underground

So I feel a little bit like we've gone underground. The past month (almost) has been a transition for us all. At first the girls treated it like it was a fun vacation and long-term sleepover at Grandma's house, but as we've had the usual meltdowns and cranky days it's become more apparent that they are missing 'home'. Lily especially has been asking if we can go home. It's hard to reason with an almost-four-year-old; And while it make more sense to an adult of how change is necessary with a means to an end, children definitely live in the moment, and it's been tough to see the emotion/loss of security that Lily harbors in the good memories of our first home. I don't blame her--I am not the kind of person who welcomes change very often. I definitely find that peace in everyday comforts and routine.
But I also know that evolution is necessary and unavoidable, so I must try to be as patient with Lily as I'd want someone to be with me when thrust into a big change. She really does do well on most days, and I'm proud of the way they've made the most of things. Our going-to-bed routine still seems some major fine-tuning as they just do not sleep nearly as well here, but all in good time....
And speaking of the avoidance of change, I've been putting off potty-training Zoe even though she has probably been ready for months now. While I give a toddler credit for learning such a big thing, I also duly recognize the training that the parent has to go through to help them accomplish such a feat. I'm just not feeling any motivation, although it sure would be nice to only have one diaper to change come October. sigh. Time to buck up and just do it.
We've also had other stuff to deal with. We've been awakened for the last two nights by one of the girls vomiting. We've been really lucky as they rarely get stomach sick, but with the swine flu going around, I am a little more anxious than I normally would be. Zoe seemed to be fine after about 24 hours and didn't exhibit any other symptoms besides throwing-up and tiredness; however, Lily was the sick one early this morning and seems to be running a little fever and now I am a little more paranoid.
Andrew has been working overtime like crazy, and I so appreciate his willingness to support us so that we can accomplish our goals. He's such a great husband and dad, and I couldn't ask for a better match. As I see our relationship evolve I am more grateful that we aren't trying to change each other but trying harder to change ourselves to be more compatible. That is a huge blessing and not always easy, but I am grateful to have been through enough hard knocks to coerce me to try and be more forgiving and more willing to communicate. I guess that's all I can ask for--someone who makes me want to be better as well as trying to better himself at the same time. And isn't it funny that there are those people placed in our lives that just 'fit'...somehow with all the billions of people on earth our Heavenly Father is able to intertwine just the right combination to give us the maximum potential for learning and growth. How grateful I am for that and for fathers who are willing to be more than just fathers...it definitely takes someone special to be a daddy...I've got one and so do my children, and I feel so blessed.