My husband and I learned quickly that there are many challenges to having a barely two year old and a newborn.  While pregnant with Harrison, I remember tending to Bennett’s needs after a night time waking.  I specifically remember positioning my 7 month pregnant body on the floor in front of of our almost 2 year old’s crib, while holding my son’s hand through the slats.  My arm was numb, my hips ached, and I laid there imagining how I would soon have an ADDITIONAL child needing  my attention.  I was stressing, “How will I handle this situation after the new baby arrives?  How do I continue to maintain the attention our two year old is accustom to receiving and now DEMANDS, plus meet the needs of a new baby?” While I didn’t know how.. I came to the conclusion that I am not the first parent to have two kids, two years apart.  Other people have figured this out….  So it must be possible???


Once Harrison arrived, I still feared my alone time with both boys.  I was fine with one, but how do I handle two?  I would be out numbered!  Luckily it was a few weeks before I had to manage two babies alone.  The day arrived spontaneously.  Bennett decided to jump off the couch.  He landed weird on his leg and wouldn’t walk.   We iced the leg and gave him some Tylenol.  I was confident he would be fine in the morning.  Morning came and he was still not putting weight on his leg.  UGH!!!  I can’t take him to daycare if he can’t walk!  He needed to see a doctor and Jason had to do go work.  So I was suddenly thrown into my first “survival mode,”  aka. first day alone with both boys.

First stop, the ER! I was pretty much a pack mule.  I had a diaper bag, purse, stroller, infant car seat, my coat, Bennett’s coat, hats, scarves, mittens, infant car seat cover, the WORKS!   Harrison decided he needed to be nursed right as we walk in the waiting room.  I am attempting to take my coat off and cover myself.  Right when we got into position, they called us back to see the doctor. Perfect timing!!!  Ugh!

They take Bennett’s vitals and I resume nursing in the patient room.  We wait a few moments and the doctor comes back.  He exams Bennett’s leg, no discomfort!  He asks Bennett to try to walk.  He hops out of the chair and walks normally across the room and back….. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!!  He is fine!!  Yup!  He was magically fine!  So we load up everything we own and head back to the car where I was finally able to finish nursing Harrison.

This was just the first hour of my first “survival mode.”  But honestly, we figured it out.  Harrison’s nursing was interrupted all day, but he survived!  I required Bennett to practice patience a few times, but he survived.  I enjoy happiness, stress, love, anxiety, delight, and I survived! 🙂  One of my favorite moments was when I had both babies crying.  So I loaded everyone up in a rocking chair (Harrison in the Bjorn) and rocked them both to sleep.  I was so proud of my accomplishment. 🙂  And it felt wonderful to have both of my sweet babies filling my lap and overflowing my heart!
Aug 28th is next Friday!  We will be doing random acts of kindness to honor Harrison.  Feel free to join us!  If you participate please go to the Harry’s Joy Facebook page and post your act!  Please tag your post with #harrysjoy28 so we can follow along!  We appreciate all of your support.  Watching Harry’s Joy grow is very therapeutic in our healing process!