priceless

Sometimes more than I can handle...

• going through 20 diapers a day
  
• fixing & spoon feeding 16 meals a day (unless I'm clever enough for finger food meals)
  
• brushing and fixing 3 heads of hair
  
• bathing and dressing four kids
  
• 4 breathing treatments a day
  
• a room full of toys with the only one who can clean-up is the only one who didn't make any of the mess
• one of five who can care for herself
• the stench of diapers past even if they're out of the house in minutes
• administering at least nine medications a day
• washing only one load of laundry per day (thanks to my husband's choice of large capacity)
• scheduling and being present for at least two therapies a week
• scheduling, preparing, delivering & picking up two kids from their visit to "mom"
• taking classes on how to parent in order to keep our foster care license
• arranging a sitter to buy groceries
• cleaning up at eight so we can start fresh the next morning
• three teethers
  

Why I keep it up...

• two little arms around my neck
• spontaneous "I love you"
• kisses
• a fight for mom's lap
• another book and the backup into my lap
• the bathtime squeal
  
• patty cake
• twinkle twinkle with little hands that barely open and shut
• walking around the house like a baby fawn at 8
• happy dance
• overhearing "I love you.. you love me... we're a happy family" coming from the other room
• watching cars out the window
• first snow excitement
• spying mom around the corner smiles
• peek-a-boo
  
• new walkers
• party ponies
• loving babies
• loving each other
• ice cream faces
• baby talk
• cheesy camera grins
• little faces covered in little hats
• climbing onto the couch and sliding off
• jumping head first into the "red chair"
• 1-2-3 GO! races from my arms to a nose dive into the chair and back... over & over & over
• matching outfits (tops & bottoms... not more than one kid- get real)
• PJ's all day
• cupcakes
• pooping in the toilet
• big onesies... from Europe
• Veggie Tales (silly songs)
• Grandpa & Grandma, Aunts & Uncles
• xyzlophone & guitar
  
• being a part of their world