Reflecting on my year and Giving Thanks...

Thanksgiving was, as always, a wonderful time for us.  I remember last thanksgiving being anxious wondering if I may be pregnant.  Wow, how time flies!  It makes me think of everything that's happened to me (and to this family) in the last year...  We found out we were pregnant, I taught middle school religion while I watched my waistline expand beyond all expectation, dealt with morning sickness, ate lots of potatoes and chocolate shakes, went to numerous appointments, unsucessfully tried to keep my ankles from becoming beach balls, walked around the neighborhood listening to "faster, stronger" by kanye in anticipation of being in better shape for labor, going through labor and delivery (life-changing), days in the hospital full of challenges with jaundice, breastfeeding, possible infection prompting monitors, IVs and a lumbar pucture for a 2 day old son; then came going to the pediatric urologist and waking up for night feedings. 

I'm most thankful this year for the life that God has shared with me.  Me of all people has been given the gift of this little person, this little soul that needs cared for and taught- a little one that needs love and has love to give.  I am ever saying those words that came to me in a prayerful way at 4am Aug 6th when the nurses brought Benjamin to me to snuggle because his temp wasn't going back up...  I rested in the hospital bed with Joe's sleepy breathing coming from the corner and the dawn light softly illuminating the twin spires of the Cathedral outside my window, and most of all the feeling of the warm little body moving ever so softly and steadily on my chest with tiny breaths... I couldn't help but just keep repeating.. "Who am I that God should give you to me?"

Half way there!

Ok, I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks that time is flying in regards to our little baby's arrival. All of a sudden we're halfway to Aug. 4th. The reality of what I'm half way toward is starting to set in... the responsibility, the wonder, the, um, pain?!

I do finally have a belly that says, "I'm pregnant" not just, "I went all out for every holiday in the past 4 months." I'm feeling better as well, the almost constant carsickness of months 1-3 is gone for the most part. I haven't had a "Preggie Pop Drop" in over a month. They are awesome by the way. Not a cure all, but it definitly helps! (I don't buy from this website, but it gives you an idea of what I'm talking about, I found them in an alternative pharmacy here in town. http://www.threelollies.com/ )

I keep reading about what's going on inside me at this point, so far all Dr appts have gone well. Little One seems to be active, everytime doctors try to find the heartbeat we have to move around to stay with it :)