Like everyone else in the world, the Olympics keep making me cry. To watch these athletes put it all on the line, and then push themselves past that line…It’s just breathtaking.
What else has been bringing the tears this week? Watching Baby Girl suffer through her first bout with a stomach virus. To watch your baby lose her baby fat in one week and stagger around like a drunk from dehydration and fatigue is NOT fun. She broke my heart daily this week, and I just know she gave me some new gray hairs…
Finally, these 3 posts really got to me:
- The Fat Friend by Allie Sanders
- Julie Glover’s post, Talking To Children About Death
- Find Inspiration in Your Broken Paths by Samantha Gluck
On the writing front, it was slow-slow-SLOW! If I wrote a page on the WIP this week, I’d be shocked. However, I feel blessed that it was the only major ball I dropped.
Some weeks you have to be grateful for treading water rather than drowning.
How did your week go? Have my writing friends been writing? Does anyone have any big events to share? What has been your favorite Olympic moment so far?
p.s. If you participate in ROW80, click here to cheer your teammates on. I know I will!
Jenny
Jenny Hansen's Blog 
Aww… 😦 Jenny, I hope your baby girl feels better soon…. I know what you mean about being moved to tears… When Gabby Douglas nailed her routine I started crying partway through… I could see the look on her face. She knew she had it!!! I am even getting choked up now. Take care, Jenny…
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Darlene, there’s been a million moments these Olympics! Gabby’s routine, Michael Phelps last race, several of the Track and Field competitors… It’s hard to pick just one!
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What a powerful post, Jenny! Thanks for sharing your thoughts – and your heart. I hope this coming week will give you many reasons to smile. All the very best!
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Thanks, Steph!! It can’t be worse than the last week. 🙂 I’m looking foward to it!
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You are SO right, Jenny! It is TOUGH to see your little one suffer through something like that. This week just HAS to be better! Hang in there!
Hugs,
Kathy
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She’s already stopped the hurlage! Not a single bit of gag reflex all day today. 🙂
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Poor baby girl and poor mommy. I hope she’s much improved today and I hope you’re taking care of you, too.
Treading rather than drowning<–I so know this.
I'm loving the Olympics. All the personal stories of challenge, struggle, and success are so inspiring. Michael relaxing into his gold medal stride, lil Gabby going strong all the way, Missy Franklin rising and succeeding, Aly Raisman's smile at the end of her floor routine when they sealed the team gold was frickin fabulous and I could just keep going. Inspiring.
Hoping for a healthy week at casa Hansen.
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Thanks, Sidney!! OMG, I have loved watching Missy Franklin this week…she is just darling.
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Sorry for your tearful moments. Had a few myself lately. Warmest hugs Jenny! And hey, like you said – treading water can be a huge achievement at times.
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Oh no, Shah!! Is everything OK at your place?
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Oh, I know how you feel. My daughter used to suffer tons with stomach bugs and ended up on the emergency room twice because of them. It broke my heart seeing her suffer and not being able to do anything about it!
“Some weeks you have to be grateful for treading water rather than drowning.” << so true, my friend!
Hope this next week is better! *hugs*
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Ugh. You had to do the ER visit?? We fought to avoid that as hard as we could and it was CLOSE. I feel bad for you in retrospect. I did NOT want to see my toddler get an IV.
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Aw…{{hugs}}
I hope Baby Girl feels better soon. It’s so hard when the little guys get sick, especially a drawn out one like this.
A trading water week at our house too.
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Why are you treading water at your house???! Oh no! I’m gonna have to go spying and find out….
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Doesn’t motherhood feel like competing in the Olympics at times? Consistency, self-discipline, putting yourself on the line, sacrifice, passion–it’s all there. I’m praying your little girl gets well soon and you have the stamina to see it through.
Some weeks, the writing must take a back seat to higher priorities. I hope this week will be better!
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It DOES, Kathrese! Thanks for the well wishes…we sorely need them this week. 🙂 I hope your week is going grand. 🙂
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That is sad! I hope your little one is feeling better. We’ve been lucky and our daughter hasn’t been sick yet, but I know it is going to tear me apart when it does happen. Sometimes life gets in the way of the WIP so I wouldn’t worry about not getting much done on it last week. There is always this week to catch up!
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Thanks Gilliad! It’s rough to watch your Baby Girl suffer. And of course, now that we’re all wrecked, she’s happy and playful…
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“Some weeks you have to be grateful for treading water rather than drowning.”
Oh boy can I relate to that statement Jenny. Yep, I’m treading water.
When I read about your daughter still throwing up after a week, the first thing I thought of was, dehydration and weight loss. Wow, that’s not good. Are we still thinking virus? Or was it strep? Whatever it is/was, I hope she’s over it. That’s too long to be sick like that. And I hope you and your hubby don’t get it. I know at first you thought it might have been caused by something she ate at school. Yikes, it’s been non-stop fun this week at the Hansen household.
Let’s all hope for a better week, shall we? 🙂
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Yep, Karen, those were all my big worries. And she DID lose weight, which sucks. But it wasn’t strep and she is on the mend. We got it Sunday night after y’all left. I actually had to order a shuttle to get Kristen to LAX because I was just too sick.
We’re all over it now and she’s going back to school tomorrow. (Thank God!!!)
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Thanks, Jenny. What a mess you’ve been through lately. I pray that everyone in your family regains their health and sanity. Blessings!
And thanks for the shout-out. It was my pleasure to share what I’ve learned.
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I was thinking the same thing about you, between the MIL and the car. Hugs back atcha!
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Hi Jenny,
Thank you so much for linking to my article about finding inspiration in all things (good and bad) in life. Those who are familiar with my writing style and voice on Freelance Writing Dreams will know that the more serious, otherworldly tone is quite a departure from my usual on the site. I was inspired to write it because of something loosely (very loosely) related to the Olympics. So, I find it providential that you chose to link to it in this particular post.
My 8 year old daughter had just discovered competitive gymnastics. She’s obsessed. She’s consumed. She’s vibrantly energized. She’s gunning for the Olympics. Only time will tell if G-d has Olympic plans for her. It’s significant because all three of her older brothers have something they’re passionate about and have had their “thing” since before age 4 or 5. We’ve tried many things for her, but nothing really stuck. Broken paths. But, the pieces of each of those failed attempts left crumbs along the way leading us to gymnastics. Voila!
Thanks again for linking and for linking to the other inspiring, thought provoking posts. And by the way, it never gets easier when your child gets sick. My heart breaks with each scrape, sniffle, or disappointment that crosses the path of my children.
XO
Samantha
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It’s been an insane week stumbling around in a CreateSpace cave trying to figure it all out. Lots of meltdowns, but progress was made despite the glitches. Seems my Word doc had formatting errors. I’m so tech deficient, it’s all nerve racking. It will be worth it when it’s all finished, and I have a feeling I’ll forget about all the labor pains just like a mother does after giving birth!
So I’m out of touch with all my peeps these days. Just wanted to check and see how Baby Girl is doing. I hope she’s all better now. And I hope you and your hubby are getting caught up on your rest.
I haven’t been able to watch the Olympics and I was so looking forward to it. One of the sacrifices of meeting writing deadlines. Take care, Jenny.
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