I really think I understand the meaning of the phrase "tired to the bone". I've felt that way much more often since Cole was born than ever before. Parenting is tough work! So different from being tired from work or school. I remember being exhausted from those but knowing I could come home and relax. Doesn't quite happen as a parent. You're on duty constantly. There have been so many times when I feel so exhausted that I can't go on (and it's 9 a.m. LOL), but I do anyway. That's the cool thing about parenting. You adjust to that. I remember when I was pregnant with Accalia and tired and starving after a big grocery shopping trip. I thought, "Right now I don't think I can do anything except eat and sit down! How am I going to do this when I have a baby in my arms, too?" Well, I've done it! And how do I keep doing? Well, obviously you adjust to putting one or two or more people ahead of yourself and then you have no choice but to care for your children.

But the biggest reason I can keep going even when I feel as if I'm stretched to the limit and can't go on is because of the incredible love and desire to do all I can for Accalia and Cole. Tonight I was in the kitchen with Cory, Accalia was upstairs doing something and Cole was checking everything out in the sling. I looked down, saw his perfect face with those chubby, rosy cheeks, smelled his milky breath and felt that overwhelming surge of mothering, of love, of "I can do anything for my children".

Now, if I was really smart I'd be in bed resting up for another day instead of sitting at the computer. It's these nights when everyone else is asleep and I get some time to myself that I get a chance to renew my energy. But it's off to bed now!