on adoption

I lied. I'm not going to write about my opinions on politics. They have caused enough problems on facebook! It's been actually pretty funny to watch my liberal and conservative friends argue. It's weird having very liberal views on some things and very conservative views on others. It's also weird being more left wing than most of my church friends, and more right wing than my work friends.

Anyway.

Here's something I DO want to write about. Yesterday I had the opportunity to witness a brave, selfless mother place her child for adoption. I had been with her when she made the decision to place, and she had asked me to be with her when the time came for her to send the baby home with his new family. It definatley ranks up there in the top 2 emotional days at work. It was so sweet to watch the two mothers interact with each other- they both cared deeply for this baby and each other. This baby is so lucky. He has so many people who love him. Especially his birth mom, who knows she can't provide the life she wants for him. She also has such a love for the adoptive couple. Ever since she picked the couple, she has talked about them non stop and how happy she is to be able to bless them with a baby. I have so much love and respect for this young woman and all birth moms out there. They are amazing, amazing people.

Back to blogging?

For the past year, I've been missing my blog and wondering what I could write about. What I'm most passionate about is work, but obviously I can't write about that on here. Recently though, I've become more and more interested in politics. I think it's because I have a new smart phone and the only thing I know how to do on it is call people and check the news. Regardless, I've been posting all sorts of articles on my facebook and really enjoyed listening to what my friends and family members have to so. So, voila, I have something to write about again. This will probably get me in trouble, but at least I can't get fired for it like I almost did last time.

On a somewhat related note

http://lds.org/ensign/2011/02/similarities-and-differences?lang=eng&query=(ward+OR+unity+OR+sisterhood)+-family+-history

If this is how it really went down every Sunday, maybe us non mothers wouldn't feel need to boycott church on Mothers day

On Mother's Day

"You know, Mother's Day really is a horrible holiday. You've got all the people who wish they were mothers who are sad. Then you've got all the people who have lost their mothers who are sad. There's mothers who miss their kids who are scattered all over the country, so they are sad. And then there's all the people who have kids, but feel like they are a terrible mother and are not living up to anyones expectations so they are sad.... I really don't know anybody who actually LIKES this stupid holiday!"

-This person shall remain nameless, but this conversation made my day. This person is a mother, by the way.

Don't get me wrong. I think mothers are wonderful. I love my mom and am so, so thankful for everything she's done. Mothers DO deserve recognition for the sacrifices they make and everything they do to raise their kids.

But seriously. Mother's Day does kind of suck.

You know you're healthy when

- You're able to work full time

- Your last short term disability check comes in the mail

- You only have to see the doctor every couple months, instead of every day

- The wheelchair has been returned to the spare room

- The apartment maintenance staff has removed the wheelchair ramp from your front step

- You're able to run on a treadmill

- Your are able to go back to your routine of staying up way later than your wife

- Your wife's booklet of hospital parking passes is starting to collect dust in her car

- You are able to take long walks (and even hikes) that you weren't able to do before

- You can climb the steps to get to your friends second story apartment in under 10 minutes

These are a few exciting things that we've been up to lately. Jon is basically recovered and back in the swing of things. He has an appointment with his doctor in the next few weeks, but it's just to check in. We are so, so thankful that he is better!

This has been one of the most difficult things we have dealt with in our marriage (WAY harder than the 2007 cancer scare, and even harder than the miscarriages) but we have come out so much stronger. We work better as a team. I've learned to appreciate him more and snap at him less. (I'm still not perfect... it's a work in progress.) BUT we've been able to cook dinner together dozens of times, which we had NEVER been able to do before. I would get annoyed with him and kick him out of the kitchen after 5 minutes, but we've been able to work as a team recently. We've fought less. Smiled more. All in all, while this has been a huge trial, it's been a huge blessing because we are closer than ever.

So, what should I do with this blog now that he's better? Blogs usually get me in trouble. So I don't know if I will update this regularly. We will see.

Powdered milk whipped cream

Ok, this has nothing to do with Jon or Duke or anything important, but I have decided that people need to know that

POWDERED MILK WHIPPED CREAM IS GROSS!

I didn't have any whipping cream and didn't want to buy any because I'm cheap. I found a recipe online to make whipped cream with powdered milk, which we have in food storage. I decided to try it. At first, it made my whole kitchen smell like vomit. I thought "maybe my mixer just smells bad."

No, it was the whipped cream. It was so nasty! I decided to post this in case anyone googles "powdered milk whipped cream" and then hopefully this post will pop up and they will read it and avoid making a horrible mistake.

You're welcome.

My Duke Graduate

Jon graduated from physical therapy today!! He got a diploma and everything. His newest joke is that he is a Duke graduate. Hahaha!

He has been back at work part time for two weeks now, and will be steadily increasing his hours. Thank goodness!

It really hit me the other day how lucky we are that he is still here. I was joking that he should wear a cap and gown to physical therapy today, but then he told me that it's a pretty sad/serious place and it wouldn't be appropriate to wear that. Apparently a couple of people have died after leaving physical therapy and receiving lung transplants. Most of the people in his group were lung transplant patients, which is way more serious than what Jon had done, but it never occurred to me that his physical therapy friends were DYING. I am so thankful that he is still here with me and is making such a great recovery. Thank you all for your love and your prayers- we appreciate them!!