A Grateful Heart

Well, I have obviously ignored my blog for far too long, and I don't have pics ready for this post, but wanted everyone to know how grateful I am for my blessed life. Really truly, I am blessed. Since my last post we have moved to our new home and been adjusting to life in a new place yet again. It has helped my kids to settle down and we are hoping to get this routine thing down. We had Bart home for 2 whole weeks to help move and unpack which was so great. We were bummed when he headed back to work. I also took Rachel to Utah to meet my family and enjoyed a weekend of my siblings. It never seems like there is enough time, but it was so nice to take a quick weekend jaunt and to focus on just Rachel. Kudos to my husband for braving the weekend with Jacob and Anna...which he later admitted was harder than he thought it would be! Ha! I knew it! Anyway, shortly after my return, my parents were scheduled to come for Rachel's baby blessing. However in one of the top worst phone calls, my parents called Wed night to let me know that my Mom wasn't allowed to fly. It didn't sink in for a few minutes but out came the details of my Mom's recent medical issues. I had known about them and along with a couple of siblings been pushing her to go to the doctor. It is really too long of a story to tell, but my Mom's heart muscle wasn't moving in one place and they figured she had a mild heart attack about 2 weeks before hand. They were keeping her in Utah to do an angiogram and angioplasty the next day. Turns out she had to wait until Friday with all of us in tears and stressed beyond belief. When they did get in there, she was 99% blocked and literally would have died if she had come over to see us. All of the "what ifs" have definitely been going through my mind. The procedure went extremely well and they placed a stint that is doing an excellent job and they are certain she will not have to do bypass at this point. Definitely some lifestyle changes, but those we can handle. And then about an hour after my Mom got home from the hospital, she got the call that my adorable sister in law, Sarah, who has been on bedrest for a couple of weeks, was ready to deliver 2 weeks early! They were concerned about her and decided to go ahead with the induction and get this baby here. In one of the longest and most difficult labors from what I am hearing, she managed to get the baby here on Sunday morning. I believe something like 20 hours later. She had a beautiful baby girl that weighed the same as our Rachel. In the end, everyone in my family seems to be doing well, but this has definitely led to some contemplation about my life. How grateful I am for a Mom that I care so much about that I was literally physically sick and had to call my in-laws (who are also amazing) to come and help me out. I am so grateful for her example and undying love for our family. I am grateful for her words of inspiration when I need them most. I am grateful she lets us make fun of her and has such a great sense of humor. I am grateful and frustrated both that I am turning into parts of her sooner than I anticipated. I am grateful that in my time of need, I could pray to my Father in Heaven. I am grateful that I was able to be comforted. I am grateful for my 6 year old soon who immediately said 3 prayers during my one phone call and another one when I was done. I am grateful for his sweet innocence and yet deep understanding of the situation and reassurance that Grandma would go right to heaven if something happened. He knows more than I do sometimes! I am grateful that we could have a new baby in the family as well and the feelings that evokes in me too. It seems that within about a 48 hours window of time we had a chance to glance at both ends of the spectrum--that of life ending and that of a life beginning--and how rare an opportunity that is. I am grateful that everything turned out the way it did and for the lessons and thoughts that I know I have learned. I am grateful for my crazy family that drives me nuts at times (and me too) and yet for the closeness that we share and the ability we have to pull together when it counts the most. I have been surrounded by them in times of need probably more than my fair share and yet they still come. Aren't families the best and most amazing? I guess that makes this entry come full circle to my title and the grateful heart that I hold and for my Mom's heart and this new baby's heart. What an amazing and integral part of our bodies and our lives. May we all realize how blessed we are...even when my house is a mess, the kids are dirty, and I am tired! And I promise pictures soon!