Thankful Thursday

"Count your blessings, name them one by one,

Count your blessings, see what God hath done!"

I'm sitting here enjoying a rare moment of peace and quiet while Shepard watches a cartoon and Fisher naps in his bouncy seat. As I sit on the sofa, sipping my Dr. Pepper (a bad habit I can't seem to shake!), I can't help but have an overwhelming feeling of thankfulness. It was a rough morning, filled with one disaster after another (spilled milk on the carpet, both boys crying because they're hungry, diaper explosions, etc), but after all the rough moments passed, I stopped to count my blessings, and my mood suddenly changed. I thought it might be nice to list them out on this Thankful Thursday.

So this Thankful Thursday, I'm thankful for…

- a loving God who kept me and my baby safe during birth, who watched over and healed my son as he spent a few days in the NICU, and for blessing me with a medical care team who gave me a positive birth experience this time around.

- a wonderful son who loves his little brother and can't stop giving him kisses and bringing him toys. He has his rare moments of jealousy (mainly when he's not allowed in mommy's lap because she's nursing little brother), but who has been better than I could have ever asked for during what has to be a tough transition for him.

- a precious little baby who loves to snuggle and has the sweetest personality already. He is a champion nurser, and we've been able to bypass some of the problems that I had early on with Shepard. He may have had a rough start to life, but he is constantly showing me how strong he is.

- a loving husband and supportive family who have helped me transition into my role as a mother of two. I wouldn't have been able to do it without them. My husband and mother stayed with me the entire time I was in labor, and were my strong support system. Then my husband was beside me the entire time I was in the hospital, only leaving for quick showers and trips home to see Shepard. He was my rock while our son was in the NICU and gave me more support than I can ever express. My mother and mother-in-law took care of Shepard during the four days I was in the hospital, and kept my updated on his activities. They brought him the hospital to see me, they switched off when one had an event to attend, and I never had to worry about him.

Have you stopped to count your blessings today?