Miracles

So I decided to go back to work a couple days earlier than I'd originally planned.  I'm hoping going back on a Thursday will make it an easier transition for myself, Robb, Farren, and my students, as well.  Beyond that, however, is a need for structure.  It's been WONDERFUL having Robb home and available full time, but since he's not in school (and his semester doesn't start until January 30), there's not very much (okay, any) motivation to get up and going, to do household chores or run errands.  This might seem nice - and it has been - but after eight weeks it's starting to drive me a little nuts, especially since I look at our current existence and the way things need to be when I go back to work, then how they'll need to change even more when Robb goes back to school, and...yes, it's time for us to start becoming a house of order.

I was worried about this decision, so I decided to keep asking the Lord what I should do.  Now, the Bible Dictionary says "[p]rayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other."  For me, this sometimes results in knowing what to pray for as I'm praying.  In this case, I knelt down and was planning on asking about going back to work on Thursday or Monday, but I never even got that far.  It was strange, but as soon as I started praying I knew exactly what I should do - and that was go back to work a few days early, on Thursday.  I was so grateful for that prayer, for the knowledge I have of my relationship with my Heavenly Father, and for the reassurance I received - and feel again, every time I start to get a little worried about going back to work.


Actually, I've been worrying about everything.  Turns out if I don't get enough sleep, I get very depressed and anxious, very quickly.  (As in, I don't want to hold or feed the baby depressed, and I cry every time I think about how we'll make this work.  Not good.)  So my fabulous (and fabulously observant) husband informed me I was no longer allowed to feed the baby at night, and that he'd take care of Farren all night long, every night, for as long as is necessary.  This is difficult (to realize I can't do what breastfeeding superheroine moms do and feed the baby all night long), but so relieving.  Getting six or seven hours of sleep a night has been GREAT.  However, this was meaning that Robb didn't get much sleep and so would sleep until ten or eleven or noon.  Well, that works right now, but what about when I go back to work next week and Robb has to take care of the baby starting at 7:30 am?  So I started praying some more, and I have to say God is very, very good.

I decided to be very specific in these prayers, so in at least one prayer every day I asked that the baby would be able to sleep five or six hours at night.  He's done four to five hours a couple of times, and I know it's not outside the realm of possibility, as my niece would sleep six to eight hours a night starting at two weeks of age, and we have friends whose children have all been super sleepers from the get-go.  Besides, aren't big babies supposed to be better sleepers???  At any rate, this was my prayer.

Well, two nights ago Farren slept from 11:30 until 5:00.  I was floored - and immediately added "most nights, if not every night" to my prayer.  :-)  Last night he slept from 12:00 am until 5:00 am, and then from 6:00 am until 10:00 am.  Now this, we can do.  I am so grateful for Heavenly Father's tender mercies.  Miracles really do happen every day!