Someday...

I'll get used to a child vomiting all over me repeatedly.  You can tell the difference between a new mom (me) and a veteran like my sister-in-law, Caroline.  Jack and I were visiting her family this past weekend, and we almost went the whole trip without getting sick (I get sick easily when I travel).  But alas, the last night, Jack woke up at midnight and threw up his dinner all over our bed.  Then subsequently threw up whatever was left for the next few hours.  His instinct was to put his face in my shirt and let me have it.  Then rest his head against me...right in the mess.  Having this happen at my own house is one thing.  Having it happen when I'm sharing someone else's guest-room bed with my son is another.  Oh yeah, and not having hubby with me to take care of the messy work. Thank God I was able to drive the 6 hrs home the next morning without showing any symptoms.  I had the plastic bag ready just in case, but it seems like I was spared.

I hate seeing my kid suffer.  I guess in a few years, things like stomach viruses and strept throat won't phase me.  For now, I want to cry when I see how uncomfortable he is.  Makes me realize just how difficult it would have been to watch Bernadette go through the dozens of surgeries she would have experienced if she had lived.  I pray for all parents who have to watch their children suffer, especially those in the hospital and those with chronic illnesses.  May God grant you peace and strength.

It's been awhile

After my computer got struck by lightening last month, I kind of got out of the blogging habit. I just wanted to give an update on us, even though I doubt anyone is actually reading this anymore! :)

By the grace of God, John Mark and I have been blessed with Baby Bean #3 who is due on February 24. We just learned that it is a baby girl. Wow, I am the mother of 2 daughters - neither of which I've actually met, but it's still crazy. Jack is of course excited. With Bernadette, he was too little to get the whole baby-in-belly concept. He was more amazed at the morphing of my belly button. I'm trying to teach him that he has 2 sisters - one in heaven and one in my tummy - but I'm sure it's a hard thing to grasp for a 2 yr old.

She looks wonderfully healthy so far. I've had an u/s during each visit, and so far so good. All her organs are inside her body, and I even got to see her bladder, which was more of a relief to me than I thought possible. Yeah, there are just some things I will never take for granted again.

So, there are a lot of mixed and complicated emotions that are going along with this pregnancy. I had a particularly hard time during the first trimester, b/c another 9 months seemed like an eternity after the nightmare of the previous year. But I guess it's just grace that's allowing me to enjoy it. I don't sit around and worry about the what-ifs as much as I thought I would.

I'll keep y'all updated. There's still a long road ahead and a lot can happen in the next 5 months, but I'm just praying that I'll survive whatever is around the corner.

God Bless,
Michele