Thanksgiving

Last year on Thanksgiving, I was in the hospital.

Last year on Thanksgiving, I ate a hospital Thanksgiving meal for lunch, and had hospital Salisbury steak for dinner.

Last year on Thanksgiving, I spent the entire day gazing at my newborn son.

Last year on Thanksgiving, I was recuperating from birthing a 10 pound 11 ounce baby.

Last year on Thanksgiving, I was thankful for the nursing staff at the hospital who did everything they could think of to help me avoid a c-section.

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This year, I am home.

This year, I am once again cooking Thanksgiving dinner. For dinner.

This year, I will spend the entire day gazing at my one year-old son.

This year, I am thankful for my family gathering together at my home to celebrate not only Thanksgiving, but my 24 pound monkey of a son.

Happy 1st birthday, M! For you, we are ever thankful.

Wordless Wednesday--2008's Big Turkey

Last year's 10 pound 11 ounce turkey.

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For more photos, visit 5 Minutes for Mom.

You Know You Need a Bigger House When...

...you live in a three bedroom house, and your baby (who is only going to be a baby for two more days) is sleeping in the nursery, your two year-old is sleeping by herself in the room she shares with her sister, your five year-old is sleeping on the floor in your room because she's sick, you are on the computer at the bar in the kitchen, and your mother-in-law is sleeping on the cot in the living room while your husband is in the self-same living room watching 30 Rock on the laptop.

It's going to be a long holiday week.

On a Monday Not Unlike Today

One year ago today, I got a phone call. A rather unusual phone call, for me. From my doctor's office.

I was three days overdue with M, and Thanksgiving was coming. My doctor wanted to know if I'd like to induce before the holiday. Would I like to come in tomorrow (Tuesday) at 7:00 am and have a baby?

Um, no, I thought. I would not like to come in on Tuesday and have a baby.

Which sounds a little bizarre considering I was huge, overripe, ready to burst. And huge. Let's not forget that I was huge.

Don't get me wrong; I was ready to have him. I just wasn't ready to go into the hospital and induce with less than 24 hours notice.

Plus, I was still hoping my body would cooperate and go into labor on its own.

So, I told the nurse I'd have to think about it. After Mr. Einstein and I talked it over for awhile, I called her back.

"No," I told her, "I would not like to come in on Tuesday and have a baby. How does Wednesday sound?"

"Wednesday?" she questioned. "Well, that means you'll be in the hospital over Thanksgiving."

"Yes, yes I know."

"Okay. Wednesday it is."

So, one year ago, on a Monday not unlike today, I scheduled my first (and last) induction for Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving...

When Life Must Go On

October was a rough month, and though nothing happened to me and mine, we felt things very deeply that month. And still do.

On October 18th, a beautiful baby boy was born to friends of ours. On October 20th, he went to be with Jesus, leaving his mom, dad, and brother behind. He had some complications at birth, but doctors are calling it a "medical mystery" as to why he died.

On October 20th, the husband of another friend was admitted to the hospital with complications from pneumonia brought on by H1N1. He was comatose, though showing signs of improving. On October 31st, he went to be with Jesus, leaving behind a wife, two sons, and an adopted daughter. He was the sole breadwinner in his family, for almost 10 years traveling across the pass every week to go to work and traveling home every weekend to see his family.

Also on October 20th, Mr. Einstein's beloved grandfather was diagnosed with lung cancer. He's in his 80's, the darling of his family. It's the same kind of lung cancer Mr. Einstein's other grandfather died from years ago, caused by asbestos. He's undergoing chemo, but is having problems after his first treatment.

So much tragedy in so little time. So many mind-shifts. So many things taken for granted. So many opportunities missed and so much insight gained.

Life must go on.

And it does.

The baby boy's family? They've found comfort in Jesus and are still feeling blessed by the very little time their son was a part of their lives.

The widow and her kids? They are clinging to God's promises of eternal life, knowing they will see their husband and father again someday.

Mr. Einstein's family? Those who pray are doing so diligently. Other than that, there is much impatience, much waiting. Plans have been changed, have become fluid. No one knows what the future holds.

But life must go. And it does.

And it will continue to do so.

So, I Have This Thing Called a Blog...

I'm here everyone. I really am. It's just been a crappy few weeks for me out here. Really crappy. I'll post again soon. I promise.