So many wonderful people have written to ask how we are, updates on Sara, how Joey is….. thank you so much for your prayers and kindness!
Sara is wonderful! Twenty five weeks and looking pregnant pretty. You know what I mean. Some women look so ill, but not Sara. Sara is beautiful right now. She absolutely glows! She is feeling the baby who is soooo active, rolling and kicking and tickling her inside. Dr. Jack is very much a part of this process as Sara keeps him updated about herself and the baby. We are all so grateful to him because this would not be happening without him! She tells her PCOS group about him all the time, explaining that there is hope! She changed her diet and had four pregnancies!
In November, she had a procedure to keep the baby inside which will be reversed closer to her date. She did great with it and is really a picture of health. She has to inject herself with blood thinners each day but a mom does what a mom has to do. A minor inconvenience for what will be.
She feels really great but has restricted activities. Very restricted. She is allowed to work her office job, but got a parking space near the door. She can’t lift, no vacuuming, no pushing anything. We have worked out a system. Every Saturday I go to her house. I do all their laundry for the week and all those scrubbing jobs. I clean, dust, vacuum, do their floors and scrub her bathroom and kitchen. I try each week to do a few extra things, so she is not sitting there thinking she needs to clean something. I think I make her a little crazy but she lets me do what I want.
I ask her to make a list of extra jobs and I try to tackle one each week, but sometimes, I can’t as we all get busy. Either Russ, or Joey or I take her to the grocery store. We carry and lift and push her cart. She does a few organizing jobs while I am there so she doesn’t feel as though she isn’t doing anything. Like any of us, it’s hard to sit, and watch someone else clean your house. Russ teased her that since I have been coming the house is a lot cleaner. Yes, he is still alive! Lol…. it was just teasing and sweet of him to think I do so much better.
Plans for a shower are underway and we are all breathing easier as each week goes on.
The baby is a girl, Rachael Christine, and is due to arrive May 12. I know, I am truly honored and beyond touched. It was my son in law who made that decision, and there are reasons for it. She is named Rachael as way to name the baby after him. And for me…. well he honored me with that and I am moved beyond words.
We will see what day Sweet Rachael has planned for her birthdate. I told Sara to hold her breath for a week or so as my birthday is the 18th and I was born on my dad’s birthday so how cute would that be? But I don’t care when she comes. I just pray each day for her safe delivery and the health of her and Sara.
Joey is doing okay. He has had some horrible days. Like anyone, his grief comes in a wave. There often is no rhyme or reason to it. Something happens, he touches something or hears something and the wave of grief comes.
But, on the other hand, he is living. He gets up every day and shows up for his life. He goes to work, talks with friends, and is often at Sara’s having dinner or hanging out. He has tried to make his way. He love so to invite Shannon’s mom for dinner and cook for her. He enjoys talking to her grandpa and tries to call him regularly.
This hasn’t been easy for him and the effects do show up, often when he least expects them to. But he tries….. after all, it has only been six months. No more can be expected of him. Like anyone in grief, he is working hard to make a life for himself again. He talked about some goals he has and I support in as much as I can.
One of the hardest tasks is grocery shopping. I know that might sound silly, but Joey and Shannon always showed with me. We would wander around Wegmans and they picked out food they enjoy and I picked out food for myself. We would get food for the animals, and it was always fun. It’s not as fun anymore.
So often in the middle of it, I look at him and I can see the grief building. At those moments we fly threw the rest of the store and go home. He has done a great job of cooking for himself each night. I usually have tutoring so he has to cook for himself. He is making his way…. slowly. He is looking forward to being an uncle, and has plans to spoil the baby. That keeps him moving.
My ex husband had a partial leg amputation in the last few months, so the kids run there quite a bit which added in some stress. But things are better now and everyone is on the mend.
I do appreciate all of you who keep asking how we are. I thank you for your prayers and kindness and I keep you in mine.
Hugs,
Chris