just remembered this afternoon that i needed to pick up some prescriptions from target before they got reshelved (previous experience has taught me that scripts get reshelved ten days after being filled).  this is right after i put the younger two down for naps.  so i whisked them back up just as they were falling asleep, hustled everyone into the van and drove over to target.  ended up getting one of those enormous carts with extra seats in front and super-wide turning radius so the older three could sit while jonah was strapped to me in the baby carrier.  went inside, tried to ignore the stares as we made our…

phil texted to say that he has been officially hired by county.  actually, he was official as of yesterday, but they didn’t bother to tell him until today.  after 7 months and 21 days of waiting for this news, it was, well, a bit anti-climactic. the up side is that phil has a job!!!  only took 10 years, 7 months, and 21 days to get to this point.  God is good. the down side is that we still feel like we’re living with a huge question mark looming over our heads.  i’m not sure that phil really even wants this job aside from the fact that it’s a secure position…

no sooner did this guy get over roseola… then he goes and picks up a congested head cold complete with ooey gooey runny nose. all. day. long.  with ramped up crankiness to match. whew, what a day. and even with phil away at work tonight, i still wanted to make valentine’s day special for the kiddos with a little dinner party.  albeit a very simple dinner party.  it would also be a perfect time to have them help cook since they all really enjoy doing that.  only, it never quite works out to have all three in the very small kitchen space with me, so i decided to put each…

when a new baby is about to join a family, a flurry of activity to get ready for the little one’s arrival usually precedes the big event.  a nursery to be decorated and made sweet for baby.  a baby shower.  a carseat to be installed.  a name to be decided on.  and all the many stuffs to gather– lots of baby clothes, lots of baby gear, lots of baby dipes n wipes.  it all makes for good times. except it’s not exactly like that when you’re baby number 4. when you’re baby number 4, your parents view the hospital stay as more of a “mini-vacation” than anything else. when you’re…

to describe this current stage of life i’m in as “busy” would be something of an understatement.  life with four little ones is tiring, ofttimes chaotic, and only occasionally overwhelming.  and try as i might to be present with each one, sometimes i worry… am i missing too many of their moments of being this little and this carefree? am i too busy with things, both necessary and not, to hear their thoughts and dreams? am i making enough effort to be here in this moment? do they know, both individually and collectively, that they along with their daddy are my heart’s joy and greatest treasure under the sun? i…