I am finally doing this. It's been 15 months since the kids arrived - Nate- 6, Chrissy -4, and Jonny - 3. Now they're 7, 6, and 4. If I don't record these moments, these adventures, with the kids, I'll forget them. I'm sure I've already forgotten a lot.
But I do remember the day they arrived. My husband had to be away at a seminar so the delivery was made by two social workers at the St. Louis airport to my sister and me. The social workers stayed long enough to give me important papers and luggage tags and then hurried to catch their flight back. Pam and I corralled the children and went to find the luggage. We placed the kids, their backpacks, coats, and one stuffed animal each in a pile on chairs, and while Pam watched them I went to claim the luggage.
After seeing me struggle with the luggage cart, a kindly gentleman porter offered to help me and I gratefully accepted his offer, although it was a bit embarrassing when he asked me what kind of luggage I was looking for and I didn't have the slightest idea. However, the luggage was found, the kids made it safely to the car, and Chrissy chattered nonstop the entire 2 hour drive home.
I regretfully dropped my sister off at her house, all the while debating whether or not I should ask her to come over for just a little while. But I decided that I had to be a mom sooner or later, and it might as well be sooner. The rest of the evening went fairly smoothly - Jonny got knocked over by our dog, Nate got a sliver and refused to let me get it out. He also spilled a cup of apple juice all over the floor at supper. Jonny plugged up the toilet (mostly with toilet paper), and through it all, Chrissy gave us a running commentary on all things important to a four year old.
After I finally got them tucked into bed, I sat on the couch and looked at my kitchen. The floor was covered in peas. Even though I'd cleaned up the apple juice, my socks still stuck to the floor. I realized that my house would probably never again be as clean as it was that morning.
But I must continue this later. Nate is playing with a mousetrap he found in the garage. The old-fashioned kind. He already has a gash in his lip that he got from falling on stairs at Aftercare. I'd better stop him before he decides to injure a finger as well.
