Croup Cough, Crocodile Tears, Runny Noses and CRY FOR HELP!

Just the other day, while I ventured out to a park at the beach, a gentleman pushing his sweet, little 2 year old daughter on the swing asked me a question..."How do you do it?  How do you manage life with four small children?"  I wanted to burst out laughing because what he saw was only a glimpse of  "kid and life management".  I will give you the answer to his question after I explain the series of events on that very day!

It started out with our 5 year old boy having the horrific croup -cough going on day 4.  (That means 4 days of a mom who was surviving on VERY little sleep)  I had been awake sitting on a toilet lid holding my son in a steaming hot bathroom, so that he could inhale the steam and open up his airway to breathe.  These four nights of croup followed up, after a two-week and still on-going battle of an eight month old's runny nose, cough and cold that won't seem to ever leave!  I proceeded to take my son to urgent care with his sister and check to see if their lungs were clear.  We waited in a tiny office for 2 hours, during nap time!  Four kids and Dr. gadgets everywhere!  I used up all my energy saying ,"No!!! don't touch those latex gloves, sit still, put down the blood pressure cuff, leave the sink alone, quit playing with the Dr.'s computer and stop stepping on your sister's toes..." (you get the picture!)

 After the long visit at the Dr.'s office, we traveled to our "surf shack". (Our trailer house at the beach, close to daddy's work).  Avalon decided it would be a good time to scream the entire way!  Her lungs were cleared out about 45 minutes into the drive.  I had Austin trying to feed her chunky fruit baby food to keep her happy.  That didn't go as planned!  She used her mighty fist to fling baby food across the backseat,windows and laps of siblings.  (Guess who had to pull over on the freeway to clean that up)?! 

After reaching our final destination, I thought it would be a good idea to take everyone for a nice walk on the beach to get some fresh air.  Bad idea!  The cold wind was blowing and the sun starting headed downward.  In one hand I held the leash of our pit bull/lab mix and in the other hand was a baby!  The other kiddos ran ahead down their favorite tunnel that leads to the pier.  I was desperately trying to hold back the strong- pulling, eager dog and keep from falling and sliding on my behind with a baby in tow.  That was a great snapshot!  One guy said in passing,"Who's taking who for a walk"?  In my mind I replied, "I know.  I am a terrible dog trainer, but can a mom have a little sympathy here"?! 

We got to the cold beach park at sunset.  Just enough time to take a couple pushes on the swing, go down a slide or two, hang from monkey bars and then head back up to the car.  The very loving Austin thought it would be fun to twist the chains of his older sister's swing so that when he let go, she would go un-twisting and throw up!  We had lots of spectators!  All the while, Auburn is sitting on her swing crying because she wants to be pushed and mom is busy handling a dog and a baby. We probably should have stayed home again!

 And then a calm moment.  No crying.  No screaming.  No sadness!  All the children are playing nicely.  I tied the dog up.  The baby was cozy happy in her sling with mama and I pushed Auburn in the swing just the way she liked it. 

And then the gentleman comes over... plops his little 2 year old girl into the toddler swing and says to me in amazement," How do you do that?  How do you manage life with four kids"?  Now you know why I wanted to burst out laughing!  He only saw a glimpse of motherhood.  He saw a fragment of what life with four small children is like.  His view was not the complete picture.  He saw smiles and sunshine.  He didn't see the crocodile tears, lack of sleep, runny noses, barking dog, throwing up, hanging on by a thread moments of the day.  I replied with a chuckle, "ONLY WITH GOD'S HELP CAN I DO ANYTHING AT ALL"!!! 

And I really honestly mean that!  Life as a mom is one of the hardest things I have ever done.  It requires all of me.  Every part of me.  I can't call in sick and ask for a sub!  (Although my mom helps me out a ton)!  I am realizing that "plan A" never works out.  I can't truly be prepared.  I can always expect something to go wrong.  But that's the way life is.  If it always worked out perfectly... I would never see my need for God. So I am thankful for the humbling memories of life with kids.  I am reminded daily to ask God for help!

Now, please excuse me, I have a baby crying in her crib.  gotta go.