The Home We Make: Thursday Night

Thursday morning I visited my sister-in-law’s sister-in-law. Confused yet?

My sister-in-law’s family has become real family to us. We feel so much comfort and acceptance around them. They love us and we love them. I would have never expected to feel so close to family so far removed, but it works. Why not hang on to a good thing?

My sister-in-law’s (brother’s wife) brother and his wife had twin boys just over a month ago. Knowing how difficult the adjustment can be with just one baby, I wanted to do what I could to help while I had some time off from school. I have thoroughly enjoyed visiting, talking and spending time together. I have also enjoyed spending time and helping with the boys and seeing them grow and change over the past 3 weeks.

But on the drive home, I didn’t feel so wonderful. And I just felt worse throughout the day.

You see, about a week after my trip to the ER for passing a kidney stone, I was back in immediate care for some severe vertigo. The doctor said I had a double ear infection. But at my follow up a week later, my regular doctor said she suspected my Eustachian tubes were both blocked through some swelling. She said anytime my sinuses are congested, I would get vertigo. I don’t have many allergies, but it seems I am allergic to something in the sub-tropical greenhouse at the Chicago Botanic Garden which I experienced when we went there for Mother’s Day. And yesterday. Not a full out vertigo attack, but definitely something (maybe from some of the dust from the drilling I did to hang new curtain rods). I also feel water moving in my ears from time to time and a strange pulsating sound/feeling. It looks like a trip to the ENT is in order soon.

In the afternoon, I walked to school to pick up the kids thinking some exercise and fresh air would do me some good. I brought each child a small gift I had purchased earlier that day. I have to say that just about everyday when I pick up my kids from school it is like a great reunion. I am so so happy to see them and there are hugs and kisses, handholding and lots of stories about their day. Call me a sap, but I tend to make a big deal out of the small things with my children. I love them so and miss them during the day while they are at school.

Unfortunately, it was hot hot hot outside and I was not feeling so great by the time we got home. I tried to rest in bed as best I could with two kids.

I bribed them to clean their rooms with “prizes”. How could I resist those cute toys near the checkout at Hobby Lobby? After much resistance, both rooms were cleaned.

I took them to their gymnastics classes. I watched for a while and then worked on my crotchet project to help the time pass. I could not wait to get back home. I always feel better being at home when I’m tired or not feeling well.

I was going to grab some dinner for the kids at “gasp” a fast food restaurant to make things easier on me, but they both wanted mac and cheese. So my buddy Miles was my sous-chef at home. Ella took a shower and didn’t get all the soap out of her hair, so I rinsed it out at the kitchen sink and Miles cooked. She danced around the kitchen while Miles focused on his mac and cheese duties.

Every day with my children is a gift. I rejoice and celebrate even the mundane everyday things. To me, they are not mundane. I prefer to live in the moment. Because for the most part, things are really good. How do I know that will last forever? Well, one way or another, it won’t. If I learn to find joy in small things now, I hope it will always be easy to do so in the future.

I leave you with a small segment of our evening in pictures…