There is a lot to remember from February this year. An interesting month for sure. We got to go to Denver for a weekend to celebrate Matt's cousin's wedding. On the way back, we had a change of plans. From a 1.5 hour plane ride to KC, we ended up with a 10.5 hour car ride. We still don't know exactly what happened. But it involved 3 waits in line before our not-so-kind ticket agent explained that we had missed the window to check in for our plane. She said that my in-laws could stay with the bags and hope to catch the next flight, and Matt, Ruby and I could try to make it on the 10:16am flight to KC. We did our best. We endured the typical security routine when traveling with a little one (which included stroller, car seat, car seat base, etc.). I tried to console our 16 month old, tired daughter who just wanted to walk around and did not want to be carried around the airport. I cried on the tram ride to the gate, in exhaustion, stress, and not understanding how this was happening. I actually sobbed uncontrollably in front of a car full of people. And Matt did as he always does and handled this all well. And at 10:14am, as we arrived at the gate, the woman behind the podium informed us that we had missed the flight by 8 minutes. She told us to go wait in the customer service line. The customer service representative told us that we would now be placed on stand-by on any future flights that day to KC, with all flights being full, and she reported, even overbooked. She said that if we did not fly out that day, which she did not anticipate we would, we would get to pay $150 a person to fly the next day if we got on a flight. Matt and I did not handle this news well. I no longer plan to fly this airline that had very little help or compassion to offer traveling parents. I have still not figured out exactly what I will take from this experience. Instead of playing the roulette of all-day standby with a little one (does this sound like a good idea to anyone?), my gracious, patient in-laws rented a mini-van and drove with us back to KC. Ruby was sad at times during the trip, but we made it. I will always try to remember this experience when I see other parents traveling with young children.
Thank you for letting me get that out, I needed it.
We also had an eventful situation arise with Matt's job. We found out a few weeks ago that he was being let go from his current job as of March 2nd due to company restructuring and downsizing. He has been at his current job for 5 years, and while all jobs have their challenges, we have been very thankful for this position, for his coworkers and boss, and for how God has provided for us. In an amazing week thereafter, Matt was able to interview, receive a job offer, and accept a position at another company, where he will start Monday March 5th. That's right, no lag time. And while I also feel like I have not exactly figured out what I will take from this, I have thought frequently about the gratitude we have felt the last few weeks.
And finally, and maybe too early to be sharing, maybe not the way I want the information to spread exactly, but it wouldn't be a true blog of what February has been like this year, if I did not include the update that we are expecting our second child (so yes, all of the above events included the factor of me pregnant:) We are excited, we are scared, we are thankful. And as I started with, there has not been much barbecue eaten around here. Because as the title of this post indicates, there has been quite a bit of "n/v" or nausea/vomiting as it is commonly abbreviated medically. I now understand that in my first pregnancy, I was very spoiled to not have to deal with hardly any of that. So this is a new experience for me; and it has kind of overshadowed any other abilities to think past that immediate need of not getting sick. Matt has rocked it, only getting scolded by me for unknowingly making himself a meat sandwich of some kind that I insisted smelled horrible, and required us opening windows to cold February air. Ruby has done well, although I miss feeling like I am keeping up with her. And I am thankful that n/v is a sign of a healthy pregnancy. And I am also thankful that I now know what other women are experiencing when they describe their first trimester. Because although it has not been fun, I am praying that it gives me some sort of ability to sympathize in the future. That when a friend calls me wanting baked potato soup, but unable to go get it for herself, that as my friend Kelsey so willingly did the other week, I will give up my own afternoon plans, load my little one(s) in the car, and help her out because I KNOW.
I think this is what I am beginning to wonder about blogging. I gave up reading blogs for a week in February (mostly), just to kind of take a break. And I realized that instead of comparisons made while reading blogs, that God could use blogs to help develop an ability to comfort. Is that weird? Or putting too much pressure on a blog? I don't think so. Because in reading what other friends are learning, whether in the small or the gigantic, I think I am learning that they deal with similar troubles. That they have similar joys. And that if we are all not going through the exact same thing now, which we are not, down the road, I may be able to have something worthwhile to say to you if your family experiences a job loss. Or you may have something worthwhile to say to me about this n/v. So there you have it. I hope the above is understood to be offered with hands that intend to be kind, non-judgmental and above all, thankful that friends care about our family. Love you guys.
