Approximately 3 weeks from now, school will start - for Russ obviously, and for me and the kiddos. I remember when I was growing up how I always looked forward to school starting towards the end of summer. I loved school, mostly. So as the time is getting closer for Colin to start kindergarten I have started to get really excited. I started getting some things together while I was in the hospital, and now that there is less than a month to go, I'm getting down to the details, like which day we're going to talk about the letter 'm' and which books we're going to read to go along with our European history segment and where I can go to buy an inflatable globe.
Along with this excitement though, especially the last week, has come a little bit of fear. I admit it, I'm afraid. But not of school. Russ has been home with me for the last couple of months, and I am afraid for being the only adult in our house. I'm not sure we're all going to make it out alive. To elaborate, I'll tell you about yesterday. I have to tell the whole story, because at the beginning, before the whole thing starts going downhill, I sound like a responsible parent. Yesterday afternoon me and the 5 kiddos were all in our carpet room (so named b/c it is the only room in the house with carpet). The 3 older ones were playing puzzles on the floor, and I had the babies laying on the floor and was talking to them. I rarely put these kids on the floor. There is just way too much activity, and if someone else ever puts them on the floor, my blood pressure goes up noticeably. They will probably never learn to walk or crawl or anything because they are never, ever on the floor. Except for yesterday. So things were actually relatively calm, and then my oldest wanted to Skype. We don't let our kids talk on the cell phone because it probably causes brain tumors, so the solution was to let them Skype. The computer is back in my bedroom, though, so I have to leave the room to set it up and so forth. Well, Graham had gotten fussy, so I was holding him, and sweet Bennett was still on the floor. The way this story should have ended is that I put him in a swing or something and the kids Skyped and we all lived happily ever after. However, it has a different ending. I asked Colin to stay in the room with Bennett to make sure that Silas didn't come near him. We almost pulled it off, but Colin left his post for a brief moment and when Bennett started crying and we all ran back into the room, Silas evidently was sitting on him. Colin saw it first and Silas heard us coming, so by the time I got there I didn't see anything. So I undressed him, made sure he could still move his legs and no ribs were broken (Silas weighs 28 pounds!) And then I still called the doctor, because I wanted to make sure there was no internal bleeding. Bennett meanwhile is talking as usual and stopped crying the minute Silas got off of him. We did go to the doctor just to be sure and everything is fine. And in case you are wondering both babies are sleeping now and perfectly safe in their crib. In fact I haven't let Silas touch either one of them since and probably won't ever again. What am I going to do with this kid?
So, while yesterday is not a typical day by any means, it's scenarios like that that have had me just a little nervous about Russ going back to school. Until last night, when I was reminded that when he goes to school he prays for us multiple times during the day. Since he has been home, I'm not sure he's been sending those prayers up. So maybe he needs to go back to school so he can start saying those prayers again, and in the meantime, I am soliciting any and all willing to pray for us. Daily. Three or Four times, please. And please, don't stop when school starts.
