Lessons

I never thought that this pregnancy would be easy. But I never could have imagined it would be this difficult either. With McKenna and Cooper I suffered awful nausea and vomiting, trips to the emergency room and medications. I knew this wouldn't be much different. But I was wrong. Very wrong. Already this baby wants to make a name for itself. Wants to make itself known.

I have been incredibly sick with this baby thus far. Sick to the point that I've been hospitalized twice; sick to the point where I can't drag myself out of bed; can't take care of my family; fix myself food; move further than the couch. I have had to learn to accept help in almost every aspect of my life. And for someone who is used to taking care of everyone else that is quite a feat.

My mom has been coming over every morning at 7am to get the kids up and dressed. She feeds them breakfast, puts them on the bus or takes them to school, then returns to my house to do laundry, dishes and whatever else needs to be done. She takes me to doctors appointments, sits with me in the hospital, shops for anything I need. She picks the kids up after school, takes them to gymnastics and some nights stays to put them to bed. She has done all of this without a single complaint or excuse. She doesn't ask when I think that I can do things myself. She simply takes it day by day and never pushes me. I know that I would do the same for McKenna or Cooper - but having her here taking care of all of us is amazing. Saying thank you will never begin to be enough.

I have been blessed by friends who have called or texted almost every day to see how I am feeling even when the update is sometimes depressingly the same. I have been blessed by friends and a church family who have brought meals - a wonderful gestures greatly appreciated by Earl and the kids. I have been blessed that my dad and his friends have been diligently working to finish our basement so that we have a little more room when the baby comes. I have been blessed that my husband continues to work long hours, eat fast food more times than he likes, does chores that are not usually his responsibility and keeps up with my lab results and medical care. I have been blessed by my wonderful children who through all of this have asked every morning if I'm feeling better. Who put up with me sitting on the couch day after day sometimes unable to play with them. Kids who talk excitedly about their new baby and what we should name it.

I have been blessed by a new little life that is growing and changing all of us. Teaching all of us lessons in the few short weeks we have known of it's existence. I cannot wait to meet this little person and find out what other lessons he or she has in store for us.