Part I: Superpowers at the Armory

The other night, Kyle and I discovered another Parental Superpower. We already know that Mom has Eyes in the Back of her Head, and Dad can Read Minds (especially mischievious little boy minds).  And then there's The Voice. The Voice that causes even the most rogue of toddlers to stop dead in their tracks.  It is only possible in times of imminent danger and saved our oldest in a parking lot once.

The extent of this Superpower had not been fully tested until the other night. It had already been one of those nights. Samuel had been fussy off and on from midnight to 1:30am.  By the time Joel was standing bedside at 2am, we were already sleep deprived zombies.  I told him 3 or 4 times to go back to bed, but there he stood with his fuzzy blanket over his right shoulder and his left thumb securely vacuumed into his mouth.  I must've dosed off, but then...

it happened.

There is a noise.  A harrowing noise that the body makes as the sphincter between the stomach and the esophogus opens and vomit rises through the throat forcing air out of the mouth. It is such a distinct sound that it can raise Zombie Mommy and Corpse Daddy from deep sleep to ready-for-battle in a millisecond. 

Ask me how I know.

I call this Superpower: Bat Ears.

In all fairness, this isn't a new superpower. I've used Bat Ears before. It is most likely the same Parental Superpower that helps me distinguish one squeaky bed or door from another and to hear when the refridgerator door has been penetrated.  It allows me to know the answer to the question, "did you wash your hands and flush the potty?" before I ask. I can hear cabinets open and stuffed animals fall.  I would most certainly win Name that Sound if it was my family making noise in my house.  However, I did not know the extent of the Bat Ear superpower and that it works even in my sleep.

The other night, my Bat Ears roused me from deep sleep to cupped hands, but they did not prepare me for what came next.

To be continued...

Being Pregnant Is...

Being pregnant is...

...dreaming you got up to pee and then being so glad you actually got up to pee because everyone knows what happens when you dream you're in the bathroom but you're not.

...being mildly frustrated that the 2 ½ year old woke up shortly after you got back to sleep.

...wondering why you have to pee so bad since you just went pee.

...realizing - while you're getting him a drink of water - that you had a dream within a dream and hadn't gone pee at all.

...being so grateful that he woke up thirsty because everyone knows what happens when you dream you're in the bathroom but you're not.

...not being able to go back to sleep because of mild pregnancy induced insomnia.

...always an adventure.

I'm 14 weeks along with "Six Pack"!

"He not"

A few weeks ago, Kyle was on his way out the front door to go to work. He saw a rainbow and came back through the house to gather our little crew and take them outside for them to admire God's reminder in the sky.

After a reasonable session of Oohs and Aahs, he brought them back in and headed off to work.

The next week, Joel started out the back door on a perfectly clear morning. I said, "Where are you headed?"

"To see da wainbow."

"I'm sorry buddy, there is no rainbow today."

[dramatic pouty lip, overemphasized shoulder droop] "Why not?"

"Well, God didn't put one in the sky today.  But you can ask him to."

"God, put a wainbow in da sky. [shoulder shrug hands open] He not." 

Then, he did the most amazing thing after the slightest of pauses... he went about his day but with no less faith or enthusiasm.  Joel didn't get upset.

Let me tell you, I have a few things on my list I think God ought to prioritize... a suitable house to rent, energy to face my day, patience to homeschool, more money, etc...  I know that if He can part the sea and allow his children to pass on dry land, my list is pretty easy for the Creator of the Universe to just check off. 

Many days, I think I get a gold star for moving on after a brief pause of disappointment.  And some days, I can barely pick myself up off the floor because I can't go on without getting my way. 

I hope I can re-learn to have the faith of a child.  Like my really cute, chubby, 2 1/2 year old child, I can make my requests known to my Heavenly Father - who loves me and has my best intentions in mind - then trust that He is working all things for my good in His perfect timing.  And just maybe, I'll learn how to not throw a fit when I don't get what I want when I want it.