Ah, life...

So I installed this counter on my blog two days ago to see if, in fact, anyone actually reads this thing. A busy mom has to have some sort of motivation, you know. Wait, the adult conversation with myself on the blog is motivation enough. Heh. My sweet mom's words on the phone to me this week were, "Oh dear, I should read your blog. I really do mean to." So if my mom doesn't read, then who on earth would? :)

Two days later, my hits are in the 70's, so now I officially have lots of adults in my life and I'm going to abuse my relationship with you. :)

I'm usually too private to ask, but tonight I'm asking you to pray.

We're exhausted. Sick kids all week, and four sleepless nights adding up to less than 10 hours of sleep total for me. Or something like that. I sorta lost track. Ten divided by four. Not good for morale.

Trey had a fever last weekend. Chase and Tess came down with fevers and coughs on Monday, and Jack missed school on Wednesday. I woke up with a sore throat and groggy voice today, and everyone knows that the momma just doesn't have time to be sick.

Just as I'm rearranging in my head who was going to take Trey to his ballgame tonight and who was going to stay home with the sick ones, Tyler comes up with a fever and is out on the couch for the night. We're dropping like flies, and it's almost getting comical, folks (almost, I said). So I head to the game with Trey and two sick ones in tow, and besides the rock in the eyeball incident (how does every other player escape this but my kid?) , everyone pulls through.

Cancel an after-bedtime Starbucks date with a girlfriend.

I get all four in bed by 8:30, and by 10pm, three were awake and out of bed, crying and coughing. No one else seems to have other preparations for tomorrow on their mind. Like:

Teacher gifts - oh, and don't forget the bus driver too.

One awesome "Create Your Own Beach Scene" snack for Jack's Beach Day / last day of school celebration. Think Jello aquarium in Berry Blue with a suspended Swedish Fish, sand (AKA crushed graham crackers), Nemo fruit snacks, chocolate shells, and a mini umbrella to top it all off. At one desperate point Tyler said to scrap it all and get donuts, but everyone knows that donuts don't pass as beachy. Sorry dads, you'll never understand this obsessive mom trait. We'll try not to drive you batty over it.

Oh, and then there's the dueling ear tube surgery at 6am in the morning. It was one surgery (Tess, who has had four ear infections in seven weeks) until 11 o'clock this morning, when Chase super failed his hearing test at his ENT appointment. No wonder I thought he was having a hard time listening. Our kind ENT (who knows us quite well 8 surgeries later) put a call in to our anesthesiologist and asked him to come in 15 minutes early so we can squeeze in yet another Daugherty. 15 minutes for a few thousand dollars? No problem.

Arrange babysitter. Lay out clothes and backpacks. Write teacher thank yous and notes to my boys. Pack teacher gifts and treats. Choose special toys and a change of clothes for the hospital. Double check paperwork.

All in a day's work.

The laundry will get done, I know. And though sometimes it feels like the luck's all against me, the kids won't always be sick. God continues to give us little graces along the way, for which I'm thankful. And ear problems? Geesh. That is simple compared to a host of medical issues some have to deal with.

Come to think of it, I need times like these to keep me grounded in my need for a Savior. My do-it-myself attitude only gets me so far in my relationship with God. It robs me of the help (and joy!) only He can give. It takes away His glory for some futile attempt on my behalf. Why do I wait to turn to Him?

I'm off to cross of some items off my list, and to pray while I work. It's been silent for the last 15 minutes, so I'd better not push it.

I'm needy, I'll admit it. But I'm thankful for a Heavenly Father who meets me in my neediness, and gives me my Daily Bread. Not too soon, and not too late. I'm thinking that if I make it through tomorrow, I'm good.

Ah, a little blog self-talk is just what I needed. I knew this adult conversation was good for something. :)

Thanks for listening.

Thanks for praying.