Be Careful What You Ask For

Have you ever asked for something you really wanted and then after you got it thought, “Wait.  This isn’t as good as I was expecting.” 

“ I really want to get this job” turns into “Geez, my new boss is a total douche.”

“ I really want to go out with this guy” turns into” Geez, this guy is a total douche.”

“ I really want the Texas Rangers to sign this top-notch free agent” turns into “Geez,  this guy really sucks (except for Adrian Beltre).

“If I just get this car, I’ll be so cool. “  Nope, still not cool.

Sometimes what you get ends up being even better than you wanted, but it ends up being harder than you imagined.   So worth it, just harder.  

What have we been asking for?  We just want to go home.   Not that we don’t love the people here, but we never intended to sign a long-term lease. And now that it looks like going home is only a couple of weeks away, they are starting to prepare and train us for taking care of Audrey at home. 

“Wait, this isn’t as good as I was expecting.” It turns out that when you finally get to take your baby home, the nurses don’t come with you.  “Seriously?  I can’t just take one home with me?  You have two nurse Sidneys.  Surely, you don’t need both of them.”  So, we have to maintain the feeding tube that’s attached to her stomach.  We get to administer her meds and operate the feeding pump.  No pressure. My biggest fear with our first baby was that I wouldn’t properly apply the butt paste and she would get diaper rash.  And I thought that was stressful.

And remember how much you dreaded taking your child to the pediatrician to get shots because you didn’t like seeing your baby cry in pain?   Imagine what it’s like when you are the one giving the shots.  And not twice a year, twice a day.

Also, we have to work with a complex care specialist to coordinate the meetings with all of medical and developmental specialists.  And the multiple specialists that we have to work with to care for Audrey won’t just show up in our room at a time that’s convenient for us.  We are going to have to take off work and drive to their offices.  As much as we are paying them, you’d think the least they could do is come to us.

When you think about it, how many great things in life come easy?

Ever won a big game and thought it was easy?

Ever got an A in a class and thought it was easy?

Ever made a lot of money and/or had success at work and thought it was easy?

Maybe the best things in life are also the hardest.

So bring on the hard stuff, this little face is worth it.