Happy Birthday.....

My dear daughter is 4. I can hardly believe it. So sweet and special, so kind and lovable. This birthday was not our ideal celebration. We had originally planned to go to Disneyland to celelbrate but poor Reed came down with hand foot and mouth virus and then intantigo on top of it. It was a miserable week. Poor Reed just wanted to be held but of course Collette needed to be held and fed and that doesn't work so well when trying to keep germs from traveling. Elizabeths birthday started off with me holing Reed who was creaming and Porter holding crying Collette. I walked over to her bed and mouthed happy birthday because there was no way she was hearing it over the noise. We made the best of the situation. A new princess dress, tiara, and gloves.... a new barbie, power wheels jeep and art kit and krispy kreme breakfast, rainforest cafe lunch and a trip to her favorite place QT gas station to pick a treat. Oh yeah and Reed to the dr for a look at his rash and a prescription run. This entire week and weekend of complete chaos at our house taught me so much. I have been complaining a lot lately about how busy three kids are. I have failed to think how blessed we are that all three kids are healthy and well. I sometimes get overwhelmed having all three of them surrounding me to cuddle at the same time but with Reed sick and only being able to hold him or the others all I wanted was the three of them at once. This week of sickness I felt a lot of sadness and feelings of inadequacy as I could tend to either Reed or Colletee and Elizabeth in efforts to not get the girls sick. As I was holding Reed the girls were crying , as I was feeding Collette Reed was screaming for me to hold him hold him. The house was getting messier, the laundry was out of control as well. I realize I am taking for granted their health and the special times we have with our crazy family of 5. I need to stop complaining that things are hard because they really aren't when everyone is healthy. I am blessed beyond measure and am excited to get my healthy little 2 year old back. We have missed the snake hunting, gun shooting, loud laughing, frog jumping, entertaining, cuddling little two year old that makes out family all that it is. He hasn't been himself until today. And Collette misses her big brother holding her I'm sure, those two are buddies. Sweet Elizabeth, thank you for caring about your brother and being so understanding when we didn't go to Disneyland. Thank you for being so helpful all the time. You just got a new chore chart and you are doing amazing always asking if you can clear the table or clean up. We love and appreciate you our little princess. Thank you for being all that you are, you are amazing through and through. Oh and next time we have a mommy daughter lunch date please don't point and call a woman plump even if it sounds nicer than fat.