A Christmas Emergency

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♪♪ One little Emmy playing on the bed. She fell down and gashed her head. A trip to the emergency room and the doctor said, “She’ll need 6 staples in her head.” ♪♪

So yep, that was how our Christmas turned out yesterday. We had gone to church in the morning as usual, and then opened gifts after we had breakfast. Later in the afternoon, we went over to my in-laws’ house for more festivities and family time. Emily was pillow-fighting on a bed with some cousins and hit her head on the headboard.

My husband and I took her to the emergency room and by then, thankfully the bleeding had stopped. Our brother-in-law and niece came by with some Christmas dinner for us, which was very much appreciated (thanks Keith and Victoria)! We were all hungry, and we took it as a good sign that Emily was, too.

Only one parent was allowed in with the patient, so my husband claimed it. I felt so useless and helpless as I had to remain in the waiting area and not be by my daughter’s side. I distracted myself by texting my husband for updates and by people-watching, wondering about all of the various ailments, maladies, injuries, etc that were coming and going through the doors. While there were plenty of open seats around me, it still felt like quite a number of emergencies to be happening on a major holiday.

I’d been in that same emergency room twice before. The first was when my brother died. They allowed us all in rather quickly because he was near the end. The other time was when I was in labor with my son. By then, my contractions were already 4 minutes apart, so they got me in and set up in the maternity ward rather quickly, as well. And now I’ve been there on Christmas, and it was not a quick trip.

My poor little girl ended up needing 6 staples put in the gash on the back of her head. From what my husband told me, he said that the worst part for Emily was getting the numbing injection, rather than the staples themselves! Apparently, she told him that it felt like there was “lava” on her head. The ER doctor didn’t have to shave any of Emily’s hair off, and that’s another relief. She’ll have to go to her pediatrician in a week to get the staples removed and then she’ll have an interesting scar and story to tell about it for the rest of her life. (And as a side-note, my husband has a scar on the back of his head in almost the same spot from when he injured himself when he was a child.)

So about 4 hours after the injury happened, she was released from the hospital, and we were back at my in-laws’ to eat, drink, open presents, and be grateful that it wasn’t too severe of an emergency situation. My dear Emily was showing off her battle wound, joking with her cousins, and still had the joy of Christmas in her heart. ❤

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas! Wishing you a Happy New Year, as well!

Love

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I was thinking about love the other day, and what a wondrous thing it is. The archaeologist in me wonders where the human race would be without love and who the first humans were to label it. Love is not necessary for our survival, yet it’s so essential to us that I don’t think we can exist without it.

Love is such an enigmatic emotion. It makes irrational decisions seem rational, causes everything in the world to seem so much brighter and more beautiful, reduces us to an empty shell of a human being when our heart gets broken, prompts us to go above and beyond the limits imposed on us, often happens when we least expect it, exposes our vulnerabilities, and is one of the most wonderful and damning forces of the human experience.

To be in love (like honest to goodness, my world was shaken, liquid sunshine pouring through my veins and straight into my soul kind of love) is a blessing. It all makes sense, and none of it makes sense.

And then there’s a mother’s love. I look at my children and my heart swells. I can feel warmth radiating out of my chest. The love I have for them surpasses anything I’ve ever experienced in my entire life. It’s a selfish prayer to have a long life so that I can be there with them.

It goes beyond merely wanting them to be happy and healthy and safe. I would give up my last breath for them to have one more.  The sacrifices I have to make in my own life are so that my kids can have a great life. The funny thing is that they’ll never know the extent and depth of my love because try as I might, I won’t ever be able to express it fully.

I figured this out when I became a mother. My own mom and I would always go back and forth with the “I love you more.” “No, I love you more.” One day, my mom said, “I love you most.” Once I gave birth to my daughter, and then to my son, I understood what my mother meant. The greatest love I’ll ever get to feel is the love I have for my children.

So to Emily and Logan: I love you most. ❤

 

I Do Not Feel Like Super Mom

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It is past the baby’s nap time. He doesn’t like pacifiers, and I do not want to be a human pacifier. He is screaming his head off in his crib.

I do not feel like Super Mom.

My daughter caught a cold from someone in her class. Her nose is drippy and I am trying to teach her how to blow it. She’s crying because her throat hurts and she doesn’t understand that it will take a few days to start feeling better.

I do not feel like Super Mom.

The dishes are piled up in the sink. My computer desk is a mess. I think my dog went poo somewhere in my house, but for the life of me, I cannot find anything but the smell. Maybe my daughter hid one of her brother’s dirty diapers under the couch.

I do not feel like Super Mom.

I’ve been bringing home students’ papers from my job just to try to stay on top of all the grading I have to do. My husband wants to talk about his Robotics team, but I don’t have the energy or focus to listen.

I do not feel like Super Mom.

I forgot about some laundry that I had washed a couple of days ago. It’s been sitting in the washing machine and now it smells like mildew. I’ll have to wash it all over again. California is in a severe drought. I’m out of laundry detergent.

I do not feel like Super Mom.

My daughter just handed me a drawing. She’s explaining that the figures are her baby brother, herself, and me. She drew a big smile on her face because she’s so happy that I am her Mama, she drew her brother with his arms up because he knows I will give him a big hug when he wakes up, and she drew a big heart on me because she says it’s filled with love.

I am back to being Super Mom.

Baptism and Birth Stories

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Our son was baptized today! Logan was a good boy and didn’t cry or fuss too much during the ceremony, nor when the water was poured over his head. He gave the people around us some adorable grins. We used my husband’s baptismal candle from when he was baptized as a baby. And Logan looked too stinkin’ cute in his little baptism outfit! The Godparents did a great job selecting it and hosting the brunch reception afterward. ❤

baptism6

Want to know something kind of neat? I was baptized in that church when I was a baby. My daughter was baptized in that church when she was a baby. And now my son is baptized in that church when he is a baby, and by the same deacon who baptized my daughter! Full circle.

My sister-in-law, who is due any day now with her first baby, attended the baptism. Bless her heart! I’ve been giving her advice left and right, and she has been too kind to tell me to mind my own business. 🙂 (Krystal, I promise that there’s some wisdom in all of it!) Anyhow, I was talking to her about birth and how it’s the most wonderful joy she will ever experience.

I remember my daughter’s moment of birth a little better than my son’s, which is strange since she was born almost 5 years ago and he was born not quite a year ago.  When Emily was born, she looked so frail that I just wanted to hold her right away. Her first little cries were such a beautiful, joyous sound. Even now, thinking about those little cries makes me smile and makes me get teary eyed. I remember the first thing the nurse said about her was a comment about how she had such beautiful eyelashes. I smile about that now, but at the time I just wanted to know that she was healthy. It hadn’t even dawned on me at that moment that I had bravely and successfully just given birth (without an epidural!), but rather, it was such a tremendous blessing to be meeting my daughter for the first time, this tiny person that was all mine.

As for Logan’s birth, I remember that even though I was having a quick labor, I wasn’t really pushing all that hard. I was given a shot of terbutaline to slow down my intense contractions (again, no epidural) and my doctor made a comment that it might take a few more hours to deliver my son. I looked at the clock, saw that it was around 8:30 pm, and decided I had better give it my all if I wanted to have a September baby! With an oxygen mask on my face (I needed one when I had Emily, as well.) and my husband by my side (sorry I bit your arm, Ramon), I ignored the pain (it really hurt), took deeper breaths, and focused. Logan was born at 8:44 pm on September 30.

Growing Up

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It’s bittersweet for me to say that Emily will be starting preschool in less than two weeks. She is so excited! I am a mess. I’m excited for her, but also a mix of amazed, worried, proud, sad, eager…

Being a teacher, I’ve always heard parents marvel at how quickly their child has grown up. I never gave it much thought until my daughter turned 4, when I realized that it would soon be her turn to start school. She missed the birthday cutoff to attend last year, so now this is it. Now it’s my turn to marvel.

Buying the school supplies was surprisingly fun! More for me than for her, I think. 🙂 There’s something almost magical about a new box of crayons or pack of lined paper. They hold so much promise for learning and the school adventures to come. Anybody else feel that way?…..Anybody?……

Without a doubt, she’s going to love learning so many new things in Junior Kindergarten! She’s one smart cookie, if I do say so myself. But still, I worry she might not fit in, or she might be too headstrong, or that she’ll learn the hard truth that not everyone knows how to play nicely. It’s the age-old dilemma of wanting to release her into the world, and yet keep her safe and sound in the comforts of our home.

One bonus is that she will be attending junior kindergarten at the school where I teach 3rd grade. I can sort of keep an eye on her, all the while chanting, “I will not be a helicopter mom. I will NOT be a helicopter mom” in my head repeatedly. I don’t expect any special treatment, but if you’re reading this and you work with me, please keep an eye on my dear little girl, too. Thanks.

A Life List

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In a mere 2 and a half years, I will be turning 40. My older brother passed away when he was that age, and so I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately. Thinking about my life.  Thinking about how many blessings I’ve been fortunate to experience or have to call my own. Thinking about what other goals I hope to accomplish. Thinking about life in general…

I found a bucket list floating around Facebook and decided to adapt it here for my blog to make it more of a “life list.” Looking over the list, you will see that there are some things that I don’t think anyone would want to experience! But that’s how life is. We have to take the good with the bad. The heart icon indicates that I’ve done the item. If you would like me to elaborate on any of them, please let me know in the comments section. Thanks for reading!

  • Fallen in love 💜
  • Gone on a blind date
  • Been Married 💜
  • Had children 💜
  • Been divorced
  • Had a pet  💜
  • Watched someone give birth
  • Watched someone die 💜 😥
  • Skipped school 💜
  • Started up own company
  • Been fired from a job
  • Been to Canada
  • Been to Hawaii 💜
  • Been to Europe 💜
  • Been to Las Vegas 💜
  • Been to Washington D.C 💜
  • Been to New York City 💜
  • Been to Nashville
  • Been to Los Angeles 💜
  • Visited Florida 💜
  • Visited Mexico 💜
  • Seen the Grand Canyon 💜
  • Seen the Northern Lights
  • Ridden on a motorcycle
  • Flown in a helicopter
  • Ridden in a hot air balloon
  • Ridden on an elephant
  • Been on a cruise 💜
  • Served on a jury 💜
  • Been in a movie
  • Danced in the rain
  • Played in a band
  • Been to a concert 💜
  • Did karaoke 💜
  • Laughed so much you cried 💜
  • Caught a snowflake on your tongue 💜
  • Been sledding on big hill 💜
  • Been snowboarding 💜
  • Been water skiing
  • Ran a marathon/race 💜
  • Been to a professional sport event 💜
  • Traveled to all 50 states
  • Jumped out of a plane 💜
  • Been to a drive-in movie 💜
  • Been in a theatrical production 💜
  • Been on TV
  • Been in the newspaper 💜
  • Had something published 💜
  • Met someone famous 💜
  • Broken a bone
  • Gotten stitches 💜
  • Ridden in an ambulance 💜
  • Stayed in the hospital 💜
  • Donated blood 💜
  • Gotten a piercing 💜
  • Gotten a tattoo
  • Shot a gun 💜
  • Driven a stick shift vehicle 💜
  • Been scuba diving
  • Ridden in the back of a police car
  • Gotten a speeding ticket
  • Studied abroad 💜

I Am More

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I am more than just a mommy…

I am a nurse. I can make bumps and boo-boos better with lots of hugs and kisses, and soothe tummy aches and fevers with mint tea or a cool wash cloth.

I am a teacher. Not only do I teach my children the alphabet, shapes, and numbers, I also teach them about empathy, consideration, right from wrong, and social skills.

I am an artist. I create beautiful masterpieces with crayons and a coloring book, all under the watchful eye of my 4-year-old daughter. It’s important for her to know that art is about creativity, not perfection.

I am a super hero. I make bad dreams less scary with a reassuring hug. I find missing shoes just when all hope is lost for them. I replace old batteries and fix broken toys.

I am a chef. I take my children’s health and well-being into consideration when I plan and lovingly prepare delicious meals, also knowing that breast-feeding my baby boy is the best nourishment I can give him.

I am an entertainer. I can create fantastic bed-time stories, sing silly songs and lullabies, dance along to music with my daughter, and make-believe wonderful things using my imagination.

I am a judge. I listen to all sides of the argument, carefully consider the evidence and motivation, and dole out the appropriate consequences to those found to have done wrong. Usually it’s Emily who is at fault, not our dog who she often blames.

I am a friend. I provide guidance, support, a shoulder to cry on, and loyalty. When my children get out of line, I am the first to remind them that they can try harder and/or do better. When times are tough, I cheer them on and encourage them to keep going. I listen to their problems and am someone they can trust. I love them unconditionally and I love them forever.

I am all of these things and so much more.

12 Fun Things That Happened As a Teenager That Just Aren’t the Same When You’re an Adult

/ Andrea

I honestly just stumbled across this on the Internet and since it spoke to my heart, I thought I would share it with you. Number 12 is especially true for me. 🙂 The link is below.

 

Photo credit: thoughtcatalog.com

“I used to imagine how I would be as an adult when I was a teenager. Now as I look back I reminisce the days when I was a teenager.”

Source: 12 Fun Things That Happened As A Teenager That Just Aren’t The Same When You’re An Adult | Thought Catalog

The Truth About Being a Working Mom

/ Andrea

This article from The Bump.com (see link below) pretty much sums up my life right now with trying to juggle being the mommy of my 2 precious children, a loving wife, a productive teacher, a fun friend, and my quirky self. It is not easy! I often take work home with me. Some days I don’t eat breakfast until about 10 am. The mail piles up all week until I can sort through it on the weekend. It is taking me forever to finish reading a novel that I started a couple of months ago. A few of my friends probably think I’ve disappeared. It’s difficult to find time to write for this blog… You get the idea.

—Andie

photo credit: http://www.thebump.com

The Truth About Being a Working Mom — Know what to expect after maternity leave. Get the inside scoop on what a working mom’s life is like.

Source: The Truth About Being a Working Mom – Your Life – Parenting

The Joys of Christmas

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I love this time of year!

There’s my birthday and of course, Christmas. Mugs of delicious hot chocolate to sip. Twinkling lights all around the city. Decorating our Christmas tree and house so that everything is festive. Favorite movies such as The Holiday, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Serendipity, and Love Actually. Cozy nights spent by the fireplace. Holiday parties to attend…

Santa blog

My two children are my greatest joys and blessings!

As a mommy of a 4-year-old daughter and a newborn son, there are just so many joys for me this holiday season:

  • hearing the oohs and aahs from my daughter, Emily, as we drive down streets festively lit up with beautiful and bright yard displays
  • buying fun, funky, and unique gifts for my nieces, nephew, students, and my children
  • cherishing the smiles from my newborn son, Logan, and hearing his first giggles
  • seeing my mother lovingly cut out and glue homemade ornaments with my daughter
  • eating all of the delicious treats (homemade or not) given to us by various friends
  • reading the heartfelt messages written to me by my students in their Christmas cards
  • feeling how the holiday spirit brings out the love and generosity in others–so heart warming!
  • watching the excitement grow in Emily when she opens each little window of her Advent calendar as we approach Christmas
  • baking banana bread with Emily because that’s what she wants to give her Nana (my mom) for a Christmas gift
  • loving my family and friends a bit more than usual because I know that our time together here on Earth is not unlimited
  • delighting in all of the warm wishes I received for my birthday, which is 4 days before Christmas
  • being thankful for my life and for my children, which I know are the most precious gifts God has ever given me
  • enjoying my 2-week-long Winter Break with my family (a perk of being a teacher)
  • experiencing the joy and magic of the holiday season through the anticipation and delight of my children

Wishing you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Thank you for your continued support of my blog and we’ll see you next year!