day of recovery - take 2

When the kids are feeling anxious about something, we often remind them that they have a choice. They can choose to call the butterflies in their stomach nervousness, or they can choose to call those butterflies excitement. That there are some situations where we are able to manipulate our minds into believing what we tell it - regardless of the realities.

Last year on February 3rd, 2009, Karl and I were in Poland on what we often refer to as our Day of Recovery. We had arrived in Poland the day prior and we were to meet Chris the next day. This in-between day was one we used to explore Chris’ home town. We visited the mall. We shopped for items we had forgotten back in the States. We rested in our hotel room. We talked about what we thought was to come. We had butterflies in our stomachs. Lots of them. But there was little choice in the matter. It was a definite case of excitement.

This year, we were on the other side of the spectrum. On February 3rd, 2010, Karl spent another day of recovery – but this year he was recovering from a surgery he had so very early that morning. We had so many butterflies for a few weeks prior in anticipation. But these were most certainly the kind of butterflies that were attributed to nervousness. There was no doubt about it.

And we were reminded again that sometimes our very own advice is not applicable. Perhaps even completely faulty. It isn’t to say that we won’t use it again, but it may be that we are more cognizant of the fact that the boys are telling us the truth when they say, "No, this most certainly is nervous!"

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Last year, on February 4th, 2009, we met our Chris for the very first time. Our lives were changed forever for the better and we knew we had so much to look forward to - whether we knew just what it was we were looking forward to or not. It was a day that was filled with emotion and one that I can relive in my mind over and over again.

This year, on February 4th, 2010, we heard the word we had been waiting so desperately to hear. Benign. I sat next to my husband as he lay in the hospital as the doctor said the word. I grabbed Karl's hand and I finally exhaled. Our life has indeed been forever changed by the anxiety of the last few weeks, but it has again been changed for the better and we know we have so much to look forward to.

February 4th is a date we will not forget for so many reasons. A day of life altering moments and a day of thanksgiving.