March Memories

I hate March. It seems as though March is filled with teeny tastes of spring, and long blasts of winter. March makes me feel like winter will never end. I have never liked the month of March.

This March, however, was the month of visitors. To try and buddy up to me, March has also delivered several long stretches of beautiful 70 degree weather. I am warming up to the rascally month of March.

My baby brother from North Carolina graced us with his presence the last week of February and the first week of March. We had some grand adventures. I reminded him several times of all the diapers of his that I changed and I made him clean my couches until midnight one night. He ate an inhumane amount of food and left his socks on my bathroom floor. He took my kids snake shopping. I can't believe how much my baby brother has grown up! I can't wait till he comes back to visit!! Caleb just told someone that the guest bed was Uncle Ryan's bed, and he still asks for him on a regular basis.

Our next set of visitors was my cousins Marilyn and her little baby bump, and Cheryl and her princess Malana, from New Mexico.

When we were growing up we lived next to each other for two years. Those two years have so many memories!! We had a funeral for a guinea pig and baby chick, we played Indians dressed in paper bags in the backyard. We built elaborate forts from cardboard boxes.

While they were here, we watched our kids play and make memories like we did when we were their ages. We spent an afternoon learning how to ride bikes and climb rocks in Garden of the Gods, and spent time relaxing and chatting. Micah and Kyler were rather sad the day they had to say goodbye to their cousins. Kyler dramatically stated that he "loved Malana for always".

A few days after my cousin's left, my grandparents from Bellville Pennsylvania came to visit. We had some yummy bar-b-q and looked at pictures and caught up. This was actually the first time they got to meet crazy and wild Caleb, and of course they met little Liam as well. My kids love Grandpa and Grandma Peachey, and were thrilled with Grandpa's stories about "pet snakes" found when their Papa and Uncles were boys. My Grandma raised three boys and it was fun to hear about what all I have to look forward to!

My Uncle Tim from San Diego also came with my grandparents, but he and his wife Carolyn got to stop in again, for a day a week later. Uncle Tim and Aunt Carolyn came bringing cool gifts for the boys and were instantly welcomed with open arms by the boys. Everyone competed to sit by them at lunch and every latest achievement and story were told several times by my kids. We always have such a great time catching up with Uncle Tim and Aunt Carolyn, even though every time we see them we tend to have another new family member. Maybe we should Skype or email from now on. Kyler whined that it was no fun that they had to go home!

We love having company!! And there is still a week left in March if you are feeling left out!!

Random Wilson Moments

When I was a little girl I dreamed about meeting prince charming, marrying him, having a dozen kids and living happily ever after. I didn't, however, think about prince charming getting old! (I still refuse to believe that if he is getting old, then I am, because I was like 12 when I got married, so I still have years and years before it happens to me!)

One morning I rolled over and realized my prince charming had just a few hairs less than he did when we rode off into the sunset. Makes God's counting job easier I guess. Then I noticed silver hairs!! And then he turned 30!!! Whats next a cane and false teeth???

I guess I should have seen it coming when he got winded going up the stairs, or had to spend the day in bed after a baseball game. Oh and then there is his "hip flexor" he has been complaining about! What the heck is a hip flexor????

As if my husband turning 30 wasn't cruel enough of mother nature in reminding me that I might be a tad older than some people, my 6 year old started riding his bike without training wheels. It started out with a few feet and a crash and crying and threats never ever ever ever ever to get on a bike again. And then one day he took off. All of a sudden my little baby can ride a bike and I'm sobbing and realizing that he is going to get a drivers license one day!

My four year old is planning his fifth birthday party in a few weeks. This child keeps me on my toes! Last week he asked me if we could get a pet mouse. Um NO! Then he asks me if he can when I am dead. Well considering that I have an aging husband, he may get his mouse sooner than he thinks.

So I discovered something. Each child I produce gets a tad ornerier. This brings me to the Caleb update, and honestly this child leaves me speechless most days. Probably because I can't say the words that he usually evokes in front of children.

I came upon my sweet innocent angel the other day and his response to my loud "What are you doing??" was a very practical "I pump."

And then there was yesterday when I followed the trail of eyeshadow to the baby's swing. His response again was matter of fact. "Liam, eyes."

My sweet little youngest has started giggling. He discovered his hands the other day, which is always comical to me. Can you imagine the utter shock when this thing that keep hitting you in the face suddenly appears to be attached to you!! I always imagine them thinking things like , Whoa I wonder what else it can do, or what else I have!!

Yep I love being a mom!!!!!!!!!!!!

When I Grow Up

My oldest asked me once why we have to just choose one thing to be when we grow up. I feel the exact same way. Currently I am one Bio class away from entering the nursing program to become an RN. This has been my dream since I was a little girl. Only problem with nursing is needles. I hate needles. As I am studying, I have discovered another problem with nursing. All the diseases and things that can go wrong, therefore creating the need for nurses.

I have somewhat of a reputation for imaginitis, or thinking I have everything I hear about. Kevin has banned me from watching mystery diagnosis on TV because we often have conversations along these lines; Me: I think I have that! I wonder what stage I'm in! Kevin: Your in no stage. Me: Well thats the perfect stage to start treatment, seeing how your chances of surviving go down with each stage. Kevin: Your in no stage because you don't have it, plus I think you have to be a man to get it!

While Kevin was in Africa for two weeks I often fell asleep watching whatever happened to be on. One night I watched "I Didn't Know I was Pregnant". I freaked out and started cleaning all my bathroom cupboards searching frantically for a pregnancy test. True I had just had a baby and my husband was on a two week trip in Africa, but these people thought there was no earthly way they were pregnant, and they ended up on TV!!

Another thing I want to be when I grow up is a writer. I love to read and these people write hopelessly romantic books that make you get goosebumps and cause people to line up for miles three nights before the movie starts after someone turns your book into a film. But what would I write about? I can't do vampires, thats only successful once, plus Kevin tells me my "limited" knowledge of vampires is incorrect in so many aspects. I can't really do self help books, because you have to help yourself first, and I am sure a book on how to stack the most dishes in the sink with out having them fall over is not going to hit the bestsellers list anytime soon. And I haven't gotten stuck in a water barrel in another country, while researching ape behavior, almost died, seen my great grandparents, and then lived to tell about it.

Today I want to be a baby photographer when I grow up! There is this lady in like Nebraska or somewhere there is corn, and she takes these amazing pictures of naked, tiny babies and charges like a million dollars a session, but they are stunning! Lets face it newborns rock. True babies may pee on you while you are trying to capture their breath taking, red, wrinkly skin, but you don't have to cough up a dollar fifty to bribe one tiny smile out of them. They don't throw the props at you, or run away screaming "No I will NOT sit by him!" I really need to find a way to get one of those cool cameras that does everything, including making toast for you!!

So I will tell my kid, go ahead and plan on becoming a dinosaur trainer, an astronaut and a video game maker. Sounds like fun, and how could you possibly choose between those three, seriously!

Observations of an unusual love

Growing up, my sister was my best friend. We were two years apart and we did almost everything together. My mom claims we fought, but being the delightful child I was, I think she is getting me confused with my rascally brothers. We went to sleepovers together, we shared Barbie clothes, and we did swimming lessons together. As we got older we double dated together and shared each other's clothes and whispered at night about our dates and first kisses. I loved having a sister so close to me, so when I got married and we discussed adding more delightful little children to the current population, we planned for them to be close.

I ended up with 4 boys! Did I mention that my brothers don't giggle at night about their crushes? Did I also mention that their interactions are more loud and include name calling when the other one backs into ones car?

I have observed that a brother relationship is a tad different than sisters. The tackling is a little bit rougher, and ears and toes get bitten more, and you can stick your tongue out for record setting amounts of time if one is irritating you. I have also noticed that, though they may hide it a little better, boys still love each other and have a closeness that comes from sharing the same set of quirky, and unusual set of parents.

Today my oldest punched his brother in the stomach for daring to touch his Nintendo DS, #2 "accidentally" spit on #1 when he dared to say he could run faster. #3 smacked #2 over the head with a toy hammer, and for what we don't exactly know.

(Yes, when you have 4 boys ages 6 and under, it is perfectly ok to start calling them by numbers.)

Today Micah gave his snacks to Kyler and Caleb after his basketball game because they didn't get any. Caleb cuddled Liam while he watched a movie. Kyler told Micah he was the best big brother in the world, and 1, 2, and 3 are all sleeping together in one twin sized bed, you can't tell whose arms belongs to which body.

Brothers are an incredible, sometimes disguised, gift from God!

Liam Kade

Well its been over a month since I have blogged. At my current stage of life, I only get to wash three body parts at a time in the shower before its time to jump out and, dripping wet, rescue a child falling down the stairs, or feed a tiny mouth or break up world war 3. My life revolves around 3am feedings and the next poopy diaper.

Even though I knew I would have to deliver a 10 minute short summary of one of the most amazing days of my life, I have been meaning to get on here a lot sooner. And so in way to few of words here is our newest members arrival to the world.

On December 30th, we kissed the older boys goodbye and waddled our way to the car. At 12:31 with my guts laid across an operating table, my red wrinkled 8 pound 14 ounce son was pulled from his little cocoon, and filled the room with his tiny screams. Even though he's my 4th that first cry filled my heart and overflowed from my eyes. I will treasure those firsts cries every day of my life.

My older boys were very excited to meet trouble #4!!

They all love him. True Micah has decided that he is now the class clown and his teacher is thinking about changing her career to something in a monastery far from any children, and Kyler suddenly can't remember to get to the bathroom in time, and Caleb has emptied every cupboard and hides things in the washer, but at least they love their brother!

So our baby was officially 2 hours old, hanging out in the NICU and the poor sweet thing had no name. Through this entire pregnancy we battled over what we should name our 4th boy. We had enough names to name 2o girls, but 4 boy names was impossible.

Kevin thought of Tank and Bear and Flying animal something or other. I was told the names I came up with were rather feminine. Thankfully, as I lay in a recovery room having my stapled belly bandaged, we found a name that fit him perfectly.

Liam Kade Wilson.

And so we are bumbling our way through life with 4 children hoping that they are young enough not to remember being forgotten in the car, or being fed froot loops for dinner and truly loving every minute of our very blessed, yet not always fully showered lives!!!

Mommy moments that bring tears (and sobbing and wailing) to your eyes

Ever since I discovered my love of blogging, I have people ask me if the stories I share are true. Yes people, amazingly I am not imaginative enough to come up with these things on my own. Believe me, I kind of wish I was so I didn't have to necessarily experience EVERY one.

Yesterday I had two occasions that brought tears to my eyes. Firsts that I won't soon forget, and I have the pictures to remind me of these moments when I get old and can't remember if my recliner or the porcelain throne is where I sit to pee.

My oldest baby had his first piano recital. His name was third on the program and when the second child finished up we cued the video recorder and camera and moved into the aisle eagerly awaiting our beaming child's face in the view finders. We waited, and we waited, and then we checked the program to make sure he really was next. Finally his teacher leaned across the aisle and reminded him that it was his turn. We heard an exclaimed "Oh!" before he catapulted on stage at a speed that was rather impressive. So focused was he on getting to the piano and keeping things moving, he forgot to pause and announce his name and song.

He opened his piano book and played "Jingle Bells" without missing a single key. The greatest part was, his eyes never even glanced at the page in front of him. He found our camera's and beamed his way through his memorized music, before launching himself back into his seat. I have never been prouder!

After the recital reception where one child wiped Christmas cookie frosting all over his daddy, and another sat down in the middle of the food line to scarf down chocolate fudge, and I embarrassed myself by asking a woman who ended up not being pregnant when she was due, we loaded our children and our lovely first impression into the car and headed home to create a ginger bread house.

At home, my three kids all crowded together on one 3 foot kitchen chair to be the first to get their hands on the gingerbread pieces. Of course some one got pushed and some one else hit back and some one else fell off the chair, smashing their face into the hard wood kitchen floor.

Well the one on the floor unfortunately happened to be the 1 year old. As Kevin held him and I tried to wipe the blood from him face, I realized part of his lip was not in the same place that it had previously been in. I started crying. Caleb had nothing on my wails. The other kids, convinced their brother must be dying judging from my body shaking sobs, joined in the chorus.

Kevin looked at me and said, "Hon, you have to calm down". With tears soaking my shirt and on a hiccup, I wailed, "this is calm!" We all climbed in the car and made our way to Urgent Care. The nurse who checked our drooling, bloodied, baby in, commented that she remembered taking care of Kyler when he had his toilet injury. Must they tell us that every time we come in??

The urgent care staff took one look at the lip and directed us to the ER. I think the only reason they did that was so they didn't have to deal with my hysterical hiccups and questions about life long scarring on my poor babies face.

The older two were wonderfully passed off to Grandma, and we made ourselves comfortable in the waiting room of an amazingly crazy Emergency Room. We were joined by these parents who came in and sat down across from us. Their teenage son had decided to take a spin on his motorcycle around the neighborhood, minus a helmut and wearing house slippers. The end result was a rather fun road rash and ankle injuries that required local anesthesia to fix. They didn't just talk about this incident though, no they felt the need to reminisce about all of his antics. By the time they were called back into their son's room, I was hyperventilating and with horror I squeaked to my husband, "How will we ever keep 4 boys alive????"

I have worried about the grocery bill once we have 4 teenage boys in the house. No longer does that keep me awake. How the heck will we afford 4 boys' emergency co-pays???

After a record setting wait, they gave my 18 month old versed, a drug that made him think he was a puppy, discover amazing new qualities in his toes, and caused rather drunk giggles at random moments, after loudly calling for his daddy. We left the ER at 1am with 4 stitches in his little lip. My sweet Caleb is definitely Kyler's brother.

And so we add stitches to our last three weeks of contractions, infections, stomach viruses, and dead guinea pigs. I came home and fell asleep around 2am. I dreamed that I disfigured my face, payback for letting my baby acquire life long marks on his perfect little lip.

Turkeys, Tummys and Toddlers

In almost 9 years of marriage I have never cooked a Thanksgiving meal. Thank goodness both families contain good cooks and we are with one or the other every year. This year the plan was to experience my grandmothers amazing cooking and eat ourselves into comas. The day before we planned to leave, my unborn youngest decided that he did not want to miss out on Grandma Troyer's cooking and has been doing his best to break out of his little cocoon. To discourage his early arrival, I am supposed to be taking it easy and not straying far from our hospital. I even have a prescription ordering Kevin to change all diapers. That part almost makes the contractions worth it!

After panicking at the thought of cooking a turkey, and deciding that I didn't want my water breaking at a restaurant, I sat down with my Sunday paper and clipped every Thanksgiving looking coupon I had before loading my kids into the car and heading out at what I thought would be a fairly slow shopping time of the day. Not two days before Thanksgiving.

I parked in the last spot at the back of the parking lot and hiked my way into the grocery store. I found my potatoes after standing in line for the potato bin. That was my first clue that this was not going to be a fast in and out trip.

Next stop was the turkeys. Seriously it was like black Friday for turkeys. Every time I found one small enough for me to lift and less than $50.00 someone snatched the thing out from under me. My oldest asked me why they put the dead turkeys in a net. I told him so they wouldn't run away.

Next I, along with the 50 people pressed in around me, heard the stocking guy mention that their shipment of oven bags never came in. Well I had a coupon for one of those so I scrambled to the bin and grabbed one of the last ones. I didn't even feel bad when a lady looked at me in shock since it was the one she was going for. After all she had my first pick of a turkey.

I had a coupon for broth. My mother-in-law always has broth on the counter when she cooks Thanksgiving dinner. I bought two just in case. No clue what she uses it for, but I got it and I got it on sale with a coupon. What does it go in???

I also had a coupon for sparkling cider. The aisles were lined with sparkling cider, just not the brand of my coupon. I walked up and down the same aisle 3 times before finding 3 of them...on the top shelf...at the very back. I thought about dropping the coupon on the floor and walking away, but I had already come so far. I made a spot on the bottom shelf for me to step up. Unfortunately I forgot about the middle shelf and my bulging belly and when I stepped up on the shelf, grapefruit juice went flying! About this time my youngest's shoe hit its perfectly aimed mark; his brothers head. Do I pick up the rolling juice first or stop the unnatural screams coming from my cart. If I ignore the screams, will people know its my cart? Whats more embarrassing, screaming kids or bulging belly's sending an avalanche of juice down the aisle?

I bought green beans, because the picture of the Thanksgiving dinner in the paper showed green bean casserole. Not a single person in my family will touch green beans!

So this is just the shopping trip! How will I ever pull off the meal?