Leaving D&S & family

I left the D&S behind today. It was bittersweet. I felt as if they didn't need me, but yet I felt like they did. Steph has been improving a little every day.

The biggest concern we have is that she isn't supposed to lift much over 10 pounds. I've been carrying James in his car seat when we needed to take some trips with the car. But, now that I'm not there, I'd hate that she would have to be tied to the house just because she's limited to how much she can lift. But, on the other hand, it would be pretty hard on all of us if I hung around there place for the 2 months that the doctor suggested for time of weight lifting restrictions. Can you imagine having your mother-in-law hanging around for 2 whole months?

Another concern is their wonderful 2 year old. That sweet little one has learned new things since little brother was born. These things have now created new challenges for his parents. The new things by themselves don't sound like a big deal - until bedtime! Nicholas learned how to turn on and off lights - with the help of using his stepstool. He has also learned how to open doors. All fine and great, right? Well, coulda come at a better time. Now, D&S are dealing with Steph's recovery from her second surgery (the worst of the 2) and with their newborn taking up some of their sleeping time. Oh yeah, in addition to that, daylight savings time started last Sunday.

Nicholas, of course, as a 2 year old is oblivious to Duane and Steph's new dilemmas. So, he carries on with his own progressions in life. Since he now knows how to turn lights on and off and open doors, bedtime has become a challenge. It didn't start with the opening of doors though. The first night (remember to throw in daylight savings time troubles) started with Nicholas turning his light on and off and on, (etc) and him playing in his room, finding lots of things to do. (Nicholas did have a stepstool at the end of his bed to assist him in getting up on his bed.) Somewhere into the evening the stepstool came out of the room. Eventually, they got him to go to bed. I'm not sure of all the antics Nicholas pulled throughout the evening. But, D&S didn't get to bed very early that night. (I think the first night of trouble was Sunday - but, I'm not positive.)

The next night, I think it was Monday, in addition to turning on the light - which he figured out how to do without the stepstool now- he learned how to open the door. Hmmmm. Now try to keep him in his room. GOOD LUCK. With some letting Nicholas lay in their bed, and Lord knows what else, their challenge to get their eldest to bed wasn't easy. Eventually Steph brought Nicholas down to my room in hopes that I could get him to sleep with me. Duane needed his sleep cuz he had a test for one of his Federated Insurance continuing education tests. (Note: Duane passed that test.) Of course, Steph was concerned about his need for sleep. Steph did her best with caring for her bright eyed newborn while I worked on getting Nicholas to sleep.

One thing we had going for us was that Nicholas didn't have daycare on Wednesday. His daycare was closed due to a family emergency. So, Wednesday morning Nicholas and I slept in till about 8:30. We woke up to Nicholas falling out of bed. I don't know if he was hurt as much as he was terrified. But, I woke up to a big clunking noise and instant crying. He couldn't have been hurt too badly. He quit crying relatively quickly.

Nicholas, James, Steph and I enjoyed the day, just hanging around. In the afternoon the County Health Nurse for Newborns paid a visit with Steph. I hung out in the basement with Nicholas after a breif listening in period of my own. I found Nicholas had gone into the office room. He was sitting on the bed (the office and guest bed are in the same room), playing with some rods he'd gotten out of a desk drawer. It wasn't anything serious. But, the fact that he was in that room - when the door to the room had been closed - was something of concern.

After the County Nurse left, Steph and Nicholas took a well needed nap. They were sleeping when Duane arrived home. He took this picture of his two sleeping beauties:

After nap time, we had supper. We had decided during supper that Nicholas would sleep with me Wednesday evening. We also decided that, since daycare wasn't closed the next day - today - (we found out that evening) and Duane was done with his test, they wouldn't "need" my services and that I could go home on Thursday (today).

So, I left today with mixed feelings. I was glad that things seemed like they were improving. But yet I was concerned about them getting enough rest, since James would of course cut into their sleep AND Nicholas was presenting his own evening challenges.

I went home around noon. I arrived home to a kitty that seemed to miss me. She's been hanging around me all evening.

So, I think of them often, as I wonder how their evening is going. I keep having to remind myself that they are grown-ups now. And, we, as parents have all been through challenges when parenting. I have to hope that these challenges that they face today will only make them stronger for any future challenges they face. My thoughts and prayers are with them.