Little reminders help me to be appreciative. My Sister is crazy-busy, like works 10-12 hour days 5 days a week, travels at least an hour to her job and is going through more personal things than I could even begin to describe...but Saturday when the cramping and back pain wouldn't stop, it was she who sat in the ER with me for four hours throughout blood work, peeing in a cup, and IV's. Hers were the eyes I looked into while they searched, for what felt like an eternity, for the baby's heartbeat. She made me laugh, cracked jokes, called the nurse when my fingers turned blue from cold and kept the info line open from our tiny room at the hospital. It was my little sister who sighed in unison with me when the heartbeat was found and the nurse counted out the heart rate (168 strong beats her minute). Ours may not be the most typical sister relationship, but her whole life I would've done anything to protect her and over the past few months I've come to believe she would do the same for me. I can only imagine the kind of Aunt she'll be for the Bump. I'm sure she'll teach it all kinds of obnoxious things and get him/her in trouble more than once and because of that, I'm sure he'll love her an immeasurable amount.
On a side note: dehydration's a bitch (sorry if that's offensive). Our 4th of July float trip left my body begging for more fluid than I was prepared to replenish. Before Saturday I was unaware that being dehydrated can cause "contraction-like" symptoms to start (i.e. back pain and lower stomach cramping)...now I know...and now our refrigerator is fully stocked with every flavor of PowerAde Zero we can find. (For all of you who are learning something: while water's fantastic, it will NOT be enough to keep you hydrated. You need electrolytes, baby. So if you're preggo in the Summertime, STOCK UP.)
I ran into a friend Sunday whom I hadn't seen in a while. In all the time I've known her she has never been anything but incredibly sweet and encouraging. Because of her I feel like the best runner, best teacher and even a great friend (though it seems our conversations include me rambling/ranting and her either 1) laughing hysterically or 2) agreeing unconditionally). Good, bad or ugly I can sincerely say, the fact that I had her daughter in my very first 3rd grade class was one of the biggest blessings that's ever happened to me. Her family felt like mine for a while when I was lonely, her daughter brightened my day as I waded through the muck of teaching and because of her and her husband I had the life-changing chance to go to Guatemala on a week long mission trip. The sights and sounds of that trip are still very real in my mind and to this day I read my journal and remember the faces of the people we met. After seeing my friend on Sunday, I received a single text message that once again made me stand a little taller and walk a little more sure-footed. It went something like this:
"...Since we returned from Guatemala I have been praying over this picture. Our talks...were so priceless to me and I have wanted you to become a Mommy so badly. My dear sweet friend I love you and I'm still praying for you and your little family."
Not to keep jumping around but while Saturday was incredibly scary in moments...there was a solid hour where I was nothing but ecstatic to watch an insanely perfect little boy celebrate becoming ONE!!
His Mama is SO lucky.
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