Those Jolly Holles: My Mom's shoes

Last week I spent some time in my mom's shoes. YIKES!

For those of you who don't know, my parents live on a farm and ranch. Their house is dubbed "Grand Central Station". I have three older brothers who also are back farming/ranching with my Dad so they are coming and going all the time. Right now there is only one hired hand that is living in one of my parents houses close to GCS. Oh, did I mention I also have a sister that lives only 9 miles away?

My super mom watches her grandchildren when her schedule allows it, which means every Monday and Wednesday during the school year. This year on Mondays Mom had a 4yr boy, just 2 yr girl, 5 month girl, and three month girl. On Wednesdays, same kids but not the 3 month old. All the girls get picked up by their mothers who are teachers at Sylvan and they only teach half days and the boy waits for his three older siblings to get off the bus at "Grammie and Papa's" Sometimes other cousins like to get dropped off too, then get taken home with their fathers or until their moms come back and get them. So there are alot of kids around....alot.

I should also mention that I have another sister who lives by Wichita. She and I are the only ones not living within 20 miles of my parents and since she moved from Kansas City to Wichita she is now 15 minutes closer to our parents than I am. If you are counting that is six total, three girls, three boys of my parents.

Now I come to visit and help out as my Dad got an infection in his leg....cellulitis and was in the hospital for a week. He is O.K. but is still receiving two IV treatments a day still and this whole process is in the third week. O.K. so I come to visit as MY house was going to be a hard place to be with kids as our plumbing was getting totally replaced by Orrin's Uncle Larry. Thanks Larry! We have awesome water pressure everywhere now.

I come with my THREE kids and add a little spice to the mix. As if it needed any. Mom also makes hot meals twice a day for anyone and everyone that happens to be around or if they aren't promptly makes them a lunch. OY.

I did survive three hours by myself with seven kids four and under. I kept saying to myself...if people with multiples can do it...so can I. Here are the run down of ages...two 4 yr boys, one almost three yr boy, one almost two yr girl, one 14 month girl, one five month girl, and one three month girl. I was to have help from another sister-in-law but her kindergartner was sick, but on Wednesday I had her awesome help.

I really hope my Mom stays in good health forever so I won't be called on to fill her shoes for over that three hours. But if she can do it, I can too. Just not as well. :) She is an awesome farm mom and now grandmother.