Giving Thanks

I write a Thanksgiving post every year and I know I'm probably starting to repeat myself. But, there are certain things in my life that are worth giving thanks for every year ... even every single day. Although Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, there has been a little thread of sadness running through it the last couple of years. Thanksgiving will probably always be connected in my mind with the beginning of my pregnancy troubles with Max. For me, it was the first step down the slippery slope of preterm labor. This time of year always brings back all those memories in full force and somehow it seems important to me to take the time to remember.

Remembering how scared we were then and how uncertain things were makes me appreciate how very fortunate we have been. It puts things in perspective and dissolves all the little trials and petty annoyances of life into harmless bits of nothing. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't look at my babies and thank God for them. I'm thankful that they were born and ever so thankful that we were allowed to keep them. Even on the crabbiest, tantrumiest, kicking and screamingest days, I'm grateful my children are healthy enough to drive me crazy -- I know there are parents out there who would give anything for one of those days. There are even some things about their prematurity that I can be thankful for -- if nothing else, it taught me to really take the time to appreciate every single little moment that I have with them. I try not to take anything for granted, because I know how hard won it was. I'm thankful that, whenever I walk in the door, I'm greeted with shrieks of joy ("It's the Mama!"), happy faces, and two little people who can't wrap their arms around me fast enough.

And, as always, I have so many other things in my life for which to be thankful. I'm thankful for my husband -- it still amazes me that I found the perfect person with whom to share my life. I'm thankful that M&M have such great older siblings -- they're such kind, generous, considerate, fun kids. Our families are right up there at the top of the list too -- we're lucky to have such wonderful people in our lives. All of the old friends that I've kept and the new friends that I've made -- Max and Molly have a whole "virtual" family that they've never met, but that have cheered them on and supported them every step of the way. I'm thankful that Dad and I have good jobs and a roof over our heads. I'm thankful for everyone's continued good health. I might even be a little thankful for pie.


Happy Thanksgiving -- I hope you all had a wonderful day!