Also, Trent is not helping.... I have to write about it if I am being honest about our life.... One day (March 27th, I'll never forget) after a particularly bad case and a late work dinner, I came home to a little boy with a buzzed head. I'm not going to get into how much I have ALWAYS hated the "buzz cut" (which Trent knows) or the fact that it happened (conveniently) when I wasn't home or how mad I was and for how long. The fact of the matter is, Gabriel's beautiful little curls are all gone. And it's all his dad's fault. Rookie mistake.
At the beginning of March, however, we had a particularly great experience in our own home. One of Indy's *premier* photographers, aka Sarah Hill, came to our house and took pictures of us doing "every day" stuff....(minus the sweat pants, pony tail, robe, glasses, etc). But things that we will want to remember forever - giving Stella a bottle, following Gabriel as he "toddles" around the house, reading books together, and so on. I was amazed at how much I loved these less-posed, more-real shots, and once we sell this house, they will also be a momento of a house we became a family in and love so much. Absolute high point of the month.
Another nearly-perfect day came unexpectedly one Monday that I happened to be off work. I love those days that are seemingly mundane, and turn into gems as they progress. First, my brother called and needed someone to watch my niece Ella, and I was only too happy to oblige. I don't get to see her much, and when I do, I usually have one of my own kids to deal with... So some one-on-one time with her was so much fun. I love seeing a baby learn virtually right before your eyes. Sitting and standing and playing and talking. So fun. Love.her.
Later on that same day, the Kalers called with an impromtu dinner invitation, which we are almost NEVER able to do... there's always work or kids or plans.... but somehow, this night worked for us. I should have known it was going to be an evening in "rare form" when Andy greeted Trent at the door with a frosty beer in matching sweatpants. And no - they didn't plan it. Jen and I were both wearing acceptable dinner attire and these two boys were wearing the same.exact.sweatpants. Same color, same style, same brand. Matching. Wow. Well, while we ate, Gabriel was supposed to get a tube feeding. For a few days, I had noticed the tube was sticking out of his belly a little more than usual, but hadn't been concerned... but don't you know, I lifted up his shirt and it was 3/4ths of the way out of his belly. We needed to perform a tube-ectomy/change out, but I was worried it would freak out our hosts. When we finally realized it had to be done regardless, Trent got the spare out of the car, and we got the new tube ready. I went to take out the old tube and it was stuck...I met resistance and Gabriel winced and let out a little squeal. Since the tube never bothers him, I was even further worried and I decided (again) to wait to change it out until we got home. But that wasn't possible. It was now hanging by a thread, so we had to get the Kalers involved. A little petroleum jelly and a firm *pop* and it was out. Turns out, the tube was defective, but I was shaken. I think Andy was too because he had a couple more sips of beer (not.a.drinker). Anyway, the whole night was a perfect storm of hillarity and joking, and we had a great time. And gabriel's betrothed, Ella, was a doll - perfect the entire evening. Oh and Stella was a grouch. Imagine that!
It is nights like those that you really look forward to after a long day, a gruesome week, or, in Trent's case, a frustrating year at work. I previously wrote a little bit about his work situation, and this month it all came to a head. Through all of our struggles as a family this year that seemed to stem from work issues, God has led us to a very hard decision. Trent came to me one day, and told me that he thinks it is best for our family if he stays home with the kids for the next couple of years. While this is what I wanted all along - a family that is raised from within - I always knew that in order for it to carry any validity, it was important for Trent to come to this conclusion on his own (through prayer). While working has ALWAYS been very important to Trent, paying for someone else to raise our kids is NOT an ideal situation, and now that we are going to lose Alicia as our nanny (who is family), we just can't find it in our hearts to look for someone who will love our kids and teach them about life like we would. So last week, Trent turned in his resignation. I think a weight was lifted from him, and he is already feeling some relief. There will be some hard days that I KNOW he will wish he had a job to "get out of the house" to, but for us, for now, this is the right thing and peace is starting to set in.
No comments:
Post a Comment