On moving to TEXAS and having babies

I had this vision of keeping a detailed chronicle of this whole moving thing. As you can tell it has been an epic fail. However I have not given up on myself, and I would appreciate it if you followers follower would not give up on me either.

We arrived here in Plano, TX on a sweltering hot day, June 18th, to be precise. We had left East TN on the 17th when it was about 70 degrees outside, and arrived to 100 degrees in North TEXAS. It has stayed that way since we arrived. Every day highs above 100 and lows no lower than 80. And just for the record, this summer has been a record setting summer. The hottest in recorded history for this area. And I arrived just in time to be a part of this grand event! Lucky me!!!1

I was just thinking when I ran errands today, as sweat gathered under my eyes where my sunglasses rest, of how similar this move has been to having my 2 babies. Well, let me be a little more specific: when you have babies the way I did, with absolutely no medications whatsoever.

If you have children, medicated or not, you know, just like the rest of us that there is absolutely nothing in this world that can prepare you for motherhood. From, giving birth "naturally"to staying up all night, to the pain of seeing your children suffer. All of it, to me at least, has been a total shock! No matter how many birthing classes I took, or how many breathing techniques I was taught to deal with the pain- NOTHING- could have prepared me for that kind of pain. And no matter how many parenting books you read or how many friends and grandparents you have to guide you, no one has your children but you, so nothing can truly prepare you for what rearing your child is really like.
"Oh TEXAS is so hot" they say. "I know, I know" I said.

No, you don't know. Nobody, has your body, your hormones, your heat tolerance. Nothing can prepare you for this kind of heat.

Also, when you have a child "al natural" something very interesting happens as time ticks on by. You actually experience this incredible phenomenon called amnesia. It is true, you completely forget the horror and pain that you go through when giving birth. I know this because it took me 4 hours of pushing to deliver Isaac. I'm told I was in a lot of pain, and I do remember screaming quite a bit, and not pushing hard enough because, well, I guess it hurt too much... And then, get this, I decided to do it again! "Can you believe it? I remember when it was time to have Elijah, being in the car on the way to the Birthing Center - which was an HOUR away. I was in the transition phase of birth, (which is supposedly the most painful phase, but  that is a total LIE), sitting in my tiny Honda Civic with very little "wiggle room"- thinking to myself  "Why are you doing this? You are so stupid! This is so painful and ridiculous! What were you thinking!!!!!"

Believe it or not, I have actually lived in TEXAS before. I lived here for my last two and a half years of College, and my first two years of marriage. Yes, this is a special place because it is here that I met the Love of my Life and it was here that we began our life together. But I must say, very naively, I just don't remember it being this HOT. Just like I "knew" that it was painful giving birth to my boys, I also "knew" it was HOT in TEXAS, but this amnesia thing must have totally kicked in. I definitely do not remember this kind of heat.

Even in my naivenes, lack of true preparation (which there really is none), and the amnesia of it all, I am, just as I was with my kids, totally looking forward to a new life in this great state of TEXAS. Living this close to family is priceless and we are so thrilled to give to our children what neither one of us had, which is the opportunity to live this close to grandparents and cousins.

Just as it is with our kids, there will be plenty of joy, fun, and celebration, as well as pain, sorrow and heartache. But in the end, we would not trade this experience for anything. From day one I have put my children in the hands of the Lord. And I do the same as we begin our new life in McKinney, Texas.

Our lives are in your hands dear Lord.