This is what I did today:
- Spent an hour of one-on-one time with Grace while Nora was at her swim lesson
- Spent an hour of one-on-one time with Nora while Grace was at her swim lesson
- Helped Nora make lunch for the family
- Helped my girls get showered and dressed for a birthday party
- I showered without needing assistance
- French braided Grace’s hair
- Walked 2.5 miles, my first substantial walk since the second surgery
- Spent some time laughing with the Team Challenge team at their rummage/fundraiser
- Took my children grocery shopping, without needing help from my husband
- Fixed dinner for my family
- Snuggled with my kids to watch television
- Helped my kids get ready for bed, tickles and snuggles and tucked them in tight
- Enjoyed a really fantastic craft beer (HOLLA!)
If you read this and thought, what the hell? What’s so great about that? I take care of my kids like that every day…so what?
Here’s what.
I have waited months to have a day like this. My children have waited months for a day like this. A normal day. An ordinary day. A day that made me feel like the mom my kids deserve, again. There are many things that I look forward to being able to do as I become stronger and healthier, but above all, I am grateful for “ordinary” days. I realize now how lucky I am to have many more ordinary days ahead of me. What once was ordinary has become anything but.
Maybe this is part of what I’m supposed to learn through my experience with Chiari Malformation, Syringomyelia and Tethered Cord (Spina Bifida Occulta). Maybe it’s a lesson in gratitude. A reminder that every day and everyday activities are a gift. Imagine if you couldn’t walk around the block or comb your daughter’s hair. You’d give anything to have “ordinary” back. And it will never seem ordinary again.
Later Gators.
NOTE: I promised you all a pretty intense post about dealing with chronic illness. It’s coming. It’s taking a bit longer to spit it out. It’s…complicated. Anyway, I had to post this one today, because I am beyond thrilled to have had such a wonderful day. I just had to share this with you.
In short, I promise to get back to being a complete jackass as soon as possible. 😉
14 comments
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September 25, 2010 at 9:54 pm
Alicia
Sara,
I don’t even know what to say.
I love you. And you are amazing. And I am proud of your strength.
That is all.
-Alicia
September 25, 2010 at 10:05 pm
Sara
Love you back, mama. xoxo
Now I have to add to the list
* Twitter family made me cry
🙂
September 25, 2010 at 10:11 pm
Alicia
Pretty people shouldn’t cry! 🙂
September 25, 2010 at 10:17 pm
legaleagle
Sara, I don’t know you, but you are absolutely ah-mazing. You just keep soaking up very minute of the “ordinary” you can. There’s always plenty of opportunity for jackassery, as well.
September 25, 2010 at 10:52 pm
Sara
Thank you so much for that. I am learning many lessons these past years…like how ordinary can be amazing. I’m glad to be following you on “The Twitter” too. I’ve made many incredible friendships there. I hope to “know” you for a long time. xo
September 25, 2010 at 10:23 pm
Milly Gonzalez
Sara thanks for reminding us to keep perspective… We’re happy that you were finally able to have an extraordinary ordinary day with your precious girls! Awesome news, our prayers continue…Lots of hugs to you!!!
September 25, 2010 at 10:54 pm
Sara
Milly, I really miss you all. I’ve missed a lot these past few years. I can’t get that time back, but I look forward to NOT missing out on birthdays and camping trips and other fun family functions. I’m so blessed to have a family like ours. Much love to you and Israel and the kids. Talk soon! xoxo
September 26, 2010 at 9:54 am
Bruce
It was fun seeing you show up at the rummage, yesterday. But even more awesome when hearing you say you had walked there. Even even more awesome when I saw on Daily Mile just how many miles you had actually logged round trip, to do so.
And speaking of kids – work kids – it says something that your employees are excited to have their boss back in the office, when at most places, it’s just the opposite 🙂
September 26, 2010 at 10:39 am
Cindi
Amen mama, amen. 🙂
September 26, 2010 at 10:40 am
@lena_fm
It is amazing how we always crave a little bit of the opposite of what we currently have a lot of. I am living, usually, an “unusual” life and I envy people who just go from day to day attending to their every-day routines and not looking higher. When I get a chance to taste it, I scream and run because it looks better in my imagination than it reality. But ultimately, that’s what life is. You are beautiful.
September 26, 2010 at 11:31 am
Teresalynn
Sara, I’m so proud that you could share this amazing day with us. I can’t imagine how full of love and joy your heart must have been just to have these moments back again. Your journey has been long and you and your family have sacrificed so much. You all deserve every happiness in every snuggle and trip to the grocery store. xo
September 26, 2010 at 8:34 pm
Katie Felten
Awesome Sara.l. so happy for you and your ordinary day.
September 27, 2010 at 10:11 am
Wendy Sullivan
The extraordinary ordinary. When you’ve gone so long without the mundane, it all seems so miraculous. Congratulations on having a taste of “normal”.
Wendy
November 1, 2010 at 11:46 pm
Megan
I don’t know you. I’ve never met you and stumbled across this blog today. So I can’t say much.
What I can say is that in this post and the above, I can tell you are a beautiful and strong person and that is inspiring. Congratulations on your normal day and know that I am I hoping and praying you get normal years. Lots of them.
Thank you for blogging. Thank you for being honest. Thank you for being.