On our own

My in-laws headed back to Nappanee today after staying with us for 2 weeks. What a blessing it was having them here to entertain Niko and Ella, to do laundry and prepare meals, to dust and sweep, to drive us to doctors' appointments and to go up and down the stairs with my children when I couldn't, to be a source of companionship and encouragement as we became a family of 5. I am so grateful for everything they did and I would not have made it through the last 12 days without their help. A HUGE THANK YOU to Carl and Evelyn. God has truly blessed me with wonderful in-laws.

So, now we're on our own. We've got a sick 5 yr old, a 2 yr old who's acting her age much of the time, and this delicious little bean in my lap. Feels like a full plate but it is all so wonderful (except the sick part). One day at a time and really one moment at a time.....I'm savoring all the moments as they spontaneously unfold......Ella wanting to lay on the couch with "Mae Mae", Nicholas praying at dinner that Mae will be a healthy and strong baby, Ella and Nicholas playing "deliveries" and "bad guys". You just can't choreograph or predict how these 3 will interact in a given day and yet it is blissfully sweet to watch them be siblings. That's not to say that all interaction are so lovely.....there's plenty of "Nicholas, don't cough around the baby.", "Nicholas, get away from your sister (Ella).", "Ella, don't hit Bubby.", "Ella, get out of Mae's face." I do feel like a policewoman part of the time but that's one of the joys of motherhood......the wearing of ever so many hats.

If you're still reading, thank you. Journaling here is my therapy for today. Can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring......