Another hero

I have so many friends that are heroes to me for so many reasons that I have wondered where to start. But I want to start with my friend Eleanor.

She is an amazing mum of 2 and a midwife in her other life. I have known her through church and our work with young people for over 8 years I think! We got on from the first time we met and have the same sense of humour and love of a bargain. We have had a similar upbringing in the Christian faith too - knowing the Bible is important to us and some may say we have quite set ideas on certain biblical principles!

Eleanor is my voice of reason quite a lot and she is someone who I can be completely myself with despite the fact I know she will be totally honest with me and tell me how it is, whether I want to hear it or not!! I know she totally cares about me and wants me to be the best I can be.

She is someone who I share a lot of parenting values with and I feel affirmed by her and like to think we support each other. Knowing that there are others who want to raise their children in a similar way is a hugely reassuring part of my life.

Eleanor did something last year for me that makes her a very special hero to me. She shared with Pete and I in the adventure of Sam's arrival into the world! I was in labour for what felt like days - all in all 37 hours and she was a constant source of strength and support for both of us. I was taken, rather quickly, to hospital after having quite a nasty bleed and she held my hand and got me to the right place while Pete parked the car. Being armed with all the facts is very important to me so having Eleanor explaining things really helped keep me sane and as calm as could be expected under the circumstances....
As things progressed VERY SLOWLY El stayed with us, looked after us both and said all the right things at all the right moments. (Including explaining to Pete that no one could 'force' me to have more drugs!) She held my hand when I needed it, gave me water, prayed with us, pushed my hair out of my eyes and told me I had given birth to a son. So precious, these words cannot sum up how special those hours were.
After Sam was born, the fun really began when my biggest fear was realised and I had retained placenta - a condition that had caused massive problems for my mum and she nearly died as a result. Pete had to look after Sam as I was taken quickly down to theatre. I was terrified and it was El I turned to to ask if I was going to die. She looked at me and told me I wasn't then scrubbed up and sat with me in theatre through the whole procedure. She answered my questions, held my hand and was just there. She gave up time she could've been at home with her family, time she could've spent asleep, time she could've spent blogging or shopping for real nappies online, but she chose to be with me in an operating theatre with all my dignity left at the door, as I cried and wondered how my son was. I can never thank her enough.

As I have faced and embraced being a mum she has always been there whenever I have needed some wisdom or support. I arrived at her door last week in tears after a rubbish hospital appointment and she invited me in, gave me a hug and offered me a sandwich. Who could ask for more!

She is my hero because of the friend and example she is. She has faced 2 very difficult pregnancies with courage and a stubborness in the face of adversity that no one can rival!! She is determined to enjoy her pregnancies no matter how her body objects and stands firm on her faith knowing that all things are possible through our God who proves himself real and true time after time. She sets a standard to be admired and aimed for, both as a wife and mother.

I'm back!

I am ashamed that it has been nearly 5 months since I blogged! Little Sam is not so little - over 22lbs and nearly 9 months old! He is an absolute joy and delight to be around and is so happy he is a blessing to more people than I can say, especially me!

We had a dedication service at church for him on the 7th June - our opportunity to thank God for him and publicly promise to be the best parents we can be. It was also a chance to say thank you to our wonderful church, family and friends for the support and encouragement they have been over the pat 6 year as we waited for Sam and after he was born. Eleanor, who was with me and kept me sane during my labour, read a passage from the Bible that was and is important to me in light of all we went through - 1 Samuel 1:9-20. Even friends who don't usually go to church thought it was so relevant to our circumstances.
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guess the other news I should share is... I'm pregnant with baby number 2!! How funny - God has a sense of humour, I can say that with assurance now! We are thrilled to bits to be expecting a brother or sister for Sam and so soon (that was always my ideal scenario!) I am due on December 22nd which should make for a very interesting Christmas. I am determined not to be 10 days overdue this time though - I know, I know, there is little I can so to control these things! However I will be hammering those old wives tales from 37 weeks, oh and going on my parent's neighbour's trampoline! (I am kind of joking about the trampoline but they is no judging how desperate I will become at the end!)

This pregnancy has been very different so far - I had morning sickness for one. 5 weeks of it to be exact and it was more like morning, afternoon and night sickness. I'm not complaining mind you, it was a challenge but it could be so much worse!

People keep asking me what I want - another boy or a girl so we have one of each. I can honestly say I don't mind. Sam is awesome and my main prayer for him is that he has a sibling he is close to and that when I and his dad die he has someone to go through it with and that they support and love each other. I know it sounds a bit daft but knowing I always have my sister is very important to me. I want Sam to know that security of family.

I am back at work now and yes, I know, not for long!! I am missing Sam during the day but I love the smile I get when I go and pick him up from my mum. Knowing he is in such safe hands is a massive comfort and gets me to the end of the day. My mum is a real hero.

It's been so long sice I posted so apologies for that but one of the reasons seems to be that Sam is taking after his mummy as a baby and not doing much in the way of day sleeping - just the occasional 'powernap' during which I get stuff done in the house while I can!

Christmas and New Year were great this year with an occasional moment when my heart ached when I remembered my nanan wasn't around. However my nanan would've gone mad if she thought we were being miserable over Christmas because it was a time she loved. Although Sam is so young he seemed to enjoy himself judging by the amount of smiles and giggles we have been receiving. He was shameless dressed up by me too - a shepherd for his first Christmas party and a full Santa outfit on Christmas day (oh yes!)

My favourite thing at Christmas has to be spending such great time with family. We spent Christmas day with my parents, sister and brother-in-law and it was lovely. Just relaxing together and being a family. I really appreciate how fortuanate I am. On Boxing day we went over to Pete's family and stayed there until New Year.

This brings me on to my next hero. My mother-in-law. I hear so many people complain about their mother-in-law. During these conversations I sit back all smug as mine is a legend! She is one of the kindest, most hospitable and caring people I have ever met. She is a fantastic grandma and Sam loves her - he seems to save great smiles for his grandparents. We went on holiday together last May and it was a fantastic week where we relaxed, really got to know about each other, prayed together, read together, lounged around on a beach together and ate great food together. That is one of my favourite holidays and just what I needed at 20 something weeks pregnant just when I was feel tired and uncomfortable. Praying with her was an important part of that holiday for me as I get nervous praying with others sometimes and with her I was comfortable straight away. That is something special to me,

My mother-in-law was amazing when I had Sam. I was on crutches for a few weeks and was really scared about Pete going back to work because I was worried about my mobility with Sam - would I drop him if I lost balance etc. My mother-in-law came over and stayed with us for week and cooked and cleaned and spent time with me and got to know Sam. It really took the pressure off us and allowed us all to enjoy those first precious weeks. My mother-in-law opens her home to so many people and as for her cooking - mmmmmmmm! I really look up to her and am so thankful to her for raising my pretty perfect husband.