Finding the Balance

There have been some tears this week at the Todd household...and not just from the baby. Mommy is having a hard time finding the balance after returning to work on January 5th. It's just darn hard some days.

Molly had a rough day at daycare on Tuesday, even woke Bailey up from her nap early with all the screaming (this is not like her at all!). So, I come home from work with two grumpy kids. I have to clean bottles, sterilize pump parts, and get dinner started. It's already 5:15. I start to worry that something's wrong with Molly or that my "good" baby is becoming "not so good." Then, I get a call from Joey that he isn't coming home from work until after 7 - still in Hutch working on a project. I just lost it. I felt much better after crying.

I do enjoy my job, but I love being a mom more. I wish that I could be there during the day to help Molly work through whatever is bothering her. I wish that I didn't have to worry about preschool next year for Bailey and how we're going to get her there and back to daycare (although I've already had an offer to help - thanks BW!). I wish I didn't feel like I was doing a "half-$#%" job of being both a good mom and a good employee. I wish I didn't have to go to a room three times a day and pump:) I wish I had more people in my life that understood what I was going through (my sisters and most of my friends are stay-at-home moms).

But . . . God is good - all of the time. He will help me through this. And, like I wrote in an earlier post, there are many blessings to me working. It is a season that I'm sure will pass way too quickly. And, I'll learn many things - about myself and my gracious Savior.

Boy am I glad today is the end of the work week for me. Bring on the snow and time at home with my beautiful family!

Cammy

Lenora

My friend Lenora is one of the good ones. We have shared a lot over the past 4 1/2 years that we've known each other . . . .

• The joy of our first pregnancies and welcoming our little princesses into the world (Bailey and Makenna are only one month apart).
• Many firsts for our girls - swimming lessons, gymnastics, birthday parties . . .
• The stresses of taking away the pacifier and potty training
• The guilt and difficulty of balancing a part time career with being a mom . . . even tears sometimes.
• Growing our home team (including splitting several times).
• Much, much more!

Lenora always amazes me. She never misses a birithday or anniversary. The card is always in the mailbox on the day of (or before) the special event. She is the first to organize showers, meals for new moms, and more. She is an amazing friend. She constantly encourages me, even if she feels discouraged herself.

Today, Lenora will welcome her second princess into the world. I can't wait to meet her. The newest baby Biggs will only be 3 months younger than Molly and in the same class at school. I'm so blessed that our girls will get to grow up together.

I love you Lenora and pray that everything goes smoothly for you today.

Cammy

Jonah

My nephew Jonah is 3, almost 4. He is a cute, amazing kid. Every time I see him, he surprises me. Like at my cousin's wedding in November he wanted to sit on Joey's lap. He's always been a bit skeptical of Joey, but he wanted to sit on his lap - totally out of the blue and surprising. A cute, amazing kid. But, he is a handful. He wears my sister out, especially since she is 9 months pregnant with baby #2 due any day now. And, turns out, he's in danger of wearing himself out. He has been diagnosed with a heart condition . . . tachycardia something . . . his heart rate randomly speeds up to nearly double speed. It has to be slowed down, or his body could shut down.

So, cute amazing Jonah has to have heart surgery on February 8th in St. Louis. Please pray for him and his mom Jennifer and dad John. It's been a rough go for them lately in more ways than one. But even so, with a newborn, they will travel to St. Louis in early February with their cute, amazing 3 year old to experience the unknown. I'm sure they are scared and overwhelmed.

Here is a graphic of Jonah I created for a Photoshop class I teach. The pictures are old, but I think it captures his spirit.

We love you Jonah so much!!

Cammy