At sixes and sixes

Six years ago today, it was very cold in the big city. I don't recall going outside that day but I do remember looking out at a grey and blustery scene from my hospital window. I had been awake for almost 30 hours; made it through three shift changes in hospital personnel; defeated three epidurals and one anaesthetist; been introduced to the breast pump that seemed to whirr my name (a common occurrence to many young moms); and, now, I lay in my bed in the midst of the SARS crisis sans visitors except for two little noses poking above separate isolettes. Funny how it's always their noses that I remember: so very different. I also recall feeling completely overwhelmed, exhausted and wondering why the marathon that is motherhood can't start with a good night's sleep?
Six years later things are quite different. I slept well last night; ran early this morning; and fit easily into my pants. However, I now have four little noses that greet me each day. This morning, as I finished my run and crested the hill leading to our home, the door of our house opened and out sprinted a little girl dressed in her birthday finery and screaming for her brothers to follow as Mommy was home. Three little boys hurtled out of the door: one holding up his pajama pants while asking for the removal of his diaper and the youngest just barely in the arms of his oldest brother - each one of them wanting to hold my hand.
We've come along way in six years and I am so thankful.

Let the ripping open begin and last exactly 37 seconds. Reminiscent of Christmas morning, Benjamin began to wonder which gift he could tear apart; Hannah, always generous, passed him one of hers.

Breakfast with two new ponies and ice cream. Yes, you read that correctly; why not start at breakfast?

Peanut butter and toast, fried eggs with ketchup, and ice cream.

Like peeing on the road, Ben probably now thinks that ice cream at breakfast is a regular occurrence and, I imagine, will ask for it tomorrow.

Joseph had yogurt and I caught him mid sneeze.

We then headed off to the park where I promised a morning of play and a picnic lunch.

Joseph riding the dinosaur which Benjamin insists is an alligator.

We had 5 extra playmates who arrived at the park at the exact same moment as we did. A largish van pulled into the parking lot and 5 kids, all around two years apart, piled out. Their license plate was from New york and the dad quickly introduced himself. Three more kids were with mom visiting the local Academy as a possible post-secondary schooling option. I did my best to sell them on our little-college-that-could and we spent a wonderful morning with a delightful family. (They also had a Hannah and a Joseph.)

I think that we have the best park that I have ever seen; mostly because it is situated on the shores of a beautiful lake and has a row of willow trees - I love willow trees. Hannah told me that her new friend, Grace (4 years old), had never been to a park before because, in Hannah's words, "There's not really much stuff in the United States."

The babies - immobilised.

I will be quiet over the weekend as Dave and I are off to a weekend of training in the Theology of the Body/God's Plan for a Joy-Filled Marriage in order to be part of the marriage preparation team in our diocese. This is a marathon training session and might require some sort of IV hook-up at the local Tim Horton's. Roll up the rim: I'm still trying to win the Toyota but, as I keep telling Dave, unless Toyota's newest car is called Re-Essayer, I'm out of luck.)