Catching up

The month of April has been an accreta Awareness Month for the hope for accreta foundation. The challenge for day 12 was to take preemie clothes down to the hospital to give to the babies in the NICU. I had already given away Caleb's clothes, so I decided to collect some items to take to the babies and their parents in the NICU. I am so thankful to all the people who donated so many items. I got to go down and visit the hospital. The nurses were so grateful.

While I was there I was able to visit some of my old nurses and visit with to accreta patients. I met with my new friend Trish.  She grew up with my brother actually. She is such a sweet woman with so much faith. It was great to get to know her and chat with her about Accreta.  I also was able to visit with another patient who had accreta. She had only been in for a week and was terrified.  Just seeing me alive and well and knowing that Caleb was alive and well, really calmed her and her mom down. I was able to give her some resources of comfort and some things to expect at the hospital.  Before I left that night, Trever asked if we could pray.  He prayed that I would be able to find someone who I could reach out to and comfort. She was an answer to prayer. I'm thankful for that challenge to go to the NICU. Because of that challenge I was able to bless so many lives and in turn was blessed so much more. Nothing boosts your self-esteem more than having your old nurses tell you how beautiful and thin you look. It was fun to go back and see them. We enjoyed catching up on the last year and how much has changed. I didn't expect them to recognize me but it sure felt good when they did.

This is my dear sweet nurse Val.  I snapped the camera a little early, she was mid sentence. lol. Sorry Val!

My new Friend Trish. We were both wearing our Accreta Purple too!

The nurses were so sweet at the NICU. They told every nurse/Dr that walked be, my story and what I was going. I felt special and appreciated. Here is about half of the donations. Thank you everyone who donated. I'll be doing it again in a few months. The funny thing is... someone told me they only had 14 kids. When I got there... I found out they actually had about 60. So they had to split up the goodies, but hopefully everyone got something.  We had toiletries for the parents, blankets, stuffed animals and clothes. 

I couldn't visit my nurses without bringing cupcakes could I?  They loved them!

I've been doing weekly visits with my therapist and have been breaking through a lot. I am learning concepts that are helping me see the world differently. Last week we talked about my expectations as a mother as a wife. He helped me see that I set up expectations that are unreachable. Its always good to stretch and learn and grow so when we compare ourselves to a fantasy it's hard to reach that. So then we beat ourselves up and tell ourselves we are failures because we can't be that fantasy. It's a lot easier to be nice to yourself when you don't have to live up to such impossible expectations.

The truth is...moms get tired, moms get sick, we have bad days. He had me write down a list of what I thought a mom should be. I said things like loving, caring, compassionate, energetic keeps a clean house, makes a four course meal every night for dinner. But when I talk about myself, my list consisted of much more negative things. He helped me realize the first list wasn't reality. Life happens. Imperfection happens and thats what makes life good. It has helped me in my relationship with my husband, with my children, myself, and my extended family.

Yesterday, I was called to be the second counselor in the Relief Society presidency. I am so excited for this new calling. The President and the first counselor are good friends of ours. And I'm excited to get to know the secretary better, I've always liked her. This is going to be a great learning experience for me. It has been almost two years since I've been in relief society, so there are many new faces and people I don't know. I'm excited to get to know them. What an honor it is, to be able to serve the sisters in this capacity.

Also this last week. Malia received an award for an essay contest. She won 2nd place out of 3 campuses.  I didn't even know she had written it. It was a sweet essay about me.  I'm so proud of her! 

 Getting ready for our date night out for her awards night.

Malia and her amazing Teacher Ms. Johnson

 I live for, little moments, like this!

Another challenge this month was to post a picture of our battle scars.  Here is mine. Those expectations of the perfect, flat stomach... not real or necessary for me.  This scar is a symbol of a miracle...I am grateful for that!