I was going to complain...but I think I'll count my blessings instead

I got on my blog today all ready to complain. I was going to groan and moan about being tired, about having this stupid cold, about both boys having colds. I was going to complain about how J is extra grumpy and I even took him to the doctor today, but it's just a cold. I was going to complain about how he missed school because of this and I missed having my little bit of time to relax this morning. I was going to complain that neither boys napped much yesterday and right now as I write this J is upstairs not napping, but making a mess of his room instead. I was going to complain about Zoe's cancer and the fact that the average post-operation life expectancy for dogs with that kind of cancer is 2 months. I was going to complain that life is too busy and I've barely had time to knit this week. I was going to complain about the fact that N went in for his 9 month check up and is down to the 8%ile for weight and now I have to try to fatten him up by feeding him formula after he breastfeeds and trying to force him to eat more fattening food--and to think I thought he was being such a good eater! I was going to complain that the kitchen is a mess and I don't feel like cleaning it. I was going to complain that B and I got invited to a party this weekend, but we can't go because we can't find a sitter. This all seemed SO important. Until I read this about Ike:

Ike’s road has not been easy. Mama was on bedrest and in the hospital on and off, and then totally on, for months, until Ike was born 13 weeks early.

He was a tiny miracle, beating all of the odds to be healthier than anyone imagined possible. But it was still a long, hard, scary road in the NICU.

And expensive. Oh, so expensive. But the family was so joyful that he made it to the other side of the hard road behind him, that the money troubles they faced just seemed inconsequential.

Finally, Ike got to come home! Hurray! Of course, he could not leave the house, visitors had to be limited, and his health was fragile. Every day felt like an accomplishment. There were many many doctors visits and trips to the ER, adding to the insurmountable medical bills.

And THEN, as if this wonderful family had not been through enough, his Dad’s company decided to lay papa off (along with the rest of his department). No severence. Insurance cut off at midnight the same day.

Now, sweet baby Ike is back in the hospital. After weeks of doctor and ER visits because of a horrible sound he made while breathing, Ike became very very ill. The family has to focus all of their efforts towards getting him better.

And then I read even more about Ike on his mom's blog. This post gave me goosebumps and made me want to cry. And I realized that I am SO very, very lucky, SO very, very blessed. I know Ike's mom is probably wishing that her son only had a cold. I know she is wishing that she was simply tired from a life as blessed and humdrum as mine. I know she is wishing that she had time to worry about dirty kitchens and babysitters. But instead, she is in the hospital with a very ill baby with two more small children at home that need her too. She has much much bigger concerns than babysitters and mornings without a little peace and quiet.

I realize that instead of complaining, I should be counting my blessings. I have two wonderful children who have their issues, but are generally very healthy little boys. Although we have experienced unemployment, currently B is in a great position that allows me to stay home with my boys. Even when B was unemployed, we still managed to hold onto our health insurance. N is 9 months old and loves to play with Pepper's toys and is crawling and pulling up and saying Mama and playing patty-cake and eating all kinds of baby food and even real food like banana, pear, peas, cheese, hamburger and ravioli. J is almost 3 years old and loves to be silly and is doing cool things like coloring really well (staying in the lines and coloring little details like noses and shoes), painting pictures, saying nursery rhymes, pointing out letters he knows, counting, putting on his own pajamas (although usually mismatched and sometimes inside out) and using the potty. I have two boys whose whole faces light up when they smile. I have two wonderful children who make me smile with their sweetness and silliness. I have a wonderful husband who loves me and an incredible family who are always there for me. I have Zoe, who is with us on bonus time that is in and of itself a blessing, and Pepper, one of the sweetest puppies I've ever met, who bring so much love to our lives every day. I live a very blessed life and every day I am reminded that not everyone is so lucky.

I pray for baby Ike and his family. I am visiting his website and his mom's blog daily and hope to help them in their time of need. I hope you will do the same. May we all count our blessings each day and do our best to help those who are not as lucky. Ike is a lucky little baby in that he is VERY, VERY loved, but he is fighting for his health right now and his family is praying for him and for their sanity. May all their prayers be answered.

Here are a few of my blessings:

How are you blessed today?