Things For Which I am Most Thankful...

It looks like we're going to be stuck at home for Thanksgiving instead of joining the big Olson gathering in Minnesota. Meron woke up yesterday sounding like she smokes about 3 packs of cigarettes a day, and I got worried enough to take her to the doctor, telling myself the whole time that I am a total hypochondriac. Well, turns out she has severe acute broncitis. They had to do two nebulizer treatments and chest x-rays before they would even let us leave the doctor's office. It was pretty darn scary, especially because she got so sick so fast. I mean, the day before all she had was a runny nose. So, I'm a little bummed. I love my family and love hanging out with them... but we'll have some mashed potatoes anyway, and I'll spend all day being thankful that Mimi is healthy and that we can give her medical care when she needs it. I have a huge list of things to be thankful for, but the first 5 are the most important.

1. Meron. I think you all know how I feel about my Mimi. She is sleeping curled up next to Nathan as I type, wearing fuzzy pajamas, breathing easily and smelling like lavender and sleeping baby. When she wakes up in the morning, she will give me kisses to wake me up, and then insist that we go out to the kitchen to say good morning to the dogs. She calls them Wowo (Rosie) and Tutu(Stew). Yesterday, she was singing the "I love you song" that I recorded her singing in the tub. She sang it to me, Rosie and Stew, touching each of us as she sang the I love you's. When Nathan comes home for lunch, Mimi spends about 2 minutes exclaiming... and another 2 minutes saying good byes, I love you's and more kisses please when he has to go back to work. She pretends she is a lion and shrieks with delight and feigns terror when I roar back. When she came home from going to the store with Nathan, she ran all the way across the house as fast as she could to give me a hug around the knees. I guess... I don't really have words that can explain better than that.

2. Nathan. He loves me. He loves Meron. He takes a shorter lunch break so he can stop at the store and get me a surprise on the way home and does the dishes almost every night. He stays up until I get home from work so that we can talk before we go to bed, even when I had to work until 11:30 every night and he had to be at work at 6:30 in the morning. He is a good man, a good husband, a good father. He does stupid things to make me laugh... in fact, once he has committed to a joke he will keep drawing it out and elaborating until I laugh. I love him.

3. Lela and Finhas. They aren't here yet, but they will be. I don't know who they are yet, but they are already expanding my heart, and for that I am grateful. I am grateful that I know that Fin is described as a 'character' by all who meet him, and that Lela loves to dress up in pretty dresses. I'm grateful that I get to be their mom... even if they don't know it yet.

4. My family. They are wonderful. They love me. They love Nathan. They REALLY love Meron, and I know that they will REALLY love Lela and Fin, too. I can count on them... for anything. I don't ever remember a time when I wasn't grateful that they were mine, and I can't do without them. Included in my family is a woman in Ethiopia named Meseret. She is Meron's amaye. I think about her every day, and I make sure that Meron does, too. I am so grateful for the many gifts she gave to Meron that make her who she is.

5. My friends. I have so many friends, those I know in person and those who I have only met on line and on the telephone, that make my life better. They offer support, encouragement, ideas, inspiration and love. You know who you are. I love you dearly and am so grateful for you.