Day 8

Today I'm thankful for the people in my child's life that give me the answers that calm my heart.

This past week had been a rough one with lots of hives and a bit of wheezing. Talent was allergy tested in July and we received a list of things he is allergic to. A few of them he can have in moderation, a few we've never seen a single sign of an allergy, and then there are at least two that are very severe. His severe allergies scare me the worst. Peanuts and soy are his most severe allergies. This week he had reactions after several different things he ate and we just couldn't pinpoint what the cause was. I had called his doctor last week because he had hives and he was put on an oral steroid for a few days. This week we ended up in urgent med and then at his ENT's office. They finally have decided we can do more testing on the blood sample they took in July. I was happy to find out they keep his blood on file in a fancy lab somewhere just for situations like this. Yesterday at urgent med I felt very dismissed. Like nothing I said was even heard. They wanted my money and nothing else. Today at the ENT I actually felt validated. Dr. Kati listened to me and looked at as many pictures of my hive covered baby as I wanted to show her. She never made me feel rushed. She took the time to calm my fears and help me feel less frustrated.

Today is not the first time I've been calmed by one of Talent's caregivers. His regular doctor is just as wonderful. Last week when Talent was broke out in hives I called his office and left a message for a nurse. I was later told she didn't have time to call in an RX for him and that I needed to make an appointment. Well being a Monday I understood that the chances of me getting him in were pretty slim so I emailed his doctor directly. Within 20 minutes Dr. Herndon called me. He asked what was going on and told me he would call him in a steroid. And about 10 minutes later I was able to pick it up at the pharmacy. Dr. Herndon has been my doctor for 31 years. He delivered me. He has always been so easy for me to talk to. And now that I'm a parent there is no one else I trust to care for my child.

Between Talent's ENT and his regular doctor, I'm pretty blessed. You don't find doctors that have the time to listen to you anymore. Most of them are in such a hurry that they have forgotten why they are doing the job they do. These two of Talent's are pretty amazing. I'm thankful to have found them. I'm thankful that they are able to answer all of my paranoid mommy questions and calm all of my mommy fears.

Day 7

Have you ever seen "Bride Wars"? The two main characters in the movie are the very best of friends. They can't go one day without talking. They are so close. They feel lost without each other. Try can pretty much feel the others emotions like a freaky twin thing even though they aren't related. They bring out the best in each other and are there to fill in the gaps where the other has weaknesses. Liv & Emma are pretty much my best friend and me.

Shawna and I have known each other for years. We weren't always best friends though. I was friends with her brother in high school. After high school and college, we reconnected. We discovered we had a connection that is so unique. It has been tested over the years by distance, people, silence, babies, and so much more. But we've weathered every storm.

Shawna has been a constant in my life for over 7 years. She and I may have had moments in the past where we didn't talk often. We have even had moments where we didn't like each other a whole lot. But we have always found our way back together. We've always found a way to work things out. I'm thankful for that.

Shawna and I are best friends. Our relationship is a weird one that most people will never understand. We don't live in the same town. We see each other a handful of times a year. We talk maybe once or twice a week on a good week. We email every single day. But somehow when one of us needs the other we just feel it. Deep in our hearts it nags us and we have to call and hear the others voice.

I can't put into words today just how thankful I am to have my "Emma girl", Shawna. Although our relationship takes work at times, I wouldn't trade it for anything in this world. I am glad we have worked through our ups and downs and stayed as close as we have. So Shawna as you read this, know you are very loved. I'm proud to have you as my best friend. Love you!

Day 6

Today is Election Day. I've voted in every major election since I turned 18. It was the first big girl thing I did after turning 18. I registered the day I turned 18. I don't smoke so going out and being able to buy cigs wasn't a fancy fun thing to do. But voting, that right there just always sparked something in me. Being able to participate in a decision that was so much bigger than myself. Over the years I've voted for some great presidents and other offices that were up for election at the time. I remember watching the John Kerry & Bush debates. I hated John Kerry with every fiber of my being. I remember being so glad I had a right to vote that year. Unlike most people I loved (and still do) George W. Bush. Something about him was relatable. He seemed human. He made mistakes and didn't speak perfectly. His past was a little sketchy. He had faults. Just like the rest of America. The current president and his opponent.....I personally don't like either of them. This time voting was a challenge. Trying to pick the lesser of the two evils was a hard decision. I like and dislike different things about each of them. Regardless of my lack of enthusiasm for the candidates today, I'm thankful I had the right to vote. I'm thankful to have been able to get up and get out there to my polling place and let my vote count. I know as a woman, that right isn't one we've always had. It's important that we use those rights when we have the opportunity. So today I'm so very thankful that I have the right to go and vote for our nations leader. It's is something most people don't take very seriously and a lot of people take for granted.

Day 4 & 5

Today I'm going to play catch up. Talent broke out in hives yesterday and was sick so I missed a day. He seems better today so I'm going to try and get caught up on this today.

I'd like to say I'm thankful for my Mom & Daddy. Together they raised me to be a hardworking and gracious individual. They both taught me different things. Dad taught me how to fix stuff, solder, install light fixtures, and what all the tools were in his garage. Mom taught me how to bake, sew(even though I suck at it), be a great mom, and be a nurturer.

I love my parents. They are wonderful people. They have given me all of the tools I needed to be a good parent. All the things I needed to know what to do and how to raise my own child. I couldn't have asked for better examples to follow.

My Mom is my favorite Saturday date. We go and shop and do girl things together. We always have fun. There isn't anything I can't share with her. She's such a great mom and I'm so thankful that she's mine.

My Daddy is my sounding board. Whenever I need someone to just let me vent or be upset or just talk, he's there. He's my comforter when I need someone. He has always been such an amazing Daddy. He was the first love of my life.

I've been blessed beyond what I deserve with them. They are truly amazing and I just hope that they know just how amazing I think they are. So days 4 & 5.....I'm thankful for my awesome parents.

Day 3

Today I am thankful music. Without it my life would feel so empty. I've always said that I'm a music junkie. That music is like oxygen to me. It truly is. Today while on the way to take my grandparents their van back I heard a song on the radio that made me a little teary. It's a song I've heard a million times and today it just hit me a little harder simply because I'm starting the month of November. Sometimes the words I feel in my heart are hard to speak but I can find you a song to say exactly what I need to say. I'm truly thankful for music. I'm glad I get to share the beauty of music with my sweet boy and see his love for it grow. It makes me happy that he already comes to me and asks for the radio to be turned on so he can dance. So that's my thankful for today.