Thankful For My Dreams

With Thanksgiving having just passed, I had been thinking what I am thankful for.  Of course, I am thankful for my children, my husband, my extended family and our health.   I began thinking where I am in my life right now, and where I dreamed I would be years ago before I was even married.

When I was growing up, I always dreamed of being married and having children.  I would think of what I would name my children (none of which my children are currently named) and I dreamed of what my life would look like.  I don’t think these dreams are any different than most people’s dreams. 

The other dream I had was to help people.  I enjoyed talking to people and helping them out with their problems when I was younger.  I dreamed of being a therapist, which is when I decided on my major in college as Social Work.  Since my college graduation, then graduate school graduation, I have been a social worker in a variety of different roles, hoping I had helped some people along the way, but not completely feeling I was fulfilling my dream (and not sure why).

Fast forward a few years….I got married, had my children and, as many of us are, is a busy mom with multiple calendars to keep track of all the schedules of our family.  My career was put on hold for a time when I was busy with my young babies and toddlers, but I ached to get back to helping people.  I had reached my dream of having a family, whom I love more than life. 

I never stopped dreaming of fulfilling my dream of helping people in a way that I was totally passionate about.  I was searching, and wasn’t ready or willing to give up that search.  I had my husband, my children, a job, a house, but I knew there was still something out there. 

Then Stork Support was born!  This is IT!  I never dreamed of co-owning a business, but when the opportunity arose, I jumped in with two feet.

I am thankful for Stork Support.  It has become the dream I didn’t know I had.    Many of us (myself included) get bogged down with the day to day tasks, and don’t always pay attention to the dreams we have had.  Think of a dream that you have for yourself (as little as it may be), and don’t forget it.  This is the first step in reaching that dream.   I am urging everyone reading this to keep reaching, keep searching, and don’t settle for something if you know there is something else.        

Sincerely,

From the Stork’s Nest~

Rebecca
  
Stork Support, LLC delivers counseling and resources directly to parents in the comfort of their own homes.  For more information about Stork Support, LLC please visit www.storksupport.com

Vomit, Blood & Other Bodily Fluids

I have been squeamish all of my life, especially around blood.  Particularly my own.  That’s not to say I was thrilled about others’, either.  Despite working in hospitals for years, I cringed at the sight of it.  Donating blood – even the quickest poke for a simple blood test – was always a disaster.  I was the girl who needed to lay down, hold the phlebotomist’s hand and do dramatic deep breathing in my nose out my mouth before, during and about fifteen minutes after the needle came out to prevent passing out.  It was never a pretty sight. 

Then I got pregnant.  You can just imagine what the blood work early on during my pregnancy was like.  I went on to have an emergency c-section.  I cried hysterically when they put in my IV during delivery.  I’m talking big heaving sobs like a little girl here, people.  Then, baby #2 and c-section #2.  I did a bit better but there were still big ‘ole sobs during IV time while I was in labor.

Needless to say I’m still not thrilled about blood.  But, something happens when you become a mother.  It’s like a switch flips and suddenly the things you were squeamish about before melt away when an emergency situation arises and you’re faced with your very fear.  I remember one particular time when my son, now 3 ½ but then just shy of 1, fell directly onto his face while running.  Time seemed to stop as I saw him silent on the floor, not moving immediately after the fall.  I ran to him and took a deep breath unsure of what I would find once I scooped him up.  His nose was swollen and, boy, was he bleeding.  It was as if his nose was a hose that had been turned completely to “spray.”  The old Liz would have passed out on sight.  The mother in me, however, did exactly what I needed to do: I remained calm, told him he was alright, and raced to gather towels to apply pressure and ice packs.  The blood stopped after a few minutes and my son went back to playing and I gave him a high-five for being such a “big boy” during the fall.  I was relieved he was alright.  I also remember being so proud of myself that (1) I remained conscious throughout the entire event and (2) I did a good job keeping my fear from my son so as not to instill the same fear in him.   

Almost four years have passed since I became a mom.  And if I had a penny for every instance where I had to tend to blood, vomit, and other bodily fluids I’d be well on my way to overflowing a piggy bank.  I know you parents out there know what I’m talking about.  I think it’s important that we recognize that as parents we are only human and we are not perfect.  But, when we overcome a fear of our own in an effort to be the best parent we can be to our children we deserve a high-five.

So, high-five out there to all of you!

Sincerely, From the Stork’s Nest~

Liz 

I Wish...

I am the Mommie of three beautiful boys.  Each a blessing around our table like olive trees full of love light, hope, possibility, endless blue skies, rainbows, starlight and all we hold dear.  Our oldest Josh is 9 years old; our middle guy is Sam, age 8; our baby is Alex, age 3.  Alex just became a threenager!  All are blessings of our lives.  Alex was the only one that stayed in a local hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit for a month.  Alex loves to enjoy life- he knows a GREAT place.  Liz and Rebecca were our support during that time. The countless forms and diagnoses - they were there to hold us up to the light.  Rebecca helped us navigate a healthcare system that felt like Urdu to us.  Liz was there as I sobbed big heaving tears the kind that take away your breath. Liz quietly reminded me "take time- every day- for you, get your nails done, have a coffee with a dear friend, take a walk...just make sure every day to make some time for yourself."  This way, she explained, I would have strength to love and care for Alex.

Monday - we had a famous author speak at my school. My oldest son, Josh, loves her books so he accompanied me to my school that day.  She has written forty!  Patricia Polacco recently published a book on children like Alex, called Junkyard Wonders.  Run to the book store if you do not own it.  I purchased that book but lost it on the day she came.  Patricia brought a piece of a meteor that dropped at her family home.  We had tea during a talk session with Patricia and she signed a book and drew a meteor for Josh. She said she is working on a book on the Holocaust.  Patricia explained she could not understand how people can be that cruel to each other.

During her talk, Patricia told the hundreds of students to make a wish on the piece of meteor.  She told us that we could not wish for three things...

1. Do not wish for money (only for the power to earn it)
2. Do not wish to change other people
3. Do not wish for toys or things you need to buy.

She told us that we can make as many wishes as we want when we each touch her meteor piece at the end of her talk, but she warned us that we should be careful what we wish for because it may come true!  As I walked up to touch the meteor piece with Josh I hoped for the ability to be a real writer.  Specifically I wished to write about the absolute blessing of being Alex's Mommie.  I have been writing a book about Alex called Up not Down.  Alex has been diagnosed with Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome).  I wished for true forgiveness in my heart for any angst.  My son, Josh, wished for another dog (the hermit crab, Phinn, the frog, Hopper, the cats, Roxie and Mark and our Border Collie, Seamus, are obviously not enough for him...).

The next few days brought an email from Liz asking me to write as a Guest in The Stork’s Nest Blog!  I felt a real forgiveness take hold of my heart in a way I have only been dreaming!  My young colleague, Teresa, said "This is the season that we should enjoy each other."  I wish this for you.  She sent me a video of a singer this morning singing about light and hope.  My husband, Michael, walked in and said, "What is that? Turn that down!"  Here I sat inspired and full of light and hope from the music – I had to laugh how different our views can be, not just of loud music but of parenting, diagnosis and life. :)

When Alex was born- we were not prepared- we had no idea.  Like cancer- it is as Trish, our dear friend who said, "the unknown...is what stops our hearts."  I am reminded of this quote and saw it on another blog of a friend of a friend- "I have seen what I absolutely thought and felt was the end of everything turn into the beginning of a life of which I could only have dreamed." - Neale Donald Walsh.

Alex has taught us more lessons without words than famous authors have written in novels.  I wish for you all love, light, peace, happy days, endless blue skies, days full of rainbows, starlight and what you hold dear.  Take some time today and write down your blessings…

Sincerely, As a Guest in The Stork’s Nest~

Mama Nancy (aka Nancy Schwartz)

Art by Michael Schwartz