The Speed of Kate

When we were on vacation at Wild Adventures, we walked. A lot. And it was approximately 250 degrees in  the shade. I tried to keep everybody herded, but quite often I would find myself waiting on Kate who was strolling like we had all the time in the world. I began to joke that we were moving at a "Kate pace" or at "the speed of Kate". The second day we were there felt extra hot and exhausting and my personal mission was to make it to the waterpark, get a frozen lemonade and SIT DOWN and drink it. Well, because we were moving at the speed of Kate, I watched a lady and her daughter take the last table. I thought ugly thoughts. Anyway, the point of this blog is that while Kate likes to stroll and take her time, it sure seems like time has flown!

Today, my baby started kindergarten.

 I'm telling you, I just don't know how that is possible. 

This was yesterday....

Timing has always been different with Kate. She was a surprise baby for us and we found out she was coming 6 months into a move that took us 6 hours away from family, 6 months into a new job for me, and less than 1 month into Josh's first pastorate. I was so nervous about telling everyone at work because not only had I not been there that long, but my maternity leave would mean the other social workers having to divide up my caseload while I was out. I'll never forget being at a conference with one of my fellow social workers. I had a cold on top of my morning sickness and 5 hours of lectures felt extra miserable that day. Finally during a break I broke down and told my co-worker my news. She shared that she was also expecting and we were due the same day!!! We decided to just be excited together and let everybody stress about the details later. :)

My pregnancy was spent on the road traveling to visit my Hospice patients. My ever growing belly seemed to be a bright spot for many of them and we bonded sharing stories and they always wanted to know details I learned from the dr. I lost one of my dearest patients a week before Kate was born and while I was recovering in the hospital his sweet wife called to check on me, concerned the stress of that event had caused Kate to come early. Kate did try to come early one time and my labor was stopped. A couple of weeks later I was driving out in the middle of nowhere and made the decision to head to see a patient of mine in town. I started having contractions standing at her front door and thankfully, she wasn't home. I decided to head to the hospital where they kept me, even though it was 4 weeks before my due date. Josh was an hour away and as I found out when I finally got a hold of him, he was on the side of the interstate because his gas gauge was broken and he had run out of gas. Of course. :)  Despite Kate's efforts to come early, I labored for about 24 hours. (That would turn out to be diving timing. She was born exactly a year from the day I started my job, ensuring that I got my medical leave.) Then, when it was time for her to be delivered she came so fast and didn't have time for the liquid to clear from her lungs and that landed her a trip to the NICU for a week. I had my own complications and I ended up not being able to see her because I couldn't leave my room and she couldn't leave the NICU. Torture, I tell you! Despite my extended stay due to my complications, I still had to leave the hospital without her. That was the worst feeling ever. When we went to pick her up I was so grateful for the sweet nurse who had her dressed in her outfit, complete with headband and shoes, ready to go. I just hugged that nurse and cried and I was surprised they let me take her without completing a psyche evaluation first. :)

There is so much more to that story, but I know I've shared it before. It was just one of those times that was so overwhelming and life changing it is hard not to remember it often. To praise God that we both came out ok. To stand in awe of the details and how God was all up in them. Every time I look at Kate, I am reminded of how blessed I am to be here to witness every minute of each of my kid's lives.

So, that bring me back to today. I've sent two kids to kindergarten and they were both bittersweet days. But, this is different. This is my baby. This is life changing. Things will be different in this house in a big way. Sippy cups are being traded for lunchboxes and thermoses. Feet that used to look like this....

                                           just moved out of toddler sizes into big girls shoes.

Kate still strolls at her own pace. Just last week we were doing back to school shopping and on a trip to the bathroom Sarah and I turned around to see where she was and she was strolling, crossing her eyes. Just because she could, I guess. And making us laugh, which is what Kate does best.

She has grown up so fast. If you have a baby right now and you don't believe the people who tell you how fast it will go by because you are up to your neck in diapers and bottles and getting your little ones into the car seat seems to take decades, let me tell you, they're right. So, I'm going to enjoy the days that we move at a Kate pace. And I'm going to cross my fingers that the next decade will move at the speed of Kate. And, I'm going to have lunch with a friend today. :)