End in Sight

There is finally an end in sight to the stormwork! Superman will be leaving NY on Monday and be home sometime Tuesday.  It has been a long couple of weeks but we've pushed forward.  Unlike some couples who've begun to fight with the stress of the distance, we have been doing well. Just a few tears from me after an overwhelming day with the kiddos.

 

 

This will be a short post because I'm getting everything ready for him to come home.  I'm so excited. Squee!

 

I love you my darling husband and I can't wait until you get home.

 

~ Rachel

At Wit's End

As we draw closer and closer to the one week mark of my husband's absence, I feel myself slipping a bit.  I'm completely at wit's end and have no idea as to how to fix it.  There are a couple of options but neither are appealing. Option one : mother-in-law comes to stay with me. Nope not happening! That's just as bad as having another child thrown in the mix. Option two: pull all my hair out and run screaming through the neighborhood. I'm pretty fond of my hair so I think I'll pass.

 

 

Truly I only have one option and that is to endure. All jokes aside this has been a very tough time for me and the kiddos.  Generally somewhere I get a break. Whether it's hubby coming home or the kids being in school. Superboy has been home sick pretty much all week while Photoboy has had a couple days off from preschool.  HRH is getting a new tooth and is quite unhappy that her daddy is nowhere to be found.  How do single mother's do it??? Or military spouses??? I can't imagine my husband being gone longer than the projected two weeks. My heart goes out to them.

 

Most times I get at least one kid free day a month. That hasn't happened in nearly two months. Between family being unable to help and sickness there's been no support or help. It's just me and the three kiddos. Going into this whole mess of storm work I was already spread thinly. Now I'm pretty sure I've been wearing my crazy hat for the past few days.

 

 

SB thinks its funny to repeat things over and over as if I didn't hear him the first hundred times and PB.....well PB is in that lovely four year old "I don't want..." stage. It doesn't help that he gets his stubbornness from his mama. 

 

 

Phew! I feel just a tad  better now. I'm sorry for the kind of rant like post. I promise I'll be more coherent soon. Ta ta for now

 

~Rachel

World Prematurity Day: Nov 17th

In honor of my sweet little nephew, Smidge who was born at 29 weeks, I am encouraging everyone to recognize World Prematurity Day.  There are many wonderful charities you could give to but I plan on giving to the Nationwide Children's Hospital. They have been so wonderful for Mr. Roboto and JSmitty.  I cannot thank all the doctors and nurses for caring for these people who have a huge place in my heart.

 

 

So here is to all the teeny ones out there! Please if you are able, donate to a charity for preemies.

 

 

Thank you from the bottom of my heart

 

~Rachel

A Bittersweet Day

Today was a bittersweet day for me.  It was the first time my husband had to miss a birthday party for one of our children.  Thanks to Hurricane Sandy he's been called out to help bring back power to those in New York. 

 

I'm immensely proud of him, but I just want to break down and cry today.  After all the family had gone for the night, and the kids were in bed I felt the loneliness creep up on me. Even though I'm completely exhausted from a day of nonstop running around I couldn't sleep if I wanted.  The house is too, too quiet. Funny how one thing changes and the entire vibe of a place is changed. 

 

Superman and I have been married for almost 7 years now. Today marks the first time we've ever been so far apart. Don't get me wrong we've had some time apart here and there over the years. Never have we been states away.  I feel my heart aching.

 

 

HRH did not feel her daddy's absence today, thankfully. She romped and played with her cousins and brothers. All in all her party was a success. A great big thanks to my wonderful family for being here.

 

 

And thank you to the Kroger bakery woman who made this outstanding smash cake. When I ordered it, I expected just something to match her cake. I expected something in the same color scheme icing wise. This wonderful lady found the Cinderella topper and thought it'd make a lovely smash cake. I almost cried at her sweetness. How often do you see someone go out of their way like that?  Not too often!

 

So with all my thanks given and my tears shed perhaps now I'll be able to sleep.  I doubt it will come to me easily with only half my heart.  Good night all. Hug your love tight!

 

~Rachel



The Wife of a Tree Worker

Sitting here with HRH eating breakfast and the boys playing, I try to prepare myself for a very long couple of weeks.  You see, my husband is a line clearance technician a.k.a. a tree trimmer for the power company.  With Hurricane Sandy's destruction, I knew it was only a matter of time until he was called out to help those in need. I still find myself selfishly wanting to ask him not to go.

 

 

Tomorrow is HRH's first birthday party and even though she'll never remember he wasn't there, I will. We are big on firsts in this family. Thankfully, by some weird fluke he overslept on her birthday and got to spend the entire day with us.  I'll be taping her party for him to watch later. Also, we'll be doing something extra special when he gets home.  I'm hoping with all the extra crews they get the situation resolved quickly.

 

 

Sleep is going to be a hard thing to come by in the following weeks. Without him by my side, I toss and turn constantly. The kids even sleep a little worse when he's away. Almost as if they sense my restlessness.

 

 

To all those effected by the hurricane, I hope you are all okay and get power back soon. Take care of my darling husband. I'm kind of attached to him.

 

~Rachel

More than Halloween

Today is more than just Halloween to me. Today is the day my darling little girl was born.  My princess is my rainbow baby. For those who haven't heard the term, a rainbow baby is a baby after a loss. Kind of like the rainbow after the storm.

 

 

HRH is now one! It is astounding to me that a year has passed already. Last year I had just delivered her in the car and was settled in at the nearest hospital basking with my family in the beauty of my daughter. Superman was wrapped from moment one. Here's our little story.

 

 

At three A.M. last year, I woke up with painful contractions. After being in false labor off and on for about two weeks, I knew it was time.  I timed them for about a half an hour then I woke my husband to tell him it was time to go. He thought timing contractions for another half hour would be smart. I guess after being sent home from the hospital a couple of times you get skeptical. Hehe.

 

At four the contractions had amped up, so it was wake the boys and call the parents. We were off to have a baby.  Our hospital was roughly an hour away. Being a stubborn woman, I wanted HRH to be born with the doctors I'd used for all my pregnancies despite our moving away.  The family still teases me for this. 

 

Halfway to the hospital, I tell Superman that we need to stop at the hospital that is closer and on the way. HRH was not waiting! Two minutes and a stop sign later, I yelled at him to pull over she was coming NOW! He said, "Don't push we can make it." Ummmm, I'm not pushing dear; she's just doing it on her own!  He whips into the fire station with the phone to his ear and in no time is at my door. From start to finish my labor was one hour and forty-seven minutes.

 

I watched as Superman was in awe of her and wrapped his brand new sixty dollar shirt around her messy little body. Then all of the firefighter/EMTs came out of the firehouse and got myself and HRH into the ambulance. My boys were a bit dumbfounded in the back seat. SB told me I needed to not scream in the car. Gotta love that kid. Haha.

 

 

In the ambulance, four (yes four EMTs were there. Waibel says its a big thing for them to get a birth) grown men huddled around my tiny little girl working to clean her up.  My mom, sister, mother-in-law and her brother all met us at the hospital shortly thereafter.  It was a hectic and blessed day.

 

 

Today, I'll probably just take tons of pictures and snuggle with my girl. Nothing quite as exciting as her birth but that's just fine by me. Her party will be this weekend and then we will settle back into normal life.

 

 

Happy birthday to my darling girl!

 

 

~Rachel

Hurricane Sandy

I just wanted to say to all those that are being hit by the hurricane, you are in my thoughts and prayers. It is my hope that Sandy does not do as much damage as they are saying it might. 

 

Stay safe!

 

~ Rachel