Full Hands

Okay, I read a post on my friend's blog today about the much hated comment, "Wow! You've sure got your hands full." The whole experience that she relayed has got me a bit heated. So, here I am to vent.

My sister Holly and I were just discussing this very topic. It is never a compliment when someone sees you wrestling with your kids in the grocery store and they mention how full your hands are. It is a comment full of judgment and disrespect, and it is in no way helpful. Any comment made to a mother who's struggling with her little ones is probably not helpful. Think about it. If her hands really are full, then she's got a lot to do and probably does not have time for conversation.

Besides, what's wrong with full hands? Isn't it a bad thing to be empty handed? I was appalled to learn that my friend was asked,"You know how that happens, don't you." (meaning how you get to be pregnant with 3 kids) I could not believe the nerve. Why is it that society can spend so much time talking about sex, making t.v. shows dedicated to the very subject, but the results of a pure love between husband and wife are so looked down upon?

How sad this must be to our creator and to the spirits that wait for happy homes.

I love my friend Aubre, and when you visit her home or even her blog you can feel how much love exists in that family. You can see how much joy they have found in each other and that each child is truly a blessing.

I love my boys. I am grateful that the Lord found me worthy to care for them. If my body could handle it, I'd have a dozen. Having children has not only brought me a joy that exceeds anything that I can express in words, it has brought me to a greater appreciation for my Heavenly Father, for the sacrifice of His Son, and has helped me better understand the great plan of happiness. I am so grateful that our children are sealed to us for eternity, that we are part of a forever family, and that we are blessed to have our hands so full.

Not Worth My Free Rental

James was working late tonight and I knew that i'd be lucky to see him before midnight. The lack of hubby in my bed and the fact that the "peanut" likes to wake up around 11 every night to practice planting his heels in my ribs, combined to make the perfect night for a chick flick. After allowing the kiddos to pick out the veggie tales rental of their choice, I searched the drama section for something good.

I came across "Howards End," an Academy award winning film starring Emma Thompson and Anthony Hopkins. Not a bad cast, I thought. The film was even rated PG, so I thought for sure I'd be safe from vulgar content and obscene language.

I bathed the little ones, put them to bed, sat down with my bowl of Bryers Rocky Road, and put in my DVD. Two hours later, I am wondering how a movie could have such a lack of plot. The whole thing was so lame! The movie starts out with a sweet love interest and a short-lived engagement of a young woman named Helen to a handsome aristocratic gentleman by the name of Paul. The day after his proposal, Paul realizes that it's not a good match and that the timing is all wrong because he's headed off to Nigeria. Paul is neither seen, nor heard from again until the final scene in the film. The best looking guy in the whole film and he's only on screen for 45 seconds.

Then a dying woman, Paul's mother, Mrs. Wilcox, scribbles her last wish -- that her beautiful country cottage known as Howard's End be left to her dear friend Margaret. The note written in pencil is delivered by the nurse to the woman's husband. The family has many large properties in their possession, but all the children are appalled that Howard's End would be given to someone outside the family. So, they burn the note and never tell Margaret.

Eventually, Margaret marries the widower Mr. Wilcox. She discovers he had an affair during his first marriage. Margaret's sister then has an affair and the two sisters end up living in and inheriting the cottage.

There were many beautiful bits of cinematography. where characters walked through beautiful fields of flowers and heavenly gardens. But there was no purpose to this movie. It was 2 hours of quality quiet time wasted. I am almost embarrassed to have written so much about it. But, I needed to vent. The little one is diligently working on bruising my ribs and James isn't in bed yet. If any of you dear friends or family have some GOOD suggestions for possible rentals in the future, I welcome your advise.

A few good rentals in my opinion: Amazing Grace, One Night With the King, Walking Ned Divine, Return to Me

For Those of You Baking Your Buns...

WARNING!!! Contents may not be suitable for those who find themselves saying, "Too Much Information."

Okay, i just had two friends deliver babies within the last 2 days and I have discovered a need for information. I need to know if these friends, and the many others who currently have a bun in the oven, are the sort to want company/attention right away after giving birth.

Some women enjoy the companionship of family during delivery, some like to see friends before they return home from the hospital. There are girls who prefer not to be seen until they can fit back into their pre-pregnancy jeans, and those who invite everyone over for BBQ the next saturday to celebrate their new addition. I know girlfriends who are at church passing the infant up and down the rows right away, just glowing with the satisfaction of having created something so beautiful, and there are others who stay home until they no longer require a donut to sit on. There are gals who love phone calls and can't wait to share every detail of the exiting labor process and others who prefer to remain passed out in the hospital bed for as long as humanly possible.

Since women can be a bit hormonal right after delivery, and a bit difficult to read, it is best to know before hand what you're dealing with. You don't want to stop by the hospital with flowers to find your friend in a puddle of tears because she hasn't had any alone time with her new little one. Nor do you want to hear that someone felt rejected because you didn't call for 4 days.

So, if you are one of my friends in pregnancy, or if you plan or even hope to be so, please let me know what kind of person you are in this regard so that I may be sure to act accordingly.

As for myself, I have a history of long hospital stays. With Danny I was there for 4 days and Dallin 6 1/2, thanks to C-sections and pre-term labor. That's an awfully long time to be watching the hospital's breast feeding channel. So, I am usually game for visits from anybody as long as I have sufficient notice.

Once, some girlfriends, the kind who are a little too cute - with perfect hair, makeup, and really great clothes that never seemed to have baby burp or jelly smears on them, said that they'd like to stop by the hospital and see me right after I had Dallin. They said that they'd be coming the following day and that they'd call before they came. The cuties called from the hospital parking garage!!! What were they thinking!!! I had just finished an hour long crying fit because I had soaked my hospital gown with breast milk and was engorged to a size only to be found in nature upon picnic tables at summer BBQs. The nurse hadn't made it in with a fresh gown yet and the only shirt that I had with me in the room was a red t-shirt that matched my jammy pants and unfortunately accentuated my abundance of milk. The circles around my red, swollen, eyes were too dark to be covered by concealer and my hair was essentially a rat's nest. I couldn't have been less pretty.

After I'm home... visits are great, especially if they are accompanied by food. (The calling ahead rule still applies.) Disclaimer: I think it is wise to avoid hot and/or spicy foods when visiting the mother of a new baby. With Dallin we were amazed by the generosity of our friends and family who brought meals after the delivery. However, there was little communication between them and we were served 2 kinds of chili, a mexican casserole, and enchiladas. James, who served his mission on the border, was extremely satisfied and well feed. I was just getting used to my stomach being back in its normal resting place and was unable to enjoy such a fiesta.

Anyway, the adult conversation is great and I love to hear people tell me how perfect my C-section babies look. It somehow makes up for the stitches.

I do tend to stay home for awhile to recover and I don't usually pass my baby around at church a whole lot. But that's because I'm paranoid about germs and RSV and my other children have always been born during cold/flu season. But, when you've got 3 kids and you're the new primary president, I bet you're more likely to hand over the little one and say, "Here, can you hold this for me?" So, we'll just have to wait and see.

As for phone calls, bring 'em on! It is no secret that I'm a talker. I love long happy conversation and while I'd like to think that I'm more humble than this...I kinda' like to talk about myself. Mostly, I like make fun of myself and try to find a way to make whatever it is that I'm going through, something to laugh about. It is therapeutic for me. So feel free to call pre and post delivery.

A quick word as to when that will be...

I am finally on medication to stop the contractions. Before today, I had been going into labor every night with contractions strong enough to warrant an epidural. The labor would stop every morning around 2 am and I'd spend the rest of day labor-free. Many have asked if these were real contractions or just those little Braxton Hicks contractions. Well, I'm 2'' dilated so I say they're real. The meds are only safe for me and the baby for another 2 weeks and then we may be looking at some bed-rest. Our best guess is that we'll be able to hold off delivery until 36 or 37 weeks which will give us a baby around the end of June.

So, if you're expecting, please reply with preferred method of contact after delivery. Or, if you'd just like to post your post-pregnancy history and entertain us with your stories of wanted/unwanted visitors, go right ahead.

Which Princess Are You?

You Are Cinderella!

Dignified and hard working. With a gentle and soft-spoken manner you have something many people don't. Patience. Even through the moments of heartbreak you're still able to hold onto all of your hopes and dreams. Bide your time; your dream will come true.

My friend Kristy had this link on her blog. In a house full of boys, I don't often think of myself as a princess. So, I was a tad curious to see what they came up with. Kristy is very self-sacrificing, so she was of course Mulan. I was pleased to be matched up with Cinderella. I am always busy with housework and frequently find myself looking for my other shoe.

FHE - It's A Good Thing!

For those who don't know, FHE stands for Family Home Evening. Every Monday night in our home we spend a quality evening together sharing laughs, treats, and growing in our understanding of the gospel. Each family member has an assignment (prayer, lesson, activity, song, or treat) as designated by the pegged plaque in our hallway. Danny, "because he's the first born" he'll tell you, is usually in charge of designating assignments. It's great fun and gives Danny a sense of responsibility and power in the home.

Past FHE topics have included keeping the commandments, service, reverence, and eternal families. On more than one occasion we have covered the topic of honoring thy father and thy mother. This seems to be a tough one to grasp for our boys. Last night, we had a unique opportunity to grow in our understanding of how the Lord organizes his church and calls his servants.

This past Sunday the the boundaries of 3 wards were changed to create a new ward (or congregation) of members known as the Parkville Ward. A new Bishop was called to lead these members and new counsellors were chosen to assist the Bishop. James accepted a call to serve as the membership clerk of this new ward. The proceedings on Sunday were all very orderly and it was wonderful to see how the church has grown in our area.

We know that such callings come from our Heavenly Father, as He directs those who lead His church. It was neat to talk with our boys about the formation of this new ward, about Daddy's new opportunity to serve, and about the opportunity to fellowship new members. What was most amazing is that we had the opportunity at FHE to kneel together and feel for ourselves a manifestation that in fact these are the men whom the Lord desires to lead His church. I know that the Holy Ghost is given to us to testify of truth and I am grateful for such a gift. I am thankful for the direction given to us from our leaders to slow down, enjoy each other as families, and find the quiet in which we can hear the still small voice.

This quiet came at the end of a very long and trying Monday. It was so trying that the comparison between my busy day and my quiet night seemed to be polar opposites. This is another testament of how the gospel brings us peace and happiness. If when I was at Wal-Mart trying to get Danny to stop throwing fits over Sponge-Bob Squarepants yogurt and trying to keep Dallin from chucking the Dasani water at strangers and biting me for telling him "No," if then, you had told me our night would end peacefully, I would have thought, "Not a chance." But the miracle is that when we take ourselves out of the world that man has created and spend time focusing on nourishing the spirit, there can be nothing but peace.

...and thank goodness!

Love is a donut.

So much of my happiness lately has been food related. I suppose that I am trying to make up for the 5 months of yacking and living solely on cheap popsicles. I am a little embarrassed to publish a post about a donut so soon after the Haagen-Dazs post. But you should know that I mostly consume large quantities of produce and that I've made a fresh spinach salad part of my daily routine.

Despite my love for leafy greens, I have become quite familiar with the donuts found at our local Price Chopper. They have the most beautiful bakery display cases and I often find the donuts calling to me. Since I'm not much of a morning person, I only find myself at Price Chopper in the afternoon. I remarked to my hubby the other day that I wish I could enjoy one of these fine donuts in the morning when they're fresh out of the kitchen. There's just something about a chocolate long-john with warm melty chocolate on top.

Well my hubby, being the stud that he is, ran out this morning to take care of some property management business and the little darling came back with a box of fresh donuts. If that's not love, I'm afraid I don't know what is.

Mmmmmmm. Donut.

Easter 2008

Check out our little bunnies hunting for eggs. Church was at 9am, so some hunting had to be done after church as well. Mostly that's because the Easter Bunny forgot to hide the colored eggs that were in the fridge. Luckily, he came back while we were gone to finish the job. We forgot to get a pic of everybody in their coordinating easter outfits. We'll see if we can't get a family photo posted soon. Hope you had a great Easter.




Good morning little bunnies.



Let's find some eggs!






Shhh. I ate the chocolate that was in this one. Don't tell.


Finding eggs and lookin' good.


Finding more eggs.




Shouldn't we be eating some of these?


We know there's chocolate in there.


Got a bucket. Got a head. What other choice have we?









How 'bout a little Easter charm!




We know we're handsome. Why not flaunt it?

The very definition of cute.

If only my boys were as well behaved as they are photogenic, there would surely be peace in the Burneson home. Can you believe how cute they are? I love the pic of the two of them together. They really look like they love each other. Looking at this picture you would never imagine that little one could chomp down on his brother's arm or that the older one could have ever smacked tiny in the head with a lightsaber. They just look precious.

Don't get me wrong. There are many a sweet moment at our house. They are happy to join forces when tickling Daddy is the task at hand, and Daniel is beautifully teaching Dal the art of Legos. It is especially sweet to hear them each remember to thank Heavenly Father for their brother. Sometimes Daniel will say, "Thank you for mom, and dad, and even my brother." I hope they unite for good in welcoming the next little ball of cute. I have faith that they will.

Alone Time

I have found that this blog is really the best place for me to vent my frustrations about the trials of motherhood. It is a comfy virtual couch upon which I may give words to my thoughts and feel as though someone has heard me. So for today's therapy session I'd like to discuss the importance of "alone time." As the dental entrance exam date fast approaches, we see less an less of James. Which means that this chubby little lady who throws up a lot is left to manage two fiery little boys by herself.

This is a task that I'd normally meet with nothing but enthusiasm and joy, of course. However, I found that pregnancy has temporarily impaired my super-mommy skills, and I have found myself stumbling both physically and metaphorically as I try to parent alone.

For instance... last week I was searching Daniel's closet for the perfect shirt in which to send him off to school, when I heard him say, "He's gonna pour it. He's gonna pour it." Momentarily clueless to the words that I had just heard, I proceeded to make the appropriate wardrobe selection. Suddenly the words registered in my brain, and I rushed out of the closet just in time to see the entire box of cereal dumped onto the carpet in the boys room by my youngest son, Dallin.

Now the question here is, "Who is at fault?" Is it Dallin for dumping out the cereal? Is it Daniel for watching him do it? Or, is it Mommy for being slow to react to the warning that was given. After expressing my displeasure to both children, I realize that I am most likely the responsible party. A very sad realization indeed.

The day continued with the usual stresses of mommydom. Napping 3 year-olds and chubby mommies are much less agreeable when awakened repeatedly by tele-marketers, media surveys, and automated calls from Blockbuster reminding you that you have just purchased Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium because it wasn't returned in time.

At the end of this very long day, I found myself on the floor in the bathroom giving the little one a bath and coaching Danny with his homework. I had made a dinner that no one, but myself, felt like eating and I was exhausted. As I tried my best not to get the "no more tears shampoo" into the eyes of my little one, Daniel pleaded with me to tell him how to spell please.
"P-L-E-A-S-E" I said. To which Danny replied, "P what?" You can guess where this was going. We proceeded to shout back and forth until Danny had finally written the word "please." Then he said, "Mom, where's the O?" I said, "What O? There is no O in please!" Daniel insisted that there was. He just knew there was. "What is wrong with you? Of course there's an O. I just know there's an O." This continued for sometime. I had to bring in reinforcements. I got Grandma on the phone to explain to Danny that there was no letter O in the word please. After tears were shed, I finally went to the table and saw that Danny had drawn a picture of himself dressed as a Policeman.

I couldn't have felt any smaller. I had stumbled again in a very fantastic manner. My son just suffered quite the breakdown because I didn't understand that he was asking me how to spell "police." We finished the homework and the bath and I sought out a moment of time in which to collect myself.

Earlier in the day I made a very unhealthy trip to the grocery store in which my kids knocked 7 too many things off the shelves, and I bought too many bags of Potato chips, too many packages of Oreos and not nearly enough produce. I also picked up a box of Dark Chocolate Mint Hagen Dazs Ice Cream Bars. Before placing this precious box in my freezer at home I took out a large permanent marker and wrote, "I have to share my uterus, please don't ask me to share these!" Yep. I wrote it right on the box. So that evening when I needed a quiet moment, I knew that I could find relief inside that dark chocolate coating. I quickly fetched an ice cream bar out of the freezer and looked for a place to escape to where I wouldn't be noticed. It was no good. I've raised them to well -- the kids have Hagen Dazs radar. When I explained that this treat was just for mommies, tantrums ensued and they began to chase me around the house.

What happens next, I'm not proud of.

I went downstairs and locked myself in my own private bathroom, where I sat on the edge of the tub enjoying my Dark Chocolate Mint Hagen Dazs Ice Cream Bar. The boys were of course banging on the door and there wasn't a moment of silence to be had. But, that beautiful ice cream creation made the day fade away and it brought me great joy.

So, the next time you see a mom with screaming kids at the grocery store, just hand her a box of these and tell her that they're sure to come in handy.

Another Boy!!!

The Chinese gender prediction calendar was right again Amy. We're having another boy, and thank goodness. I know that James was really looking forward to a little brunette with bouncy curls to wrap her little hand around his finger, but I couldn't be more thrilled. Since I'm not sure that I will ever be entering into this "blissful" state of pregnancy again, it is a bit sad to know that James won't have a little Mustang Sally in his future. I am so happy to know that I will never have to see a room filled 20 shades of pink and purple, Disney Princess anything, and a million tiny Polly Pocket pieces -- at least not in my house. There's nothing wrong with these things, they're just not my style.

I love Tonka trucks, Legos, and movies like "Cars." I think transformers are really cool toys, as are anything Nerf. I think Ghostbuster themed birthday parties are awesome and I love the boys' retro airplane style room. I may be the only mom who thinks the clothes in the boys section are the cutest and the most fun to buy. This most likely stems from my desire to shop in the men's section. Cargo khakis and really comfy ringer tees should be acceptable attire for all of us. While I don't mind the way my legs look in a killer pair of heels, I do mind how my toes feel by the time I take them off.

While we're on the topic of heels... am I the only woman who feels moments away from a face plant when 5 months pregnant and wearing a 3 inch heel? I am naturally clumsy to begin with. Add this to an unequal distribution of weight and the fact that a little person has found my uterus to be the perfect environment for cartwheels and Taebo, and you will discover the fear that my face will very soon meet the carpet.

I am also relieved to know that James and I now have half as many names to argue about. And yes, there will be arguing. I will not submit to the idea that this little acrobat should be named Zerubabel. I don't care what temple he built in what kingdom -- that day will never come. I have my own favorites, all of which I think are adorable. Ethan, Aidan, Alec, and Dalton top the list currently. There is quite a bit of pressure to find another "D" name. I never thought that I'd be so cutesie as to name all my kids with the same first letter. But I love the idea of sending out 3-D glasses with our baby announcements. You'll have to stay tuned. I'd like to have something that is not too common. Something that is either really meaningful or really fun. I love Scottish names. I think Kelly for a boy is so cool! So I will ask of you, my friends, to please submit your suggestions in the comment box for this post. I'd like to see what you all come up with. You may NOT feel rejected if we don't use your name. But, you are welcome to publicly take credit for naming our child if you do come up with the perfect fit. Feel free to submit more than one. It will give James and I more to argue about. Please email me your ideas if you don't wish to register at google for posting your comment.

I leave you now with the most recent baby pic. If you want to see the P-G portrait that shows his gender -- too bad. We're not sharing that one until he's a teenager and we're looking to really embarrass him.

They like me, they like me not.

It is amazing how quickly my boys can change their minds about me. Just this morning Dallin went from shouting, "It's not fair!" to whispering the sweetest "I just love you mom," within minutes. What prompted such a tender moment? An Oreo cookie, of course. How can you not love someone who's handing you a double stuffed Oreo!

Last night Daniel beautifully thanked his Heavenly Father for his mom and said how happy we are together. Moments later as I sang to Dallin in the rocking chair, Daniel shouted, "Mom, are we ever going to get the CD player fixed." (the boys usually fall asleep to some classical music, primary songs, or acoustic hymns) I realize that my singing abilities can leave a person nauseated. I am grateful that Danny approached the situation in such a subtle manner.

Happiness is a warm bath.

My day began just as my husband gives me his goodbye smooch and I rise to face the morning. The morning included a six-year-old who threw a tantrum because he hated the new shoes that I was making him wear. How dare I by something without cool transformers on the sides. The words, "You are the worst mom ever!" rang loudly in my ears as I poured the milk over the fruit loops. Moments later the little one let out quite a few ear-piercing screams. Apparently, he was upset that his bottle of Dasani water was no longer full. I refilled it and he took a few gulps. Then, because again his bottle was no longer full, there was more screaming. By dinnertime I was done. I was desperately in need of some space from all things screaming.

In walks James to the rescue! He took the boys shopping for Valentine's goodies and I had an hour of peace and quiet in my home. The hour was beautifully spent in the tub surrounded by bubbles, the scent of vanilla candles burning, and my favorite itunes playing. To top it off I shared my bath with a handsome bowl of Bryers Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream. It only took an hour and even if James had brought home nothing more than a half tank of gas in my van, it still would have made for the nicest Valentine's gift ever!!!

I Will Miss You.

Today, my family will attend the funeral of the sweet prophet Gordon B. Hinkley, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am so deeply saddened by this great loss. This man, though we've never met face to face, has had such a tremendous impact on my life. He has brought peace and happiness into my home. As I have followed his counsel, I have grown in my relationships with my husband, my family, and my Savior. He has rescued me from trying times with his sweet messages of love. My heart is always filled with joy when I hear his voice over the pulpit. He has made us all laugh, and he has surely made us all, who follow him, better people. President Hinkley will be known as the temple building prophet who scattered the world with sacred Houses of the Lord in which families will be sealed together for eternity. I was sealed to my sweetheart in the St. Louis, Missouri LDS Temple, dedicated by President Hinkley. I have been at many temple dedications and followed our prophet as he led in the hosanna shout. How I look to the glorious day when we will meet again and together shout, "Hosanna! Hosanna! To God and the Lamb!" Thank you, dear prophet, for all you have given us. We are happy that you have returned to be with your sweetheart and will miss you so.

The following link is a tribute to this great man and his work in building the Kingdom of God: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DONH655IR1E&watch_response

Tagged!

Well I've been tagged by a friend. This game requests that I post 7 random facts about my life and then "tag" 7 friends to do the same. So, here goes...

1 - I had a blue Dodge Omni hatchback in college that was totaled by the 3-year-old son of an uninsured, unlicensed, crack addict as the toddler drove a stolen 78 buick over a tree, narrowly avoiding a pedestrian, and then into my Omni. True story.

2 - All my life, until I had children, my belly button was an outie.

3 - In kindergarten, I had a crush on a boy named John because his name was the same as my favorite grandpa. The crush ended when I saw him color on his saltine cracker with a crayon and then eat it. From that point on he was too weird for me.

4 - My two sisters and I used to spend hours in the backyard as children, pretending that we were P.G.s (Power Girls) with super powers. It was our job to control the elements such as wind and rain to destroy the evil cloud pigs and rescue the friendly people of Chips Ahoy land.

5 - James and I went on our first date June 1st, 2000 and were engaged by June 7th of the same year.

6 - When I worked as an R.A. for the on-campus housing at UM-St. Louis, I was once awakened by a Serbian exchange student who ran into the stairwell swearing in at least two languages, because he had just instantly flooded his unit and the unit below it by hanging his clothes on one of the emergency sprinkler heads in his bedroom. There's just nothing like seeing an angry Serbian who's soaked to the bone and realizing that it is going to be your job to explain to him what that bill is going to look like.

7 - I once lost a beauty contest (actually, I came in 2nd) to a gay man who we later learned was "in-cahoots" with a member of the panel of judges. So sad. :(

It's amazing how events in one's life can be so much funnier in hind-sight.

Power girls -- away!

Alright, now it's your turn Laura Finlinson, Annie Edwards, Amber Jensen, Allison Shepherd, Holly Chase, Sheri Kimlinger, and Jenn Wehrmeister. Please post your 7 facts. I can't wait to hear the dirt on you gals!

Gratitude

This morning I received a call from a dear friend who insisted on making me the recipient of her tremendous charity.

Last night, feeling overwhelmed with the challenges of this pregnancy and the household duties that seemed impossible to face, I wondered how I could make it all happen. James has quite the course load this semester and he needs to be spending every spare minute preparing for the Dental Admissions Test in May. He's been trying to stay on top of his studies and still fill in for his honey who has been making regular trips to the hospital for re-hydration and ketone analysis. His burden has been no less than great. A damaged laptop and a fender bender with an uninsured motorist sent us over the edge yesterday. It was just one of those days.

So, it was especially nice to be rescued by this angel who has INSISTED that I allow her and a few others into my home as my own personal cleaning crew. It was clear right away that there was no chance that she'd allow me to politely decline, as my nature surely would have directed. I think perhaps, that she might possibly have beat the door down if necessary. At the first sound of this news, I thought how can I possibly let someone clean my house while I sit as a bystander! Then, in seconds, my heart melted and I just cried. I thought of the days that I stood breathless over the sink searching for the ability to make a dent in the dishes, only to find myself on a tile floor in my bathroom nauseated by scent of the dish detergent.

How could this friend have known just what I needed and how to offer it so that I could graciously accept? She's been there. A victim of difficult pregnancies, Wendy knows first hand what a difficult pregnancy can do to one's home. This came of great comfort to me as so few people know and understand the debilitating effects of HG. In this world of glowing pregnant women who run a mile everyday, and find just enough time between play group and a trip to the gym to eat a healthy salad, free of soft cheeses, and take their prenatal vitamins, it is comforting to find someone else who watched their belly grow from the same spot on the couch everyday.

While the first of the cleaning crew won't arrive until Friday, Wendy has already done more for me than she could know. She has lifted my spirits and really helped me to have hope. God certainly hears our prayers and I am so very grateful!