Ah, I woke up this morning jammed between my children, nursing my newborn and my four year old plastered against my back (he claims he can't sleep any other way). This precious moment in the soft darkness of the early morning hour also tingled with anticipation and excitement. Today is the Last First Day! Later in the morning my wonderful husband, DJ, a.k.a Cinderella Man, will be heading off to the first day of classes of his last semester before he graduates. We dubbed today as the Last First Day. We are on the brink of new chapter in our lives. Being on the last page of the present chapter we can see a fresh new beginning, a new start.
This stretch of the journey has had its difficulties. It was precipitated by the affliction of the Bogey Man: the fight against cancer. While helping Jay fight for his life we built up some sizable debt. When we got back home after his death we struggled to pay this debt. Looking at all of our options we decided that DJ finishing his degree, which would increase his wage earning capabilities, was the best route to take. It was that, or head into bankruptcy, eventually. We sold our house and moved closer to the University where he is now set to finish in May. Living off of financial aid, income from a part-time job, and getting some assistance from the state (which really grates against our pride), we have barely made it. We have had some help from friends and family along the way as well. With all of this help we have eeked by....I mean really eeeeeeeked by. And here we are at the Last First Day.
On the first of the year, I came home from the hospital with a brand new member of our little nest, so sweet and precious, an incredible miracle. Two weeks later DJ begins the last leg of his University journey. CC, my eighteen year old Bluebird is graduating from highschool. The next few months holds the beginning and ending of two phases of life for the House of J. It is like looking from the deck of the ship across the ocean to the mainland after being shipwrecked, rebuilding the boat, setting sail once more, and now, finally coming home. Well, we have set our sails full speed ahead. We have hit rocks, icebergs, encountered squalls and storms of all kinds, and even sea monsters. The rest of the journey will be smooth sailing now because today is the Last First Day and shore is just a breath away. So, I will be waking each day with tingling excitement and anticipation for what lays ahead for the House of J. We are making our dreams come true one step at a time. So, hurray, DJ! It is our Last First Day!
Monday, January 14, 2013
Thursday, January 10, 2013
My Cinderella Man
Though the last couple of weeks have been a challenge for me physically, this time has also been like heaven. When bringing a brand new baby home life can be helter skelter. Routines don't seem to exist anymore. The goals we set out to accomplish get forgotten. With the birth of our new little songbird, a time warp was engaged. Time stood still (especially that last little bit of labor and delivery). The first moment I set my eyes on our baby girl thrust me into the moment, the present. I was exhausted, thankful with the relief of no longer being in pain. But, all of that became a side issue, like a dust bunny in the corner. There she was, an intimate partner in life, yet a stranger as well. She was beautiful. Still is. And cute as all get out.
With DJ by my side holding our Songbird, the nurses and doctor worked on me to keep me from saying good-bye to this world. Things in the room began to get fuzzy like an old black and white TV, and my ears started to ring and the sounds in the room were as if they were filtered with cotton in my ears. I lost too much blood. All the while my man stood by me like a sentry, quiet, gentle, yet a very strong presence that I could hold onto. During this time of rushed activity around me, I felt at peace. I felt calm. In the background I could hear him speak to our little girl, comforting her and letting her know that she was so very welcome in this world. I couldn't hear exactly what he was saying. I just heard his voice. And two of us in that room were comforted with the warmth of his voice.
At home, DJ insisted that I lay on the couch. He would do all the other chores. My job was to get better, to recuperate, to rebuild my strength, and nourish our little hatchling. All the cooking, cleaning, laundry, dishes, errands, and chores...of any kind....were done by my Cinderella Man. My slightest wish was his command. He wouldn't let me do anything, and demanded that I obey him for once. I agreed. I felt like I had been hit by a truck. With the pain in my sacrum and tailbone, getting off of the couch took me about a minute's worth of effort and groaning before I could stand upright. I was also out of breath when walking from room to room due to a very low hemoglobin. So, Cinderella Man did it all.
We have been using cloth diapers because our little one broke out in a terrible, painful rash from paper diapers. We even tried the pure and natural, organic paper diapers. The moment we took the disposable diaper off of her one night it was as if peace descended upon the earth. She immediately quit crying. We have used cloth diapers since. This means my Cinderella Man has been rinsing, washing, drying and folding diapers. You would be amazed at how many diapers a little wee one can go through at this age. Those disposable ones are deceiving. In the beginning, while trying to learn our little songbird's sleep, wake, and diapering patterns, Cinderella Man would wash diapers three times a day, along with our other laundry.
For some reason, the dishes seemed to multiply by the number of diapers that also needed to be washed. DJ would do dishes multiple times during the day. We don't have a dishwasher. So, all those dishes were done in the sink by my Cinderella Man, who also did the cooking. He would cook me three square meals a day. Make tea for me, fill up my water bottle, and take care of TJ as well. When I needed to sleep, DJ would hold our beautiful Songbird and entertain our amazing four year old.
Just now, as I was nursing our little bundle of cuteness and joy, I had a coughing fit which is extremely painful due to the injury to my lower spine. I called out to DJ for something wet and quick! He ran to the freezer and pulled out my water bottle and rushed it to me. At some point this morning, DJ had put my water bottle in the freezer. He knows that my preference is to drink cold water instead of room temperature water. He did this for me without me knowing it.
DJ does so many things for me through out the day. I can't even name all of them. But, what is more impressive is his attitude while doing all that he does. He demands that I take this treatment from him, this selfless service, so that I can heal, so that I can be the person I am truly meant to be, one at peace, joy, and in love. Thank you, Cinderella Man! I love you so much! I cannot imagine life without you!
With DJ by my side holding our Songbird, the nurses and doctor worked on me to keep me from saying good-bye to this world. Things in the room began to get fuzzy like an old black and white TV, and my ears started to ring and the sounds in the room were as if they were filtered with cotton in my ears. I lost too much blood. All the while my man stood by me like a sentry, quiet, gentle, yet a very strong presence that I could hold onto. During this time of rushed activity around me, I felt at peace. I felt calm. In the background I could hear him speak to our little girl, comforting her and letting her know that she was so very welcome in this world. I couldn't hear exactly what he was saying. I just heard his voice. And two of us in that room were comforted with the warmth of his voice.
At home, DJ insisted that I lay on the couch. He would do all the other chores. My job was to get better, to recuperate, to rebuild my strength, and nourish our little hatchling. All the cooking, cleaning, laundry, dishes, errands, and chores...of any kind....were done by my Cinderella Man. My slightest wish was his command. He wouldn't let me do anything, and demanded that I obey him for once. I agreed. I felt like I had been hit by a truck. With the pain in my sacrum and tailbone, getting off of the couch took me about a minute's worth of effort and groaning before I could stand upright. I was also out of breath when walking from room to room due to a very low hemoglobin. So, Cinderella Man did it all.
We have been using cloth diapers because our little one broke out in a terrible, painful rash from paper diapers. We even tried the pure and natural, organic paper diapers. The moment we took the disposable diaper off of her one night it was as if peace descended upon the earth. She immediately quit crying. We have used cloth diapers since. This means my Cinderella Man has been rinsing, washing, drying and folding diapers. You would be amazed at how many diapers a little wee one can go through at this age. Those disposable ones are deceiving. In the beginning, while trying to learn our little songbird's sleep, wake, and diapering patterns, Cinderella Man would wash diapers three times a day, along with our other laundry.
For some reason, the dishes seemed to multiply by the number of diapers that also needed to be washed. DJ would do dishes multiple times during the day. We don't have a dishwasher. So, all those dishes were done in the sink by my Cinderella Man, who also did the cooking. He would cook me three square meals a day. Make tea for me, fill up my water bottle, and take care of TJ as well. When I needed to sleep, DJ would hold our beautiful Songbird and entertain our amazing four year old.
Just now, as I was nursing our little bundle of cuteness and joy, I had a coughing fit which is extremely painful due to the injury to my lower spine. I called out to DJ for something wet and quick! He ran to the freezer and pulled out my water bottle and rushed it to me. At some point this morning, DJ had put my water bottle in the freezer. He knows that my preference is to drink cold water instead of room temperature water. He did this for me without me knowing it.
DJ does so many things for me through out the day. I can't even name all of them. But, what is more impressive is his attitude while doing all that he does. He demands that I take this treatment from him, this selfless service, so that I can heal, so that I can be the person I am truly meant to be, one at peace, joy, and in love. Thank you, Cinderella Man! I love you so much! I cannot imagine life without you!
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Overdue
Yesterday, January 5th, was my due date. BUT, today is the one week anniversary of our little baby Bluebird. At 6.35pm she made her appearance. She is incredibly beautiful. I would say that even if she was someone else's baby. She weighed in at 8 pounds 11.8 ounces, and was 20 inches long. She has a head full of black hair. Well, it has been quite a week for us here at the House of J. I will write more later as I have energy. I just wanted to get something posted before my new resolution to start blogging again wanes or gets side-tracked.
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