This Treadmill We Call Life

Time flies. My mom always told me it would, and I never believed her, but she was right. Time flies. In the weeks since my blog regarding our applesauce adventure, we've done so many big things.  We celebrated my 33rd birthday and Nina and Jocelyn's first birthday.  As they get older, their personalities get farther and farther apart and their little faces look more alike as their weights get closer.  They are walking, talking and are truly one-year olds in so many ways.  They are curious, busy, enamored by everything and pros at throwing wicked tantrums.  Happy Birthday baby girls.

Ethan started his first year of preschool and loves that he is such a big boy.

Samuel started his last year of preschool.  I can't believe he'll be gone all day, every day next year.

Samuel also started soccer a few weeks ago, which means Ethan did too.  At least Ethan suits up and plays with Peter every practice and game while Samuel is with his team.

Peter has recommitted his time with the fire department now that the girls are older.  He's been responding to many more fire calls.

Which means that Samuel and Ethan are back on the fire department as well, or at least hitching a ride for themselves and their friends whenever possible.

I also had arthroscopic knee surgery this week.

And we've eeked out about as much summer as we can.  We visited Reptile Gardens.  AGAIN.

 

 

 

We've canned and frozen veggies, salsas, pickles and jellies as fast as we could during the last days of summer.  Then four days after my surgery, we managed to squeeze in a few hours hiking around Orman Dam.  Nina and Jocelyn are fully walking, and rarely in the same direction.  This is Nina walking on the beach at Orman Dam.

And here is Jocelyn walking across the top of Orman Dam.

Those are very long stairs.  I climbed up and down them with a baby and a backpack, despite my knee.  I'm so darned proud of myself.

About three weeks ago, I was a total ditz and overscheduled myself.  During my apology to Jen, one of the overscheduling victims, I described how so often I feel like I'm on a treamill that I can't escape.  She kindly said, "Sabrina, that's because you ARE on a treadmill that you can't get off of!"  And it's true.  In our wonderful, crazy and exhausting life we go from one thing to another.

To illustrate this point, I'll tell you a little story from my last few weeks.  During my preoperative phone call regarding my health history, all four children were going nuts in the background.  The boys were fighting incessantly and the girls were in major drama mode.  The interviewer asked me, "Overall, how would you describe how you are feeling now?"  You can imagine my response, tongue in cheek as it was.  When I got to the doctor's office for my preoperative appointment a few days later, they had me review the records for signature.  At the bottom of the records in the notes section, the records stated, "Patient feels poorly.  Has four small children."

Did I feel like the Class A Loser-of-the-Day?  Oh yeah.  My medical records will forever have that small notation in little black letters, despite the enormous amount of love and adoration I truly have for my four little ones.  It reminded me of what Jen said, and also gave me a huge urge to step back and take a deep breath.  I suppose it will be a long time until we get off of this treadmill.  Thank goodness I had my knee repaired so I can get ready for the sprints ahead.  But how could you not enjoy the run when you have kids like these to make it all worthwhile?