I was a bit bummed this morning when I woke up and realized that Addison had her first gymnastics meet. The thought of little 3 and 4 year olds competing in their gymnastics gear, trying to do a log roll cracks me up. Pretty soon I was down in the dumps in an "I feel so sorry for myself mode." This is only the beginning! What more "firsts" am I going to miss? Blah, blah, blah. It didnt take long for me to realize that I needed to completely recenter myself. So I prayed and focused, I focused my energy on the health of my child, I prayed for the continued blessings that are showered on us each day and I just wanted to say thanks. Thank you for the health of my family and my friends. Thank you for Matt's job. Thank you for keeping my children alive and well. You know what? It completly changed my perspective for the day.
When we lost Grayson, we were in shock, I felt that kindof gratitude on a level that I have never experienced before. Gratitude for my healthy, beautiful 3 year old, grateful for both of our families that dropped everything to cry with us, be with us and help with Addison. Thankful for all my friends for listening to me and helping me merge back into society after such a horrible loss.
This time my gratitude is different. It comes from the joy that I have a living child inside of me. Still very much alive and getting stronger each day. Grateful for a doting husband that makes me feel like a Queen, never complaining, always making me laugh. Thankful for my family that worries with me every day. I have gratitude for my friends that are going to help pass the long days ahead and make us delicious dinners so we don't have to eat tuna mac every night.
Gratitude is an amazing thing. It can change your attitude and outlook for the entire day. Think about everything that you are grateful for, pray for that feeling of serenity every day, because you never know when the carpet can be pulled out from under you.
Life is good. Very good.
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Amy,
ReplyDeleteCongrats to you and Matt with the new baby on the way! It sounds like Matt is doing a great job in his temporary role as Mr. Mom! Hang in there with the bedrest-the payoff will be worth it! I'm trying to find out why I can't hear the show in Zanesville OH anymore. This just happened recently. I will stream it if I have to. Take care and know that all of us fans of the show are thinking of you and praying for you.
Sincerely,
Cindy J.
Amy, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with us. As listener of Matt and Ramona, I cried with you as you grieved for Grayson. As a mother of a Special Needs child, gratitude can go a long way. Sure there is a period of grief for the dreams lost but a new set of dreams occur and thankfulness for the little things.
ReplyDeleteI hated my bedrest last year - but this year I am about to celebrate the twins first birthday and I look back on that time when I was quarantined to my bedroom and realize that I did an amazing thing and persevered so that today I can chase after my now walking and running twins boys. Hang in there- it sucks but it is definitely worth it.
ReplyDeleteAmy,
ReplyDeleteI am a former "bed-rester". This June, the cause of the bed rest will graduate with high honors from high school. She will begin attending NC State in the fall with 12 college credits walking in the door. There will be days you are so bored you will want someone, anyone, even a prank caller or a "ring and runner" to punctuate the monotony of your existance. There will be other days that you are so happy just to send everyone away to school and work. Emotions will run high and low, but it will all SO be worth it. Know that there are lots and lots of people who think of you and send prayers and good wishes your way. Congratulations, and hang in there. I look forward to reading about your journey.
I listen to your husband and Ramona every afternoon while driving the carpool run......and want you to know that I have been praying for your entire family. Having to rely on other people to help you is hard and is a lesson that I, too, have had to learn. I will pray that your days of bed rest go by quickly and that you have a sense of peace each day as you wait for your daughter's arrival. God is so good and He will see you through this. He truly wants what is best for all of us......may you feel this and His presence during this time!!!!
ReplyDeleteI so agree with you, Amy, about the need to focus your thoughts carefully - especially in the hard times. Though it comes easier then if we have tried to make it a habit in the better times.
ReplyDeleteWe love you so very much and are praying so often for you and that sweet baby girl that I can't wait to meet!
Thanks for sharing your experience and your thoughts, Amy. Your words have made me re-examine my own priorities and say more prayers for own blessings, esp. my healthy 8-yr-old son. Really miss the Matt & Ramona show since I moved to TN, but was sure happy to hear you have another special daughter on the way! Stay strong and keep the positive focus--your sacrifice will be well worth it! Sending up many prayers for your whole family.
ReplyDeleteBed rest is the worst, but it's for the best thing in the world. I'll be praying for you and praying that this little one stays put for a while. I only made it for four weeks. Here is my blog.... http://leslieandmattnelson.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteIt tells my story, my son was born at 26 weeks and just came home a month ago. We are very blessed. Prayers to your and your family.