The Real Life of a Ranch Hand's Wife

Thankfullness

 

    The act of being thankful is sometimes more of an art form than happening naturally. With the past few weeks going the way that they have and the terrible luck that has seemed to be gracing us with it's presence, it's been hard to be thankful. Now as I sit at this computer, stuffed to the gills with my Momma's good cooking, I'm finding a bit easier to see the silver lining.

    I've been able to rest and relax this week unlike those few that have gone by. It helps tremendously when you have family to step in and help when you need it the most. I wouldn't have been able to have peace of mind with out all my Big (very short) Sister and Brother-in-law's help packing and moving last week. They took their days off work to help us in our various crippled states, and kept me from early labor and/or keeling over from exhaustion. The Cowboy's family also lent some much needed muscle during all this.

    Now my Momma has me on a short protective leash so as to keep this bun in the oven for a few more days till I'm considered "full term". Once Saturday hits, I fear the green light will flip and she might have me out walking the streets to get things moving to get her new grandson to arrive. It's been really nice to have her around to help me "nest". I've got the bassinet up and ready, teeney-tiny diapers ready to be dirtied, and the carseat is ready to be buckled in. All that's left is to pack a bag for myself and diaper bag for the baby, but I didn't want to seem too eager.

    As most people are this time of year, I'm reminded how thankful I am for my family.

    I was sitting on the couch, trying to knit my daughter a hat, when I realized how thankful I am for these precious moments with just her and I. I know her world will soon be turned upside down, so I figured since she was asking when I'd make something for her, the baby blanket could wait a little longer. I love her snuggles and secretly fear that I'll lose some of those to Daddy when the baby comes around. I'm glad she's eager for her brother to arrive, but I know it's the end of one good thing and yet the beginning of another wonderful thing. I'm sure I'm not the first Mom to feel this.

    After a yummy meal that my Momma slaved over a hot stove to make (had to throw that in for her ego, lol, what woman doesn't deserve it on a Holiday, right?), I went and laid down for a while. The Cowboy came and snuggled me while the baby was kicking at the giant cast on his arm. I was very thankful in that moment for my Cowboy and his snuggles, even if he'd be too tough to admit such things. I looked over at the bassinet sitting next to the bed and realized it would soon be full and moments like these would be fewer and farther between. Soon we'll be tired, cranky, and too exhausted for such moments of levity. I'm not taking them for granted at all. =)

    I'm also very thankful for being able to find a doctor and great hospital on such short notice. Most of the doctors around here (and many other places for that matter) wouldn't take me because I'm so far along. I'm also thankful that my doctor will let me try a natural birth after having a C-section with the munchkin. This was a huge burden lifted off my shoulders and placed on the Cowboy's. He's started the worry game that most all soon-to-be Daddy's go through, no matter how many kids you already have. I think he might need more thoughts, good vibes, and prayers than I will. =)

    So on this day of thankfullness, I'm very thankful. I'm also glad that tomorrow I'll be just as thankful as today, and soooooo much more thankful than a few weeks ago! I was told recently to never say, "what else can go wrong", because undoubtely something will. Well after the month that we've had, I say, WHATEVER! At this point, bring it on, I don't even care anymore. There will always be something to be thankful for if you just take the time to look hard enough.

 So I'm caring a magnifying glass around in my pocket to make sure I don't miss something, because I can use all the thankfullness I can get.    

 

 

 

The Opposite of Nesting

I'm pretty sure that at this point in my pregnancy, 8 months and counting, the only thing that I should really be worrying about is what's the best way to decorate a nursery. Nesting is a wonderful thing that has been programmed into most people and animals to welcome that bouncing bundle of joy.

 I think my nesting instinct was broken with the munchkin. I never really got into preparing a nursery. I made her bedding for her crib a few months after she was born. I knitted a blanket for her when she was 2. This time however, I've been much more into the whole idea of nesting. All I want to do is prepare a room for the next monster, get a crib put together and organize tiny clothes and diapers.

The problem is I look at the room that was being prepared for this new arrival and it's a little out of sorts. There are 2 walls that were recently painted, a spare bed propped up against the wall, the crib is in pieces in the hallway, and there are boxes packed and stacked where baby things should be. So what is the opposite of nesting, you might ask?? Moving...

In the last 2 weeks the Cowboy lost his job, and thus our place of residence, the munchkin has been sick for 3 weeks now topping it off with a double ear infection, our 5 month old puppy was hit in the road and killed, we are headed for winter quick and in a hurry, yesterday I passed out, banged my head, freaked everyone out, and I'm a giant hormonal mess. Oh yeah, did I mention that I'm a month away from giving birth?

To say that this came as a shock would be the understatement of the year. I guess maybe that's what happens when you befriend a young hand and he gets money hungry for your paycheck. I suppose some people are willing to stoop to some pretty low levels. All integrity goes flying out the window to make room for the sacks of money they stand to gain.

Evidently the man we thought we worked for and the one that we actually worked for were not two in the same, since he saw a cheaper way out and listened to everything he was told by everyone except the person that it involved. Heart-breaking is a good way to describe the whole thing.

We've made a life here, set down roots, opened our hearts, and started to raise a family. Every where I look there are memories, good ones at that. The munchkin can't understand why the ranch horses can't go with us or why we can't set up the baby's bed. She's a good help packing boxes, but keeps asking where we are going and where's her new room. How do you explain betrayal and heart-break to a 3 year old?

So while I was doing laundry yesterday I guess it all caught up to me at once. I’ve had my angry moments of betrayal and my tears of hurt. I guess it was time to just be exhausted. The last thing I knew I was standing in front of the washer with a basket full of clothes in my hand and felt a little dizzy. Then the Cowboy was standing over me trying to wake me up (what seemed like yelling at me), and I kept thinking, “why in the heck is he yelling at me?”

I don’t remember much till we got to the hospital and even that is pretty fuzzy. After the Cowboy yelled at several people for not helping us (no one came to help me out of the truck, they just said go down the hall to the OB ward…geeee thanks), he was wheeling me to the OB desk with one hand and the munchkin in the other. I was then hooked up to all kinds of monitors and all was ok. Baby was just fine and for all practical purposes so was I. After a while of being monitored, I was sent home and told to rest for the next few days. The only good thing was that for a while I forgot all the rest of the crap going on in our lives.

So I woke up this morning feeling sore, tired and appreciative that I had the Cowboy there to take care of me. Hard times always bring you closer together if you let it. Maybe that’s why we’ve proved everyone wrong and lasted this long together, because we choose to take the good out of a terrible situation. Last night we fell asleep holding hands, something we haven’t done in a while.

While I’m not happy about packing instead of nesting, this too shall pass. It’s not the first time something bad has happened to us, and even if I don’t want to say it out loud, it won’t be the last. The health of our family is more important than stewing over things you can’t change or people you’d like to punch in the face. As long as you end up holding hands at the end of the day with the people that mean the most, that’s all that really matters.

Halloween and such

  Here's a quick look at some of the festivities that have been keeping the munchkin happy lately. =)

Picking out pumpkins is serious business. She gets the same look when she follows Daddy around at an auction. She was bound and determined to pull that wagon herself!

 

Too serious to smile for Momma.

 

  Then came the much anticipated Trick or Treating! She would barely hold still long enough to snap a picture! Can't forget the long-john's though, it was a bit chilly. =)

Then Daddy got a picture of Momma's costume too. He wasn't real thrilled, but I thought it was sooooo funny! When else can you get away with showing your belly and passing it off as a beer gut? lol =) (he cut off my head, but my hat says "I Heart My Truck", he said I looked like white trash, but others called me Mother Trucker, hahahaha)

 

Now that all the Halloween Festivities are over, today I must say, Happy Birthday Cowboy! It will be a great year! Love you, ME