Dizzy Brunette

I spent Christmas day suppressing the urget to vomit only to find myself doing the same deed anyway. I was so happy that Greg took over the cooking and remaining festivities so that I could lay in bed, being miserable.

Sunday we found ourselves at Fremont Medical Center with a doctor who told me that I had an inflamed inner ear infection, thus the dizziness and uncontrollable urge to gag. A shot in the buttocks and three prescriptions later, I was home, sleeping.

All this brings me to the memories of being pregnant. I realize that for some amazing women, pregnancy is wonderful. For me, it isn't. I never needed a pregnancy test to tell me the obvious because once my body figured out I was pregnant, I started to throw up. (And yes, I still managed to gain over 40lbs with each pregnancy, go figure.)

Greg asked how I was feeling this morning. I replied, "I feel like I did when I was pregnant." He didn't ask for further clarification. Poor guy.

So as I fight this infection, I am so thankful that I was able to have 4 children despite the absolute misery of pregnancy. As I close this entry, I will confess that I had easy labors, delivery, and recuperation. There is always a silver lining.

Santa Run 5K - Greg took 1st in Male 40-45 division

New family pictures taken by Stephen Salazar

Our First Christmas

Every couple has a story, but this one is ours. Greg and I were married on November 1, 1986 just shortly after Christmas. We were both in school, working, and very poor. We lived in an apartment in North Las Vegas nicknamed "Mormon Manor." I have no recollection of what I bought him that first Christmas together. However, what he bought me sits in our bedroom reminding me that he spent every dime he made buying it for me - a cedar hope chest.

I had never had a hope chest before. In it I stored baby clothes I bought while pregnant, carvings of Eagles I bought to give to my sons, my grandmothers things after she died, and a variety of things that are only special to me. It's not in the best of shape, having traveled 7 moves with us into our current home. I suppose one day, Greg may have to refurnish it. As for me, I love the scratches and imperfections on the wood, all earned and all reflective of our imperfect yet unbreakable life together.

Working Mom vs. At Home Moms

I don't know why but most of my adult life, I have witnessed this subtle war between moms who stay at home and moms who work. I, myself, never understood why women would choose to criticize each other for their choices. Aren't we busy enough with what we have to do? How did women find time to know what other women were doing, and then find more time to have an opinion and be critical of them.

I know this:
1. Motherhood is tough for both working moms and at home moms.
2. Life is tough-why aren't we supporting each other?

As an at home mom, I never once had a negative opinion of another mother because she choose to work. I was often irritated by those who would express disapproval of working mothers just as I was irritated by working mothers who looked down upon mothers who stayed home. I usually wished people would just leave other people's choices alone.

I will never understand why one woman would belittle another woman's choice. I know that I've been on both sides. It was hurtful when my friends who worked would criticize me for giving it all up and staying home. When I returned to work, my at home friends criticize me for selling out and going back to work. No winning.

So for you who find yourself looking negatively at another-get busy improving your life! And the golden rule still applies-if you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all.