Welcome To Holland

Welcome To Holland
By Emily Perl Kingsley

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a
disability-to try to help people who have not shared that unique
experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel.

It's like this...
When You're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous
vacation trip- to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make wonderful
plans. The coliseum, Michelangelo's David. The gondolas of Venice. You may
learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.
After a few months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives.
You pack your bags and off you go.
Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says

"Welcome to Holland."
"HOLLAND?!?" You say. " What do you mean, Holland ? I signed up for Italy!
I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."
"But there's been a change of plans," says the stewardess.
"They've landed in Holland and there you must stay."
The important thing is you haven't landed in a horrible, disgusting,
filthy place full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a
different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole
new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would
have never met.
It's just a different place. It's slower paced than Italy, less flashy
than Italy. But after you've been there a while and you catch your breath,
you look around and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills,
Holland has tulips, Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy, and
they're all bragging about the wonderful time they had there.
And for the rest of your life you will say,
"Yes, that's where I was supposed to go.
That's what I had planned."

And that pain will never, ever go away because the loss of that
dream was a very significant loss.
But if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to
Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special and lovely
things about Holland.

Craving!

Just wanted to let you all know what I am craving. Luigi's Lemon Italian Ice. Man I love those things! I bought a box the other day and there's only one left. I'm glad there's practically no fat or anything in them. I don't know why I am craving them, I think it may be the sourness that helps stop my nausea.

On a side note: Not fun to throw up in front of Nate. It kind of scares him. I can't help it, though, he follows me to the bathroom. He has to be in the same room as me, or else he starts to cry. He probably thinks I am abandoning him, lol!

My life right now

My life right now is exactly where I want to be. Ok maybe not exactly, but pretty close. We may not have everything we want, but we have everything we need.

We have a roof over our heads, we have a beautiful baby and another beautiful one on the way, and we have each other. We have our arguments and disagreements of course, but we love each more than anything.

We are sooo ecstatic to be having another baby! It is exactly what we want, and we don't care what other people think. It's our life, and we will do what is best for us and our family. Nate will be such a great big brother, and I know he will love this baby so much.

My husband is so wonderful. He works so hard to support our family. I am so thankful to him and everything he does for us. He is sweet and kind, and I love him more every day.

I love my life!

My mom came to see me today, it was a lot of fun. I miss my mom a lot and always enjoy seeing her. We just stayed at home and sorted through all the baby clothes that Nate has grown out of. It was actually kind of sad, my baby is not so much of a baby anymore...he's getting so big!

Our anniversary is on Monday, it's hard to believe that we have been married for almost 2 years. It seems like forever...but forever in a good way. When you find someone that you are so completely in love with, it's hard to remember what life was like before them. And that's how I feel about Matt. I don't mean to be all sappy and romantic here...just the way I feel!

I'm really tired, must be the mom thing of not getting enough sleep!

Being a mom

Being a mom is the best thing in the world. It's such a great feeling to get up in the morning, and see your baby smiling up at you from his crib. He is so funny! I am his entire world, and he just loves it when I make faces at him and talk to him, and he gives me these great big smiles and laughs. It is very hard sometimes, and frustrating, but it is so worth it! I love him so much, and would love to have another one soon!

Storytime

Today we went to storytime with Winnie the Pooh in Oshkosh. It was a lot of fun, Nate loved Pooh! We got some pictures of him. Nate is teething and is currently screaming his head off. Poor baby, nothing I do makes him feel better. I just want those teeth to pop through!

Matt is on his way home from Janesville. He was only there for two days, so he was only gone for one night this week. I'm glad he has 2 days off next week. I miss him when he's gone!

Well, we still haven't heard back when we are moving, but I'm sure we will get the apartment. I hate moving and am not looking forward to it. I am however, looking forward to being in a 3 bedroom with a little bit more space.

Nate is still screaming. Guess I should go pick him up again and see if that helps. It didn't last time I picked him up, but maybe it will this time. You never know...