Light bulb moment #189,543

In my 9 years of motherhood I have had many many light bulb moments. Unfortunately they come few and far between and sometimes they have to come twice -- but today I have had another one.

Isn't the shower a great place to think. No kids screaming, no phone ringing, no knocks at the door, no requests from everyone around you asking you to do something for them. Well, yes, you guessed it, today I was in the shower thinking -- and I realized --I MADE IT!!!

I made it through:

• 3 very sick and fat pregnancies
• 2 sad miscarriages
• working my hiney off (literally) to lose the baby weight
• changing two kids bums simultaneously for years.
• poop and pee on the floor far too many times.
• several ER visits and hospitalizations with babies
• traveling to see my family with babies in tow and way too much luggage for them
• car seats (of course, we're all still in boosters:))
• buying formula and diapers - YUCK
• having my heart broken during Garrett's first few years of diagnosis
• losing track of me and what I wanted to do
• changing out babies clothes every season, what a job, seriously
• going to dinner and not sitting at the table because you have to bounce your baby in the most remote hallway of the restaurant to keep them quiet
• hiding in the bathroom to make an important call while the kids pound on the door outside.
• way too many winter days stuck in the house with sick kids
• way too many play dates at McDonald's, not to mention climbing up in those darn play land tunnels to get kids out of them that are "stuck"
• cleaning the house over and over only to have someone mess it up within seconds (oh wait, I still do that:))
• many many sleepless nights

I really am happy to admit that I am glad to have made it. I hear many mothers claim how much they love to hold those little babies and would love to have more. I don't have that desire. Now don't get me wrong -- having my babies was one of the most happy experiences of my life and when I look back at their pictures I have tears of love and joy because they are honestly some of the best things that have happened to me. And soooo cute too.:)

I am just happy to be through it. I love that I know my limits and I am happy with our family no matter what anyone else says or does. I am committing to no longer answer the question of "how many children do you have?" with "JUST three." I LOVE our stage of life right now. I know I will be sad when it passes, as all seasons do. I love watching them learn and grow and take in the world around them.

I think some of my happiness comes from finally being reminded of who I am and what I enjoy doing with my time. I am finding out new things about myself and understanding who I am and where I want to go more fully.

Absolutely nothing could replace those many wonderful and frustrating years, I learned a lot and accomplished even more.

Seasons are a beautiful thing.