"OR ELSE!!"

This morning at mass I noticed people in pew across the aisle from us. Their faces showed panic, and I saw someone help a man lie down on the pew. I got Robbie's attention, and he stepped over to see if help was needed. All of this happened right before Communion, and Henry was set on helping his daddy. "I'll be right back, Mom. I need to see what's going on. Daddy needs me." I had to carry him to the altar for his blessing to keep him from walking the wrong way to get to his dad. Once we got back to our seats he could not be distracted. EMTs, two firemen, and a police officer were in the aisle right next to us, and Henry wanted to go check on the patient. He got frustrated, and finally asked somewhat loudly, "Did somebody poke their eyeballs out?" Olivia and I started laughing, and the service was still in full swing. I had a really hard time controlling myself. The matter was much more serious than an eye injury, so I had no business laughing. We happen to have some fun friends who have witnessed Robbie assisting fallen parishioners on numerous occasions, and the wife at one point joked that if Robbie is on the scene they better hope somebody poked their eye out. In truth, my ophthalmologist husband's Advanced Cardiac Life Support training is current, and he's calm under pressure. He may not be a cardiothoracic surgeon (which I honestly summoned on another occasion at mass), but he's no slouch.

Henry's other recent funny quip came after I asked him to share his high point and low point after some time in a classroom. He said his high point was the train table. He said his low point was when some little boy hit him on the back of the head with a toy hammer. "Do you know what to do when somebody does something like that to you, Henry?" He didn't. I said, "You turn around and say in a strong voice, "DON'T hit me." Henry smiled and replied, "Then you say, OR ELSE!!"

"Actually, No"

I just shared with my children that the 3-year-old child, Chloe, of my brother's friend is being celebrated in a memorial service today. Her brain tumor won the fight for her life. Back in 2000 on this day, January 28th, Anthony was diagnosed with AML - acute myelogenous leukemia. By the grace of God, Anthony's strength, and modern medicine - Anthony survived. His life has been a blessing to my family. My children adore him, and the sentiment appears to be mutual. Anthony makes me laugh each day we're together, and that adds great joy to my life. On this diagnosis anniversary I wish to reflect on Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient under trial, persevere in prayer.

I met with a group of women recently, and one shared the story of a friend whose husband left her after she was diagnosed with cancer. She obviously went through a difficult time. She made the decision to think of five good things in her life for which to be thankful before getting out of bed in the morning. Two years later, she was able to begin her day with ten such reflections. What a testament to the power of looking at life with a "half-full" perspective!

My nerves are frazzled as I type this entry. My children woke up before 6 am, and they are now behind me twisting a giant blanket around each other as they run, wrap, and yell, "Kamono! Kamono!" My first cup of coffee isn't even empty.

Last night we had another picture perfect family movie night. Our last one was a nightmare, so we're thankful for the amazing ones. All six of us were piled on the couch, we enjoyed our popcorn, and the youngest ones were still and quiet for Spy Kids 4. Robbie and I love such evenings. Vivian kept saying, "Moe pah-cone PLEEASE!!" She now requests Chap-Stick each time her diaper is changed. She has a bit of an addiction. Her sisters found some tubes with winter labels, so now Little Miss will respond, "Actually, no. I want the green snowman Chap-Stick." No joke. She says, "Actually, no," to various questions. She's one, and we find this hilarious.

Evelyn got upset after bath time this week. Robbie was talking to the girls about a matter from earlier in the day, and he explained that they did not listen. Evelyn came to me on the verge of tears and complained, "Daddy says we never listen." "Well, Ev, sometimes you don't listen." She said, "He needs to keep that to himself." "Evelyn, Daddy is disciplining you, and he does not have to keep that to himself. He's the boss." Her response told me she does listen to some of my mantras (thank you Grandma White). My 5-year-old stated firmly, "You always say that if we don't have something nice to say, then we shouldn't say anything at all. Daddy isn't saying nice things." Ev then got laughter and a hug....and further explanation on our responsibilities as parents.

Henry has a green bruise under his eyebrow from where Evelyn accidentally hit him in the head with an aluminum t-ball bat. Thank goodness that was her first swing of the season. We got really lucky, but it was a scary event. I had just given Henry a safety talk in order to keep Vivian away from his bat, then Evelyn entered the picture and promptly cracked him right by his eyeball. It hurt. His pain cries told it all.

Ahh, my coffee is now almost gone, and the children went upstairs. I have a quiet moment. Henry complimented me on my diamond rings, and I told him that Daddy gave one to me when he proposed marriage. Henry said, "When I grow up, I'm going to get some money, and I'm going to buy a Rainbow Dash and a Lightning ring to marry Grace Hill." "She'll be lucky to have you, Henry."

Henry and Evelyn really like the singer Adelle. My brother told me about her, and Santa gave me a cd for Christmas. Her voice is powerful and full of emotion. She's pretty amazing. Henry asks for her songs by title, and the kids sing along and say, "Please turn it UP!!" I think I will look back on the years we spent driving between our little house and school and fondly recall all of our singing in the van. The baby amazed us all by singing Ave Maria as a gospel song played on another cd we love. Her small voice was so pure and pretty.

Olivia now has several piano songs that she can play for the family while we sing along. We really like this activity. She's catching on well, and when she practices she improves greatly. I can't believe that the tiny little baby I once nursed is now doing multiplication tables and writing in cursive. She's a hard working student and a loving and helpful big sister. A few nights ago she did everything to get Vivian ready for bed while Robbie was working late and I was tied up with dirty dishes, packing lunches, and Henry. Vivian calls her Mommy Yaya. I love these children.

Bristle Block Bed

Robbie and I were up late last night wrapping gifts and assembling. Vivian started crying around 11:30 pm, and I convinced Robbie to climb out of bed to check on her. I've been the one to get up in the middle of the night for a bad stretch lately, and we were still awake - if only slightly. He returned to explain that she had dumped an entire bag of bristle blocks into her crib, and that's why she was upset and uncomfortable. Later, at 3:30 am, she called for me again. This time she was wet up to her armpits with pee, and I had to strip her and her bed. Her linens, PJs, and blankies are now washing, and she keeps looking for her favorite small blanket with longing eyes. Shortly after 6 am all of my goslings were awake and ready to roll. Robbie is making oatmeal.

NO-FAY-UH!!

Numerous naked Christmas gifts for the children scream to be wrapped, but I must write. It has been too long since I made an entry, and this time of year is full of excitement and humor around this happy little home.

Vivian has been keeping me on my toes all day. She began by climbing onto the door of the dishwasher three times in the span of ten minutes. Each time she completely caught me off guard. I turned my back for an instant or left the room when a child called. She acted like she was doing some serious work, and she was quite put out that I yanked her baby body off the open door. Of all things!!

She climbed onto the kitchen table recently right after Olivia lit the Advent candles without permission before dinner. Robbie and I were both out of the room when she put a napkin into the flame. Luckily, she flung it to the floor without catching anything on fire, and Olivia's quick thinking saved the day. She grabbed the flaming paper, ran to the kitchen sink, and ended up with a burn. She cried for many minutes, and I think a solid impression was made on all four children about the dangers of messing with fire. We got lucky.

The baby is getting some spirit. This evening I made salmon patties for dinner with homemade sweet potato fries. Henry entered the kitchen saying, "Something STINKS!!" I served the patties on hamburger buns, and I heard Olivia say, "This tastes like a fish burger. IS this a fish burger?" "Yes, actually it is." Evelyn said, "Mom, this taste-es disgusting." Usually I get quite up in arms over such comments, but tonight I just laughed. I had the upper hand. I knew that Robbie had brought home mini cupcakes with glitter icing from my all time favorite bakery. I knew there would be no dessert for any child who chose to forego my dinner creation. I explained this to Vivian, and she said, honest to goodness, "Mommy, no fay-uh! NO-FAY-UH!!" She is only 1. I take this as Evelyn's influence.

Miss Evelyn is quite a lovely singer. She knows the words, and her voice is pretty. She had a kindergarten Christmas program this week, and I took the little kids. Little Ev was in the front row. Vivian said to her brother as she stood in the aisle, "Henry! Let's dance." She kept spinning around and doing her darling baby dance moves. She bobs and sways and spins happily. Our sweet neighbors the Scarboros had us over for a holiday evening celebration last weekend. I dressed the girls in their Christmas church dresses. We always go to the neighbor's evening in fancy attire, and the kids enjoy this. The girls had matching dresses, and Vivian said, "Oh, pretttttyyyyy!" when she first saw hers. As soon as the zipper reached the top of her dress, she began to twirl. It was classic. She loved the dress. She felt beautiful. She wanted to dance. She was a picture of joy in that moment.

Olivia chose red, green, and gold rubber bands for her braces at the start of December. She now wears glasses during each school day. She has been playing the piano for us, and Robbie's face lights up with delight each time he listens to her music.

We have a little elf in our house. His name is Porton, and he uses magic to fly to the North Pole each evening to tell Santa about my children. I find myself reminding my young son of this nightly event, and each time he says, "Sorry, Mom!!" Vivian sometimes copies his reply.

She was acting feisty after her bath, and she didn't want lotion on her face. She swatted at me, and I said, "No, NO. You don't hit Mommy." She did an unexpected kick at my face, and I said, "Oh, no you don't. I'll eat your foot like a dinosaur if you try to kick me." Henry ran into the room, and he said, "Oh, Mommy. Please don't eat baby's foot. That would be TERRIBLE. Wait, Mom. Are you just kidding?"

Robbie and I still look at each other and wonder if our family is complete. Then moments come when Henry sneaks into my bed in the 5 o'clock hour after using the restroom and manages to still let more pee come out next to me on my bed. I'm tired. Another load of laundry is instantly added to my to do list before my eyes even open, and I doubt I have it in me to effectively mother another newborn. Actually, I could mother another newborn on hormones alone, but I might need another substance to handle another male preschooler. God bless Henry. He can be such a sweetheart. He asks me to rock him each evening for a few minutes, and he snuggles against my chest as I rub his back. Vivian often wakes me up to, "Mommy, where are you?" or "Mommy, I'm ready." She's killed my sleep pattern this week with night wakings. The worst was when I entered her room and she said, "Hay-uh in my EYES." I brushed it aside, used a clip to hold it, and I put her back into her crib. Henry told me that he used to sleep in a bed with bars like Vivian, and he'd prefer another one instead of his bed. At least he isn't climbing into baby's bed anymore.

On the bright side...everyone here is healthy. Our Christmas tree has not yet been knocked over. I learned most kids will eat almost anything to get glitter cupcakes. I'm still excited to wake up by my sweet husband, and I'm thrilled when Robbie gets home each evening. I am LOVED, and I get hugs and kisses each and every day. Sometimes they are sticky or wet or stinky, but they are kisses just the same. I am one lucky woman.

The kids favorite things:

Vivian - "me we" (her little pink blanket that I made) and her thumb

Evelyn - "night night" (her brown blanket that I made) and her thumb

Henry - ME and being Violet the girl dog (strangers think he's saying he's violent)

Olivia - The Chronicles of Narnia and pretend play

I Feel Like I Runned Out of Batteries

Henry's temp under his arm just registered 102.8, and that is unfortunately considered low around here these days. He woke up from his nap crying, and as I held him he said pathetically, "I feel like I runned out of batteries." Out of the mouths of babes, I tell you. Yesterday he felt so yucky that twice, once shortly after he rose for the morning, he put himself down for a nap!!! He said, "My head hurts. I think I need to go to sleep."

The younger two girls have had the highest temperatures, upper 103s axillary, and their moods reflect it. They just feel terrible, and we've been doing a lot of rocking and back rubbing. I can't wait for everyone to feel well again. I may actually welcome some loud playtime sounds in my house.

During one of Henry's up moments during the past week he reached onto the counter in the kitchen for a shaker of Halloween colored sugar decorator sprinkles. He said, "Will you please go away?" When I left the room for some reason a few minutes later I returned to find him with the purple sugar being poured onto his tongue as he hid behind a cabinet door. Little rascal! He amused me with his response in the van to the question, "What is Vivian saying?" when he answered, "Henry's awesome." She does request shoes by color now, but I have yet to hear the word "awesome" out of my baby girl.

Evelyn crafted a mustache out of paper, and she taped it to Vivian's upper lift. She then gave me the quote of the week. "Look at our baby daddy."

Here We Fly Off the Merry-Go-Round

Sweet Olivia is home sick with a temperature of 102. She and Henry are under a blanket watching shows together. Vivian is playing in her little kitchen like a busy bee. Ev is at school. Robbie was worried after he dropped her off in the carpool lane, because Olivia always walks her to her classroom.

I haven't blogged recently, so I have accumulated a series of notes scribbled here and there to share. Here are the highlights from my children over the last weeks.

We took a beautiful fall walk yesterday, and we smelled some cigarette smoke. Henry and I didn't like it one bit. What a terrible odor! Our neighborhood elementary school put red plastic cups into their fence to spell DRUG FREE 4-EVER. Henry asked me about it numerous times as we drove past. After we talked about how gross the smoke smelled he said, "Drug Free FOREVER!!! NO smoking." He actually remembered the fence message. He also listens to a lot that I try to communicate to the children, although he may only apply it for his own advantage. When Vivian didn't want to share her Cheerios with Henry, I heard him tell her, "We share in this family, Vivian."

Our family did a 5K this weekend, and my brother joined us too. It was really chilly that morning, but we had fun. Robbie and Anthony ran with Olivia, and she finished in about 30 minutes at age 8. I pushed Vivian, and Henry and Evelyn were on foot. They ran, then walked, then ran more. Henry begged to wear his Lightning McQueen padded muscle suit for the race, but I insisted on warm workout clothes. Several times on the course, I heard him say, "Straight line speed," a line from CARS. He also dropped into a runner's stance, then took off like a flash. Evelyn really kicked up the pace as she proceeded to the finish line. Henry had a grimace on his face, and he was totally serious as he completed his run. It was awesome.

We played as a family at a nearby park on Sunday, and they have a rare merry-go-round. Robbie is much wilder with his play with the kids than I like. All of the kids were having fun on the merry-go-round, and he gave it a full running spin with all his might. Henry made one full rotation before he let go and flew off onto the ground with a big thud. I got it on video on my phone, but my husband will shoot me if I post his bad move. When Henry talked about the experience later he said, "Mommy, I'm so glad blood didn't come out of my head." We were glad too.

After the girls got out of the van in carpool I started to drive forward while the van door was still open. A loud warning beep kept sounding, but I couldn't get the door to close. I thought Henry was blocking it by doing something with his leg, so after blocking the carpool progress momentarily, I was forced to pull over to investigate. An umbrella had gotten lodged in the way, and it blocked the door from shutting. Henry said, "Nice try, Mom. That was really funny."

Uncle Anthony loves my children so much, but I think they are sometimes a bit much for him. He suggested tacos as a dinner, which seemed like a really easy fix for me. However, baby Vivian now screams (and I do not use this word lightly) at every dinner meal. It doesn't matter where I try to let her sit or what I serve. She goes berserk!!! It is about to end my sanity. The night of the taco dinner, she was in even higher volume form. Evelyn was in tears because her soft taco shell kept unfolding, which let the contents spill out. Henry cracked his hard taco shell with his first bite, and he kept getting out of his seat as my attention was diverted to the other two in meltdown mode. Robbie was in the garage. How can a taco dinner go so south? Thank goodness Olivia ate like a nice little lady. That's the beauty of parenting. There is no way to predict what will happen in any given hour. My life is not dull. Evelyn made all of us laugh by commenting that Vivian should stay in her high chair since she is not chair trained.

I can't predict Henry's likes either. He asked me to please find a butterfly Halloween costume for him. He also asks every single morning, "Mommy, may I please have some strawberry oatmeal in the red butterfly bowl?" So much for Lightning McQueen, "KA-Chow!!"

We had a really fun Halloween trick-or-treating night. Evelyn was very sad that we couldn't go with the Finlasons and their dog Mario like every other year. The new neighbor came over to take a photo of our family, and somehow the girls asked her to let us take their dog, Violet, down the street. Robbie agreed, and the kids were ecstatic. Little Vivian was dressed in her friend Abby's size 0-6 mos. bumblebee costume. She didn't want to be carried or hold anyone's hand. She wanted to walk like a big shot, and she'd say, "Treat?" very sweetly to the neighbors. The black cat, angel, and dinosaur got a LOT of loot. I now have to deny candy morning, noon, and night. Luckily, another warning about getting holes in his teeth from not brushing them has secured itself into Henry's head. He likes brushing his teeth.

My big girls have been working really hard in school, and their teachers recognize and appreciate their qualities of work ethic and good character. We are really proud of them.

Vivian's language explosion is in progress. Today she asked me for her night-night. When I asked her where she left it she said, "In that room." I told her to get it, and she said with a frustrated tone, "I can't reach that night-night." She is 21 months today, and I can't even believe it. I have several friends with newborns, and they look so tiny.

Henry ate cereal with glue.

I have a terrible cough. I have a cough that starts and doesn't cease. This morning was my turn to serve as a parent volunteer teacher for Children's Church for 13 one and two-year-olds. I didn't think my friends would appreciate me coughing all over the room where the babies played, so this morning, after a fitful night of coughing while trying to sleep, I tried to find a replacement. My replacement turned out to be Robbie. "Will I have to change any diapers?" was his very serious question. He agreed to help me, but my confident and capable husband looked irritated and slightly unsure as he left the house. I handed him the timeline for the class, and he said, "What? We have to do a craft?" Olivia went to help him. Robbie is a good man, but today he was also a lucky man. His co-teacher was Mo, a very nice friend of mine. Three 8th grade student volunteers were present. Only three little children attended Children's Church in Robbie's room. He had a smooth sail.

I, on the other hand, in an effort to make it up to him, tried to have our traditional big Sunday breakfast ready when he came through the door. I forgot to get buttermilk for his from scratch pancake recipe, so I used a vinegar and milk substitution. The result was not like Robbie's. The kids gobbled them down, but Robbie and I were sorely disappointed. Henry took the craft project from Children's Church, and he ate ten fruit loops that Olivia had glued to two trees on a sheet of paper. Really, Henry? You ate glued cereal, and then you didn't stop at just one or two?

Henry's hair grew quite long. It was so long, in fact, that I thought he looked like a surfer boy. Robbie took him to the barber shop yesterday, and they had to wait (with the big girls too) for a long time. One old guy was cutting hair, and Robbie described a long row of seated gentlemen waiting for a turn. Robbie told me that right before the end of Robbie's cut, Henry started saying this little chant that he learned from the Wojo boys. It includes hand movements similar to the Macarena. Robbie heard him start, "Oh, MY GOSH! I think I broke a ...," at which point Robbie said a loud, "HENRY!" before Henry could finish with a high pitched, "nail." He said he was mortified. Henry was asked to sing a song recently, and he belted, "You always can't get what you wa-antt!" over and over again. I guess we should sing that line to poor Robbie.

Olivia has been having some trouble getting up in the morning for school. This week she promised me that since I took her to a library to listen to a children's book author speak late into the evening, she would get right out of bed the next day with full cooperation. She got out of bed, but she decided to lie down outside her bedroom door on the floor of the hallway in the dark in the six o'clock hour. I flipped off my bedroom light before I left the room to try to avoid waking Vivian by letting light spill into the hall, and I stepped on Olivia's neck. I am so thankful that I didn't seriously injure her. I stepped on something, lost my balance, fell, stepped on something else in the dark, and finally realized it was Olivia. She has a red mark under her ear lobe, and I don't think she'll do that again soon.

Baby Vivian is now 20 months. She has been nodding super big, and her word strings are long and clear. I love it. Olivia said, "Mom, baby is four months from being two." Wow! Another HUGE wow is that after I unfastened Henry from his car seat this week he helped me by unbuckling baby Vivian from her five-point harness car seat. He put his hands under her arms and lifted her out of her seat. I jumped up and down with excitement. Our one car garage requires me to crawl in and out of the van to get Vivian in place, so Henry's help was huge.

Evelyn has had a cough too, and it gets the worst at night. I was up with her in the middle of the night three times this week giving her nebulizer breathing treatments. It was nice, quiet snuggle time, but it has caught up with me. I am old tired mama. Thankfully, when I just told Olivia to lay out her clothes for school in preparation for tomorrow morning, she reminded me that we have no school tomorrow. Thank you, Columbus.