Nonnie!

Happy Mother's Day, Nonnie!

My mom. My hero.

All the time, I hear "I'm not sure how you do it with two." "Boy those two are busy, how do you keep up with them? They must wear you out?" "How do you do it."

Now, don't get me wrong, I LOVE my life and I LOVE that I am exhausted because of my twins.

But every time someone asks me that, the one word that comes to my mind, is MOM. My Mom saves my butt. All the time.

This is nothing new. In highschool, late at night, after I finished writing my 17 page term papersthe night before they were due (I'm a charter member of the Procrastinators of the World Club), Mom was there as the World's Fastest typer to type my papers at 2 am! I also like to take on projects, sewing projects. I would create a pattern and try to make it. Mom's a much better sewer and she always took my rags and turned them into beautiful finished projects for me.

Growing up, I had to loan my mom out on several occasions. Because despite being raised a strict Catholic and a "good girl," Mom was the least judgemental person I knew. When my friends couldn't talk to or were scared of their mom's, they talked to my mom. When you've made your biggest mistake, there is nobody in this world like my mom to make you feel like you are still loved and still a worthy person, mistake and all.

During all of my infertility issues and through our long adoption process, Mom stood by me and cried just as much as I did. And nobody was as happy as she was when we all finally got of that plane and arrived safely home.

Mom flew on all by herself on her first international flight to meet her grandbabbies and to be with me because I wanted to stay longer than Gary's work allowed him on our 2nd visit trip.

With Dad's passing in December, Mom is living by herself for the first time in her life. And she's really brave. And smart. And she cut the grass for the first time in her life, all by herself. ;-) Go Mom!

Each day she calls me and sees if I need help. If I need a break. If we want company. She encourages me when I feel overwhelmed. She tells me all the time what a good Mommy I am.

She treats me to special things like outfits and pedicures because she knows what a treat that is for me!

She'll call in the evening just to make sure that something she said earlier in the day didn't come off the wrong way. She wants to make sure that I know she's not being judgemental or hurtful.

She puts up with a lot from me, too. A saint I am not! I pick. I fuss. I yell. I have a very weird, warped sense of humor. I can be downright annoying. ;-)

Mom - I love you. You are my hero. I admire you. You are strong, you are kind, you make the best funny faces and funny noises for your grandbabies. You raised us well.

There's so much I haven't written. I could probably write for hours and still not thank you for everything you've done for me.

Know that you are loved. Admired. Cherished. Thank you for bringing me into this world, for teaching me so much, for letting me arrive here, to this place in my life. My destiny.

And to you all you Mom's out there! Happy Mother's Day!!

Mason, Evan, Austin and Logan - Thanks for making me a Mom!! I love you all very, very much!