Wellblessed

A week or so ago Rob asked what I wanted for Mother's Day. I told him that I couldn't think of much since every day feels like Mother's Day. I am one lucky lady to have such a great husband. He goes above and beyond taking care of our family when I don't feel up to it which seems like most days lately. He cooks, he cleans, he helps with the kids, what more could I ask for?

Well, I was able to come up with two thoughts. A gift certificate to one of my favorite online stores for knitting supplies (Knitpicks) or a pedicure. I've never had one and have really been wanting one lately for my poor feet (which I can barely reach these days). To my surprise Rob got me the gift certificate for Military Spouse Appreciation Day on Friday then this morning the kids delivered me cards and presents in bed one of them was the gift certificate to the spa in town for a pedicure. Wow!

Even without them I felt so blessed today. My kids one at a time came into my room and gave me something they had chosen. Gideon brought me a lovely Mother's Day card. It had Elmo on it. Naturally. :) Zion brought me red carnations. They look beautiful on my mantle. Gabe brought me a little black and white stuffed cat. He still tries to comfort me about losing Spot. I'm just bursting with love at this point.

Then Rob takes the kids downstairs and I get to shower at my leisure. Meantime, Rob is downstairs making the most wonderful french toast using cinnamon bread. Oh, yum, it was SO good.

After breakfast we head off to church. This was lovely since I've been missing lately for a number of reasons. And the church service was lovely. I received yet another red carnation for being a mom. The pastor had the moms all sit and everyone else stand and any one who wanted to was invited to pray over the moms. Service was also a bit shorter than normal and I can't say as I'd complain about that given my comfort level when it comes to sitting in upright chairs these days.

After when we picked up the kids from children's church we found Zion hysterical. Apparently they had gone outside for story time (I failed to mention that it was also gorgeous today, the weather was darn near perfect - thanks God) and she saw a worm. She says it touched her but I can't be sure. She was shaking and sobbing and freaked out if anything at all touched her skin. I've seen her flip out over bugs but not like this. I couldn't even get her shoes on because the second the shoe touched her she panicked. Poor thing. I had hoped to go home and just grab sandwiches and let the kids play outside but given her current state we decided to go out to lunch instead. Perhaps the distraction would help.

Not so much. I barely managed to get her shoes on in the van at the restaurant and I believe it was only because of my veterinary technician training and my experience in animal restraint that I was. In the restaurant and once seated she immediately removed her shoes and remained skittish the entire lunch. She didn't eat. She jumped at each brush of cloth on her feet and legs and cried that there were snakes. It was still a pleasant lunch but I wavered from feeling bad for her and feeling annoyed by her. We went home for an immediate nap.

I let her borrow the little black cat that I'd received just that morning thinking it would distract her into sleep. Later I heard her crying though. I went up and she was bunched up against the head of her bed upset about bugs and snakes again. I laid her down and told her that is why I gave her the little cat, because cats eat bugs. A quick reminder to stay quiet so she doesn't wake Gideon and I leave her. It must have worked. I didn't hear from her again until it was time to get up from nap. She asked to sleep with the cat again tonight. I may never see it outside of her room again. :)

Shortly before Gideon and Zion woke up I laid down for a little shut eye myself. As Sandra Boynton and The Bacon Brothers would say, I was feeling snoozy. (If you have not heard the music CD Philadelphia Chickens it is a must have for moms of young kids!) Rob got the kids up while I was down and Gideon saw fit to come join me for a bit. He's my snuggle puppy (another Sandra Boynton reference).

Once we were all awake we played outside for a bit. Gideon went straight for the water table before we had a chance to roll up his sleeves of course and soaked himself up to his elbows. Gabe and Zion started out on the swings. Zion was doing a lot better but still having flip outs over bugs and snakes. I refilled the suet holder and bird feeder and then sat on the patio swing for a while. It was still gorgeous and warm. A wonderful end to a wonderful day. I couldn't have asked for anything more, it was pretty much perfect. I feel so blessed.