5

Three years ago right now I was pregnant. We were just a few weeks away from finding out what we were having and the anticipation of that appointment was about to kill me. We both wanted a boy SO badly. I was having morning sickness, or as I like to refer to it, all day sickness, pretty much every day. I couldn't eat meat at all. I was pretty much a vegetarian for my entire pregnancy. I ate a lot of Mexican food. I ate a ton of apples....probably at least two bags a week if not more. Pregnancy was a roller coaster ride for me. But, I cherished the time I carried my sweet baby.

Fast forward to now. I have a beautiful little boy. He makes me laugh, he makes me smile. I am so thankful to have him. He is the most loving, kind hearted, and sweet boy that I have ever known. He's smart and never forgets anything.

Talent is one of the best things that has ever happened to my life. Being his Mommy has brought me a joy that I never knew existed. I remember the first time I saw him and heard him cry. There were tears of happiness in my own eyes. I remember the first time I saw my husband hold him, and how much my heart was filled with love for the two of them. I remember the first time I was home all alone with him and how nervous I was. But, I made it through. I remember my first time going out with him to the store all alone. It was the scariest thing ever, but, we survived. His first smile, first laugh, when he learned to crawl, walk, and now as he is learning to talk in full sentences.....watching him grow and learn has been one of the most rewarding things for me.

Everyday that I get to wake up to this beautiful child I am thankful. I am thankful that God heard my prayers and answered them. I am thankful that God chose me to be Talent's Mommy. I am so thankful that I get to spend each day with Talent at home. I am thankful I get to teach him new things, read to him, and tuck him in at night. I don't know how I lived before I had him. But I know I'm so thankful to have Talent in my life. I'm so glad I get to be his Mommy. I am blessed beyond what I deserve with this little boy of mine.

4

Blessings come in many disguises. Today I am super thankful for my chiropractor and his office staff. I've been seeing this chiropractor since almost a year after I had Talent. I had a lot of residual pain from my epidural. I had tried pain meds but just didn't want to be on them because I have a child to raise and a family to care for. 

After talking with a good friend whose husband is a chiropractor, I decided I'd give chiropractic care a try. I am hooked on this method of treatment. It has helped my back, jaw, & migraine pain. 

I'm not just blessed by the care I've received from my actual doctor, although he is absolutely wonderful. His staff is amazing. They have called to check on me if I've been in because of a migraine. They have texted me to remind me about appointments. They have called as soon as I've left if I have forgotten anything, like a piece of jewelry today. They look out for me. They care about me. I'm thankful to have caregivers and staff that are so kind and caring. 

In the busy world that we live in it is getting less and less common to find caregivers and staff that are truly caring. I'm fortunate to have such an amazing group of people taking care of me. So, today, I'm thankful for Dr. Ralph Lepien and his office staff. Cindy, Yadira, Tabrina, & Jessica---you ladies are the best ever. Thank you for all that you do! 

2

Many times in this life we take for granted those that put up with us at our very worst. We expect them to put up with our attitudes when our attitude sucks. We often treat these people worse than we treat strangers. 

I'm thankful that the people I love still love me despite my poor attitude. I know my family sometimes get the worst of me when they deserve the very best I have to give. I am so grateful that they put up with me and love me at my worst and my best. 

I'm blessed to have a family that loves me at my best and worst. I am constantly working to do better. It isn't always easy. Life is stressful. But I know that with a little prayer and an open mind, I can change my attitude. 

3

There is a song by Miranda Lambert called "Safe" and it reminds me of my husband. In this crazy life I always have him to keep me safe. At the end of a crazy week, stressful day, or just during a low point for me...he's always there. He is the one that makes everything better whether he realizes he's doing it or not. 

One great example is today. I have not felt good all weekend. I've been fighting off a cold and trying to keep Talent well also. I somehow got Talent well but I woke up still feeling puny this morning. I had sinus pressure and a migraine. But I got up and did three loads of laundry, cleaned the kitchen, and took care of our child. 

When Seth got home from duck hunting I told him I wasn't making lunch because I wasn't cleaning the kitchen again today. He said he would get pizza. So we had pizza for lunch. Then I put T down for a nap after lunch and laid down too. Dinner rolled around and I made myself soup. Seth realized then that I was actually sick. So he cleaned the kitchen, made his breakfast for the week, made T quit arguing with me, and let me sit and rest without making me feel bad about not making his stuff for the week. He even took out the trash. 

I do a lot around here. I don't often get a night off to just sit. But tonight Seth realized what I needed so he did what I usually do without me having to ask. He even let me take a shower first. I know it sounds like a small thing but tonight it was a big thing. 

I am thankful for this man who loves me enough to want to take care of me. I'm thankful that I have a good marriage. I'm so thankful that I have a husband that realizes what he has. I am just thankful God sent Seth my way. He is not perfect but he is perfect for me. And I love him. 

Photos done by ToMorrow's Memories Photography 

November. Day 1

For the last couple of years I've done 30 days of thankfulness in November. I do it because a few years ago I lost several loved ones in the month of November and it makes this month a little hard for me to deal with. With each year it gets easier. But, I still like to do the thankful posts and share what I am thankful for. 

So to start my 30 days of thankfulness, I'd like to say how thankful I am for the people that made last night a fun and SAFE night for my son. 

Talent has several food allergies. The most severe is peanuts, tree nuts, and fish. Well, during holidays that involve candy, like Halloween and Easter, I am a candy nazi. I don't let him go to just any house. I don't let him go to community events. We have a few places that we know are safe and we only go to those places. 

Lastnight we went to only four houses. We went to my inlaws, my grandparents, his Aunt Boo's, and his Aunt Jenny's. In just four houses my child came home with a full bucket of goodies. My family and friends all asked ahead of time what Talent could have and they all had those things for him. He has a bucket full of suckers, M&M's, twizzlers, raisins, stickers, and bubbles. He had so much stuff! He was so excited to have a bucket full of goodies like all of the kids around him. 

I am not saying I want him to have all kinds if candy and things. I just want him to be able to feel included. I want him to be safe. It is really hard being an allergy mom during these kinds of holidays. People think you are so paranoid. They don't realize that your child could die simply because another child had a peanut candy and touched your candy bowl. 

I'm thankful that my friends and family take Talent's allergies seriously and take extra steps to make sure he is safe. Getting him books, stickers, bubbles, & safe candies that they have cleared through me are all so nice. The fact that they love him enough to want to do these things means so much to me. I'm very thankful to have these people in my life.