My friend Stacey sent me a link to a TEDxCanmore talk of Linh Huynh’s remarkable account of how her harrowing journey to Canada as part of the Boat People of Vietnam helped craft a life of daring and wonder. In November 2014, she became the 1st Canadian woman to complete the Four Deserts, a series of 250 km self-supported, 7 day races through the hottest, driest and windiest deserts on earth, and by doing so in one calendar year became the 8th woman in history to complete it as a Grand Slam.

“One of the things that plays through my mind when I’m going through something hard like this is to enjoy the moment because one day you will feel nostalgic for this moment. And for whatever pain you’re going through…we love the past, our minds live there, we glorify it. But I knew that one day I would be nostalgic for this moment and that idea pushes me along.”

What made this presentation “Rethinking Limits” so remarkable? She’s not an ultra athlete, hates running and in fact, finished last in her races. But her determination is downright inspiring. Her humble presentation is hilarious and poignant. It almost makes me want to set such a lofty goal.

But I think I’ll just go eat cookies instead.

When we were potty training Hadley there were very few topics that were off-limits at our house. One of her favorite subjects was the potty. Or more specifically, everyone else’s bathroom habits.

H: “Grandma–poopy?”
Me: “Yes, Hadley.”
H: “Uncle Chris–poopy?”
Me: “Yes, Hadley.” And I then explain how they go in the big-boy and big-girl potty.

She was particularly fascinated by Jamie’s bathroom habits, primarily because he didn’t allow her in the bathroom while he did his business; he said he didn’t want to “confuse her.” Personally, I don’t think it’s fair that I was expected to share audience with her while he was able to blissfully lock himself up and pee in peace. There is something very unsettling about having a toddler observe and imitate your every move during your most ….errr..vulnerable moments.

On a related subject (and believe me, this does relate), one of my favorite stories in scripture is when Jesus lovingly washed the feet of his apostles during The Last Supper. This passage has so resonated with me over the years that when I did a study abroad in Jerusalem and spotted a beautiful olive-wood carving of this scene, I promptly bought it. I keep this little statue in our den and have treasured it over the years.

Hadley and I were playing in the den when she looked up the carving and delightfully exclaimed, “Jesus!” I was pleasantly surprised she recognized him from the rendering because I had never before pointed it out to her. Just as I was about ready to expound upon the doctrines of the passage befitting to a 2-year-old, Haddie said it all:

“Jesus–POOPING!”

I don’t think I’ll ever be able to view that statue in the same light again.

Call it what you want. Binky. Pacifer. Paci. Soother. I call it a little cut of hell.

Sure, I loved Hadley’s pacifier when it quelled her cries but it was so traumatic breaking her of her habit that I wouldn’t let a binky go anywhere near Bode’s mouth when he was born.

And it was a 12-step program to make her quit.

Day 1: Jamie did the “snip-snip.” No, this is not in reference to the procedure he underwent when our child-bearing years passed. But rather, he snipped the end off of Binky. We then left it out in an obvious place and waited with baited breath as she approached. Predictably, she jumped right on it, as she often does when she makes a non-sleepytime Binky discovery. But after a few sucks, she took it out to observe, and then tried to put it in her mouth in a few different positions (sideways, backwards, etc.) She then made the proclamation “Broke” and threw it on the ground. We thought that was the end of it. We were wrong.

When it came nap-time, that is where the true levels of her addiction were revealed. Not only did she lay hysterically in my arms for almost two hours, she was just like a heroin addict going into withdrawals. Her entire body shaking, she screeched, “Binky, binky, binky” over and over again. It took everything that was in me to not give in as I kept picturing them mocking her at her High School Graduation ceremonies if she was still sucking on that thing.

Day 2: Nightmarish Nap-time Part II. Haddie makes her first suicide attempt. I put her in her crib after a half hour of snuggles and comforting her, with the resolve to let her cry it out. This seemed to be working. Until I heard the loud BAM! in the next room. I rushed in there and yep, she had launched out of her crib for the first time with a big ol’ goose egg to show for it. She claimed in no uncertain terms that life was not worth living if she couldn’t have Binky. There were no naps that day, either.

Day 3: Same pattern: snuggles, cry it out (with the prayer she would not launch out of her crib), only this time she went to sleep. Well, for only 15 minutes mind you. She started crying and though I was tempted to let her fuss it out, maternal instinct took over and I went in. She was covered from head-to-toe in her own vomit. Possibly part of the withdrawal program as she puked up 18 month’s worth of plastic inhalation? I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening cleaning up her incessant puke and diarrhea fest. Seven loads of laundry later, I passed out at the end of the night.

Day 4: Grandma Day. THANKFULLY. I was a nervous wreck and after going for a hike (a.k.a. Pregnant Lady Waddle) to relieve my stress, I spent the afternoon sleeping.

Day 5: Went down with little fuss and only asked for Binky periodically throughout the day.

Day 6: Finally only spoke fondly of Binky, like he was a dear, dear friend from her distant past.

A friend once shared the story of taking the paci away from her toddler. After a week, I asked her how it was going? “Bad,” she moaned. Two weeks later: “Worse,” she commiserated. By three weeks of crying and sleepless nights, she gave the pacifier back but with one caveat: she tied it on a string to the crib so her daughter could only use it to self-sooth during naptime.

At least that was the intention until she spotted her daughter sneaking in and out of her bedroom all day long so she followed her in. And watched. She went straight for the binky, took a few urgent, frenzied sucks and then walked away after she got her “hit.”

That, my friends is addiction.

It’s the most wonderful month of the year: “Ambruary!” OK, more like our most stressful month juggling three trips (including  a family reunion next week with Jamie’s family), my birthday, our anniversary and Valentine’s Day. Money is super tight so we’ve already agreed not to buy gifts and really, nothing can compare to 2007 when Jamie surprised me with a car.

Lest you are blown away that Jamie bought me a car for my birthday, let me clarify something: we’d been in the market for a while. He had just received a promotion at the newspaper so we could finally afford an extra car payment.  Now, that car is almost as old as me and desperately needs to be replaced.

We also decided to go to a new snazzy restaurant. Our cruisin’ friend Ivan gave us a $50 gift certificate he and his fellow attorneys received for their grand opening. That should have been tip-off #1 that we’d have to mortgage our house to pay for the balance. Tip #2 was when there weren’t any menus…or prices listed anywhere. Tip #3 wasn’t until we received our bill and learned they charged us $20 for Haddie’s meal. You know: the food she picked off our plates that consisted of one green bean, three bites of meat and a roll.

I won’t divulge how much we ended up forking over for our fantastic dinner, even after the discount. Just know in that month, we blew our entertainment budget. For the entire year.

And then for the pick-me-up conversation with my mother I had that day:

“Yeah, I’m 35. Can you believe it? Doesn’t that make you feel kinda old, Mom?”

“It should make you feel old, Amber!”

Good to know the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree…

Baby Bode also had a birthday gift for me: he slept through the night and didn’t wake up until 5 a.m. Or so I thought. Until I realized that my poor rheumatism-ridden honey woke up with him.

Jamie: “You mean you didn’t hear him screaming bloody murder?”

What I said:

“I didn’t hear a peep! I’m so sorry you had to endure that!”

What I wanted to say:

“Thank you, NyQuil.”

Here’s for surviving another epic Ambruary.

I think most people have a time of year when they’re in a funk. For some, it’s February doldrums. For me, it’s late summer when it’s still blazing hot (90 degrees, thank you) and my allergies have kicked in. I’m going on two months now with crappy sleep. The only way to cool our house down at night is by running our attic fan but in so doing, we blast all the outdoor allergens into our house.  So, my two options are either heat or allergies and when given the option, I always, always, always choose WINTER. Oh wait. That isn’t yet an option.

I’ve been desperately trying to get caught up from my summer break but pesky life keeps getting in the way. In August, a friend accidentally dropped my iPhone, completely obliterating the screen. She felt horribly and generously paid to have it repaired but I haven’t had a lick of time to do it until Saturday. We ended up being stuck in the mall and Apple store for several hours, normally congenial Jamie went off on the staffer over the horrible customer services and the list goes on. The only happy one was Bode because he was cozied up to not one but TWO Macs with Minecraft videos.

Then, our Bosch dishwasher broke. Again. Oh, and we spent several hours trying to rebuild our retaining wall that houses our huge sandpit and trampoline but after several failed attempts, we decided we’ll just have to pay someone to do it. Then there’s the kids’ dental bills, Jamie’s persisting health issues and the cherry on top (and I don’t even like maraschino cherries) is Jamie upgraded my laptop to Windows 10 two weeks ago and I’ve had non-stop problems. Oh, and I also have a virus so my directory is full and I can’t save any files. And my back-up (old computer freezes every five minutes).

It was in this fragile (a nice word for meltdown state that I attended an event yesterday. Medela Breastpumps reached out to me about a new program they’re launching, Medela Recycles, where moms can donate their unneeded Medela Breastpumps and they will go to a mom in need at the Ronald McDonald House because 40% of people who stay there have babies in the NICU. 

We toured the facility and I was humbled to see the miracles and trials of these families.  You want a dose of perspective? Talk to a mom who has dropped everything for months to see if her 4-year-old will receive a heart transplant.

http://www.milehighmamas.com/blog/2015/09/15/medela-recycles/

Here’s a glimpse at my tour and experience and be sure to share with any moms you may know.

I just realized I haven’t posted since Bode’s birthday. July has been a whirlwind of family, friends and travel. Hadley and I arrived home a few days ago while Bode stayed behind with Jamie’s parents for a week of pampering in Utah. I have many updates to share of our grand adventures at the Lake House, Calgary Stampede, Hadley’s first 14er (14,000-foot peak) and much, much more.

Here’s the problem, though: the kids don’t go back to school for another four weeks so in the interim, I’m juggling catch-up at work, final summer adventures, a quick trip to Vail for the Kids Adventure Race, back-to-school shopping and Bode’s birthday party. Stay tuned for more details!

It has been more than ten years since I first saw her.

I was recently at the post office and she was standing near me in line. Our eyes connected and she blankly smiled. She did not recognize me. She really had no reason to. But ten years ago, she left an indelible impression on me.

In the world’s eyes, she is an overlooked middle-aged mom, with unkempt hair and clothes. I had initially dismissed her as well. But during our interactions, I came to know a beautiful person. Possibly one of the most beautiful I have ever known.

When we first met, I was on the cusp of a new life: a newlywed, pregnant and with a whole new world of hope and possibilities in front of me. In my eyes, she was weary and beleaguered.

I came to know why: she gave and gave, often leaving nothing for herself. She was a KEEP READING