We're thankful...but...

I've put off writing this post for a few days, because I wasn't sure what I was going to say. Most of this blog is pretty lighthearted, regardless of the stresses of raising two high-energy kids, working, maintaining a marriage...you know, life. But this is a tough one to spin.
We we were told on Monday that, "due to the economic downturn," Chris is being let go from the practice he's been at since April. They will pay him through April 1st, because he's under contract, but he has been "relieved of clinical duties" in order to look for another position. Yeah. The practice that recruited us, that we moved to a new state for, that encouraged us to buy a home in Toledo (thank God we didn't) because they wanted someone who planned on having a long-term commitment to the area and the community...that practice has now let Chris go. So now we have until April for Chris to find another job in the area that will allow us to keep this house. Unless that happens, we're going to be one of those news stories of people who bought a house and now can't sell it for what they owe. (Everyone please keep your fingers crossed that the new government really does pass some kind of foreclosure relief package, just in case) It has come as a pretty big shock, medicine tends to be sort of recession-proof. Apparently not this time.
So...thankful. This is probably one of those times that it's even more important to count your blessings, right? That's what Oprah would say, I'm sure. :) So here goes:
I'm thankful:
1. For our health, of course. It's obvious, but still important.
2. That we are lucky enough to have people who love us, enough of a safety net that even if the worst case scenario happens, we won't starve or be homeless.
3. That if this was going to happen, it happened when Chris and I are still young enough to recover, and the girls are young enough that they won't even remember it.
4. That this means that for the next 4 months, Chris is home with us. The girls are totally thrilled already. The last two days have been great for them, it's like a perpetual weekend.
5. That Rowan is such a great sleeper. It took like 9 months for her to get there, but it makes life much easier now that she sleeps consistently through the night, about 12 hours a night, and takes a 2 hour nap in the afternoon.
6. That Saoirse is such a sweet kid, and so good at entertaining herself, during the day. She's agreeable so much of the time, it makes it easier to deal with Rowan's need for more attention during the waking hours.
7. That Rowan and Saoirse, more every day, are developing a great relationship with each other. I love getting to watch that. They share with each other, even when I don't tell them to, sometimes. They play little games with each other now, I totally love to just be able to sit back and watch them laugh with each other. I love it when they hug and kiss spontaneously.
8. That Chris and I are solid enough that this latest setback isn't something that threatens us at all. It's a lucky thing to be married to someone that you're so happy with, that you're totally sure is the right person for you, that you can honestly be grateful for. It's easy to say that no matter what happens, as long as you've got each other, it's okay. But it's amazing to be able to mean it.
9. I'm grateful for public libraries. Honestly, given my totally out-of-control addiction to reading, right now I'd be freaking out at how I was going to get my fix on the budget we're obviously adopting for the foreseeable future. But no....I can just go check out some books for FREE! (I know, I know, we pay taxes so it's not exactly free. But we'd be paying the taxes whether the library existed or not) Honestly, the idea that libraries are a thing worth using some of the tax money on was a pretty damn genius one.
10. I'm grateful for the chance to host my first Thanksgiving tomorrow in my own home. I've been really looking forward to it, and it's going to be great. I really hope it's the first of many in this house, and that it's not the only one. But even if it's the only one here, I'm going to really enjoy it.

Here are some photos of the girls helping Mommy make buttermilk biscuits for tomorrow:




Happy Thanksgiving!