Happy Housewife!!

I AM NOT COMPLAINING! SAM IS THE BIGGEST BLESSING IN MY LIFE AND I WOULD NOT CHANGE THAT FOR ANYTHING....with that said....I wanted to mention the things that I've found to be challenging so far....

...I was spoiled all these years. I could come and go as I pleased and get 50 things done in one day. Now I live my life in 3-4 hour increments. I love being home, but challenges abound when you're a house wife.

The first has to be the lack of sleep, of course. Even with only getting 2 -4 hours sleep a night, I am very awake in the mornings. A hot shower helps even more then the coffee does. Evenings are harder for me because after being awake all day (I'm not a nap taker....I can't shut my mind off.), and I sit to relax on the couch, my eyes get heavy quickly. I don't know how single moms do it! I have a divorced friend who had a new baby last spring and she lives in an apartment with the new baby and a 3 year old. Her mother and sister live close by, but she has to take ALL the night shifts on her own. Without Richard, I don't know what I'd do.

Second, would have to be, finding time for my husband and I to eat and drink. I've taken to carrying a water bottle around with me, just so I won't get dehydrated. When I get stressed I don't eat and I've lost about 6 pounds over the past 2 weeks and that is not good, considering I only weigh 100 pounds (on a good day). My brother told me that when his twin girls were born, his wife and he survived off of cereal for the first two weeks. I want to eat well, but I don't want to take the time away from Samuel to plan things and dinner time is when he is usually very awake. So, I went out and brought frozen entrees that can we cooked quickly. We're going to do this for now until we get used to all the changes.

Third, how to organize my day!?! Since I live my life in 3-4 hour increments, I have to plan errands and duties differently. I found FLYLADY about a year ago and she really helped me to reorganize how I get house hold chores done. Now, I'm going to have to totally rework the schedule I came up with, to fit Samuel's schedule. My sister, MaryKay, said that she found, when she had her first child and then her second, she had to totally lower her expectations for what she would and could get done in a day. That is exactly what I'm finding too. If I get one, two or three projects (bed made, laundry done, bathroom cleaned) done in the morning and maybe another (finances) done in the afternoon....now that is a good day. 

EVEN THOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN CHALLENGES, I CAN'T END THIS POST WITHOUT MENTIONING MY BLESSINGS! 

I wouldn't be able to do any of this without my best friend, Richard. I've always known my husband was a wonderful man, but in the past two weeks this man has been AMAZING. He encourages me to take naps, brings me drinks, rubs my back, calls from work to make sure I ate lunch, stops off at the grocery store on the way home, tells me I'm a great mom and cooks too. He's done all this, without ever uttering a single complaint. He loves holding and feeding his son. He's really stepped up and loves being a Dad. Sorry ladies, but he's ALL mine!

Our family has also been AMAZING! Richard's family has not only provided monetarily, but has mailed us clothes, a hand made blanket and toys too. Without them, this adoption would never have taken place. Apple, which is Richard's mother, will be visiting in January. She's written to Samuel (personally), a couple of cute notes, which I will save and put in his baby book. My sister, Genie, has saved my life in more ways then one. I've called her at 2 AM having a panic attack. She's great at relaxing me and calming my fears. Not everyone would let you do this and still come over the next day to cook you dinner, wash your kitchen floor, let you cry on her shoulder, buy you groceries and stay the night to let you and your husband rest. Thank you so so much, Genie. My mother loves being a grandmother. She's come by, probably, 5 out of the past 10 days, just to hold Samuel. (Thanks for driving her over, Dad.) This then gave me a chance to go grocery shopping and walk the dog. I also can't forget my two brothers, Mark and John who have provided "money for the cause" too. We'll have a visit soon from Mark, his wife and twins and my other two sisters. We are hoping to take a trip this summer to California, so Samuel can meet all of the family on Richard's side too. I don't know what I'd do without this TERRIFIC family! I LOVE YOU ALL! THANK YOU SO, SO MUCH!

I am also blessed to have my "blogger buddies." You have all been so supportive and encouraging. I look forward to all the prayers and comments. I had said I was taking a bloggy brake, but I find that writing and posting are very therapeutic and I need you guys to get through my day. It's amazing how God has touched my life through the Internet. Thank you so much for being there for my family! Amy even sent me a Christmas card. What a great surprise that was!!

I've always been a home body and I love "keeping" house. So being a mom and taking care of Richard and my dear Samuel has really made me feel that I am finally who I was always meant to be. I still get emotional when I think about all we've been through and how much God has blessed our lives. God is so good!