Sweetest February

Welcome glorious February! I greet you with exuberance and joy! Because do you know what February means? It means I am 16 weeks pregnant and the worst is over! It means my bird chain has reached its end. It means I haven't puked in 6 whole days (6!), and I have every hope that I am done with one of the most draining experiences of my life. ("Until you have another kid," you say. "Shut your mouth," I respond.)

Also, February means Clark's birthday, Valentine's Day, President's Day, the Parade of Homes, and lots of visitors to the St George area. It's probably the best time of year to live here: the coldest part of winter (you know, the part where we get occasional frost) is about over, spring is starting to peek out, but you still have months before the inferno strikes.

But mostly this February is about feeling good. And gratitude. Gratitude for all the people who have brought us dinner, watched Julia for a morning (or 2, or 3. . . ), asked after me at church, and stayed at our house for a week or more to help out. Gratitude for the man at the pharmacy who let me cut in front of him in line, and then offered to walk me to my car, just to make sure I was alright. Gratitude for the nurse who volunteered to watch Julia for a 1/2 hour while I started my IV because I had no one else to watch her. Gratitude for a good doctor's office who did all they could to get me through this horrific time. (I am less than grateful for switching insurance companies December 1st, as that means we have 2 deductibles in 2 months, but I am grateful that we at least have insurance, so there is a silver lining in that, too.) Basically, we have been abundantly blessed. And the world has a rosy glow.

Thank you for finally coming, dearest, loveliest February.