Cup of Coffee

This morning my day started at 5:45, like most mornings. I got up and ran 3 miles then got home just in time to change clothes and make a pot of coffee before my kids started showing up! By 7:10 I had four extra kids! My boys, including John, all got up around 7:30 and I made us eggs and toast. I kissed my man good bye (something about my hardworking man leaving the house with food in his tummy as he goes out to work his butt off for us makes me feel so blessed) and our day began!! The 3 big kids got mud clothes on, sunscreen slimmed on and headed out to play in the mud. I absolutely love the little giggles that I hear through the windows open and the fresh air blowing through the house. At about 9:00 I laid down the 3 babies and cleaned up from breakfast, fed chickens, broke up fights outside, got the mail, did a load of laundry, mopped the floor, broke up more fights and then it was only 10:30!!! One of "my" other kids showed up and she joined the big kids out in the mud. Man how I love the mud!!! Pretty soon the babies woke up and were hungry!!!! I put them all in high chairs give them some chicken and rice casserole and some oranges to munch on while I make the big kids some pasta with sauce and cheese and a side of grapes. The weather was so nice we couldn't pass up having a little picnic out on the cute little picnic table my love bought at an auction last summer. So as I was setting their plates on the table and they start chowing down I see John turning the corner to come home for lunch. Right then is when I get the "I failed" feeling in my stomach. If it is one thing I absolutely don't like is when I feel like I am not serving my husband as well as I could be :( He works so hard to provide for us. I hate that I didn't have any lunch ready for him. Poor guy had to warm up himself some chicken and rice casserole, which is NOT one of his favorite meals. I know it doesn't bother him as much as it bothers me. He still loves me :) By then the kids where all done eating lunch and were back at it in the mud, the babies were playing and I was finding some food to scarf before the next step began. NAP TIME!!!! I gave each of the babies a bottle or sippy cup. One of them has breastmilk, one has whole milk and one has formula!!! Phew, that is just a chore right there keeping up with who gets what in what cup! One by one the babies lay down and pass out. I hear some fighting and arguing and screaming going on with the big kids which means they are TIRED!!! I lined them all up on the grass, rinsed off all the mud and dirt, brought them in the house and put warm dry clothes on all four of them then laid them all on the couches for rests and a movie. Within minutes they are all fast asleep. Oh no, my job is not done! I hurried to the kitchen to unload and load the dishwasher, cleaned out nasty food from the fridge and fed it to the chickens, wiped down high chairs, washed random dishes and swept the floor. Ok, now are you ready for this????? By this time of the day I am ready for a minute to myself and A CUP OF COFFEE!!!!! I warmed up a cup from the pot I made this morning just like I do everyday around this time after doing the same crazy thing every single day. I put a whole scoop of sugar and some half and half in it swirled it around and took a sip of that heaven in a cup!!! For the next 30 minutes I am going to savor every sip of this cup of coffee and enjoy peaking at all SEVEN of the sweet little blessings that are napping in my house!!! I am truly blessed to be a part of all of these little lives! The smiles and giggles and whining and crying are all such a blessing. I can't wait until they all wake up and I get to give each of them a big fat hug and tell them I love them!! But for now I am sitting here enjoying my cup of coffee!!