after sam's surgery on friday and then christmas eve and day on saturday and sunday, rod became sick on monday and tuesday with the stomach flu. morgan was recovering from his ear infection over christmas. then on thursday i was hit hard with the stomach flu. it came on in a matter of hours. sam also something bothering him because he threw up two times. i didn't know if it was stomach flu but it sent a panic through our home since it was so soon after his surgery. i was laid out flat and completely rendered helpless. i called my mom and dad to come home from the cabin and help as soon as they could. then i called a dear friend from church to come early in the morning and just take care of sam for us during the day. i was flat in bed and slept most of the entire day and rod was trying to stay clear of getting sam sick with his illness. jack was largely out of energy and lathargic. morgan seemed to be the only one of us who was getting well.
so many blessing happened to us this holiday break. it would seem that with sam's surgery and our sickness it would have been one of the worst holidays to remember. but all i will remember from this holiday break was all of the service rendered by our family and friends on our behalf. new years weekend we were all sick. jack in fact did come down with an ear infection just like morgan (even the same ear! how does that happen?). my parents came back from the cabin and my mom stayed all day and night helping with sam and my boys. i slept for a day and 1/2! rod had year end close at work so he had to work friday and saturday. people from church brought us dinner and movies for my kids to watch. we were so blessed with kindness that it brought even more of the meaning of christmas into our home these past two weeks. i have been overwhelemed by the goodness of people!
it has been a tough and beautiful two weeks. i have a real desire to start 2012 healthy and happy. 2011 was just so much like our last two weeks. it was physically difficult with IVF at the beginning of the year and some changes at work made rod travel more than he has in 7 years! but then the beauty came with the arrival of our big little samuel and some great developments at work for rod and it finished off with my parents getting their 3rd mission call! they are going to kenya, africa for the second time to do humanitarian work! we are all excited and happy for them. they will leave in july of 2012.
2011 was a year where we worked very hard for things that really matter the most in life to us. i'm so unbelievably happy that our IVF treatments made it possible for us to have Sam in our family. there will be so much i remember going through to get him but the year will always mark a huge success and evoke feelings of gratitude for his safe arrival. time on this earth is meant for us to stretch oursevles and be the best we can be and i know everyone in our little family will be better people for having sam come to us!
my parents after they opened their call to africa on thursday night before sam's surgery on friday:
Exactly what they wanted! I'm so happy for your parents to have this opportunity!!
Posted by: JoEllen Giani | January 10, 2012 at 07:43 PM