Birthdays: Jennifer's 35th

I've always enjoyed my birthday. I'm not one of those people who are upset at aging, who lie about their age because they are ashamed, embarrassed or whatever. I LOVE that I am in my mid thirties! In general, I feel good about myself, physically, spiritually and emotionally (well, most of the time, anyway). I am at peace with where I am in life. I am satisfied and feel thankful for all that God has blessed me with thus far. And He has indeed blessed me.

Having said that, I am glad that this birthday wasn't like last year's...I spent the WHOLE day boo-hoo-ing about various things. Granted, I had just given birth, so I had good reasons to be weepy. Hormones all out of whack, going through such a huge change, bringing the baby home just a few days earlier... I cried about EVERYTHING!! Well, except for my age. I was fine with that.

I cried about Archie suddenly turning into a big boy and not a baby anymore like he was a few days previous. I cried about him worrying that I would love the new baby more than him. I cried because Archie and Phillip were so thoughtful to get me a cake. I cried because I was so big and puffy. I cried because my Mom would be leaving to return to Alabama soon. I cried because the leaves were beginning to turn yellow and summer would soon be over. I cried over every card and present my family gave me. It was a TOUGH birthday!

At least it wasn't last year. THIS year, Phillip decided to get his nasal surgery done on my birthday. Yeah! That's just what I wanted to do for my birthday...get the kiddos up at 5am, head to the hospital for who knows how long and be a nursemaid for the remainder of the day! Sounds like a fun party to me!

Phillip did need to get the surgery done so I'm glad it's done and over with, even though it made for a crummy birthday.

One of the most difficult things about living far away from family is having to go through stuff like this without family to help. Leaving the kids with just anyone isn't an option for me. I am very particular. There are just a few people I know here that I would trust with my kids, but I didn't feel like I should ask them to babysit at such an ungodly hour, with no real time-table on when we would be done. Bringing the kids to the hospital to wait for hours was not something I was looking forward to, but it was unavoidable.

So we arrived at the hospital at the dreadful hour of 6am. Lawrence was NOT happy about being up and out. He started off the morning right by getting real loud in the waiting room. We tried to appease him, but nothing worked for very long. I figured I'd break up the time by taking the kids to breakfast after Phillip got called to the surgery prep. Back he went and I got the kids outta there! We spent an hour or so at 'Old McDonalds' chit-chatting over breakfast. Lawrence got real happy when the pancakes and syrup came. He ate almost a whole order of them all by himself! He was super happy and giggly after the pancakes!

After we got back to the waiting area at the hospital, the kids played for a while and charmed some of the other folks waiting too. I couldn't go back to the recovery room to be with Phillip because they wouldn't let the kids go back. Again, a drawback to no reliable sitter help. Phillip was done by 9:30! Wow! I could hardly believe it! I was expecting at least noon or possibly 2pm! So it wasn't so bad (for us, anyway) after all.

Phillip, however, refused his pain medication at the hospital after the surgery I guess because he didn't want to feel loopy, so he was beginning to not feel so good on the ride and after we got home. I filled his scripts and drugged him up and sent him to bed. Archie was very attentive and helpful all day, making sure Daddy was doing okay and didn't need anything. A very compassionate kid we have!

All in all, the surgery went well. Phillip recovered well, and seems to be doing fine. Archie wanted to go out to dinner and do birthday celebrations, but with all the nose gauze, short bleeding episodes, and well, drugs, I felt like we could do it later! :-)

It was a crappy birthday, as far as birthday celebrations go, but I'm glad my husband has his health and is feeling better.

We celebrated over Labour day weekend in Indianapolis. A story for another post...