The Penguins

Justin and I have lovingly referred to our children by many names, such as monkeys, crazies, kiddies, etc., but our favorite name is "the penguins." I love penguins. I think they're adorable. But the real reason comes from the movie "Madagascar." One of the animals says a line that has forever stuck in my heart... "The penguins are psychotic!" There you have it! In that context, it's probably not the most endearing nickname to call our children, but oftentimes, it is the most fitting one.

Take last night, for instance. The penguins all were asleep by 8:30 or so, so I came down to the basement to finish typing reports. I finished up about 10:45 and climbed into bed around 11. Exhausted, I was certain I would be asleep before my head hit the pillow. I was wrong. One of the penguins came sauntering into my room because she had a cough. It was just a little tickle in her throat, but knowing Emma, who has a very sensitive gag reflex, I knew that she would be vomiting sooner than later. And she did. I got her all cleaned up. WIth the tickle in her throat gone, she went back to sleep without furhter incident.

Then comes penquin 3. THis littlest penguin doesn't like to eat "human" food. He'd rather just eat nourishment from a bottle so he wakes up at night just starving. So, once again, mom was awakened and fed this little penguin. He went back to sleep, but now I couldn't.

I tossed and turned for hours until I finally fell asleep around 4:30 in the morning. The next think I know, the eldest penguin was tapping my back at 6:35 because he had tried to come downstairs to play on the computer before school and something wasn't working right. That penguin knows better than to wake mom up about a computer game. Mom wasn't happy and by now, the littlest penguin was awake too and ready to play!

So very tired and convinced that the penguins were out to get me, I checked my email and got one from my mother-in-law (whom I just adore). She was letting me know that someone we knew who was going to be induced the night prior with her first baby had gone to the hospital, the induction was started, but there was no heartbeat to be found.

I sat there staring at her email just full of emotion. My heart was breaking for this young family. Her email has haunted me throughout the day how such a simple thing could have turned out so terribly wrong for them.

After reading her email, I simply just hugged the two penguins who were here and not at school. I played with them and just held them tighter. Our children may be penguins, but I'm glad I have them. It was a terrible event that made me remember that while the penguins may be psychotic, they are also stinking adorable!