Here’s what they don’t tell you about having kids. Your three-year-old (bless his heart) will attract every germ in the universe. He will get sick and cough on everything in your house. Before he recovers, your four-month-old daughter will catch his runny nose, sore throat and temperature. Then she will develop a cough that is just too scary for an infant to have. You’ll be petrified because you will fear they have the Swine Flu.

You will stay up all night, listening to your little baby girl’s cough and maybe get three hours of sleep. Even your wonderful supportive husband, who works from home so he can help, won’t be able to  give you back the night of sleep you missed. So, you’ll be taking a spoonful of espresso for every spoonful of cough syrup you pour. You’ll repeat this verse over and over throughout the day: “I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

Later, when you tuck your kids into bed, you’ll check on them every time you hear a sniffle. Sometimes you’ll sneak into your son’s bedroom and feel his forehead. Sometimes you’ll stand outside your daughter’s room and listen to her soft sighs. Sometimes you’ll just lean against the hallway wall and pray for them.