I never dreamed we would one day have four kids, but that's the path we're on now with number 3 due pretty much any day now and finalizing our dossier to adopt number 4. I don't know that I ever ruled out having that many kids, but I certainly didn't think it would happen so fast. I guess since we got a late start on beginning our family, we're making up for lost time.
As we're closing in on Zadok's due date this month, my husband and I have had some great conversations born out of nervousness and anticipation. It's always exciting to add a child to your family, but scary at the same time. You have the joy of this new little person and you wonder how they will bless and change you and your family. But there's also the fear of how this little person will wildly disrupt your family life and you wonder just how long it will take everyone to adjust and find some kind of rhythm.
As excited as we are for this little guy, we are also a little overwhelmed trying to imagine how to function as a family of five. During these great discussions, my hubby and I realized that we're going from one to three kids in 13 months and the oldest is two and a half. It's by far not the craziest way I've seen a family put together, but it's still a bit daunting. Then hubby starts thinking about number four and he just turns pale (even for his Minnesota paleness). I just think, at least we have a couple of years before that one... right? Then I mention a possible number 5, and he just stops me dead in my tracks and says, "We're going to get through having four first!" Sometimes he's just fun to mess with.
Christmas Day 2013
Today was a crazy, hard, frustrating day, and I. Am. So. Thankful. For It.
Our dogs both came down with something that gave them the runs. Everywhere. Constantly. It got messy and smelly really fast last night and this morning in our house. We were fighting to get into a vet that's actually open on Sunday after church. Zoe melted down big time leaving church and just about the entire way home. Eriek was cleaning up dog messes again while I was in with the girls at nap time changing diapers and taking potty trips- did I mention that was nap time? Since the girls weren't sleeping, Eriek asked if they wanted to go with him to the vet. Arella jumped on board and Zoe was torn. Zoe does not do well without a nap. Did I mention they didn't nap? Zoe wanted to stay home with me but she wanted to be with Arella. So as Daddy and Arella left with the dogs, Zoe immediately and violently melted down again.
This blew up beyond a little tantrum. In fact it was so violent with thrashing and kicking (and that's hard to hold onto when you're 36 weeks pregnant), that it reminded me of the first time I held her when she freaked out until she passed out in my arms. It broke my heart because like that day in Changsha when her whole world changed, this time just seemed like she thought Arella was gone forever. Finally she began to calm down and I kept reminding her that Arella would be back soon as I swayed and soothed her. I knew she was exhausted, even more so after that, so I was going to try to lay her down for a nap again. But she just wanted me to hold her. Then she kept asking to go in Arella's bed. So I laid her in Arella's bed and she was completely calm and content.
She slept great in Arella's bed (and it was her first toddler bed experience!) and was happy to have one-on-one Mommy snuggle time when she woke up. When I told her Arella and Daddy were on their way home, she lit up like the star on top of the Christmas tree! She was just a bouncing ball of smiles to see them.
Tonight Arella had a really hard time when Daddy had to leave before bed time for a pastors' meeting. When Arella gets upset, Zoe automatically gets upset and vise versa. We really feel each other's pain around here. As I was getting ready to tuck them in after a tiring, whiny bedtime ordeal, Zoe climbed into Arella's bed next to her so we could pray together. When I started praying, they started giggling, so happy to be next to each other holding hands. My prayer that nearly started with, "Lord please get these girls to sleep or I fear I may pull my hair out" turned into, "Thank you Lord for the deeply passionate love that our family has for each other."
Yes, going from one to three kids in 13 months will be hard. There will be major and minor adjustments. There will be sleepless nights, jealousy issues, and learning curves for all of us. But what Zoe showed me today is that deep, passionate, crazy love for each other is worth all of it. Zoe, who had no family 13 months ago, is as crazy in love with us as we are with her. This gives me a hint at understanding the deep, passionate, crazy love God must have for us since He gave up His son to add us to His family.
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