We are each other's angels

The whirlwind that was last week is finally winding down. The Duke got home in one piece...but brought home friends. I have had his nasty Peruvian cold virus now for a week. I thought I was getting better Friday, but now it's descended into my lungs and I just feel awful. Along with the homecoming, I had a baby shower I was co-hosting this week. It is always fun to plan parties for friends, but after co-hosting 5 showers in the last 2 years...I am officially retiring. I don't care WHO of my friends gets preggo...they are on their own. It's kind of sad because I have become quite crafty at making diaper cakes. Sigh....maybe a business venture for the future???

Anyway, I never got around to officially thanking all of my "angels" from the 12 days Duke was gone. I could have never made it without all of my support from family and friends.

• Mom, who watched the girls so I could pick up items at the store without an entourage and attend a nice dinner with friends. I always feel comfortable leaving my children with my parents. They also watched the girl the night before the Duke left so he and I could have our first date in a year. how sad is that??? It was wonderful. We need to do that much more often.


• MB who brought pizza (and wine!!!) and helped watch a child so I could put the other in bed without her being unattended. Also gave me much needed adult time!


• Elastigirl who offered to watch the girls Friday so I could have a "me" day. When the Duke heard about this he bought me a "day at the spa" to use . It was amazing! I had a facial, massage, and aromatherapy steam shower. I also came home to a clean floor, and freshly washed dishes. Thanks EG... you rock!


• Friends Miles and Riegers, who came over one Friday night just to hang out and give me company.


• Super-dad T who watched the girls so I could escape to get a haircut and lunch....then hosted Mrs Swizzle and I for adult time while kids played happily on back patio.


• Friend Mrs McG who called several times and invited me to tag along with the fam just to get me out of the house.


• Friend DM who droped by just to say hi several times.


• The Swizzles who had the most wonderful Tequila Rockband Extravaganza one night despite my very unhappy children (and my cranky self).


• Dad, who took Drama to school everyday and picked him up so I didn't have to wake up the girls.

I know I am probably leaving someone out. But you can get my idea. One of the reasons the Duke said he felt comfortable leaving us for so long...so far away...is because of our awesome support system. We are blessed to have such angels in our lives. I hope I can return the favor for a friend in need one of these days. It brings to mind a song I love by Sara Hickman.

We Are Each Other's Angels

Well, I hope I see you later
Cuz it's time for me to go
And my ride has just pulled over
But it sure was good to know you
Go answer your calling
Go and fill somebody's cup
And if you see an angel falling...
Won't you stop and help her up?
Cuz we are each other's angels
And we meet when it is time
We keep each other going
And we show each other signs...
Sometimes you'll stumble
Sometimes you'll just lie down
Sometimes you will get lonely
With all these people around
You might shiver when the wind blows
Yea, you might get blown away
You might lose a little colours
You... you might lose a little faith...
But we are each other's angels
And we meet when it is time
We keep each other going
And we show each other signs...
Well, I reached my destination
Yea, I finally made it home
God sent ten thousand angels
To make me one of his own...

A completed chapter of my life

Last week while the Duke was gone, I decided to do some spring cleaning. I still have a long way to go, but on thing I accomplished was cleaning out the kids' clothes that are too small. I've boxed and bagged them up, along with my leftover maternity clothes, and they are awaiting decisions as to where they will go. So sad to pack away those baby things. So tiny...so cute! I kept most of the newborn clothes for the girls to use as doll clothes, and I kept all the sentimental things to cherish.

The biggest closed chapter, however, is the end of my breastfeeding career. I have nursed all three of my children as long as they wanted, and now...my baby has decided she is done. She nursed the longest of the 3 by far. Drama was 6 months, and Sunshine 4 months (cut short by pregnancy with Tink affecting the taste...she doesn't seem any worse for the wear). A part of me is sad to know that chapter is over.

The big boobs of pregnancy and nursing have given way to the saggy, mismatched, water balloons of motherhood. But at the same time I feel like I have regained a portion of me that has been missing for quite sometime. I have been pregnant or nursing a child since December of 2005. I have not been able to take any good medications for colds, headaches, etc...or drink in any great or regular amounts. Not that I drink that much, or take many OTC drugs...but the point is that now I can. I can go away for the weekend and not worry about pumping, storing, or engorgement. It's a liberation that is refreshing. Last night I actually slept through the first night time feeding in 2 1/2 years...and the Duke took care of it...and I never knew it until I saw a bottle in the sink this morning. How sweet is that??? And I can always look at my beautiful children and know that I gave them the best start in life, with a sacrifice that was more than worth it!

Goodbye 32 DD boobs....hello mini-freedom!

Today is the day!

In about 1 1/2 hours, the Duke's plane will land...and assuming I can wrangle the children...we will be waiting at the baggage claim. I've been really curios to see how each child will react towards him. Sunshine has been having serious separation anxiety crying out for me at odd hours of the night, yet Drama said "wow, already...that was a fast trip". Tinkerbell seems no worse for the wear. She does say a lot of words now when prompted, so it will be fun to show him her new skill. Her words include da-da, ma-ma, uh-oh, baby (doesn't sound very much like baby), ba-ba, and no. Sometimes I can't tell if she is saying na-na, or just two or more "no's" in a row....so possibly another word. I was hoping she would have been walking more, but I guess it's a good thing that he didn't miss much. She did take 5 steps towards me on Wednesday, but has yet to repeat the process.
Sunshine has also picked up some interesting words. When Tink cries she says "she go nite-nite". REALLY cute....unless SS hits her first and then says that. Um, no SS, she is not crying because she needs to sleep, she just needs you to stop hitting her.

Do you all have any experience with dads/moms being gone long? Should I expect SS to react negatively? My mom mentioned that I ignored her when she came back from a trip when I was SS's age. I guess we can't really predict children, and how they will react. And...after the weeks I've had with the Duke gone I would say he deserves whatever is coming to him. Mwa ha ha ha!!!