Life Since Then, Part 1

Wow… my last blog was March 8^th. I need to get back in the grove of things, but it just seems that now there is simply not enough hours in the day to get what I need done… let alone anything extra that I WANT to do.

So much has happened since then...

Two days after posting my last blog, I got news that a girl that was once a childhood best friend had passed away unexpectedly. Her and I had a massive falling out when I moved in with my dad during my freshman year of high school but we had been back in touch for almost a year up to that point and were in the process of mending our relationship. My sister texted me saying she saw something about it on facebook and wanted me to hear it from her before I found out online. It wasn’t something that anyone saw coming. She was always so upbeat and involved with nearly everything at her college. She had a way about her where nearly everyone that met her instantly liked her. Her energy and laughter was contagious and there was never a dull moment when she was involved. But the best thing about her was how she loved to help people. Any time anyone needed anything, Amber was the first one there offering her help… no questions asked. This news prompted an unexpected and bittersweet trip to WV. I got to see so many people that I hadn’t seen in many, many years which sparked renewed friendships. I will forever be grateful for Amber and how she’s affected my life both directly and indirectly.

The most pressing and time consuming thing was waiting on Trevor (yes, the ultrasound showed the baby was going to be a boy) to get here and all the prepping that was involved. We had to build rooms downstairs to make room for the baby which I believe I mentioned in my last blog – a bedroom for Timothy and an office for me. We finally got the rooms finished by the mid July after starting in January followed by several months of almost constant setbacks. Ok, not really setbacks, but just various other things that took precedence.

Brian coached Thomas’s baseball team again and I helped him with that. I was lucky that baseball season fell within my second trimester… the massive energy drain of my first trimester was killer. As the season got towards the end, I really relied on the help of some of the players or other coaches to help get gear on kids or really anything that involved bending over. At the same time, Timothy was also playing baseball but on a different team for a different league. So once again, we were juggling the boys needing to be in two different places which meant that some of it was at the same time. It felt like Brian and I were almost constantly going in separate directions. I think the hardest thing to accomplish at that time was to just have some time to ourselves as a couple… not as parents or as tired, worn out people… but to really enjoy time together alone.

And I should mention… sometime during the summer (I don’t remember when), I managed to drive the tractor through our garage. I had driven the trash down to the end of the driveway – in flip flops. On my way back, I was turning the tractor so I could park it next to the house and my flip flop got stuck under the gas pedal and the corner of the bucket hit the house. After several choice expletives, I got off and looked at where it had connected. Timothy came over to me and his first words were “yea, you should call Dad.” I called Brian and the following conversation took place:
Me: Hey, where are you?
Him: I’m almost home… stuck in New Carlisle behind a truck that sprays paint lines on the road.
Me: Ok. Well, before I tell you this, I just want you to know that I love you very much.
Him: Did you hit the car with the tractor? (He knew I was taking the trash down.)
Me: No, just the house.
Him: No you didn’t.
Me: Yea… I did.
Him: How bad is it?
Me: There’s a hole. Like, I can stick my hand through it.
*click*
*ring, ring*
Me: Yea? (crying)
Him: I’m sorry I hung up. I’ll be home in a few and look at it.
Me: Ok, love you.
Him: Love you too.
Brian pulled into the driveway and didn’t park there… he pulled to the side of the house. I was outside walking around it – still crying. I had ran the edge of the bucket completely through the wall and had pushed the side door off of the supports. Crap. Thankfully, I married a man that knows how to fix my screw-ups. He managed to have it fixed the next day. I’ve only been on the tractor a handful of times since.

We ended up taking a weekend trip to WV in July after baseball season ended to see some of my family and friends. We hadn’t been out of town alone (not around here “out of town” but I mean on some kind of vacation) since our honeymoon in 2011. It was only two days, but we were well overdue for some time away together. But it was the relaxation I needed to get myself in gear to have Trevor’s room ready before he got here.

Two weekends later, “baby frenzy” started with my shower at Sugar Isle Golf Course in New Carlisle. I was so thankful for my friends and family that was able to make it… even if they couldn’t stay long, their presence meant a lot to me. I was especially thankful for my Dad and two of my brothers that stayed and helped with anything and everything that they were asked to. I honestly don’t think I’ve ever seen my Dad so excited… at least, not up until that point.

The next weekend was Brian’s family reunion that we always host at our house. It was an incredible day… not too hot and didn’t rain. His family is always incredibly helpful while here and their help made the day go so much smoother… something to be really grateful for while 8 months pregnant. I believe the total number of people that came was 62. Down from the 74 from last year, but still an awesome turnout!

To be continued... Trevor's birth is next!