Grateful

Hi...it's late on a Sunday night...I had great plans of blogging about Parker's 9th birthday, Emi's 1st lost tooth, my BYU cheer reunion, a visit to my Dad's pumpkin patch, and the general cuteness of Macy, but just can't find the strength to do it. It's been 4 weeks since I became a mom of 4, and I believe that the adrenaline has completely worn off. It's all I can do to clean up the kitchen, do laundry, keep my house at a reasonable degree of cleanliness, get through homework with the kids, teach my dance classes, and produce enough milk in my body to keep a baby alive (of which, I am failing...very little milk). I am stretched, stressed, and exhausted, but seriously in a good way. I don't mean to complain, just trying to get used to the added demands on an already crazy life.

Which brings me to the reason for this post. My dad had a stroke exactly one month before Macy was born. I spent the last month of my pregnancy in complete fear of how I was going to do the new baby experience without the amazing help and care of my mom, who is famous for her care when new babies arrive. Bless her heart, she has done as much as humanly possible for her new life situation and it has definitely helped, but it's been different and I am so glad she is there for my dad right now. It has been a crazy adjustment, but I have been SOO taken care of by my friends that I have to just take a moment to thank you all! I seriously have been the recipient of some amazing service and I just want to let you all know what it means to me.

I have always considered my friends as my family...in fact, I am closer with many of my friends than I am with my siblings because I am so darned different than my brothers and sister. I feel as if I have many sisters right now cheering me on, and I love it. I won't embarrass any of you by writing your names, but you know who you are! I have had sisters bring me dinners well-past the required 3-day Relief Society rule, sisters who took Quinn for a morning even when I wasn't teaching, sisters who drove various carpools for me, sisters who held a fussy baby for me, sisters who tell me I look good when I still feel like a blob, and sisters who just smile at me when I need it. I could seriously go on and on about my amazing friends. I hope I can do the same for you, I just don't think I'm as good at seeing the need like all of you are. Be patient with me...you are all great examples.

So I am off to bed...and again, Macy and I thank you. We couldn't have done it alone.