We have arrived in Hilton Head and are pleasantly surprised to have internet service at the condo (thank you Marriot next door). It has been good to be with my family away from home for a while. It is going to be a good 2 weeks. Good thing I don’t believe in bad luck…as the trip began with one twin throwing up in the car after 6 hours of “Mommy, my tummy hurts” and “we need to stop, I have to poo-poo!” We did (stop). She didn’t (poo-poo). Thankfully, we were only 5 minutes from the condo…a blessing. So far it has been a very pleasant time, filled with good nights of sleep, playing in the pool and at the beach and ice cream at the harbour. All the things are in place for a great vacation.
and so it begins
June 1, 2007
10 little big things to surviving these postpartum days
July 10, 2006
10 Vanilla hazelnut creamer (sorry Kari) for my coffee in the morning. I am taking full advantage of the one cup of caffeine a day that they allow a nursing mommy.
9 The theme song to the show The Office…less because of the show, more because it means for the next 22-26 minutes, The Man and I are going to be together and laugh at random, stupid comedy.
8 My two year old, still in her crib, sweetly singing Happy Birthday to her baby bear…because that makes up for 10,000 times she will scream “NO!” at the top of her lungs today.
7 My select comfort back sleeper pillow…I think I’m in love. For the stop-and-go pattern of sleep that define these early days with a newborn, at least I know I have this perfect pillow to return to.
6 & 5 Netflix and (ok, I’m just gonna say it) People magazine. Yes, I not only read People, I have a subscription. In my defense, it was a gift from my mother-in-law.
4 The potted flowers on our porch…because I planted them and they are still alive (because The Man took pity on them and gives them water).
3 Target. It is my trip to Hawaii, my grand getaway.
2 The FlyLady…because a made bed, clean laundry and a shiny sink go a long way to helping me feel life is normal and organized on those days when I don’t leave the house.
And the number one little big thing that has helped me survive the past 4 weeks:
1 Knowing this may be the last time...waking up in the wee hours of the morning and getting the fussy baby from his bassinet, feeding him until he is once again content and cleaning up the spitup that dripped down my leg when I got up to change his diaper all with only one eye slightly open becomes more bearable when I realize that, with each day that passes, this little baby in my arms grows older. And with 3 under 3, we will probably never have another one. And suddenly the draining cycle of sleep deprivation becomes an opportunity to remember that this crazy life routine we are in right now is temporary and fleeting. And just like that, the mundane becomes holy and sweet.
In sickness and in health
February 28, 2006
It was the night of June 23, 2001 and my husband (of 4 hours) and I had just pulled away from our wedding reception. We sat closely in the way back of the limo somewhat surprised by the silence that greeted us as we watched our familiar town pass by through the window, the smiles and waves of those closest to us still a fresh memory. I remember looking down at my gown all gathered in my lap and then over at this man sitting close beside me with a crooked smile, both satisfied and loving, on his face. And in that moment an overwhelming and unexpected feeling swept fast through me: as a couple in love, we were finally free. Free to love and be loved without boundaries or fear of rejection. The way it was meant to be.
Fast forward five years to last night…sitting with my husband on the floor of our twin toddler’s nursery, he holding one and I the other. It was nearly 1 am and he had just cleaned out a crib full of throw up and I, seven months pregnant, was trying to navigate through my cloudy thoughts to decide what to do with a sick little girl in the middle of the night who was sure to throw up again, if not multiple times. It doesn’t matter how much time or money you spend when picking out cute bumper pads and pretty cribs for your babies. They all smell the same covered in last nights dinner.
She and I ended up in the living room and daddy took twin number 2 to the guest room with him…but because I couldn’t sleep for worrying about my daughter (and for fear of getting sick myself, if I’m completely honest) I began to think about my husband and about the transition from wedding to life. This is real life, I thought to myself. But I also realized something sweet and comforting as I tossed and turned on the couch. There is no place I’d rather be than sharing life with this man and these children in this place.
What a funny choice love can be. Why would I choose throw up and sleeplessness? Because this is life, real life…far removed from the lacy dress gathered in my lap, but no less sweet. It is all wrapped up in perspective. I like the way Paul Colman puts it: Life is where you are. And I choose to love it.
