Four daughters is not much harder than three, or two...

I'm typing over Bridget Clare, sleeping on the Boppy (nursing pillow) on my lap.  Ann is asleep upstairs and Cate and Jane are across the street at a friend's house.  Life IS crazy and hard, but also, it is a little easier with each child.  I wake up at night several times now.  Bridget nurses every 2-3 hours (but sometimes she sleeps 4 hours at a time) and Ann wakes up once or twice a night to nurse.  (We had her almost sleeping all night, and then...my milk came in with this new baby and she is all about the "bobos!")  On the nights when Matt and I have a date with the laptop in bed to watch The Office until midnight, I am not getting much sleep at all!  But, the good news is that Cate and Jane, ages six and four, sleep all night, and I have not had a solid night's sleep in six years, so I'm used to it.  I've read that motherhood is a time of light sleep - even when they are all sleeping, you wake up wondering if they are all ok!  I try to catch a nap with the babies in the afternoon, which brings me to another point - the fact that at ages 6 and 4, Cate and Jane can play in another part of the house, watch a video, or even be outside with friends on our cul-de-sac, and it's OK.  They are good girls, and they can do much for themselves.  I also have wonderful neighbors who are stay at home moms, so that is a huge blessing.  I have not yet gone to the store with all four kids by myself.  I think I will put that off as long as I can.  I run out with just the baby when Matt is home or now that my mom is here for little errands and grocery store trips.

Honestly, I don't know what I would do if Cate were in school and we were trying to get her out the door by 7 in the morning, and to bed by 8pm.  Bedtime takes hours to get everyone taken care of and settled down.  And breakfast/getting ready to go anywhere, or getting ready for homeschool take another few hours in and of themselves.  But we are happy!  Cate can hold Bridget (and wants to!) for a long time.  Jane can wipe Ann's bottom.  And if I can just keep a sense of humor and remember to enjoy how little and sweet they are, this parenting and schooling of four daughters won't wipe me out.  It will make me holier and better.