Goose eggs and gratitude

It’s been a hard week ’round these parts.

It started one day with Peeper throwing up at breakfast. She must have caught the GI bug that’s going around lately. I didn’t feel great, either, but powered through and managed to get some work done.

The next day, while she and Nana were at the grocery store, she bumped into a wire rack at the end of one of the aisles. The whole thing crashed down on her, and she ended up with two big goose eggs—and a trip to the doctor.

She’s fine, thank goodness, despite the bruises and bumps.

We then had a few nice days where we both felt fine, so we spent the weekend hiking, throwing sand in the Willamette River and enjoying the sun.

Then a few nights ago I became violently ill. I was sick all night and still can’t eat or hardly drink anything—a condition that’s especially rough when you’re pregnant.

Throughout it all, though, I can focus on what I’m grateful for.

I’m grateful for my mom, who came up to watch (and is still watching) Peeper while I’m immobile and sick.

I’m grateful for the nurses on the advice line I seem to call twice a week.

I’m grateful for my daughter’s resilience and caring heart. She wants to check on me while I’m lying in bed but then tells Eric or Nana, “Mama little bit sick. Mama resting.” She also shows me the treasures she finds on her walks.

I’m grateful for Eric, who tried to help me when I was sick, even though it meant standing by with a wet washcloth in hand instead of sleeping.

I’m grateful for this chance to witness how active Kiwi is. She has been kicking and turning a ton now that I’m lying down most of the day. I felt her hiccup for the first time, and Eric was there, too, to feel the rhythmic twitches in my belly.

I’m also grateful for Gatorade, Hulu and the mountain of pillows needed to make me slightly more comfortable in bed.

So while our family tries to recover, I’ll direct my attention to these highlights. Being grateful is, at the least, a good distraction from nausea and, at the best, a balm for whatever ails you.