Teething and Living with Friends

  Oh, the joys of babies teething. When a baby teethes it seems to come at the weirdest times. Of, course Joel began at the hardest time. I just has surgery to put in my ICD (internal cardiac diffibulator). We were staying with a couple from church for a week or so during my recovery. Thank God for those baby rubbery plastic spoons. Joel would rather gnaw on the spoon than anything else. The couple from the church helped with keeping Joel calm and out of pain from his teeth with me. Before we went home Joel had his first front teeth come through. It was so awesome because even his fever stopped. I was real blessed that Joel never got ear infections with teething.
  About 2 weeks after we went back home to my parents in Redfield things got a little hairy. So we lived with my friend and her family in Winterset. It just made my mom nervous that I had a heart condition and was in the middle of no where (the country). It was a lot of fun at times. They enjoyed helping with Joel. He was very very spoiled.
  May 2008 I spent my first Mother's Day as Joel's mommy. It was such a blessing to have my little guy in my arms in front of the church as a mom. Being a mother on mothers day brings such a special meaning to being a mom. Not because of what we do for out child(ren), but because children are a blessing from God. Being a mom is a privelage. Anyone can have a child, but a MOM is there for their child(ren) in the good and in the bad.
  June 2008 was busy as could be. Took Joel to the pool many times. He loved the water. Even enjoyed naps in the shade. We loved to go down the family slide together with him on my lap. Father's day came and went by. It was hard to think that somewhere my Joel's paternal donor was out there with not a care in the world about his child. In my mind I said it is okay he just assisted in the creation. He dont deserved to have a "Father's Day" because he isnt there for Joel. Then I also told Joel that the greatest Father is in Heaven God, and that he loves him very much. I say it every year to Joel to this day.
  End of June we moved to our own place in Winterset. Oh how nice it was. Joel loved his new home, and being in his walker going all over. We stayed there for a while until we moved a series of more times.