Questioning My Sanity

Isn't Eldest beautiful? So pretty.

Children should come with a warning label stamped right on the front of their cute little forehead. "May be hazardous to your health!" In fact, they could really just leave the "May be" off.

This is one of those days where I question the intelligence involved in having four children within the space of 6 years. You are probably in one of two groups of people: Those who are shaking their head and saying "told you so" or those who have managed to do the same or even squeeze in a fifth in those six years and have even more insane days than I do.

This morning started off bright and early at 6 am when my 3 month old awoke good and hungry. He wasn't shy about letting me know either. After he was finally tucked back in bed I squeezed in a few more z's before the rest descended on my room like a flock of vultures. (Well, technically Second-born was already there. He keeps having "the lion dream" and ending up curled up on our floor every morning. I'm sure 4 and 5 year olds everywhere are nodding in understanding.)

So we headed downstairs for a quick breakfast before we headed to the grocery store. About two hundred "Put that down," "Don't touch those," "Don't fight," and "No, you can't have that" 's later we finally made it to the checkout. We somehow managed to pile back in the car and go home, where I put groceries away while referreeing fights, kissing boo-boo's and calming a crying baby. Baby J decided it was time to be fed again. Toddler decided it would be great fun to do everything she was told not to since I couldn't stop her. Olders fought.

Lunch was finally served, after a great deal more whining than was truly necessary. Most of it was eaten except in the case of toddler who managed rather to turn it into a thick coat of art on her hands, face and hair.

After lunch was cleaned up, I pulled out Jillian and all of us did the 30 Day Shred. Really didn't want to do it today, but Eldest and Second-born coached me on and we made it the whole 25 minutes or so. Crying babies went to bed and olders and I went to pull weeds. Weeds upon weeds upon weeds, including what looked suspiciously like poison ivy. So inside we went to shower and scrub. I managed to lay down with my book for just about 2 1/2 minutes before Baby J woke up and screamed at me. Fed him, tried to put him back to bed but he protested vehemently and I would rather have died than had Toddler wake up at that point so Baby J got his ornery little way and laid on the bed with me. He kicked and cooed and talked while I dozed for a half hour or so.

And everyone descended upon me again. So downstairs we went and to the kitchen I went to make supper. Fighting continued, Toddler ran outside 3 times and had to be retrieved. MacGyver walked in and became overrun with little people immediately. They captured him and made him go outside and play ball with them.

Supper happened for everyone but me, because Baby J decided the moment supper came out of the oven that he was starving and about to faint, so he screamed until his face turned purple.

I almost fell asleep while I was feeding him, but then he was done and they were done and it was time to clean up the kitchen and get the laundry moving again. Zombie version of me did the rest of the chores, pj'ed everyone and collapsed into the chair with Baby J while MacGyver fought the other three to bed like a valiant knight slaying dragons.

He came down, I awarded his courage with a few grumpy words and then tried to put Baby J down. He wouldn't have it. He screamed as if the world were crumbling to pieces for another good hour or two.

And so here I am. Exhausted. Eating after 11 pm, just as I am not supposed to do. And wondering if it is really possible to be healthy and sane when you have a house full of hooligans who are early in the process of being transformed into respectable people that contribute to the world.

Ah well. All we can do is try. Goodnight.