Delayed post

I don't like the posts without photos. So even though this has nothing to do with my reason for posting, I'm adding it.

Now, I realize I've posted a lot of photos of my boys, particularly Jace, sleeping. This one has nothing to do with the weird position, or the fact I couldn't get his coat off after therapy before he fell asleep, (though the case here) but because of his hat. It's caddywompus, so you can't see the full cuteness effect. But I think you can imagine. His mittens match. It's really hard finding decent baby, toddler, and preschooler hats and gloves. In fact, for an area with oodles of bad weather, you'd think they would have a great selection, yet it frankly sucks. So to get a set that fit Jace, I had to order from the Gap. Gap prices compared to Walmart prices, hmmmm. I'm willing to pay Gap prices on a jacket that is truly warm and zips properly. But a hat and mittens? It was hard to swallow. Aidan's hat is part of his Old Navy coat, and thank goodness, not a moment too soon, I finally found a pair of mittens that fit him at Walmart. $3. Compared to Jace's, if I'd ordered the mittens separately, $13. Gross. Anyway, he's warm. Everyone does keep asking me where I got his hat though. :)

Now for the real reason I'm posting. Late Thanksgiving.

I don't wait until such a holiday to think about what I'm grateful for. But it is a nice time to express it. I won't list it all here, many are the usual things, and some are just too personal. But since Damon's pregnancy is already on here, I'll express my gratitude for the things related to his birth. I just hope I can express it in a way that makes sense. :)

The most obvious one would be that he just plain made it here. I have a different understanding of Clayton's delivery and don't feel like anything was denied there, but it is awfully nice to have Damon with us now. Another is that he is not a typical preemie, nor hydrops baby. There was no lengthy hospital stay, and he is doing fine. Time will tell if we caught the blood clotting soon enough to not have brain damage, but I'm not worried about that. And another is how it all fell into place in a way that healed the hurt and anger I had towards the obgyn from Clayton's pregnancy... and even had the same nurse who desperately wanted to see a happier ending for a change. And only 13 months later.

Before any of my boys were born, as I sat in a Stake Conference adult session, the Seminary teacher in our ward spoke of Tender Mercies. I had no clue what that really meant. It was too fuzzy of a concept to me at the time. But every one of our boys, have brought that phrase more and more into focus for me. Aidan, my warmth. Jacen, my laughter. Clayton, my understanding. Damon, my healing.