marathon of life

I spoke with one of my many pregnant friends this past weekend. She lives in Colorado with her husband and is well into her third trimester of pregnancy. She was sharing how last week she was in the hospital for a couple of days, when after a routine checkup, the fetal monitor showed that she was contracting—pretty strongly. She was feeling fine, in no pain at all, but obviously the situation was worrisome since her due date is not for at least another month. She was back home when I spoke to her, still feeling fine, but restricted to light activity and bored out of her mind. I encouraged her to take this time for herself (as this is going to be her first baby)—and enjoy every second of it!

Four years ago, my best friend was pregnant with her first child. Our relationship is one in which that we are so close (and she also is a nurse) that I often literally felt as though I was pregnant right along with her. We still joke that I gained all of the same pregnancy weight with her! This is also why I so often feel that William is the little “son” of my heart.

Now, I literally have four girlfriends who are currently pregnant. They are spread out over the country (Colorado, California, Oregon, & Michigan). I cannot begin to describe how happy I am for all of them—and the fact that I’ll be an aunt four times over—but, I discovered this weekend in talking to the one in Colorado, that it’s hard for me to get overly excited about these babies. Don’t get me wrong—I can’t wait to hear stories and see pictures, etc., but with the majority of them so far away, I think I have to protect my own heart a bit from the sadness of not being able to be involved the way I was with William…

My own busy life doesn’t help the situation either. Before Jason was in my life, I found that singleness suited me well. I could be a part of my friends’ lives in a way that allowed me to be physically and emotionally vested in a way that satisfied me. Now, with most of my friends married and entering parenthood, I joked recently that in the marathon called life, I’m feeling a bit behind. I hope that as I approach the marriage “marker,” there will be a few people left around to cheer me on!

I jest, because I know my friends are ones that will stick with me and share in my joy. Just as I completely and totally share in their joy of being parents. This is why I will always have a phone with nationwide long distance availability, and why I always will know what the exact time differences are between here and the west coast. :)