Count Your Blessings

This last weekend I got really really sick.
I think it was just the stomach flu but it felt more like I was on my deathbed.
It was the worst feeling ever!
{And I have had a baby and been through all that and still think it was worse}

On Sunday I was lying in bed all day just tired, in pain, and completely bored out of my mind.
My husband, Adam,  gave up his Father’s Day to take care of me and keep our son Elijah fed & entertained so I could rest.
Every now and then I would hear little Eli’s cute, tender voice come from the living room getting excited over watching all the animals in Lion King or saying “Harry Potter” over and over.
More than anything I just wanted to go out to them, to be able to hold and cuddle my son and kiss him all over.
But I knew I ran the risk of getting him sick to. Plus I could hardly hold myself up let alone a 30 pound toddler.

My heart ached as much as my body that I couldn’t be out there spending time with them.
As much as I get tired of being with Elijah 24/7 some days, I was yearning for him just after being in the back room for a few hours.

Adam mentioned to me at one point, “You are going to look back on this time and miss it.”
He was referring to the fact that in a way I was getting a break for the day from all my duties and got to sit around and relax, not missing being sick.
And as much as that is probably true, I realized how much I missed being a mom for a day.

I am pretty sure I complain a lot about motherhood duties sometimes.
The midnight wake-up calls, the whining, the tantrums, the craziness…
Being a mom is hard hard work!!
But at the same time it is such an enormous blessing.
A blessing I realized that I really take for granted every day.

This whole experience got me thinking more about blessings that we don’t notice until we don’t have them anymore.
Sunshine.
Sleep.
Food.
Nature.
Computers & other technology.
Education.
Our health.
Our homes.
Our beds.
Friends.
Family.
These are all things that I just thought of in 30 seconds that I know I take for granted.

Now that I’m up moving around a little more, I have tried to enjoy my time with my son more.
That is not to say I am a bubbly bottle of positivity & energy every second.
But I have tried to be more grateful for the moments we have together,
more grateful for the little hugs & kisses throughout the day,
and more grateful for his love for me & the happiness we share every day.

No matter our circumstances, we still have so much to be thankful for in this life.
I know I need to try harder to remember this
because when I do, I know I am much much happier!