Wouldn't trade it for the world.

Jonathan called from school with a sore tummy, so we picked him up from school. Then Ellen's ear drum popped so we took her to the doctor and got some medicine for her ear infection. It had only started showing signs of an infection last night, but it was pretty bad. Then Seth got his pre-kindergarten exam and immunizations, (and didn't even cry, what an amazing boy. I think he was too shocked at seeing "clear blood" when he was poked, so that emotion overruled the pain of the shot, but it was actually just a drop or two of the vaccine dripping down his leg by the shot site. Cute. I realized all that later when he was telling Jonathan about how he had had clear blood today.) And then we came home to find John home early from work with a 103 fever, sore throat and sick tummy. Wow. All part of being in a family.

But I'd take it a million times just to have this family of mine. John read something to me the other day from a fellow programmer's blog, who wrote about a crazy hard time with sick kids etc and said, "And it’s worth it. It is all worth it. Every day, even a sad day blurred by headaches and filled with [laundry and doctor's appointments], is magical and infinite. This dance, this particular proton dance, will never come again. This tune we’re too busy to hear will not be played again. Never forget to be thankful for your life."

I love it. I'm so grateful for the beauties of today. Spending the day with my 4 children, finding so much pleasure in noticing that Ellen is looking right into my eyes as I'm spoon-feeding her, and realizing that she equates my face with receiving what she needs, having Luke ask me over and over throughout the day, "How ya doin' Mom?" and I say, "Doing well," and he repeats it, and then I ask him and he answers "Doin' WELL!" and laughs, seeing Seth be so grown up as he was talking to the doctor, and seeing him be so brave as he got the shots, Jonathan helping Ellen SO much at the doctor's office so I could help Luke and Seth, Seth telling me he felt the Holy Ghost telling him to help Ellen to be happy while I was in the school office picking up Jonathan, (he also surprised me and greatly pleased himself by getting Luke all buckled and then also doing his own buckle by himself when we were ready to go,) Ellen working on crawling, two or three strides at a time and holding one leg up in the air as she tries to figure out where to let it down, Luke laughing as I laid him down in his crib tonight repeating everything I say and telling me he loves me as I walk out of the room and close the door, Jonathan thanking me as I gave him lunch, looking over Jonathan's science journal he's been working on for the past few weeks and seeing the amazing stuff he knows about and loves, seeing his thirst and passion for knowledge, cuddling Luke in the morning when he woke up unsettled and needing some love, teaching the boys how to fold bathroom cloths so they look pretty on the shelf, Luke taking monster bites of his cereal, sitting on the front porch with Seth while we ate our lunch (the others were resting) and commenting together on how bright the sunshine was as it came from behind the clouds, watching Seth show me how he can balance while walking on the bricks surrounding our flower bed, hearing Ellen delightedly laughing to herself as we were driving, the boys all laughing and kicking a soccer ball around the back porch and then the back yard, Jonathan helping Luke say the family prayer this evening, sitting by a very sick husband on the bed, and looking at his face and feeling how much I love him... What a blessing it is to be a part of a family.