Our wonderful world

Most overused expression in my life: "Wow, you sure have your hands full." I get this comment every time I go out. Even if I only have two of the three kids. Last week, a man even said that to me as I pushed a stroller through the library loaded with books, without the kids even near me. After the second person said it to me at Publix yesterday, Dominic commented, "Why do people who aren't from church always say that to us?" Astute child, he is. If you must comment on how much another person's life overwhelms you at a glance, please find a more original phrase to express the thought!

Last Friday, Dominic and Noemie had a light cough but Danny had to work late and I didn't want to stay cooped up in my pajamas all day so we went to the pool. Maybe that wasn't the best choice... Saturday Dominic seemed to be dragging. He kept saying he just wanted to sleep. But we had made plans to go to a kid's fair in West Palm Beach and I didn't want to turn down our company... We were only there an hour, jumping in bouncy houses and eating cotton candy (a first for Noemie who refused to enjoy eating it until we told her it was made of sugar.) But maybe this wasn't a very wise choice either... both Dominic and Noemie woke with fevers the next day and ear infections the day after that. They slept and slept. At one point, Dominic went missing. It took Danny and me almost 15 minutes to find him.

We found him in his armoire. Still sleeping. We had to miss church on communion Sunday which was a huge disappointment for me.

In honor of September and the month in which most educational institutions resume their academic activities, I present you with this math problem:

Cristovan's arms are exactly 12 inches long. When his arms are over his head, his arms reach 5 1/2 inches past the top of his head.

Danny's arms are 26 inches long. When his arms are over his head, his arms reach 17 inches past the top of his head. If Danny's proportions were equal to Cristovan's proportions, how far over his head could his arms reach if his head stayed the same size?

I figure, if the length of Toby's arms that extend past his head is .4383 times of the total length of his arms, then multiplying that amount by the length of Danny's arms would give me the length of Danny's arm-past head extension, being 11.39 inches. Imagine if your arms were half a foot shorter than they are! What would that be like? It'd be like being Toby! Except Toby can't talk.... he's only got a handful of teeth... and he gets caught playing in the toilet an awful lot... so it's only a little bit like being Toby, I guess.

"Mmmm... I smell hamburgers! What a wonderful world!"

Yes, Noemie. It's a wonderful world, but not for the reasons you think it is.

After four days of getting coughed in the face for 24 hours a day, at point-blank range, my immune system has succumbed. On the flip side, the kids are feeling better. You think my hands are full now... just wait till next March...

And oh yes, happy 7th anniversary to me!