved through our routines flawlessly. We went to MOPS, and I pulled out a devotional book, Jesus Calling, as I parked the van. The words resonated on April 11th, and made me laugh. "This is the day that I have made. Rejoice and be glad in it. Begin the day with open hands of faith, ready to receive all that I am pouring into this brief portion of your life. Be careful not to complain about anything, even the weather, since I am the Author of your circumstances. The best way to handle unwanted situations is to thank Me for them," and on it went. I thought the message was amazing. During our meeting, a speaker added perspective to my day. She pointed out that although we may feel in the trenches and drained to the last drop sometimes with our little children right now, that if we live past 60, then we will spend only 1/3 of our lives in active mothering. What? I feel like I will never know a day when there isn't a dirty bottom that needs tending. Perspective is a powerful thing. Little Henry can be so incredibly sweet. He developed a 101+ fever yesterday afternoon when Robbie had to stay at the office late. After his bath, which my stinky son really needed, he exclaimed joyfully, "Oh, Mommy!! Thank you so much for washing my CARS PJs for me! I love them. I love you, Mommy." He thanks me often for washing his favorite clothing articles. I responded with appreciation and said, "Henry, you are the only person in our family who thanks me for doing laundry. You are such a good boy." He charmingly came back with, "You are such a good mommy." I asked him if he will please thank his wife someday when (and if) she does his laundry. Yesterday Henry returned from the restroom and started fidgeting with his underpants. I asked him if something was wrong, he nodded, and I helped him pull down his pants and undies to loosen the area down there. I told him that if his penis or testicles, the little balls under his penis, ever hurt to please tell Mommy so I may help him. My guy said to me, "Those balls were SO hurting." Evelyn then said, "Mom, do I have balls?" "No, honey." Man, they are funny. Henry has also notices my breasts as I nurse Vivian, and he'll say, "Are those your privacies?" I had to tell him that he couldn't touch them, because my breasts are private. He respects my wishes, but he asks about privacy a lot. He also kicks his sisters out of the bathroom requesting his privacy too. Vivian pushes her little baby doll stroller walker all over the house like a big shot. She's so happy and lovely. She's been crying and reaching for her daddy as he leaves for work, which warms my heart. Robbie just worked out and needs the computer, so I'm off. I hope to share more soon.

Only A Boy

This is a very gross story. You have been warned.

Henry has been very active this morning. By this I mean that he's been running up and down the halls, dragging Vivian backwards on the hardwoods in her fleece PJs, and rough housing with Ev. I kicked him out of the house. "To the backyard, Son." As I folded laundry by a window that faces the backyard, I peeked out and saw him riding his Lightning McQueen hot wheels. I smiled. Robbie entered the room and asked if I could see our son. He looked out and said, "Is there something dead out there? He just put his finger on something on the concrete, then pulled it back quickly." Soon he climbed onto his trike, and yes, he started driving his big front tire over and object, then back again. He did this multiple times as Robbie quickly made his way outside. He yelled for a plastic bag, sent Henry inside for handwashing help, and he looked repulsed. He told me that Henry had touched and run over the back half of a dead baby squirrel. As he drove over the carcus, poop squooshed out of it. Some of that got on Henry's arm sleeve. Disgusting!! My girls would have entered the house in hysterics had they come upon such a find. Our boy, however, decided to investigate it. He has strict instructions to tell a parent should he find any yucky animals in our yard again.

I Did It. A Diving Polar Bear. Lorikeets on the Head.

Well, I survived driving my four kids to and from Illinois by myself for spring break. The trip takes 5 1/2 hours of driving plus stops. Actually, the kids were absolutely amazing. I couldn't have asked for better behavior or more cooperation. Life is funny like that. What I worry about goes well. What doesn't cross my mind ends up being the challenge. They watched their shows, and the baby stayed quiet. I listened to my music, and we were all happy. What I realized all over again is that Robbie is an amazing co-parent. My parents are all kind and loving and helpful, but their grandparent role has a different tone than a parent's. It was up to me to make sure the baby didn't flip her plate, or that Henry stayed seated during meals (no small task), or that the kids stayed on schedule and got bathed. Once again, I have new respect for single parents and military families. Taking on the major responsibility with four small children is no easy undertaking. The pace wears on a person. Granted, mom let me sleep a bit one morning after I nursed Vivian. Grandma Jane played cars with Henry while I showered, and I didn't have to cook for six days. THAT was a treat. Grandpa Mike helped Vivian navigate the tile steps time and again, and my dad happily held Vivian while I fixed plates for the others. I just know that I prefer traveling with my beloved spouse.

Highlights of the trip included a trip with Grandpa Mike to the rec center for indoor swimming. Olivia was finally tall enough to go down the curving water slide, and she loved it. Henry spotted two boys in Lightning McQueen Cars swim trunks. Henry approached the boys and introduced himself with, "I'm Lightning McQueen! Ka-CHOW!!!!" They didn't know what to make of Henry. My dad finally finished the multi-decade restoration of his 1937 Studebaker coupe. The interior was recently done by a really talented man, and the final look of the entire car is just amazing. Dad is really happy it is done. I can tell he's really pleased with it, and I know he must be proud of the outcome. Dad doesn't take shortcuts, and his car is one-of-a-kind with components designed and tooled with his time and talent...and treasure. I know my parents really appreciated my efforts to get all the way to Illinois and enjoyed their time with the kiddos. They were also ready to return to their own quieter existence when we left, and we were all glad to get home.

Olivia was hilarious. On our drive from Springfield to Kansas Ciy, Vivian ended up with a horrendous green diaper (maybe from her green colored watermelon yogurt?) that made the entire restroom stink to high heaven. Olivia was so embarrassed. Little Vivian made not a fuss about her stinky pants in the van. Shocking for sure. Once in our living room we told Robbie about the ordeal, and Olivia asked me to tell daddy about "those weird looking people." There were some bikers at McDonald's, and Olivia saw their skull and crossbones outfits and wondered why pirates were eating lunch with us. She later asked me if they kill people, and I had to give her the low down on Harley riders. So funny. She didn't stare, and she didn't say a word until we were a safe distance away from those folks.

Yesterday during our search for First Communion shoes we ventured to a shopping area where there was a T. Rex restaurant that we knew would make the kids' day. The place featured enormous dinosaurs that moved and roared. Henry and the girls were really excited to learn we planned to eat dinner there, and everyone left with a clean plate.

Today the forecast called for a high in the low 50s with a small chance of rain. Now this is not a day I ever would have chosen for a family outing. However, Robbie took the day off work to spend time with the girls during spring break. He wanted us all to go to the zoo first thing in the morning. They have a new polar bear who is 3 years old. His name is Nikita. The exhibit was amazing, and my children ended up in the most fantastic position to see the bear's action. He kept swimming large strong circles. Right where we stood, he'd approach the glass, rise up out of the water, then push off with his amazing paws into a backward dive. Vivian squealed, and the other ones were in awe. It was so cool. I could have watched for hours. As we prepared to leave the house, I had been unable to find my camera. I found it at home buried in my diaper bag, and I was just sick that I didn't capture those images. The young polar bear was over 700 pounds, and he was gorgeous.

Another extraordinay thing happened at 1 pm. We visited the lorikeets. They are small multi-colored birds that are quite lively. The kids received feeding cups, and a bird quickly landed on Olivia's arm to feed. Soon Henry had a bird crawl up his pantleg. He looked pretty uncertain about the situation, but he held still for once. He'd been running from animal to animal all morning at the zoo. so the stillness was a big change. Henry didn't know what to think when the bird got on his arm, and the cup started tipping. I was laughing the entire time. Vivian was chilled out in her stroller under a cozy blanket. She just took in the whole scene. Evelyn was quite brave. She fed a bird from her arm too, and she didn't even remotely freak out as I told Robbie I thought she would. The hilarious part came when two birds got on Olivia's little arm. Then a third appeared and landed on the top of her head! She started going, "Ahhh!! Get it off of me. Get it off of me." Robbie stepped in to help. He offered a finger to the bird, which encouraged him to leave Olivia's head. However, several strands of her hair got tangled around the bird's foot. He stood on Robbie with one leg and kicked his bird leg in an attempt to free himself from Olivia's hair rope. It was a funny move. She didn't scream, but she was nervous. God bless her. I was nervous too. Just before the bird on the head scene, I decided to raise the hood on my jacket. A bird landed on my shoulder, and I got the hee bee jee bees (I guess I've never seen that written.). We got a few poor quality cell phone pics, but I don't know how to get them off of my outdated phone. We laughed and laughed, and I don't think the children will soon forget their chilly trip to the zoo.

"I need to give you medicine or some-fing."

Vivian learned how to crawl into the laundry basket yesterday. She did it again and again, and it made Evelyn and Henry giggle. This morning I heard Baby crying with distress, and I found that Henry had put the now empty laundry basket over the top of her. She was folded in half in a seated position, and she was not happy with her brother.

Henry got a terrible haircut this weekend. Robbie specifically told the stylist to leave his bangs long, and she didn't listen. Not only are his bangs a half inch off his scalp, they are also straight across. She cut his hair as though he has no side part. Robbie can't even talk about it without becoming irate. I lost my air when I first laid eyes on my son. His hair had gotten so long it was actually shaggy, but we liked that he had some length. We only wanted a clean up job, and instead we got whacked.

As I grocery shopped with the children this week little Henry noticed another shopper. "Mommy, look. He's a BIG guy. He's not little like us, Mama. He's a really big guy in a blue shirt." The man smiled. Luckily, he wasn't obese. He was just super tall and thick through the chest and shoulders. Henry paid him a compliment.

Little buddy threw up last night. He is such a good boy. He called to me from his crib, and luckily, I went to him quickly. "I have a tummy ache, Mommy." I took him to the potty, and all seemed okay. However, as I carried him through my room toward his bedroom, the telling sound began. We rushed back to the potty, and he got really sick. He didn't know what was wrong, and he was scared. After it was all over, we praised him for calling out to mommy from his bed. We then instructed him to yell for me if he felt sick again. He said, "OK, Mom," with the most serious face we'd ever seen. Robbie melted. Henry looked so sweet and cute. He's such a good guy. He's been copying me. I'll say, "You are a wonderful little boy." He'll respond, "You're a wonderful little mommy."

Yesterday when I felt awful, he stroked my cheek and said softly, "Oh, Mommy. I love you so much. You not feeling well? I need to give you medicine or some-fing. You are soooo pretty. You are the sweetest mommy. You are a wonderful mommy." I felt so lucky to have such a charming little guy to call my Henry. I need to recall such moments when he throws knock down drag out temper tantrums over having to remove his Cars PJs so that they can be washed. That happened yesterday too, and it was ugly, so ugly. He's passionate about what he likes.

Evelyn Made a Funny

Last night Olivia freaked out at dinner. She freaked out because she felt it was unfair that her daddy got to eat as many saltine crackers as he wanted with his homemade baked potato soup, when she was limited on crackers until she ate more of her soup. She cried. We reasoned with her. Daddy is five times her weight. She cried harder and louder. She really raised her voice. I offered to make her some peanut butter cracker sandwiches for her Monday lunch to calm her down. We at the table got a good laugh at Olivia's expense when Robbie asked her if she'd like some eggs with her crackers. Olivia is not an egg lover, so that worked her up even more. We erupted in laughter when Evelyn said, "Would you like some mushrooms with your crackers?" Olivia can't stand mushrooms, so that was quite clever and quick of Miss Evelyn. Olivia was so angry that she marched to her room. We just kept laughing at the table. Robbie went to have a talk with her after she quieted herself. Crackers were the cause of such a dramatic outburst?! Seriously? What is in store for us down the road?

The baby has had some terrible, awful, absolutely disgusting poopy problems going. Each time she dirties her diaper it spills out...everywhere. Yesterday Robbie and I were able to tag team the issue. However, this morning I had one final step left before I loaded baby into her carseat and drove the girls to school. Vivian needed a dry diaper. Olivia had picked her up out of her bed for me, and she didn't notice the odor. When I picked her up the smell about made me faint, and I quickly realized we had a major problem. She had pooped all the way up to her baby boobies, and her PJs had to be left outside while I drove to school. Vivian got dunked in the bathtub, and we barely made it to school on time. I called Jane Hill in a panic when the baby was screaming and covered in yuck. A trip to the doctor resulted in a diagnosis of a virus causing diarrhea and an unresolved ear infection. She's on an antibiotic, and I hope she starts eating better soon. She doesn't feel well.

Mrs. Scarboro offered to find a 1st Communion veil as a gift to Olivia. She brought some over yesterday afternoon, and Olivia tried them on while we watched. Henry asked if he could please wear the veil. He had on a shirt, red undies with baseballs, no pants, and Spiderman slippers. We said, "No," but that would have made quite a sight.

I figured out that my circuits workouts have helped me gain strength, and for the first time in my life (that I can remember), I can do a chin-up. It was Robbie's idea for me to try one, and I resisted. However, I was ecstatic when I did it. He said, "Just think about how buff you'd be right now if you had done them during your whole pregnancy like I suggested." He's nuts. I do think I will do a few as I pass under the chin-up bar on my way to the ever present laundry in the basement. When I told Olivia I had something really exciting to tell her, she exclaimed, "Are you pregnant again?!!!" She sounded so happy. I laughed and said, "No, I can do a chin-up! Do you WANT me to be pregnant again?" She said, "Oh, yes, with twin boys." God help me. Not five, but six??

Work calls.