day 13: a pj day

Well, this isn't my favorite picture of all time.  Night time, crying kids, messy house, no time to really manipulate the camera the way I wanted to, but it does tell a story.  I'm going down friends.  The sickness has hit me.  We are now a full house of sickies; all in our pjs, watching shows and some of us moaning.  I am so tired from 2 weeks with almost no sleep.  I'm tired of kids not taking naps for those 2 weeks unless I was holding them.  I'm tired of not being in a routine.  But, I am grateful that this is happening before Christmas and hopefully we'll be full force for our favorite holiday.

Being sick has reminded me of how much our Savior loves us.  At this Christmas time as I've held my sick babies I've really thought about how low the Savior came, from being the God of the Old Testament to a babe in a manger, willing to endure pain and sickness and hurt and so much more in order to succor us in our burdens. 

E was born in November.  That first Christmas I had her, I was so overwhelmed by my baby who never slept.  I had no idea how to be a mother and I have never loved and respected Mary so much.  A mere girl, called to be the mother of our Savior; burdened I'm sure by a responsibility to raise Him up to our Father much more than I feel myself.  And I'm sure she was scared and overwhelmed with a newborn who, even though He was the Savior, was still a baby.  

Now my E is 3 years old and B is 1 1/2 and I think of the Wisemen coming to a baby who was about my children's age.  And somehow the story is more beautiful and real to me than ever before. 

E was really struggling breathing last night.  We opened our front door and sat in our entry way in order to breath in the cool air.  It was raining and I was annoyed that I had to keep the front door open in order to get E what she needed and keep us dry.  I was annoyed until I realized that it was the moist cold air that was helping my baby to breathe.  And suddenly I was filled with gratitude for my answered prayer for our Heavenly Father to help my baby to sleep.

Now wish me luck tonight.