Mother's Day was remembered at our house today.
I received pictures and notes, balloons and flowers, and lots of great hugs and kisses!
Right now my husband is making the fattening pasta dish I requested--ya gotta love a man who can cook well, . . .and I do.
Of course, I want to take this moment to thank my mom and my mother-in-law. They are both great women. They each have wonderful strengths, which I benefit from.
When we knew that our Toby would die, my mother-in-law offered us a plot they owned in the Sugar City cemetery. I don' t know if she fully realized how involved this would make her in all preparations, but it was such a peace-filled relief to have that part of things figured out.
She opened up her home to the masses. She organized, made calls, and did her best to make the experience all I wanted it to be. I am so appreciative to her for the organized, sensitive, loving way she served us.
Every time I am with her, I love her more.
My mom basically lived in CT for a couple of months. She and my Dad came out to help us move in to the house, but she stayed on a week longer and put in hours of painting--reaching up and bending low, since my very pregnant body could not do either of those moves. She did a lot during that time and was surely ready to get home for a rest.
2 weeks later she was back. I thought I had leaked some fluid and was worried this baby would come soon and she wouldn't be here. She didn't want that to happen, so, even though the Doctors said I hadnt leaked, she canceled a planned trip to Mexico, got on a plane and headed out. She got a one-way ticket because we didn't know what would happen and when--she joked that this had to be David's worst nightmare, The mother-in-law coming with a one-way ticket. Who knows when she would leave?! hee, hee. He actually really enjoys her and was grateful that she was there to help me.
She took kids to the park, made meals, and provided the companionship I needed to take my mind off of the heavy things ahead.
We hung out, without a birth, for quite a while. She didn't complain, though she I know she worried about her Stake calling responsibilities and about my grandma back in Utah.
On March 19th I was contracting about 3 minutes apart, pretty hard, all day long. She went along with my desire to get things done anyway. We drove 20 minutes to Manchester, went to a craft store and then to Sam's club--I had to stop and grab the cart during the contractions, and sometimes we both wondered if we were doing the right thing, but nothing changed and we made it back home just fine.
The next morning David and I headed off to the hospital. We said we would call her as soon as we knew what was happening. We wanted the kids to be at the hospital as soon as Toby was born since, if he was born alive, we didn't know if we would survive long and wanted them to have a chance to see him, if possible. Mom knew the way and would be ready.
My mom was able to hold our tiny Toby while he was alive. I am so glad that she shared this amazing experience with us. I know she felt some very special things in that moment, and I think Toby was thanking her for helping his mom so much.
My boys are very fortunate to have 2 wonderful grandmothers. They each provide my children with love, fun, and examples of what it is to be a family and how to be Christlike.
We Love all you great mothers!!
