10 Things I Didn't Consider When I Said I Wanted Five Kids

Since the second I could hold a baby doll I have wanted my own kids. I didn't have brothers or sisters so I would babysit every chance I could get. I would mother my friends, younger and older. I still mother anyone around me who will allow it. I always knew I wanted a ton of kids. Just had to find the right guy.

So when I met Mr. Kerrie and we agreed we both wanted more than one kid but less than 6, it was go time. We didn't live together before we were married, so we got engaged, got married, bought a house a year later and started a family a year after that. Five kids later we are 44 and 48 years of age and are most likely all done having kids. Here are some things I didn't think about when I said I wanted so many!

The public school carnival across the street. This year I got smart and gave each kid $10 for tickets instead of just buying unlimited tickets and passing them out left and right. It was hard to keep track of them all separately but saved me a lot of money!

1. How much stuff they came with. I keep things to a minimum around my house lately since it's only about 1,500 square feet, but even two pair of shoes each comes to 20 shoes. Factor in sheets, towels, shirts, pants, socks, underwear, jackets, coats, snow boots, snow pants, gloves, hats, scarves and more, not to mention my own stuff and Mr. Kerrie's stuff, and you have some serious stuff on your hands!
2. How much stuff they would collect. Rocks, shells, paper, bottlecaps, Nerf guns, you name it.
3. How much stuff would be gifted to them. Holidays and birthdays, yep. I think we almost have this under control, though. I don't want them to NOT get gifts ... that's selfish of me. But I sure am happy when they get SMALL gifts like Matchbox cars versus huge ones we have to store like those ride-on Jeeps. Some people just give money, which rocks also. Then my kids can get what they want with some and put some in savings.
4. How much stuff Pushover Me would get for them. Yes, I am a large part of the problem and am working on saying no more often to things because it adds up financially and junk-wise in the house!
5. How different their personalities would be.
6. That they would fight and get over it but it would take me longer to calm down about it.
7. That they could love each other until their friends came around then they would ignore each other or treat each other badly.
8. How much going places would cost in total.
9. That the grocery bill for not even two weeks would be literally as tall as I am ... over 5 feet tall, and how every cent is worth it.
10. The noise level and how much it would not bother me ... most of the time.

Are there things you didn't expect about having kids?

44 Is Fabulous! #44IsFabulous #BestYearYet

Today I am 44 years old. In Spanish, you would say the equivalent of I have 44 years. I like that better.

I'm not sure I thought much about what my 40s would be like when I was younger.

I'm pretty sure I looked at people in their 40s as old and boring. I probably thought married people in their 40s never had sex anymore, let alone still looked at their spouse with even more chemistry than in the first incredible year they had together after meeting.

My new progressive-lens glasses are super cool and purple with rhinestones and I am at a point where I don't give two craps what anybody thinks about my style, which has morphed into a kind of retro, vintage, mid-century mom who wears black nail polish while carrying her bag in the crook of her arm and has a bit of a potty mouth. I'm a mix of classy and sailor.

I am 44 with 5 young children who keep me on my toes and a husband who is my best friend ... and is still the only guy I want to be with after 20 years. I have wonderful parents and step-parents and parents-in-law. I have wonderful friends. I am living the life I always wanted to live, even though it is chaotic and scattered and busy.

I have wrinkles and sun damage and can be happy in no makeup or all made up ... whatever ... I'm getting more comfortable just being me.

Here's me on the eve of my 44th birthday. I am blessed beyond belief. I pray that you will be or were this happy at the age of 44.

no makeup and comfy

makeup and comfy with my nephew Roman

Happy #FlagDay

Eva made this back in April when we were staying at Tutu's when the guys were fishing. M&Ms rock.

If I Could Turn Back the Clock ...

This is exactly how I feel about Mr. Kerrie

Hyland's Nerve Tonic for #CrazyMoms

*Originally written on Bubblews on September 22, 2014

I love my new neighbor so much. She is super sweet and seems so patient and everything, but today I showed her my Hyland's Nerve Tonic and told her I yell sometimes and she said she also does and she is surprised I can’t hear her with the windows open and I said, “Same!” She is REAL, much like my friend Jill … we can vent to each other about things, important things, and talk about our shortcomings as mothers and wives.

Mr. Kerrie left town last night and will essentially be gone through Sunday night. Getting on a REAL (virtual) homeschool schedule is kicking my butt. We got out this afternoon and are having a light day, but tomorrow will be tough and Wednesday someone comes to our house to do testing and I am freaking out a bit.

So I took all the crazies to Whole Foods looking for motherwort. They did not have any and instead I picked up some Hyland’s Nerve Tonic for stress relief. It was $10 for 100 pills and that comes to around $10ish per month and that is cheaper than a prescription for Xanax or Zoloft and a hell of a lot safer for my system.

I popped 2 under my tongue immediately upon leaving Whole Foods and I’ll let you know how it goes. I just need something to give my frazzled nerves a little massage, you know?

Look how sweet and innocent they look!

Next post: 

So I’m trying to take all 3 doses of my Hyland’s Nerve Tonic every day so I can give you an accurate picture of how it is working or if it is simply a placebo, as many think homeopathic remedies are. I know for a fact that the Hyland’s nighttime cough and cold works because my son can’t breathe, and then like half an hour after taking that he can. So bite it, naysayers.

Anyway, tonight the kids asked for one of my pills. They are melt-in-your-mouth, tasteless beauties and I checked the package. It says adults and kids 12 and older can take 1-2 three times per day and I’m taking 6 total in a day. However, homeopathic things are made so that you can’t overdose on them. Which I don’t understand. How can it work if a tiny bit works and also a large amount can’t kill you?

Digression: One of my kids took a whole bottle of Hyland’s bedwetting tablets and I called poison control and they said it was fine. I asked if maybe the kid wouldn’t pee for a week … haha!

Back to the point: kids 6-12 can take 3 tablets per day. I did not notice my kids getting any calmer, by the way.

UPDATED June 2015 ... yeah, I didn't notice a big enough difference to keep taking the stuff. I have since discovered Provincia de Pavia moscato and one glass after dinner maybe 3 times a week does wonders for my disposition. I think being a bit frazzled as a parent is normal, so there.