The End and The Beginning

New Years Day for me was not the sleep in kind of day from staying up all night.  

Instead I chose to return to work for the first time in 11 1/2 weeks. 

My maternity leave was wonderful and filled with great quality family time that I otherwise wouldn't have been able to enjoy.

I was blessed and fortunate to be able to have these past 10 1/2 weeks to enjoy Bennett and one week free from work to prepare for his arrival.

I enjoyed Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas, and New Years Eve from the comforts of my home.

Returning to work,  however, was inevitable, a little freighting and exciting all at the same time.

I am truly so blessed to be able to do what I love as my profession.  

There is so much personal reward from being able to care for those unable to care for themselves.  Yes, that is also a big perk of motherhood, but you don't get monetary compensation for being a mother.

I truly am so happy I was able to return to work.  

I'm not sure if full-time would have been my choice if given a say, but it is awesome to have a few days a week to forgo my motherly duties and remember who I am as a woman, an individual, and a person.  

To remember who I am other than a wife and a mother and to be able to put my education to good use.  

I love the women (and few men) that I work with.  

They truly are one of the main reasons why I continue to go to work each day and why I have stayed working on my unit for the past 3 years.  

Amidst all the stress and chaos of our 12 hour shift I learn and laugh each and every day, a blessing not every job has. 

In addition, they say absence makes the heart grow fonder and I believe it.  

I love stepping in the door and being greeted by my husband caring for Bennett.  

It has made me fall more and more in love with him as I watch and observe him care for Bennett. 

 He truly is an amazing father and caregiver. 

I love coming home to my little guy and being able to set everything else aside to spend quality time with him.  

All the stress and sleepless nights suddenly become invisible and I am reminded what a privilege it is to call him mine.

My first day back at work I was given the opportunity to care for a young man who was a quadriplegic.  

I stood back in awe at how his parents selflessly did EVERYTHING for this young man. 

 From helping him eat, to exercise, to cough, to reposition his pillows and pee.  

They had been given the challenge of raising this young man, and took the challenge full force and turned it into a positive experience.  

They truly were so happy to help him and it made me realize how incredibly grateful I am to have experiences such as these and to have a healthy and happy little boy.  

Heavenly Father has blessed my life with challenges, but none that I couldn't overcome and most importantly he has blessed me beyond measure with wonderful gifts, opportunities, and angels.

Here's to a new year and striving each day to be appreciative to the wonderful life I have been given and to enjoy each moment as it comes.