Resting and recovering

I had a remarkably easy birth this time through. I feel fantastic. I am still supposed to be "resting" allowing my body to heal from the last 9 months of pregnancy. This has proven to be quite difficult at times. But I must say the "permission" to forget about the hosework is certianly easing much of my guilt. Actually at times it is quite nice, in fact I hope to retain this low stress low guilt attitude even when I am able to get up and around. Now, if only I can keep off of the couponing web-sites and just forget about the deals I am missing....they will come again, in a few months, but it would be so nice to hit CVS and pick up FREE items. sigh. But, really, in the long run I might be trading in my health to save a few bucks. Definately not a good bargain.

Trying week...

It feels soooo good to be back in our routine...sort of.

Two weeks ago Garrett spent Monday and Tuesday at his Grandparents, he was driving them back and forth from the hospital as Grandpa has taken a turn for the worse. His mother also had an accident, she fell out of a truck and broke her kneecap in half, requiring surgery and some screws attached to a metal screen to put it all back together. we then found out Grandpa has less than a month to live.

The rest of the week was spent with his best friend Ron, and his wife Nikki, who were visiting from Wisconsin, so we had a mini-vacation, in between, of course, phone calls from mom and grandma as well as his classes and my La Leche work. It was a wonderful time of visiting, but we all stayed up too late and ate too much junk. sigh.

So this week, Garrett has basically moved in with the grandparents to provide hospice care, and the boys and I have been keeping the home fires burning...and fighting the flu. again. I am starting to think there might be something in our condo or the complex that is aggravating our immune systems. Once again, something out of our control at this point.

We have been visiting back and forth, but couldn't go today (Germs) but Garrett did come and check up on us (while other family was there helping out) So, basically, prayers are needed, for Grandpas salvation, and wisdom and strength for both Garrett and I.

Menu:
Breakfast boiled eggs and toast
Lunch leftover chicken, corn and black-bean soup (yummy!) sourdough toast (impulse buy when I was shopping for grandma)
Dinner Bean and cheese quesadillas with Guacamole.

Tomorrow is a day of running around, I have dr's appointments for the boys, Farmer's market, WIC and maybe the Library. Whew! I'm exhausted just thinking about it!

Too tired..

...to post much today. Apparently I am fighting the flu. I will be spending the day doing minimal work and maximum rest and snuggle time with the boys, as they have been clinging to me the last two days anyway.

no menus, just leftovers. If I can keep it down. My face is now peppered with burst capillaries (from the vomiting, gross, I know, but my body doesn't like to let go of its food) , from my forehead down to my collar bones, with the most centered about my eyes...I look like a raccoon. I don't like being sick. I like it even less when the boys are not feeling well either and Garrett is gone for 16 hours a day (he had work, followed by apprentiship (sp?) class). grrr.

Pardon my whining. Hopefully a more cheerful post tomorrow.

introspection continued

You have the most amazing epiphanies at three in the morning while you are covered in vomit whilst attempting to calm down a very sick two year old.
This is what I was meant to do. This is the task I am doing for the Kingdom of God. There is no one else who can soothe the children that the Lord has given me in the way I can. Who else would be willing to cherish and tenderly care for TWO sick children, who like to take turns interrupting mommy's sleep with pitiful cries and lots of messes. Who else would strip their bed clothing, wash and change them and rock them back to sleep? It is the small things that add up to powerful memories.
My challenge is to do all with a cheerful heart. I didn't succeed too well, especially during nap time when I tried to catch a few winks to catch up....and got disturbed and woken up 5 times in 1 hour. This is my cross to bear, it is also one of the greatest rewards.
The boys are both feeling much better. The first night was the worst...I had no idea so much could come out of such little bodies...from both ends no less. The second night I prepped ahead, both boys beds were double-made with waterproof layers in between, I had spare jammies, diapers and towels laid out in the bathroom, and the washer filled up with sudsy water just waiting to go (it is loud on the filling and I didn't want to disturb anyone). It came in handy, but luckily we only had one up with tummy troubles that night.
I am quite contented, now that the worst is over. This is my Mission field. My Calling. Now if I can just keep eternity's values in view and not get all caught up in the grouchies.

When illness gets in the way...

Life can get quite busy. At times I feel as if I am drowning in a mountian of laundry and that my dishes will always, always sit in the draining rack. And then, something happens to refocus my attention. This week it was illness. Seriously. Both my boys got sick, you know, the runny nose/congestion/cough/fever. Now, when germies strike young children (8 mos and 2 yrs) there is not much you can do, other than constantly wiping noses and snuggling. Now, i suppose in my sleep deprived and touched-out state it could have been too easy to throw my hands up and surrender. but Motherhood takes no prisoners and therefore I had to soldier on. And you know what? I found some joy in it. I realized how thankful I was to be the one soothing them to sleep, giving them nice aromatherapy baths and yes, wiping noses and changing lots and lots of poopy diapers. It was me, not someone else like a nanny or childcare worker. My babies will have the memory of mommy taking care of their needs and "fixing" everything. And I will always treasure the memory of two little fevered heads nestling down on my chest and drifting off to sleep. And also having a much needed break as I couldn't really move them without somebody waking up. It all depends on our attitude. I will be grateful for the time I do have with them, because time passes so quickly and soon they will be grown with families of their own, and I will have treasures stored up in my heart.