Sometimes...

Sometimes, I wake up in the night to little cries.  Sometimes in my groggy stupor I get a little frustrated (never towards said crier but to myself) I think to myself  "for heaven's sake she's two!  She shouldn't need Mommy in the night anymore!"  And sometimes, I receive a little reminder that she's two (and he's four and he's 5) and she still needs her Mama as much as ever.  I am reminded that I need to cherish these fleeting moments when my children do still need me for most everything.   The reminder in this case was a dear friend who's sister suffered a stillborn recently.  That served as a slap in the face to me.  It jolted me from my selfish little world where I need to have uninterrupted sleep, into reality.  Suddenly a few minutes in the middle of the night soothing a worried mind or whispering a  lullaby didn't seem like a sacrifice anymore.  More of a privilege.  Last night I had the privilege of rocking my baby girl in the middle of the night.  I reveled in her sweet smell and soft skin and watched her tiny little body rise and fall in perfect rhythm with each breath. I held that sweet little girl for a little too long this time.  And I'm glad I did. I will never regret those moments spent absorbing just how lucky I am to have not only one but three perfect little souls entrusted to my care while they are here on Earth.  What an honor and a privilege indeed.

There are so many things I do every day that I tend to take for granted.  I guess that is part of why tragedy's happen sometimes.  Even when we aren't directly affected it gives us something to ponder and improve ourselves by someone else's example.  Well, Big Guy, I took note.  I will try my best to relish the days...

I will relish each soccer game (#2 is Kahner)

 Share the joy of each medal won.  

(He wore this around ALL DAY showing it to everyone!)

 I will treat each super hero that graces my table with the utmost dignity and respect that he/she deserves.

 I will nurse the wounds of my babies even when said wounds are self inflicted...

(Ollie had a cavity filled on a tooth that formed improperly and while his mouth was numb he gnawed on his lip, it looked like ground beef inside his mouth... yuck!!) 

 I will soak up these summer days until they turn cold, (then wait patiently until their return...)

 I will sit quietly and absorb the preciousness of my baby snuggling her babies for a quick afternoon snooze...

 I will adore those little fingers sticking out from under the door, waiting patiently for Mama to come play the wake up game (she's too short to open the door yet)

 I will kiss this sleepy little face every chance I get...

 waiting patiently for Mom to do her hair...

And I will relish that this feisty little girl initiated potty training and is now officially a big girl!!

Though I am not at all happy that something of this magnitude had to happen for me to, once again, be brought back down to earth.  I am beyond thankful for the reminder it served to me.  My heart and prayers go out to the sweet family of baby Jack as they recover and heal from this heart wrenching ordeal.