A Life Saver

With Danny working really long hours the week before he went out of town for five days, I couldn't bear the thought of spending those five days alone. Pretty much I'm a wimp, so we invited my sister-in-law, Heidi, to come for a visit. She and her little boy, Hunter, agreed to come and truly were life savers!! I couldn't have stayed sane without her. It was challenging for just the two of us managing the four kids ages 4, 2, 11 months, and 6 weeks, but so worth it and so much fun. We tag-teamed playing each others' kids (though poor Heidi did most of the work while I fed Megan all the time), fixing and cleaning up meals, bathing the kids, holding Megan in the evenings when she's quite fussy. We tried getting out every day: a visit to the library, eating at Blue Plate Cafe, going to the Space Center, swimming with friends, and making a trip to The Unclaimed Baggage Center once Danny was home.







I have to just mention what happened at Blue Plate Cafe that proves I'm totally shameless and shows what having three kids does to a person. I thought it risky of us to try taking the kids to breakfast without Danny there to help, but we wanted to do it anyway. Just before our food came, Megan began to fuss in her carseat. So I took her out hoping to get her back to sleep by the time our food arrived. Not a chance. The food came, and as luck would have it, the normally mellow Hunter also started to fuss, so both Heidi and I were pretty tied up. I needed to get Dallin and Emily's pancakes cut and such, and so I outright asked a kindly-looking lady at the table next to us if she'd hold Megan for a minute. She readily accepted and insisted that she hold her while I ate my meal. So, I resorted to having a complete stranger hold my baby at a restaurant. How weird is that! I felt like I had no choice and she seemed to love it. I was really grateful to her.







My favorite part of Heidi's visit, though, was in the evenings once the kiddos were all in bed (minus Megan half the time). We just chatted for the couple hours we had before Megan's last feeding. It was great, and just wonderful in general having someone around. We said a number of times how much fun it was working in the kitchen together, etc. I can't imagine what it would have been like for five days all alone. I'm sure Danny would've come home to me in a straight jacket!









The kids playing together for the first time. Emily "tainted" Hunter by giving him her Sleeping Beauty Barbie to play with.













Cute Hunter. The last time we saw him he was only 5 months old. He's gotten so big and so fun.





Heidi took this shot of Dallin smashing his face against the mesh of our playpen.



Heidi reading to all three kids. This is seriously what it was like the whole time: us trying to juggle everything. Bless Heidi's heart! Notice Emily's handiwork of playing hairdresser. When all was said and done, I counted a total of 13 clips in Heidi's hair.


The kiddos in the bath.





Heidi with Megan.

I found Dallin napping like this on the floor at the foot of his bed.

Emily dressed Heidi up all fancy and I had to get a picture. Heidi really put up with a lot. Bless her heart again!


Thanks for coming, Heidi and Hunter!! We miss you guys!