I'm Thankful For...

Speakerphone.

Why? Because I've been able to sit on hold with Medicaid for the past hour and I don't have a stiff neck. And because Joseph can talk to his grandmas and uncles and aunts and cousins. And because I can talk to my mom while I'm doing stuff (except I haven't done that for a long time because Joseph cries for the phone and won't let me).

I'm Thankful For...

My awesome new background made by my cousin, Heather.

Thanks Heather! I love it!

My visiting teachers.

Trouble Being Thankful...

I have to admit that I've been having trouble being thankful the past few days. And it all has to do with money, specifically the lack of money. I've been worrying a lot lately because we don't have any money and there are things that we could really use. Now that Annabelle is here, I have to go back to my old wardrobe, a lot of which is now too small or is not nursing friendly. And Mitchell, Joseph, and I don't have very good winter wardrobes because it didn't get that cold in Virginia. It wouldn't be as big of a deal, except that we have to pay for every load of laundry that we do and it's getting really expensive. And we are suddenly needing to buy WAY more diapers and wipes. I don't even know how we are going to make it to the end of the month. It's seeming very unlikely that we'll be able to buy each other Christmas presents. I don't know what to do... but I can't keep worrying.

I am thankful for Popi and his help which we wouldn't survive without.

I am thankful that we are able to get food stamps, so at least we have PLENTY to eat.

I am thankful that the children have insurance and that I will for about a month longer.

I'm Thankful For...

the Baby Dash N Go carrier that we were able to buy with baby shower gift money.

Annabelle has started to get a little fussier in the past few days. It takes her a while to calm down after she's eaten and she needs lots of rocking. I don't have a rocking chair and I also need to get things done in my house. So now I have the carrier that I can put her in. It usally rocks her to sleep after a bit if I walk around enough. And I have my hands free to get some things done. She's still a little small in it, but it works out okay.

I'm Thankful For...

Not having to pay my heating bill.

It's so nice to sit in my warm apartment and watch the snow falling. It's also nice that BYU pays my heating bill.

Joseph and I went for a short walk. It was cold, but it was still really fun. He just enjoys being outside so much.

I'm Thankful For...

the desire that Mitchell and I both have to become better people.

I always love it when I've been thinking about something in my life that needs to change for the better and then I find out that Mitchell has been thinking the same thing. I'm so grateful for how well our marriage works. We really do make each other want to be better people. I'm so blessed to have such an amazing husband and a great marriage.

Sunday Clothes

First of all, this is my 100th post!

Now for some pictures.

Joseph ready to go to church.

Annabelle in a dress that I wore!

I'm Thankful For...

Home Teachers who bring me the Sacrament when I'm homebound.

We are trying to follow the advice of our children's doctor, so I won't be taking Annabelle to church until she is 6 weeks old. It's really wonderful that the home teachers are able to bring me the Sacrament. When I was having my leg surgeries, I missed a lot of church. I was just too weak or in too much pain to go to church most of the time. But not once in all those years was I brought the Sacrament. I'm just so grateful that my bishop and my home teachers realize how important it is to me.

Along with not taking Annie to church, we are supposed to avoid having visitors or visiting people who haven't had flu shots or a recent Pertussis booster. We have to keep her covered with a blanket whenever we go to the store or anything. But I can take her outside for short periods of time as long as she is dressed warmly enough. We weren't given any of this advice when Joseph was born and he was born in the winter, too. But I think we were blessed that he didn't get sick. I've been doing a lot of research and the flu, RSV, and Pertussis are all on the rise right now. Those illnesses will probably just make us feel miserable, but they would hospitalize and possibly kill Annabelle. It scares me a little to think that I didn't know any of this when Joseph was born. None of us had flu shots or anything and we started taking him to church and everything immediately. Some people would say that since nothing happened to him, then nothing would happen to Annabelle, but I don't want to take that risk. Heavenly Father will protect us, but He expects us to use our common sense and to listen to the knowledge of those around us. It will be nice once she is 6 weeks old, though, because we won't have to worry as much. And she'll be able to get her first Pertussis shot in January, so that will be nice, too.

I'm Thankful For...

My hilarious toddler making me laugh when I feel stressed out.

Mitchell put on Joseph's old favorite music video, Rock With You by Michael Jackson. Joseph just started dancing and singing and having so much fun. It was really funny and cute to watch.

Adjusting

I've been so terrible about blogging lately. It is pretty difficult when I only have 1 hand for typing because it takes twice as long. And I'm also not great at thinking of good things to post right now. I do have a lot of things to be grateful for, but life is still a bit difficult right now. I'm not used to 6 hours of sleep per night, Joseph has become crankier and naughtier lately, my house is a DISASTER, and I have no idea how to keep up with all of my responsibilities. I forgot how hard it is to adjust to a new baby and it's harder because we have to help Joseph adjust.

I'm going to try to follow everyone else's example and post something I'm thankful for everyday. I'll catch up today.

1. I'm grateful that Annabelle isn't colicky like Joseph was.
2. I'm grateful for my friend, Jessica, in our ward because she watches Joseph so often and her kids enjoy it as much as he does.
3. I'm grateful that it's already been 2 weeks since Annabelle was born; it feels good that time isn't dragging during this difficult period.
4. I'm grateful for fall because it's absolutely my favorite season.
5. I'm grateful that my mom was able to come for such a long visit last month.